Curiosity and all that

[psychtcpyro7]

Roshaun "Eastern Tempest" Halifax

xxxxRoshaun frowned at the green island. Green meant plants and plants usually included trees. He kicked a foot out, hitting the little door that kept all his supplies nice and dry. That was the reason he couldn't just go elsewhere. Besides there were few islands that didn't have the nasty little buggers. And more then trees which may or may not touch him, he hated the way the little metal boat was floating without any real purpose or direction. That more than anything prompted him to lift his hand, palm turned back behind his head to the massive fan that would move him forward.
xxxxHe didn't look for a dock when landing on an island. Instead he looked for a stretch of land he could wedge the boat up onto. Less risk. Sure that it was firmly out of the water, Roshaun made the short walk into the town he spotted when he first realized the island might not be the best for his exploring. He had picked up a way of walking that made his hair flick out behind him that he was rather enjoying. It made it look as though he was constantly playing with the wind power his fruit afforded. Granted most people wouldn't really know that he supposed. Maybe when he was a little more well known.
xxxxThe small island was actually rather nice. He may be loathe to admit that he was liking the small town, due to the trees, but the feel of no one on top of each other was very nice. Roshaun slowed down as he reached the town in order to actually look around. That was after all why he was here and not returning home. There was a ton of green, everywhere. And now that he thought of it, a strange lack of noise. Not dead silence but relative to his home island it might as well have been. "Eerie." He muttered to himself. Not so much peaceful as many of the story tellers had insisted such islands were.
xxxxShaking himself from the creepy feeling that was starting to press up his spine, Roshaun pressed forward looking for a place he might be able to restock. If he was lucky he might find someone willing to share stories and then take a walk around the island. Maybe only parts of the island, he thought eyeing the unpleasantly close trees.

[Shinx]

•°o.O Victoria E. Castelle O.o°•

xxxVictoria Elisabeth Castelle, also known as Ava for anyone wishing to avoid the mouthfull that is her name, walked through the streets boldly, not making eye contact with anyone, not appearing to actually be looking at anything. She seemed to be the sweet, oblivious type; her hair, styled in a cute pixie cut, was colored brown with streaks of purple and red to the side. Her eyes were an unnatural shade of amber, that looked to the sky as if nothing in the world could go wrong. The people paid her little to no mind, thinking she was just another strange merchant or traveller, maybe a bounty hunter, just blowing through and attempting to live a productive life.
xxxTruthfully, Ava was a horrible and wicked person. Her heart was made of pure venom, her only love being death and decay. She was a cook, of sorts, though you'd have to be a brave soul to eat her cooking once you realized that she fights with poisons and sneaky attacks. Many a time she'd wiped out entire crews with a pot of soup or some "bad sake". The townsfolk noted Ava was dangerous, though, when a small child bumped into her. Looking up at her with large, watery eyes, the boy asked, "P-Please ma'am... do you have anything... anything at all? Food...? W-water...? Please...."
xxxAva looked down at the boy blankly, her expression unbiased and maybe a tad contemplative. What she was contemplating, though, was rather to get the boy's hopes up by making him a poisoned meal and drink, or just to sprinkle the poison in his face here and now. Suprisingly, she did neither. Bringing her leg back, she kicked the boy, hard in the gut, sending him flying across the marketplace. Not like it was hard; all of that malnourishment had made him skinny and light. "Don't you know it's impolite to beg, you little urchin?" Walking closer, a cruel snarl plastered itself across her face. The boy was, quite literally, cowering into a fruit stand, tears already streaming down his face. Kneeling before her, her glare stabbed at him like daggers (figuratively, of course). "Why don't you go cry to mommy and daddy? Oh, or are you a pathetic, homeless orphan begging to survive?" Ava raised her hand, and the boy cowered. Surprisingly, Ava smoothly wiped away his tears, leaving a wet mark across the index finger of her leather glove. Eyes narrowing, she said, "Pathetic," the last syllable brought with it a harsh, back-handed slap that echoed across the marketplace. Ava stood, adjusting her gloves. She started to walk away, but hesitated before disappearing into the crowd completely. Turning back to face him, her amber eyes shooting daggers at the young boy, Ava had only one thing left to say.
xxx"Don't you dare spill a tear over that. By the time I was your age, I could've taken it with ease, you pathetic little twerp."
xxxAnd thus, Ava walked through the crowd. If luck should have it, the boy would never see her again; and that was perfectly fine with her. Most people- even those as empty-hearted and icy cold as Ava herself would see attacking a child as useless and petty; work for the weak. Ava saw it as doing the boy a favor. If he took the beating as a challenge to rise to great power, overcome his cruel fate and become someone great, legendary even, then she did him a kindness by being the cruel-hearted villain that kicked off his tale. If not, than he was simply too weak to live in this era, and Ava simply pointed that out to him and everyone around him. Giving a contemptious huff, Ava continued about her emotionless path. This time, however, people were clearing the way and whispering.
xxxThere goes Ava Castelle; the pirate with a venemous heart and an iron tongue.

