Chains chapter 10 Shopping trip
Hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, Vebulus wandered down one of Loguetowns many streets. Occasionally stopping to peer through a window at an item on display that caught his interest. Nami had gone into the first clothing store that they came across several minutes ago, leaving Vebulus on his own.
It was only as he came to the end of the current street, and was faced with the choice of turning either left or right into a new street, that he realized something. Without directions he could likely wander all day without ever finding the specific shops he was seeking. Thus he decided to ask for directions, and conveniently there was someone nearby.
The approaching figure was easily at least two feet taller than Vebulus, even slouching as he was, with a bright green mohawk. He also wore clothing that looked like it had never been washed properly. The worst part for Vebulus was that he also looked maddeningly familiar, but his brain couldn't produce a name.
"Excuse me." Vebulus said politely just as the man was about to walk by.
"Eh? Hell you want?" As the man turned to answer, Vebulus briefly glimpsed a mouthful of sharp fang-like teeth, that and a finger in the man's nose that looked like it was digging for gold.
"I'm trying to find a place that sells Transponder Snails, as well as a place that sells Log Poses. Figured my best bet was to ask someone local and you happened to be nearby."
Silence stretched between them as the man continued to dig into his nose and just stared at Vebulus. Then with an audible pop, that inwardly caused Vebulus to shudder, he removed his finger. He looked at the booger stuck to the tip, wiped it slowly on his pants, before finally deciding to answer.
"So?"
Vebulus could almost feel the imaginary sweatdrop hanging off the side of his head.
"So I was wondering if you could give me directions to places like that?" It was only with a valiant effort that Vebulus managed to respond without sighing. Maybe pointless wandering would have been a better option after all.
"You're gonna wanna head straight down this street till you hit a fountain with a five-headed dragon statue at its center. Take a right and you'll soon spot a pretentious big white building. There's this narrow alley on its left side that you'll wanna go down that will open out onto another street. Directly across from there you'll see a Snail shop. The shopkeeper can point you to a Loge Pose shop."
"Thank you."
"Whatever," And seeming to have said all that he was going to say, he turned away and walked off, leaving Vebulus to just stand there shaking his head in exasperation. Why did he always seem to run into the weird ones?
Brain still drawing a blank as to the man's identity, Vebulus nevertheless faithfully followed the directions he'd been given. He worried that the fountain might not be easy to spot, at least until he saw it in person.
The two-tiered fountain was easily 25 feet from one side to the other. The five dragon heads' long necks extended up from the middle before they curved so that three of the heads were spraying water into the bottom pool while the other two sprayed water into the top. Sparkling coins were scattered across the fountain's floor, tossed into the waters by passersby in the hopes that they would be granted sparkled beneath the water, likely tossed in by passersby seeking good luck.
At first Vebulus mistook the dragon heads as belonging to Tiamat, which shouldn't have been possible. A second look however revealed that all of the heads were identical though which put an end to his previous line of logic. A quick circuit around the fountain didn't reveal any plaques or signs, leaving Vebulus to forever wonder at the mystery of the fountain. He could always have asked someone for the history, but pretending it was something far more fantastic was more interesting.
"He wasn't kidding when he said it was a big pretentious white building." Vebulus muttered to himself several minutes later, looking up at the three story tall white marble building. Large silver letters hanging above the open front doors proudly proclaiming what the building's purpose was. A bank. One of which was doing quite well judging by the steady foot traffic that was coming and going from it.
"I bet somebody with an actual understanding of economics could have a field day with everything having a bank implies…
…Sadly for the bank, I am not that hypothetical person."
Lacking a reason, or desire to visit, Vebulus headed for the alley along the bank's left side. He was completely unsurprised to find that, just like the man had said, the alley was quite narrow. Barely wide enough for a single person to walk down it comfortably. About the only way that the alley could have screamed trap more was if there had been any doors on the back of the buildings on the left.
