Serious; The Purple Cat Pirates, Chapter 1; The chase of Victor (Open to the Purple Cat Pirates)

Niles, the humanoid cat, was traveling for quite across the Grand Line by himself. It was not a long time ever since he left from Arabasta. It was not long enough since his owner died and Niles found the chance to escape as nobody in Arabasta would focus on chasing him as the whole place was being reconstruct after one of the sea emperors, Anubis, caused great damage with his attack. After that event happened, Niles actually visited two islands and he had real trouble in doing so. He was all alone in dangerous seas and he was moving his ship by himself. He had nobody else to navigate and he was the one who would do all the jobs, most of them without real success. It was pretty clear that in his adventures, he had to search for people who would assist him...

However, that could wait for later. Now, Niles, after a period in the sea that looked to him very long, was about to reach another island. The island was a small island with not many habitats on it. The island was none other than Fireworks Island, an island with a pretty small town whose citizens were specialized in the creation of fireworks. Coincidentally, in the island a festival with fireworks was about to be held... However, that would not be the only coincidence... Many coincidences would take place, including a very unexpected meeting between Niles and a few other people...

"Nya... Finally!!!!!!!!!! It looked like eternity in those seas!" Niles said as his ship reached the land and he dropped the anchor. "I believed that I would be trapped in there, for years! I guess I have somebody to travel with on this island... Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya!!!" he said and laughed. Niles was determined to find a person on the island to join him in his adventures, no matter what!

On Firework Island, a fellow felon had arrived earlier. This man was with a broad and muscular build, standing at almost seven foot tall, with a large bushy beard of blue hair. He wore a iron chestplate connected to some spaulders of the most basic kind, somewhat covering his basic dull leather jerkin, along with a pair of green breeches, a iron Viking-style helmet, a pair of metal gauntlets and some armoured boots. He carried a colossal sword even taller than the man himself, as well as a simple sack to carry his other possessions. Atop his shoulder, sat a small creature with a child’s grinning face, and the body of a diminutive lion.
This pet was Widdles the manticore, the most precious friend and possibly only friend left to this warrior-for-hire, with a bounty on his head due to his ‘betrayal’. He was Victor Yurvel, otherwise better known by his motif, Bluebeard. A former marine having lost his commanding position due to the horrible destruction of his appointed island, which he himself caused.
He was currently browsing a fish stall, with Widdles drooling at the prospect of one of these fine sea creatures becoming its meal. Eventually the colossal criminal picked out some ready cooked salmon fillets , one for himself and another for his treasured companion, handing over the berri’s to the grateful fishmonger, before having idle chit-chat about the upcoming festival.
Normally Bluebeard would avoid frivolous events, though the usual exception for this was Widdles wanted to do otherwise, having squeaked “Fireworks festival!”, ever since a local mentioned it to them, almost non-stop. The salmon was in hopes of remedying that. The mercenary sat gratefully at a simple wooden bench as he tossed Widdles’ own fillet towards it, to which it chewed gratefully and thanked it’s master; “Yummy fishy!”, to which he smiled warmly in return, his usual stern expression melting away in almost parental affection.

After docking his ship at the port, Niles started walking at the small town of Fireworks island. There were not many houses in the town. There were around 50 buildings, and from these 50, many functioned as business buildings and not as houses. There was only one bar in the place, which also functioned as a restaurant. After all, the place was not visited by many people. The island was so small and worthless to humanity that the marines did not bother having a basement in there. From times to times, people from the Navy would come for an inspection, but aside from that the place was a place that nobody cared about. And on top of that, the place was so open that it would not work as a pirate hideout, as well. Unlike many other islands of the Grand Line, Fireworks Island was not a physical fortress. It was easy to get on it and reach the town. Pirates did not really make use of it.

However, Niles was not seeing the place like that. When he walked at the streets of the small town, which were all leading to the town's square, he started thinking that this place was so small and quiet that it was the perfect place for a creature like him. Every second he was looking around, he was enjoying the sight of the small colony of humans that was created on the island. And it was not only that. The people of the island looked pretty friendly. They did not even question him about why he was a humanoid cat. They would treat him like an ordinary person.

"Erm, hello!" a tall man reluctantly spoke to Niles and Niles took a friendly smile on his face.
"Nya! Hello!" Niles said. "Can I help you with something?"
"Yes... I am working for the island's government! I am the secretary of the mayor and I am here to ask you a few questions."
"Questions?" Niles said and his heart started beating more. He did not really want to be questioned by the man... He had the bad feeling that he would be questioned about why he was a humanoid cat.
"Yes. Are you here for the festival?" the tall man said, surprising Niles. After all, he didn't want to learn about his strange appearance!
"Festival?" Niles asked with curiosity.
"Yeap! The Festival of Fireworks Island!" the tall man replied.
"Fireworks Island? What's a firework???" Niles questioned the man.
"A firework, huh? You don't know? I will tell you..." the man said, but right at that moment a firework was launched to the sky. "That's a firework." the man said with a smile on his face, clearly because he did not really have to explain.
"COOL!!!!!" the amazed Niles said and then he took a serious look on his face "Yes, you can say that I am here for the Festival!"

