"Hold it right there, Portgas!" Agitated, Akainu calls out storming out of the meeting hall trying to reach the woman after she gave her report to the rest of the vice admirals, her hues narrowing at the loudmouth before her.
"Ah Sakazuki…something wrong?" Politely, Ann attempts to be civil to the man she had no time for, furrowing her brow at him.
"Well, duh! Yes, something is wrong! What was that nonsense at the war council just now?!" Sakazuki shouts raising his voice to the bored Ann as a fair few fearful marines flee fearful of the marine's wrath.
"What, with the battle scenario simulations?" Sighing, Ann asks arching a brow by his heated hostility.
"On the last one, you said we should let the enemy retreat. Are you daft?! Anyone with half a brain would know to pursue and finish off the pirate scum!" Shouting, Sakazuki shouts at Ann arching a brow bored by the man before her.
"I considered pursuit, but it seemed too risky. Factoring in everyone's exhaustion from the first round, it seemed safest to stay put. Chasing a bear into its den can be asking for trouble, especially after a long fight." Formally, Ann attempts to hint however…
"Unless you actually want to SLAY the bear, in which case it's exactly what you do!" Done, Akainu angrily roars barking back at Ann swearing she felt some salvia upon her cheek much to her disgust.
"I think it really depends on the circumstances... In that scenario, we would've been chasing them into rugged, mountainous terrain." Tiredly, Ann using the back of her hand swiping said salvia off her cheeks coolly.
"So?!" Snarling, he glares glowers down at her.
"So they can't travel at speed through those mountains. It's just not possible. That leaves us plenty of time to finish them off once we're back at full strength. Besides, if a storm hit while we were marching, we'd be devastated. Mountains are fickle things. I thought it best to play it safe in that case." Calmly, Ann explains herself to Akainu not that she had to internally in her head she thought so at the least.
"...You just think you've got ALL the answers, don't you? You sure have gotten a big head since becoming Sengoku made you the marine's tactician..." Tense, Akainu crosses his arms over his chest as Ann simply sighs at the fool furrowing her brow at him, she knew he had felt threatened, she had heard the rumours of him having hoped to take the rank, a rank Sengoku practically pleaded to her to have…
"Hey, I hardly think that's fair..." Frowning, Ann attempts to be civil despite her argument however as she makes said argument, furrowing her brow at him. Unlike Sakazuki she could see the eyes upon them, she could see the crowd forming around them, she could see the many marines watching worriedly on, some watching to see her break, some watching to see what her next move would be. Akainu was known as a bully amongst the workforce breaking up and coming recruits, breaking soldiers into line supposedly in Ann's head all she saw was a bully breaking marine after marine into some psycho or sending them packing…
"Oh, so you DON'T think you're the smartest one here? How humble of you!" Sneering, Sakazuki sneers scowling down at the bored blonde of sorts, raising his voice, earning a fair few flinches from marines going about their day, trying to keep their heads down. She simply sighs, trying to collect herself, trying to find a solution to deal with the fool before her.
"All right, then. Let's say you were the tactician in the same situation. What would you do? How would you direct the marines to pursue the enemy crew?" Calmly, Ann asks proposing it to Akainu astonishing him taking him aback as Ann could practically see him practically perk up at the chance to show her up, to prove he should be the tactician.
"…" Silently, Sakazuki sneers staring down at her needing a moment, to think as she simply stares back, she didn't have time for this, she had work to do, reports to be filed, files to be signed, she hadn't the time to be dealing with this man-child. Ann glances over at the clock hanging above as she simply tuts clicking her tongue, she had promised to meet Sengoku after this…
"I'm honestly curious. If you have a solid plan, then great. I don't want to let them retreat any more than you do, after all. Take a while to think on it, and let me know. Right now, I need to meet with Sengoku." Smoothly, she turns on her heel heading off after looking over at her nails seemingly done with the conversation coolly turning to leave, ignoring the faint chill coursing down her spine.
"Oooh! The big broad has a big meeting! You think you're so clever." Sakazuki sneers scowling at the rather done Ann, raising his voice once more attempting to have the spotlight shine down upon her startle scare her almost as if hoping she would act like a deer in headlights however, she simply stares back bored unamused at his bullying tactic.
"I don't now do you have the answer or not?" Ann demands done but is met by the still silence of the scowling man as she looks towards the ticking clock, her brow twitching tiredly.
"…That's what I thought. Good day." Ann dismisses him turning on her heel to leave, heading off to meet up with Sengoku seething stepping forward, fury flowing through him, droplets of ruby red magma dripping down his arm as he is about to go after her only to stop faltering from the shy steam clouds caused by his magma making him grunt glaring down at the reaction, she had caused, he knew he had lost this round and he had hated it, he hated her. Scowling, he glares at the direction, she had left, oblivious to the small smirk of a certain chill-chill fruit user watching on…
"I'm so sorry, Vice Admiral Ann!"
"I-it's fine Isuka. I suppose it is a bit complicated the first time…now could you please get up? There really is no need for the bowing head thing." Tiredly, Ann sighs softly, furrowing her brow down at the girl bowed before her, her head swiftly slammed down upon her office floor much to her discomfort, she had just returned from a mission with the girl in question who had insisted on apologising as Ann stood there with her friends frowning, not really quite sure what to say.
"But I can't believe I got lost patrolling the camp. So embarrassing! And I don't know HOW I managed to drop that potion. That...expensive potion. Although you did agree the broom was worn out before it broke, so that's probably... Oh gosh, and the fire! I'm SO SORRY about the fire! You have a spare tent, right?" Isuka asks anxiously hopeful almost as Ann simply smiles strained down at the girl, not wishing to worry the guilty girl anymore.
"Yes, well, look on the bright side: you did a splendid job pulling weeds. I don't see a single straggler in this entire camp!" Cheerily, Ann offers optimistically attempting to cheer up the girl, she was on watch while Isuka wanted to do some training but Ann knew how tired the girl was and how stubborn she was so sent her to do the weeds, do discipline work she supposed around the town they were supposedly staking out.
"Well, I always liked making little chains and bracelets out of flowers!" Isuka smiles softly.
"...Er, you did just pluck weeds, yes? Not the flowers from the flowerbeds?" Frowning, Ann asks alarmed at it.
"Flower...beds? Oh, no! It's true! All I'm good for is falling on my face! I'm going to go back to bed and pull the covers over my head." Horrified, Isuka bows her head, her head in her hands.
"Oh come on it's fine!" Feebly, Ann attempts to calm the girl down.
"B-But..." Isuka begins brow furrowed.
"The most important part of any battle is that you give your all. Everything you did today was out of consideration for your fellow marines. And if the results were less than optimal? Well, it's not the worst thing in the world. So long as you strive to help people, success will eventually find its way to you." Ann attempts to explain to the girl gritting her teeth trying to hold in the sickening sense of corniness from her words.
"If you really think so, then I promise not to give up! Perhaps I could make little flower necklaces for everyone!" Smiling, Isuka offers.
"...Please don't." Drained, Ann pleads, plopping herself down on her chair bowing her head too tired to argue anymore as she dismisses the girl.
"Vice Admiral Tashigi here reporting for duty." Tashigi salutes the frowning Ann.
"Ah so you came." Ann leans back in her seat.
"That I did mam." She bows.
"No need for the formalities kid." Ann arises from her seat sighing.
"A-Are you sure?" Surprised, she raises a brow.
"I'm quite sure." Ann brushes by her.
"O-Oh okay thanks again for agreeing to help me with this!" Tashigi beams brightly.
