Verne Liora
Jul 21, 2018 15:09:42 GMT -5
Post by Verne on Jul 21, 2018 15:09:42 GMT -5
"Do onto others"
Full Name: Verne Liora
Alias/Nickname: -
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 42 Years
Faction: Pirates
Appearance: If Verne has anything, it's looks. Early bloom, naturally fit, curves, tall, long hair. It is quite literally the amalgamation of features many people would consider desirable. The slightly paled skin tone encompassing all those features creates a fine aura of class and regality, although wrongly so. With a tip to toe height of somewhat over two meters, this woman can be an imposing view, if she wants to. Freeform haircut and piercing glares reinforce the somewhat distant and untouchable feel. But this also works in the other direction of twisting people around her fingers with long legs and enticing posture displaying the goods well, if necessary.
The dresscode does the rest and adds what little is left for the somewhat misleading impression. Flowing garb like robes and traditionally-styled kimono-like for the top layer on a foundation of curve-accenting, form-fitting halters, bodices and the likes, usually way too provocative an raunchy for anyone less confident to wear casually and publicly. Footwear usually consist of heeled sandals that produce distinct audible clicking when stepping with a certain amount of purpose or a comparable equivalent shoe to match the style of whatever else is being worn. The look is completed with various bits, bobs and bangles per gusto. Collars, chokers, wristlets, rings and other accoutrements are picked out to compliment the main pieces of attire. The most out of place part about it all being a lensed eyepatch she’s taken off an unfortunate sod that died under certain circumstances, using it more so to hide two facial moles near her right eye then covering said eye for any medical purposes. If anything, it’s a fancy monocle at best.
Hair Color: Dark with strong purple sheen
Eye Color: Amber
Height: 9.1
Weight: 197
Personality: The woman's mind breeds mostly and generally contempt for people as a whole. If anything, they are tools to be used for a purpose at best but usually hold even less woth. This has to do with a troubled past that held almost no love. Verne cares mostly for herself and her own interests, as base as they end up being sometimes. Over the course of her years, she has killed a fair amount of people out of various situations with no remorse at all, since no one showed her remorse in any hard situation either. She enjoys simple things in life, like a dry and warm place to stay, regular meals or a good night’s sleep. As such, the motivations for most of her actions are plain. Either get what she currently needs, take something she wants regardless of actual need, or get money to buy anything she desires or requires. As such, Verne is very bribable and takes whatever side reaps her the best immediate benefits. She is not one for much complicated long term planning and rather figures out what to do as she chases after the big idea, but on occasion, the greater meaning or delayed rewards of decisions are not lost on her.
For the most part, even while doing that, she enjoys reveling in the misfortune of others as well as actively leading them into it. Mostly because it feels vindicating to her, not to be the bottom of the ladder for once or any longer. Similarly does she not have qualms about intentionally harming people or even torturing them for fun if the opportunity arises. As it is, in her world, the ultimate excitement is to have full control over another person, their emotions and even their fate. Though that does not mean Verne goes around assaulting and murdering people constantly and at random, it's more often than not the outcome of her being provoked to lash out first or using these tactics as leverage, if it’s not directly related to taking what she wants and going where she wants.
Thanks to all this, she’s finally grown comfortable with leading her own way and letting nobody interfere, no matter the cost or reason. She’s quick to assume charge of anyone not noticeably willing to proverbially fight her for dominance, as she understands the concept that people at large are like a herd of animals. They need leadership to work efficiently and make for excellent tools to be used when muscle or legwork is required that one can’t be bothered to dirty themselves with. Mostly as she’s stood on the receiving end of this treatment for a good portion of her life. Though a tough and goal-oriented lead that tolerates very little mistake, she does pay attention to positive reinforcement on good behavior and a job done as instructed, since no lord can rule by fear and might alone, as they say.
What's not even known to herself really well, is a craving for acceptance and companionship. Sharing dinner with someone, not being judged or worse for her past, relying on them, being relied upon. She could not tell she wants this in life if asked nor can really explain the reasoning for her actions if it were to happen, but the very latent desire is there, subtly pushing her to grasp for any kindness and caring actually coming her way.
