estoria | The first rule of fight club

Entry tags:

The first rule of fight club

Who: Zoro

yourotherleft & OPEN!
When: IC 5/4-5/5
Where: various places in the Pleasure District
What: In the process of becoming a bounty hunter, Zoro is about to stumble on something even more curious in the "underground" where criminals in the colony play.
Rating/Warning: none but lmk if that changes

[One doesn't have to hang around in the alley outside Novus/Replea to hear about the criminal underground of the Cerealia colony, but it helps. A chance encounter elsewhere has already turned Zoro on to the existence of alien criminal factions and their need to put prices on the heads of their rivals, but this is his first night actively haunting the dark side looking for someone to nab. His luck is unusually good tonight, he's already spotted someone whose photo he scored from a rough customer inside the club, now to trail him and see where he goes just in case he leads the hunter to even more high-priced bounties.

He has no idea where he is at any given time anyway, so tracking his quarry all the way from the entertainment district to the pleasure district doesn't faze him, it only results in a change of scenery. But the deeper he goes, stealthily following his bounty, the more Zoro uncovers.]

Scene I. Pleasure district, bars

[He's not at all interested in company, clothed or unclothed, living or robot, but the sake is pretty damn good down here. The alien with reward money on his head apparently likes the host clubs, though, so Zoro can be found parked on a bar stool in one, waving off the hosts and hostesses while running up a hell of a tab. The more he drinks, the more personable he is if anyone wants to strike up a conversation.

What they don't know is, he has no intention of paying that tab. But can he get out without causing a riot and tipping off his target? You, hey, you there - come here, let him talk to you so he can watch the bounty over your shoulder.[]

Do you work here? Hang on, that's not what I meant! I just wanna know where the back door is.

[what do you mean that is the worst question you can ask in a place like this?!]

Scene II. Pleasure district, brothel

[Well, shit, his target went upstairs, so how is a bounty hunter supposed to pass the time when he himself is entirely uninterested in what this place has to offer? But wait, there's a hell of a lot of noise coming from the next level down...

There isn't a stairwell leading down inside the building, but around back, there's definitely a side door and a set of steps, with two rather hulking thugs standing guard on either side of the door. Zoro isn't at all put off by their presence, but walking straight up to them doesn't seem to make them move to let him through. He can hear what plainly sounds like fighting and cheering, and can sense a lot of strong people down there. But he'll need a hand to get down there to see it for himself. What do you think, can you A, talk their way in, or is it better to B, fight your way in?

Spoilers, there's a fight club downstairs, and if you can get in, you might find yourself joining that club. Zoro's joining it, no matter what.]

Scene III. Pleasure district, spa

[The bounty money is good and all, and most of it is going to go toward food and booze, but as long as he's in the area, Zoro is up for checking out the bathhouse in the spa. Not for shenanigans, for a bath! It's a good place to meet people, they say, so who knows? Maybe he'll make a new friend, or find a potential sparring partner. Or, on the other hand, he might come to realize why bathing with others is not as much fun as it sounds on paper.]

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Didn't say I can't. [Kaneda, please] If I wanted to, I could lay waste to this entire room in about three minutes. That's not the point.

[he looks past Kaneda to the bar in the corner from whence the wonderful drinks come, and then across at the smaller, mousy-looking clerks handling the money and the rosters for their bosses.]

Sometimes a fight's not worth it. I know there's probably not a single innocent person in this cellar, but some of 'em ain't fighters. They'd be in the way, collateral damage. Besides. [seriousness over, he smirks] If we bust up the joint, we'll never get to find out just how much fun it is.

[if you'll excuse him, he's going to go talk to Tiny and get on the roster. Good news, it looks like no one will have to wait long to see him fight. A bunch of volunteers chickened out at the last minute, something about the guy they were scheduled to fight. Sure, Zoro will take that challenge - and they'll let him use his swords, bonus. Get ready, Kaneda, it's going to be a show]

....Kick ass and don't take names.

[something like sparkles all but shine in Kaneda's eyes as he listens to Zoro's spiel. Somehow, he kind of believes the man. In the laying waste part.