Niles wanted to see the fireworks and so he decided to stay on the island!

"Great!" the man said and then he started walking away. "Thanks for the information!" he said before leaving.
"Nya! No problem!" Niles said and he started walking away, as well, while also whistling.

As Widdles continued happily munch away on its share of salmon, Bluebeard stared into space for a shortwhile, pondering on how much time he could actually spend here. His old weakness, which some would foolishly consider a deadly strength, was soon to come into play. The only thing he knew for certain about it he couldn't stay more than two days, and what could be the result if he did, would cause havoc to those who definetly didn't deserve it.
The aging mercenary scowled a little, somewhat feeling resentment to himself about having eaten his devil fruit, though snapped out of it as Widdles tugged at his boot.
He looked down at his precious pet who squeaked somewhat seriously; "Drinky up!" to which Victor blinkedin confusion a few times before realisation hit him.
"Ah, I see your thirsty! Well, i'm sure we wondered past a bar on the way here and I bet we can get you a nice drinky winky for little old cutsey mootsey here!", he replied in a patronising tone, though Widdles seemed to not mind as he ruffled the manticore's mane and sprinted along after him as he headed to the mentioned establishment, chanting as Bluebeard walked; "Your thirsty!", neither of them seeming to care at the suprised and confused glances at Widdles. People tended not to see a manticore happily strolling down the street.

Meanwhile, Niles had already gone to the bar that Bluebeard and Widdles were going to. Niles was also thirsty thirsty enough to want a drink and he hoped that maybe there was something there to eat, as well. He was in the sea for a very long time and he was actually being careful at what he ate so that the food supplies would last him until he reached the next island. As a result, he was pretty hungry. He was not at the brink of death because of starvation, but he was actually hungry and thirsty. He wanted to eat as much as possible...

As a result, the humanoid cat was now in the bar and he was sitting on a table. Around him, there were several different foods and drinks and he was eating very quickly to the point that he was looking pretty disgusting, yet very funny. "Nyam! Nyam! Nyam!!!" he saying while he was munching the food, sometimes not even munching it but swallowing it due to his gluttony for it!

From a distance, and staring at Niles, and probably he wasn't the only one, basing on how Niles was eating food, a black haired man with black spots around his eyes, an opened shirt and a pair of swords seen on his hip, wonders what kind of "creature" this one is. He looks human, but at the same time, he doesn't. Is he a cat? Or a cross-breed? Weird, the man finds it. However, he doesn't bother any further, and he simply pays the barkeeper for his drink and food, and walks away, giving one last stare at the cat-looking man eating on a table next to him. And so, Shadow left and begun taking a walk around town.

While Niles was eating his food and drinking his different drinks, he could see the man who was looking at him. A normal person would actually question the man why he was staring at him like that. However, Niles knew that he was not an ordinary person. He was being stared probably because of his bizarre appearance that was making people question how can a creature like Niles really exist. He was getting used in this, though. He was getting used in getting the stares of the others who had not seen him before. As a result, when Azuke was leaving from the bar and was giving him one last stare, Niles also gave him a look and he continued eating his food, as if nothing happened at all.

The black haired man simply walks around the town, apparently not thinking about that weird-looking person he saw just a while ago. Though to Shadow, the odd thing about him was the way he was eating, rather than his appearance. Sure, he was a cat, but that's cool. But, couldn't he just eat quietly, without acting like he saw food for the first time? Reaching the dock, the man sits down, and removes some items from his pack. And then, to the shocked eyes of 2 passerby's, Shadow casually makes some coffee using a small heating device.

As Bluebeard and Widdles strolled down the street merrily, they passed the dark haired swordsman, with Victor taking note that a warrior of sorts had arrived here, though definitely wasn't a marine, or at the very least had no evidence otherwise, though merely boiled it down to the festival luring him here and not the bounty atop his head.
He and his pet continued into the bar and walked over straight to the barman and asked gruffly; "One bottle of whisky and a saucer of milk if you please for my precious Widdles, and don't say you wont allow pets in here, here's a cat eating atop the bar."
He took a seat alongside Niles, and gently placed his pet manticore on the bar-top who hoped around eagerly. squeaking; "Your Thirsty!" once more.

OOC: Um, Max-aniki, I think it's your turn to post, hence I didn't wrote anythin else.

