Artist and Pirate Meet over Drinks: The Rest is History

[Bobbie]

The images from Chase’s lab were still fresh in his mind. It was a narrow escape after he worked on his last patient. He revived a man, bringing him back from death, and the quality of gratitude that he received was abysmal. It was demoralising and devastating as he recalled everything that Master Ghouil had worked on and he strived for, up in flames by such an angry man…

Now Chase was angry. He was angry at the ingratitude not only of this one man, but all of mankind. People didn’t understand the greater picture. In reality, they were all so small. Insignificant little insects in comparison to the vision of the late Master Ghouil, and to his own vision, one which aimed to better life on earth, save the castaways and introduce the greatness of pure art into the lives and minds of the common citizen all over the world; perhaps in hope of opening the minds of those who did not wish to learn. Yet all Chase found was resistance… resistance that ended in destruction and infuriation, materials and invaluable resources lost. The memory of his mentor was now all that remained, the man’s mark left on his own body and on those that the man’s protegee worked on… whether they appreciated it or not.

After his fleeing of the island, Chase rowed out to sea until he couldn’t row anymore and the currents of the South Blue seas landed him here. Karate Island. He had only been here once before, but he was such a young boy at the time that he did not remember much, if any at all, beyond its name.

While the redheaded newly designed cyborg left him no chance of saving significant items from his lab, the young man had the mind to always store an emergency backpack on this very rowboat that served him so well over the past couple of days. He had enough provisions to keep him going, a map for navigation, and a few small handheld tools that were far too valuable to be left abandoned on an island. These included a medical sewing kit and other surgical tools, a small reel of tubing, and some fabric scraps.

If his Master’s passing taught him nothing else, it certainly did teach Chase a lesson of self-preservation and independence. He had practised those two skills masterfully on the island on his own, and now found himself in a similar predicament. Once his boat was stored on a beach and concealed well enough in a more secluded area, covered up in plant debris and seaweed, he was quick to venture inland and spent the entirety of that day exploring what the society of Karate Island had to offer. However, it seemed that wherever he turned, all he was met with was further disappointment through a rather biased lens. Stepping into each and every art shop and gallery that he stumbled upon, he felt quite appalled to find that not a single one of them showcased The Puppeteer’s brand. It was like Master Ghouil never existed…

Perhaps it was his own form of vengeance against the world, but he made sure to pick up a few items as he passed through the crowds on the streets. Some items were worth something, some were not, but he needed to take them all… had he not been so blinded by his rage at that ungrateful man he'd saved, he would have been filled with remorse, but not today.

Once he had had enough, he roamed through the streets rather aimlessly, his body temperature kept quite warm underneath a puffy blue coat with large pockets that stored everything he’d nicked and anything else he could need on his person. His hands in said pockets, the cosy covering was wrapped around his body, hugging him protectively as it offered the only form of refuge the young man could find, until a large pub sign caught his eye. Chase would usually be quite against setting foot inside such an establishment, but he was skeptical that anything from within could be worse than what he witnessed out here, nor what he had already suffered.

Filled with hate and despair, he pushed the door open and entered the pub.

---

Chase: #eacce2

[Kami-Gaz]

Life was funny, one day you could be locked up in your house being forced to study world government laws and practices for an upcoming entrance exam to the marine officer academy. The next you could steal a devil fruit from your rear admiral fathers hidden things, eat it and on the impulse run away to live the dream of your long dead best friend. All Roland had to do now was secure himself a ship and be gone by the time his father returned from his latest trip to the grand line to personally take him to the up next Officers Academy entrance exam.

In his first great act of piracy he had taken more than just the fruit, but a great load of money, most of it was withheld allowance money and what Roland deemed to be his future allowance. So it was not exactly stealing perse, it was just claiming what was going to be his in the future. This however, left him with a great challenge. How on earth was he going to get a boat and get out of here? Every ferry operator and fisherman was paid not to even entertain the idea of taking the young man away from here to allow him to start his adventure.

That was what led the young king in waiting to the pub, fruit in one hand and all of his possessions in a bag that rested at the foot of the bar. A lot of the patrons had eyed the young lad up, wanting to take what he had in his hands… it was a small fortune, enough to buy a small country and here it was, sitting in Roland Arch’s hands being stared at.