"I'm only going to give you tips kids if I do anymore Sengoku will be on my ass." Annoyed, Ann asserts stating the fact firmly.
"R-Right but I'm sure any sort of training you give me will be much welcomed." Tashigi beams brightly at Ann.
"…Yeeah." Ann draws out not quite sure what to say as the two start sparring…
Loudly, Ann's ring at the clash of metal ringing feeling the vibrations of her training blade clash against Tashigi's iron sword as they duel one another, circling one another, sparks spewing out until with one swift strike she dives down, axe kicking Tashigi tripping her down to the ground. Grunting, Tashigi reaches for her blade but before she could do much more the teasing touch of a blade tauntingly touching her neck swiftly stops her.
"Focus…" Sternly, Ann orders.
"You think I'm not trying?" Tense, Tashigi huffs grimacing at her aching muscles frowning from the searing sensation of her throbbing tense muscles.
"Well you're talking to me right now so…" Cheekily, Ann points out easily offering her hand to her.
"Alright let's have a break," Ann sighs noting her sweating demeanour, huffing, heaving even perhaps Ann had been a bit rough on her...? She didn't know this was her training when she was a kid…she even gave more breaks than Rayleigh ever gave her…
"I will not…" Defiantly, she refuses making Ann arch a brow by her words.
"Tashigi you're exhausted come on for me…" Gently, she smiles at the girl bowing her head from Ann's request, softly patting her head.
"I suppose one break wouldn't hurt." Shyly, she gives in standing up brushing off the dust collected from their duel.
"Great…besides I think…" Guilty, Ann smiles strained trailing off glancing at her training sword.
"You broke another practice sword didn't you?!" Tired, Tashigi scowls snatching said sword looking it over and grumbling at the damage.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ann feigns innocence making her hues narrow adjusting her lenses upon said sword.
"The hilt is in your hand," She points out, examining the blade newly stolen from Ann.
"If I don't see it I don't have to mend it," Snickering, Ann reasons as his eyes narrow at her pitiful excuse.
"That doesn't even make sense!" Scowling, she huffs at the amused Ann.
"Nope but still you did well." Ann compliments her.
"I-I did?" Immediately said fury fades away as a faint feverish tint crosses her cheeks.
"Yeah…for a rookie." Cheekily, Ann winks.
"Was the rookie part necessary?" Tashigi huffs pouting.
"Was that sloppy strike to my left necessary?" Smirking, Ann arches a brow.
"N-No…" Tashigi bows her head.
"Tell me something Tashigi why do you fight like that?" Curious, Ann asks as the two take a seat, Ann perched upon the stone steps, Tashigi on the sandy shores of grit below.
"Fight like what?" Tashigi adjusts her lenses.
"So recklessly. You rely heavily on speed but your strikes are rather sloppy." Sighing, Ann reports to her.
"I…I'm trying to copy your style." Shyly, she reveals taking Ann aback.
"My style?" Surprised, she points to herself.
"Yes you're known to be swift, quick I'd like to be like that!" Tashigi reveals.
"Tashigi that takes years not to mention as well you can't just copy a style." Smirking, Ann argues.
"You can't?" Confused, Tashigi looks up at her.
"No you can incorporate it into your own though like inspiration but ones style is something they must make for themselves. Don't try to be something you're not, try to be you, try to be who you want to be." Ann arises from her seat placing her hand on the girl's shoulder looking up at her.
"Who…I want to be…" Tashigi whispers weakly while Ann leaves her to it, deciding to do some training of her own…privately or so she thought.
"Whoa so cool!"
"Excuse me!?" Alarmed, Ann stops her practice motions, turning on her heel to furrow her brow by the familiar girl before her. Ann furrows her brow by the young woman with short vermilion hair, brown eyes, a band aid on her left cheek and a burn scar on the back of her hand. She wears a Marine uniform with a collared, buttoned shirt, a tie, brown gloves, shorts and heeled boots. On her shoulders she wears the standard Marine coat with "Justice" on the back.
"Apologies vice admiral!" Isuka bows her head to the annoyed Ann.
"Isuka practice is tomorrow." Tense, Ann sheathes said blade brow furrowed here he had hoped for some alone time…
"Oh I know Eep!" Clumsily, the girl steps forward fumbling however as she trips falling flat on her face.
"You okay?" Ann asks eyeing the girl below what was with her and attracting clumsy people…
"I-I'm fine still you're so cool vice admiral! Training alone that takes real dedication you're so cool you were born to be a vice admiral!" Grinning, Isuka beams brightly at Ann making her blink baffled by her bright blazing aura of light.
"Then why are you…? Were you stalking me again!?" Agitated, Ann scowls sternly staring at the redhead's habit.
"Guilty as charged I can't help it that fight you had with vice admiral Garp was so awesome the way you so easily dodged his fist of love it's like you two knew each other." In awe, Isuka continues her rant about Ann being so great baffling her, confusing her as Ann turns away feeling a strange heat pooling in her crimson cheek from such an animated girl, genuinely gushing about her befuddling her. She was a good student, a nice girl at that, she seems too thick to have an ulterior motive, or at the least too soft-hearted or naive to be up to anything.
"Considering he is my grandfather we would know one another." Ann remarks crossing her arms, not sure what to make of this small bundle of energy.
"You know what I mean it's like you knew each other's moves!" Nevertheless, Isuka continues babbling on, a part of Ann finding her earnest expression quite adorable.
"Like I said we are related and I did learn aspects from him." Robotically, she responds, turning to leave.
"So cool! I always watched your matches! You got to teach me!" Pleadingly, he begs confusing Ann as she grabs her arm.
"It isn't really cool. Its simple a battle and you will wait when it's time to train with your other marine soldiers." Bluntly, Ann refuses not wishing to teach someone, much preferring to train alone then take on someone else.
"What!? But that's tomorrow besides I saw you training with that sword chick before!" Isuka argues.
"She's a rookie I'm giving her some pointers that's all." Aloofly, Ann dismisses her.
"But it's not just a battle when you fight you know things are getting serious when the fluidity of your movements get…" Amazed, she continues to boast making Ann turn away flustered from her praise, not sure what to say not used to such compliments.
"As much as I appreciate the praise this….fangirling is quite odd." Honestly, Ann tells her trying to stop such a flustered flushed reaction of hers, it is most uncivilized and unheard of for someone of her to be in that position.
"S-Sorry I just please take me on as your apprentice!" Isuka begs bowing before Ann.
"This again…?" Annoyed, Ann holds her head at the relentless warrior.
"I'm not giving up! You're going to train me you hear me, me and you we're gonna fight! You're gonna take me under your wing!" Earnestly, Isuka beseeches Ann.
"Goodbye." Done with it all, Ann turns on her heel to leave.
"H-Hey come back here! I'll prove to you I am wor-EEEP!" Isuka tries to chase after Ann only to end up flat on her face once again…
"Portgas!" Roaring, the voice hollers as Ann arches a brow bored by the bellowing boom baffled that he even had the gall to raise his voice at the fleet admiral's office or at the least on the outside. She looks towards both the scowling Sengoku and glaring gramps, munching his rice cracker, her look alone assuring the two she could handle the moron.
"…Sakazuki. What brings you here?" Ann asks him as she exits out of Sengoku's office, noting his worried look, concern clear on his furrowed features towards her, noting her gramps glaring at the man who she doesn't even bat an eye to, simply staring ahead, a stack of paperwork underneath her arm, attempting to head back to her office however…
"Don't play dumb with me. I'm here with an answer to your little question." Sakazuki sneers storming stomping over to her, catching up to her much to her annoyance as Ann internally curses at the stubborn mad dog.
