"You know that just asking random strangers you find just out and about doesn't mean you'll get a good crew, especially when you are a lone man!" His voice raised a bit as he kept talking, but he caught himself and hushed up a bit.

Leroy extended his hand and gave the man a pat on the shoulder. The slight toothy grin not faltering for a second "C'mon, could be fun!"

Kirk flinched a bit on instinct as the man's hand went for his shoulder and was pleasantly surprised to just receive an encouraging pat. Leroy then shuffled past him. Moving to the bag, picking it up and wrapping one arm around it to keep it all together.

Kirk blinked at him a few times as he watched him gather up the stuff he had. The Fishman kept talking though eventually, hoping to try and talk some sense into the fool.

"You're gonna need... way more people than just thirteen crewmates if you wanna be a big shot captain, let alone being the 'King of the Pirates'! Don't you know how expansive some of the top crews out on these seas are? Millions, practically! I don't know how you washed up on this island, but you must've hit your head on some sort of-"

As the Fishman Spoke, To the Surprise of Leroy, but to the Slight horror of Kirk, a Door Opened. Light Flooding into the Alley.

"You two...You'd better not stay out side! Or you'll get us all in trouble!" The woman had a leathery wrinkled face. Looking like she'd been through entire life times before opening the door. This must've been the person that had been taking care of the plant outside

She nervously looked around to the other houses. And at that moment it was revealed that there had been eyes on the two Pirates the entire time. Cautious civilians looking out at the two interlopers.

The woman at the door then turned back to them. A frown etched into her face, eyes warily looking around as she heard the Marines continuing to work

"Quickly! Both of you get inside..." She said as she waved the two in.

Leroy looked over his shoulder to kirk, the smile leaving. It seemed his whole demeanor shifted in that moment. Adjusting the bag, he walked up to the door and walked into the house, slipping off his sandals. Feeling the smooth lacquered dark wooden floor.

Kirk was left in the Alley. He definitely didn't like the light, especially when he had secrets to hide. He was reassured that it wasn't a bad light as he noticed the kind woman, but it still showed himself off too much for comfort. It was also then that the man realized all of the eyes on them, glancing at all of the houses around them with a wary gaze. He nearly shrunk in size from the attention.

Eventually, he followed the smaller man into the house, shoving the keys into his back pocket next to his little collapsed staff before entering. Kirk took off his shoes and tried his best to dry himself off and adjust his outfit so his gills weren't as visible. The last thing he wanted was to be shunned and kicked out. Damn it, why couldn't he have worn something thicker?

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Setting his bag down. Leroy looked around. It seemed decent enough. Clean. But was definitely in rough shape. With not a lot to go around. Simple wok and cooking pot sat over a wood stove fire that went up through a chimney. The rain gently pattering across the windows as the inside was dimly illuminated by candle holders at the best spots around the room.

The house itself seemed to have only two rooms. A bed frame was seen off in the other room.

Leroy was the first to speak, his voice was much more simmered than when he spoke to kirk "Thank You."

As his acknowledgment of thanks to the sweet woman, he bowed deeply to her. "Thank you, my lady, from the deepest part of my heart."

Leroy's attitude wasn't the only one that had changed. A much more respectable air came upon him, though he always had that responsible and sensible feel to him.

Leroy was next to speak "I must ask...What's your name?"

"Oh...Why I'm Dearest..." She said as she shuffled over to water jug and poured two glasses. "Water? You two must be parched!"

The man gave a kind smile as he nodded forward slightly. A gesture of thanks, before in one gulp, downing the entire glass. His throat being quenched.

As much as he loved the smell of the sea. The storm had gotten a load of salt water into his mouth, drying it out.

"Ah~"

Kirk was taking a quick glance at his surroundings when being offered the water, yet again bowing his head and thanking her again. Unlike the pirate, Kirk drank his slowly, letting it fully saturate his palate before taking another sip.

Setting the glass down onto a small coffee table, his smile left. "Dearest..." He once again spoke bluntly as a small frown was furrowed into his brow. "What is going on here?" His kind demeanor stayed, but his brow furrowed. Yet another blunt question as he dived straight into questioning what was happening.

Her brow furrowed. Looking down at the floor, lip pursing inward. "it...It's truthfully dreadful..."

"Shells Town used to be decent! Everyone did their part. We worked together. Lived together. We had markets, fresh food. And even exported out own goods! 'Fresh Shells Shells!' They were called. Catching the oysters in the bay and prepping them with our very own seasoning..." She sighed and closed her eyes as she turned back.

"Then the Marines came...We had no other choice. We had thought the marines would help us! We felt lucky to have our benefactors be the World government themselves!"

dearest's eyes shifted for a moment, Looking off and away from the two. "And was good. All we had to do was give a cut to them, we were even told that a member of a celestial dragon family enjoyed our Oysters! But then...Iron Boot Came..."

Tears began to well in her eyes. "It happened almost over night. Suddenly, The small bastion that was at the coast was moved to the top of the Where market was. People were thrown to the streets...those that resisted were locked away. Emplacements of spot lights were bolted into houses! Entire blocks turned into Barracks and Store houses for...Munitions!"

Tears streamed. "Poor...Evert...They drag him out and..." She paused for a moment. But Leroy said nothing. Did nothing.

"Then they went door to door....Demanded shares and their portions. More than the Marines before ever had! They stripped us blind! He uses it to fund his own weapons, fund more operations to take over more of the islands...he hopes to one day move up the ranks and become an Admiral once he's done here!"

Wiping the tears she finished speaking. "Then there's the ships. Passersby being forced into Interment, forced to be locked up as they're "'Processed'...But I've never seen anyone new in town...Except for you two..."