“Ah, what the hell? A king needs something others don’t.” And he took a massive bite of the devil fruit, right there and then as the rest of the pub erupted into cheers. Drinks were raised and the sound of an ever present humming started to resonate from the young man as the power settled into his very bones.

“Woot!” He cheered, letting out a blast of purple energy up to the ceiling, blowing a small hole in it. Every other sound stopped, there was an awkward silence as the door then opened. “That” he muttered. “Was” Roland exclaimed with a giant smile. “AWESOME!”

---

Post: 1
Roland: efff9b

[Bobbie]

As the door swung open at the force exerted upon it by Chase’s hand, he stood there for a moment. It was clear that he had just missed something, though it wasn’t quite as clear what, exactly. His gaze was raised to the ceiling to see the small hole in it and the young artist let out a sigh. This was some sort of indication of what kinds of people come to places like this, surely, and it didn’t look promising.

What was worse, the only available seat seemed to be next to the one who created that destruction. Chase looked around the bar, sensing a certain tension in the air as everybody sat or stood in their spots, awkwardly watching like they were waiting for something else to happen.

With a bitter frown, the newcomer entered and walked up to the bar, taking the first empty seat he found, which was to Roland’s left. Paying the lad very little attention, he ordered his poison and proceeded to sulk with his elbows resting on the counter's surfacetop.

While he offered no form of greeting to the person seated beside him, a few things grasped his attention as he waited for his cocktail to be prepared and brought to him. First and foremost was the big bag of money that he carried. It didn’t strike him as a very wise move to be walking around with that out in the open, as anybody might try their hand at snatching it, least of all himself… but the fact that nobody had done so meant something. It would either be a crazy endeavour, resulting in a very poor outcome, or this man was respected. The second thing that remained on his mind was the words that he heard him utter just as Chase entered this establishment.

What was so awesome?

Chase considered asking that very question, but perhaps it was the fear of being let down that caused him to hold back. His mood was at an all-time low after recent events and he had very little faith in humanity as a whole. The chances of whatever awesome thing this was being something of a deeper level than a temporary high, a self-serving rush of adrenaline that humans tend to crave which ultimately achieves nothing of real value, were quite slim in his pessimistic view.

Nevertheless, as the bartender handed Chase his drink and the coins were left in payment, the man with rose-coloured hair couldn’t stop his gaze from drifting in Roland’s direction. Then, in a sour tone, he spat out the words.

“What was so awesome?”

---

Chase: #eacce2

[Kami-Gaz]

The world changed so much now that Roland had a devil fruit power of his own. Just from eating it he gained a sort of understanding of what it was, what it did and how to use it in its most basic form. He had everything he could ever need to fulfil his promise, to live out the dream of being the king of the world. All he had to do now was gather his crew… he couldn’t start here, his dad had made sure that the people of Karate island would say no. That was not much bother, the only person from here that he would want along died years ago of an illness.

The stranger who had sat down next to him looked so down, upset, and angry. Was it because Roland’s new power gave him an ever-present humming? A beat that matched his upbeat mood, something that shifted with his emotions as he curiously looked toward him as he asked his question. He must have missed how he had eaten the fruit and used its power for the first time.

“I just ate a devil fruit!” Roland explained with a bright and happy smile, the humming noise not stopping with his words as he spun around on his seat by the bar and chuckled. “With it I’m going to live my dream. I’m going to be the king of the world.” He carried on, stopping his spin as he faced the sour gentleman and placed his elbow on the table to lean on it. Each of his words oozed a purple energy that dissipated in the air, a sign that he was getting used to his fruit and wasn’t going to blow away the world with every word he spoke.

“What’s up? You look upset!” Roland asked, shuffling his barstool to be closer to the man. He was a sucker for people with an upset expression it seemed as he wanted to try and push the man before him to feel as elated as he is.

---

Post: 2
Roland: efff9b

[Bobbie]

Chase stared at Roland with very little amusement on his features, if any at all. On the contrary, it seemed that Roland’s excitement only brought more bitterness to the young man’s face, despite no knowing him in any way.

