As Margaret made to grapple with the Fishman, he seemed unperturbed by the woman, keeping his hands at his sides as he glowered, Ivorio and Dara watching quietly. Clicking his tongue, Balto began, “What? We smuggle things. You thought it was just goods? Besides, you damn hypocrite human, you’ve done way worse to my people. Why do you think I’m not in the Grand Line?”
Stepping forwards, her expression tense, Dara began, “But...this is wrong! Marco wouldn’t approve-”
“Of you finding out,” Balto quickly interrupted. As Dara’s eyes widened in horror, he continued, “Plenty of slaves have been moved through Lebara. Just cause you didn’t know doesn’t mean squat. If you wanna quit, then quit, that’s none of my business. My job was just to get id of this bad cargo: a bunch of sick slaves is no good to anyone. The Marines can have them.” Mouth spreading into a toothy grin, he added, “And they can have you two as well. That’ll take care of your debt, all right.”
Without warning, Balto jabbed his hands into the wall of the cabin, the wood cracking under his grip. As it splintered and shattered, Balto flicked his hands inward, pelting Margaret with a couple pieces of wood before using the distraction to lunge forwards, mouth wide open as he tried to rip a chunk out of the woman.
Pacifista Member
Ponk-ifista
- Last Seen: 5 hrs ago
- Joined: 12 yrs ago
- Posts: 652 (0.14 / day)
- VMs: 3
-
Username history
- Pacifista 12 yrs ago
-
Latest 10 profile visitors:
-
Most recent →
Ashifa ASMR YT,
Eddie Brock,
k4tsukibakug0,
Silverstein,
Ezekiel,
abcbcb,
Hillan,
Captain Uni,
Neziul,
ppppppp
Status
User has no status, yet
Bio
Most Recent Posts
At Margaret’s proclamation, Balto stopped, the big-nosed Fishman turning his head towards the woman with a slight grin. “Oh right, you said something like you could sense folks, huh? What? Got a problem with how we operate?” Balto asked.
Ivor blinked, wondering, “Eh? What’s going on?” Dara simply watched wordlessly, not following either.
Balto turned away shrugging, “Give the cargo a look if you really care, but your debt ain’t gonna pay itself you know.” Glaring over his shoulder, he added, “And you don’t want to have a debt with Raining Sunny, trust me.”
Getting worried, Ivorio said, “Worth a look...” The Captain led the way below decks, Dara following, her curiosity not waning. Heading down to the storage room, they found it: a room with a number of people, huddled up together, half asleep, or tense, wearing only dirty rags and chains as they coughed or shivered.
Slaves.
Gritting his teeth, Ivorio grunted, “What the hell is this?”
Dara ignored him, moving forwards, drawing a mask over her face and donning it, before going to the closest one and giving him a look. After a quick examination, she quickly concluded, “He’s sick...stay back, it’s contagious. They’re all sick.” Standing, she gritted her teeth, clenching a fist at her side, muttering, “This is...this isn’t of life is supposed to be lived!”
Ivor blinked, wondering, “Eh? What’s going on?” Dara simply watched wordlessly, not following either.
Balto turned away shrugging, “Give the cargo a look if you really care, but your debt ain’t gonna pay itself you know.” Glaring over his shoulder, he added, “And you don’t want to have a debt with Raining Sunny, trust me.”
Getting worried, Ivorio said, “Worth a look...” The Captain led the way below decks, Dara following, her curiosity not waning. Heading down to the storage room, they found it: a room with a number of people, huddled up together, half asleep, or tense, wearing only dirty rags and chains as they coughed or shivered.
Slaves.
Gritting his teeth, Ivorio grunted, “What the hell is this?”
Dara ignored him, moving forwards, drawing a mask over her face and donning it, before going to the closest one and giving him a look. After a quick examination, she quickly concluded, “He’s sick...stay back, it’s contagious. They’re all sick.” Standing, she gritted her teeth, clenching a fist at her side, muttering, “This is...this isn’t of life is supposed to be lived!”
At Margaret’s answer, Dara simply smiled softly, nodding, content, before watching the men work. Once the smaller boat was lashed to the larger one, someone from the upper deck threw a ladder down, which Balto quick grabbed, attaching it firmly, before beginning the climb up. Ivor followed suit, the Captain intending to ensure things were safe, with Dara going up last.
Things on the deck seemed fine enough, with a few sailors mulling about, though their expressions seemed dour. Balto smirked, “Well, good you you lot. Of course, who knows what would have happened if you’d messed up.” Leaning in closer to the man he was addressing, he grumbled, “The cargo is fine, right?”
“What’s this ship carrying, anyway,” Ivorio wondered aloud.
