capeandcowllogs | In A.D. 2011, war was beginning.

In A.D. 2011, war was beginning.

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It was Enies Lobby all over again. Oh, not the fighting or the desperation or anything like that, it was the sleep deprivation. That time, Sanji had been awake for three days straight, not even able to snatch a nap aboard the sea train like Zoro did. And still he fought with all his might, burning to the last of his energy and then beyond, bloodied and torn and still able to find enough wits to pull off one last strategy at the Gate of Justice. This time wasn't nearly so bad, but it sure felt a little like Enies Lobby all the same.

Luffy was going to scream at him when he got back, he knew. He had missed making two meals for the guys, now, dinner and breakfast, and he was probably going to miss lunch as well. He'd make it up to them. Right now, the cook was just concentrated on staying alive. The fighters he ran into were no match for him at all, but the sheer numbers were tiring, especially running on a lack of sleep. Still Sanji kept going, burning through a whole pack of cigarettes in one day, storming his way toward the worst of it in midtown and beating the shit out of anyone who crossed him.

Well...anyone male. They wouldn't stay down until he broke bones or knocked them unconscious. After that first scuffle earlier yesterday he hadn't had to face any women, thankfully.

After stopping at a 24-hour convenience store that had already been broken into and raided (apparently for soda, energy drinks, and chips) for more cigarettes, Sanji made his way forward, aware that he was finally close to his destination. He didn't even have a real reason anymore, just that these upstarts had pissed him off and every last one of them had to be brought down. Giving him hope to be sent home and then revoking it with a death threat? That didn't sit well with him. It was one thing to share in his desire to return where he belonged, to live his life the right way and fulfill his dreams...it was quite another to consider death a good alternative if Plan A didn't work. At this rate Sanji didn't even need to find a lady to protect, a friend to back up, or a cause of any kind. The cause was merely his own anger, and the remaining forces of Crabhammers were asking for it. No, begging for it.

Sanji began to sprint, racing toward the barricades that were holding back the surging riot around the Porter building. The smoke from his cigarette trailed behind him as he hit his speed and pushed through the fatigue to get there. He could hear the melee before he saw it, and burst into the scene ready to take out as many as he could lay foot to...

...only now the streets were a mass confusion of costumed bodies. It was tough to tell who was fighting who anymore. He didn't usually see many of his fellow other-worlders in their costumes, so Sanji couldn't even be sure that any of them were close at hand. But something had definitely changed. The people in costumes were attacking each other now. He stood for a moment just taking it in, casually smoking, his hands in his trouser pockets. That is, until a young man in hipster clothing sitting up on top of a bus kiosk with a laptop and headphones started pointing in his direction and frantically yelling. Sanji couldn't hear what he was barking at the troops below, but he did see the guy pick up and wave a piece of paper. His eyes narrowed on that paper. Is that what I think it is...?

The hipster had a bounty poster. His bounty poster, with an actual photo of him from a newspaper article about All That Jazz photoshopped over the Marines' stupid drawing. And just as if they were all Marines themselves, a pack of toughs obeyed the orders and turned on Sanji. He braced himself; until he knew whether anyone else in this massive, mixed-up crowd was friend or foe, he would focus on this group. Just before they reached him he charged into them, whipping a foot around with a shout of "Mouton Shot!" Three of them crashed backwards into the kiosk, shattering the glass windows. But someone had circled around and got behind him, and now grabbed him around the neck, bellowing for his fellows to trap Sanji's legs so he couldn't kick.

Edited 2011-05-20 03:09 (UTC)

Suddenly, there was a loud crack near his ear, and the thug holding him in a headlock let go. Sanji regained his feet and immediately lashed out with a backward kick, sending the guy flying. A chorus of female voices squealed in excitement at the move, making him stop abruptly and look - and stare.

