Poolside Seat (Hector)

[REI SATSUKI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: #111111; width:325px; padding:15px; border-left: 10px solid E6E6E6; vertical-align:top;] Paradise! This was truly paradise. Rei thought to herself as she laid out on the deck chair not to far from the shimmering crystal waters of the nearby pool. The shade from the umbrella protected her from most of the suns harmful rays, though the weather couldn't have been better. It was warm and sunny, though not humid with a steady breeze that was blowing in from the ocean. With a steady yawn, the pirate readjusted her sunglasses and lifted them up to push her bangs back in a lazy fashion as she reached over to take the drink from the young cabana boy with his tanned muscles glimmering in the sunlight. Honestly, Rei wasn't sure what she was enjoying more here, the service or the scenery. Of course, the hotel was nice too, and aside from being able to restock their supplies, she'd had the chance to gather quite a bit of medical information and resources from the island. Which was always a plus in the Captain's book, because you could never be prepared or knowledgeable enough on the ocean. Her crew were fanned out around the pool or relaxing. As everyone knew, there was a general rule with pirates and as long as the crew was safe and happy, then so was their Captain and it left her free to do something she didn't normally do on these islands - enjoy herself. In the past few days, Rei had all different kinds of bathes, massages, and treatments, pampering herself and her crew thanks with the spoils of their latest campaign. They were taking one final break before pushing onward to the Grand Line, a much needed one, if Rei said so herself. Fortunately, unlike the last few islands, this one had a 'no fighting' policy, which meant even if anyone realized she was a pirate, there was nothing they could do about it. Marine, Pirate, nothing mattered as long as she paid for everything and left a sizable tip, outside of violence the place was pretty much willing to overlook anything their patrons did in the meantime. It wasn't hard to see why the captain had finally given into the obvious, lounging about in a black bikini with a blue flower-printed sarong wrapped around her waste in the form of a skirt. A pair of simple sandals rested beside the chair while a red hibiscus-looking flower clip was used to decorate her long hair, that now fell loosely down her back and shoulders. She didn't even bother to hide the tattoo on her right shoulder, a mark that seemed to stand out against her fairer skin and a dead give away to her identity, but there was little point. What were they going to do? Attempt to arrest someone they knew would never go without a fight. Nah, no one was that crazy and even if they'd were, they wouldn't live to regret the mistake. Sipping on the straw to the fruity and rather colorfully decorated drink, she soon set the drink aside and returned to her peaceful enjoyment. Lowering her sunglasses, Rei rested her hands behind her head as she watched as some the crew goofed off, splashing around in the pool. With a faint smirk amusement, she set the drink aside and allowed her eyes to close, completely at peace with her surroundings and feeling like a whole new woman after her day of relaxation. She couldn't have imagined she was getting more than a few curious glances and for more reasons simply than being a pretty young woman in a skimpy bikini.

[atrb=style, padding:10px; width:115px; background-color: #000000;][atrb=valign,top] [style=background-color: #111111; background-attachment: scrolling; height:100px; width:100px; padding:5px; border: 1px solid #FF6699;][/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]WORDS[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]593[/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]TAGGED[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]Hector[/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]NOTES[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]None[/style]

[hector C. Vinland]

What a peaceful place this was.

This was a simple fact that Hector had come to accept over the past few days on this resort island. Everything here seemed to be so much more laid back and easygoing. Yes, the the young member of the Vinland family had dealt with a serious infestation of giant, cursed sentient roaches only a day ago, but the treatment he had received by the staff for his free services had been more then enough to set the record straight. This place was paradise. Untouched by the horrors that Hector clearly knew lingered in the sea, sky and even on land.

As a result of his assistance in dealing with the evil roaches, Hector had been granted a free stay in the luxurious confines of the resort...Which, in itself, was both a blessing and a curse. It did give him a nice bed to sleep in and a place to eat, but it also slowed him down and left a trail of sorts.

A trail for "Her" to follow.

