Chapter 064: James Conrad

"And so I set out for Avasine... and the rest you know."
"Huh. I'll hand it to you, blondie, you've been through more shit than I thought," Allen said, the first to respond to James's story.
"Yeah, I’ll admit, that’s... harsher than I had assumed," Rink added while drinking her coffee. "But... you definitely were a good big brother to her."
"I... tried to be. Most of my life was dictated for me, a life chosen by my parents, by the society I lived in... but that was the one thing I always chose to be, no matter what anyone else said or thought."
"Maybe I saw some of that in you."
"How do you mean?"
"You were a good big brother to Cassandra, and you lost her... Jack was a good big brother to me, and I lost him." She put her cup down. "And then I sank the ship you named after her..."
"I told you, I don’t blame you for that. The ship wasn’t important. The memories are. And I had those with me for years before I built that boat."
"So... how about we head to Akana, figure out where and how to find that noble jerk, and give him what he deserves?"
"I don't- no. I don't know if you can call it revenge, but... since that day, he has represented everything I never want to be. He was the highest class of noble in the world. Yet, he had no manners, was unwilling to listen, thought he could do whatever he wanted... and from what I was told, he could. So I made sure that I would not be anything like him. I wanted to learn. I wanted to work. I wanted to live a life where I wouldn't be given anything for free. And most of all, I never wanted to be called a noble again. Bothering to seek him out at this point... it's more thought than he deserves."
"Yeah, we're not gonna be picking fights with any World Nobles anytime soon," Rink chuckled. "You'd have to be absolutely out of your mind to make that prestigious of an enemy."
"And you're saying we're not?"
"We might not always have made the most sensible decisions, but we're not insane. Yet."
"I doubt everybody would agree with you there."
"Besides, starting beef with Celestial Dragons isn't going to be of any help towards what we're really after. Not that we're never going to do anything that doesn't help with that, but let's not lose focus."
"Right, right."
"You never learned who was responsible?"
"No. I never kept up with any news about Josang after I left. It's clear those pirates used the cannon salute as an opportunity, but... either it was their ship all along, or they hijacked the ship firing the salute... our place being so remote made it easy to attack. We felt safe, because things like that... they just didn't happen there. That day, I learned that you can't ever feel completely safe anywhere."
"True that," Allen added.
"I don't know who those pirates were, or if they ever got captured. I had already... taken care of the guy who killed Cassandra, and... I don't know. It just felt pointless to bring feelings of wanting revenge with me anywhere I went. I decided that the main feeling I was going to keep from that time was the memory of Cassandra."
"Sounds like a healthy response to the situation," Markus said.
"I guess at least one of us should have those," Rink said and glanced at Muse, who had been quiet since James started telling his story. She was looking more withdrawn than usual, and was just looking down at the table. "...you okay?"
"What's the matter?" James asked, having noticed her as well. "No snarky comment about me or anything?"
"I... I didn't know you had gone through all that," Muse said, without her usual confidence. "I'm... sorry."
"You, saying sorry to me? The time of miracles isn't over yet, I see."
"Hey, I'm trying to be nice here!"
"Ah, there it is."
"I didn't know, okay?"
"We all have things that are hard to talk about. You if anyone should know that," Markus said and looked at James. "But... I don't know if that was really necessary."
"No... you're right. My apologies, Muse."
"It's... it's fine. I... probably owed you that one."

James's reaction and Muse's response left an awkward silence hanging over the room for a few moments, with nobody really sure how to continue the conversation from there. Eventually, Rink was the one who decided to break it.

"...well, putting all that aside for now... let's figure out what our next move should be," she said. "Now, we can stay out at sea if we need to, we've got supplies for at least a month. We need more information, but..."
"We also need to stay out of sight for a bit," Markus said.
"Yeah. But just sailing around randomly isn't something that's likely to get us more knowledge. The one lead we have is in the Grand Line, and we're not ready for that yet. But—given how little seems to be known about them, I suspect that the Demonkin are also not hanging around well-populated places. So... it might be a long shot, but checking out some places that are off the beaten path might still be our best bet for picking up more clues. Mirise?"
"Well... we're not on any specific course right now, but we're not on any of the main trade routes. I had some routes planned out, but I figured we were going to decide where to go next while in Avasine, so..."
"Yeah, we're probably gonna have to rethink any plans we had before. So that’s gonna be your task today, checking the maps and coming up with some plans for possible destinations and routes, and we’ll decide what to do from there."
"Got it," Mirise replied and ate the last bit of her scrambled eggs before standing up. "I’ll go up and get started, then? Or do you want any more help here?"
"No, just go," Rink said. "You’ve got the most important job at the moment, and I really don’t think time is on our side. The Marines might not have the numbers to put out a full manhunt for us, but they’re definitely gonna be putting in more of an effort to get us now."