Which stands in a strong contrast to the much more dominant, visible and active side of the woman’s personality. Having lived on the street for the majority of life past childhood, all she really knows is being treated like the worst of anything. Being assaulted for sitting at the side of the road begging, abusive and aggressive ‘customers’, being used as someone else’s property. By some extension, her desire to decouple from this past becomes evident as she reflects in the attention given to covering for the one thing she can be identified across all periods of her life, the double mole on that right cheek of hers.
More contempt then for other people in general, does she only feel for all the government's dogs, namely Marines and the likes, who just stand by and watch lives like hers happen and unfold. Both literally and figuratively.
Likes: Definitely enjoys having basically everything going her way. Lording over and using other people, taking things she wants, being respected, or rather feared. It’s just a whole fantastic rush of power that Verne cannot get near enough of now that she’s gotten the taste of it after turning the script on her life.
Outside of abstract concepts of dominance and fulfillment, it’s simple things. A stiff brew, a kingsworthy meal, filled coin purses, extraordinary dresses, expensive tobacco, gambling. Name a luxury, chances are high she indulges.it or desires to do so.
As for people types and personalities she’s rather amenable to, those are mostly the ones that either follow orders well and can figure out what pleases her without actually having to be told, but also anyone who simply pays some respect, follows certain etiquette and doesn’t pose a challenge in regards to leadership.
Dislikes: Being told what to do. Plain and simple. Her times of being a slave, tool and other things are over. If someone makes a valid point, proposes a plan or solution to a problem, she’ll concede if need be, but won’t be happy about it. Also failures. She’s making her own path in life finally, and setbacks of any sort are huge issues for her worldview. It has to be her way or no way.
Lastly, the corrupted ruling structure of the world, just as much as the opinionated views of the people trying to change it, that allow for lives like her own to happen and even generate profit.off them. While very unable to admit it, if she softened up a little, or a lot actually probably, she would want to save other people from going through similar events as she did. So the world’s inequalities irritate Verne on a more subtle and subconscious level then anything people do
Moral Alignment: Neutral Evil
She’s mostly interested in things that play along her own desires or benefit her directly in some way. Almost any measures are deemed applicable towards those ends.
History: As far as major events goes, her past picks up somewhat early. While the first few years were mostly uneventful outside of being baby in a poor family, dramatic turns started appearing almost constantly once Verne reached school age. First, it was more or less the expected bullying she received for standing a good head taller than classmates at the time. she lived with it just barely, but it lead to her being very seclusive. Having no friends and a tough situation at home, as there was not enough money on most days to feed three people and pay for schooling, utensils and everything, overall dampened her enjoyment and interest in life. While everyone coped for the first years, nature and fate soon had other plans.
Kids have to grow up eventually, which only worsened the situation she was in. Being lanky and made fun of was one thing. It had been going on for a while, she wasn't happy, but pulled through it practically every day. But slowly, over one of those summers, the natural process of maturing decided to visit early. So after the vacation, the girl involuntarily brought new reasons to be bullied to school, two of them to be specific. Being, in relation, decently developed at the young age of 13 years set her further apart from the crowd, presented new opportunities to be called names and pestered over. As most girl that age are, she hated every second of it, to the point where she ended up skipping school entirely. In turn, the girl also grew more sheltered and distanced at home, which eventually turned into foul-mouthed and even violent outbursts when her parents tried to talk to Verne about skipping school, or her problems for that matter.
Being understandably furious once they found out that she was in fact skipping school days and went loitering instead, her parents eventually started to argue. They were putting up what little money they had, even pinching money off their meals in tight times to provide their daughter with education, investing in the future, only for her to squander and not care. Just because of problems that could probably have been resolved when they were just beginning. And more recently also violently rebelling against what little parenting they tried to provide, what little sense they tried to instill. Maybe it was for the better of both parties to kick her out to be picked up by some children's home or orphanage. While they considered the option for a while, they could never truly make up their minds to do it.
Not that they needed to. Verne coming home way late one night stumbled across them debating and talking about it, hearing her parents through the door. And that was all she needed. In her mind, the switch flipped and it was set that they wanted to get rid of her for sure. Well if they wanted it so badly, there would be no trouble if she just ran away. Mostly to not grant them the victory, in her eyes at least, of actively pawning their daughter off and being outsmarted by her instead. With literally nothing but the clothes on her body and a minimal about of random junk in her pocket, she turned and bolted from the small house, down the street and out of town.