[I didn't notice dau's post]

Niles was eating quickly, after Shadow left from the bar. As a result, he did not notice that Bluebeard and Widdles reached the bar and actually sat right next to him in order to take their drinks and eat their food. It was only when Widdles said "Your Thirsty!" that Niles realized that somebody else had entered the bar. He raised his head and with his very slim eyes he took a look at the giant man and his pet. "Hm?" he said and he expected to see the man's reaction.

As the barman quickly poured the saucer of milk for Widdles and retrived a bottle of whisky for Bluebeard, the aging mercenary noticed the small feline sitting next to him was staring, to which he patted Niles on the head and simpl stated; "No kitty, this milk is for Widdles here, not you. Go on and play." before taking a sip from his whiskey as if he was unsure of the actual contents of the bottle.
Widdles seemed to be too busy hopping around in excitement that his saucer had arrived and quickly began lapping up the milk, and stopped momentarily to squeak; "Yummy Drink!" and continue with his saucer, with his master grinning rather cheerfully, who asked the barman; "So, what time would the festival start, barman?"

Niles would not say anything and would start eating once again. He did not actually understand what the man had just said to him. Instead, he would continue eating his food in a fast and disgusting way while the man from the bar would serve him more drinks and food. Seconds were passing one after another and Niles was swallowing each different kind of food. However, while he was munching some fried potatoes, he stopped moving his mouth. He turned his head towards the direction of Bluebeard and with a suspicious look on his face, he questioned him "Did you just call me a kitty?". What a late reaction indeed...

Meanwhile, after having drunk that "delicious" coffee, Shadow was once again on the road, looking around the town and checking the people moving alongside the streets and market. He then spots a small store that seems to sell newspapers and other paper. He grabs a pile of paper, and after paying the owner, he walks off, checking out the leaflets.
"Hmmm.. now that seems interesting .. bounty of 8,500,000.. but he's not seen anywhere around here eh?" He speaks to himself as he walks. This pile seems to be a collection of bounties. Shadow stops walking for a moment, as he seems to have seen something more interesting.
"Laggia "The Cat Man" .. bounty of 16,890,600. Let's see ..." Shadow remembers Niles from that bar they were into some time earlier today, and then sighs. "Well, people really suck at drawing people when they don't have the photos themselves, he doesn't look that much like the bounty poster.. but eh, he's a cat, it has to be him, I could tell he was a pirate so.. wait, that amount of money.." He then hits his punch on his other hand's open palm, the pile falling down. "Ah, that's enough money to repair the boat AND buy the supplies needed!" Saying that, he makes a u-turn and begins to run towards the bar he last saw the "Catman".

"Hey, hey, catman! Do not cause a fuss inside my bar! If you want to argue with that guy, get the heck out of here!!!!!" the barman said to Niles, who seemed to be in the mood to pick up a fight because he was called a kitty. "Whatever..." Niles said and he got up from his position. He left a few money on the table and then he moved towards the door in order to get out. "I won't bother! Nya!!!" Niles said and he got out of the bar.

"Damn, where did that Catman went to? I really need that money for the repairs .. or else the mechanic will chase me after!" Shadow is speaking to himself, reminiscing about some time in the past where apparently, that same person chased him because he didn't had the money to pay for something, yep, it was about a boat again , while he is running. Well, it's not that Niles went anywhere, it was that Shadow sucked at pinpointing locations, and for some reason, he thought that he saw Niles at a completely different place than the one he saw him. "He was right next to the wagon shop!!" Shadow yells, in his desperation.

Meanwhile, at the sky near from the island...

A man is approaching the place. However, unlike most people, this man looks very different; he has no legs! His upper body is stuck on the back of an eagle with a big body and he is carrying two swords with him. He looks pretty powerful and strong, and violent enough to cause a fuss and trouble at the place. "Victor... I know you are there!" he said with an evil look on his face. Then, he started petting the eagle and he said "Move, Roze! We have to find that bastard and become like we were before he stuck as together!". What was going on?! Who was that man?!

Running with all his might, Shadow is starting to smirk. Yes, he is getting closer, he is certain. He remembered where he met that Catman from the bounty poster, although, he still considered that the people responsible for drawing or taking photos or pictures of wanted men are really doing an awful job at depicting their suspects. But nevertheless, it was good money, plus that person was said to be a really cruel, sadistic pirate, so he deserved it. But there, finally, he reached the place. Stopping, he moves his head up, and looks around, smiling....
"... EEEH? HE IS NOT THERE! DAMMIT, HE MUST HAVE LEFT ALREADY!" The black haired man says, and begins to look around. Currently, at the port..!

At the meantime, Niles had already left from the bar. Now, he was walking in another street than that of the bar and he was taking a look at the buildings around. The buildings at Fireworks Island were different than these of Arabasta... It was something new to his eyes. "Nya! Those buildings look amazing!" he was making comments for every building he happened to see, no matter whether they were good or not.