Hector shuddered at the thought as he sat by the northern corner of the poolside. As he attempted (and failed) to relax, His coat and shirt sitting on his chair leaving him wearing no clothing on his upper body and exposing the multitude of scars from his various encounters over the years. Despite this, it had gotten him quite a few looks from quite a few very attractive women. Apparently a number of women at the resort had a thing for scars.

However, there was one woman who stuck out a little more then the rest. Hector couldn't tell if it was her Pink hair or her demeanor, but something stuck out and said she was somehow familiar. Hector tried not to consider the fact that she was wearing the skimpiest black bikini he had ever seen distract him, nor did he try to let the bikini's said contents hold his attention for too long, either. He didn't want to seem like a voyeur. Unfortunately, staring happened to be something genetic that Hector inherited from his father. Something that Hector fought very hard against and seemed to have more losses then wins against.

So, with that in mind, Hector found himself waiting and fidgeting impatiently as he struggled to keep his eyes off the young, pink-haired woman drinking exotic beverages by the poolside. While he was good at hiding it, he was quite sure that if the woman was astute she would have caught at least one of his wayward glances. Eventually, after several minutes of struggling to both identify the woman and keep his eyes off her swimsuit, Hector stood up, gathered his belongings and made his way over to a small table next to her, sitting down at an empty chair nearby. His coat with knives hung on the back of the chair along with his shirt, being put to rest there with a gentle "clack" of their holsters against the plastic of the chair. After a moment to make himself comfortable, Hector cleared his throat and finally spoke to the woman who seemed to grab his attention with such ease.

"...Forgive me for being frank and intruding on your enjoyment of the sun, but I have to ask: Have we met before?" He said, his face carrying a look of genuine curiosity. Maybe they had and Hector simply did not remember properly? Not really, but for the moment it didn't hurt to ask and get to know the beauty.

After all, this was a resort. Hector was supposed to be having fun...

[REI SATSUKI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: #111111; width:325px; padding:15px; border-left: 10px solid E6E6E6; vertical-align:top;] Rei wasn't completely naive to the curious looks she was getting, actually she was kind of used to them, though for a different reason than just her revealing swimsuit. It wasn't often to many people got to see someone considered a genuine witch sunbathing, though most were wise enough to keep their distance from the appealing young pirate. However, as the sound of footsteps began to approach, Rei immediately peered open an eye curious to see who it was that had intruded on her serenity. To her surprise, it was a guy. Not just any guy, he was tall, well-built. The young man had scars that stood out against the rest of his skin, which hinted at some level of battle experience, though she didn't recognize him as a fellow pirate, at least not one from the bounty posters she had seen recently. Lifting a hand to tug the glasses down curiously, so she could get a better look at him, her blue eyes peering over the rims of the glass at him as Rei found herself flashing a faint smirk as he questioned if they had met before. "Is that suppose to be a pick-up line?"

[/b] She asked teasingly with a clever smile. Well, he was either genuine or had some balls if he was willing to flirt with a pirate, so the captain removed her glasses and set the aside. Her gaze flickered up to him as she push herself up onto her elbow, lifting a single leg to cross it over the other comfortable as she allowed her eyes to scan over him once more.

No. Rei was certain she would have remembered a man like this one, so what was his intentions? With those scars, he was a warrior. That much was painfully obvious, but if he wasn't a pirate, then that could certainly be a bit of trouble. Then again, she was never one to turn down company or those that managed to catch her interest, so decided to play along for the time being until she could learn more about him. "Afraid I have a certain knack for remembering the faces of handsome men. However, I can't seem to recalls yours and I have a feeling I would certainly remember someone like you." Rei explained with a flirtatious smile, not shy and certainly not bothering to cover up as she rather openly flaunted her feminine figure.