In the innocents part, the collateral damage? Not so much. He even scoffs. But he settles in for a comfortable spot, right on top of one of the tables, much to the onlookers chagrin.

And stands ready for the show. He wonders when the bets will start]

[Hell yeah he will.

Betting opens as soon as the names of the combatants are announced, but since Zoro is a first-timer, they actually push him and his opponent into the ring so people can get a good look at them before betting is closed, just in case. The other guy? Is huge. Zoro's seen huge and he's still sort of taken aback by the neckless wonder, who seems to be all shoulders and arms and not much else. He's dragging a big spiked club like some kind of ogre, all the more reason to be thankful for his swords.

There's a gust of laughter and then shouts as all bets seem to be going to the house favorite. He lifts his massive arms and waves to pump up the excitement even more, while Zoro just stands with arms crossed, face blank, sizing everything up. He's already got his opponent's number, he can tell this is the sort of fighter who's won by size alone all this time. Probably could be something in a real fight, but has it been so long since he's had a real challenge that he's forgotten how to match it? Only one way to find out.

Someone bangs a gong to start the round, and Zoro slowly draws two swords as the giant ape rushes him. He seems rather unconcerned to the untrained eye, lowering the tips of the blades toward the floor and only flicking them up at the last second. His good eye zones in on the other guy, and there's a flashing of blades and suddenly Zoro is standing on the other side of the giant, his swords held forward like a bull's horns. His opponent bellows as blood runs down his arms and his club shatters into three pieces - he doesn't go down, but boy, he's not looking so good as he turns. Zoro whirls toward him without hesitation, and that's when it gets really exciting.]

[Kaneda had already started on the edge of his seat, the table, but as soon as Zoro goes off like that he's crowing with the rest of the crowd who took bets on the green haired swordsman, arms pumping in the air.

Kaneda whoops when the blood curdling scream of Zoro's big bad opponent splits the air, and even chants his name.]

Get him, Zoro!

[Zoro's actually quite pleased that his opponent didn't go down so easily. That's going to make things fun. The hulk is mad, though, and not about to let his undefeated streak be ended so soon. He chucks the handle of the club at Zoro and then goes in hard to try to knock him down by brute force, only to find his fist held off in a block by crossed swords.

It would be too easy to just cut him down right there. Zoro's not interested in easy. They circle around each other for a bit, the giant thug throwing punches that look like they could leave dents in the floor, the swordsman parrying some and dodging others. All Zoro wants to know is whether this guy is strong enough to face some other time, or if he should just put him out of his misery. A few punches connect, sending him skidding backwards across the ring, but he never falls. When he's seen and sensed enough, Zoro goes back on the attack, technically using the back of his blades but still hitting his opponent hard enough to crack ribs.

When the dust clears, Zoro is actually standing on top of the mountain of thug like he's going to plant one of those swords in his back like a flag. He doesn't, but damn it's a sight. He'll leave it to the folks in charge to clean up the mess, he just wants his own winnings. If only he'd had more to risk.

He makes to go back and see what Kaneda thought, but he's immediately surrounded by a mix of fans wanting to thank him for the best payout of the night and enemies really pissed at how much he cost them. Maybe that "whole place on our heads" fight is about to break out after all...]

[Kaneda definitely isn't going to swam him like a fanboy either, okay? He's got to get his own winnings and, ultimately, sit back and just analyze the battle for what it was.

Pretty goddamn cool. Really goddamn cool! He can hardly believe it, never seen anything like it aside from in movies! When the crowd does clear, eventually, Kaneda's standing there with his pockets fuller and....he found popcorn.]

Well, well. Was that overkill or what? Pretty sure he's gonna be cryin' when he makes it back.

[Pushing his way through, Zoro finds him and grins, not at all modest]

I was hoping to have a little fun, and I sure did. It's not a bad time if you like to fight. [though he has to pause to shove a shrill spectator off him, this one is completely adamant that Zoro give over his personal share of the winnings to compensate him for betting on the house favorite.]

[slurping his drink for a moment, Kaneda goes ahead and dumps the contents on this particular shrew. Just as casual as that.]

