𝔦𝔱𝔢𝔪 𝔰𝔥𝔬𝔭 (𝕒𝕡)

“Oh! Well, great! I’m not goin’ anywhere.” What a lucky break! Sanji continued to flip through the catalog while he waited, fingers toying with the corners of the pages he liked most. He didn’t want to spend more money than necessary, but this place was a cook’s paradise; there were so many spices and herbs to buy, and so little time to admire them all.

The cook was in the middle of considering another jar of spice when the shopkeeper returned.

“Yeah, that’s plenty! And it’s the last of it? Man, Lady Luck must be on my si——” His jubilant tone shattered and was replaced with indignant surprise. “5,000 beli?! Are you serious? I get that it’s a steal ‘cause I’m buying it here, but is there really no way you could lower it? I could buy half the market outside for that!”

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— “Unfortunately, this ingredient is hard to come by here.. that’s why it is so expensive. I’d lower the price a bit more, but I’m afraid I can’t lower it too much.. If the kingdom finds that I’m selling it lower than the actual market price, they’ll take everything I have..” The government in the kingdom was harsh--even if it was outside the World Government’s jurisdiction. Tobias placed his hands together, praying for an apology.

“Forgive me, traveler. Would 3,400 be better?” I’m losing money, but seeing an unhappy customer is worse!

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— “Eh?” He heard the bell of his shop open, eyes wide. “Welcome! Can I help you?”

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— Starter call!

“Jeez….and people think pirates are bad with fighting marines.” Martha shook her head. To think she thought she found people like her—but half these people probably didnt want to get involved with an outsider. 

“You would think a war would get noticed, even way out here in the grand line.” She noticed the map and walked up to it, glancing over the area that was sketched out.  

“Well—any tips t’ stay under the radar while ‘m here? I don’ need some government Im not under t’ come after me fer what I choose t’ practice. Gonna be here ‘bout two weeks, ya know crew needs t’ rest and supplies need t’ be restocked.”

Maybe docking at these particular islands wasnt such a good idea after all, despite how inviting they looked. 

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— “Joliant is more like an amusement park than a Kingdom.. but this is a safe haven. Just don’t let the Royal Guard see you and you will be fine.” He rubbed his hair back, a bit concerned for the woman. “Despite the outside not coming in very often, we don’t get involved with other governments. Our own tends to be outside of that... I’m not even sure how that happens.” Tobias simply drew a blank for the situation.

“If anything, just talk to Skeeter at the Inn near the entrance to the Kingdom walls. He’ll set you and your friends up for a while. Just tell him Filly sent you. He’ll know what it means.”

“Martha. Im the only person with magic in my immediate family, dunno if anyone’s had any magic before.” She returned the smile as well as the bow before straightening up. 

“Seriously? Whats considered advanced here? Makes me glad t’ be a pirate.” 

A place where people who were gifted enough to practice magic but not able to use their full abilities? No thanks! She was happy to be chased around by marines instead; not that she had much of a choice considering her 547m beli bounty. 

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— “There have been many magic wars in the past.” He replied sadly. “Most of the battles were waged by people who claimed to know better magics than the other. Which is why the Royal Summit passed the laws that advanced magic must be regulated so no one can harm each other.” Tobias folded his arms over his broad chest, frowning slightly as he glanced to the world map.

“Florian and Volk are still at war.. The Four Season Kingdoms often fight with one another, but Wista tends to stay out of it.” The keeper sighed, looking to the floor now. “Unfortunately, Joliant is involved no matter what.. and all magic users can be drafted into the military.. The types of advanced magics that are banned are typically the dark arts. Lighter arts are fine.. but dark arts are forbidden.”

“Ive been studying fer like ten years, so I can recognize most stuff.” She chuckled.

“Youre not pullin’ my leg are you? Theres really a bunch of people here who can use magic? Ive met—maybe one person other than me in paradise or any’a the four blues who can perform any spells.”

Martha couldnt quite keep the look of shock and disbelief off of her face, she really wasnt one of the only ones? 

“Thanks, I can get it though. “ The jar she had taken down before floated back up to its place on its shelf, while the one she needed hovered for a moment before floating down into her hands.

“I honestly didnt think there were more magic users like me—really anywhere! Though this is the new world–I shouldnt be too surprised.”

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— “There are many here. Joliant and Portland are two of the most populated Kingdoms filled with magic-folk. Unfortunately, I have barely any running through my veins. I can use some abilities, but not very many.” He smiled a little, standing up straight now. “My name is Tobias, by the way.” He bowed politely, eyes focused on the woman before him.

“Advanced magic is banned in the kingdoms for fear of using it for evil purposes.”

“Hello~ I’m alright, I make my own.” The pirate answers with a hum, seafoam hues scanning the shelves as if for something specific. “Do ya happen t’ have any poinsettia?” It was a mildly toxic flower which she hadn’t had any luck in finding recently on her own. 

While the witch was normally fairly self sufficient sometimes she needed a little bit of help.It wasnt often she found a shop with so many ingredients that she often used in her magic. 

“Hm….” Martha summoned a jar down from a high shelf with a flick of her wrist. “You don’ study in depth magic do ya? This plant here doesnt have really—any uses outside some advanced potions.” 

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— “Amazing! You have a good eye! Many of the denizens in this Kingdom tend to study magic. I have a few customers come in now and again ordering those. I use them myself for healing potions. They’re good in fair amounts so long as you don’t overuse them.” He grinned, waving his hand as he leaned on the counter. He nodded his head towards a shelf near the back of the store where he stood. “The plant you’re looking for is over here. I keep several in stock for antidote potions.” Tobias felt his heart swell at the sight of another customer.

“Shall I get it for you?”

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— “Hello!! Welcome to my shop! Can I interest you in our brand new potions?” He waved his hand, welcoming the woman in.

“You can really have this stuff delivered here if you don’t have it?” The catalog felt heavier than it looked, but he was itching to flip through it. With his thumb, he let the pages fall open one by one until he found something that caught his eye — a picture of brilliant, crimson powder. A quick glance around, and he realized that it wasn’t sitting anywhere in the shop.

Sanji turned the page and pointed to it.

“This is sumac, right? If I want some of this, how long is it going to take to get it here? I don’t have a whole lot of time to stick around, so the sooner the better.”

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— “Actually, I think I have some left in the back.” He pressed his hand to his chin, thinking deeply before tilting his head to the side. “Just a moment, good sir.” The shopkeeper turned, wandering into the confines of his shop to bring out a medium sized jar.

“Is this enough? It’s the last of this shipment for the month and I won’t be getting anymore for a while.. The last customer I had nearly cleaned me out of the stuff. Guess he had a heck of a restaurant to run!” He smiled, patting the jar gently. “I can give this to you for 5,000 Beli... in the Kingdom, it’d be well over 10,000.. so this price is all I can give you..”

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— “Oi~! Welcome to my Shop!! Would you like to browse my stock? We just got some new mana potions in!” He chirped happily.

Many of the people in Joliant have shrines to the Goddesses for good luck. Rosalie and Juliana are the two main Goddesses.

Rosalie is the deity of the Festival as well as good business. She is often found in many shops of Joliant by being depicted by statues of her beauty; wearing a long dress with drooping sleeves as well as long flowing hair parted down the middle. There is a monument to Rosalie found in the Business District of Joliant.

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— “If you’re looking for something specific, I can put in an order for one if it’s not here.” He offered, holding up a catalog. “We have many ingredients native to this land--and this book here can tell you which is great for your needs.”

{>>𝔗𝔬𝔟𝔦𝔞𝔰:}

— This is a starter call! Press the HEART button if you want one!