"Of course, that doesn't mean I'm not open to making new... acquaintances." She practically purred, sitting up slowly and almost lazily stretching as she sat up to face him. "My friends call me Rei, so what about you stranger? You got a name?" Rei questioned calmly, as confident as ever. The Captain had a certain knack for being a tad on the flirtatious side, though more often she mainly just enjoyed messing with people. Of course, Rei had been around Grant long enough to know how distracting a girl in a bikini was and she didn't want to give the young man the impression that she was out to hurt anyone. After all, there was no harm in making friends, right? Especially, if those friends happened to be good looking and talented warriors in combat. [/size][/color][/justify][/td]

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[style=background-color: #111111; background-attachment: scrolling; height:100px; width:100px; padding:5px; border: 1px solid #FF6699;][/style]

[style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]WORDS[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]535[/style]
[style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]TAGGED[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]Hector[/style]
[style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]NOTES[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]None[/style]

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[hector C. Vinland]

"Is that suppose to be a pick-up line?"

"Actually no, not really....Unless you wanted it to be."

Hector sat and tried to keep a straight, completely calm demeanor as he listened to the young, bikini clad woman speak. He was, however, having extreme difficulty doing so. Her voice, body language (and body) as well as her generally flirtatious demeanor. Hector was managing to keep a straight face, but there was no way he could hide the shade of red that had started to creep along his features. Hector watched as the woman turned over slightly much to his dismay (and enjoyment?). This gave him an even more open view of the woman's rather ample "assets".

"Afraid I have a certain knack for remembering the faces of handsome men. However, I can't seem to recalls yours and I have a feeling I would certainly remember someone like you. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm not open to making new... acquaintances. My friends call me Rei, so what about you stranger? You got a name?"

"I'm Hector." The young night hunter replied smoothly as he tried to hide a tiny grin of enjoyment at being able to "flirt" (loosely, of course) with the young woman. He was lucky enough that a waiter happened to be passing by to give him something else other then the woman to focus his attention on.

"Waiter, please get this woman another drink. I'll have a glass of water. Lemon-sweetened, If you please."

"Very well, Mr. Vinland. I shall return shortly with your beverages."

Dammit, the waiter had used his last name. That was something Hector had been hoping to avoid, since his own name and his family's name had some notoriety among certain circles. If certain, less-then-friendly individuals heard that name it might cause problems. Hector was a bounty hunter after all. Not to mention a Night Hunter. That, and his taking out of a certain necromancer on dawn island a week ago certainly wasn't helping with remaining anonymous. At any rate, there was no use crying over spilled milk. Hector would simply have to deal with whatever came his way. His eyes drifting back to something far more pleasant in the woman he sat across a table from, Hector's eyes happened to get a better look at that tattoo on her right shoulder...

Shit.

Now Hector remembered where he had seen the woman before. A wanted poster on the bounty board a few days ago had shown the pink-haired beauty and mentioned a tattoo on the right shoulder that exactly matched the one on his female friend. How had he not realized that earlier? inwardly cursing his own stupidity, Hector began to remember the details he had heard about the woman.

Rei Satsuki. Also known by the names of "The North Wind" and "The Black Witch". Hector wasn't too sure on the exact details of her exploits, but he had heard quite a few things about the woman that made her someone of great interest to the government. Namely, about how she managed to raid certain heavily armed strongholds and pillage them without needing to fire a single shot or swing a single blade. Whether or not those were simply rumors or truth, Hector did not know, but Hector did know she was a pirate, and possibly one who may not like the idea of flirting with a bounty hunter. He would have to defuse the situation carefully...

Well, he would have to do something to get his mind off the fact that she was so scantily clad. For now he would play along and hope things didn't go downhill. A fight breaking out in the spa was not exactly looked well upon, even for guests of honor such as himself.

"Well, Rei, What brings you to the wonder that is the spa shelter? You certainly don't look like you would require any help in being beautiful."

Hector was hoping the shade of red would start fading away from his face as he became more acclimated to flirting again. Little did he realize things might only get worse from here on out...