[psychtcpyro7]

Roshaun "Eastern Tempest" Halifax

xxxxxThe ruckus of the pirate and child caught Roshaun's ambling attention, stealing it away from a slightly interesting storefront. Slightly interesting in that it was filled with various odds and ends that didn't really seem to go together expect for the fact that they were all being sold. It was the noise that drew him from a leather bag that he was contemplating actually getting. He could get a cloth one to help with organization in the hold but it just went along with the whole animal pelt look he had somehow picked up. Probably from the lining of the metal boat. Still he was far more curious as to what was making the small town sound a bit more homey. Angry, but homey.
xxxxxHe moved toward the sound quickly only to come upon a woman striking a young boy on the ground. Silent eyes watched the tail end of their interaction. As she walked away, and in his general direction no less, he felt his fist unclench with a bit of surprise. His jaw was still set hard and when he noticed it he let it relax. He didn't so much think about his next act as act on a whim. As she walked close he closed the distance and reached for her arm. Only after having moved did he realize he didn't truly have a plan for dealing with this woman's little show.
xxxxx"I think you might be a little confused." Seeing as he had no plan he was coming up with something off the top of his head and so far, only one step ahead of his mouth, it seemed logical. "If adults are supposed to take care of children," He looked at the adults that were standing around whispering and gossiping about the violent pirate woman. "Is it not then logical that it is not the boy's fault?" Perfectly coherent and it made sense, score one for Roshaun.
xxxxxExcept that he had convinced himself of the truth of that and it upset him more than the woman's rather crass behavior toward a child. After all, she was a visitor here. Did it not fall on the village to protect and care for the children who lived within it. The boy should never have had to resort to begging at all. Cold indifferent eyes fell on the closest woman. Women were supposed to be nurturing. He held up his index finger, rather deceptively non-threatening as the muscles there were relaxed. It drew a line that from his eye line crossed the women's chest. The calm and soft utterance of "Wind Scythe" was hardly a battle cry. Obediently the wind formed the visible white gust of a blade. The woman fell, bleeding but Roshaun frowned. He'd only nicked her. He hadn't kept control through the full sweep and the wind dissipated before it could do much harm. Well that certainly wasn't going to get his name down in history. That would have to change.
xxxxxHere and now, he reminded himself. Turning to look at the woman he finished his conversation ignoring the bleeding woman who scrambled away from the two violence newcomers. "Logically, is it not the fault of the adults who ignore a child's plea?" Not a direct threat but certainly partially aimed at the pirate who had scoffed and lashed out at a child who could do little more then what he was doing to survive. "If you think about it, logically, this town is quite at fault." His hand drew and played with the three knives. They would be much better for leaving a good impression. "I believe punishment should be cast where there is blame. And you?"