"Ah, how best to pursue enemies fleeing into mountainous terrain? Excellent! And what is your solution?" Smirking, she accepts the challenge calmly, noting a fair few eyes of marines nearby on them, her hues widening when noting Aokiji leant against the wall waiting for her, ah…she had agreed to join him for lunch last she checked…
"You let the main force rest, but send a small strike force of your best fighters. That way, you minimize risk while also having the best chance of killing the foe. What do you think about that?!" Tense, Sakazuki demands from Ann as Akainu smirks smugly at the thought, a glint gleaming glistening in his heated hue at the thought of facing a pirate at the thought of killing them slightly unnerving Ann at his severity.
"It sounds reasonable enough... But what if their retreat was just a ruse, and they littered the mountain with traps?" Tentatively, Ann offers from the top of her head huffing, ignoring the brief shy shudder of fear from the sheer intensity of his words, practically feeling the bloodlust bursting out of him from her offer.
"H-hey! You didn't say anything about traps!" Tense, Akainu angrily roars raising his voice in an attempt to trip Ann up as she simply sighs at the mess.
"Without knowing anything about the path ahead, sending anyone is a risk." Resolved, Ann states the fact firmly, in the real world, they wouldn't know about the traps unless they had the scouts.
"Yeah, and so that's why you send your best men and minimize casualties!" Cockily, Akainu crosses his arms over his chest confidently almost as if he had won something surprising her taking her aback at his cockiness.
"...Not good enough." Ann answers stating the fact firmly.
"Not good enough?!" Sakazuki snarls steam spewing out of his left arm, magma soon forming frightening a fair few onlooks as Ann notes Aokiji straightening slightly as Ann simply stares ahead at the moron undeterred unfazed by the bully before her.
"Sengoku and I aren't trying for fewer casualties, Akainu. We're trying for none. Anytime we lose a fighter, the operation is a failure—no matter the end result. Your plan is a compromise we're just not willing to take." Tense, Ann admits stating the fact firmly trying to get it through the thickhead of the fool.
"Are you serious?! You think you can win a war with pretty ideals and zero casualties? Wake up! You think the war fairy is gonna come flying over and sprinkle victory dust everywhere? Pirates are a plague, a plague we need to wipe out any means necessary!" Mockingly, Akainu angrily berates the blonde below brow furrowing from his words.
"Do you even consider what those words mean?" Icily, Ann demands from him taking him aback.
"What do you think I mean? I said what I said." Seriously, Sakazuki argues.
"Any means implies the sacrifice of innocent lives!" Ann argues frustration flowing through her baffled by his reasoning, alarmed almost at it seeing Sengoku's reasoning far more clearly, she knew he was an ass but this…now she didn't feel so bad about breaking his arm a while back.
"If innocent lives are tied with pirates then they aren't so innocent." Akainu states what he worriedly thinks is a fact firmly frankly flabbergasting Ann.
"You ever heard of blackmail?" Bluntly, Ann places her hand to her hip.
"If they are weak enough to fall for that then they aren't worth it." Aloofly, Akainu answers as Ann ignores the urged to just deck him right there and then.
"That sort of thinking is what leads to more wars." Ann sneers scowling at him.
"This is war." Akainu asserts aggressively leering down at her.
"Oh don't be so dramatic it's a group of pirates huddled in a cave we can deal with it there's no need for such extremes for a small group of pirates." Scoffing, she waves him off dismissing him turning on her heel to leave.
"How do we know they're small what if that's a cover!?" Cross, he roars raising his voice trying to catch up to her.
"You're being a bit paranoid don't you think?" Tiredly, she looks over her shoulder scowling at him.
"You shouldn't take such scum lightly one ship may have an entire fleet behind them!" Tense, he roars raising his voice to her once more.
"We're done here." Aloofly, Ann orders dismissing him.
"Who the hell are you to tell me we're done? Portgas! Oi Portgas!" Sakazuki snarls scowling raising his voice about to step forward about to chase after her, drag her back to see reason when his hues widen when a familiar tall towering figure steps out, his hues narrow at the man with the marine jacket, his stern shades scowling glaring at Akainu, no words needing to be shared between both men, getting the message loud and clear. Sakazuki scowls, watching as Aokiji calmly joins Ann's side her not even batting an eye to him firmly focusing on words, sharing words now and again as they head to the lunch hall.
"How goes the paperwork, Ann?" Amused, a familiar voice calls out as Ann simply scowls at the voice alone already feeling the sharp sting of her head aching from the voice alone already feeling the headache begin to surface, begin to form, begin to take root from the voice alone. Ann didn't know what to make of the gaudy golden man before her, he was an enigma you could never tell what was on his mind which Ann hated, despised sure she felt the same towards Aokiji a bit due to how hard of a read he was but she adjusted to it, she knew he meant well deep down, Kizaru however was a whole other ball game, a whole other league, a whole other galaxy that Ann did not have the energy for.
"It's Portgas to you Kizaru." Curtly, Ann states the fact firmly, focusing on the paperwork below, ignoring the urge to vomit just form the creepy old man before her.
"So cold Ann-chan so cold. You've been spending too much time with Aokiji-kun." Cheekily, the man in gold plops himself down on
"Shove off." Ann sneers scowling at the fool.
"Not even offering me some tea so cold!" Lazily, the man drapes his arms around the sofa stretching out, one leg over the other.
"Get it yourself." Ann huffs, not batting an eye to the fool firmly focusing on her work.
"So mean!" Mischievously, he whines while she simply tries to do her work.
"So you could repeating." Rudely, Ann sneers scowling slamming stabbing her pen down upon the paperwork below a part of her cursing to see said sheet below be impaled fully, seeing the ink smear stain across the paper seeing the hole form from the vicious hit she had influenced upon the peaceful paper sheet a part of her feeling a tad bit guilty at letting her anger get the best of her in that moment.
"Your form is as lovely as ever." Kizaru compliments Ann as Ann grits her teeth, flinching form his words, repulsed from it, holding in another wave of nausea hitting her hard in the side screaming at her to just spew, to just let the vomit out but she refused, refusing to let the man win, she places the back of her hand to her nose trying to stop herself from doing anything unwise.
"What do you want, Kizaru?" Done, Ann holds her head brow furrowing.
"You could use a break from training. What say you and me go have some fun." Flirtatiously, Kizaru offers as Ann ignores the sickening sensation to vomit, feeling the coy chunks of her food crawling climbing up her tense throat, feeling as if the acidic chunks digging deep into the walls of her throat climbing up, trying to use the geyser of acid stinging her throat to spew out into the open air.
"I'm afraid to ask what your idea of fun entails." Frowning, Ann holds her throat tense, trying to massage it, trying to calm her throat, trying to stop it from doing anything unwise at the older man.
"Madam, you wound me! A chaste cup of tea was all I had in mind. Perhaps some cake. Eating sweets is a proven pick-me-up, and you owe it to your exhausted body!" Bemused, Borsalino offers as Ann seemingly squirms from his words feeling as if someone was walking over her grave, the man was like 20 years her senior she assumed as she couldn't help but place the back of her hand over her mouth now, trying to stop the vomit from spewing out.