-------

((OOC: sorry I didn't add in the color. if you have the code for it, ill happily edit it back into your text in this post ASAP ^^;; ))

[REI SATSUKI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: #111111; width:325px; padding:15px; border-left: 10px solid E6E6E6; vertical-align:top;] A faint smile appeared on her face as she noted the faint shade of color that crossed his cheeks. Guess he liked what he saw, not that she could blame him. Part of her whole reputation as a witch had as much to do with her deeds as it did with the fact that she could be rather beguiling for a pirate or anyone woman with such a nasty reputation. Of course, in a world that was constantly filled with fighting, Rei was actually far more pacifistic than most, willing to use her looks or manners to attempt some diplomacy, especially with those that seemed like they could be useful. This one obviously had his fair share of experience, but there was something else that seemed to draw her attention to this one and for more than just his looks or his various scars, an aura that seemed to stand out from most. "Hector, is it? Well, that's a strong name, if ever I heard one." Rei repeated with a genuine smile as he ordered her another drink and one for himself. However, it was the answer of the waited that immediately grabbed her attention. Vinland. Now where had she heard that name before? Rei normally prided herself on being rather well informed on current events. It didn't matter if it was latest bounty posters or the news from the papers, any sort of knowledge was useful on the ocean. However, it didn't take her long to remember the name had some rather large important in the circles of the world, but being so young, this one had not struck her as a Marine. Then again, wasn't there a bounty hunter with a similar name? The more Rei thought about it, the stranger it seemed that he was suddenly talking to her, but then she managed to catch his glimpse at her shoulder. Had he really been foolish enough not to realize who she was? Oh well, even that were the case, there wasn't much he could do in a place like this without getting himself into trouble. However, maybe she could use the situation to her benefit, so Rei decided to play innocent on the matter and simply smiled up at him as she rose and drew a little closer. Her whole demeanor spoke of a woman who seemed so confident, but at the same time seemed to move with the ease of a fox as he continued to speak, even complimenting her. "My friends and I were passing through, so we decided to take the week and enjoy ourselves. It's not to often you find islands so welcoming to visitors." She explained calmly, though it was probably rare to see most pirates here. Many of them would have started trouble or grown bored by now, but there was something to be said for a Captain that was willing to spoil her crew with a vacation and was willing to keep the peace while here. Of course, having heard tales of the Grand Line for the better part of her life, Rei assumed it wouldn't hurt, a sort of last chance to truly relax before they headed into one of the world's most dangerous seas. Although, while she didn't outright admit it, there was an obvious hint that she wasn't alone, which her meant her crew was close by if trouble did happen to start. "And what about you? Are you here for business or pleasure?" Rei questioned with a coy smile, leaving some ounce of insinuation the question, curious to see if she could make the bounty hunter blush again. It was entertaining though to think a man who was capable of chasing down pirates and criminals though could be so easily flustered by a single young woman. Not that Rei had many regards when it came to flirting. In fact, she was pretty good at it, despite the probable dangers of hitting on someone she knew could be enemy, but there were always exceptions. If possible, she certainly wouldn't have minded making a friend out of Mr. Vinland.

[atrb=style, padding:10px; width:115px; background-color: #000000;][atrb=valign,top] [style=background-color: #111111; background-attachment: scrolling; height:100px; width:100px; padding:5px; border: 1px solid #FF6699;][/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]WORDS[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]677[/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]TAGGED[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]Hector[/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]NOTES[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]It's up to you. The color code is: FF6699.[/style]

[hector C. Vinland]

"Hector, is it? Well, that's a strong name, if ever I heard one." Rei responded, still using that rather sweet yet confident tone that so many women were good at using. And that Hector was, like his father, a total sucker for. That, and the rather amazing smile Hector received would only cause the red to remain on Hector's face for some time. It likely wouldn't get any worse unless the woman decided to do something a little more drastic. Considering where he was, and the effect Hector was aware he sometimes had on women who liked more "gritty yet handsome" looking men, he wouldn't have entirely ruled out more drastic interactions.

It would not have been the first time it would have happened to Hector. If his family history was any indication, it also wouldn't be the last. At any rate, Hector continued to listen to the young woman speak, despite still being slightly leery to the fact that she was indeed the pirate known as "the black witch".

"My friends and I were passing through, so we decided to take the week and enjoy ourselves. It's not to often you find islands so welcoming to visitors."

I see. Yeah, this place certainly is quite different from almost everywhere you go. Normally its impossible to go anywhere without seeing the signs of conflict. The spa island is much different. Something that from what I've heard they've been trying to keep that way. It may not look it, but this place probably has security to rival that of some high-class marine bases. The difference is that its far more overt and focused on keeping the business running." Hector explained, crossing his arms.