Balto shrugged, “Eh, not important to you fellas.” However, now that Margaret was closer to the ship, she could tell that there wasn’t much room below deck for anything other than the life forms she could sense.
Things on the deck seemed fine enough, with a few sailors mulling about, though their expressions seemed dour. Balto smirked, “Well, good you you lot. Of course, who knows what would have happened if you’d messed up.” Leaning in closer to the man he was addressing, he grumbled, “The cargo is fine, right?”
“What’s this ship carrying, anyway,” Ivorio wondered aloud.
Balto shrugged, “Eh, not important to you fellas.” However, now that Margaret was closer to the ship, she could tell that there wasn’t much room below deck for anything other than the life forms she could sense.
At the woman’s thanks, Dara simply smiled, shaking her head, “No need to thank me, I am a doctor: preserving life is my job.”
As Margaret turned her attention to the nearby boat, Dara seemed unperturbed, while Ivorio tensed a bit. However, Balto laughed, “Calm down a bit. I used to be stationed here a good while before I got promoted. Sure, there’s lots of scummy types around, but as long as you keep to yourself, you won’t be bothered. Don’t wanna make a ruckus, you know? There’s a base just overhead, this place would have been discovered long ago, but as far as the Marines are concerned, there’s only water and rock down here.”
As the morning went on, the boat had little trouble getting to the sea outside, where Balto snuffed out the lantern hanging above the deck, relying on the low light of the early dawn, the edge of the sea glowing from the sun. The smaller boat continued its passage for an short while before a black spot appeared on the horizon, approaching quickly. Balto grinning, “Perfect, we’re here.” As the smaller boat got closer to the larger one, Margaret could sense a number of life forms aboard, scrambling about the upper deck or huddled together below. Balto ordered, “Hook up there and we’ll make the ship trail behind.” Understanding, Ivorio nodded, lashing his hook to the boat and the back railing of the larger ship, Balto hoisting the sails.
As they worked, Dara watched the brightening glow on the horizon, groaning, “It’s getting bright...” Shielding her eyes, she looked over at Margaret, recalling, “You’re strong, you know.” The doctor then asked vaguely, “What do you fight for?” After a moment, she blinked, before realizing, “Ah, I guess that’s sort of a personal question...”
As Margaret turned her attention to the nearby boat, Dara seemed unperturbed, while Ivorio tensed a bit. However, Balto laughed, “Calm down a bit. I used to be stationed here a good while before I got promoted. Sure, there’s lots of scummy types around, but as long as you keep to yourself, you won’t be bothered. Don’t wanna make a ruckus, you know? There’s a base just overhead, this place would have been discovered long ago, but as far as the Marines are concerned, there’s only water and rock down here.”
As the morning went on, the boat had little trouble getting to the sea outside, where Balto snuffed out the lantern hanging above the deck, relying on the low light of the early dawn, the edge of the sea glowing from the sun. The smaller boat continued its passage for an short while before a black spot appeared on the horizon, approaching quickly. Balto grinning, “Perfect, we’re here.” As the smaller boat got closer to the larger one, Margaret could sense a number of life forms aboard, scrambling about the upper deck or huddled together below. Balto ordered, “Hook up there and we’ll make the ship trail behind.” Understanding, Ivorio nodded, lashing his hook to the boat and the back railing of the larger ship, Balto hoisting the sails.
As they worked, Dara watched the brightening glow on the horizon, groaning, “It’s getting bright...” Shielding her eyes, she looked over at Margaret, recalling, “You’re strong, you know.” The doctor then asked vaguely, “What do you fight for?” After a moment, she blinked, before realizing, “Ah, I guess that’s sort of a personal question...”
As the boat began to move and Margaret pointed out the barrel, Ivor blinked, before cautiously heading over. Balto seemed to not have heard the conversation, and simply went about with piloting the ship, the lantern above shaking with the waves. Sprouting a hook from his hand, he jammed the implement through the edge of the barrel, prying the container open easily. Setting aside the top, he looked into the dark barrel, hearing a snort, before something popped up. Ivorio blinked as he saw the lady doctor Dara standing up, groaning sleepily, “Good morning...” The girl tried to maneuver herself out of the barrel, using her arms to push herself up, but tripped over the edge, causing the barrel to fall, the woman crashing to the ground.
Looking over at the noise, Balto blinked, before grumbling, “Dang, can’t take her back since we’re short on time. Oh well.”
Confused, Ivorio asked as the woman got up, “What are you doing here?”
Her black and white eyes half shut, Dara mumbled, “Oh, I wanted to make sure Miss Wolfbane was alright before she left, but I knew she’d be leaving before I woke up, so I decided to wait here overnight and fell asleep.” She giggled at her absentmindedness, before opening her eyes a bit and looking over to Margaret, asking, “How are you feeling?”
