Author's note: Hello readers! Some things to note:
Cover art was done for me by my friend cloudette on instagram https/cloudettete/. She also has a Buggy/OC romance comic that's wonderful and does great work.
I will be busy for a bit so will update after the New Year. In the meantime, here's a Spotify playlist I made for this story if interested, https/open./playlist/69ZumdlrI0KclZHputIKr6?si=Eav31N3iTTmjXqOe9FRdSQ =u-aEL0kedIRgeI
I rated this story T as it will have the same kind of violence and sexual content as an American PG-13 movie. It is also borrowing elements from both anime/manga and the live action.
That aside, on to the story!
Buggy jerked awake the next afternoon. It was a dream of Madelyn Juvat kissing him that caused it. He rubbed his eyes in an effort to get himself back to reality and grunted in annoyance at the dream's subject. His stomach gurgled loudly and he decided he would do room service again. A plentiful ration of bacon, eggs, buttered toast and fresh orange juice helped his hunger and grogginess immensely. Feeling generous, he left a tip with the maids as he left his room.
Today he wore a red and white striped bandana on his head and his hair in a high ponytail. He left his coat and hat in his room and decided to opt for brown pants and boots and a loose collared short sleeve aqua colored shirt. He felt slightly naked without his makeup or gloves as he walked down the hallway. His gloves, he decided, to at least keep in a pocket. Why am I so attached to them now, it's not like I grew up wearing them?
There was a mirror in the hallway that he stopped and looked at. Aside from the previous morning, it was not his usual habit to be without makeup. Madelyn Juvat had complimented his looks without makeup and if only to endear himself to her, he would do without today. It was a strange feeling, looking, truly looking, at his face and into his own eyes. When did I have such a careworn face? His blue-green eyes were lightly brushed with wrinkles and face more weather beaten than when he had been a teen starting out, not to mention the blue whiskers. He had debated letting them grow out, but managing his long hair was already a feat. He had never had been able to grow a mustache like Roger, which at one time, he truly wanted to. A sigh escaped him as thinking about Roger usually led to thinking about…Shanks. Shaking his head he continued down the hallway. He would shave later before his dinner with Madelyn. Buggy pushed away the image he saw in the mirror and the thoughts it brought up. He went downstairs. No sense ruminating on a lost dream. For now, making that dream of Madelyn Juvat's money mine is what's important. Kiss or no kiss.
At the foot of the stairs, he looked around and saw a different woman was at the desk, not Deb, Madelyn's friend. Mohji, Buggy's first mate, was talking with the woman. Despite being a beast tamer, Buggy never understood why Mohji felt he should style his white hair into bear ears and wear a sleeveless white fur crop top. It's not like he had a nose that was unmistakably clownish, so why adopt an appearance he didn't have to adopt. Theming, he supposed.
Cabaji then came up to the desk trying to put himself in front of Mohji while smiling at the desk girl. She unintentionally looked Buggy's way rolling her eyes; the two men had now started to argue with each other. Buggy sighed, ever since his sudden absence from the crew when he was captured by Arlong's goon many months ago, they had been at each other's throats, trying to one up the other. Maybe he should assign other people to be first mate and chief of staff if this continued.
"Hey shit stains! What's going on?" Buggy interrupted them. Then he looked over to the girl and his voice changed to a kind inquiry,
"You doing alright, Miss?" She just nodded and was politely trying not to look at his nose.
"We were just having a disagreement and I challenged this idiot to a sword fight." Mohji pointed to Cabaji, who just hmphed.
"Ok, but maybe not in the hotel's lobby?" Suggested Buggy, sarcasm and irritation heavy in his voice.
"There's… oh sorry for interrupting…" the desk girl started.
"Yes, go on please, Miss." Buggy said politely, restraining his annoyance.
"The hotel has a training building for sword fighting ,martial arts and both an inside and outside shooting range. Should the gentleman wish to settle things there?"
"A good idea, where exactly?" Buggy asked.
"It's—"
"Don't worry Captain, I know where it is, thank you Leslie." Cabaji said and smiled at the girl named Leslie.
Buggy grabbed Cabaji by his signature blue and white checked scarf and chopped his other hand to give Mohji a push.
"C'mon shitidiots let's go." Buggy looked back and smiled with a nod.
"Leslie, a pleasure." His actions would probably get back to Madelyn eventually.
As they exited the hotel and started down the street, Buggy used his separated hands to push his two officers to walk on either side of him.
"Look. I don't know what happened, but I need the two of you to sort whatever issues you have with one another. Otherwise I will demote the both of you. Use this as an opportunity to do so." Buggy then brought his arms around their shoulders. "Am I understood?" He asked darkly.