"And what about you? Are you here for business or pleasure?"

Hector paused for a moment as she asked the question. Its not that he was embarrassed by her statement in any way (despite it being somewhat...provocative). No, Hector was trying to think of a way to explain and justify what he was doing here without revealing too much unneeded information about the events that had transpired since he got here. Hector was quite sure the spa would not have wanted its demon roach problem to be public knowledge among its clientele. There were also certain facts that he really didn't want to elaborate on (such as the confirmation that he was in fact related to the Vinland family). So, with that in mind, he would throw the proverbial dog a bone, but not give it the entire meal. that, and he would use a bit of his own charm to hopefully keep things civil.

"Buisness. I was called in to take a look at something that the hotel wanted a second opinion on. I have a unique skill set and knowledge base thanks to my training, which puts my services in high demand. I'm a bounty hunter of a special kind. They call us..." Hector explained, pausing only to hold up his right arm and reveal several crosses that, although only looking like normal tattoos, held special meaning to his kind and those that knew of it.

"Night hunters. Also, don't worry Ms.Satsuki, I'm not here for you and I have no intention of pursuing you in the near future. You haven't done anything nearly evil enough by night hunter standards to qualify as a target of my kind." Hector said with an affirming nod, wondering if Rei's expression or future response would indicate whether or not she was indeed the black witch or not. He was also wondering if he could "bluff" a flirtatious attitude enough to win the flirting and fluster the young woman. A dangerous tactic that Hector did not realize might backfire on him horribly with very nice, very hilarious and very awkward consequences.

"of course, while I was here initially for business I find myself in a bit of a quandary. Now that my business is finished I'm waiting for a trip out of here, and have very little to do to fill up the empty hours. I guess that means what started as a business trip became a pleasure one. Unfortunately, up until very recently I wasn't having much fun until I got to talking to a nice, beautiful woman by the poolside while enjoying a relaxing drink. Unfortunately, all I got was your name. I'm hoping to get to know you more personally within reason and whatever your comfortable with, of course. I'm adult enough to handle it being just a nice conversation with a great view or something a little more entertaining for both of us. Oops, are my manners? Our drinks aren't even here yet. Anyway, I guess the best place to start is with some questions. It would only be fair of me to let you ask first, so by all means, feel free to ask away and ill answer...Within reason, naturally."

Oh god, what had Hector gotten himself into. He had just started a "flirting war" with a woman and he had already proven he could be slightly flustered. Part of Hector knew he was inviting disaster with such "open-ended" offers to consorting with a pirate, but another part of him was also really enjoying flirting with a beautiful woman. Besides, anything the young woman did wouldn't have any terrible consequences for Hector in the near future.

...Right?

Hector could only hope his plan went well in some way shape or form and didn't backfire horribly on him and wind up getting himself slapped or making him feel like a fool in some other way. While there were a lot of goood ways for this to end, there were probably just as many bad ones. The ball was in the young pirate woman's court. Hector would just have to wait and see what kind of game she was playing.