Thankfully for Vebulus, and any would-be ambushers, the trip down the alley proceeded without incident. Directly across the street, with a bright yellow Transponder Snail sign hanging above the front door, was Vebulus's destination. However, just a little bit to Vebulus's right was a much more important and interesting event.
A little girl with an ice cream cone had run right into the legs of a very tall, and wide shouldered man. Silently Vebulus watched the encounter, a million ideas chasing themselves around in his head. The situation soon was resolved, and the man started to walk off, right past where Vebulus was standing.
Vebulus's mind went silent and he opened his mouth just as the man walked past.
"Hurts doesn't it?"
Smoker paused mid-stride and glanced over to where the voice had come from. A narrow alley that saw far too much foot traffic by those with less than noble intentions. A man was standing just beyond the mouth of the alley, as if he had just exited when he spotted Smoker. The guy had messy brown hair that had been pulled back into a loose ponytail, his clothing, consisting of a black jacket over a dark red shirt, dark grey pants with patterns of golden chains going down the sides, and black boots with gold colored laces, was in good condition even if it was well weathered.
"What hurts?" Smoker asked even as he studied the other man. Whoever this was, Smoker was certain that he hadn't seen his face before on any wanted poster. That didn't rule out the man being a pirate or a threat, just that he didn't have a bounty.
"The fear in that child's eyes when she ran into you, the fear in the faces of the bystanders. I wonder, how much abuse does it take to promote a reaction like that? Especially when the ones that promote such a reaction are supposedly the protectors of those people."
The cigar in Smoker's mouth jerked as his teeth clamped down on the end. A small bit of smoke drifted up into the sky from the corner of his mouth.
"They reacted the way they did because I'm a big scary looking man and my manners, not because of what I am or what I represent." He growled.
The man tilted his head to one side, seeming to consider the words. "It seems I misread the situation then. Sorry about that. I'll let you get back to what you were doing then. Excuse me."
The man stepped around Smoker and started to walk to the other side of the street. Seeming to head straight towards the snail shop there. He paused however when Smoker called out.
"Wait. Why did you even ask?"
The man responded without turning to face Smoker. "Just curious I guess, wanted to see what kind of marine you were. A good one or a decent one," and with those words ringing in Smoker's ears the man vanished through the doors of the snail shop.
Smoker could have gone after him, but didn't. Instead turning his steps back towards the nearby marine base. It was just a coincidence that he and Tashigi had found notes in their own handwriting on this very day a year ago, notes with that same question on them. Wasn't it?
The door swinging closed behind him, Vebulus found himself in a brightly lit, and cheery showroom. Pressed up against one wall were several glass cases containing Transponder Snails of multiple sizes, shapes, and colors. The opposite wall had an informative mural about Transponder Snails life cycles, habitats, and the different species painted across it. Vebulus only absently noted this however, his attention focused on the woman manning the register.
Standing behind the counter was a woman with expressive blue eyes, one hand resting on the shell of a dark blue Transponder Snail that was beside the register. A thin scar ran over the woman's left eye, stretching from just under her eyebrow down to her left cheek, the eye itself appearing to be undamaged. Long white hair was pulled back into a simple loose ponytail except for a pair of long strands that framed her face. She had on a plain black t-shirt, anything else that she wore hidden behind the counter.
She also couldn't have been an inch over 4 feet tall as her head, neck and shoulders were visible. Some might have mistaken her for a child or kid, that thought didn't even cross Vebulus's mind. Something about the way she carried herself just screamed adult in his head.
"I'm looking to purchase some Transponder Snails. The crew I'm with is heading out to the Grand Line for the first time and I figured having a way to communicate over long distances might be useful to have."
The shopkeeper's eyes sparkled as she rapidly tapped on the snail's shell. The tapping almost sounded like Morse Code to Vebulus's ears. The blinked slowly before swiveling its eye stalks towards Vebulus, a grin stretching across its face. A faint buzz filled the air and then the snail opened its mouth and spoke.
"Welcome to Feveious's Snail Emporium! I've got a wide selection available of both snails and equipment."
