Atlas sat at the large table in the center of the room, the only source of light spilling from a single window behind the throne. It cast long shadows across the stone floor, swallowing the corners in darkness. Rocks sat motionless, his form outlined in stark relief—the pure inky blackness of a silhouette cut from the cerulean sky beyond.
No one had spoken yet, a tense silence having enveloped the space between them as it sat heavy upon their shoulders. Some seemed to struggle more, Kaidou shifted uncomfortably in his chair clearly bored already.
Others held a faint sheen of sweat that they were clearly trying to hide as they remained impassive. Atlas simply waited, still unsure of what was happening. On the ship there hadn't been any time where they had needed to be together, all seeming to do their own thing.
Sure some had talked between themselves in small groups or drank together as they played some game or other to pass the time, but it had mostly seemed to be quiet and distant amongst the crew.
Atlas had found the whole thing really quite odd, weren't crews and groups meant to be close. He chalked it up to his lack of any real world knowledge though, all he had to go off of was what he had been taught by the lab.
Clearly the world government would be that well informed about any personal details about their enemies right? That was what Atlas decided.
It had suited him best anyway, he needed to get a better grasp of the world and of his own strength before he could work on building any sort of faction for himself.
These people were all monsters compared to him, clearly Saturn and his pet scientists had been hiding a lot more from him than he had even thought. If he wanted to have any equal footing in this crew he needed to get stronger before he tried anything.
"So..." Rocks' gravelly voice broke the quiet in that way he had that left everyone just as on edge as if he hadn't, "we have yet another promising new member of our crew." Atlas couldn't make out the man's eyes through the shadows that covered him, but he knew they were on him all the same.
"Though, as much as his little 'skuffle' with the rookie was entertaining..." A soft chuckle left his lips as he paused again, the others laughing along too. Atlas pretended not to care at how clearly the abilities he had used seemed to not matter to them, but he couldn't help the slight twitch crawling up his spine.
He had always believed what he could do must be at the top of this world. The scientists had spent hours going over his powers and how he would be the ultimate weapon as long as he did not let in any doubt. Now though, that doubt was trying to work its way in.
They dismissed his power as a 'skuffle' like they had just been watching two kids caught fighting in school. Looking over to Kaidou, he saw the same irritation more clearly showing through on his face.
With that he calmed down. They were just trying to get under his skin, that must be it. If that was the case, he wouldn't let them! He straightened his back as his face remained impassive, refusing to give them the kick they wanted.
Soon Rocks' continued, clearly seeing that his fun was ruined. "But he will still need to prove himself above all the others on this island that want a seat at this table." His words echoing in the room as he finished.
Many of the others now had sharp smiles glinting in the light, like daggers curved into a murderous smirk. He didn't know what they were all clearly already aware of but whatever it was, it wouldn't be anything good. Of that Atlas felt sure.
"Atlas, today we will hold a new ceremony. I will open up our crew to those hungry volunteers desperate to join our ranks." His arm lazily lifted to sweep outwards towards the window behind him. "And you will be their judge, to prove if they are worthy of the honour."
With that he stood languidly, making his way out of the room. The others around the table all turned to look at him, appraising him almost. Their gazes held different glints though.
Many held a sense of schadenfreude, clearly enjoying what was about to happen. Excitement bubbled in their eyes as they watched him like a lion. Waiting to see if he would prove himself a predator like them, or just more prey.
But there were differences. Kaidou, looked bored and annoyed, clearly still worked up at the dismissive way Rocks talked about their fight.
Linlin, held anticipation too. But hers was more keen and hopeful than the bloodlust he felt from some of the others.
Then there was Edward Newgate. His eyes fell heavily on him. There wasn't any of the same feeling of savagery in them. Instead they almost looked sad.
It was those eyes that scared him the most, the looks of thinly veiled brutality he was all too used to from those that had treated him as a lab rat his whole life. But that pity, or maybe the expectation of disappointment hit him hard.
What was that about?
Soon though they all cleared out. None of them saying a word to him as they left. Instead they grinned and laughed as they went. Like people who couldn't wait to catch a new show, but it was him that was the centrepiece for it.
Feeling unnerved, he remained behind. Unwilling to give them the satisfaction of seeing him flinch at their creepy joy. Like a stone statue he sat there, unmoving and unblinking.
Staring at the seat Rocks had sat in. Contemplating what was going to happen at this ceremony.
'he would be the judge and yet also be tested?' at first he thought it might simply be a way to see if he could control rowdy pirates but the way the others had reacted made it clear it wouldn't be so simple.
The way they had cleared the facility, the way they had allowed Kaidou to attack him while just sitting back and watching. He started feel like he may know what they had in mind.
His eyes bored into the seat as they hardened, his lips thinning into a flat line bisecting his lower face. Lines creased his forehead as a frown fell over his features.
'So the bastards want another show.'
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