"Alright. I’ll let you know what I figure out," Mirise said and left to go upstairs. The rest of the crew finished up what was left of their breakfast as well, and then James stood up without a word, having remained silent ever since the conversation shifted away from him and his past.
"Everything alright?" Rink asked.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine, I just... need to go to the bathroom," James replied and quickly left.
"O... kay then," Rink said and got up, taking her pipe out of her pocket before walking to the door. "Well, I'm popping out for a smoke. Allen, you coming too?"
"Yeah, I could definitely do with one," Allen replied and joined her.
"I'll... join you too," Muse said and rose as well. "I... need some fresh air."
"Sure thing," Rink said and held the door open for Allen and Muse before starting to exit herself.
"I guess I'll clean up here, then," Markus said.
"Then I shall assist you," Charon added.
"Oh, I was gonna do that when I got back," Rink stated.
"No, no, you prepared most of the breakfast, it's only fair we take care of it."
"Alright, fine. Just make sure you put everything back where it belongs. I won't have anyone messing up my kitchen."
"I know, I know. Don't worry!" Markus said with a smile as Rink exited as well, chuckling in response.

"Right, then," Markus said and, together with Charon, started collecting the assorted tableware and brought them over to the sink to clean them.
"That was rather a heartrending story," Charon stated. "But Sir Conrad certainly has strength with him, both in mind and body."
"It's amazing what adrenaline can do to a man," Markus said. "But I'm sure you know all about that."
"I most certainly do," Charon replied. "My steroid-like medicines largely make use of that phenomenon, and us fishmen have a greater inherent ability to perform it at will..."
"Say, that reminds me... you said that the one you used when you decapitated that lizard would probably only work on you. Why's that?"
"That particular fake steroid was created to attempt to replicate the events after I first accidentally consumed that devil fruit... by the accounts of captain Bluefin and brother Haros, the strength that I exhibited during that initial rampage was greater than what I managed to achieve with my transformation in the time that followed, after I got more acquainted with the change, and could use it deliberately. So I sought to create a medicine that would make that burst of power reoccur. And so, it was made using the remaining pieces of the fruit, to reactivate whatever it was that happened on that occasion. While I do not know enough about those cursed fruits to know fully... it seemed I was successful."
"I see, so there was no way to test that theory while you were on the island... but you should have had opportunities since?"
"Well. Sir Roland did suggest he try one, but I was wary as he already carries a power himself... I have heard that one who consumes more than one devil fruit will die most gruesomely."
"Ah, yeah. So if that fruit really is the active ingredient, and it does bring in the effect from it, it mixing with his has the potential to go bad."
"Precisely. And I am rather unwilling to use test subjects other than myself for my medicines if I am able to avoid it, if I am not entirely certain of their safety."
"Understandable. Especially if you can't make any more?"
"I did not use up all of the remaining fruit in the ones I made, but I only have a small bit left. I could perhaps make three or four additional ones, so they are to be kept for emergency situations."
"Yeah, I don't think we'll be short on those in the future..."
"So, doctor Flint... what would your assessment of the situation with sir Conrad's younger sister have been? If you had been present at the time, would you have thought there a chance to save her life?"
Markus pondered the question for a few seconds. "No... I don't think so. It's hard to say conclusively without being present, but from what James said... massive physical trauma, likely several fractures... potentially internal bleeding. From how quickly he said she faded, I suspect a severe cervical fracture with damage to the spinal cord, and a major concussion. There was... nothing I could have done."
"I am in agreement with that diagnosis. The most I could have done would have been to offer a medicine to soothe her pain as she passed."
"Definitely how it is sometimes... people think we doctors can work miracles, but... at times, the biggest help we can provide is assisting someone to go peacefully. I just hope that it's never gonna come to that in our roles as the doctors on this ship..."

~~~~

Rink headed down to the main deck. Allen and Muse were standing by the railing, looking out over the sea. Allen had put a cigarette in his mouth and was about to put them back in his pants pocket and grab his lighter when Rink reached them, but he paused his planned action and glanced at Muse.

"You wanna try one?" he asked and held the open pack towards Muse, who looked at it for a few seconds.
"...sure, why not," she replied and pulled one out.
"Those things are bad for your health, you know," Rink said with a chuckle as she lit her pipe.
"My life is bad for my health," Muse retorted and put the cigarette in her mouth. "Besides, I've inhaled enough smoke and chemicals while working on my coatings that I don't think trying one of these is going to make much of a difference. I've long since given up any hope that I'm going to die of old age, anyway."
"Oh yeah, same here," Allen said and lit Muse's cigarette and then his own. "I don't think I've ever really thought that, honestly."
"I'll cheers to that," Rink added as Muse took the first puff of tobacco in her life, but one wouldn't have thought that from watching her.
