Saint
Pirate
Posts : 26
Location : Nanohana
Join date : 2018-08-16
- Voyage Registration:
After two weeks of traveling the rough seas, the trading ship had entered the Grand Line and reached its destination. A seemingly ever stretching island, covered in mounds of sand, could be seen in the distance. Peter, the trading ship's resident navigator, looked to Dipo and let out an thankful praise, "Finally, Sandy Island!" Dipo nodded at Peter's words. Dipo got up from his usual perch at the bow and started walking towards the ship's quarters, patting his associate on the shoulder as he walked past him, "We have arrived, haven't we. It seems we will soon have to part ways." Going through the quarter doors, Dipo headed to his bunk. He grabbed his backpack and began packing up his things; throwing his books and Beli into it. He changed his clothes to something lighter while he was down there; changing into just a blue shirt and khaki shorts. He put his gun in its holster on his right; he tucked the three parts of his newest possession, Auril, on his left side, he had constructed it during all his downtime on the ship. Those well immersed with the practice of navigating would recognize it as a weather-altering Clima-Tact.
Dipo watched as several crewmen dashed across the deck and dropped the ship's anchor. A large board was then thrown onto one of Nanohana's docks. Dipo went around the boat bidding farewells to the men he had traveled with for the past two weeks. Dipo talked with Peter a few moments longer than he did with the rest, but the message of goodbye was all the same. "Are you sure you can't travel with us a while longer. You can never have too many navigators." But as he was with his parents, Dipo shut the idea of hanging with them any longer down quickly and politely. Peter gave a slight look of disappointment, he then reached into his bag and pulled out a map; he handed it to Dipo. "Be careful!" Hefting the bag onto his back, "Don't worry I will!" Dipo headed off the trading vessel and onto the dock.
~~~~
Dipo was hit with an overwhelming flowery stench as he entered the busy town. He looked around at the numerous crates and item stands to try to pinpoint the origin of the scent, it seemed as though the smell was hitting him from every direction. It was as though the city itself was emitting the flowery scent. If it wasn't so overpowering Dipo might have actually enjoyed it; he might have even bought a vial or two. The stench had stopped him from noticing it in the beginning, but every now and again Dipo would see some staring at him. Dipo could see them with blatant frowns and looks of disgust. He stopped beside a fish stand and thought about his circumstances. "I'm Mink in unfamiliar territory being a boisterous pirate might not turn out good for me."
Coming back from deep in his thoughts, Dipo realized a burly, rough fish seller was staring at the Mink. "Ya gon' buy somethin' or what?" The fisherman growled. Dipo looked at the man, a familiar look of disgust met him. The peeved Dipo calmed himself and said, "No, I was just observing your... fine fish. Nice catches." Dipo started to move away, but he turned back around to the fisherman, "Do you happen to know of any inns. I might stay around these parts for a while." The fisherman still glaring down at the stout Mink turns and points to the right of him; past a few shops and light blue and orange buildings, "You'll find a cheap one around that area." Dipo nodded at the man and walked off.
Saint
Pirate
Posts : 26
Location : Nanohana
Join date : 2018-08-16
Dipo pushed past the buzzing people as he attempted to make his way to the inn. Dipo spotted an empty alley, tired of the slow movement he made his way to the alley. "This'll be a little better at least." Dipo walked in between the crevices of the tall buildings for a few moments getting nearer to the inn. When he was walking beside a big blocky purple and yellow building, he heard a yell; this wasn't apart of the same chatter that came from the crowds of people on the main road. These same crowds paid no attention to the yelling coming from the alley. A few more came and with those following ones, Dipo narrowed the location; he looked up at the purple and yellow building. Attempting to block the blazing Sun, Dipo placed a hand against his eyebrows. Dipo gazed at an open fourth story window. The backside of a person approached the window. Dipo yelled out to them, "Hey, you up there!" They didn't turn around to face him; maybe he should yell louder, "You alright?" Dipo yelled again, increasing in volume. Dipo glared at the window and tried to train his ears towards the window; he could hear the faint sounds of something else coming from the window. A loud bang and a flash of light came from inside the room, the man staggered backward; so far back that it caused him to tip out the window. Dipo watched in horror as the stranger fell out a four-story drop. The man hit the ground in front of Dipo with a sickening crack.
Dipo stared at the splat next to him in disbelief. That body a few feet away from him was once a functioning person. Dipo closed his eyes and shook his head a bit trying to compose himself; the shaking was barely working. A pool of blood began to expand from the body. He could clearly see that the dead person was a middle-aged man, he had a bullet hole located in his left shoulder. Dipo found his eyes wander farther down the body and to the arms. He was clutching round, patterned object in them. A few shouts came from overhead and Dipo slowly looked up at the window. Two men wearing red bandannas met his gaze, "Don't you fucking move!" One of the men aimed a flintlock at Dipo; the other said something then moved away from the window. He was coming down.
Dipo's vision moved between the gun wielder and the splat. His heart felt as though it was going to leap out of his chest. "I could make a break for it in the crowd; he wouldn't be able to get a clear shot with everyone covering me. If I go now, I'll have a headstart on the other one." Dipo stared down at the body and the item. A wave of greedy energy came over Dipo. Ready to make a move, Dipo pulled his revolver out its holster and fired a shot at the still aiming gunman, who fired one of his own. Dipo's bullet flew by the man, he wasn't sure if it hit or not; but it made him duck for cover. His adversary's bullet grazed his left arm. Dipo had tried to move out its path, but he'd rather take a graze than a direct shot anywhere else. With the gunner now gone, Dipo ran around the blood and back to the main road; grabbing the round object on his way by. Clutching the object in his left arm, Dipo charged through the crowd; glancing back every now and again to ensure they weren't closing in.