Mr Guillard was sceptical. He doubted anything that appeared with positive intention coming from any human being at this moment. First, he questioned whatever selfish reasons could have led this person to eat a devil fruit and what terrible deeds he planned to do with his new power. Then he questioned what sort of dream it was that he planned to live and how dreadful an impact chasing such a dream would have on the rest of society without a care in the world from him. Lastly, he questioned how many people would be trampled by his… kingship.

Swishing his drink in its container, he watched the man with an angry look, as if he’d done him some personal offence just by being happy. Raising his glass, he swallowed all of its contents in a few gulps, before putting it down on the counter like a man who had truly hit rock bottom.

“I look upset? I suppose there’s a reason for that…” His dismissive tone was followed by a request to the bartender for a refill, leaving some money for that as well, a little bit more than the actual price.

“Like you, I had a dream.” Despite his previous rude response, he decided to get off his high horse for a minute and continue anyway, a part of his lonely heart longing for human connection. “I was going to be a king of sorts too…” as his memory took him back to his little laboratory before it was destroyed, he considered himself in such a kingly position. Why not? He wore no crown, of course, but he carried Master Ghouil’s name with him, branded on his limbs.

“A good king, one who saves people, gives them life and purpose. I had my own kingdom, passed down to me by his lordship before me! It was all mine… and I did good… I was a good king and I saved people. I gave them life, and I gave them purpose.” Chase’s eyes fell upon the liquor that was poured into his glass.

Mesmerised by the ripples in his drink, he allowed his mind to linger on this metaphor, which he quite liked. In his mind, it suited his late creator, and it suited him as his protégé.

“Until one ungrateful subject destroyed it all, and now I am here, with nothing.”

Taking a deep breath, he took a sip of his drink, pacing himself with this second round. He turned to Roland once more with an inquisitive look in his eyes. “What sort of king would you be?”

---

Chase: #eacce2

[Kami-Gaz]

He was a king? Not a real one but he had people that looked up to up him and he did a job that helped them? This was a man who had conviction and was worth his salt… but being here and in such a sour mood must mean something had gone wrong. Roland sat and listened to the tale of this usurped king with interest, his eyes never leaving but not looking down on the man… no he was giving him respect.

When he mentioned that one person ruined it for him that otherworldly humming that emanated from Roland’s throat changed its beat from something upbeat and zippy to harsh and angry. It was showing his emotions even though his face had gone from a kind smile to a flat expression. Before he had a chance to ask who the usurper was the stranger turned to him and asked his question. “What sort of king would you be?”

The grin came back, and his hum became imperious and strong, full of pride as he straightened his back. He was not tall, but he seemed to eclipse everyone as he made his proclamation. “I am going to be the best king, the king of kings!” His words ebbed with the purple power of the devil fruit enhancing his voice.

“I am going to be the king that frees the world from all of its injustices! Bringing peace to the world and making everyone able to live happy and healthy!” Roland carried on, his eyes true and serious. Despite his smile being warm and caring. The rumbling young man sat back down and placed his hand on his new friends shoulder and nodded to him. “Someday, you’ll get your kingdom back. You can punish who brought you so low and you can show them just how amazing you can be.”

---

Post: 3
Roland: efff9b

[Bobbie]

Staring at Roland as the man made such a grand proclamation, Chase couldn’t help but laugh. It was ambitious, to be king of kings, and the young creator was ready to dismiss this madman’s ramblings, picking up his glass and taking another sip of his drink.

However, the more he heard of Roland’s dream, the more intrigued he grew. He really did seem to mean well and have big hopes not only for his future but for that of other people’s as well. These people, seated all around them in this very bar. His people. His kingdom was the world.

                        The world... 

The  w o r l d…

It sounded so big and the word itself almost foreign to him with each additional time he said it to himself. Like an epiphany, the realisation struck Chase that perhaps he had been aiming for too small a population. His master’s hideout was on a small island, a little spit of land that only saw those who washed up on it. There was no actual civilisation other than what Ghouil had built, and all this time, his protegee thought that was the way such a kingdom should be.

Watching his new companion as a hand was placed on his shoulder, rose-haired Chase nodded in response. His sulk seemed to turn as the corners of his mouth curled into something similar to a smirk.

