(Bellamy POV)
"Bellamy-kun! What a wonderful surprise!" Disco greets me with open arms, but no hug. "You really should have told me you were in town."
"Well, now you know." The office is small for a man in Disco's position. Tens of millions, hundreds of millions on a good day and the room is barely larger than my cabin on the Black Pearl. Still, I'm a good guest so I give it a deliberately slow look. "Nice place you've got here. Love the minimalist approach you've got going."
It is not minimalist at all. Let me repeat this one more time. Disco's office is not minimalist at all. Despite being small or perhaps more so because of it, the wannabe broom cabinet is filled up to the gills in extravagant paintings, artworks and luxury items. If this is what his workplace is like, I shudder to imagine what monstrosity his home must be.
"As people say, less is more, but how nice of you to notice. I wasn't aware you were the sort of man to appreciate the décor." That's an insult, right? Calling me an uncultured boor? "If I had, I'd have sent you a little something."
"How generous of you." Please don't. I don't want any of this tacky stuff in my bedroom. "But I'm afraid it just wouldn't fit on my ship. The lighting is just not suitable."
"That's why you should settle down, like me!" he laughs, clapping me on the shoulder. "Or like Doflamingo. I'm sure he'd be flattered if you followed in his footsteps."
I guess Doffy has settled down if you call instigating a popular revolution via forced massacre and swooping in to take over a country settling down, then yes, Doflamingo has settled down. Not sure I want to do that, even if I could. Seems like so much work.
"Alas, I'm but a flickering candle in comparison to the young master's radiance. How could I achieve something similar?" Unless it's launching a revolution of my own…against him. I'm going to need allies because with the way things are right now? My crew won't be able to take out his.
"How humble of you, Bellamy-kun, but you give yourself too little credit. After all, you are one of the thirteen Supernovas. A remarkable achievement at the age of only twenty five." I accept the crystal chalice of wine from him and take a small sip. Say what you want about him, but Disco knows his wine.
"This is a great vintage. You have impeccable taste."
"Why, thank you. It's a Dressrosa 1514, the year of triumph."
"No wonder. I imagine this has to be one of the few bottles remaining. The local production did see a…steep decline due to some unrest."
"The very last one." Disco beams, giving the bottle a loving smooch. "I had been saving this beauty for the ten year anniversary but then you visited my humble establishment."
"Now who's the one giving themselves too little credit? Your business has an overwhelming market share in both quantity and more importantly, quality." He may have been reduced to an incompetent clown in the tv show, but this was a man who had built up the largest human trafficking ring in the world from nothing. In only thirty years. Arrogant and sadistic he may be, incompetent he was not. "Nobody else could have achieved this."
"You flatter me, but what can I say? It is my passion." He looks genuinely happy for the first time in our meeting. The way he strokes his desk is reminiscent of a proud father and his little daughter. "I don't do it for the money, you know. Sure, you need it to keep this operation running, but it is secondary. Rather, everything I do is about making the world a better place."
A better place. Via slavery. Please explain that bit to me, because for the life of me, I don't understand. As my dear departed aunt's used to say, when you have nothing positive to say, shut up and smile. So, I smiled.
"We provide satisfaction, pleasure and whenever possible, happiness to all our patrons. In making them content, we ensure their continued benevolence for the masses who in turn joyously serve their betters." His voice rises continuously as Disco loses himself to his own zeal. "Thus, nobody can deny that slaves maintain the stability of the world and the safety of her inhabitants. How could I not be passionate about such work…nay, such a noble calling?"
At some point, Disco had climbed up onto his desk, posing dramatically with one arm stretched diagonally towards the ceiling while the other held the wine bottle like a general his sword.
"Stability is important." Which is probably why Doflamingo called Disco boring. The big boss desires chaos whereas Disco thrives within order, two opposing worldviews coming from two very different paths of life.
"You get it, unlike most of the brutes under the Joker's umbrella. Really, I don't know why he tolerates such ruffians." With a small hop he's back down and he gestures for me to follow him. "Come, I'll give you a tour."