[Shinx]

•°o.O Victoria E. Castelle O.o°•

xxxAva's amber eyes moved to see the man, without turning her head. She simply stopped, fully turning only to see him injure an innocent bystander. He had a logical point. If everyone here was to blame, then it wouldn't be a lie to say everyone present should die, correct? Ava thought so. Reaching into one of the pouches on her hip, she pulled out a handful of purple powder. Inhaling deeply, then putting her palm close to her mouth, she blew out, sending a purple whirlwind of poison into the air. Immediately, the nearest people started to cough and sputter; as well as the victimized child. "Haze." Turning her back on the scene, knowing the wind would carry the poison back a long way; likely, a lot of people would be infected, and anyone infected would die in exactly one hour, given they weren't graced with an antidote. Well, considering Ava was the only one with the proper antidote, and she wasn't one for mercy, no one would be getting that. So, it was half an hour of ignorant bliss (with minor coughing) then a half hour of intense and horrible pain.
xxx"You're right," Ava said, addressing the man. She wasn't sure if that attack had been intended to kill the woman or not, but either way, it made her first impression of him rather weak. "The adults are to blame. However, now that the seed has been planted, it's unlikely that the child will ever become anything less than a stupid, pathetic beggar child. Perhaps it's best for them to all just die." Her voice, flat, uncaring and cruel, mirrored her apathetic gaze. Turning her back to the crowd, Ava started to walk. "A warning; if you stay here too long, the poison is likely to effect you as well. I suggest going towards the wind, because I promise I'm not nice enough to share the antidote with the likes of you." She started off once more, walking into the wind. She could honestly care less what the man did; though, she had to admit, he was interesting. And that strange power... had he thrown something at that woman, or was that the rumored power of the devil? Ava had only ever met one devil fruit user- he'd pissed her off very quickly, and Ava simply knocked him over the railing of his own ship. Thus, his underlings pushed the title of 'captain' at her and she killed them all (with poisoned sake). Since such an interesting man was few and far between, Ava stopped walking, turning back and looking at the eerie purple haze her attack had cast over the market place. "My name is Victoria Castelle; they call me Ava. Yours?" Her tone was, as per usual, short and to the point, her eyes, half-lidded with a seeming disinterest, hid her, well, interest. Standing there with little more than a disinterested expression, she awaited the man's answer.

[psychtcpyro7]

Roshaun "Eastern Tempest" Halifax

xxxxxIt was that impression he had been hoping to avoid. The problem was, she was right. He hadn't been infected by the devil fruit for more than a month, two tops. That was one thing he didn't keep track of. Time. There was no reason to anymore. He knew it was a short time what that was what counted. Roshaun hadn't had the time to really learn to use his power.
xxxxxThe purple powder on the air was a surprise and he jerked back instinctively. What the he- toxic. The coughing told him that much. If not deadly then unpleasant enough that he wasn't about to get close to the strangely colored cloud of the stuff. He spared an unpleased glance at the woman. Adults could be blamed, children could adapt. He took her advice about the wind, but not as she intended it. His knives were slipped away in a quick flick of his hand. Both palms out in front of him, he sent a breeze through the poison cloud. Something about using a larger focus point made it easier. That and he was only doing a simple gust of wind.
xxxxxHis created tunnel in the powder lead a straight line to the child. The child who was hacking and gagging like the adults. Too little, too late. It was a tragic shame but he was no doctor. The wind tapered off with his concentration broken by the knowledge. Without the push of the breeze the powder slowly settled back into the void he'd made and now abandoned. Getting himself poisoned wasn't going to help anything. Turning his back resolutely on the town of dying people he followed the woman only because he had little choice in which direction he took.
xxxxxRoshaun looked straight ahead as he walked. Even when she asked him a question his focus was on the far point of the horizon. There was a thought that was creeping its way into his mind and he wasn't particularly pleased to allow it access. Better to remember that he was bad and that was how it was, because right now he was ignoring the thought that he'd caused the boy to die. "That was unnecessary." He said at last still not looking at his company. "Children can be taught." And that was it, Roshaun didn't care that dozens of people might and probably would die there. It was that among those people were a handful of children who didn't ask for any of it. They were casualties of their parent's decisions.
xxxxxReleasing a sighed breath he gave in. "Roshaun." His eyes flicked to the side to take in the woman he was talking to. Under his mass of hair, he doubted that she would notice the way his eyes trailed over her form. He was analyzing her. Small. She wouldn't be a physical threat but then, his eyes landed on the pouches he believed she had pulled that poison from. He'd have to be ready with his winds. Even if he was to die by her hand, he'd take the bitch with him. "I wouldn't know what they call me." Or care, was insinuated.
xxxxxPeople usually feigned interest in each other when they spoke. So he tried. "Where did you plan to go?" He was actually a bit cut off from his boat thanks to her powders. Might as well see if there was more to the island or if he would have to venture around the long way.