“Forget my old kingdom… I’ll get a new kingdom.” Picking up his glass, he took a large swig, and then held it out to Roland to toast. Chase was often considered a proud young lad, too proud for his own good, but that did not mean that he couldn't be a team player and see when two common goals came together. “The world will be our kingdom and we will rule it together! We’ll both be kings of kings!”

Suddenly rising to his feet, slightly had by the alcohol and the adrenaline of Roland’s speech, he grinned.

“To being kings!”

---

Chase: #eacce2

[Kami-Gaz]

The soon to be king of the world watched as his new friend as he took his glass and drank. He watched as the bubbling ambition of a true man bubbled up from inside and spilled out of Chase like a beacon. His grin could only grow so wide as he heard how Chase was wanting to join him as a king in this world. He grasped his own drink and brought it to meet Chases and the glasses clinked.

The otherworldly hum that permeated around Roland rang proud and victorious like trumpets celebrating a coronation. “To being kings!” He announced, the very air warbling with the purple power that emanated from his mouth. Then he drank, downing his entire drink in just a few powerful gulps.

The glass left his lips and got placed onto the bar before him and the young Roland nodded with pride, wrapping an arm around chase’s shoulder and pumping his other fist into the air. “And that starts right now! The easiest way to become a king is to be the king of the pirates! I am going to find the one piece and after I become king of the pirates ill become king of the world!” He proclaimed, a certainty in his heart that he was going to do it. The hand that had been raised into the sky lowered down to touch the ragged bandana that was around his neck in a tight grip.

“That way we can keep our promises.” He muttered quietly, now releasing chase and climbing away from his bar stool and turning around to see that the door to the bar had swung open and a large squad of marines had waltzed in to see what the commotion was. “Balls!" Roland exclaimed "Hey Warrant Officer Kleg.” He said with a cheeky smile on his face. The marines were closely tied to his father and were likely going to try and drag Roland to the base to sober up and lock him up until his dad got back.

---

Post: 4
Roland: efff9b

[Bobbie]

Chase finished his drink and put his empty glass down as well before he felt himself lurch in Roland’s direction, the man’s arm wrapped around him to pull his body closer.

A hint of confusion appeared on his face, as king of the pirates may not have been exactly what he was after, but after only a moment’s thought, he figured… does it really matter?

King of the Pirates, King of Puppets, King of whatever! It’s time to take charge and leap toward the future I was made for!

The drunken thoughts simmered for only a short while when a large squad of marines waltzed in to address whatever chaos was going on in here. First, Chase stared at them, his eyes narrowed as he tried to count heads, but he couldn’t quite tell where one ended and the next one began. Giving up on that task, he turned to Roland, who spoke to one Warrant Officer Kleg…

Warrant Officer Kleg…

Warrant Officer…

Warrant…

With a mighty battle cry, Chase suddenly launched himself at said officer, whipping his garrotte out of his pocket.

“Kings will not be captured!” He screamed at the top of his lungs, immediately wrapping the wire of his weapon around one of the man’s wrists before spinning his body around him to twist the marine’s arm behind his back. Balancing on one leg, he let out another roar and hammered his steel foot into the Officer Kleg’s back as hard as he could to throw him forward and hopefully take down some of the others like bowling pins.

Chase, in his drunken state, turned to Roland, the garrotte springing back into his hand while the other was raised in a triumphant fist.

“Kings will not be captured!” He repeated, before suddenly breaking into a sprint. Stepping on Warrant Officer Kleg and anyone else who paved a path, he leapt through the door in an attempt to make his grand escape, hoping Roland would be right behind him.

---

Chase: #eacce2

[Kami-Gaz]

Roland 5

---

“Roland.” The officer spoke as he surveyed the scene and let out a soft sigh as the man took a step forward, then he saw the partially eaten fruit on the bar and the alcohol that the young rear admiral’s son had in his hand. “Your dad’s going to kill you when he finds out about this-” Kleg was saying before his arm was snagged by a sharp wire that tugged his arm this way and that. “Wha!?” He managed to spit before he was booted into the men that were accompanying him and tumbling to the floor in a pile of bodies and disjointed limbs. A heavy boot was on his back that forced the wind out of his lungs as the assailant left charging out as he bellowed at the top of his lungs.