"Yes, Captain." Both said simultaneously.
"Good." Buggy said cheerfully and with his reattached hands forcibly clapped each of them on the back. Cabaji then spoke up.
"Actually I'm glad you're here with us Captain, because Daniel and Dennis asked me this morning for permission to dry dock the boat so that they may clean and repair the hull. There was an available space and they wanted to get it as soon as possible, but you weren't available so they got it anyway."
"Didn't you get my room number, you could've knocked?"
"It went unanswered."
"Er, I did not sleep well last night—you should've knocked louder, shit for brains! Grah! I'll take care of it." He went quiet and then added, "Thanks for telling me."
Cabaji looked a little shocked, but then remembered the rest of what he wanted to say.
"They also wanted to get a group of men to help with the scrubbing and repairs since it is a pretty big job for just four men."
"Understandable, but I have half a mind to let them suffer," he growled but continued in a more reasonable voice. "I'll see to it later. I am curious about this place we're going to. I trust you two to solve your issues, so I'll just have a look around."
Buggy walked with his two subordinates through the town, which was full of activity since it was market day. Carriages passing and horse carts filled with market goods made going through slow. Stalls were set up selling all sorts of goods filling the sides of the street as well. Buggy saw a group of children by one that was selling handmade sweets. One of the children looked his way and shouted "Captain Buggy!" It was Leo. Buggy motioned for Mohji and Cabaji to wait. He walked up to the boy and crouched down to get eye level.
"Hey Leo, what's going on?"
"We had some free time and got to get some candy!"
"Oh fun."
"Do you want to have one of mine, Captain Buggy?" The little boy presented him with a lollipop.
"That's nice of you Leo, but I think you should keep it." What kind of kid shares his candy?
"Nope! You're my friend, friends share."
Buggy didn't know what to say so he just took the lollipop and ruffled Leo's hair. Miss Laney came over,
"Hello captain, Leo, it's time to go."
"Hi, a moment Laney," Buggy stood up and got up close to Laney and said "Did all the children get all the candy they wanted? Also it doesn't seem like all of them are here."
"Yes they did. Some of them are in school now."
"Ah then," Buggy pulled out a wad of berry from his pocket, "make sure they get some too, is that enough?"
"More than enough…thank you." Laney's eyes widened as she took the money with care.
"Keep the extra for another day." He said as he patted her shoulder. He then turned back to Leo.
"See ya Leo, make sure you keep practicing with the sword."
"Ok! Will you be coming with Miss Madelyn next time?" Leo asked as he wiggled excitedly in place.
"I plan on it, but we'll see."
The little boy smiled up at Buggy, which Buggy returned, and then grabbed Miss Laney's hand pulling her back to the candy stall.
It was a new experience being looked up to. Sure, he had the blind adoration of his Impel Down crewmen and the following of his crew before his time in prison. The difference in the little boy's adoration was that it also was humbling. Humbling in that something so adorable and innocent would want to look up to someone, who was far from either description. He started to walk back to his two officers who were, thankfully, not fighting.
Buggy again thought of his former captain Roger and his first mate Rayleigh, two men taking care of two boys who were equally as energetic as Leo. How did they do it? Definitely helped that they had the crew. Rayleigh had sometimes joked that they needed a mother. Buggy didn't like to think of that often. Toki was the closest thing he had experienced in that regard. He had wondered from time to time about why he was abandoned, all he knew for certain was that Roger found him and for that he was forever grateful.
Hell maybe he would adopt Leo, poor boy was like him in a way. He was adorable and thought of Buggy as a friend. Of course Buggy's track record with children had been mostly one of eliciting terror, but if Roger and Rayleigh could do it, why not him. Also, depending on how he pulled off this con maybe the boy would have a mother. Wait! What!? That thought came out of nowhere. The sooner he seduced the woman and got her money the better.
Money made the world go round after all. It wasn't that he loved money and treasure for itself per say, although the artistry of some of the jewelry he had found over the years was admirable. The glow of gold itself did have its allure, however it was what he could do with it that made Buggy love it so. Ingratiate himself to his current mark's friends and colleges for instance. It was a nice gesture for the orphans, which he did admit he didn't overly mind, being an orphan himself. His generosity would probably, again, get back to Madelyn.
"Since when did you befriend children?" Mohji asked Buggy
"Long story, lead on Cabaji." Buggy unwrapped the lollipop and put it in his mouth.
The first mate and chief of staff exchanged puzzled expressions as they continued onward through the town. They passed by The Pink Seashell and various shops and businesses. Near the end was Madam Zabella's place, The Siren's Call.