"Pass. Now if you're done talking, I have a training regimen to get back to. ...As should you." Assertively, Ann orders brow furrowed fury flowing through her at the fool's mind games, he was messing with her, he was that sort of person he was like a cat if he found a mouse, he wouldn't kill it right away he'd mess with it, he'd torture it, he'd play with it until he grew bored. She knew him as the definition of an enigma no one could get a read off him, no one and that was what made him so terrifying.
"Ouch! That hurts. All work and no play makes Ann a dull...um...Ann. If you don't blow off steam every once in a while, you'll explode!" Borsalino points out as Ann couldn't help but scoff internally at his attempt at feigning concern, the man didn't care, he wanted information that's it, that's what Ann thought why else would he want to invite out a girl like 20 year his junior it was weird, he was weird this was so…so weird.
"Working isn't stressful. It's fun...listening to you is stressful." Snippily, Ann argues, sure she was lying a bit but still she was lying for her own safety to avoid being with him, to avoid being near him, this was gross, he was gross, all of this was so, so, so gross.
"Oh, come on! It'll be a blast! I'll pay." Playfully, he offers smirking smugly at Ann disgust drenched on her furrowed features.
"Go. Away. Now." Scowling, she orders him, brow furrowed fuming, feeling fury flow through her veins, feeling her muscles tense up.
"Fine. Fiiiiiine! I'll just go eat cake by myself, then. But I'll be back tomorrow! Just you wait! Tauntingly, he shoves his hands into his pockets turning to leave, bowing his head winking at Ann as he leaves, where as soon as he does, Ann slams her hand down upon the desk disgusted, releasing shy shudders coursing down her spine, dry heaving almost as she grimaces feeling nothing but grossness as she tries to deal with it all, a part of her looking over towards a familiar sheath to her side, eyeing it.
"...I wonder if Sengoku would mind if I stabbed him?" Ann couldn't help but ponder to herself glaring at the back of the tall towering ignore that was the yellow monkey of the marines.
Quietly, the soft shining light of the lamp on the desk stands tall before the tired dishevelled blonde staring sombrely down upon the papers littered about the desk. Her brow furrowed as she stares at the papers, her weary browns twitching slightly. She pinches the bridge of her nose, ignoring the sharp sting to her blurry vision. She had to focus, she had to, she had to…
Ann shakes her head brushing it off as she reaches out to the mug by her side, softly sipping from the rim of the cup., trying to focus on the task at hand with the quick boost to her systems. She is oblivious to the soft sound of footsteps hitting the wooden floor below as the tall towering familiar figure wanders through the hallways of HQ at night, his hues narrow noting the shy stream of light emitting from a familiar office. Curiosity gets the best of the vice admiral peering in, furrowing his brow when seeing the blonde by her desk.
"Bit late to be working eh Ann?" Surprised, Ann jolts up at the voice turning to see the small smirk of Ann, exhaustion etched into his fatigued facial features paling in comparisons to the woman opposite him. He looks down at the mess below.
"No rest for the wicked Kuzan." Aloofly, Ann brushes him off making him furrow his brow.
"Well I wouldn't call you wicked." Kuzan offers.
"Some would beg to differ." Drained, Ann hollowly heckles making Kuzan furrow his brow.
"…You shouldn't push yourself so hard." Kuzan approaches her side, wrapping his arms around her bringing her into a side hug making her sigh bowing her head, feeling her head begin nodding off before she quickly corrects herself, forcing herself not to doze in his arms.
"I'm not pushing myself." Mumbling, she grumbles slowly lowering her pen.
"The bags beg to differ." Kuzan leans down placing his hands on either side of her facial features, his thumb gently pressing into her cheek slightly drawing patterns into the side of her head, gently pulling her bags down, concern clear on his face.
"Have you looked at yourself lately? Look just five more minutes and…I'll go rest." Ann assures Kuzan.
"And I can believe that?" Kuzan furrows his brow down at her, grabbing hold of a nearby chair alerting Ann.
"Kuzan…what are you doing?" Lost, Ann furrows her brow at the lazybones leaning back.
"I'm staying until you're done." Determined, Kuzan crosses his arms over his chest cross.
"Kuzan you have work tomorrow you can't afford to be tired." Truthfully, Ann tells him.
"And you can?" Kuzan huffs crossing his arms over his chest.
"It's just paperwork." Ann argues.
"Exactly, you could come back to people berating you for your sloppy paper work." Kuzan warns her.
"You think my paperwork is sloppy?" Scowling, her eyes narrow glaring, glowering at him.
"In your state I'm surprised drool is not on here." Honestly, Kuzan remarks, his hues narrowing at the stacks upon snowy stacks of white.
"Kuzan…just go home you got a tough day tomorrow." Annoyed, Ann pinches the bridge of her nose.
"Nope." Resolute, Kuzan leans back in his seat.
"Kuzan." Ann scowls at him.
"No." Kuzan refuses.
"Urgh…fine just let me finish this." Tiredly, she sighs at him.
"I'll sign these while I'm here." He takes the completed stacks of paper Ann had done prior just needing to be signed off.
"You're tired." Ann argues.
"So are you." Kuzan argues.
"…Fine." Sighing, she gives in as he too joins her side, the two soon standing going over to the sofa as if it were clockwork, the two leaning against one another, doing their paperwork for the night as soon enough, Kuzan feels the heavy weight slumped over his back as he wraps his arms around her bringing her into the dark depths of sleep once again…
"Hey Saul…" Casually, Ann approaches the giant curiosity getting the best of her.
"Oh hey Ann what is it?" Happily, he greets her.
"Just curious, have you ever defeated an army of 10,000 soldiers all by yourself? It seems unlikely, but..." Curious, Ann asks him.
"What?! Who told you that?" Alarmed, Saul furrows his brow by the rumour.
"I also heard that you once tossed a man so far into the sky that he never came down." Ann adds.
"No. Of course not." Saul states the fact firmly.
"Ah…sorry for asking." Ann scratches the back of her head.
"Are you surprised?" Shyly, Saul queries.
"Nah not really I mean you're sort of a softie seeing you act out like that…maybe for a job or something…still sorry." Ann repeats brow furrowed.
"It's OK. Happens all the time." Tense, Saul smiles strained.
"Is that so? Well, that makes me feel even worse." Ann admits brow furrowed from it all.
"Please, don't. I know that my appearance can be off-putting. And for some reason, the stories about me spread like wildfire." Saul sighs softly scratching the back of his neck.
"Well, to be fair, they are good stories." Smirking, Ann argues amused.
"Oh? What's the latest you've heard?" Saul smiles shyly.
"That...that you blew on a volcano to stop it from erupting..." Ann chuckles coyly.
"False." Saul confirms.
"That you forged an axe with your bare hands..." Haughty, Ann adds.
"False." Saul smiles.
"That you punched a bear in the face..." Ann throws in.
"I would never! Who's been spreading that slander about me!? Anyway, I'm sorry that I don't really live up to my reputation." Sadly, Saul bows his head.
"Saul, please don't apologize. I think I'd like to learn more about who you really are, if that's all right." Ann asks hopeful.
"What?!" Saul says shocked.
"Did I say something wrong?" Ann quirks her head to the side.
"No, I'm just surprised. You're the first person to express that kind of interest in me." Saul smiles shyly.
"Well, that's a shame. Because you seem like a nice guy." Ann admits.
"Ha. I suppose I am. Thanks for not being scared of me, Ann." Saul smiles shyly at Ann.
"Don't thank me for something that should be normal. Hell thanks for being so understanding with the rumours." Ann returns amused as she soon leaves him to it, returning to her work.
