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youshidiots) wrote2025-10-23 02:09 pm
youshidiots) wrote2025-10-23 02:09 pmopen 🤡 overflow
open post | overflow | nsfw
re-voicetesting.
re-voicetesting.
youshidiots) wrote2025-10-23 02:09 pm
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[he pours very generously for both of them, but the bottle itself is quite large and would take a substantial combined effort to empty in one sitting. a floating hand extends one glass to mihawk, and buggy takes the other, leaving the bottle on the counter and turning to wander restlessly across the wine carpet, making irritable gestures.]
People. You know! Not the idiots who'll believe anything the media tells them. I mean people who would actually do something about it.
[there's not many of those in the world that aren't, in the case of the world government, already involved, but there aren't a lot of things that would make buggy stand up to crocodile, either. the emperor swallows a mouthful of rum and looks sharply back to the swordsman.]
How bad is it really?
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He can't help but think about whose tastes do favor rum, however, especially given the question. ]
That depends. Most people believe what they want. I'm certain there were plenty of people waiting to have their suspicions confirmed in just this sort of way. They won't look any further for the truth.
[ If he sounds bitter, it's because he is. It's better than admitting to being worried. No, that's a vice that should be projected. ]
Worried one of the other emperors are going to seek reprisals?
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What? Like you're not??
[he folds his arms across his chest, clutching the glass close like he expects it to be ripped away from him and might throw it first.]
You and Croc both made it clear you don't want to fight the other emperors. And you know exactly who's most likely to ask questions.
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There's a difference between picking fights over the One Piece and defending ourselves. If all we have to be concerned about are questions from Red Hair or Straw Hat, then there isn't a concern.
[ Sure is another healthy sip coming off that glass, though. ]
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quite boldly, buggy jabs a finger at him.]
It's a concern to me!
[he's not trying to be tough; if anything, he probably sounds like a flight risk. the absolute last thing in the world he wants to do right now is answer shanks' questions.]
Our business isn't their business. We don't answer to them!
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[ Except it if were between answering a snail call or two fleets turning up at their island, the choice is an easy one and he's pretty sure his would be the same as Crocodile's. Now why would Buggy be so belligerent about it? ]
But then what are you suggesting, hm? Go to war over a misunderstanding should anyone come calling? I'm certain the World Government would love that.
[ It does make him wonder if that was an intentional play on their part, but he doubts it. These are the same people who have been fooled into thinking Buggy is in charge. ]
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[his proposed course of action has always been just to beat the other emperors to the one piece. as long as buggy can keep the reins on his overzealous followers and keep mihawk and crocodile invested, the cross guild will bring competitive means and muscle to bear. shanks won't want to fight. neither will luffy, he thinks, given the choice. blackbeard is the only emperor who would willingly turn the contest bloody... although crocodile did say something about that, during a private meeting, something buggy hasn't been able to stop thinking about since.
the point is, the cross guild infrastructure itself is too new to bear the weight of scrutiny. and the idea of having to explain himself to shanks - even over a simple misunderstanding! - at a time like this strikes him as a fate worse than death. probably.]
I'm saying we need to send a message somehow. I know there's plans for a printing press, but we need to make a point sooner. [another shot of rum.] Don't you want to fuck up some Marines?
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[ The bottom of the sea is littered with countless ships, both pirate and Marine alike, cleaved by Yoru's blade. With their forces, storming the beach of the marine fort had really been more of a stroll for the former warlord, but he hadn't left with his hands clean of blood. ]
A threat to our reputation cannot go unanswered. Of that there's no doubt. But moving in anger is rarely a good idea.
[ That's not... pointed shade or anything. Mihawk stares off over at his desk, upon which several stacks of daily newspapers currently live. ]
Rather than building more of our own means of printing and distribution, we could take one of theirs...
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[buggy is just taking another stressed-out drink when mihawk makes that suggestion; he immediately points a finger at the swordsman again, this time much more enthusiastic.]
YES! Yes. That's the kind of action we need! How soon can we do that?
[clearly he's hoping mihawk will say something similar to immediately.]
