"You're a nun from the Loguetown convent?"
Smoker eyed the girl's habit, cigar clenched between his teeth, uncertain.
"Yes." Laurentina replied simply.
Smoker nodded, letting a rare smile crack his stern face. "I see. Make sure you visit when you can — Father Andorn and Sister Hiel ask about you all the time."
Beneath his rough exterior Smoker cared deeply for innocent civilians and subordinates. Father Andorn and Sister Hiel were known for their kindness — always helping the poor — and Smoker respected them a great deal.
Laurentina pictured the two immediately: a thoughtful, taciturn priest who always seemed to be thinking, and an older nun — gentle, devout, strict with the rules. They had watched over her a lot since her rebirth.
She nodded. Just then a server brought the menu. As the senior officer, Aokiji ordered generously.
The restaurant owner was clearly an old acquaintance of Kuzan's. Seaing the admiral place a big order, he beamed and even slipped a few bottles of sherry into the bill — Teo-brand sherry, a favorite among the old guard at Marineford.
"Ara ara — what elegant manners, little Tīna." Kuzan praised with a lazy smile as Laurentina ate like a proper lady — small neat bites, poised and composed. It seemed elegance was built into her bones.
Tashigi glanced over.
"大 Tīna is elegant too, haha." Kuzan scratched his head and quickly focused back on the food to avoid further awkwardness.
Tashigi didn't look amused. The girl's name — Tashigi and Laurentina — could easily be mixed up. She bent her attention to the girl's hands and noticed calluses at her palm and thumb.
A hardworking child, indeed.
She smiled and picked up her fork. Under a golden crust, tender chicken was cut into neat squares and drizzled with a glossy crimson sauce. The scent unfolded on the tongue — rich and comforting.
When thirst hit, they dropped two huge fruit-ice cubes into a huge carafe of a signature cocktail — the chill sweetness hit like lightning.
Delicious.
"Laurentina, that's not how a real fighter eats. Watch me."
Smoker's appetite flared; Marineford's cuisine collected the best flavors from all seas. He slammed a huge goblet of beer down and gnawed into a massive chunk of roast as if he'd been starving.
Kuzan settled into his own meal, comparing Smoker's hearty style to Garp's apocalyptic dining habits and deciding he'd rather not look like that.
This was just a casual meal, not a sermon. Kuzan wanted to leave a good impression for now.
"Tashigi's displeased, Smoker. Don't set a bad example for a lady." Tashigi gave him a sharp boot to the back as she scolded him.
Thud! Smoker sailed into the table, embarrassingly discovering what it was like to be hurled through a wall eight years early.
"Ow! You bastard." Smoker erupted, transforming his arm into a smoky fist. "White Pistol!"
Stuffed and satisfied, Kuzan picked up his wallet to pay. Since little Laurentina hadn't eaten like a veteran warrior, and the others hadn't overindulged either, the bill was surprisingly light. If Garp had been there, the food orders would've stacked into a mountain.
Kuzan shrugged on his cloak. Smoker and Tashigi lit cigarettes and swaggered out. Laurentina, thoughtful, popped into the convenience store next door, bought a box of Pocky, and strolled around nibbling on them like a little boss.
Instantly she felt like a big shot.
"Ara ara — dusk's coming. Do you have someplace to stay tonight, little Laurentina?" Kuzan asked outside the barbecue place. The setting sun painted Justice Avenue gold; the evening breeze fluttered her habit and hair in a way that made even the cool-headed Tashigi's heart skip.
Tashigi couldn't help herself — she reached out and smoothed Laurentina's hair. It was as soft as clouds from Sky Island and felt wonderful under her red gloves.
Laurentina shrugged and thought for a moment, then accepted Tashigi's offer. The advantages of keeping close to an intelligent, connected Marine officer were obvious.
"All right, Sister Tashigi." The girl nodded obediently.
"I'll be glad to have you. My bed's big enough — come stay. Train, then rest. No problem." Tashigi brightened and ruffled her own head as she spoke.
With Laurentina's lodging sorted, the group split up in the street. The two women walked off together; Tashigi's usually reserved mask faded into warmth. She dragged Laurentina toward the night market, determined to spoil the girl for a while.
Though Laurentina had spare clothes, they were all nun's habits — Tashigi thought that simply wasn't fair for such a pretty girl.
So they went on a spree: wide-brim hats, jackets, baseball shirts, jeans, footless tights, long gloves, high-waisted shorts, lace chokers, ribbon bows, snow-colored tulle skirts… Tashigi's nurturing instincts were in full blaze. By the time she finished, Laurentina looked like she'd stepped out of a fairytale — and Tashigi was satisfied.
The next morning Laurentina woke slowly in a big, soft bed. Pots and pans clanged in the kitchen. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, pulled back a fragrant blanket, slid into fuzzy panda slippers, and shuffled into the kitchen bleary-eyed.
The kitchen was a disaster zone: raw eggs splattered the pan, fried eggs popped like little bombs, grease smeared the counters, and the toast smoked in eccentric shapes. It looked like a band of starving thieves had raided the place.
Seaing Laurentina awake, Tashigi's cheeks flushed a faint rose. She calmly slipped on her shades and led the girl out for breakfast.
Her cooking skills? Let's not talk about it.
After breakfast Laurentina was taken to the recruitment desk. It was peak season — the line for new recruits snaked far and wide.
There were two lanes: the right-hand line for officers and experienced Marines taking advanced placement; the left was the general newcomer queue hosting hopefuls from every sea.
The presence of high-ranking officers — and especially the dazzling Tashigi at their side — quickly caused a stir. When the crowd glimpsed Laurentina, their hearts skipped and a flurry of whispers followed.
"Elegant… so elegant! Is that… Boa Hancock?"
"Idiot, this is the recruitment line, and Hancock doesn't have white hair!"
"Ah! Sorry, Hancock! I'll be a traitor then!"
A small cluster of onlookers gossiped and fawned. The commotion drew more curious eyes — and earned Laurentina a heap of fans.
"Tashigi is pleased." The young colonel preened — praise Laurentina and everyone feels warm and cooperative.
After the initial oohs and ahhs, people started politely offering their places in line. The marines in charge of crowd control couldn't really stop volunteers. After all, it was a voluntary act — and the girl was so pretty.
Before long, Laurentina found herself suddenly moved to the front of the queue.
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