127 Reins new talent! (1/2)

I couldn't help but sigh as I sat silently in the waning sun light. Beside me sat a slightly drunk Fawkes and a wasted Thatch. Marco looked at me apologetically but made no motion to relieve me of the annoyance that was his crew mate. He merely sat at a fair distance sipping from a canister of fresh water and indulging Angella in pleasant conversation.

After close to half an hour of getting used to the entire tavern save for the tavern owner had shifted here, an open hill with a wonderful view of both the sunset and the bustling town below. It seemed that this time of the day was always kept for leisurely sun gazing for as if by prior motions the entire crew had vacated the tavern just as the sun went down.

Most of the rest of the white beards lay snoring at the back of the open area, the few that were still awake sat silently in remote circles playing cards amongst themselves.

”So what's your plan?” Marco asked out loud as he shot me a look, as he did, the rest of the crew shot me looks as well. I hadn't gotten to telling them the plan that I had in mind, Rein and Barts from a game that they had been recently dealed into and Angella from across Marco.

”Eh, I don't really know. To be completely honest we go where the wind takes us, though I do wish to visit Dr Vegapunk on Punk Hazard sometime in the future. ”I said flippantly, though looking at Marco's disbelieving gaze my plans would be extremely hard to fulfill.

”You, want to meat Dr Vegapunk…. Even pops can't do shit like that!” he spluttered, his overall feeling of disbelief only mounting as he looked at the crew's serious façade.

Fawkes looked as calm as ever, while Angella looked like she didn't have a single care in the world… Rein looked flabbergasted while Barts just looked clueless, at this point what more could I expect from my crew?

”What about you? It must be quite exciting to be an emperor's commander.” I asked, at this point slightly peeved at the amount of surprises that I had laid into the commander.

He sighed as he gave us another glance, giving up whatever it was that he was about to say. ”Eh… The same old. We go back to the Moby Dick and party with the old man, and at around the same time next year we come back here to ensure that nothing happens on our territory.” He said shrugging.

”No dreams, no goals?” I asked probingly, unhappy with the level of information that he was providing.

”Nope. I'm quite happy the way things are…” He said as he gazed off into the distance, a fond glimmer in his eyes as he looked at the flapping flag in the center of town.

”…If anything, it would be to get pops the throne..” he said almost as an afterthought, his voice barely above a whisper as he slowly got to his feet. The sun began to disappear behind his back as he walked over to the muttering Thatch, kicking the downed man in the forearm.

With him the rest of the pirates began to stir, pocketing the cards that they had been playing with and the wads of cash that they had made in their little gambles.

Rein looked at the pocketed cards sadly, he had discovered a knack for the art as evident with the sizable pile of paper currency that he had placed before him.

”We'll be off then Jagged dagger!” Marco called out, amidst groans from his crew mates at the loud nature of his abrasive farewell.

”Yeah, we'll be here for a bit. Two days I guess. ” I called out.

”A word to the wise rookie, if ever you dock on an emperor's territory its best if you get their permissions for it. If this was ol' Linlin's land she would have you gobbled. ” he called out with a cheery and mischievous smirk.

With a chuckled I slowly got to my feet. ”O' virtuous and pineapple headed pirate commander, may we dock here for longer?” I called out, and with extreme satisfaction I could barely hear a pleasant sounding retort.

”Who has pineapple hair, ya bastard!” Ah music to my ears.

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Whitebeard couldn't help but groan at the hardy drink that passed through his massive mouth as he sat leisurely on his throne like seat. Wood beams stretched on in rows as they held up the massive wooden ceiling.