hiding

ink therapy

Alexia was seriously starting to doubt her plan as she stared at the man in front of her. He was definitely greasy, as if he hadn't showered in days. The shop they were in was in complete disarray, papers everywhere.

"Your telling me you want how much?" Alexia scoffed, "Please, this place is a waste land, honestly I think you would be lucky to get any business at all. Nothing in here is even remotely clean."

"You're really starting to get on my nerves girlie...but you have a point." He ran a hand through his greasy hair, "I tell you what, most first timers wouldn't even have the balls to bring that up, they just accept what they get. So for you 450 beli is the lowest I will go. For something that big, and the cost of my equipment alone, but I'll waive the labor fees."

"Sounds fair enough." Alexia grinned.

"Are you sure about this doll? Once I do this, you can't go back." He reminded her, staring at the paper she had given him.

"Of course I am silly, I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

"Then have a seat."

"And you let her go off on her own?!" Izo exclaimed as he smacked Marco upside the head as they sat at the bar, "It's been hours now."

"She's a fully capable woman, she can stand her own ground." Marco grumbled, irritated.

"She's a foolish child." Izo countered.

"Who is very accident prone." Jozu reminded.

"Let me guess, it was the puppy eyes again." Thatch smacked Marco on the back hard, causing him to spill some of his sake.

"Let me guess, you want more paperwork again." Marco retorted, causing Thatch to drop the matter.

"There are a lot of Marines on this island." Jozu admitted, siding with Izo.

"I know, but we're near the grand line right now. The closer we get, the more Marines we are bound to run into." Marco sighed, "How are the men handling gathering supplies under their presence?"

"They are managing, keeping our jolly roger covered has helped. We are keeping our movements back to the ship minimal, so they don't catch on." Namur said from the far side of the bar.

"We have until tomorrow evening for the log pose to set, we don't need any trouble beforehand. Just have everyone keep in touch." Marco waived his hand dismissively, as most of the division commanders left the bar.

Marco had found, to his disliking, that the bar was a bit loud. A small band was performing terribly on the makeshift stage in the middle of the room. There were a couple prostitutes that appeared to frequent the bar. So far, it appeared as though Marines were not customers of this place.

"Sir," The bartender cleared his throat, setting a mug of sake in front of him, "Compliments from the lady down the bar."

Marco quirked an eyebrow and glanced towards the end of the bar. He chuckled, shaking his head in amusement as Alexia grinned back at him from the end, waving enthusiastically.

"Is this your idea of trying to pick me up?" He laughed again as she moved to sit on the stool next to him.

"Why would I pick your heavy ass up when you can lift your own ass up by flying?" Alexia snorted.

"Okay smartass, what did you do to your arm?" Marco gestured to her now bandaged upper arm, "You're not covered in blood this time so I'm assuming you didn't get in a fight...wait did you seriously get a tattoo yoi?"

"Hey! Your little bird brain figured it out." She patted him encouragingly on the head.

"Yoi!" Marco forced her into a headlock, roughing up her hair.

Alexia let out a shout in surprise as an arm wrapped around her torso, physically removing her from her stool and away from Marco's grasp. The smell of alcohol and sweat overwhelmed her senses as she heard Marco growl at the person who stood in between them.

"Juss whadya think yer doin there boooy." The man slurred angrily; Alexia glared at him, furious that he still had ahold of her, "That's not how yer treat a girl."

"Get your hands off me you asshole." Alexia attempted the shove herself away from him.

"Imma have to teach yer pretty lips ter not say those rude words darlin." The man removed his arm from around her, placing his massive hand on the back of her neck, the other hand grabbing her arm.

"You're not going to be teaching her anything." Marco frowned, glaring at him.

The man was too intoxicated to notice Marco's fist engulfing in blue flames. He did however notice as it came barreling towards his face. He stumbled, shoving Alexia forward to block Marco's fist from hitting him. Marco's eyes widened as his first made contact with Alexia's face, just below her right eye; sending her flying into the table next to them. She cried out in pain as the table broke on impact, causing her to fall roughly on the ground.

"Alexia!" Marco exclaimed in shock.

"Beat his ass Marco." Alexia grumbled, wincing as she attempted to get off the ground.

The drunk seemed to have sobered up instantly, realizing the danger he was in as he took off towards the door. He came to a sudden stop, finding a sword centimeters from his face; blocking the doorway.

"I do believe, that is not how you treat a lady either hmm?" Izo replied darkly, Vista blocking the door with his sword as he stood next to him.

The man gulped as Marco came up from behind him, grasping his shoulder. Vista moved his sword, motioning for the man to exit with them. Thatch walked in, nodding his head at them as they shoved the man out the door.

"Sit down girlie." Thatch took Alexia's arm, guiding her back towards the bar. He gestured for the bar tender to retrieve some ice.

"Well that was absolutely pathetic." Alexia laughed sadly, "How many times has he landed a punch during training and today I couldn't even take one."

"He also didn't have the intent on killing you during training." Thatch pressed the ice cloth under her eye. It was already forming a nice bruise.

"That's nice to know. In the moment it definitely felt that way." Alexia groaned, "Why is it always me that finds unwanted attention?"

"Maybe life just thinks you need to switch things up a bit." Thatch laughed as Alexia rolled her eyes.

"Maybe life can go screw itself."