Noir, with his hands in his pockets Walked down the sidewalk of the Northern Section of Water 9. The Carnival was dense in this part. A lot of drinking, a lot of dancing.
He was so worried for Raven. It was nice to have another girl on the crew. Especially being the Gentleman that he was. But- ever since Arabasta, his flirtatious disposition and active 'horn-dog' demeanor as Kirk would say, had lessened by a significant amount.
This was evident by the Way he acted with Raven. He didn't swoon like he had with Jeanne or women previous on the rose arbor. But he did treat her well. Honestly, if it wasn't for Jeanne, and his Fight with Mar-Syl. His gentlemanly disposition wouldn't have been honed to what it was now
His fist balled while he walked. His teeth dented the cigarette in his mouth, only to spit it out and stamping his shoe.
The corner of his mouth twitched. Almost forming into a scowl. He had this pang of hurt in his heart. It was so different than Leroy or the Others. He felt like he had failed being a pillar of support. As a Chef, the member of the crew who always listened. But also as the Shield.
He began to stew in the emotions, pulling another Cigarette, bumping it into his mouth and lighting it. But a noise abruptly cut through the air.
It was like a loud whistle, or the sound of a pipe organ with air being blown through it.
"What the hell is that noise?" Noir thought out loud. The noise was distant, and far away. But it was clear that with the gazes to the air of some of the others around him they also heard it as well.
"Geheheh." A Laugh from next to him. A skinny looking man with a pudgy torso spoke to him. He was shirtless, and wore cargo shorts as his chest was painted in light pale blue, yellow, and red. The colors of Water 9
"You must be new around here huh?" He spoke, cheeks flushed with red from his drunkenness.
"That noise there is the Sea Engine!|" He laughed, his eyes heavy as he took another swig from his 30 oz wide bottle.
"Sea Engine? What's a Sea Engine?" Noir pulled the cig from his mouth and rested his hands on his hip. His White dotted dress shirt had the sleeves tight around his wrist. A dark yellow tie on his neck
"Its this big machine. Like a ship or a submarine but on uh…like a road called tracks. Its on this big bridge, it- like 10 meters over the water but goes all the way down to the sea bed!"
"Woah. That's impressive…Wheres it connect to?" Noir cocked a brow.
"Oh man-" The man rubbed his eyes. "Theres…ugh like uh shit…an entire yard of em. They connect to other islands that are close uh- I think one even connects to another Island in another route. Shit took 10 years to build. Some about World Government."
Before he continued talking, he fell to his ass and then to his back. Out cold.
World Government? Sea Engines? An Entire Yard of them. This Intrigued Noir, he hadn't expected Water 9 to be apart of the World Government. Especially with how usually Islands this prosperous had Marine Bases either close to or on the Island itself. And the crew hadn't spotted a single Marine on the Island.
Then there was the lack of Insignia for the World Government around the Island. Perhaps Water 9 was one of the Few Islands that had contracts with the Government? There were some in the world that weren't apart of the Coalition but were in a way employed by them.
"Perhaps thats the next place to look…" First Noir would need to check the rest of the Northern District where the Luxury stores were.
"Ugh." Leroy stretched his arms above his head, finger interlinked. A wince on his face as he let go, letting his back hunch. Dezzi was similarly disappointed. A sullen look on their face
"Searched the entire place, and there's nothin." The two currently walked down a quiet road. A canal to the side of them. Water gently bobbing and coursing gently. Never was the water still in water 9, mechanisms below the surface to allow for movement and to keep the water from filling with bacteria. A filter system helping that fact
The sounds of the Carnival was distant now. Leroys feet aching. "Ugh, my feet hurt."
"Maybe we should stop? Just for a second. We've already looked everywhere." Dezzi suggested.
"Maybe. I just-" Leroy walked to a bench, and plopped down. Hands gripping his head. Pain in his eyes while he grit his teeth. "I can't lose someone else…We're already probably going to lose the palm…And now…"
Tears began to well in his eyes, leg bouncing in a blur of anxiety. The only solace was the soft hand of Dezzi on his back trying to reassure him. "We'll find her…"
Leroys breath began to pick up. The words weren't getting through to him. He couldn't focus, he felt like was about to explode.
A different voice broke through then. Soft, and gentle.
"Leroy."
The Captain Recognized it, his eyes widening as he shot his eyes up.
Across the Canal on the other side. Was Raven. Standing with a hardened look on her face. She looked, focused and determined but the look radiated an air of Irritation and Hardness.
"Raven!" The Captain and Doctor said at the same time. Shooting from their seats, about ready to effortlessly jump across the Canal, but a harsh voice spoke out.
It was a shock to realize it came from Raven. "Don't come any closer. That is your only warning."
The words shocked the Two. Freezing them in place.
"I'm only going to say this once. Don't come after me. Forget about me. Let whats about to happen, Happen." Her words were so stern. So different than anything that she'd ever said. The only thing close to it was the way she spoke to Hornigold before Leroy showed up.
"R-Raven. What are you talking about?!" Dezzi shouted.
"Yeah. Whats going on with you! Everyones been looking for you!" Leroy said, arms to the side in a plea
Raven closed her eyes for a moment. Breathing softly before reopening them "If I stay with you and the Crew any longer, it will only put all of you in more danger than you could ever imagine. This is the only way for all of you to get out of here."
"The fuck are you Talking about?!" Leroy snapped back "You should know by now that any danger in our way I can handle! We can handle!" He Emphasized
"There's nothing that's too dangerous for us! We're comrades! A Crew! That's what we do!" Dezzi wanted to say just the same. But knew that Leroy could say it best
"Not this Leroy." She dismissed without a thought. Shaking her head
"Bu-" He was about to retort again. But her voice cut him off a second time
"Thank you. For everything. You are one of the Kindest men I've ever met. And for a long time. I never thought it'd come from a pirate of all people."
"For that small moment. I was happy." A smile almost came across her full lips. But was shot away as she continued. " But now it's time for me to face reality."
"Tell the crew I said-" There was so much she wanted to say. But she couldn't bring herself to say it. "Goodbye."
"Ra-" Leroy began, only for arms to blossom out of the wall behind him and out of the ground! Gripping him and Dezzi in place
"Raven!" Dezzi yelled as they tried to force their way out of the Hands. But the dozens of them were enough to immobilize even Leroy
"Raven!" Leroy screamed so loudly into the night that even those sleeping high into the third level could hear, tears streaming from his eyes as he shouted for her to come back.
But she was already gone.