Looking over at the noise, Balto blinked, before grumbling, “Dang, can’t take her back since we’re short on time. Oh well.”
Confused, Ivorio asked as the woman got up, “What are you doing here?”
Her black and white eyes half shut, Dara mumbled, “Oh, I wanted to make sure Miss Wolfbane was alright before she left, but I knew she’d be leaving before I woke up, so I decided to wait here overnight and fell asleep.” She giggled at her absentmindedness, before opening her eyes a bit and looking over to Margaret, asking, “How are you feeling?”
As the woman approached, Ivorio threw her a smile, glad that she was up and about, while Balto nodded, “Aye, just waiting on you. Now let’s get going!” As Balto began to make preparations, quickly setting sail once Margaret was on board. As the boat began to head away from the wooden under city, Margaret could feel a presence in one of the barrels, her Fruit Power sensing life.
At Scarlet’s simple question, Ivorio launched into an explanation, revealing how he secretly ate a small piece of the Devil Fruit he was arrested for stealing, before using it to snatch the keys and allowing them to complete the breakout. He then further explained how they found the underground section of Lebara and ended up here. Deciding to go a bit further, he also mentioned to Margaret how there really hadn’t been anything interesting over the past three days, excluding the arrival of the fishman Balto.
As he finished the trilling tale (and the less than thrilling one afterwards), he stood to his full height, saying, “Well, get some rest. I’ll see you early tomorrow morning, I guess, as long as you’re good.” With a wave, the tall Captain headed out, back to the droll mulling about of the underground town.
Several hours later, Ivorio found himself waiting on the docks outside of Raining Sunny’s headquarters, standing nearly a fairly medium sized boat, with one cabin and a small number of barrels. Someone had been sent to fetch Margaret, while Balto made the last minute preparations on the ship. As he worked, Ivorio asked, “You sure Dara can’t give one last check up on Margaret?”
Balto responded, “Eh, from what Marco tells me, Dara sleeps like a rock, so I wouldn’t worry too much. If you wanna wake her, be my guest.” Ivorio simply shrugged, hoping his crewmate would be fine. Dara was a genius, after all...supposedly.
As he finished the trilling tale (and the less than thrilling one afterwards), he stood to his full height, saying, “Well, get some rest. I’ll see you early tomorrow morning, I guess, as long as you’re good.” With a wave, the tall Captain headed out, back to the droll mulling about of the underground town.
Several hours later, Ivorio found himself waiting on the docks outside of Raining Sunny’s headquarters, standing nearly a fairly medium sized boat, with one cabin and a small number of barrels. Someone had been sent to fetch Margaret, while Balto made the last minute preparations on the ship. As he worked, Ivorio asked, “You sure Dara can’t give one last check up on Margaret?”
Balto responded, “Eh, from what Marco tells me, Dara sleeps like a rock, so I wouldn’t worry too much. If you wanna wake her, be my guest.” Ivorio simply shrugged, hoping his crewmate would be fine. Dara was a genius, after all...supposedly.
After Margaret explained her Fruit, Ivorio said, “I’ve got the Hook Hook Fruit.” The man quickly showed it off, creating a hook with one hand, which remained attached as he pulled it with his other, before reeling it back in.
Balto nodded, “Excellent, excellent. I think you two will be more than up to the task. See, we’ve got a ship coming in early tomorrow morning, before the sun comes up. We’re a bit worried that the Marines might catch on, so that’s where you two come in.” Pointing his finger between the two, he said, “You guys are the muscle: if the Marines show up, you beat them back. We don’t want them to find out about this place, you know?” Standing, he towered as he finished, “So, that’s that. You guys get some rest, it’s gonna be starting early. I’ll be taking you on a smaller boat to meet the other one at sea.” With a nod, he headed out, with Marco leaving behind him.
As they were gone, Ivorio leaned back in his seat, shrugging, “Well, that doesn’t seem so bad...” Looking over to Scarlet, he asked, "I figure it's just a ship of smuggled goods?" Turning back to Margaret, he added, "What do you think? Not like we have much choice..."
Balto nodded, “Excellent, excellent. I think you two will be more than up to the task. See, we’ve got a ship coming in early tomorrow morning, before the sun comes up. We’re a bit worried that the Marines might catch on, so that’s where you two come in.” Pointing his finger between the two, he said, “You guys are the muscle: if the Marines show up, you beat them back. We don’t want them to find out about this place, you know?” Standing, he towered as he finished, “So, that’s that. You guys get some rest, it’s gonna be starting early. I’ll be taking you on a smaller boat to meet the other one at sea.” With a nod, he headed out, with Marco leaving behind him.