After a night of stumbling through hills, grasslands and forest, she eventually reached the next town over. Verne was definitely still on the same island though, so this would not do at all. If she wanted to run away for good, they better had no chance to find her again. So, even as she was fairly exhausted already, she continued. Eventually finding the port, she ended up sneaking onto a ship as it was loaded with provisions and goods apparently. There was far worse things in the world then being stuck between boxes of fruit and vegetables for a few days, she figured. And then, worse came.after being discovered, she found herself tied to a post in one of the cargo rooms of the trader's ship. They weren't going to be so cruel and throw her overboard to die, such are the perks of being somewhat attractive. While they were not actually doing anything, for the rest of the way to the next island, the young woman had to live with Sailors coming below deck just to stare disgustingly and say inappropriate things while probably thinking even worse ones. Though this was more of a side-effect of the punishment that actually was to stay tied up and be thrown out at the next stop for the local Marines to deal with. Mostly because it seemed the more sensible option then risking good business over murder on one's ship.
Although, once turned in, there was not much that the Marines could do besides custody as a temporary punishment, as the girl kept insisting she had no relatives nor place to stay, being homeless. Released after about a week, this was the story how the teenager came to live on her own. Even if only on the streets. The next weeks consisted of raiding trash cans, stealing from the market and occasionally finding money. That and a lot of loitering on the edge of town, seeking shelter under what was left of an abandoned building, three walls and half a roof of one room. Weeks came and went, turned into months, months bunched up into years. Years of being considered a worthless troublemaker and put into irregular custody for minor felonies, mostly.
And as the homeless Verne matured, somehow thing took a turn for the worse, again. She probably suppressed it from her conscious thinking, but it had probably started with her lurking around, begging for money when teens and men jokingly inquired if their charitable contribution bought them any favors of quick feels. Which eventually turned from people making deplorable offers in mockery to her taking them up on it. A grope here, a slap on the behind there, it slowly escalated. Soon enough, she was kind-of known as the homeless girl who takes up anyone for the right Beli.
Even though she was engaging in these activities as well, she considered those men swine at best. Which helped the fact that there would occasionally be the one customer who thinks he can get away without paying up if they just slap the woman hard enough in the face. Which after the first few times she dealt with with no remorse. Stabbing them or occasionally even slicing their necks with a shard of glass she had been keeping as a weapon, when they clumsily stumbled away, usually somewhat drunk. That she'd rob the unconscious or dead men was only customary, they had to pay after all.
The biggest and most impactful case of more or less this scenario came at around 23 years of age for her. There being a small Marine force on the island apparently did not discourage jubilating pirates to land ashore and fall into town like locusts every now and then. One night, probably around 300 or so men swarmed pretty much every drinking hole one and whore house they could find. This eventually included her as well. She tried to get away at least twice, but soon realized that practically euphoric, drunk sailors were everywhere. Before she could even think of demanding to get paid for the services she had performed on four of the men, one of them clubbed her in the back of the head as the last words she heard were along the lines of "This one is fine, the Captain’ll be into it.". Next time the young woman regained consciousness, she found herself handcuffed to a bedpost, surrounded by wooden walls in a lavishly decorated room lit by multiple lamps.
Formally greeted by a man who had just entered through the door on the far side of the room who called himself the captain of the ship, she could put together that she was likely captured and brought on board for obvious reasons. Unsurprisingly, she had to spend the rest of the night with the guy, but that at least also included sharing the dinner Table with him and listening to his exploits, including why the entire Crew was celebrating, before other things happened. He made it very clear she could cooperate or be killed. So she cooperated. Luckily enough, after the night was spent, the bearded captain was out cold. Spent and drunk, he laid besides the bed, snoring. Cunning as she was, the girl had managed to have him undo the cuffs, opening her opportunity to flee the scene. Not without payment, though. As the captain was stark naked, there was nothing worthwhile to rob from his person and most of the room looked elegant, but hard to steal logistically and quickly make into money realistically.
