Rouge smiles cordially at the unkempt lot of bandits strewn about the room. In the center of the room sits their boss, Curly Dadan, who is staring her down. She returns the gaze unflinchingly, hands at her sides though they itch to cover her abdomen. She is nowhere close to showing, not yet, but she can feel the tiny flutters whenever her precious little one moves. Ace.
Dadan finally concedes with a gruff sigh, and motions with her head for the men to bring out the food. "You'll be expected to help out around here, Portgas-san. I understand you are in a delicate situation right now, but that doesn't excuse you from helping out." The bandit woman watches Rouge carefully, who only continues to smile cordially, which is starting to unnerve her a bit. Damn Garp and damn her inability to say no to the man!
"I understand, Dadan-san." She picks up one of the mugs that had been brought out and fills it with water. Taking a sip from it, Rouge glances around as the men carry on like usual, fighting over the food that they had brought out. One of them, a large man who kind of resembles a chicken, comes over to her, carrying a plate heavily laden with all kinds of food.
"Here you go, Rouge-san," the bandit says in a subdued voice, looking rather bashful as he holds out the plate for her to take.
"Thank you," Rouge says with a heartwarming smile as she accepts the plate of food. "What's your name?" She places the plate on her lap and daintily picks up the utensils that had been thoughtfully placed on the plate with the food.
"M-Magura, Rouge-san." Magura blushes profusely, unused to the politeness that Rouge is showing him, and he bows deeply to her.
"Thank you for the food, Magura-kun," Rouge cheerily exclaims and the other bandits, whom had paused in their fight for food, all get up and approach her to introduce themselves.
Dadan, who is watching all of this in extreme wonderment, smiles softly and lifts her mug of sake to her mouth so no one will see her expression. Maybe it won't be so bad to have Rouge live with them after all.
Shanks pulls the straw hat down on his head and keeps his gaze downcast as he follows behind Roger onto the Moby Dick, the infamous Whitebeard's massive ship. Why he is coming along is beyond him, but the Captain had insisted upon it. Buggy had seemed a little put out over this, but the Captain's Orders are to be followed.
"Gurarara! What's this, Roger?" The voice is booming, which causes Shanks to finally glance up, and his eyes go wide at the sight of the massive man seated on an equally massive throne-like chair. The man is a little older than his Captain, but his age doesn't show. He has very light hair, and instead of a beard, the man sports a crescent shaped mustache. "Who's the boy?"
Roger beams and motions for Shanks to introduce himself, which he shakily steps forward and swallows. "Shanks, Whitebeard-san," he states as he bows low to the world's strongest man.
"Nice to meet you, Shanks! Have a seat and have a drink! Gurarara!" The massive man motions to a few tables that have been placed out on the deck of the ship, where a number of the Whitebeard crew are already sitting. There are plenty of spots open and Shanks meekly bows again with a quick thanks before going over to sit and eat.
Roger grins as he watches Shanks go mingle, then turns his attention to Whitebeard. "You're starting to get old, Old Man," he teases as he approaches, setting down the large jug of sake between the two of them. There is a very large sake cup set out, for Whitebeard of course, and Roger motions for his friend and rival to help himself.
"You're not getting any younger yourself, Pirate King." Whitebeard does just that, filling the massive sake cup to the brim with the clear liquid then lounges with the cup in his grasp. "You mentioned that boy, Shanks, in your letter, friend, but he isn't the one, is he?"
Roger shakes his head no and smiles, watching as Whitebeard lifts the cup to his mouth and drains it. "He'll definitely become very strong one day, but the one that I alluded to will come in due time. That one will rock this world to its core, and Shanks will help him do it."
The cup is set down and Whitebeard sighs, his gaze going from Roger to his sons and daughters strewn about the deck of the ship. "That other thing you mentioned… I know you aren't one for lies, and though it was tough to accept… I can't let that kind of thing happen. I love all of my sons and my daughters, very dearly, but losing two of them to this…monster you mentioned… I can't…"
"I know how you feel, Edward. I truly do." Considering the foul traitor will eventually be the reason why his own son is killed if things were left as they are, Roger himself can't bear the thought of it. He has already started making the changes. Rouge is now safe and hidden. Ace will have his mother to help guide him and hopefully keep that temper of his in check. "The name of the traitor is…" He glances around, looking to see if anyone is paying attention, or if the man is even present himself. There is no sign of Teach, so Roger leans in close and whispers softly, for only Whitebeard to hear, "Marshall D. Teach."
Whitebeard looks positively stunned, and his gaze too sweeps over the deck for signs of Teach. After a moment his expression turns serious and he scowls. "He hasn't done anything yet…" The man is affable, and simply knowing that it is him… "But I can't risk letting him stay with my sons and daughters." He will need to call a meeting with the Division Commanders and voice his concerns to them. Once they discuss what will be done, he will do what needs to be done. He will exile Teach from his crew.