Roland let out a raucous laugh as he jumped to his feet, a purple energy ebbed from his mouth and coated his body before exploding at his feet and launching him through the bar and out of the door at a ridiculous speed. He tried to slide to a stop but the momentum was so much that he tripped over and tumbled into a wall across the street and broke a hole through it. “Ow….” He wheezed out before sitting up and grinning at his compatriot king with a grin on his face. “That was so cool!” He bellowed, the words forming pool of energy that then shot forth and into the building he had just left and blowing an enormous hole in it. The marines that were now just slowly climbing to their feet were blasted away and into a pile of rubble that was bigger than the one Roland was climbing out of.

“Kings cannot be contained!” Roland announced as he looked at Chase and nodded, a giant grin painting his face. It was time to leave here… more marines were going to come and if they had their way they would lock Roland up until his dad got home from his latest assignment.

“We need to go! I need a boat.” He decided, running past Chase and grasping at his hand to lead his new friend away from this scene of wanton vandalism and battery. Away from a past of uncertainty and self-doubt and toward a future of fun with goals to strive for.

---

Post: 5
Roland: efff9b

[Bobbie]

“A boat?” Chase echoed Roland’s words while he ran with his most recent acquaintance whom he was quick to call a friend. His legs seemed to be working on autopilot as he was full of energy and simply following his partner, running tirelessly.

“Oh! I have a boat! I came here on a rowboat!” He cried, as he kept running. “We need to get to the beach! Which way is the beach?” announcing their destination to the world, Chase was intent on not only helping Roland but fully committing to the cause! They were to be kings, after all, what kind of king would he be if he didn’t give his all?

Staggering as he ran, he seemed to suddenly recognise a landmark and yanked Roland to make a right turn toward the forested area that would open up to the coast where he had left his boat hidden underneath leaves and natural debris in the sand.

“Here, here, here… over here.” The view of the beach would soon greet the lads, the sand brightly lit by the sun’s burning rays and looking like something out of a fancy brochure of the island.

Standing there to admire the sea for a moment, he then turned to Roland, grabbing his shoulders. “I hid my boat here, somewhere. I’m sure of it.” Chase narrowed his eyes to try and focus on Roland’s, but he was struggling in his drunken state. “We just need to find it. It shouldn’t be hard, I know precisely what kind of leaves I piled on top of it! They were palm leaves.”

Releasing Roland’s shoulders, Chase stood with his hands on his hips and a proud smile on his face. He then stepped beside Roland to put an arm around his shoulders and look out with him. All he could see was a long treeline that ran along the sandy coast that was nothing but palm trees.

---

Chase: #eacce2

[Kami-Gaz]

Roland 6

---

Roland was running at full speed dead ahead as Chase announced that he did indeed have his own boat. It was a rowboat, but a boat non the less. Then with a sudden shift and pull Roland was almost yanked off of his feet as he was pulled in an entirely new direction away from the towns port and to the sandy beach.

“Here?!” Roland asked, his new powers amping up the volume of his voice so a whisper sounded like the bellowed shout of a giant from miles away. “I don’t see it!” He added, looking over the dark beach the purple cone of power emanating with his voice that fired over the waves and made them ripple out.

Ah Chase hid the boat! That made far more sense as to why Roland couldn’t see the thing. The hands-on Roland’s shoulders helped steady the young king as he took in the confidence of companion in fleeing. So, they just had to run up the beach… in the dark… and find an inconspicuous pile of leaves among other inconspicuous piles of leaves… on a shoreline filled with palm trees that bordered the town and jungles. EASY

A batch of Marines skidded onto the beach behind them, lead by Warrant Officer Kleg. “Roland! Stop! If you come with us now, we won’t tell your dad about the bar.” He spoke, bargaining as the others were reaching for their cutlasses and rifles, eyes locking onto Chase. “Sound good?” He asked, a plea in his voice.

The future king of the world shook his head as he stood tall… or as tall as a short man can. “No. I’ve decided. I’m going out to sea, and no one can stop me.” He spoke with a confidence normally befitting a king. “Now we are leaving.” Roland added as he moved behind Chase and picked him up in a bridal style carry. There was a distinct humming emanating from the young man as his eyes showed the spark of an idea… was it a good one? No one knew, not even Roland.