As they were gone, Ivorio leaned back in his seat, shrugging, “Well, that doesn’t seem so bad...” Looking over to Scarlet, he asked, "I figure it's just a ship of smuggled goods?" Turning back to Margaret, he added, "What do you think? Not like we have much choice..."
“Nice to see you up, Margaret,” Ivor smiled as he leaned back in his chair. He’d gotten a change of clothes in the past couple days, now wearing a white vest over a dark purple shirt and blue pants, with a pair of light sandals.
At their words, the doctor, her blonde hair down, turned to the woman on the bed, her eyes closed as she smiled. Getting closer, Dara opened them as she examined Margaret with her bizarre eyes, the ‘whites’ of her eyes being colored black, surrounding a white iris and pupil. She insisted, “You seem particularly robust, but I would still recommend another day of bed rest. Now if you’ll excuse me.” With a nod, Dara took her leave, letting the three have some privacy.
After a minute or so, Ivor gestured to a pile of clothes, noting, “Scarlet picked these out for ya, so no need to worry about going around in prison crap. We do have a bit of a problem though.” Ivorio scratched his chin as he explained, “I mean, we broke out of prison empty handed, so we can’t exactly pay for your medical fees. I was able to barter with their boss though, but I’m not quite sure about these guys.” Looking around, as if the walls had ears, he explained, “This place is the base of a crime group called, ‘Raining Sunny’. I haven’t heard much about them but apparently, they do smuggling. We’re supposed to escort a ship to the island tomorrow morning, so we’ll be heading out before dawn.”
“Oh, excellent timing, I was just in the mood to discuss business,” came a voice from the door. A man entered the room, followed by Marco and Dara. He was fairly large, possessing a big nose, and wide, toothy mouth. His skin was dark gray, and he appeared to have fins on his back and arms and gills on his neck. He wore a red aloha shirt and green shorts as he sat down on one of the vacant chairs, the wooden legs straining against his bulk. Dara moved past him, placing a tray of oatmeal and fruit in from of Margaret, before the fishman waved her away, saying, “We’re gonna be discussing business, Dara, so leave us be for a minute, okay?” The woman simply nodded, smiling as she turned and left.
Turning to the others, the basking shark fishman began, “I’m Balto, visiting, er, supervisor. Marco runs this place, but I’m a bit higher on the chain, if you will. So anyway, I heard that you two are Fruit users, right? What kinda powers you got?” He seemed excited as he looked between the two, ignoring Scarlet, hoping for an answer.
At their words, the doctor, her blonde hair down, turned to the woman on the bed, her eyes closed as she smiled. Getting closer, Dara opened them as she examined Margaret with her bizarre eyes, the ‘whites’ of her eyes being colored black, surrounding a white iris and pupil. She insisted, “You seem particularly robust, but I would still recommend another day of bed rest. Now if you’ll excuse me.” With a nod, Dara took her leave, letting the three have some privacy.
After a minute or so, Ivor gestured to a pile of clothes, noting, “Scarlet picked these out for ya, so no need to worry about going around in prison crap. We do have a bit of a problem though.” Ivorio scratched his chin as he explained, “I mean, we broke out of prison empty handed, so we can’t exactly pay for your medical fees. I was able to barter with their boss though, but I’m not quite sure about these guys.” Looking around, as if the walls had ears, he explained, “This place is the base of a crime group called, ‘Raining Sunny’. I haven’t heard much about them but apparently, they do smuggling. We’re supposed to escort a ship to the island tomorrow morning, so we’ll be heading out before dawn.”
“Oh, excellent timing, I was just in the mood to discuss business,” came a voice from the door. A man entered the room, followed by Marco and Dara. He was fairly large, possessing a big nose, and wide, toothy mouth. His skin was dark gray, and he appeared to have fins on his back and arms and gills on his neck. He wore a red aloha shirt and green shorts as he sat down on one of the vacant chairs, the wooden legs straining against his bulk. Dara moved past him, placing a tray of oatmeal and fruit in from of Margaret, before the fishman waved her away, saying, “We’re gonna be discussing business, Dara, so leave us be for a minute, okay?” The woman simply nodded, smiling as she turned and left.
Turning to the others, the basking shark fishman began, “I’m Balto, visiting, er, supervisor. Marco runs this place, but I’m a bit higher on the chain, if you will. So anyway, I heard that you two are Fruit users, right? What kinda powers you got?” He seemed excited as he looked between the two, ignoring Scarlet, hoping for an answer.
Alright, I imagine the next part of the arc being Ivor and Margaret getting roped into doing the crime group a task to pay for the treatment. Feel free to timeskip to Margaret waking up after the treatment if you want.
© 2007-2026