The girl with the bullwhip had a very nice corset that flattered her well. Behind her were a bunch...ten...twelve? No, thirteen! Thirteen gorgeous women, dressed a bit silly in the sort of pirate-themed clothes Sanji had scoffed at around Halloween but armed and focused on him. Just when he thought they were there to reinforce the other costume-clad fighters, one pointed at the guys picking themselves up out of the kiosk rubble and yelled "Get 'em! Arr!" Three girls brandishing boathooks plunged out of the group and raced for the men, who took one look at them and turned and fled before any blood could be drawn. The rest were much slower to charge, but they probably didn't know how to use those cutlasses anyway - real steel though they were. Sanji caught his breath and then grinned. The bullwhip girl grinned back.

Several of the other ladies rushed him, then, but not to hurt him. "That was so cool!" one cried. "It's really you!" another squealed. "Oh my god ravish me!" a third begged.

Sanji waved them all down with a gesture. "Ladies, ladies! I appreciate the hand but I don't want any of you to get hurt!" Although the ravishing comment had him blushing happily already.

"Don't worry about us. We know what we're doing," one of the girls with a hook declared, trudging back over. "Melinda told us what was going on, we're all in the same parkour group." She gestured to the bullwhip girl, and then looked him up and down like he was a piece of Kobe beef. "Damn, girl, you were right. He's totally worth it. I wouldn't mind a piece of that later."

"Nuh uh, he's mine! I called him!" one of the others shouted.

"Ladies!" Sanji's face was filled with a shit-eating grin, ear-to-ear. "Please, let's not fight! Or rather, let's fight the assholes. There's more than enough of me to go around! I promise, we'll settle it after we clear the street. Eh? What do you say?"

The thirteen girls flashed him thirteen wide, eager, gorgeous smiles. Sanji's heart (and other parts) leaped in joy. Now this, he decided, was how a battle ought to go. Of course, he wasn't about to let any of them get hurt for his sake, but if they wanted to surround him and look tough, by all means. He pointed at the hipster still clinging to his command post on the bus kiosk, and the skinny guy let out a shriek as the love-cook and his army swarmed on his position without delay.

Edited 2011-05-20 03:25 (UTC)

Geddoe had made it to the Porter building, and after a few hours' nap in the middle of the night, was back on the front line as of 7 am. He was not about to let anyone through, and here was where the protecting forces needed his tactical expertise. And his abilities, for that matter. He would carefully conserve spells today, in case the battle lasted. But it looked like some of the fresh reinforcements from overnight were already flagging. And he could see out of the corner of his good eye, there were skirmishes at the far flanks. Almost as if allied reinforcements were coming in from the side streets, pushing the Crabhammer army in a pincer move.

And still Geddoe stood unmoved, punching and slicing at anyone who came too close. He would be the center of the shield wall, holding the line at the shattered doors of the building. The whole of this army would have to go through him to get to their goal, and he had a few Thunderstorms ready for any who tried.

When fellow Imports arrived to help, Freedom Ring had been able to force the Crabhammers out of the Porter building and back onto the streets. He was glad for the company and back up. He stayed near the back of the front lines, maintaining a shield to keep any Crabhammmers that managed to slip past the others from getting farther.

"How's it looking out there?" Freedom Ring called up to anyone that would answer, focusing on keeping the shimmering energy barrier strong.

"No change," Geddoe reported over his shoulder. "How are you holding up?"

Protective magical barriers were rare but not unheard of; yet, Geddoe wondered if too much time would sap the man's energy and cause it to falter. Now was as good a time as any to find out.

"Dammit," Freedom Ring cursed under his breath. A few arrows of all things bounced off his barrier and the man with the glowing eyes growled. "Got a headache the size of Manhattan and I feel like a light breeze will send me flying but there's no way in hell I'm letting these people get close to the Porter," he answered. If he hadn't gotten the rest he did last night, he probably wouldn't be standing. He's just going with what he has left for what he hopes is the last day of the chaos.

"You still in one piece?"

"More or less." Apart from a few scratches, Geddoe hadn't sustained any injuries. He was fatigued as well, but not about to show it either. "Hold out as long as you can. We still have the advantage."