Vebulus blinked. The voice hadn't come from the lady behind the counter, even if her mouth had opened and she had appeared to speak. No, the voice had come from the snail. A talking snail.
"What." Vebulus finally said. The snail's grin seemed to stretch somehow even wider.
"The names Noisechomp, the world's one and only talking snail. Feveious took me in years ago and ever since I've been acting as her voice." The voice of Crispin Freeman said. A totally different voice then the one that the snail had been using for Feveious, which had sounded like Wendee Lee. The situation brought to mind the one episode of Vandread that Vebulus had seen with his friends many years ago. One where a character had suddenly changed voice actors in mid-scene.
"Alright then," he responded, deciding that it was probably safer for his sanity if he didn't ask questions as to how this had happened. "Anyways, I'm looking to purchase two full-sized snails and five baby snails."
Feveious glanced over at the terrariums, clearly considering his request. "Any preference on make or model for the full-sized snail's receivers?"
Vebulus chuckled as he shook his head. "Nope, wouldn't even know where to start with something like that." He paused for a moment as an idea occurred to him.
"Knowing the crew however I'd say nothing fancy or expensive with dependability and toughness being the main focus."
"Do you care if it isn't the latest model?" Vebulus shook his head, Feveious humming thoughtfully before her eyes lit up. She stepped down from the counter, vanishing behind a curtained doorway that led into the back of the shop. This left Vebulus to entertain himself, which he did by getting into a staring contest Noisechomp. A contest that Noisechomp easily won.
When Feveious emerged from the back of the shop, a basket with three different receiver models in it under one arm, it was to find the pair engaged in another staring contest. One that Vebulus conceded by looking away first.
As she placed the basket on the counter Vebulus stepped closer. The first receiver that she lifted from the basket had a metallic finish like it had recently been polished, and was more compact than the ones that were still in the basket.
"This first one is the Adamant-S7, it's one of the more recently released models. Popular for having decent range, being fairly tough, and a clear signal. Because of that popularity though it also costs more."
Leaving the Adamant on the counter she pulled out and set down the next model. This receiver sported a dull metallic sheen and was bulkier than the first model.
"The Wanwung-V2, one could almost call it the standard receiver because basically everyone uses it. If you see a Transponder Snail, odds are it's got this model in its shell. If you don't have an opinion or don't care what you get then this is the model you'll receive."
Finally Feveious heaved out the last model left in the basket. It looked like a brick that someone had attached wires, a speaker, and a receiver to. It certainly wouldn't win any beauty contests, even if someone had given it a shiny bronze coating.
"They call this model the Nokian, rumor has it that it can survive anything short of a Buster Call. Some claim it could even survive that but nobodies ever been eager to find out. The only other claim to fame that it has is that it's the only model to ever be equipped with a volume switch. The reason why no other models ever had a volume switch is because even when the switch wasn't being used the sound quality tanked. Made everything sound tinny and mechanical.
People still purchase it of course despite that, if only for the convenience."
Vebulus looked between the three models and then pointed at the first and third ones.
"I'll take an Adamant-S7 model and the Nokian model along with the baby snails. Depending on how much they can hold one or two carrying cases as well. Oh! Basic care kits as well if you've got them."
Setting the Adamant and the Nokian models aside Feveious loaded the Wanwung back into the basket before vanishing through the curtain into the back of the shop. When she returned she had a carrying case hanging from each of her shoulders. Which were placed on the counter alongside the models.
"It'll take me about half an hour to get everything properly installed, you're free to wait around or if you've got more shopping to do come back later to pick them up."
"I've got more shopping I'm hoping to get done so I'll come back later. The guy that gave me directions said you'd know where I could find a shop that sells Log Pose."
"You must have caught Lomeo in one of his good moods then. After you leave the shop you'll wanna take a left until you run into a side street on your left. At the end of that street you'll find Wonders of the Grandline which will have everything you need."
