The Rose Arbor.
A Place where one 'Ducasse Pinot Noir' would one day join the Journey with his Captain 'Falcon D. Leroy' as the 4th Member of The Red Sash Pirates. The inside of the floating restaurant looked the exact same as it would five years later.
A few new, or rather old, faces were amongst the crowd of Chefs, Waiters, and workers. The noise and smells were the same. Clean, Lemon Scented, the smell of soap as Azar was close to the dishwashing area.
And the same Wait staff that would eventually help the Red Sashes offered their services to Azar as he came to a stop. "Rather nice to to have a shirt on." They would say with a hint of Sarcasm. Given that Azar exposed his far leaner physique as he stood in front of them
"Eh its spring. You guys dont enforce a Clothes policy do you?" He asked
They gave a sigh "No. Not currently as long as you don't create a scene and aren't fully naked and are sensible. We understand here at the Arbor that despite this being a place of Fine Dining, and Homely Meals, that it attracts a wide variety. Including those that are used to sparse clothing."
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"Knife!" Azar heard with his keen ears from what sounded like a…To young voice of a boy from inside the kitchen. "Noir you don't gotta yell so loud!" Ducase said as he walked out of the kitchen, and off to another spot of the Resturant. Ever vigilant
But a voice called after as the doors swung "Shut it geezer! Ain't my fault they cain't here me!" The young boy in question yeled back. Voice muffled as the port hole door blocked the retort
"A Lively place aint it?" Azar said with a smirk. The Wait Staff looked back, charmed slightly by the lively look. Soon, Azar was taken to a singular table in the middle of the Restaurant. It was a small area meant only for two, but given that he was alone. He used the chair in front of him as a foot rest. Leaning back and resting his arms behind his head after he ordered his food.
He waited. Looking around the Restaurant with dreamy eyes as he just absorbed the ambience. The red carpet. The candles lit inside glasses that illuminated the tables and the chandeliers that swung gently above as they lapped against the waves of the East Blue
The First Dish out was a Medium Steak, 8 oz. With a side of butter sauteed string beans and garlic and steak fries. The Steak was tender, juicy. Just the way that Azar liked it. He was always an eater. It seemed that everyone with that elusive D was…
At least thats what Mamtha always said about himself and Jack.
It was such an interesting sight. Seeing the fine dining of small portion food, some that was even treated like art. Deconstructive. Not because they wanted to sell something. But it was clear that every Chef that came out with these pieces did so because they loved it.
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Forking a collection of Skewered Green Beans into his mouth. He watched as one table was brought out an Entire roasted pig. Stereotypical apple in its mouth and hanging upside from the spit rod
Another had a board of sweets brought out. Tea, Coffee, Cakes and the like.
By the time he ordered another dish with the limited amount of money that Mamtha had given to him. He saw how another group of patrons, ones dressed in fine tailored suits, had homely dishes brought out to them. Greens and Bacon with Fried Wings.
Another group, specifically of very Rurally dressed fishmen looking in awe at their small portion salmon drizzled with sauce and plated like painting across a canvas
Suddenly. A sound broke through the restaurant! A tall man was lifted up into the air and slammed into his table! Dishes shattering, and sending food everywhere "I got you now you good for nothin' piece of shit!"
The man yelled. He was ragged. Definitely the pirate type. The man however had platinum blond hair slicked back and eyeliner across his face. Giving a very dignified look to him. Even as he was being threatened with a very large Knife!
"Hey! Hey Hey! You got the wrong guy!" He spoke, hands raised "Don't fuck with me Albers! You stole from us and you ditched us! 250,000 Berry! You know how many sops we had to dip out hands in for all that"
"I'm telling you! You got the wrong guy!" Albers said "Hrr…" The man, Klaus, said. Suddenly he threw Albers through the air! Albers body was coming right for Azars table! The impact caused the table to shatter! The Bowl of Mac and Cheese spilling everywhere!
"What the fuck! Hey! I ain't involved with this!" Azar said point a fork, still skewered with Pasta at Klaus. "You want some of this?" Klaus threatened with his knife. Azars eyes caught the movement of the chefs nodding to each other. Unbeknownst to Azar. They were getting Ducasse and the other 'Security Chefs' to deal with this…
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Sticking the utensil in his mouth, chewing, then swallowing. Azar burst into action! Pulling the fork from his mouth he tossed it through the air with surprising force! It was a straight line and impaling into Klaus's shoulder!
"Grah! Damn!" Klaus took his eyes off Azar, looking to his shoulder, blood absorbing into the yellow button up!
"Hrah!" Azar had already leapt over the ruined table and slammed his leg in a straight side kick! Shooting through the air and slamming Klaus into a booth and into Unconsiousness!
"Damn…First fight…And it was boring…" Azar said with disappointment. Scratching his neck.
The sound of cheers from the patrons clapping filled his ears as he walked over to the Man on the ground. Hands in his jeans pockets "You good?" He asked. Leaning forward and extending a hand
"Ah…Ack…Ha…Yeah. I'm good…" Albers took his hand. Getting helped to his feet.
Minutes later. Albers and Azar were outside the Restaurant. It had to be shut down due to the damage. Azar had a to-go cup in his hand. Sipping the Cola inside of it as Albers smoked a cigarette next to him.
"So…What was that about 250,000 Berry?" Azar asked bluntly "That real? Heheh-"
"Yeah…Might as well owe you an explanation. Running your meal and all…" He took a drag
"Nah don't worry about it. Maybe you can make it up with a bit of cash? Or…" He eyes him out of the side of his gaze. Insinuating something more
"Or? I mean youre a good lookin guy…But its not even lunch-"
"No no no! Not that! Come with me! I'm alone! And I'm on a journey!" He said clearing up the confusion
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"Journey? For what?"
"I want to become known. So that the world has no other option but to recognize me for me. No matter what. I want to be the person who defines my life! And my death! No one else! On my own terms!" Azar said proudly
"Now I aint wanna become king or some shit. I just wanna do big things!" He continued.
"Heh…Hehehe…Hahaha! Abahahaha!" Albers laughed.
"Hey! Don't laugh! Im serious!"
"Abahah! I'm laughing because I know you are…! Its…Nice to hear such sincerity! Especially after those conmen and scammers I got all that money from…!" He wiped a tear from his eye
"Man…Yeah sure…Fuck it why not! Im alone now too! I'll let you dip into these funds of mine. Under one condition."
"Wuz tha?"
"Just make this journey interesting…K?"
Now.
Azars face was pressed against the execution scaffolds flooring… "Albers…Fos…" His lip quivered. He couldnt even say the rest of his crews names "I'm sorry…I'm sorry that I'm so worthless that you're all here now for me…!" He cried quietly
From the distance. Albers was in the warzone. Tackling and slamming attacks into the ground. Attempting himself to help the Redbeards, his own current crew after Azar became 2nd Division Commander, to save Azar!
But Albers was beaten and bloody…He was never a Combative type! "Azar! Just wait! We're Coming!"