xxi. - [ VOICE ]

[loadedace]

[Laughing; obviously, this conversation is being recording midway.] You don't say?

All you can eat, kid. 'Special for that tat of yours - nice work. Who's the artist?

Ngh? Ah, no one you'd know, trust me. I'm just passin' through. Never been to a city like this - I'm a little overwhelmed. [Ace sounds like he's speaking with his mouth full.]

Yeah

Comments

Voice;

[unfiltrdjustice]

. . . [Aggravated siiiigh]

BRAT. WAKE UP.

Voice;

[loadedace]

Ngggh.

What the hell was that?

Voice;

[unfiltrdjustice]

It's a communication device. Think iPhone 2.0. Brat turned it on, apparently. He's got narcolepsy, so just smack him. He'll wake up.

Voice;

[loadedace]

Oh, he your son? You sure? All right well - [There's a loud thunking sound; the flailing of limbs and a distinct whine comes through the feed.]

- the hell! Oh. Damnit. [Shifting sounds.] Sorry. I thought you were a Marine.

Voice;

[unfiltrdjustice]

... no. He's not my son. Employee and roommate, but not son.

Tsk. Quit attacking innocent bystanders, Portgas.

Voice;

[loadedace]

[Obviously grinning.] Nah, old man. I can't be his son if we're, you know. [There's a long pause - Ace must be demonstrating.]

Oh - wow, he sounds older than you kid. What are you his...?

No, no. Nothing like that. He's a cop, you see.

Voice;

[unfiltrdjustice]

Not a cop, Portgas.

But remind me to buy a shotgun while we're here.

Voice;

[loadedace]

[There's a moment of goodbyes and good lucks and payment, a door swings, a bell rings and Ace is alone and on the street again.] What do you need that for?

Voice;

[unfiltrdjustice]

So when I get my seastone bullets I have something I can actually shoot them out of. At you.

Voice;

[loadedace]

That's not very nice - why would you want to shoot me?

Voice;

[unfiltrdjustice]

Because you're a goddamn nuisance.

What kind of motor did your skiff have, brat?

Voice;

[loadedace]

Nuisance, eh?

It was a logia motor, engine on the inside with a pump for oil on the side in case the logia ran out. Outboard. Why?

Voice;

[unfiltrdjustice]

[There's tinkering sounds before Smoker speaks.] Modifying a motor.

Voice;

[loadedace]

Modifying - ?

[There's a clip clopping of heels.] Where are you, Taisa?

Voice;

[unfiltrdjustice]

[He sounds distracted.] Building by the water. Rented it for a couple days from a guy. May need to rent it for a couple more if you're buying a trike.

[There's more tinkering, a whoosh of smoke and the sound of an engine tentatively sputtering to life.] Hm--[Yawn.] --mm.