Peacefully, Ann leans back in her seat softly sighing, relieved to have this brief moment of peace, of tranquilly of calmness as she softly sips her tea trying to enjoy this rare moment of time. It was rare for her to have this moment to herself, no work to do, all work having been filed, all responsibilities she was to tend to tended, all her goals for the day…completed.
Softly, she smiles leaning back in her seat swerving it from side to side enjoying the plum pillows of the chair behind beaming from ear to ear feeling at ease at peace. Softly, she raises the newly made cup of green tea slowly blowing it, seeing steam spewing out from the cup of green tea. This was nice, these moments were what she longed for most…
"What if we sent a scout group by air?!" Angrily, the sharp slide of the door swiftly shatters said moment of peace much to the frustration of Ann, her hues narrowing noting the boiling searing sensation of her wrist throbbing.
"Hello to you to Sakazuki would you like tea…" Tense, Ann sneers scowling holding her wrist.
"Of course bloody not!" Sakazuki snaps scowling down at the annoyed Ann.
"Just trying to make up for your lack of social etiquette." Aloofly, Ann huffs reaching to her draw for some sort of tissue.
"Just listen, these scouts they map out the area, nail down the pirates position, and sniff out any traps. Then slaughter then we'll even send a ground force to take out the enemy." Smirking, Sakazuki answers as Ann attempts to clean her desk, done.
"...That is a nuanced, well-considered plan. I'm quite impressed!" Irritated, Ann gives him that.
"Right? The aerial units just avoid archers, and the ground troops aren't going in blind. It's the perfect scheme!" Smugly, Sakazuki remarks.
"It's a B+ plan, with an A+ for effort!" Amused, Ann leans back in her seat smirking crossing her arms over her chest seeing him flinch.
"... B PLUS?!" Perturbed, Sakazuki snarls growling glaring down at the girl, his arm coated crimson, magma dripping down, searing the carpet below before making a hole in it.
"It's a great idea, but the scenario we ran at that meeting lacked scout support. In this hypothetical situation, there ARE no scouts or...whatever to send. That's why we decided not to pursue the enemy in the first place." Pointedly, Ann sighs staring down at the many other floors below the hole having been formed by the magma arm as Ann simply stares unfazed.
"Y-you can't do this! You can't keep making up new rules all the time! We should just kill thse pirate scum! This is a waste of the marine time, just going in there and killing those scum is what would work best!" Scowling, Sakazuki snaps snarls even enraged as Ann simply sighs.
"Oh, I wouldn't call it a waste and you think something so simple would work?" Ann arches a brow at the fool.
"The most basic of principles came from somewhere!" Scowling, Sakazuki sneers.
"You have a point, the most basic ideas those we don't want to take lightly would not consider. Considering a problem from different angles often leads to useful discoveries. In fact, your answers have given me ideas for new strategies down the line but simply rushing in to murder some pirates is ridiculous what if they had a devil fruit user? Without such background checks how can we ensure the safety of those stuck in the crossfire?" Ann demands from Sakazuki seething snarling about to open his mouth, about to retort no doubt about to say something else ridiculous, Ann assumed as she prepares for it until hearing the soft slide of the door taking her aback as she then takes note of the sudden shy chill coursing down her spine. Surprised, she sees Sakazuki turn on his heel, her joining him however while her hues widen his narrow, glaring glowering at the tall towering figure of Aokiji as soft smoke spew out of his lips from the breeze brisk escaping his lips, noting the icy sheet growing from below.
"Okay could you two with your elements leave? You're ruining my office." Ann announces as she frowns at the two trying to get them to stop only to falter furrowing her brow by the still silence she received in return noting the two men are seemingly in a standoff with one another.
"She's using you!" He snippily spits out before the man with magma makes his way off leaving the tired Ann and Aokiji alone. Ann furrows her brow befuddled baffled by the strange stare down of sorts, she didn't need to be saved she could take care of herself but still she doesn't ask, noting the hole now filled with a icy layer as Aokiji simply plops himself down, gently taking her hand.
"Did he hurt you?" Aokiji asks seriously scowling at where he once stood softly taking her wrist.
"If he had, I don't think I would have a hand." Honestly, Ann answers as he tugs her sleeve upwards frowning at her burn.
"…" Aokiji glares glowers down at her burnt wrist.
"It was the tea." Tenderly, she assures Aokiji feeling his grip tighten around her wrist.
"…" Aokiji stares down at the hand her hues widening when feeling a familiar shy shudder as his ice calmly coats her hand, steam spewing, trying to counteract the brisk burn.
"It's fine." Firmly, Ann assures Aokiji simply staring up at the silent stoic Aokiji as he simply sighs. He reaches for the fridge taking out some bottle water and a piece of fabric, a handkerchief of sorts softly applying the water to the fabric.
"Aokiji I can…" Ann begins but it falls to deaf ears as he gently places the moist handkerchief of sorts applying it to the burn making her hiss briefly by it but remains firmly on the burn, trusting her as the two return to their respective seats continuing their work as per usual…
"Oh, hey, Benny! I didn't expect to see anyone out here. Er...what exactly are you doing?" Ann asks as she quirks her head to the side seeing her friend outside the lunch hall once more crouched down looking down at the grass below.
"Hello, Ann nothing much." Saul smiles shyly feeding the birds below.
"Huh… I can't believe that wild animals would let you get so close, though... You're practically petting that squirrel!" Smiling, Ann points out impressed.
"Who, Charles here? He's one of my friends. He'll let me pet him anytime. See? I've always been able to relate to these animals better than humans." Happily, Saul smiles showing said squirrel climbing up his shoulder seeing some birds perched upon his shoulder.
"Aww. That's cute. Man when I was a kid I wished I could have done the same." Sighing, Ann admits.
"Why not?" Saul queries.
"Well I tried when I was a kid but I'd get impatient and scare them off." Ann admits recalling her battle of patience often scaring the birds away with her leg thumbing against the seat she would be perched upon unable to really befriend the teeny tiny creatures below before running off, finding some random tiger or beast to befriend or well she says befriend it would normally start with them trying to kill her, her trying to kill them or at the least trying to survive.
"Honestly, Saul, I just can't believe the reputation you've acquired. It doesn't fit your real personality at all." Ann admits brow furrowed at the giant.
"I suppose the tales have taken on a life of their own. Anyway, I'm glad I ran into you. Here, take this." Saul smiles softly handing her something.
"What is it?" She raises a brow by the cowboy like hat an orange one with some smiley faces on, a happy and sad face with a blue base.
"Consider it a...good-luck charm." Smiling, Saul tells her as Ann couldn't help but gawk at the craftsmanship.
"Did you make this yourself? Why give it to me?" Mystifed, Ann asks touched by the gift.
"I just... I don't want you to die. And maybe this can help you stay safe on the battlefield." Beaming, Saul smiles shyly.
"Well...that's pretty morbid. But also quite thoughtful. Thank you, Benny." Smiling, she props the hat on herself.
"It's nothing..." Saul dismisses.
"No, it's not. You made this by hand...for me! I'll treasure it always." Ann assures him happily.
"I'm glad to hear that." Saul smiles.
"I just want to see you come out of your shell a little bit, Saul. You might not be the smoothest talker around, but you're kind and generous. People shouldn't be afraid of you." Ann sighs sadly at her friend noting the lack of people sat by him.
"Well, I don't know about that... But I'm glad that you're not afraid of me anymore, Ann." Saul admits.
"Who said I was scared of you?" Ann arches a brow baffled by it.