Vebulus nodded in thanks before he exited the shop and took an immediate left. He had just reached the mentioned side street when the door of the building was thrown open with a terrific bang, black smoke now pouring from the doorway. Strangely, despite the number of people on the street he was the only one to turn towards the sound. He had turned at the perfect time it seemed, as a moment later three people burst out of the building. Two of whom Vebulus recognized.
It was Usopp, Aaron, and a wild looking man with frazzled hair, the color impossible to tell underneath the layer of soot that covered it. All three were coughing and smacking at their clothes, sending up small clouds of soot that only provoked more coughing. The wild looking man was the first to recover.
"See boys! It's just like I told you, improperly stored dynamite has a mighty kick to it. That's why you aren't supposed to use it!"
"Then why did you light it!?" Aaron and Usopp screamed. Which caused the wild looking man to slap his knees and start laughing.
"Yhihihihihihi!" Weirdly this laughter seemed to attract more attention then the explosion had. Even if that attention was the nearby passing crowd edging away from the impromptu group.
"Usopp, Aaron, what's-"
That was as far as Vebulus got, however, as the wild man's head snapped in his direction with a concerning pop. The next instant the man was nearly nose to nose with Vebulus and rapidly shaking his hand. The whole time the man stared at Vebulus with disturbing intensity, well at least one eye was, the other lazily wandering off to the right.
"Howdy there partner! The names Cotton Eye Joe, don't know where it came from and don't know where it go. You must be friends with them fellows behind me. Now, now, don't try to object. I can see it in your eyes that you're after the same thing that they are." As Joe spoke his breath washed over Vebulus, who could feel his eyebrows trying to shrivel up at the overwhelming smell of alcohol wafting from his mouth.
Extracting his hand from Joe's, Vebulus took several steps away. Not even trying to hide the fact that he was desperately filling his lungs with fresh, clean air.
"Oh, hey Veb, what are you doing here?" Aaron asked as he and Usopp walked over.
"Well, I was going shopping. What were you two doing?"
"Usopp helped me find a place where I could buy some of the spell components I needed."
Vebulus glanced at Joe, who had wandered back into the still smoking shop to drag out a burnt box that most of the smoke seemed to be coming from.
"And the dynamite?"
"The guy's crazy."
"I see." Vebulus said as he watched Joe slap a sign on the box that proudly proclaimed it to be an ever smoking box and it could be yours for only 10 '000 berri. The crazy old coot vanished back into the shop a moment later.
"On the plus side, I found a few things that would be helpful later, if not now." Aaron responded as he rummaged in the pouch he'd been putting the things he'd bought into. Eventually he pulled out a bundle of yellowed wax paper and opened it, revealing that inside was a bunch of random looking ingredients.
"And now I go!" And with that, Aaron ducked into the passing crowd and was immediately out of sight, leaving behind a confused Vebulus and a just as confused but also a guilty-looking Usopp.
"Sooooooo, what's wrong?" Vebulus finally asked, realizing that Usopp was waiting for him to say something.
"I, uh... I asked Aaron to take away my fear, like he did against the Fishmen." Vebulus nodded in answer. When Aaron had mentioned the fight to him Vebulus had expected something like this would happen.
"Let me guess, he said you had to find bravery on your own?"
"How did you-"
"Despite not recognizing him, I've known Aaron for a couple years now. He likes to adopt people and act like how a father should, one of his better qualities. However, I'm not Aaron and I've got opinions of my own, which means I'll say something you should probably hear.
Being afraid isn't a bad thing, it's only when you let that fear prevent you from acting that it becomes so. A healthy amount of fear sharpens the senses, allows one to move faster when they need to, be stronger, tougher, when needed. Too much fear freezes you when you need to move, makes you miss things you'd have otherwise noticed, prevents you from admitting when you're wrong.
Everytime someone acts despite their fears, that's what we call bravery. A brave person isn't fearless, they fear just as much as anyone else does, but they act despite that. They take that step forward despite the fear. Everytime you take that step Usopp," Vebulus turned to Usopp, eyes boring into his, "you become one of the bravest people I know."
