Just as the tension reached its breaking point, Shakky was the first to react.
She immediately slipped back into her "I'm your sister-in-law" persona, swaying her hips as she stepped forward with a charming smile to break the silent standoff, then slid a freshly poured drink over to Gern.
"Little Gern, I thought you'd gone straight back to G-10 after accompanying our Toritoma to Amazon Lily!
"I didn't expect you to have the time to swing back around to my little bar." She blew a smoke ring, her complaint half sincere and half teasing.
"But this little place can't take you big shots tearing it apart. If you're going to fight, take it outside."
Out of respect for Shakky, Gern accepted the glass. The chill faded from his face, replaced by his usual devil-may-care grin as he played along.
"If Shanks can come all the way from the New World to vacation in the Four Blues, why can't I? Heh."
He took a sip. Hmm... still that same cheap, harsh taste.
Then again, he supposed Shakky's Rip-off Bar was hardly likely to stock good liquor.
Gern quietly pushed the glass aside, then turned his gaze back to the grim-faced Shanks, deliberately revisiting the subject. "Hey, Shanks, don't change the subject.
"You still haven't told me what badass tore off that arm of yours. My curiosity's practically overflowing."
Gern's relentless pestering was giving Shanks a headache. He coughed dryly, trying once again to bluff his way through with that lofty explanation, his expression solemn.
"I bet it on the fu-"
"Stop! Hold it!" Gern didn't give him a chance to finish. He raised a hand to cut him off, his face openly declaring that he wasn't buying any of it.
"Don't give me that crap about the 'future' or the 'New