"Not even a cough, huh. Are you sure that's your first smoke?" Allen asked.
"Told you. I've breathed in worse," Muse replied and took a longer drag on the cigarette before turning to Rink. "So... you didn't know any of that?" she asked.
"No. He never told me or Mirise that story. All I knew was that Cassandra was the name of his dead little sister. But what I have known since I first got acquainted with mister Conrad is that there's a lot more to him than meets the eye."
"I'm... starting to learn that too, I think." Muse looked back out over the sea. "But he's still an idiot."
"He's got more book smarts than the three of us, at least. A bit lacking in street smarts, though, and way too predictable, even if he managed to get pretty far on his own. But being a pirate is something else, so I think he still needs to learn a thing or two."
"Oh yeah, no question about it," Allen said and laughed. "He does seem to be stronger than he looks... but he needs polish. Learn how to use that strength in more efficient ways. See what kind of fighting style might suit him best. Getting him in the right state of mind for it, too. He did beat down that guy who messed with his sister, but that was kind of a special situation. I don’t know if he’s really able to flip to the fighting mindset right away when needed... and that was something even our darling navigator didn’t have any problems with when we fought the Knights. Hell, she was the one who took down Cabiru in the end, and she was the strongest of them!"
"You really wouldn’t think it from looking at her, but Mirise is a real spitfire," Rink said with a smile. "Or would that be spitwater? No, that just sounds gross. But she really knows how to use that water of hers."
"I’ve been wondering... how does that even work?" Muse asked. "How does her hair do that? It’s obviously not a devil fruit, but I’ve never seen anything like it..."
"Yeah, I’ve got some questions too," Allen added. "But I wasn’t sure if it would have been rude to ask directly."
"You, worrying about being rude, when you were naked the first time you met her?" Rink laughed. "But I have absolutely no idea. At most, given the sound of her body... I don’t think she’s entirely human. But I don’t know what else she might be, because I’ve never heard anything like her. She doesn’t know, either. She’s just... Mirise. That’s enough for me."
"Just being yourself tends to go a long way," Allen stated, which was followed by a sigh from Muse. "You good?"
"Yeah, just... what if you can’t be yourself?"
"What do you mean?"
"I’m not sure I even know what the real ‘myself’ is anymore. Nothing I’ve tried to be has ever seemed enough."
"Really? I might not have known you for more than two months, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re more than enough," Allen said with a wide grin.
"Aren’t you being the gentleman," Rink quipped. "But he’s right, you know. I barely know anything about your past either, but who you are now matters way more, and you’ve shown that whoever that is is strong and caring. Morrigan."
Muse couldn’t help but smile just slightly at Allen and Rink’s words, but hid it behind the hand holding her cigarette. "...thanks."
"And most importantly of all, you’ve proven yourself to be someone I can trust. As a part of my crew, that’s all I’ll ever truly ask for."
"Oh yeah," Allen said. "I’ve hung out in groups where mutual trust was... more of a vague suggestion. They never lasted long." He paused. "Truth be told... I didn’t think this teamup was going to be too different. It was an alliance of convenience, that I planned on removing myself from as soon as I had a good opportunity to... but you sure showed me."
"I’m glad to have you on board," Rink said. "You’ve also proven yourself dependable, and someone as strong as you is always good to have on your side. Even if your being here paints even more of a target on our back!"
"Hey, I’m not the one who cut a battleship in half, that was all you girls. If that didn’t paint a bigger target than me..."
Rink grinned. "Yeah, I don’t think my bounty’s going to stay at twelve for very long. And even that’s more than I ever earned as a singer, so at least it’s nice to know I’m getting valued for what I do!"
"And all it takes is pissing off the right people," Allen chuckled and took a final drag on his cigarette before flicking the butt over the railing, and spotting that Muse’s had burned out too. "One more?"
"No, thanks. I don't think I'll make it a habit, but... I might join you again some time," Muse said and dropped the remains of her cigarette into the water. "I'll head down to the workshop, I got some ideas," she continued and headed belowdecks.
"Alright, looking forward to seeing what you come up with," Rink said and tapped her pipe on the railing to discard the burned tobacco before putting it back in her pocket. "I'll join Mirise in the war room. I figure that as captain, I should be involved in what our plan is going to be. You?"
"I was thinking I'll grab blondie and do some training with him. Maybe get the docs to join in too. Could try to figure out some teamup stuff."
"Sounds like a good idea. He could do with some hardening up. Looking forward to the results of that, too," Rink said with a laugh. "I should get some practice in with my sword too, but I'm not sure I can do that safely on the ship... I'll have to figure something out," she continued and went to join Mirise to help figure out their immediate future—a future that hopefully wouldn't continue the recent trend of losing something important everywhere they went.