~~~~
Dipo broke off from the crowd and headed for the orange building he discerned as the Inn; based on the sign naming it the "Sand Crab Inn." Dipo holstered his gun, used his free hand to cover his wound, and walked through the doors of the building. The Inn didn't seem to be very crowded, a couple of people sat at tables drinking, paying the Mink no mind. He moved over to the bar, he saw the old Innkeeper writing something down upon paper. The woman looked glanced up at Dipo then looked at him again adjusting her glasses. "Yes." She said, being barely higher than a whisper. "Could I have a room, please. I don't really know how long I'll be staying." Dipo was doing his best to contain his nerves and compose; he did he best to block any blood. She looked at him for a while then said, "Alright then, you seem fine to me. You'll be paying a nightly rate. I hope that'll be alright." She then documented his name and the exchange. Grabbing his key, Dipo headed up the stairs. Going to the second floor and running to the fifth room; he shut the door behind him and locked it. He threw his bag across the room, placed the round object on the counter, and he laid down on the bed. He stared wide-eyed at the room ceiling until he drifted off to sleep. Saint
Pirate
Posts : 26
Location : Nanohana
Join date : 2018-08-16
The next morning, Dipo got up bright and early. A sight of blood-stained sheets greeted him when he awoke; he had completely forgotten about his bullet wound. With all that blood maybe it wasn't just a graze. He grabbed a washcloth from the room's dresser and wrapped it around the bloodied area. Today he planned on going out to a clinic and get it looked at. Dipo threw on a blue raincoat and popped on the hood; he didn't plan on those men discovering his identity anytime soon. While getting ready, Dipo had time to examine the strange object. It was around the size and shape of a coconut, milky white, and it had black swirling patterns all over it. Having a better look at it, Dipo was reminded of something. His eyes glided to the top of it, right at its blue stem, "Oh, its a fruit." Dipo wrapped the fruit up in a towel and slid it under the bed. "Can't have it being seen." He whispered to himself.
~~~~
Dipo held his head down as he merged into the crowd of people on the street; there proved to be lesser out during the morning but the city was never the less busy. Before leaving the Innkeeper gave him the directions to both a nearby clinic and library. Dipo kept an eye out as he made his way down the street and to the doors of the clinic; he wasn't confident in his ability to deal with sneak attacks at the moment. Dipo walked into the small building and took a seat.
After a bit of waiting, a woman dressed in white came over to Dipo. The woman knelt beside him and examined Dipo's bullet wound, all while asking him questions about it at the same time. "How long ago did this happen? How did this happen?" Dipo watched as the woman began to clean the area around his wound, He calmly replied, "It happened yesterday afternoon. I don't recall much about it." Dipo made a nervous chuckle, "To be completely honest I was drunk out my mind." The doctor ended with her prodding and to focus on the task at hand. Dipo sat in silence as the doctor did her work; once finished she stood up and said, "You should be good to go now. I stitched and bandaged it up." With no further complaints, Dipo bid the woman a goodbye and headed out the door.
Dipo ventured further down the road to a moderately sized blue sandstone building. This was one of the city's libraries. Walking past two large pillars and through the doors; Dipo was greeted to the sight of shelves of books. He swelled with excitement as this was his first time being in a library this big. He made his way towards an elderly man stacking books on the shelves. "Do you happen to have any books on strange fruits here?" The man looked to Dipo and said hoarsely, "Whatcha mean? Like the exotic kind?" Dipo wasn't sure if the fruit could be classified as exotic, he hadn't seen it before, but to be fair he hadn't seen a lot of things. Dipo borrowed a pencil from the man and drew a quick sketch of the fruit. He handed them back and the librarian squinted at the drawing, "Oh! I see! You're looking to see about Devil Fruits. Follow me." The man dropped the books he held beside the shelves and waddled off towards a desk, Dipo followed right behind. The man grabbed an open book off the desk and handed to Dipo. "This thing should give you quick rundown of them." He slapped Dipo on the shoulder and walked away. Dipo sat down in the empty seat at the desk and started reading.
~~~~
As the Sun began to set, Dipo made his way back to the Sand Crab, he thought over the things he had read about Devil Fruits. It was hard to believe that he was in possession of, what the book described as, "the fruits of the Sea Devil." No wonder those thugs wanted it, shit like that is worth loads of Beli. He crept back into the inn and up to his room. Reaching under the bed he slid out the Devil Fruit and held it up in front of him. "It would probably be best to sell this thing. I could do for more Beli." Holding up the Devil Fruit, he remembered a portion from the book, "The Devil Fruit, when consumed, gives the consumer a power or special trait." Another wave of that same greedy energy from before washed over him, Dipo had the means to secure some sort of great power in his hands.
"Only a fool would waste such an opportunity." He whispered to himself. Dipo squatted down and sat the fruit on the Inn counter. He began peeling it; after throwing the peelings away and picked it back up and bit into it. Chewing down on it was horrible, it was as though he was eating a combination of both rotten meat and spoiled milk with just a hint of an old orange. Dipo felt as though he was going to puke however he managed to scarf down the bite. The book stated it only took a bite to absorb the power; so Dipo was very appreciative about that. Dipo threw the rest of it in the garbage and returned to his bed. He sat there and awaited whatever new power he supposedly now possessed. Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
NEWS