[REI SATSUKI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: #111111; width:325px; padding:15px; border-left: 10px solid E6E6E6; vertical-align:top;] Rei couldn't quite shake the subtle smile that lingered on her lips in amusement at the young man. Despite warnings from her First Mate to be more reigned in over such things, the Captain could be notorious when it came to flirting or simply messing with people in general. It didn't matter whether it was the Marines, the World Government, or even other pirates. If Rei could get a rise out of someone and learn how they reacted to various things, it was good enough to warrant for a footnote in her studies of varying psychology. There was a great deal a person could learn without ever saying a word, provided one knew what to look for and how to read the signs. Hector soon explained that his being here was actually a matter of business and confirmed her suspicions on being a bounty hunter. However, it was his details about a unique set of skills and an explanation of something that Rei was not entirely familiar with. Night Hunter? The name certainly had a ring to it, but the symbols on his arm seemed to hint that there was more to it than chasing down random pirates. No, there was something more to the matter than that. Hector seemed to have a different aura than most of the bounty hunters she'd come across. Instead, Rei found herself running back over the meaning of that name. Night Hunter. Well, the obvious assumption would have been that it was a fancy name for an assassin, but why the use of the cross? Having grown up on a island that was pretty well known for it's superstitions, Rei could recall one purpose for such a symbol. Divine protection, but not from the threat of human attack. No, she'd remembered reading a book on folklore. The symbol was often worn by those who hunted something viewed even more dangerous, the forces you couldn't fight. She couldn't confirm it, but either way, it meant Hector's skills were different from most and could be very useful in a place that neither functioned, nor held enemies of the conventional nature. Whether he was a killer or an exorcist, that kind of talent Rei could certainly use. He soon admitted that he was not after her, because as he so quaintly put it, she wasn't quite up to some standard, which earned something of a smirk. "That's good to know, because unlike most pirates, I don't like to get my hands dirty if I don't have to. However, I have no problem defending myself against those foolish enough to get in my way and it would be a shame to murder such a handsome young man." Rei explained with a smile, despite the faint edge to the words. It was evident enough that Rei had very little fear of the bounty hunter, or if she did, she was not about to show it. Besides, as a Captain, she wasn't about to let him get away with the intended slight, though it confirmed her previous assumption. Most bounty hunters would have jumped at the chance to get in the good graces with the Marines that had placed her bounty and those nasty little nicknames. However, despite her Devil Fruit abilities, Rei was human... Well, for the most part. She wasn't versed in the dark arts or some spell slinging witch. She was just a pirate, who had a fairly evident dislike for the World Government. Nothing to unusual, all things considering. It as then, however, that Rei noticed something in Hector's demeanor change as he began to not only flirt back, but to suggest something that most men would have feared to even attempt. The young man either had no idea who he was playing with or was very gutsy, but there was one way to find out? "Very well, first question... Are you attempting to seduce me, Mr. Vinland?" Rei questioned with a knowing smile, unable to hold back a faint chuckle. One could only hold a poker face for so long and this was simply to amusing to resist. "Naughty boy. A bounty hunter consorting with a pirate, and a witch no less. Whatever will people say?..." She spoke in a mix of flirtation and mock fun at his general disregard for how quickly people's tongues could wag about such associations. "Then again, if I was afraid of breaking the rules, I wouldn't be much of a pirate, would I?" Rei asked, though the matter was obvious. Of course, while Rei could talk a big game and was always quick to meet men with her usual bluff, the Captain was still a virgin. Not that many would have known that from the stuff the Marines said about her, but in a game of chicken, she couldn't very well duck out first. "Then how about this, how would you like to join my crew, Mr. Vinland? You need a ride off this island and I could use someone with your unique skills where I'm going, so what do you say?" The Captain had never been one to beat around the bush and the young man seemed trustworthy enough. Besides, he had said she could ask anything within reason. Unfortunately, for a pirate like Rei, nothing was outside of reason or the impossible. After all, Rei needed to be prepared for any possible adversary. Assassin, exorcist, he could have called himself anything he wanted and the pirate could have cared less. What she knew for a definitive fact was that Hector had battle experience and skill in combat. His physical appearance was testament to that much. There was something deeper though, something that Rei could only describe as her gut feelings, a sixth sense. However, she was confident that he wouldn't be a threat to her crew or her. For the Captain, that was all the incentive she needed to try and turn what should have been an enemy into a new ally.

[atrb=style, padding:10px; width:115px; background-color: #000000;][atrb=valign,top] [style=background-color: #111111; background-attachment: scrolling; height:100px; width:100px; padding:5px; border: 1px solid #FF6699;][/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]WORDS[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]992[/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]TAGGED[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]Hector[/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]NOTES[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]None[/style]

[hector C. Vinland]

"That's good to know, because unlike most pirates, I don't like to get my hands dirty if I don't have to. However, I have no problem defending myself against those foolish enough to get in my way and it would be a shame to murder such a handsome young man."