"Well the rumours…" Saul begins but…
"Saul I was just curious about the rumours, I've never felt fear towards you never. Now mind me joining you for lunch?" Ann admits as a small smile crosses the touched Saul.
"S-Sure!" Saul smiles from ear to ear at the thought as the two enjoy lunch together…
"I'll be safe... I'll be dead... I'll be safe... I'll be dead..."
"Isuka, what are you doing?" Ann asks Isuka brow furrowed at the girl at the table firmly focusing on the petite petals scattered about the desk in the lunch hall.
"Oh, just seeing how I'll get on in the next battle." Beaming, Isuka looks up at Ann.
"...By pulling petals off a flower?" Frowning, Ann arches a brow befuddled by the equipment below.
"Yes...Why? Is that strange?" Isuka asks her mentor.
"Well, no stranger than any other attempt to foretell the future, I suppose. I don't put much stock in horoscopes. Fate is what you make it, I always say." Sighing, Ann attempts to explain to Isuka.
"I wish I was as strong as you, Portgas." Isuka admits sighing softly sadly even.
"How so?" Ann arches a brow by her words.
"You have so much confidence in yourself you actually think you can control even fate. I'm just thrilled if I can walk through camp without tripping on a stool." Sighing, Isuka bows her head.
"Our only limits are the ones we place on ourselves." Ann asserts.
"But..." Isuka begins but…
"In fact, it's time you got rid of yours. First rule: no more flower fortunes." Firmly, Ann tells her.
"What!? But how will I—" Isuka begins brow furrowed panic pumping through her veins.
"Second rule: no questions! You don't need some weed to tell you what to do, Isuka. You control your own destiny. Trust me on this." Ann places her hand on her pupil's shoulder.
"Er, okay..." Obediently, Isuka bows her head as she cleans up her flower set as Ann perks up at a marine approaching.
Mam Sengoku wants a word…" The marine, Gion, she recognises saluting her.
Right thanks." Ann bows her head, heading off towards said meeting.
"…A ball?" Befuddled, Ann arches a brow by the report.
"Yep seems we're going to be guarding one for some nobles." Garp grumbles by her side.
"….Great some stuck up world nobles acting like they are above us…" Ann huffs.
"Yeah seems we'll be dealing with scum like that." Garp agrees handing her a rice cracker.
"You two are way too blunt…" Rosinante sweat drops at the unapologetic two eating their respective rice cracker.
"We're just saying how it is. Anyway how's the food situation?" Ann asks.
"Food situation?" Rosinante furrows his brow at the two.
"The only thing that's keeping me there." Trustfully, Ann deadpans.
"You sure it wouldn't be to be with a certain someone." Smirking, Garp remarks.
"…Eh?" Ann turns to furrow her brow at him but…
"They say that some nobles will ask to dance with certain vice admirals but that doesn't stop marines from dancing with fellow marines." Rosinante reveals to them.
"Ah Smokey here's your chance to wow Hina with your dance moves!" Ann calls out to the man walking by.
"It's Smoker!" Snarling, he roars at her.
"Not denying the dance with Hina then!" Teasingly, she smirks.
"I will end you Portgas!" Smoker snarls.
"Aw love you too Smokey!" Smirking, she waves him off watching him storm off.
"He's going to kill you one day." Rosinante sweat drops at his friend.
"That's a long line he's going to have to get behind." Bemused, Ann argues.
"I think what this moron means is you could be looking forward to dance with a certain someone." Rosinante hints.
"…I don't though." Truthfully, Ann deadpans, she didn't really dance sure she danced as a kid when they were celebrating but none of that formal stuff.
"Of course you do." Rosinante exclaims.
"I do?" Ann furrows her brow.
"How oblivious are you?" Garp furrows his brow down at his granddaughter before sighing shoving another rice cracker in his mouth as the trio continue conversing on what was to come…
"Hello there, Portgas. Are you looking for something?" Aokiji asks as he has his back turned to his sofa, staring up at the glaring glowering Ann, her arms crossed scowling down at the moron below.
"You could say that. I'm looking for someone named Aokiji who's been skipping war meetings again." Agitated, Ann places a hand to her hip.
"I see. Well, congratulations, you've found him. Did you want him for something in particular?" Aokiji asks her.
"What else could bring me here other than your complete negligence?" Ann scowls down at her.
"Well, perhaps you're interested in going out on a stroll with me." Aokiji offers as Ann's hue twitches tense.
"I doubt that bicycle is fit for two." Tense, she snaps scowling down at the idiot.
"I can make room if you'd like." Smirking, he offers.
"What I'd like is for you to do your damn job. You know, if you ever truly applied yourself, you could become a admiral." Annoyed, Ann sighs at the mess before her, he knew it just as she did.
"Your gramps doesn't need to be an admiral who says I do." Aokiji asserts.
"You're not my grandfather though now are you?" Ann argues.
"Am I?" Cheekily, he remarks.
"Quit joking dumbass!" Scowling, she pinches his cheek.
"Why would I busy myself with such tedious work?" Huffing, he waves her hand off him.
"Why would you busy yourself with sleeping when you could be going out there helping people?" Pointedly, she rebukes.
"…" Silently, he stares up at her.
"You slept through the whole meeting, didn't you?" Ann sighs removing her hand from his side, she knew him well enough, she recognised the signs in the meeting.
"Something about pirates right?" Aloofly, Aokiji shrugs.
"Urgh…it was about a ball idiot!" Incensed, Ann scowls at the unfazed marine.
"That so…" Softly, he makes Ann exhale exasperated, holding her head just done.
"…fine. I'll summarize it for you…" Ann huffs hands on hips too tired to yell.
"Knew I could count on you princess." Pleased, Kuzan smirks slightly leaning back in his seat as Ann's hues twitch tiredly, too tired to correct the ass as she once again fills him in on a meeting he slept through…
"Hey, Saul! You'd better thank me!" Ann calls out smirking suavely at Saul.
"OK... thanks." Saul says to her befuddled.
"Not YET, numskull! I haven't told you what you should thank me for!" Ann sighs shaking her head at him.
"That's true. Why should I thank you?" Saul quirks his head to the side.
"I put a stop to those tall tales going around." Ann tells him.
"The one about me and the volcano?" Saul recalls.
"What other one is there?! So now everyone knows you never stopped blew a volcano or beat a whole army with… any number of hands. Heck the one about you throwing some ship is gone…hopefully." Ann places her hand to her hip brow furrowing.
"Oh. You're right... I should thank you for that." Saul gives her that.
"Let me tell you, it wasn't easy. For some stupid reason, everyone was absolutely convinced you'd done it. It wouldn't shock me if there are STILL people who believe the story and not me." Ann admits.
"I'm sorry you had to go to all that trouble just for me." Meekly, Saul bows his head.
"It wasn't any trouble besides felt like I ought to repay you considering our conversation prior." Ann argues.
"You didn't know…" Saul reminds her.
"Yeah but a part of me thought it was real like a naive side thought that's awesome." Ann confesses.
"I bet I disappointed you then." Saul smiles sadly.
"Not at all if anything I don't know where the rumours came from maybe missions you did? You know Chinese whispers and all that jazz…" Aloofly, Ann waves her hand in the air dismissively.
"I think it's due to me being a giant." Saul sighs sadly.
"Eh?" Ann blurts out.
"Due to being a giant many assume I'm from Elbaf so they just think I'm some battle hardened warrior but I don't agree with Elbaf's bloody ways not one bit." Sadly, Saul confesses.
"Ah…that sucks. Hey if its anything you're not alone I probably have all sorts of rumours about me." Ann assumes.
