Fish n' Chips [Bingo Book]

Axcel had separated from the rest not long after their safe arrival in the lawless district of Sabaody. Adelaide mentioned something about not needing him as a babysitter before running off god knows where. Axcel knew stalking her would only cause more problems so he tasked Jun with the job of keeping her safe.

His trek through area 12 was meant to be an insightful one. Time to himself to think about the direction his crew would take until he got Adelaide to safety and rid himself of that freeloader Maxwell. Instead he found himself seated in a cafe, ordering desert after desert. Normally, Axcel wasn't one to indulge himself in such delights unless it was being paid for by another man's coin. Today was no different as he had opened up a tab in one man's name in particular:

Gungnir D. Sinn

A smirk stretched across Axcel's lips as he fed himself another spoonful of ice cream. There was nothing more satisfying than enjoying free sweets. The pirate had caught wind of the Bounty Hunter's presence in Sabaody in part due to the fact that Gungnir was seeking him out. Axcel didn't know it was him in particular that was being sought out, but when a hunter is looking for a pirate the word gets out.

It was only a matter of time before the empty seat was filled with Gungnir's intimidating mug. He wondered what kind of expression a face like that would make when he realized the tab Axcel had opened in his name.

Axcel smirked and quietly laughed whenever Gungnir began lecturing him about sweets. If there was one thing he liked about the bounty hunter it was the fact he would never be asked to share. Not when it came to these delicious deserts, at least. Gungnir was an acquired taste, as far as companionship goes, but Axcel tolerated his presence better than others.

"I see you prefer rotting from the outside in, bub." Axcel spoke as he looked the man and his facial features, particularly the tattoos and ink, with a look that mirrored Gungnir's own after he saw Axcel's ice cream. "But enough about that. How've you been Gungnir? And why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like what you have to say to me." His smirk faded as his look of scrutiny shifted into one of caution. Gungnir was all smiles and full of laughs, but Axcel remembered that not being the case the last time they parted ways. He could already feel what was coming next.

There was only one reason Gungnir would seek Axcel out and it sure as hell wasn't for brunch.

Axcel nodded as Gungnir spoke of his days being more or less the same since they last met. Despite the way Gungnir spoke, Axcel knew well that the same ol', same ol' was anything but mundane for a bounty hunter. Especially now that he was nearing the end of Paradise and on the cusp of expanding his sights onto pirates of the New World. There was nothing typical about his days.

"I don't know what you're getting at." Axcel shut his eyes and turned his face away, playing dumb. Yet there was no denying the debt owed. Besides, the way Gungnir said 'Ca-Ching' was enough to get Axcel's attention. His sense of greed always getting the better of him. The pirate looked at the parchment out of the corner of one eye, his eyebrow raising at the sight of that bounty. Axcel's eyes practically turned into Berri itself as he stared at the reward with a gleam in his eye.

The name Marlowe had come up here and there since Axcel came onto Sabaody. A man with a bounty that size was certain to have his name passed around these sectors. A notorious Fishman pirate—someone I'Orca could be taking notes from!

"I don't know. . . The Marines have been causing me problems of my own. I kinda like this fella."
Axcel stroked his chin as he recalled his encounter with the rear admiral and her unit. They were a pain in the ass that would no doubt become chronic unless dealt with sooner than later. Maybe Marlowe would cross their paths and do the work for him. Still, that reward was attractive enough to cause Axcel to go against his better judgement.

Turning towards Gungnir, Axcel extended his hand for a shake. "Alright, alright. I like money more than I like the idea of this guy causing problem's for Marines, so I'll give you a hand. I've got other things on my plate so let's not waste any time, yeah?" Axcel said as he began to rise from his seat. Between his crew scattering and the Marine heat on his ass, Axcel could use some extra coin to put into Marine pockets so he can escape the Sabaody blockade after the jailbreak.

Axcel nodded quietly whenever Gungnir spoke of Marlowe's possible whereabouts. Though he had initially thought taking down the troublesome pirate was against his interests, given that he was causing problems for Marines, Axcel began to think differently now. With Marlowe out of the way, the Marine presence in Sabaody would drop. Hopefully anyways.


"Area 17. . ." Axcel mumbled out loud, trying to recall what that sector was known for. The pirate captain had done his homework before their arrival at the island, but there were so many damned areas that it was difficult to recall what made each and every one of them special.

Gungnir's comment about a batch of new bounties was met with an awkward laughter from Axcel.
"No doubt those involved with the prison break earlier are going to be featured in that batch. I doubt most of 'em have ran too far from here, either." Though the two of them had history, there was not a doubt in Axcel's mind that if he had a bounty on his head Gungnir would be coming for it. That's just how things were and both of them had a mutual understanding of that.