"We deal in merchandise in all shapes and sizes. It's a point of pride at this establishment that no customer remains dissatisfied or can't find something of interest in our catalogue."
The backstage area looks pretty much like it did in the show, including the overly large cages holding the products. "It's definitely a varied group."
"It definitely is. We've got everything from midgets to giants." He gestures to one very large individual. And sitting in his shadow, I spot my target. "But today our stock is special, even by our standards."
"More than the giant?" I play along.
"Your confusion is understandable. On any other day, the giant would indeed be the crown jewel of our auction, but not this time. This time we have a virgin mermaid, a feisty one too." Disco's smile takes on a distinctly sadistic glint. "But that can be trained out of her. I'm certain that her future master will have a wonderful time breaking her."
"No wonder you are in such a good mood."
"Yes, and to make this day even more perfect, guess who has declared their intention to attend our auction today?"
"Judging by your excitement and the fact I saw at least three kings entering through the front door earlier, I'm guessing it's not royalty." No, it's goes up much higher on the food chain than that. "Let me guess, the celestial dragons?"
"Exactly, Bellamy-kun. St. Rosswald and his children will be gracing us with their presence and perhaps even honor us with their continued patronage."
Well, wonder if you'll still think that after your business gets thrashed. Actually, I know you won't.
"Do they come here often?"
"Not at all. The celestial dragons rarely descend down to the realm of mortals, but they came thrice before and sent their agents a few more times to pick up their desired items from our stock." What is this, mail order?
"Out of curiosity, what do they usually choose? Slaves like that old man there?" Rayleigh just glared at me. My poor heart. Where is the genial old man Luffy got to know?
"Oh, no no no. That one is just something we picked off the streets. Apparently, he ran up too much debt on his bar tab and his debtors sold him to us for pocket change. If you want it, you can have it as a gift with my compliments." I feel like everyone should be able to tell how much I'm sweating right now. Rayleigh definitely noticed, which may be why he's now smirking. It's still not a nice facial expression when it is aimed your way.
"Well, how could I not accept your generous gift. Thank you, Disco." Still, nothing ventured nothing gained.
"It's a small matter between friends. But, if you want to get in on the action, you want to secure products a bit younger. Like Pascia, for example. Young, nubile, a trained dancer…very popular. Or if you want something a bit more niche, try Byron over there. He's a former pirate captain like you, but very much unlike you, he's a failure. Still, some are willing to pay good coin for his type. I hear St. Rosswald's pirate captain collection is the stuff of legends."
A pirate captain. I could potentially use someone like him however, do I really want to buy him? Not right now, I think, but there is an idea forming in the back of my mind. Just an idea mind you.
"If St. Rosswald is coming, you must be very busy preparing. Thank you again for taking your time to show me around." He says, checking his watch.
"It was my pleasure, Bellamy-kun, but l fear we must end the tour here. Like you said, there's so much to prepare but so little time. Do you want your gift wrapped in some way?"
"No, it's fine. I must return to my ship anyway. Things to do, people to meet, you know how it is."
"I do. Work never ends, but that is the beauty of a calling is it not? It's never just work." And with that he's gone, leaving me standing in an empty hallway with an amused Rayleigh.
I'm not sure how I got out of the building, but by the time I got some of my wits back together, my crewmates and I were in a shadowed alley off the main street. Lily and Ross were about as stumped as I was, though they showed it more openly. Eyes bugging out, jaws dropping to the floor, screaming "Huuuuuhhh?!" you know, the classic anime shock routine.
"It's an honor to meet you, sir." From the show, I think it's pretty obvious that Rayleigh isn't the type to stand on ceremony. But that was with Luffy with the all-powerful protection of Roger's hat. I'm Doffy's subordinate and Disco's friend Bellamy. When in doubt, be polite and hope the scarily powerful old timer doesn't squish you.
"Hoh~. What sort of master calls a slave 'sir'?"
"The smart sort, sir."
"I guess it was too much to ask for you youngsters not to recognize me, wasn't it?"
"Yes sir. To be honest I'm more surprised that others did not."