“Zephyr Dash.” As he spoke the words the purple energy that left his mouth coated both him and Chase as he moved to his feet. As Roland leaned forward and moved to take a step the energy exploded beneath them and launched him at speeds faster than the normal eye could track down the sandy shore and out of eyesight.

---

Roland: efff9b

[Bobbie]

Even in the state he was in, Chase could see the glinting metal of the guards’ cutlasses, bringing the young man into a frown. Glaring at them while Warrant Officer Kleg spoke, he reached into his pocket and whipped out his garrotte.

“Take one step toward me and I’ll teach that wire is steeler than sharp- wait…” his threat immediately seemed to crumble as his words got tangled and he slowly tried to figure out where he went wrong. “Sharp… Wire is sharper than steel! Don’t twist my words!” Chase was an angry man... he wasn't angry at the guards, but at the world in general for taking everything that he had. The one target that he would focus all his anger one was a very specific cyborg who played a large role in the destruction of his lab. This, however, did not stop him from expression all the hatred within him toward these men before him.

Before he could ramble on any further, Roland appeared behind him and attempted to lift him in his arms. Chase immediately resisted, but could only get one leg free, which made Roland’s hold really quite awkward with the man’s leg and arm flailing about, desperately trying to reach the ground again.

“No, put me down! We need to find the-” his words were cut off by Roland’s sudden movement, as he now yelled into the air. “BOOOAAAAT!”

---

Chase: #eacce2

[Kami-Gaz]

Roland 6

---

The pair were moving at incredible speeds and the young soon to be king of the world moved instinctively, each step he took added another bolt of purple power and propelled the two even further along the shoreline until he tripped up, dropping Chase on the ground and tumbling head over heels into a large pile of leaves. They were so far down the shore that the lights of the town were practically sparkles on the horizon.

The palm leaves that he was buried in covered Roland perfectly, what had he just done? It was almost like his dad’s technique that lets him move really fast, but instead of moving his feet really quickly he exploded his new shouty power beneath him and it pushed him. After a moment his head popped out of the pile, and he grinned massively. “That was so cool!” he announced, his voice accompanied by a rhythmic rumbling.

He looked over to chase and climbed free, moving to comfort his friend. They can find their boat later, first they had to lose the marines.

Back at the edge of town Warrant Officer Kleg sighed… that was mimicked Rokushiki… he was going to get quite the telling off from command when they found out he let a vice admirals son escape… one that clearly intended to go to sea and challenge the world. “Send a squad down the shoreline to chase them. You, you, and you head to the Arch estate and wait for them there. I’m going to make an annoying phone call to a man who really didn’t want this to happen.” The marine spoke as he dejectedly headed back into town and towards the base that was on the island.

---

Roland: efff9b

[Bobbie]

As Chase was dropped onto the ground of the shore, it happened to be the sand and he fell face first in it. He was lucky his neck wasn’t broken, and that he didn’t suffocate in the sand. It took him a couple of seconds before bringing his head out of the sand with a gasp and then he rolled over onto his back, simply staring at the sky in shock of what just happened.

What did just happen?

Chase couldn’t make much sense of it. He’d never experienced anyone move that fast. He was also drunk. Maybe he didn’t actually move that fast… maybe it was the earth moving beneath them instead - no, that didn’t make sense.

Just as Roland came over to him, he sat up and took off his boots without saying a word. A river of sand seemed to come from it, and then some more from his metal leg as he pulled his trouser leg up to shake some of the sand loose. This was repeated with his other prosthetic leg, and then his robotic arms.

“That wasn’t cool…” he stood up, dusting himself off, grumpily. “It was awesome!” With his exclamation, Chase fell back into the sand again. It was nice to forget about being angry at the world for once…

While lying in the sand, undoing his efforts to get the sand off him, he reached into one of his coat pockets. “I nicked this when we passed one of the guards…” he didn’t even know what it was himself as he hadn’t the chance to actually examine it properly. It didn’t matter what it was, he simply needed to take it.

Bringing it out of his pocket, he opened his fist to look at the little item in his palm. "Does it mean anything to you?"

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Chase: #eacce2