Though through his bragging, she had come to know that the chest on the faux mantelpiece in the room contained his latest treasure. A Devil's Fruit. Verne had heard of those before. A little bit anyway. People paid outrageous prices for them, for some reason. Putting one and one together, she snatched to box and darted out the door. It seemed as it it were too early for any of the celebrating pirates to be back to the ship or even conscious yet, as she escaped down the ramp and into the city's alleys easily. Having stolen before, the woman did not exactly feel terrible or chased yet. But as she hit one of her edge of town hideouts some time later to wait out the Pirates, she heard some of them loudly yelling and arguing. The theft had been noticed and now they were looking for her. Going from hiding spot to hiding spot, it became increasingly difficult to stay hidden, not to mention lugging the somewhat unhandy box around. At one point, she ran into a so called customer, who’d apparently been looking for her. Him noticing her approaching and shouting for her attention was the last thing she needed. The guy was obviously filled to the brim with cheap drink and wouldn’t let himself be ignored quite so easily. So Verne made the snap decision of silencing him quickly, clobbering him in the head with the treasure box she carried as he tried to reach for her shoulder. It only took one time for him to keel over like a felled tree, but she connected a handful more strikes just to be sure.
After this close call, she decided it was probably smarter to dispose of the evidence and get away with the satisfaction of having stolen their prized treasure as well as not being lynched. So, in a moment of borderline madness, she pried off the chest's lid and looked at the unexpectedly large, strawberry-like fruit covered in a bubbly pattern. For a moment, she questioned, if she could even manage to eat the whole thing, but before she could even change her mind, she'd already found herself taking a large bite. As well as immediately regretting it. If she had not been so occupied with trying not to throw up what little she had eaten the last day, she would've wondered why people even paid for these things, let alone exorbitant amounts supposedly. But all focus was for naught, the outrageously putrid taste wouldn't go away and kept overpowering her senses and mind to the point where the rest of the large fruit slipped out of her hand onto the floor as she almost passed out for the second time in the past 24 hours.
But, pumped up on adrenaline still, she managed to keep her lunch contained as well as her consciousness intact. It took some effort to get moving again, but soon enough, she’d managed to cut into the forest. Having lived on the Island for a good while, she knew roughly where to head to find another town. And being already somewhat accustomed with the dark underbellies of society, it didn’t took her much effort to find someone willing to help her hide and get off the island. It was presented as a ‘Work for me and your payment is my service for you’ kinda deal, thanks to her being an attractive young woman after all, but she realized only as multiple goons forced cuffs onto her, that she’d been fooled. And, compared to the dumb drunkards she had dealt with before, this organization was well prepared. There was no visible way for her to snake out of the situation and so she landed in a slave trade. As the trade goods. At least she did get off the island and out of the furious pirate’s reach rather quickly that way. After being locked up under deck of a ship for close to a month, she found herself sold to a pleasure establishment. Still with no way to rebel without being killed for disobedience, she’d found herself in prostitution for the second time in her life. Except this time it was not for her own profit and on someone else’s terms. As time without a plausible way out passed, her initial resistance grew weaker, submitting to the fate she’d been dealt.
Eventually, the years passed and everything seemed to have settled into a routine. But then things shook up when she was taken by the establishment’s owner for a special meeting. Which was unusual, as he hadn’t been the type to use his own girls. And as it turned out, he wasn’t about to change that. The special meeting, as he’d described it turned out to be a loss cut. Verne had grown mature over the years and apparently did not mesh with his customers or other ‘employees’ too well anymore. Long story short, Verne used the opportunity of not being held down by a goon and having a fair while ago learned more about Ability users and Fruits, which lead her to discover the latent ability she’d been carrying for a few years .The conversation turned into more of a kerfuffle, at the end of which she’d taken some cuts and bruises despite best efforts, but also strangled the man who’d been the bane of her existence in recent memory with the chain of her handcuffs. This all seemed a bit reminiscent of the first major shift in her life since running away from home. But she decided, that this time things would be different. Considering how well known she and some colleagues probably were among locals and frequent guests like Merchants, she found it best to at least try and cover her identity. To this end she pilfered the lifeless body to her feet for all the cash he carried andalso an ornate eyepatch. That’d at least make her less recognizable thanks to some moles.
Escaping the scene through a window, the jump from a second story window being the least of her worries, she once again took off before her deed got noticed. But this time, Verne made up her mind to accept nothing but her own terms, come what may. With the stolen loot it would at least be possible to get off the island through some less shady channels, marking the start of the part in her life where she would take what she wanted and be the one to lord over others.