"Something tells me cannibalism isn't on your moral compass." Axcel said as his eyes shifted towards Gungnir.
"I know a fishman that insists they don't, but that could be out of self preservation..." Axcel said, remembering how often he claimed that he would cook I'Orca alive if they needed the food. Though a member of his crew and a skilled navigator, his title was none other than 'Emergency Food Supply'.

As they grew closer to area 17, Axcel was slowly realizing they didn't have a clue as to how they were going to take this guy out. "So what's your plan? Something tells me going in guns blazing doesn't quite cut it anymore. Not at bounties this high." Axcel glanced towards Gungnir once again. "I wouldn't count on that fruit of yours leaving you untouchable here."

"What would you be if you relied solely on them? How about someone still able to climb to the top of Bounty Hunting leaderboards?" Axcel said with a laugh. Though he knew Gungnir was capable without his fruit, there was no doubting that those that wielded the powers of a logia were able to stand high in the world. And for those who didn't rely solely on that power, they could stand at the very top if they willed it.

Axcel's train of thought came to a stop whenever Gungnir's hand motioned for him to cease moving. Axcel's eyes followed his companion's direction, putting the pair of fishmen in his sights. Considering this was the area Marlowe was rumored to be in and it was likely that his crew was more fishmen than men, that pair over there was as good of a clue to their mark's whereabouts as they were going to get.

"I'm sure we'll find out where Marlowe is hiding out if we trail these two. . ." Axcel said in a hushed whisper to Gungnir, waiting for his signal to stay on the pair of fishmen's tail. If they stuck to them long enough, they would eventually be led to a massive, seemingly abandoned warehouse. Now it was Axcel who raised a hand to stop Gungnir from moving any further.

"We are not taking the front door. . ."

"No. . . No, absolutely not." Axcel said, the very notion of following those fishmen through the front door causing him to get stressed. His hands massaged his temples as he tried to put together a plan of sorts. His eyes narrowed onto the warehouse's surroundings, looking for another point of entry for the two.

"There." Axcel pointed towards a pile of trash that they could use as a means to reach a nearby ladder, leading them towards the rooftop. The pirate began to move, only to halt and turn towards Gungnir. He pointed two fingers at his own eyes then at Gungnir, gesturing that he was watching him and to not do anything crazy. "First we find out how many of them there are. . ." He said before sneaking off towards the pile of junk.

Axcel made his way up, scaling the warehouse's ladder and poking his head above the rooftop. There was a single fishman standing watch. The pirate gave Gungnir a look that communicated that fact. Then he quietly pulled himself over the rooftop ledge and approached the hammerhead shark of a fishman. Stepping beside the watch-guard, Axcel folded his arms similar to how the guard had done so and finally spoke.

"Nice view, eh?" The guard was alarmed by Axcel's presence, to say the least. The initial surprise being replaced by a look of fury, Axcel anticipated the incoming hook punch and ducked beneath it. Axcel was quick on his feet, side stepping and only narrowly dodging what the fishman continued to throw at him, giving Gungnir more than a few opportunities to take him out.

It felt like Gungnir was taking his sweet time. In reality though it was that this fishman had been much faster than Axcel assumed. Each strike coming his way was just barely evaded, but the shark-like beast before him was a quick learner. The pirate brought his arms up now to defend himself where he couldn't evade, the crushing force behind the fishman's punches causing him to wince slightly.

Suddenly and without warning, the fishman broke through his guard. Shit. Axcel cursed under his breath as he prepared for what was to come as the fishman's hands reeled back. Instead of hitting him, though, the fishman went limp as Gungnir's axe split him open. Axcel quickly reacted, catching the slain fishman so the thud his massive body could have made wouldn't be a cause for alarm to those within the warehouse below.

"Eugh..." Axcel groaned, letting the body down gently as he dusted off the bit of blood that had sprayed onto him. "Through the airducts." Axcel added, pointing towards their designated path into the warehouse for some top-notch spying action. Just as he had suggested, he made for the ductwork, crouching down and crawling inside. Groaning and complaining the entire time. It wasn't until he got a look of what was going on inside that he grew suddenly silent.

Marlowe.

They were able to see their mark through the vent. There he stood, above elevated above what looked to be nearly two-dozen other fishmen and nearly a dozen humans. Gungnir and Axcel were severely outmatched here. They could take a good chunk of them out, but not without being able to secure their target and not without strong risks of one of them falling in the process. Axcel simply gave Gungnir a look that said 'I told you so' in regards to coming through the front door.

Marlowe was giving a speech. He touched on the Hot-Headed pirates causing a jailbreak, one that Axcel had seen in person, and spoke of how the Marines were more vulnerable now than ever. They were planning something.