"Oh you do." Bluntly, a familiar voice calls out.
"Sorry was I including you?" Ann's hues narrow at the ass leant against the wall waiting for her.
"Just saying." Simply, he shrugs.
"Saying what exactly…?" Ann sneers scowling, her hues narrowing.
"I thought you didn't care?" Coyly, Kuzan leans down towards Ann bemused by her sharp scowl.
"And I thought you would actually do work now spill." Ann crosses her arms over her chest glaring back at the ass unaware of the smiling Saul watching the two bemused by them.
"Some say you're like a demon some say you sold yourself to the top some say you threated yourself to the top there's even some legend about you fighting Whitebeard." Aokiji recalls.
"…That so." Ann's hues narrow twitching tense from his words.
"Guess I'm not the only one with rumours." Saul smiles sheepishly.
"Course everyone has them but if its anything you're not alone." Ann offers.
"Oh?" Saul raises a brow.
"I mean you have D in your name right?" Ann recalls.
"Yeah my whole family do." Saul nods his head.
"So do I. Seems us D's gotta stick together right?" Ann smirks up at Saul.
"Do you hear how stupid you sound?" Sighing, Kuzan huffs.
"Do you hear how idiotic you sound!?" Scowling, Ann barks back as Saul smiles watching the two return to the normal bickering between both of them…
"Well met, Isuka. How are you doing?" Ann asks her student furrowing her brow by the redhead suddenly shooting up from her seat scared almost alarmed at the sheer sight of Ann.
"Oh! H-hi vice admiral Ann! I'm great! Wonderful, actually! Thanks for asking!" Anxiously, Isuka smiles strained at the frowning Ann.
"...What's the matter?" Mystifed, Ann asks brow furrowed.
"The matter? Ha ha ha ha! Oh, you and your matter!" Merrily, Isuka forces out a strange strangle of a laugh.
"You're hiding something behind your back." Bluntly, Ann deadpans.
"Hm? Hiding something? Oh, no, I don't think so. I just like to streeeeeetch my arms like this...Ahhh..." Anxiously, Isuka tries to hide however the swear sliding down her tense temple tells a different story.
"You're doing flower fortunes again, aren't you?" Ann sighs furrowing her brow at her.
"N-no! That's insane! You're talking to an insane person!" Panicked, Isuka glances to the side shyly.
"Then show me." Ann orders.
"Show you what? I don't have anythi—" Isuka insists but…
"Isuka." Annoyed, Ann calls out brow furrowed making the girl flinch from her stern strict tone.
"Okay! Here! Take it!" Isuka bows her head pained.
"You promised you'd stop this nonsense, remember?" Ann sighs at her.
"No, I didn't promise anything! You just ordered me to! You don't understand, vice admiral Portgas! I NEED my fortunes!" Firmly, Isuka argues.
"Why?" Ann asks baffled.
"Because they give me hope, and that inspires me to do my best." Beaming, Isuka reveals.
"But what if you get a bad fortune?" Frowning, Ann argues.
"Oh, I just keep trying until a good one pops up again!" Animatedly, Isuka responds making Ann sweat drop at the supposed solution.
"Well...if they're that important to you..." Ann sighs softly.
"Oh, but they are! You'll see! I'll show you how much they help." Happily, Isuka promises proudly.
"I still disapprove of such superstitious nonsense, but if you insist..." Ann dismisses done.
"Yay! Thanks, vice admiral! You won't regret it!" Isuka promises.
"I told you to quit it with the honorifics Isuka." Ann sighs at the girl too happy in a world of her own relieved to be back with her fortune telling as Ann simply leaves the girl to it.
"Tee hee hee!" The cheery chuckle echoes throughout the office as Ann enters her office arching a brow by her friend's impish smile.
"Someone's cheerful today." Ann arches a brow by her friend nothing the beli in her hand.
"Seem the Anzan betting pool's getting more interesting." Bell smirks smugly down at the money in her hands.
"That's shit still going on?" Ann huffs plopping herself down on her seat scowling.
"Course it is, it's only gotten more fun now you know your gramps is in it." Bell tells the scowling Ann.
"Of course he bloody is let me guess something about grandkids." Ann places her head in her hands exhausted etched into her fatigued facial features.
"He that easy to read?" Bell smirks one leg over the other.
"If you mean he's that predictable yes." Ann glares to the side scowling.
"That's great! You know I could cut you some belli if you help me out." Bell drapes her arm over her friend.
"Yeah no." Smoothly, she rejects removing the arm from her shoulder.
"Aw come on!" Bell whines playfully at her friend.
"You're lucky I'm letting this thing continue...So long as I wasn't one of the suckers who fell for it you're good." Grumpily, Ann huffs shaking her head at her friend's antics not really wanting to get involved in all that, too tired as it were with paperwork to even think of shutting something so stupid down, to waste her time would only fuel them further into betting, it was like a bunch of children bulling a kid, they want your reaction, your attention if you don't give it they'll stop biting eventually like fish to bait…
"Hey, if you don't know the game, you shouldn't make the deal! But don't worry. It wasn't you. ...Ah, there's nothing like the feeling of when the coins hit your hand." Happily, Bell promises her friend.
"If you say so." Sighing, she dismisses her fried trying to turn back to her paper but…
"Oh, I do! I tell ya, the path to happiness is paved with gold!" Bell boasts.
"...But there are some things money can't buy. Important things." Tentatively, Ann argues.
"Pffft. That's a load of bull plop! And even if it was true, money makes you care less about not having those things." Bell dismisses.
"I don't know... You do know there are things money can't buy, right?" Ann repeats her point.
"Well, everyone says that, but it's not really true. Money can buy loyalty. It can buy safety...Power...Strength. Even love is for sale, if the price is right." Resolved, Bell lists from the top of her hand.
"You can't possibly believe that." Ann scoffs.
"Believe it? Heck, I've SEEN it! I can't tell you how many men I've had to turn away. Besides, even the noblest soul considers finances when looking for a partner. No one wants to marry a broke joker, no matter how sweet he might be." Bell-mère reveals to Ann.
"I don't... Hmm..." Ann begins but soon stops herself brow furrowing not quite sure where to go from this conversation.
"Or say there was a guy you were completely in love with. What would you do? Take him to nice restaurants... Buy him expensive gifts... That's money at work right there... And there's nothing wrong with it!" Bluntly, Bell-mère points out.
"I suppose your argument has some merit, though it still seems extreme. And even if true, isn't it kind of... I don't know. Sad?" Sighing, she argues, Ann wasn't the sort to waste money that rapidly, then again she didn't really know much on dating to begin with, could she really make a statement without having any experience in the matter, sure she had a fair few offers of such thigs but she always declined, one she was busy, two she didn't even know the guys half the time that is if they even made it past her old man and third, well…she couldn't exactly just tell someone that just like that.
"Look, I'd love to live in a rainbow-sprinkle world where money didn't matter, too. But it's important to be realistic about things, even when reality isn't pretty." Pointedly, Bell sighs sadly.
"I guess that's fair..." Ann gives her that not quite sure what to say as she and Bell soon leave, having matters to tend to when…
"Vice Admiral Ann! I demand one more round!" Resolved, Tashigi roars raising her blade to the bored Ann attempting to head to her office paperwork in hand, Bell by her side.
"She doesn't give up does she?" Smirking, Bell remarks.
"Just take these to my office." Ann sighs softly handing the paperwork over to Bell.
"It's gonna cost ya!" Bemused, Bell winks while Ann rolls her hues at her friend heading off.