And while he was looking at the buildings, he also took a look at the sky. There was something on the sky... A bird, or something similar to that, was approaching... What was going on?!

Shadow saw it too. At first he wouldn't really pay attention, but as the figure became more clear, it made the black haired man get interested. The reason was that there was a human-like silouette attached to this eagle-like figure flying towards the island. Placing his hand right above his eyes, Shadow scouts the horizon and tries to figure out what's that thing. Maybe someone is riding an eagle. Wait, riding an eagle? That seemed cool. And also interesting.

"Finally, I arrived!" the man who was on the top of the eagle said with an angry look on his face. "The villagers of the nearby island told me that you are here, Victor! This time, I will take my revenge!" the man said and he unsheathed his swords. Then, the bird started flying with great speed towards the part of the village where Niles was.

The bird and the man eventually reached the road on which Niles was. Niles noticed the two. Apparently, unlike what anybody would expect, he was not looking surprised. As Niles had little to no knowledge about the outside world, he did not know that this creature was something unnatural. "Nya! Hello!" Niles said with a smile on his face to the man with the eagle, only to be looked at with a shocked look!

"AHA!" Shadow yells, and points towards Niles, and the just arrived, and stunned eagle-person .. thing. Panting a bit, and patting his knees, Shadow bends forward, and takes a few deep breaths, apparently, he must have been running around for a while now. He then points again. "Laggia, also known as "The Catman"! Prepare to be captured! .. As well as .. your co-worker!" Shadow yells.
*flashback from when Shadow was looking at the bounty posters*
While looking at the posters, and after having seen the one about that Laggia person, the next poster had a man wearing an eagle-like mask, a really badly made one thought. "Eagle-Man Jack, bounty of 7,000,000."

"Let's get this show on the road already! Woohoo!" A man shouted from within the crowded street, raising his fingers up while he released his cheer. The man, like anyone else who happened to wonder around the island at that time, was waiting for the firework festival to start. However, unlike any normal man, this one chose to watch the festival with a pair of sunglasses on, but wouldn't that ruin the lights? How odd...

[Introducing:
Jimi H. Hide
AKA "The Black Sheep"
50,000B]

While the street was as crowded as it could get, a cone of open space was formed behind Jimi's back. His impressive height, combined with his even more impressive Afro hair would surely block the view of anyone who's stand behind him during the show. Jimi however didn't bother, or even noticed, as ever since he left his home island he was focused only on using his freedom to its full extent, and the delay in the festival's opening was getting in his way. "Come onnn! Let's! See! Some! Fireworks!" He announced, over-gesturing with his hands with every syllable like an overrated rock star. A blindingly-bright grin remained permanent on his face the entire time.

"Fireworks! Fireworks! Fireworks!" He cheered in a rhythm that his clapping hands dictated, and started to carry the crowd around him into his cheers. One thing was certain, he wanted to get the party started.

"Laggia the catman? Nya?" Niles said with a surprised look on his face right after he listened to the words of the swordsman. However, what really scared him was the swordsman's mention about Niles being captured. Being innocent enough, Niles was scared about this for some reason. He freaked out completely by the time he listened to the word "Captured" and his eyes twitched, in fear that he would be caught by Shadow.

"NO!!! I WON'T BE CAPTURED!" he yelled a few seconds afterwards and he prepared himself to take a battle stance.

However, before by the time he took his battle stance, something unexpected happened. The mysterious man, whose upper body was stuck on an eagle's back, rushed along with the eagle towards Niles. The eagle grabbed Niles and flew high on the sky and the man unsheathed one of the two swords he had with him, ultimately causing fear to the innocent cat looking humanoid.

"NYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Niles yet and he looked downwards. The height was not very high, but still it was making him s#it himself.
"Tell me... Have you met a man named Victor over here?" the mysterious man said with an angry voice to Niles who did not respond. "ANSWER ME, YOU FREAK!" he ironically said afterwards. Niles was indeed looking like a freak, but the mysterious half-bodied man with the eagle was an even greater freak.

Meanwhile, at the street that Jimi was...

Everything was going smoothly with the preparations for the festival. The people were cheering, while waiting for the fireworks, something that made the event look very cool and enjoyable to watch. Soon, the fireworks would be launched...

"H-huuuuh?!" Shadow groans, making a face fault, sweat coming down the back of his head. "I thought they were co-workers ..." And then, suddenly, as if realization, epiphany struck him, he begins running behind the flying person, or whatever he was. "I SEE! YOU'RE TRYING TO GET THE MAN'S BOUNTY FOR YOURSELF! YOU BETRAYED YOUR COMRADE! I HATE GUYS LIKE YOU, I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS AND SAVE LAGGIA .. and THEN CAPTURE HIM!" He screams, pointing at the duo once again, but of course, losing ground, since the man was an eagle .. or the eagle was a man, anyway, there were flying abilities involved!