Chapter 84: Hogback
Dialogue "sample"
Thoughts 'sample'
Author notes -sample-
Disclaimer: One piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.
Chapter 84: Hogback
"But Vivi, there is something very creepy about this place!" Complained Nami.
Vivi looked at Nami. "Look, no matter what's out there, I can keep you safe, trust me."
"Wait, you are only looking at Nami! What about us?!" Panicked Usopp.
"Of course! How can I not try to keep safe…" Vivi looked at Chopper. "Our only doctor!"
"You are messing with me, right?!" Shouted Usopp.
"Yes, I am. But the manor will be the best place for Luffy and others to find us." Answered Vivi.
"Oi!" Complained Usopp.
Hildon decided to interrupt. "We are almost at the manor."
"Oh!, I can finally meet the doctor!" Said Chopper.
They arrived at the doors of the manor. Upon closer look, the place was more a castle than a manor.
Hildon opened the door for them and they entered.
"Look!, there is a lamp there." Usopp pointed out the odd placement of a lamp that seemed to be only illuminating a well.
"Why is there a well inside the manor?." Asked Vivi.
"Maybe fo-" Chopper did not have time to finish before someone appeared from the well.
"Welcome," A woman covered in scars said.
"Gyaaaa!!" Usopp, Chopper, and Nami screamed.
The woman then started to throw plates but Vivi stopped them with ease.
"I this how you receive guests?" She asked.
"Cindry, please behave!." A male voice came from behind the door.
After the big door opened, a man that could be described as 'egg-shaped' entered the hall where they were in.
"Im sorry about that, fosfosfos!. This woman hates plates, she has a tragic history with them, but other than that is a good servant, her name is Cindry. And I am Doctor Hogback, welcome to my manor."
"It would be okay if all the plates in the world would-"
"Yes, I know Cindry!, but let me talk with our guests, please?" The Doctor begged.
"Doctor Hogback, is it really you?" Asked Chopper.
"Of course, fosfosfos!" Said the Doctor. "Follow me, we can talk more in the dining room."
"He looks like a weirdo" Whispered Usopp.
"Hey!" Admonished Chopper. "He is just…a bit…all geniuses have their thing."
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"So, what brings you to my place?" Asked the Doctor
"There are a lot of things I want to talk about…" Said Nami. "After being trapped here, we fell into a moat, were chased by a giant dog with three heads, and…"
"And there is all sort of weird stuff in that forest! You live here, you should know something about it, right?" Asked Usopp.
"Oh, so you were attacked and came here for refuge. To answer your question, I don't know anything about those strange creatures you saw." Said the doctor.
'Do they really not realize it? this guy is obviously involved! He lives here!.' Thought a frustrated Vivi.
"Is that why you came here? to study those strange creatures for your research?" Asked Chopper.
"Indeed! I am trying to solve the greatest problem of humanity! Death!." Hogback said dramatically.
"Death?" Exclaimed Nami.
"Exactly! Everyone has lost someone they wish to bring back, or maybe, they themselves don't want to die. But meddling with life and death is considered heresy. That's why I secretly vanished from the public eye and came here to do my research in secret. I believe the answer is on this island."
"So, it was like that!" Said Chopper. "I hope you succeed in your research and bring happiness to everyone, Doctor!"
"Thank you for your support, Doctor Chopper" Said Hogback.
"Can I have an autograph?" Asked a very happy Chopper.
"Why sure!" Said the Doctor.
"Can I see your laboratory after this?" Requested Chopper.
The atmosphere around Hogback changed and He suddenly became very serious.
"Don't ever look into my lab!"
The scared Chopper nodded.
The tension was broken when the servant Cindry brought dessert.
"Here is the pudding." She threw it onto the table.
"Ahh, at least bring the pudding on a plate! can't you at least do that much?" Begged the Doctor.
"It would be better if the world got rid of all plates!" Said Cindry.
"Well, for this situation the tablecloth is ultra strongly washed, so you can eat with ease." Said Hogback.
"Okies, bon appetit!" Usopp and Chopper started slurping the pudding from the table.
"At least use a spoon!" Demanded Nami.
"Oh, I almost forgot to ask." Said Usopp. "Did by any chance, a weird skeleton came around here?"
"A skeleton?" Asked the Doctor.
"Yeah, he is a bean pole with an afro, and very cheerful."
Hogback got visibly nervous.
"N-no, I-I don't know anything about a skeleton."
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After dinner, The Doctor then offered them to take a bath and clean themselves up.
Vivi wasn't particularly dirty, but Nami had fallen into a moat filled with human bones, so she was in a bit of a hurry to clean herself up.
Chopper and Usopp didn't really care so they just waited.
Nami keep giving Vivi glances as she took her clothes off.
Vivi knew what she was thinking.
"Nami, relax. Even if I'm into girls, that doesn't mean I will be perving over all my friends!."
"But you are always making those comments…"
"Those are just jokes! Do you not trust me?" Vivi asked seriously.
Nami felt a bit ashamed for doubting her friend.
"I'm sorry, of course, I trust you!." Without more hesitation, Nami finished undressing and they got into the showers.
"Guys," Nami called. "We should get out of here tonight."
"What? are you an idiot? We have shelter here! And you have seen what's outside." Said Usopp from the other side of the door.
"Luffy and others will surely come here, and I'm sure we can trust Doctor Hogback." Said Chopper.
"That Doctor is the reason I want to leave!" Said Nami. "I felt it…He is hiding something! And did you take a look at this mansion?"
"What do you think, Vivi?" Asked Usopp.
"The good Doctor was definitely lying through his teeth. And this mansion is filled with sinister auras. But, don't think for a moment that they will just let us leave without a fight." Said Vivi.