Face Claim: Kikou Shoujo Wa Kizutsukanai - Karyuusei Shouko
RP Sample: -
Alias/Nickname: -
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 42 Years
Faction: Pirates
Appearance: If Verne has anything, it's looks. Early bloom, naturally fit, curves, tall, long hair. It is quite literally the amalgamation of features many people would consider desirable. The slightly paled skin tone encompassing all those features creates a fine aura of class and regality, although wrongly so. With a tip to toe height of somewhat over two meters, this woman can be an imposing view, if she wants to. Freeform haircut and piercing glares reinforce the somewhat distant and untouchable feel. But this also works in the other direction of twisting people around her fingers with long legs and enticing posture displaying the goods well, if necessary.
The dresscode does the rest and adds what little is left for the somewhat misleading impression. Flowing garb like robes and traditionally-styled kimono-like for the top layer on a foundation of curve-accenting, form-fitting halters, bodices and the likes, usually way too provocative an raunchy for anyone less confident to wear casually and publicly. Footwear usually consist of heeled sandals that produce distinct audible clicking when stepping with a certain amount of purpose or a comparable equivalent shoe to match the style of whatever else is being worn. The look is completed with various bits, bobs and bangles per gusto. Collars, chokers, wristlets, rings and other accoutrements are picked out to compliment the main pieces of attire. The most out of place part about it all being a lensed eyepatch she’s taken off an unfortunate sod that died under certain circumstances, using it more so to hide two facial moles near her right eye then covering said eye for any medical purposes. If anything, it’s a fancy monocle at best.
Hair Color: Dark with strong purple sheen
Eye Color: Amber
Height: 9.1
Weight: 197
Personality: The woman's mind breeds mostly and generally contempt for people as a whole. If anything, they are tools to be used for a purpose at best but usually hold even less woth. This has to do with a troubled past that held almost no love. Verne cares mostly for herself and her own interests, as base as they end up being sometimes. Over the course of her years, she has killed a fair amount of people out of various situations with no remorse at all, since no one showed her remorse in any hard situation either. She enjoys simple things in life, like a dry and warm place to stay, regular meals or a good night’s sleep. As such, the motivations for most of her actions are plain. Either get what she currently needs, take something she wants regardless of actual need, or get money to buy anything she desires or requires. As such, Verne is very bribable and takes whatever side reaps her the best immediate benefits. She is not one for much complicated long term planning and rather figures out what to do as she chases after the big idea, but on occasion, the greater meaning or delayed rewards of decisions are not lost on her.
For the most part, even while doing that, she enjoys reveling in the misfortune of others as well as actively leading them into it. Mostly because it feels vindicating to her, not to be the bottom of the ladder for once or any longer. Similarly does she not have qualms about intentionally harming people or even torturing them for fun if the opportunity arises. As it is, in her world, the ultimate excitement is to have full control over another person, their emotions and even their fate. Though that does not mean Verne goes around assaulting and murdering people constantly and at random, it's more often than not the outcome of her being provoked to lash out first or using these tactics as leverage, if it’s not directly related to taking what she wants and going where she wants.
Thanks to all this, she’s finally grown comfortable with leading her own way and letting nobody interfere, no matter the cost or reason. She’s quick to assume charge of anyone not noticeably willing to proverbially fight her for dominance, as she understands the concept that people at large are like a herd of animals. They need leadership to work efficiently and make for excellent tools to be used when muscle or legwork is required that one can’t be bothered to dirty themselves with. Mostly as she’s stood on the receiving end of this treatment for a good portion of her life. Though a tough and goal-oriented lead that tolerates very little mistake, she does pay attention to positive reinforcement on good behavior and a job done as instructed, since no lord can rule by fear and might alone, as they say.
What's not even known to herself really well, is a craving for acceptance and companionship. Sharing dinner with someone, not being judged or worse for her past, relying on them, being relied upon. She could not tell she wants this in life if asked nor can really explain the reasoning for her actions if it were to happen, but the very latent desire is there, subtly pushing her to grasp for any kindness and caring actually coming her way.
Which stands in a strong contrast to the much more dominant, visible and active side of the woman’s personality. Having lived on the street for the majority of life past childhood, all she really knows is being treated like the worst of anything. Being assaulted for sitting at the side of the road begging, abusive and aggressive ‘customers’, being used as someone else’s property. By some extension, her desire to decouple from this past becomes evident as she reflects in the attention given to covering for the one thing she can be identified across all periods of her life, the double mole on that right cheek of hers.
