so_shik | Forty-Fifth Spool of Thread

[There's a bit of a static feed as the journal turns on, and Shiki doesn't say anything for a moment. She's busy reading over everything from the last few days, but she finally decides to talk to the village at large.]

So. Hypothetical question. ...how long is too long to wait? For people, for objects, for anything. Give me your thoughts on this.

[Filtered to Angel]

Have you figured out your answer yet?

[/Filtered]

It's fall now, isn't it? I should get back to decorating. So another question...favorite thing about Halloween? Decoration-wise, holiday-wise, anything. This is pretty important.

[Important in the sense that when she's done addressing the journal, she's busy flitting about her shop. She's been spending the last few days rearranging all of the furniture and putting up new shelves and such with Haruhi's help. And now. There are fake maple leaves all over the walls. And outside. Along with some cut-out paper pumpkins strung along the walls. Villagers are free to find her outside on the porch of All Passions staplegunning things to the building and such.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm surprised you've even heard of jittes.

My Ensign is my second in command, Tashigi. It might be better that she's not here, but it still seems strange to have her suddenly missing from my life.

I think I read about it somewhere.

So she's your partner. I totally get that...it's hard to imagine spending every day without that person to fall back on. Think she'll ever show up here?

All right.

Yeah, she is. As for whether she'll wind up here... remains to be seen. Maybe it's best that she isn't, but I think she's strong enough for this place. She would have to be in order to handle where we're going next.

I guess I'm just kind of surprised. Luceti tends to bring in pairs when people have partners. I mean they also tend to send them back out and leave people alone but it's still the fact that--

--wait, how long have you been waiting?

Really?? I hadn't noticed that. Hn.

Over a year.

It might take a while, but pairs pair up. One of my closest friends was waiting here for a while until his twin sister showed up. And my partner and I showed up at the same time. It's a funny thing.

And you'll still keep waiting?

My prey's still here so there's no sense in going back.

Yes, I'll keep waiting. It's not like I'm putting things on hold, just keeping an ear out for news of her.

If it's all the same, I guess I can't blame you.

Good...I mean, that's really nice of you. I know it's a bad idea to hope that people show up here, but you know...I hope you get to see her again soon.

Thanks. For the most part, this place isn't even as terrible as the New World in my world and since that's where we're headed next, this place is practically a warm-up.

So don't feel too bad about it.

Guess I won't.

...do I want to ask what the New World is and why it's so bad?

It's the 2nd half of the Grand line. Only one man has ever made it to the end and back out alive, and millions and millions of pirates have tried every year since since his legendary treasure is supposed to be there.

It's extremely hazardous -- which is why they all die. To even be stationed there as a marine requires a decently high rank.

Sounds like a death sentence...have you ever actually been?

No, it's my goal to go there.

And...can I ask why?

To get stronger.

And there's not another option?

It's the best, and the fastest. My prey isn't going to sit around idly, so I too must race ahead.

That's how my world is. Those who don't rush ahead to get strong will get left behind.

Sounds pretty intense. As long as you stand a chance though, I guess it can't be all that bad. You don't think your prey would ever reach it faster than you would, would they?

They could.

Hn. In Luceti, he almost has. But the only times I catch him is when I predict where he's going to be next and wait there.

...you can do that? Like seeing into the future?

No.

I do it through old-fashioned police work. [... Meaning he either goes Creepy McStalker mode or directly asks Luffy and then Luffy tells him :| Also there's only so many paths you can take towards becoming the Pirate King, so as long as Smoker races ahead on that path, eventually Luffy will be out that way.]

At least you're honorable about it.

Tch. I don't know about "honorable" but I follow my own justice.

Close enough for me.

Hn. Thanks then.

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