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That depends. Our forces just returned; most people need time to recover from that sort of thing.
[ Not him, is the implication there. He takes a thoughtful sip as he eases off of the oven and walks over to the desk. ]
And we'd need some sort of a plan for Crocodile to approve. [ A beat. ] We should convince him to come with us.
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as mihawk drifts out of the kitchen, buggy's hands dart to the bottle to refill his glass, but they pause with both in midair when mihawk suggests bringing crocodile along. so far, handling the two of them individually has been more or less manageable for him; having both of them within torture distance during a battle would be... stressful.
how would it feel for the world government, though?]
That would send a really strong message...
[one the other emperors would be sure to read loud and clear.]
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Precisely. [ He drawls. ] A unified front for a serious slight. And besides, it wouldn't do for that hook to go getting rusty.
[ Now, that is some shade. Mihawk is still irritated about the accusations from earlier, even if the main suspicion had undoubtedly been cast onto Buggy.
The bright eyes drop to his glass, considering a moment before he holds it out for the hand to top off. ]
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Hahah.... yeah... United front. That's what I was thinking.
[he finishes pouring rum into his own glass before the hand with the bottle in it floats toward mihawk and does the same.]
That does mean me too, right?
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Obviously.
[ Not just because he's the emperor and their figurehead, but the clown has been on every other mission out in the field before. Overall he's been an asset. ]
Did you not want to go?
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[surprising himself to realize that's true, in spite of the danger presented by the world government's naval forces; even when mihawk is at his most intimidating, buggy can't deny that the raids and skirmishes have been a lot of fun. it's a fucking rush to be supported by powerful allies... he'd forgotten what that was like.]
Croc seemed pretty mad tonight, that's all. [another drink; he wanders idly over to touch one of the wooden bedposts, to see if it's as smooth as it looks.] I just wanna make sure he doesn't forget that I'm useful.
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He has a temper, as do you. It will pass. You must know he didn't run his last plan for Utopia on rash decisions.
[ He is fairly confident when Crocodile will try to betray him at least, and it's too early yet. He suspects that is true for Buggy, mostly because pushing him out as a scapegoat at this point would just mean one of them having to take his place. And for what? A civilian cruise ship? Crocodile tried to make an entire country eat itself alive. ]
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then again, that does remind him.]
What about you? You're not mad anymore?
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About what, exactly?
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[maybe mihawk's anger at the time was due entirely to being blindsided, exacerbated by crocodile's suspicions. but it had seemed worse. maybe buggy just can't conceptualize how people can let go of their anger that easily.]
You were pissed off too, I saw you. Heard you carved off a chunk of my island about it. Where'd that go?
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[ Oh, but Buggy probably meant the anger, not the island, right? ]
Of course I'm still angry.
[ Mihawk reaches to turn the chair at the desk to face to the side, towards the bed. Despite his claim, the motions are graceful, measured. He picks up a few of the papers while he sips his drink, then moves to go and sit on his own bed, passing Buggy on the way. ]
Anger can be honed like molten iron. It belongs to me and I will wield it, not the other way around.
[ With that, he tosses the papers onto the bed and sits on the edge, folding one leg over the other. He only adjusts a little once he has. ]
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wielding your own anger like a weapon. what a concept for a clown.]
You're just always in control, huh?
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Mihawk tilts his head at the question, raising his glass to take another cool sip while he watches the other drift closer - or is that just drift in place thanks to the rum, tethered to the post like some partly deflated party balloon? ]
We'll need a story to publish when we take over the press.
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if he's honest with himself, it's because he doesn't want crocodile to catch him while the gangster is still in a bad mood. at the moment, mihawk's chambers seem like the safest place on the island until he wears out his welcome.]
You mean besides the fact that the World Government tried to pin their atrocity on us?
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[ He opens one of the newspapers and makes to hand it to Buggy to study, as if perhaps the clown has never beheld one before. ]
That's how much is typically in an issue. I think it'd be amusing to parallel it, if it's possible.
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Yes, I realize that. But don't tell me you're gonna be submitting pieces for publication.
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