It was a four story building painted a vivid teal green with black trim intricately scrolled on the top of the gabled dormer windows situated all along the top of the building. The trim swept down into the twists of the columns that held porches on two stories. The sign on the roof would probably be a fantastic sight at night as it had lightbulbs highlighting the letters of the brothel's name and below a lovely painting of a mermaid looking over her shoulder in a come hither manner. There were some fashionably dressed people waving at the passerby on the street.
Mohji stopped to wave back for a moment, but then rushed to catch back up with Buggy and Cabaji. Together they ascended a hill that took them a bit of a distance away from town to a building that sat at the foot of a much larger lush green hill that verged on almost mountain size.
"This is it, see you Captain." Cabaji said.
Cabaji and Mohiji waved to Buggy and then tried to beat the other into getting into the building first. It was a newer building built more for function than form. He saw the stoic Miss Glinka come out after his two officers pushed each other in. She was wearing a fencing uniform and carried a sword on her back. He nodded and took out his lollipop to smile at her, while she regarded him with a brief nod.
He went further up the hill's path and saw it part three ways toward the large hill, one sign said rifle range, the other hand gun range and another trap range meant for shotgun use. Doing a little eeny, meeny, miney, moe he landed on investigating the handgun range first.
He observed as he went further up the path a long skinny metal roofed pavilion that had a long narrow table in front of it. Someone Buggy couldn't see was standing shooting from behind the table into the hill. The berm had targets with paper placed all along it. Shaded at the back of the pavilion were benches to sit. The sides and middle of the pavilion were supported by cinder block walls and thin metal columns around the perimeter.
A clock hung on the middle cinder block wall as well as warning and safety signs. A metallic box was attached to it too along with a thumbtack board with thumbtacks and a hook that hung tape. A couple of surveillance transponder snails were observing on either side with matching pink fluffy earmuffs on their heads.
A group of three men sat back behind the pavilion benches, against a wooden fence, observing the progress of the one lone shooter. Buggy sat back with them. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed one of them, a man with a graying beard and a wide brimmed black floppy hat, was observing Buggy carefully. Curious as to what his reaction would be, Buggy turned his head and nodded. The man gave a nervous smile back and quickly looked back at the shooter. The clown did likewise. Upon getting a better look at the shooter the lollipop fell out of his mouth.
Buggy had only seen her in dresses, but there was something about Madelyn in pants. Something he didn't know he wanted. Her long dark blonde hair was in a low ponytail. In the sunlight, it had highlights of gold, a similar shade of gold to the dress she had worn when she sang on stage. She wore a long sleeved collared shirt of an indistinct pale brown, and brown pants with boots that matched. The clown decided to get closer.
Madelyn had one gun belt around her waist, which she was practicing quick draws from. As she was firing, one of the ejected casings flew up and landed on her ponytail. Burnt hair smelled strongly as she flinched and put her gun on the table so she could remove the casing that had now burrowed itself into the back of her shirt. Buggy chopped one of his hands and grabbed the casing before it went further. It had cooled off, but was still warm. He placed it on the table.
"Oh!" Madelyn turned and looked over at him. She removed ear plugs from her ears."It's you, thank you, this gun sometimes ejects funny."
"Good looking weapon. Newer than what I have." Buggy picked it up and looked through the sights pointing it to the target. "How's your aim?"
"Yes, it is newer. A marine friend of mine in R and D over on Egghead island told me they were coming out with one for the general public, so I got one. A lot better than the automatic flintlock, the ejected casings can be a bother, but overall a great weapon."
Buggy put the gun back on the table.
"Fancy." He commented.
"Heh yeah. I have three more shots left and then we'll be safe to go look at my aim." Madelyn then looked behind Buggy.
"Huh, I seem to be the only one on the handgun range today."
The men had disappeared, Buggy noticed, as he followed Madelyn's gaze. She retrieved her ear protection and got back into her shooting stance. Buggy backed up to where he had been and watched her shoot three more times. She then put her gun down on the table, the barrel facing away from them, and took her ear plugs out of her ears. Madelyn looked around and then smiled when she saw Buggy walking back.
" I'm surprised to see you here. I come here to practice shooting a few times a week." They both started walking to the paper target.
"My crewmates were coming this way and I was curious. They wanted to practice their sword fighting in the building."
"A good place for it. I go there from time to time to train my hand to hand combat skills. Swords are not my strong point. I had a friend who tried to teach me when I was young, but it didn't go well."
" I use blades because they work well with my devil fruit abilities. I'm not a master swordsman, by any means, but if you want to try again I could help you."