[Shinx]

•°o.O Victoria E. Castelle O.o°•

xxxChildren; what a horrible, pathetic and idiotic weakness. What made children so special to him? Was it because they had little to no experience? Their weakened bodies? Their naivety? Ava scoffed, that just made them all the more annoying. Why wait for a poisonous flower to bloom when you could crush it as a bud, right? ...Funny, someone once thought the same thing about her...
xxx"Children can only learn what they want to be taught. All that boy cared about was begging; he had all the tricks down, didn't you see it?" Ava scoffed again, shaking her head. "That boy had no chance of growing into a functioning part of society. He only wanted to get a free ride... though I must add..." Ava shot him an amber glare out of the corner of her eyes. "...I wouldn't have killed him, if you hadn't said anything." Before turning away from him, a smirk tugged at the sides of her lips.
xxx"...The Akuma no Mi... the Devil Fruit. Cursed Fruit. So many names for one small, seemingly insignificant fruit... yours has something to do with wind, correct?" Ava, deeming their position far enough away from the poisons, turned to face him fully for the first time. He certainly looked interesting; long white hair, lithe frame. Interesting, interesting, interesting. "Roshaun, was it? I'd say with those powers of yours we'd make a good team, but I'd hate for your conscience to get in my way." A small smile lit the apathetic mask that was Ava's face. "...A question to answer your question. Do you really, honestly, truely care where it is I'm going?"

[psychtcpyro7]

Roshaun "Eastern Tempest" Halifax

xxxxxWhy crush it when you could shape it? He saw children as hope, a future. Roshaun hummed a response. Neither positive nor negative, just a vocalized sound to act as a recognition and affirmation that he was listening. Whether the boy was in fact lost or not was a moot point by now. Granted he was probably still alive and she had said she had an antidote but the time it would take to convince her; he wouldn't live to see a change of heart.
xxxxx"My burden." He consented her victory on that point. The flat tone of his voice suggested that he didn't care. She seemed to enjoy crashing through his attempt to ignore his guilt. For his part, Roshaun had no intention of sharing his inner workings with anyone, much less a stranger.
xxxxxSo quick to realize his power. Maybe it wasn't all that hard and he'd only met with low intelligence. True, he hadn't used it much just yet. There was time. All the time in the world. "Kaze Kaze no Mi." A straight fact. "My conscience is of no consequence." He would neither accept or reject her offer just yet. It was better to think before he leapt. After all, that was how he killed the boy. Perhaps it was of consequence then. Not on a emotional level, he decided finally. It caused him to be more cautious of his words, maybe a little more hesitant about future interactions with the woman and certainly more aware with what sort of dangers he put other children in. Casualties of all elders, not just parents. Himself included. "I learn from my mistakes, that is all."
xxxxxRoshaun wasn't sure he liked that smile. Not the reasons behind it, which from what he'd seen where likely devious, but the smile itself. There was something off about it. What it was that caused him pause, he really couldn't say. "Possibly." Maybe not as completely as she put emphasis on it. "That would depend. On if it is anywhere interesting and how good a story teller you turn out to be." He thought it was unlikely she was particularly good at that last one but still she could be going somewhere new and different. "And how long your trick keeps me from my boat." He added, gazing back toward the site of their disturbance. He'd rather not have to walk around and put himself too close to any trees.

[Shinx]

•°o.O Victoria E. Castelle O.o°•

xxxAva's smile disappeared as he replied that her "trick" was blocking him from the boat. Was he really so dense to see that his own power could simply blow the poison away? Or, perhaps, he was simply ignorant to his own power. Either way, it didn't matter to Ava. For a split second she considered telling him, but that would, ultimately, result in her loosing a conversation. And it got so terribly boring being surrounded by good-for-nothing civilians that ran through the motions each and every day only to be met by their own silly fates. Weakness, to Ava, was intolerable, and nothing annoyed her quite like it.
xxx"My destination is, ultimately, to be a ship. A pirate ship. I will, eventually, find a captain I find worthy of my time and experience, then... well... from there, we'll see." She looked back to Roshaun, for a moment tacking on, 'and you?' but then, that would smash through her policy of 'don't care, don't ask.' But then, she was developing a slight interest in this character. They would make an excellent team, except... "You say your conscience is of no consequence, yes, but what if I, by whatever crazy deluded thought may have possessed me, decide to poison an entire orphanage and require your help? Now, your conscience would certainly spoil my fun then."
xxxGlad she docked her boat far away from the town, Ava turned towards the empty bank her boat was at. "If you're concerned about the poison and the civilians regrouping against us, then feel free to come with me. I have my own boat docked over there, it's big enough for two." Adding in her own devillish giggle, she added, "That is... if you could bear to travel with a murderer."

[psychtcpyro7]

Roshaun "Eastern Tempest" Halifax

xxxxxThe thought was that he would lose his concentration in the middle of the cloud or blow it back at himself. It mattered little. "Or I just refuse to help. Do your own thing, I suppose is the saying." He might do more than just not help but that was neither here nor there. Her 'question' was a valid point to some but not to Roshaun "Can you?" It was an acceptance at any rate.
xxxxx"We'll have to pick up my boat, so slight detour." That solved two problems. The fact that her boat was probably wood and the fact that he would then be forced to go with her with no way to separate if the need arose. "It's on the shore." He pointed in the direction he'd come from. And just to make the idea sweeter he added, "And it's fast." After all, a wind powered ship would be much quicker than a wooden paddled one. They could tie her's to his and travel in short time. He waved his hand as indication to lead on to her boat so they could be gone.

[Shinx]

•°o.O Victoria E. Castelle O.o°•

xxx"On the shore and fast, got it." Ava said, face back to it's regular apathetic mask. This time it was hard to tell if it was out of disinterest, boredom or a combination of the two. "I suppose it should be okay to pick it up. If the poison hasn't already hit the shoreline..." She shrugged. If it was, she'd be fine-- she had the antidote. Roshaun, however... well, he'd recover eventually. Oh, no. He might not. Probably wouldn't. Oh well.
xxxWithout so much as another word, Ava began to lead the way to her boat. There was a dirt path lined with trees that lead straight to a cleared, open shoreline. The sand wasn't exactly "white," nor was it smooth and silky. Rather, it was the coarse, crystalled type of sand that Ava completely detested. Then, there were a lot of things Ava detested and few she actually liked. Pulled up on the sand far enough not to be effected by the tides but not so far as to be hard to push back in the water, was Ava's ship; a small fisherman's vessel with one cabin, and a small mast with a sail. Turning back to look to Roshaun, she stated, "This is it." Without much thought, she grabbed the bow and started to shove the boat back. With some straining, it was soon being lapped at by the waves once more. Ava thoughtlessly climbed aboard, without paying Roshaun too much mind.

[psychtcpyro7]

Roshaun "Eastern Tempest" Halifax

xxxxxIt better not have. Granted that came to the point that he could fan it away but that crap might sink into the supplies he had left or the pelts. He didn't have much time to really think about the consequences though as he had to jog the first few paces to follow after her. He stayed dead center of the path though and was looking where he was going, particularly his feet and any hanging branches that might come within any sort of distance to him. Ugh. He knew it would be but did it really have to be wood? He could already feel his stomach turning. Roshaun jumped in quick though. Better that then waiting and end up having to jump the sea water.
xxxxxHe guided her to where his boat was still beached on the shore. Once the small metal boat was in sight he checked to see if there was any trace of the purple powder. It was quite a bit lower looking then her's, mostly because it had no place to take shelter from the elements. He was quick to jump off her boat when he was able, staggering a little. And there he went again, looking all weak. This was becoming a habit. Popping into the metal vessel he shoved the wind hard at it, wanting to get it away from the possible threat as quickly as he could. The boat lurched into the water, splashing it up a good deal and wetting his pelts but it would dry and was of no matter compared to the poisons she had talked about drifting all the way here. "Toss a line and point me in the right direction." He offered her with a rare grin, pleased that the little boat was safe.