"…All right. But this is honestly the last and final time. Truly." Tiredly, Ann asserts brow furrowed at Tashigi.
"Then have at you!" Tashigi raises her blade ready for the fight ahead as Ann simply stares at the girl bored brow furrowed.
"...You've lost." Ann asserts aloofly astonishing Tashigi.
"What?! We've not even started!" Scowling, Tashigi argues annoyed.
"Look at your stance. You're too tense. You've lost before you've begun." Bluntly, Ann gestures to her stance.
"Are you mocking me, vice admiral!" Annoyed, Tashigi demands.
"No, I'm informing you. That's the stance of someone relying solely on brute force. It won't work on me." Ann states the fact firmly.
"A hollow boast! But let's see how you handle... THIS!" Tashigi lunges forward oblivious to the crowd forming as she soon gasps as with the flick of the wrist.
"...Gwaaagh?! S-so fast! How did you—" Taken aback, Tashigi gawks gapes at her now fallen form seeing her blade now in the hand of Ann.
"You seem to forgo any tactic beyond blindly charging your foe. If so, you'd best get used to this bite of steel at your throat." Tiredly, Ann places Tashigi's blade to said throat teasingly touching it making Tashigi gulps eyeing said blade before grimacing.
"...I yield." Tashigi bows her head ashamed almost as Ann sighs.
"..." Silently, she stares down at the girl below brow furrowed.
"I challenged you with the idea of gauging your skills. But instead, I find my own prowess has been called into question...when you said I relied on brute force, it...upset me." Tashigi admits.
"You're a talented fighter, Tashigi I did tell you to try your own method of swordsmanship, but brute force is not just the way with styles it takes combinations, it takes time. You won't find your answer in one week. You're a good swordswoman but you're just...reckless. I only know your weakness because I've watched your work. However, I'm hardly the best this world has to offer. Some opponents will see you coming a mile away. You won't stand a chance." Calmly, Ann explains to Tashigi taken aback at her analysis.
"..." Tashigi grits grinds her teeth together tense from her words while the crowd around stare in awe at it as a certain tall, towering figure watches on.
"Perhaps I spoke too harshly. Forgive me...I'll leave you to your thoughts." Tentatively, Ann sighs softly setting the blade back over to Tashigi before leaving heading back to the office to continue her work…or so she had hoped.
"You've been looking strong and confident these past few days, Isuka…" Smiling, Ann approaches Isuka tending to her training.
"It's all because of my flower fortunes. I told you they helped!" Happily, Isuka smiles at An.
"Yes, I suppose I'm going to have to just accept them. Still I wish I understood why they held such sway over you." Ann confesses.
"Remember when you said I had to stop? Well, I did—for a bit, at least. But the whole time, I felt confused and...adrift." Isuka attempts to explain to Ann.
"Why?" Ann's hues narrow.
"Do you know how scary it is to go through life without knowing what'll happen next?" Isuka disputes.
"Er, actually, that's pretty much the human condition." Curtly, Ann deadpans.
"Not if you use fortunes!" Firmly, Isuka disputes.
"You know fortunes are random, right? They have zero basis in fact." Frowning, Ann deadpans.
"You're missing the point! They don't have to be right!" Isuka tells her astonishing Ann.
"They don't?" Ann quirks her head to the side.
"If the fortune is good, you work hard to keep things the same so it won't change. And if it's a bad fortune, then you work hard to change things so you can avoid it! Either way, you end up working to make the future how you want it." Isuka explains to Ann.
"That is...the most sensible nonsense I have ever heard." Honestly, Ann admits brow furrowed.
"The fortunes motivate me to keep doing my very best!" Beaming, Isuka cheers cheerfully.
"Hmm...I think I see it now. I saw fortune-telling as a way to avoid taking responsibility for your future. But the way you use it is the exact opposite..." Ann admits sighing softly recalling her father often telling her not to believe in fortunes, though that was mainly fortunes about her and her love life according to her uncle Rayleigh.
"Exactly! The funny thing is, I never even realized it until you made me quit. So even if your advice was completely terrible, it was still useful in the end!" Smiling, Isuka beams brightly.
"Er, you're welcome. ...I think. The important thing is that you have your confidence back. As for me, I'll stick with making my own future." Firmly, Ann dismisses Isuka waving her off, just glad the girl was back to normal.
"Oh yeah? I've got another flower here... Wanna hear how you'll meet your true love?" Smiling, Isuka offers as Ann feels her hue twitch tiredly at the question proposed practically feeling her gramps breath down her neck.
"Not really." Resolved, she smoothly shuts down turning on her heel heading back to the office, just done.
"Again?" Annoyed, Ann glares glowers down at the roses before her brow furrowing from the familiar yellow monkey of the marines making her blood boil at the taunting ass that was Kizaru. Annoyed, Ann grabs hold of the flowers furiously slamming them into the bin below, petite petals scattering all over the place, one stray strand of a peculiar petal teasingly touching the nose of a certain slumped sleeping figure as Ann jolts up at the sudden sharp sneeze. Scowling, her hand darts to her blade before stopping herself immediately knowing who it is as she sighs furrowing her brow by the familiar eyesore practically having become one with her furniture.
"Someone's popular." Kuzan eyes the bouquet below.
"I didn't ask for it." Incensed, she snaps sharply scowling storming over to her desk done, dutifully trying to return back to work.
"What did that poor flower do to deserve such brutality?" Befuddled, Kuzan reaches out to one stray petal picking it up with the tips of his fingertips eyeing the newly coated crisp petal of ice in his hand, shy strands of ice reaching his hand from the simple wave of his hand.
"How long have you been lurking, Aokiji?" Annoyed, Ann crosses her arms over her chest glaring at the trespasser.
"I wasn't lurking. I was here napping. You were so bent on your little admirer that you failed to even notice me." Kuzan crosses his arms over his chest as Ann's hue twitches tiredly.
"I...I'm not! Please as if I'd let that ass win with his little mind game!" Growling, she seethes snarls down at the flimsy feathers of petals below.
"Not, she says. Tell that to the flower you just mauled." Aokiji deadpans.
"I didn't maul the flowers don't be so dramatic." Drained, Ann grumbles glaring to the side sighing.
"I'm only joking. Do you now how many dead flowers I've left in my wake?" Aokiji argues.
"Just forget it." Ann waves him off turning on her heel moving her sit swerving about the place.
"…Think you were a bit rough on her?" Aokiji asks as he quirks his head to the side.
"Hm?" Humming, she raises a brow by his words.
"That Tashigi girl." Aokiji responds.
"I don't know…maybe?" Meekly, Ann argues anxiously brow furrowed from the thought.
"You were fine." Firmly, Aokiji assures Ann.
"And you know that?" Tiredly, Ann disputes.
"I've seen Sakazuki so have you, he breaks those poor sods you gave her the truth it's up to her what she does next." Aokiji responds to Ann.
"Yeah…can't believe I'm saying this but you're right." Ann sighs softly leaning back against her seat.
"Like always." Aokiji smirks slightly.
"Oh please you're not always right." Ann scoffs smirking shaking her head at him.
"Aren't I?" Aokiji argues amused as amused Ann rolls her hues, a soft smirk crossing her lips shaking her head at Akoji's antics oblivious to his small smirk when seeing her relax as he is soon handed his work while she works on her, the two talking in a world of their own…
*So what do you think of Ann's dynamic with the marines? With Akainu and Kizaru? Or Isuka? As always would love to know your thoughts!*