"That would be great, maybe we could arrange to…"
"Yeah!" Buggy said with enthusiasm. He liked that she was receptive to him still, unfortunately he wasn't sure of what to say next. Usually he was good at thinking of something on the spot. He studied their surroundings in more detail, "This place almost looks like a Marine training ground. What's it all for? Very odd to have it be part of the hotel."
" I'm curious as to how a pirate would know what Marine training grounds look like." She mocked.
"Well I did have a plan at one time to get a certain map from a Marine base, unfortunately it didn't work out. I did manage to get where I wanted to go though."
"That's good. To answer your question though, it's for the hotel guests, and the town. It's something I thought to add. Our guests are generally either marines or pirates so it is available for them to sharpen their skills. Same could be said for the townspeople." Buggy nodded along and said.
"Makes sense." Madelyn smiled and continued.
"Best defense is a good offense especially with such high caliber pirates sailing these days. Blackbeard, Big Mom, Kaido and Red Haired Shanks," Buggy stiffened slightly, Madelyn didn't notice and kept talking.
"Even your fellow warlords, should they choose to, all possess powers that could overwhelm the world. How are regular people supposed to defend against them? Even the Marines don't go head to head with them, if they can help it. If anything, the range and training building gives people an opportunity to train for a fighting chance, despite the odds."
"Do you think the government doesn't care about its citizens?"
"As a whole, yes. Individually, however, there are good people within it."
"Starting to sound like a revolutionary Madelyn, do I need to be concerned?"
"What are you going to do, report me?" She stopped and turned to face him with a challenging look and put her hands on her hips.
"Report? No, no, no. Definitely keep an eye on though." He booped her nose. "I admit you would be very well placed to be a spy for the Revolutionary army. Finding out the movement of both pirates and marines."
"I was 16 when my mother died. The people in this town helped my father and I pick up the pieces and continue on. If I can help them thrive as much as they helped us." She got up so close to Buggy that they almost touched. "Then call me a revolutionary."
Buggy smiled down at her. Such a lovely fire was in her eyes. They were a pretty shade of blue, he realized. A stray thought of kissing her entered his brain. Gah stupid dream! It was too soon for such an idea, he determined. A delicate balance of being interested, but aloof had to be maintained.
"16 huh? I was 15 when Roger was killed. How old were you then?"
She backed away from him. Searching his face, for what he wasn't sure. It was like she was determining if he had any hidden agenda with that question. He did want to know her age, but didn't want to outright ask it. Something he'd learned not to do with women in his 37 years of existence.
"12. It was big news at my finishing school." She walked past him and examined the target.
"I'd imagine. " Buggy caught up and stood next to her. "After the execution, I laid low and stayed in the East Blue. Slowly, I built my crew razing and plundering towns everywhere I went. I think it's wise of you, Madelyn, to have people on their guard."
Madelyn looked over to Buggy. "I hope so. I'm on the town council and I do my best to help think of the most wise and practical solutions for our community." She looked back at the target and said, "Devil fruit powers are not plentiful and mastering haki takes time. We must have weapons and our wits to defend our home."
Buggy made a sound of acknowledgement, considering her words. It is expected for most people to at least know about haki in the New World, but for this seemingly sweet, kind, innocent island woman? Maybe she is a part of the Revolutionary army. However…
Buggy focused his gaze on the woman. He just couldn't see her being a part of that rag tag group. Maybe. More personal investigation is definitely needed. He stepped closer and looked over her shoulder at the target and said,
"A good grouping in the center though you do have three stray shots. I could do better."
He puffed out his chest. Still…that target is good and dead. A deadly talent. Revolutionary or not, I'll need to be careful it's not used on me.
"I do happen to have another paper target…care to put your money where your mouth is?" She started to walk back to the table.
"What's the prize?" Buggy asked with a smile as he walked with her.
Madelyn's lips twitched up slightly as she hmphed. "Shall we say, to be determined? Let me get you some ear plugs."
"I've been in war, woman, I can handle it."
"Yes, but you don't have to handle it now. What kind of host would I be if I wasn't concerned for my guests' welfare?" Madelyn walked over to the concrete wall. She opened the metal box attached to the wall and grabbed something from it and came back to face Buggy.
"I think it's just me you're concerned about." He said.
A little over the top perhaps, but he wanted to gauge her reaction. If not positive, an unfortunate, more threatening way of getting her money would be necessary. She held out a clear package with a set of foam ear plugs inside. Buggy took them, looking at her for a response.
"Reading too much into it, Captain Buggy the Clown." She smiled and said in a sing-song voice, but then added, her tone more sincere and head cocked as if looking at a piece of art.
