Chapter 21: The Same Dream

Shank's Pov:  As I neared their spot in the bar, I released some of my control over my presence and conquerors haki. They stopped their celebration and looked my way with visible wariness. I loomed over them for a second before I spoke ," Excuse me gentleman, I couldn't help but overhear your short conversation after that man fired you."  The younger one scowled at my statement before he haughtily asked," And what's to you stranger?". I ignored his tone and spoke in an inquiring tone," It might sound strange coming from a stranger you have never seen in your life, but I want to ask why."  The older one,Kenny, frowned at me before he asked," wy what?."  I responded by asking once again , " Why did you laugh it off even though it impacts you negatively. Why not try to plead to keep on the job,was it that bad?"  They both looked at me with frowns on their faces as if judging my intrusiveness based on the questions. The younger one just " Tchd" like a typical anime tsundere while the older one's expression shifted into a calm one. He looked at the younger one before he took a shot of the one in his glass. He then sighed as he then said," It's not that the job was bad or anything like that. In fact, we sometimes beat up customers and did other stupid things to try to get ourselves fired. I even lost count after the millionth prank we pulled on the old man. See the old man who was yelling at us is one of the owners of the bar. He knew our grandmother and out of pity,helped us earn money by hiring us after our grandmother died a couple of years ago. If you haven't noticed ,we're completely human on an island known for its Fish-man and mermaids. That's because we're what the majority here calls failed hybrids. What they consider successful hybrids are the ones who look almost completely human but exhibit some Fish-man traits like their natural strength and the abnormal ability to thrive and breathe under the sea no matter how deep. Anyways,after the people found out we were failed hybrids, they shunned our family  to the point our own parents took their own lives. After that, grandma started to try to look for a job to support us despite her age. But tragedy struck us once again,as she contracted an unknown illness that eventually took her life. That was a sad day and the day the old man found us after we were kicked out of the property we used to live in. He took us in and started to teach us how to earn money and look after ourselves. As we learned to take care of ourselves , we learned about the world and with that came a spark that evolved into the desire to see the rest of the world and what it has to offer. The old man never agreed with our desire and has been trying to dissuade us from achieving it since he found it."  He took another shot of whatever wine he was drinking  after sharing the story. During the start of the story, I had taken a seat that I pulled from the corner. I looked at both the teens as I shook my glass of wine in contemplation. I finally spoke after a minute of mentally debating with myself, " I just realized ,I don't know your names even after you told your life story,so mind telling me your names?". The older one spoke up first as he said," Name's Kenny, my hot headed brother on the other hand is Levi. He's 14 and I'm 16. " I hummed for a moment before I spoke up and introduced myself. '' Name's Shanks and I'm 15 even though I look older than that. I'm an aspiring pirate who just started out and I've got an offer for you. Are you interested?".  I looked at both teens as I introduced myself and a flash of surprise passed through their eyes the moment I mentioned my age and occupation as piracy technically counts as an occupation. A hint of wariness passed through their eyes the moment I mentioned an offer which was a plus in my book as this world did not seem to have many people who were smart no matter their power.  Both brothers had a silent conversation through their eyes and constant changes in expressions. After a minute ,they both seemed to have to come to an agreement to at least hear me out which was another plus in my book,reasonable people are always appreciated in my environment because they are easier to communicate with. The older one spoke after a moment as he asked in a cautionary tone," and what offer would that be?''.  I didn't immediately answer and instead asked one more essential question," Do you know how to fight?. " He seemed confused  but still nodded in confirmation and Levi seemed almost offended that I asked that question evidenced by his slight glare. I ignored his slight glare and then said,'' Good,that's good. This makes things easier and less complicated. My offer for you is simple,join my crew. Although there are no current members except me, I'm sailing to the New World and I'm in need of some manpower to make sure everything goes right. Although I know the basics that are essential for me to survive, I need a crew if I want to thrive and I want you two to be the first two members of it. I chose you both because I also sensed true ambition and potential in you both ,so what do you say,wanna be my first two crew mates?" Both looked at me before they looked at each other and started another silent conversation through their own eyes once again. While they were doing that , they sensed the knocked out pirates waking up one by one. Their hostility was palpable if you had observation haki and could sense emotions to the extent i can. After five minutes of silence, it was broken by Kenny's voice as he asked," what's your goal exactly and where are you currently headed to? Based on how you answer both questions ,we'll determine if we'll join your crew. " I smiled at the question as I then said,'' My goal is to see what this world has to offer unhindered  by anything and I'm currently headed to Boomecks island." They both grinned from ear to ear when they heard my goal as Kenny  then asked ," what exactly is the reason you're traveling to Boomecks island,you know being a pirate and all. After all, it's a government infested island that has marines crawling in it."  I smiled when I heard his question and said, " A good question,that has a simple answer. I'm simply hunting for someone, a famous fellow with a pretty big bounty on his head."  Both of them grinned the moment I mentioned hunting as Levi then asked ," So,when do we leave captain? You've already got me excited for a fight."  I chuckled at his excitement before I took a sip from my glass while standing up from my chair and beginning to walk towards the door while ignoring all the formerly knocked out pirates who were awake and pissed. I stopped when I got to the door and completely let my conqueror's haki run rampant for a second . Multiple * Thuds* resounded through the bar for a couple of seconds before silence returned.  I then said," Don't be late tomorrow and look for the ship with a jolly roger with a skull that has two scars on the left side of its face and two swords that cross to form a X. I'll be waiting." With that said ,I left the bar with an extra spring in my step as I acquired two crew mates on the first island I visited by myself.'As a rapper once said,Life is good'.