THE BEAST YOU'VE MADE OF ME

" captain … i need water … " they'd done their best to avoid asking, wanting to be at least try and act professional while they were actually away from loguetown, but the overwhelming oppressive temperature was finally enough to push them to actually say something about it. " it's too hot— "

( blue is suffering )

with little to go on, smoker had set out to alabasta with tashigi and blue in tow, hoping they could find a better lead on the straw hats whereabouts, and perhaps figure out what they had to do with the missing princess, vivi, as well.

well, now smoker is wondering if coming to alabasta was a mistake. the sweltering heat is bad enough for himself- he's smoking like a chimney to try and vent some of that excess building up under his skin, and he knows tashigi is struggling too.

but it's not either of them he's really worried about- it's blue. smoker can tell they're really suffering, even if they're trying to be a good marine and not complaining. it's at the point where smoker isn't the least bit surprised, though, when blue finally does crack and asks for water. if he didn't on his own, smoker was going to make them all stop and get some soon, anyway.

"c'mere-" his voice is extra gruff from cigar smoke and from being parched, but he puts his hand on blue's back, steering them to a nearby bar in the town, not denying his request. he just keeps pushing them til they're inside, nodding at tashigi to keep following them too.

"last thing i need is for either of you collapsing from heat exhaustion on me. let's rehydrate, you're no good to me dead."

once they're able to sit and gulp down some water, smoker looks over from his glass to blue, stern brow furrowing even more than usual.

"there's not gonna be as much water deeper in the country as there is here. we'll have to make sure we have enough of a supply before heading out. like i said before, you're no good to me dead."

there were calls of a commotion and every the dutiful knight, dart makes his way to the disturbance, only to realize he's nearing the rothsley estate. his steps slow, fear beginning to grip dart. just what is he walking into? his mind immediately goes to the all-but-prisoner jc, and that fear only grows.

muttering a small prayer that the man is still alive, he can't hide the relieved breath he lets escape when he runs into jc himself, worse for wear, but not dead at the very least.

his one eye locks with jc before flicking to the building where he can still hear chaos, looking back to him again. he nods, near imperceptible, but it is nonetheless a promise to keep his secret, though he does hesitate for a moment. when he speaks again, it's low and hurried,