"Good. I would hope that a pirate captain would have such a trait as courage. Though I, the "handsome young man", am hardly what you need to fear or possess hatred. It is not the things that you can see that you must save your fear for, but the things that you cannot. The things that lurk in the depths, the shadows and the night are what you need to fear." Hector stated with an almost figid and disciplined tone.

"Very well, first question... Are you attempting to seduce me, Mr. Vinland?"

"Perhaps...If thats what you want." Hector responded playfully. Was he having a little bit too much fun with the woman? Perhaps. Though it had been a very long time since the young heir to the Vinland family had any sort of conversation with such a pretty young woman. His dark response to the woman's underlying promise of pain should the night hunter try anything funny aside, the conversation had been rather...pleasant. A sure change of pace from a lot of what Hector had been dealing with in the past. Especially regarding a certain other woman who had proven to be a severe irritation as of late.

"Naughty boy. A bounty hunter consorting with a pirate, and a witch no less. Whatever will people say?..."

Hector's face took yet another slight change of color to a more red tone due to the "Imagery" that the female pirate's statement evoked. Haivng a creative and intelligent mind didn't always help, though the images that went through Hector's head were hardly creative or intelligent. This woman certainly did earn the titles she had been given in regard to her abilities. She certainly did know how to be charming. Hector elected not to respond to Rei's comment, figuring it was rhetorical. That, and any response he could have come up with would have likely involved a stutter and involuntarily staring at the young woman again, only reinforcing the imagery in his head that the young night hunter was so desperately trying to evict.

"Then again, if I was afraid of breaking the rules, I wouldn't be much of a pirate, would I? Then how about this, how would you like to join my crew, Mr. Vinland? You need a ride off this island and I could use someone with your unique skills where I'm going, so what do you say?"

Well now the conversation had taken a rather interesting turn, hadn't it? Hector had honestly not intended to do anything but playfully enjoy the flirtatious conversation with the young woman, but now the game had changed quite a bit. This was an offer that, while solving the young Vinland's problem, also generated another one. Hector had worked with pirate crews before, so he was accustomed to working with the denizens of the sea to hunt down the true terrors that the world faced. The issue here was that none that he had worked with had been quite as infamous as the black witch. Hector had managed to avoid getting a bounty on his head thus far in his journey, and he personally wanted to keep it that way. On the other hand, few pirates could cover the ground or enter any pirate-controlled port as effectively as someone like the black witch. The deal definitely had its ups and downs.

"...I suppose I would say yes, provided certain conditions and my contract are properly fulfilled. Being what I am, I have worked with pirates before under a strict contract and code of conduct. I would be willing to make some changes to the said contract, but there are a few rules that I would expect to be strictly adhered to for my loyalty and services. Firstly-"

"Sir, here are your refreshments. May I get you anything else?" Said a waiter, interupting the conversation as he placed the drinks for Rei and Hector in front of their respective individuals. Hector calmly yet sternly nodded and thanked the waiter, silently waiting for the waiter to leave before turning his attention back to Rei. Hector wondered if the pirate had noticed what he had: firstly, what was not their original waiter, which was odd considering no sane waiter would give up the chance for tips in a resort like this. Secondly, the man's face was far more grizzled and less refined then any waiter that Hector had seen in his lifetime, indicating that the man was probably not a waiter at all and was in fact simply disguised as one. Thirdly, Hector had spotted the clear outline of weapons under the man's clothing.

"...Captain, I wouldn't drink that. Something is wrong here." Hector said, watching the (fake) waiter hastily make his way out of the pool area and back through a set of double doors on the north end of the pool into the master kitchen.

"...We may have a problem."