More contempt then for other people in general, does she only feel for all the government's dogs, namely Marines and the likes, who just stand by and watch lives like hers happen and unfold. Both literally and figuratively.
Likes: Definitely enjoys having basically everything going her way. Lording over and using other people, taking things she wants, being respected, or rather feared. It’s just a whole fantastic rush of power that Verne cannot get near enough of now that she’s gotten the taste of it after turning the script on her life.
Outside of abstract concepts of dominance and fulfillment, it’s simple things. A stiff brew, a kingsworthy meal, filled coin purses, extraordinary dresses, expensive tobacco, gambling. Name a luxury, chances are high she indulges.it or desires to do so.
As for people types and personalities she’s rather amenable to, those are mostly the ones that either follow orders well and can figure out what pleases her without actually having to be told, but also anyone who simply pays some respect, follows certain etiquette and doesn’t pose a challenge in regards to leadership.
Dislikes: Being told what to do. Plain and simple. Her times of being a slave, tool and other things are over. If someone makes a valid point, proposes a plan or solution to a problem, she’ll concede if need be, but won’t be happy about it. Also failures. She’s making her own path in life finally, and setbacks of any sort are huge issues for her worldview. It has to be her way or no way.
Lastly, the corrupted ruling structure of the world, just as much as the opinionated views of the people trying to change it, that allow for lives like her own to happen and even generate profit.off them. While very unable to admit it, if she softened up a little, or a lot actually probably, she would want to save other people from going through similar events as she did. So the world’s inequalities irritate Verne on a more subtle and subconscious level then anything people do
Moral Alignment: Neutral Evil
She’s mostly interested in things that play along her own desires or benefit her directly in some way. Almost any measures are deemed applicable towards those ends.
History: As far as major events goes, her past picks up somewhat early. While the first few years were mostly uneventful outside of being baby in a poor family, dramatic turns started appearing almost constantly once Verne reached school age. First, it was more or less the expected bullying she received for standing a good head taller than classmates at the time. she lived with it just barely, but it lead to her being very seclusive. Having no friends and a tough situation at home, as there was not enough money on most days to feed three people and pay for schooling, utensils and everything, overall dampened her enjoyment and interest in life. While everyone coped for the first years, nature and fate soon had other plans.
Kids have to grow up eventually, which only worsened the situation she was in. Being lanky and made fun of was one thing. It had been going on for a while, she wasn't happy, but pulled through it practically every day. But slowly, over one of those summers, the natural process of maturing decided to visit early. So after the vacation, the girl involuntarily brought new reasons to be bullied to school, two of them to be specific. Being, in relation, decently developed at the young age of 13 years set her further apart from the crowd, presented new opportunities to be called names and pestered over. As most girl that age are, she hated every second of it, to the point where she ended up skipping school entirely. In turn, the girl also grew more sheltered and distanced at home, which eventually turned into foul-mouthed and even violent outbursts when her parents tried to talk to Verne about skipping school, or her problems for that matter.
Being understandably furious once they found out that she was in fact skipping school days and went loitering instead, her parents eventually started to argue. They were putting up what little money they had, even pinching money off their meals in tight times to provide their daughter with education, investing in the future, only for her to squander and not care. Just because of problems that could probably have been resolved when they were just beginning. And more recently also violently rebelling against what little parenting they tried to provide, what little sense they tried to instill. Maybe it was for the better of both parties to kick her out to be picked up by some children's home or orphanage. While they considered the option for a while, they could never truly make up their minds to do it.
Not that they needed to. Verne coming home way late one night stumbled across them debating and talking about it, hearing her parents through the door. And that was all she needed. In her mind, the switch flipped and it was set that they wanted to get rid of her for sure. Well if they wanted it so badly, there would be no trouble if she just ran away. Mostly to not grant them the victory, in her eyes at least, of actively pawning their daughter off and being outsmarted by her instead. With literally nothing but the clothes on her body and a minimal about of random junk in her pocket, she turned and bolted from the small house, down the street and out of town.