Aaron strolled through the city now alone. He had left Usopp behind with Vebulus but he wasn't worried. The pair of them would be fine on their own, plus he was sure that Usopp had wanted to talk to Vebulus ever since he had told Usopp he wouldn't be taking away his fear again.
That was one of the reasons at least, the other was that his inner ADHD child had demanded that he duck and dive through a crowd and just spend some time having fun. Which was something he'd never actually had the chance to when he was a kid. It was because of this that he spotted the big, white, wide-brimmed hat that adorned the head of a very tall, very slim, attractive woman on the other side of the crowd, heading in the same direction as he was.
Momentarily he froze, an insanely risky plan forming in his head. But if it succeeded...
"...I could fix so many problems."
Path now determined, he pushed gently through the crowd as he strode towards her. He had just gotten within casual conversation range when he noticed a particular clown-like silhouette slipping away into a nearby alleyway. The danger level of his plan slipped up a couple of notches. Going from insanely risky to potentially life threatening.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, miss, but you wouldn't be Alvida, the 'Most Beautiful Woman' in the East Blue would you?"
She stopped and looked down at Aaron, which wasn't something he was used to at over six feet tall, grinning in a way that would probably win over most of the men she came across. It might have been a trick of his imagination but Aaron could have sworn there was a faint blush on her cheeks.
"I am, and I'm sure you've heard of my beauty, and just had to come running to see me in person?"
"Well, not exactly like that." Aaron muttered softly enough that Alvida couldn't hear him.
Now for the dangerous part of the plan. Alvida, from what he remembered of canon, had not been that great of a person. Some would even say she was downright awful and terrible. Buuuuut, people could be redeemed if they were offered a chance to do so. A fact that the story brought up again and again. Today's enemies become tomorrow's allies.
Which was why Aaron was taking the chance in the first place. So he smiled, focused on a point between her eyes, while ignoring her feminine charms, and started talking.
"I just... well, I heard you lost to a new pirate captain that didn't have a crew yet, and I was wondering if-" He cut himself off as he, along with the rest of the crowd, were forced to move back several feet as an iron mace swung through the air. "- you would be willing to make a wager."
Alvida drew back her mace and paused, the crowd taking the sensible option of getting the hell away from the violence, leaving the street empty except for the pair of them.
"A... wager? Of what kind?" She growled, and Aaron inwardly gulped.
Gonna have to be verrry careful here. I really don't want to find out how it feels to be hit by that mace. I might actually die…
"I happen to be on that man's crew, you see, and-" If she had been hostile before then those words had her demeanor shift to almost wariness with a strange dose of curiosity? Weird.
"You know where he is?! Tell me! I want to see him!"
Weird choice of words as well.
"Well, I could, but due to the deal you just made, Buggy is going to try and kill him."
Alvida's demeanor shifted again as she lowered the mace, resting the end against the ground as she gripped the hilt.
"Wait, how do you-? He only said he was going to get his revenge, he never said he would-" Alvida was studying Aaron a bit more closely now. A metaphorical light bulb seemed to go off and she straightened slightly before smiling. Not the smile she had before but a softer, more natural one.
"Buggy's not known for being truthful. So, about that wager. A deal, with a promise."
"I see. Very well then, name your terms."
"If I can touch you for a full second despite your fruit, you join Luffy's crew. I honestly think you'd enjoy yourself. And if I can't, then you have a multipurpose pack mule for the rest of my life."
As he spoke Aaron shifted his form, going from pure human into his hybrid Zoan form. Talons clicked against the stone as they grew outward, wings emerging as his clothing transformed with the rest of him. Alvida didn't move an inch during the process, instead studying the changes that had occurred.
"A Devil Fruit. What kind?"
"Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Red-Tailed Hawk, why?" Her smile seemed to grow at his answer and when she spoke she didn't answer his own question.
"I'll take your wager then, Captain's Honor," and she held the arm not resting on her mace out towards him.
Time to put my money where my mouth is. Also really hope this is going to work the way I think it does. Aaron thought to himself as he cast Resistance on himself and reached out towards Alvida's wrist.