GOLDEN / LION

Never a lack of amusement, that old deck. How often it presented itself forthright before a creaking throne as old as some of its surrounding crew. Not a sight in years of sailing compared to blades piercing deck with wacky flourish. Gawking eyes were all but a natural response to limbless man now making a grand show out of revealing his recent escapade simply by appearance, yet grey eyes dulled with sudden listlessness. Intimidating, firstly, covered by shadow and then revealed in a new light. Stern, endearing, Edward gives him the look of a man that's truly seen it all.

"I haven't seen you in an age and that's the first thing you ask me? Of all the ungrateful— " tapered off into mix of bafflement and indignation. "You think you can waltz out of the world's greatest prison, climb aboard my ship, and drink my booze?" Squinted attention and judgmental eyes hold briefly before falling in a sigh loud enough to rattle the boards the lion's new legs had cut into. Wordless order sends six men scampering below deck, split halfway between two colossal red flasks soon tossed upon the deck. "You'd best be happy I don't leave port without excess, else I'd only be giving you the backwash. As if I'd ever be without a drink..." More offended than surprised, though disbelief shows plenty in constant shakes of the head, "I should've known they wouldn't be able to keep you pinned down."

the lion responds with a smug sort of grin , a confidence about him just as obnoxious as he was years prior. has it been so long ? must have been over a decade since he's last seen kaido or linlin ― not since the rocks disbanded , all going their separate ways , carving their own path through the sea. too focused on his own scheming ( too focused on roger . ) to find time to pay his old friend a visit. but , such is his nature. they're pirates , after all.

❛ not surprised , then ― i guess it can't be helped. you always were so serious ... ❜ shiki hums thoughtfully , a hand lifting to scratch at the base of the wheel that protrudes from his skull. steps are taken forward , arms crossed over his chest & hands hidden inside his haori. ❛ & i didn't waltz out , you'd need legs for that ! jihahaha ! ❜ he says with a rumbling laugh. so very shiki to make light of such a serious matter ( he's quite the comedian , you know . )