After a night of stumbling through hills, grasslands and forest, she eventually reached the next town over. Verne was definitely still on the same island though, so this would not do at all. If she wanted to run away for good, they better had no chance to find her again. So, even as she was fairly exhausted already, she continued. Eventually finding the port, she ended up sneaking onto a ship as it was loaded with provisions and goods apparently. There was far worse things in the world then being stuck between boxes of fruit and vegetables for a few days, she figured. And then, worse came.after being discovered, she found herself tied to a post in one of the cargo rooms of the trader's ship. They weren't going to be so cruel and throw her overboard to die, such are the perks of being somewhat attractive. While they were not actually doing anything, for the rest of the way to the next island, the young woman had to live with Sailors coming below deck just to stare disgustingly and say inappropriate things while probably thinking even worse ones. Though this was more of a side-effect of the punishment that actually was to stay tied up and be thrown out at the next stop for the local Marines to deal with. Mostly because it seemed the more sensible option then risking good business over murder on one's ship.
Although, once turned in, there was not much that the Marines could do besides custody as a temporary punishment, as the girl kept insisting she had no relatives nor place to stay, being homeless. Released after about a week, this was the story how the teenager came to live on her own. Even if only on the streets. The next weeks consisted of raiding trash cans, stealing from the market and occasionally finding money. That and a lot of loitering on the edge of town, seeking shelter under what was left of an abandoned building, three walls and half a roof of one room. Weeks came and went, turned into months, months bunched up into years. Years of being considered a worthless troublemaker and put into irregular custody for minor felonies, mostly.
And as the homeless Verne matured, somehow thing took a turn for the worse, again. She probably suppressed it from her conscious thinking, but it had probably started with her lurking around, begging for money when teens and men jokingly inquired if their charitable contribution bought them any favors of quick feels. Which eventually turned from people making deplorable offers in mockery to her taking them up on it. A grope here, a slap on the behind there, it slowly escalated. Soon enough, she was kind-of known as the homeless girl who takes up anyone for the right Beli.
Even though she was engaging in these activities as well, she considered those men swine at best. Which helped the fact that there would occasionally be the one customer who thinks he can get away without paying up if they just slap the woman hard enough in the face. Which after the first few times she dealt with with no remorse. Stabbing them or occasionally even slicing their necks with a shard of glass she had been keeping as a weapon, when they clumsily stumbled away, usually somewhat drunk. That she'd rob the unconscious or dead men was only customary, they had to pay after all.
The biggest and most impactful case of more or less this scenario came at around 23 years of age for her. There being a small Marine force on the island apparently did not discourage jubilating pirates to land ashore and fall into town like locusts every now and then. One night, probably around 300 or so men swarmed pretty much every drinking hole one and whore house they could find. This eventually included her as well. She tried to get away at least twice, but soon realized that practically euphoric, drunk sailors were everywhere. Before she could even think of demanding to get paid for the services she had performed on four of the men, one of them clubbed her in the back of the head as the last words she heard were along the lines of "This one is fine, the Captain’ll be into it.". Next time the young woman regained consciousness, she found herself handcuffed to a bedpost, surrounded by wooden walls in a lavishly decorated room lit by multiple lamps.
Formally greeted by a man who had just entered through the door on the far side of the room who called himself the captain of the ship, she could put together that she was likely captured and brought on board for obvious reasons. Unsurprisingly, she had to spend the rest of the night with the guy, but that at least also included sharing the dinner Table with him and listening to his exploits, including why the entire Crew was celebrating, before other things happened. He made it very clear she could cooperate or be killed. So she cooperated. Luckily enough, after the night was spent, the bearded captain was out cold. Spent and drunk, he laid besides the bed, snoring. Cunning as she was, the girl had managed to have him undo the cuffs, opening her opportunity to flee the scene. Not without payment, though. As the captain was stark naked, there was nothing worthwhile to rob from his person and most of the room looked elegant, but hard to steal logistically and quickly make into money realistically.