"By the way, that nose really does suit you."
Buggy was met with two sensations exactly at the same time, pleasure and irritation. He uttered a noise that came across as a strangled retort. Shortly after he snorted and muttered, "Frustrating woman", as he opened the package and put his earplugs in.
He was too agitated to determine what this response might possibly mean. Madelyn hid a smile behind one hand and with the other grabbed a paper target she had left on the table. Then she put it back down and began taking off her gun belt.
"Quick draw from the belt!" She shouted so that Buggy could hear her and held out the belt. She then asked,
"Right handed?
"I'm ambidextrous!"
He took it and then adjusted it to himself. Madelyn pointed to the box of bullets on the table and grabbed the paper again making her way down to the target. Buggy started loading the gun. There was enough to fully load the gun, but the box was empty after that. He then holstered the gun and looked up to observe Madelyn's progress.
She placed the new paper with tape to the target stand she had been using. It was a plastic board held up by the two wooden poles that were secured to a metal base. Madelyn walked back with the old one in her hand. She raised a finger indicating one minute and placed the old paper on the table while she picked up her ear plugs to put back in. She gave a thumbs up when done and walked behind Buggy for safety.
Thinking about how he observed Madelyn shooting, Buggy began to shoot. After he fired his shots, he holstered the gun and they both walked forward while taking out their ear protection to examine Buggy's marksmanship.
"Were you aiming to be right of center? I mean otherwise they are all grouped together and that is excellent." Madelyn commented when they examined the target.
"Yes I missed the center by a nose." He turned to her and pointed an accusing finger.
"Gah I said nose! You put the word in my mouth! Also! It's because it's new and not my gun!"
In a bit of a huff he took the gun out and handed the gun back to her, briefly touching her soft hands.
"There is some credence to having to get used to a gun to use it effectively."
She considered out loud, smiling a little at his overreaction to the word 'nose'. She then took a few steps closer to him, her eyes then looked up to him reflecting the honesty of what she felt in what she said next.
"Don't worry about your nose. Besides, it's what makes you, you."
Buggy felt warm again, wanting to back away and maybe run, but Madelyn wouldn't let him. She pulled him close by the gun belt, put her gun back in the holster and started undoing it. Buggy held very still as she took off the gun belt. He felt even warmer and his body began to ache with desire for more of her touch. When did I become so damn touch starved!? I'm not getting a fever, am I? Madelyn looked back up at him after adjusting the belt to her waist.
"That was fun. We should do it again." She started to walk back to the shooting tables.
The shooting or the touching? Buggy wanted to ask, but was interrupted as Madelyn exclaimed while looking over at the clock on the cinderblock wall.
"Oh dear, is that the time!? I need to get going, I have some deliveries coming I need to help oversee. We'll discuss the prize I won over dinner, bye Buggy!"
Buggy let out an angry snort.
"You didn't win, I did!" He pointed a thumb to his chest.
"Can you sweep up the casings, thanks bye!"
She said completely ignoring his protest with a mischievous smile. Another type of Madelyn smiles he could grow fond of. Buggy shook his head and growled in response to her smile. Madelyn threw her paper target and the empty box in the trash as she left and gave him a cheeky wave as he found a broom.
Odd. Buggy pondered as he began to sweep the bullet casings into a pile. For all his bluster when she had mentioned his nose, it didn't bother him as much as it usually did. He had, in the past, killed a man over the mere mention of it. Of course, it could be because it was her. Maybe it was true that his nose was just what made him, him. Not something to be sensitive about. In fact he actually wouldn't have minded if she touched it again. His mind then began to wander to the possibility of touching her. He had touched her nose, hands and the back of her neck briefly.
He started to imagine caressing other places on her when a distant loud boom of a shotgun interrupted his imaginings. The clown smiled blissfully. This seduction for money con is getting easier. After depositing the casings into a barrel labeled casings, he left the shooting range with a spring in his step.
As the added spring to his step made it down to the training building he decided to look in on his crew mates. They were smiling at each other, laughing, and sporting bandages. He felt instant relief. He needed his crew to be in their best form to make it on this part of the Grand Line. Sailing with Roger had taught him that. It was part of the reason he tried to recruit those who were better and stronger than himself, the men he gained from Impel Down being an example.
Maybe he should come back to train if only to keep up the appearance of the supposed "power" he had. He liked that his notoriety, as reported by the marines and the news, gave him an edge not to mention the warlord title. Yes he would train, if only to keep up appearances. Madelyn may happen to be there. Buggy did like to put on a show after all.