[REI SATSUKI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: #111111; width:325px; padding:15px; border-left: 10px solid E6E6E6; vertical-align:top;] A smile slid across her face as Hector made mention of that which lurked in the darkness, yet despite the warning there was something slightly appealing about his description. Maybe it was the drink talking, but it did seem to confirm her suspicions about what Hector spend his time chasing and it wasn't pirates. Not that Rei considered herself much of a superstitious person, but she'd heard enough stories to know there were things that the world could not explain away with common reason. If the Grand Line was as dangerous as they claimed, then she would simply be covering all her basis for whatever enemy they came up against, human or devil. No, come hell or high water, Rei would find One Piece and take her place as the next Pirate King, no matter what. Besides, Hector seemed likeable enough and possessed a sense of humor, at least enough to play the Captain's games of flirtation. Although, it soon became apparent that Rei was no average pirate as her quick wit managed to procure another blush from the Night Hunter, who didn't bare speak, probably to avoid tripping over his own words. That was part of the reason Rei enjoyed messing with people. It was cute and wonderfully entertaining as far as past time went, though far more harmless in the comparison to some of things she could do and seemed more reflective of her true nature than anything else. She couldn't help find herself watching him intently though in regards to her offer. Fortunately, it seemed Hector was open to the possibility to working with a pirate, provided certain stipulations were followed, which Rei was more than willing hear out and to bargain over. Of course, being a Captain required as much a good sense of business affairs as charisma or fearlessness. Compromise was part of the game and as long as it was reasonable, she probably wouldn't argue over matters to much. However, before they managed to get much further into the conversation, someone saw fit to rather rudely interrupt their conversation. It was enough to earn a faint look from the pirate and in an instant to factor in the red flags that were being thrown up in warning. As the so-called waiter turned to go though, Rei's expression seemed to sober to something more serious as the faint outline of a weapon could be seen beneath the imposter's clothing. Hector soon spoke up, seeming to confirm what she already knew. "Indeed. However, considering the no tolerance the island has for open combat, I'd wager poison seemed a far more reasonable means to remove whoever they are after." The Captain explained calmly, in an almost bored tone as she picked up the glass and tossed the liquid contents into the nearby bushes. Lifting the glass back up, she moved to examine it a bit curiously, careful not to touch the insides and searching for the obvious signs of undissolved poison. "Now the question is who were they actually after and why? I don't suppose you managed to tick anyone off during your time here, otherwise we may have a very long list." Rei suggested with a smirk, deciding to start with the most obvious factors. The Captain had become pretty well acquainted with what sort the hotel tended to hire for waiters over the past few days and she was certain that the man was not part of the staff. He was far to scruffy looking and while the staff may have had some talent in combat, the majority relied on hand-to-hand combat, so had no need to carry a concealed weapon. The whole matter seemed to stink that something very bad was going on. Of course, between rival pirates, bounty hunters, and marines, Rei couldn't count on both hands how many people disliked her, so if Hector couldn't recall the man, then they were going to need something more to go on for motive. Especially, since the islands rules prevented them from racing off and simply confronting the would-be assassin. Glancing over her shoulder in annoyance, Rei seemed to be searching for someone or more specifically, her first mate. "Damn, where's that lazy swordsman when you need him?" She murmured, reaching down to grab what looked like a bag of swimming supplies, but that actually contained the Guan Dao. Whistling back to the crew that was still in the pool, the looks immediately shot up in curiosity at the familiar sound as the Captain gestured with a thumb over her shoulder, a silent sign to collect their things and head back to the ship. She didn't want to tip the potential enemy off and somewhat used to these kind of situation, most of the crew was familiar with the signal and knew better than to question the Captain when she gave an order. Tying the sarong around her waist and pressing the bag onto her shoulder, Rei soon began to step past Hector and to head towards the kitchen doors where the man had disappeared. "Come with me, Mister Vinland. We can discuss the matters of your contract while we walk, I believe we have a matter to settle before we leave this island, anyway." Rei offered with a cordial smile, one that seemed to hide the true nature of the situation they could have been facing or the dangerous storm the Captain was about to unleash on the fool that had attempted to harm her or her potential crew member.

[atrb=style, padding:10px; width:115px; background-color: #000000;][atrb=valign,top] [style=background-color: #111111; background-attachment: scrolling; height:100px; width:100px; padding:5px; border: 1px solid #FF6699;][/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]WORDS[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]911[/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]TAGGED[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]Hector[/style] [style= border-bottom: 1px solid #FF6699; text-transform: lowercase;]NOTES[/style][style= text-align:right; background-color: #111111; padding-right:2px;]None[/style]