Though through his bragging, she had come to know that the chest on the faux mantelpiece in the room contained his latest treasure. A Devil's Fruit. Verne had heard of those before. A little bit anyway. People paid outrageous prices for them, for some reason. Putting one and one together, she snatched to box and darted out the door. It seemed as it it were too early for any of the celebrating pirates to be back to the ship or even conscious yet, as she escaped down the ramp and into the city's alleys easily. Having stolen before, the woman did not exactly feel terrible or chased yet. But as she hit one of her edge of town hideouts some time later to wait out the Pirates, she heard some of them loudly yelling and arguing. The theft had been noticed and now they were looking for her. Going from hiding spot to hiding spot, it became increasingly difficult to stay hidden, not to mention lugging the somewhat unhandy box around. At one point, she ran into a so called customer, who’d apparently been looking for her. Him noticing her approaching and shouting for her attention was the last thing she needed. The guy was obviously filled to the brim with cheap drink and wouldn’t let himself be ignored quite so easily. So Verne made the snap decision of silencing him quickly, clobbering him in the head with the treasure box she carried as he tried to reach for her shoulder. It only took one time for him to keel over like a felled tree, but she connected a handful more strikes just to be sure.
After this close call, she decided it was probably smarter to dispose of the evidence and get away with the satisfaction of having stolen their prized treasure as well as not being lynched. So, in a moment of borderline madness, she pried off the chest's lid and looked at the unexpectedly large, strawberry-like fruit covered in a bubbly pattern. For a moment, she questioned, if she could even manage to eat the whole thing, but before she could even change her mind, she'd already found herself taking a large bite. As well as immediately regretting it. If she had not been so occupied with trying not to throw up what little she had eaten the last day, she would've wondered why people even paid for these things, let alone exorbitant amounts supposedly. But all focus was for naught, the outrageously putrid taste wouldn't go away and kept overpowering her senses and mind to the point where the rest of the large fruit slipped out of her hand onto the floor as she almost passed out for the second time in the past 24 hours.
But, pumped up on adrenaline still, she managed to keep her lunch contained as well as her consciousness intact. It took some effort to get moving again, but soon enough, she’d managed to cut into the forest. Having lived on the Island for a good while, she knew roughly where to head to find another town. And being already somewhat accustomed with the dark underbellies of society, it didn’t took her much effort to find someone willing to help her hide and get off the island. It was presented as a ‘Work for me and your payment is my service for you’ kinda deal, thanks to her being an attractive young woman after all, but she realized only as multiple goons forced cuffs onto her, that she’d been fooled. And, compared to the dumb drunkards she had dealt with before, this organization was well prepared. There was no visible way for her to snake out of the situation and so she landed in a slave trade. As the trade goods. At least she did get off the island and out of the furious pirate’s reach rather quickly that way. After being locked up under deck of a ship for close to a month, she found herself sold to a pleasure establishment. Still with no way to rebel without being killed for disobedience, she’d found herself in prostitution for the second time in her life. Except this time it was not for her own profit and on someone else’s terms. As time without a plausible way out passed, her initial resistance grew weaker, submitting to the fate she’d been dealt.
Eventually, the years passed and everything seemed to have settled into a routine. But then things shook up when she was taken by the establishment’s owner for a special meeting. Which was unusual, as he hadn’t been the type to use his own girls. And as it turned out, he wasn’t about to change that. The special meeting, as he’d described it turned out to be a loss cut. Verne had grown mature over the years and apparently did not mesh with his customers or other ‘employees’ too well anymore. Long story short, Verne used the opportunity of not being held down by a goon and having a fair while ago learned more about Ability users and Fruits, which lead her to discover the latent ability she’d been carrying for a few years .The conversation turned into more of a kerfuffle, at the end of which she’d taken some cuts and bruises despite best efforts, but also strangled the man who’d been the bane of her existence in recent memory with the chain of her handcuffs. This all seemed a bit reminiscent of the first major shift in her life since running away from home. But she decided, that this time things would be different. Considering how well known she and some colleagues probably were among locals and frequent guests like Merchants, she found it best to at least try and cover her identity. To this end she pilfered the lifeless body to her feet for all the cash he carried andalso an ornate eyepatch. That’d at least make her less recognizable thanks to some moles.
Escaping the scene through a window, the jump from a second story window being the least of her worries, she once again took off before her deed got noticed. But this time, Verne made up her mind to accept nothing but her own terms, come what may. With the stolen loot it would at least be possible to get off the island through some less shady channels, marking the start of the part in her life where she would take what she wanted and be the one to lord over others.
Face Claim: Kikou Shoujo Wa Kizutsukanai - Karyuusei Shouko
RP Sample: -