"Nowadays, I'm just an old man." Rayleigh shrugs before pulling out a pipe from his pocket. "Not going to take this collar off me?"
"I wouldn't dare presume you couldn't remove it if you wanted to, sir." Also, Disco hadn't given me the key and I didn't want to inadvertently make it explode and annoy the living legend.
"That's true." A quick yank later, the collar is broken and fizzling at his feet. Not sure what he did but it isn't going boom, so he must have taken care of the trigger device. So why not do that for Camie's collar? For dramatic effect? "That does feel better. The weight was giving me an awful crick in my neck." he complains, making me sweatdrop.
The man could go toe to toe with an admiral. I really doubt that something as insignificant as a steel collar will do anything to even remotely inconvenience him.
"So, what do two of the new supernova's want with an old coating craftsman?"
"To have our ship coated, sir."
"Hmmm? Not going to ask for training?" He really seems amused at that for some reason, but I think he's fishing. Although, I don't have to look to know Lily's eyes are shining with hope.
"Are you offering, sir?"
"Hah! Cheeky brat, aren't you?" he barks out a short laugh. "But no, like I said, I'm retired."
…unfair.
I don't think I've ever really disliked Luffy, but at this moment my feelings for him go beyond mere jealousy. He just gets things handed to him and you can't even count all the big shots favorable to him on one's hand: Garp, Dragon, Sabo, Whitebeard, Ace and the other commanders, Rayleigh, Hancock, Jinbe, Kuma, Mihawke, Shanks…
And of course, his bloody fruit had to be a mythical zoan which the world government had been hunting for centuries.
This just isn't fair.
"I understand sir. Ah, Shakky told me to tell you she's getting a little lonely." Hopefully it didn't show, but he's a master of haki and hence, likely an empath. Best to just change the topic.
"She did, did she?"
"Yes, sir. She's the one who pointed us in your direction."
"Not just here on the blonde brat's orders, then." Like I thought, he doesn't like Doffy. Roger and Rayleigh had been dreamers, just like Whitebeard, just like Shanks…just like Luffy. Unlike me.
"No, sir. I am my own man."
"Your flag says otherwise." That had not been my choice.
"Youthful indiscretions, sir. We're working on it." At least, Rayleigh's eyes relax a little and some of the invisible pressure lifts off my back.
"Well, I wish you luck."
"Thank you, sir. What are you going to do now?"
"There were a couple of interesting youngsters back there. I met you so it's only fair I introduce myself to them as well. If you want your ship coated, come find me in two weeks at Shakky's bar." As he walks out on to the Main Street, he does give us a small wave over his shoulder.
"Yes, sir."
"So polite. You remind me of the young Buggy." And in the short moment I'm processing that piece of information, Rayleigh disappears from sight.
I suppose that's a compliment. But Buggy being polite? When?
Shrugging, I turn back to my crew.
"Let's return to Shakky and tell her we found her wayward friend."
Shakky had been very satisfied with our findings – I had carefully avoided mentioning Laki's impulsive choices – and even given us a small discount on her goods, though that again left a bitter taste in my mouth. Which prompted me to say my goodbyes quickly and return to my crew.
But before we were even out the door a general alarm was sounded across the whole archipelago. Marines began pouring out of their base and converged on the human auction house, local citizens cleared the streets. But…this wasn't the problem. With Aisa around, avoiding larger groupings of marines was easy as pie.
No, the problems came a bit later when we nearly crashed into Urouge and his cadre of clerics and X-Drakes' crew, because Aisa had only been looking for the marines. None of us were in any mood to squabble amongst ourselves and a temporary truce was established as we made our way back to our individual ships.
We didn't get very far before Bartholomew Kuma blocked our path. Or judging by the lack of pads on his hands, one of his mechanical clones.
The day just kept getting better and better didn't it?
"Well, fuck."
Author's note:
So due to Bellamy not spending hours at the amusement park, he arrives much earlier than Luffy at the Human Auction House, meets Rayleigh and rediscovers that the world isn't fair.
Hope you liked Disco.
P.S. comments and discussions make me write faster.