You call that fun? He barely stood a chance! Probably piddled everywhere.

[Zoro snorts at the way his annoying non-fan goes flailing away through the club. Thanks, man.]

You couldn't tell, could you? He was pretty damn strong. A little rusty, though, that's why I beat him. I don't think he's fought anyone with a weapon in a while. Oh well. [big shrug] They didn't take my swords away, so I used 'em. Fair's fair. Next time you can fight him if you want proof. [well...] Assuming he ever fights again.

He was big as fuck, that's for sure. Bet that's what really made it. But they fall easily enough~

[but that's interesting....he'll note that for later that a. there are people who are that damn rusty and b. there are people like this Zoro who apparently aren't.

He scoffs.]

I don't fight anybody's leftovers unless they're messin' with my gang.

[that's right, Zoro remembers him mentioning a name before. So, a gang, is it?

He flags down one of the waiters and just gestures to have two drinks brought to where they are. They've earned it.]

Suit yourself. But is anyone from your gang here? Don't get me wrong - I feel the same way about my crew. But right now that crew is only me and the captain, and he can definitely take care of himself.

[hmm come to think of it Luffy might enjoy a place like this...]

[Yeah, Kaneda has too....for sitting on his ass. Earned. Uh huh.

And all the bluster is gone, for the moment. He can't even fake it.]

No....we were separated back home, anyway. But no one's here. Are you saying we should form a gang, Greenly?

[gives him the stinkeye for a moment. Really? Really? At least the cook was more creative when he came up with stupid nicknames.]

Nope. I just said I have a crew - I ain't leaving that crew, and I ain't in charge of recruiting for it either. [ah, good, drinks. Zoro takes his and has a sip before continuing.] I only just met you like an hour ago, anyway, I'm not that touchy-feely.

[smiling all innocent like!!!

Kaneda then harrumphs, crossing his arms over his chest even as he glances at the drinks with interest.]

There's no touchy feely shit to gangs....not like bein' in your crew, apparently. This is about the fight! About kicking ass.

[eyes him, and then snorts and drinks his beer]

You don't know shit about pirate crews if you can say that. [it's not angry, just sort of matter-of-fact] Not surprised. Nobody here has any experience with pirates.

You're seriously an ass pirate? [#1 thing to say to a pirate who just took out a guy three times as big as him.]

It's about stealin' booty, right? What's so experienced about that?

[see this face, Kaneda? this is the face of someone who will string you up by your balls the minute he can find some string.

Just a regular pirate!

[sorry, this is one ornery teenager...who is just smirking]

Same difference, cause of the booty.

[see if he gets you any more drinks]

It's not like that!

[side eyes]

Alright, you already said. But treasure is still involved, ain't it?

Sometimes. [settling his ruffled feathers. Geez, man.] A lot harder to do around here but you get the drift.

I bet you don't get the drift-- [asshole grin bc he thinks hes real damn funny] But...at least if you got a gang you can ride around and do shit.

[yeah you keep digging that hole deeper, Kaneda]

A pirate doesn't stop being a pirate just because he's stuck on land. But you've got a point.

[drinking heavily over here, because he hates thinking about not being on the sea, not having adventures. Not becoming the world's strongest. It sucks.]

As long as we don't give up on our dreams, the rest doesn't matter.

[oh man, the guy is drinking now because he's depressed....that's the saddest thing ever, even sadder than an angry clown. (because a sad one is funny so)

Instead of there, there-ing the other male, he takes a generous swig of his own brew]

That sure is sappy....you must really miss the scurvy and stuff. How're you supposed to do that now, though? No treasure to be found here, I don't think.

[yes, good, he doesn't need any shoulder-patting. He shifts over and gives Kaneda a direct look, no messing around]

I said dreams, not treasure. Treasure's like getting a shitty job here - it keeps food on the table. My dream has nothing to do with treasure. I might even be able to work toward it, here. [there's his smirk, coming back slowly] I intend to become the world's strongest swordsman. If that means becoming the strongest among multiple worlds, here, I'm fine with that.

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