He glanced over his shoulder and sized the other man up. "If only we had a few more like you. This shield is more effective than a hundred armed soldiers." He paced along the edge and gauged the size of the mob. "Even if I were to clear out some with a rune, more would just fill the space. But..." He glanced back again. "If you feel yourself about to fail, warn me."

"Got it. Not giving in," Freedom Ring replied quickly. He was scared but doing his best not to let it show. It would be obvious if someone looked in his eyes though. He was positive that if the Crabhammers got to the Porter and sent everyone home, he'd die. And that would explain why he was so dead set on protecting the machine.

"Sorry, I'm one of a kind," he forced a laugh. "Only one Cosmic Ring ever made," he added. He'd used the fact that the Porter internalized his powers against the enemy before, tricking them into getting close enough to attack by taking off the no-longer functional ring yesterday. "Don't worry, I will. If you need a rest, say the word and I'll make ya a door to get back here."

"Don't worry about me." Geddoe still had his back turned, but he smirked grimly. "I'm an old campaigner. I'll be fine."

As if to prove it, he edged off to the right, having spotted a disturbance and moving to intercept it. Several bigger men were having an argument with what looked like a civilian - what one was doing there in the middle of this fracas, the captain couldn't fathom, but they were definitely at odds. He strode right up and threw a strong left hook into the face of the most vocal man. The momentum sent several of those immediately around them shrinking back, startled. "Clear off!" he snarled at the lot of them.

"Don't break a hip then," Freedom Ring teased. He frowned when he noticed Geddoe going off to the right, not moving from his spot.

"You heard the man! Clear on out!" came a woman's voice shortly after Geddoe's snarl. A few of the Crabhammers were scattered as four people walked forward. The first thing one might notice about them was that all four of them were blond. Three busty women and one big jock-type guy, all with black t-shirts on. Each of them was also wearing the same blue ring emblem as Freedom Ring. One of the girls was even painted as pink as the hero maintaining the barrier. "Hey, eyepatch guy! We're here to help!" one of the women chimed in an overly perky voice.

Geddoe blinked at them, and then looked over at the man maintaining the barrier. "Friends of yours?"

Someone in the crowd dared to jeer at the newcomers, for which he received the tip of Wild Geese just under his nose. "I promise you, this isn't for show," he warned in a low tone. "Unlike yours." He nodded toward the guy just next to him holding a cardboard sword; nonplussed, the younger guy threw down his prop and backed away sheepishly until the crowd swallowed him up. Without taking his eye off the mouthy one (or his sword for that matter) Geddoe tipped his head in acknowledgement of the quad in black shirts. "Step over here, then. Watch yourselves."

Freedom Ring just stared. "Uhh...meet my fan club?" he shrugged.

One of he girls in the black shirts clapped and jumped when Geddoe scared off the man with the sword. The one that seemed to be the leader of the group grinned and sprayed another Crabhammer with some mace.

"We came to help Freedom Ring! He's showing everyone blonds can be more than just dumb so we came to follow his example and prove it!" she declared, the other two women nodding in agreement while guy that was with them shoved a few of the attacking crowd away. They quickly moved to stand behind Geddoe when acknowledged.

The shoving definitely started something. Most of those in the area were afraid of the sword, but the mace and the yelling led to more people yelling and shoving, but at least this fan club wasn't about to let themselves be daunted. They gave as good as they got. Geddoe just sighed and waded back into the fray, throwing fists and elbows when he couldn't get a clear space to swing his sword. Part of him itched to just zap the lot of them, but no, no, he had to be careful. Not until it was absolutely necessary.

The fun club continues on into the Porter building, not phased by the crowd. They take stances by the shield and smile. The painted woman starts chattering at Freedom Ring who just blinks and glances to Geddoe to watch him fighting.

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In A.D. 2011, war was beginning.

DAY THREE: 6:45 AM -- 1:00 PM (CONTINUED BATTLING, CREATE YOUR OWN INSANE LAST-DITCH GEEK TRICKS)

SOLO 1/? - 10 am-ish

SOLO 2/2

OPEN bring your reinforcements!

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