Chapter 23: Never understand
Wolf sat down with his legs hanging off the upper deck as he looked down at Arlong. Both men had brown cups full of alcohol in their hands.
"So, how is it here?"
Wolf asked.
Arlong shrugged his shoulders.
"I'd rather sail with my own kind. This feels like discrimination, as the others here don't really talk to me or give me strange looks. I followed you because of what you said, not because of who you are. But, you are still a human, and there is no getting past that."
Arlong told Wolf before he downed the entire cup in his hand.
Wolf nodded.
"It's not meant to be that way. It's only been a week since you've been here, and what have you done? You stayed to yourself and snarled at anyone that came close to you. Of course, the others are afraid, what are they supposed to do? Besides, all humans are not bad."
Wolf said as he reminded Arlong of his activities this past week onboard the ship. Which was not much besides eating, going for a swim, and sleeping.
Arlong scouted ahead to inform them of anything but always returned with nothing to note of. Wolf had to give the fishman credit, he was swift. Somewhat undetectable as well when he was underwater.
Hearing Wolf's words, Arlong snorted then poured himself another cup of alcohol from the wooden barrel next to him.
"You say that, but i've seen enough to know what they are really like. You don't know what my kind has been through, and what the younger ones have to go through."
Wolf took a sip of his drink before he set it down next to him.
"Enlighten me. We won't reach the next island for a while and i'm curious of to learn more about your kind."
Arlong was taken aback by this remark as there were not many humans that wanted to hear the side of a fishmans tale. The humans were always the superior type always looking down upon those they deemed useless. The few that did understand had the same hatred he did in his heart. Those few were the only ones Arlong could stand, but never be friends with.
"You wouldn't understand half of it. You've never been treated as if you could vanish and no one would give a damn. Taken from your home and treated like cattle. To have no rights, to always be judged as a monster just by the way we look. We might bleed the same blood, but the blood in our veins can never be the same. Because you are a human, and I am a fishman. Two creatures that can never get along."
Wolf listened to Arlong speak and took a casual sip of his drink. He eyed the tall man and stared at the red sun tattoo on his chest.
"Funny how you say all that and think no one above the surface has been through the same things as you. I was an orphan, can't even recall my parents. Far as I can recall, i've always been on my own. I was taken away, locked up, beaten, starved, and forced to do things I never would have done. Rights? I had none. Merely a tool to be used. Did I receive any help? No. Yet, I survived and came out stronger. You said I wouldn't understand half of it, but i've lived all of what you just said. I agree humans are disgusting, but that's not everyone. You can blame them all, or adapt and change. What have you done to change others' views upon yourself? Become a pirate and terrorize a village? Doesn't work well to really help your image now does it?"
Arlong made a fist at the last few remarks. Wolf was right, but Arlong had no mind to tell him of that.
"Try or don't try. It's up to you. Just know that if you are always waiting on someone else to take that first step, then you could be waiting for ages."
"You sound like someone else I know."
Arlong said.
"Oh? Who is that?"
Wolf asked.
"My brother…"
Arlong started but stopped.
Wolf glanced at his tattoo once more before he pointed at it.
"Does that mean anything?"
Looking down at his chest Arlong nodded.
"It does. It means i'm a member of the sun pirates or at least was one. It doesn't matter now."
"Sun pirates?"
Arlong looked at Wolf.
"A fishman pirate crew. You won't meet them here, they have other plans."
Wolf nodded then something caught his eye in the distance.
It was Buggy doing something silly with his body. The other crew members were cheering him own, and Alvida was laughing her butt off.
"I'd like to meet them one day. For now, you should talk to Kuro. I feel you both can benefit from a spar with one another. And, you can hang out on the other ship. Just don't spend too much time there, and try to get to know people here as well."
Wolf said.
"Shouldn't that go both ways?"
Arlong asked.
Wolf laughed and nodded.
"Why do you think Kuro's been so busy this past week? He's been getting to know the other fishman."
Arlong finished his cup of alcohol then sat the brown cup down on the barrel and walked away.
As Arlong left, Wolf pulled out a map and looked it over. They were heading for a place called Dawn Island, where they were planning on visiting the Goa Kingdom. Kuro informed him that the kingdom was sure to have the catalog of devil fruits, as the kingdom was so far out of where everyone wanted to be that no one would ever come here to look for it. That and Buggy told Wolf about an auction that usually takes place in these sorts of places.
Wolf was interested in both, which was why he was coming here.
By tomorrow morning, they would have reached Dawn Island.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone