Tako

Tako, also known as Steve and Not Steve, was a minor antagonist who appeared during the South Blue Saga. He was found in the wreckage of a sea battle between the Marines and the Steam Pipe Pirates. Although he seemed unthreatening at first, while being interrogated by William and Duros he revealed himself to be an assassin working for the Eight Flames.

Appearance
Tako was a slender man with dark hair, whose long bangs stopped only at the lips of a very mischievous grin.

Personality
Tako was a twisted individual always looking for the next chance to inflict pain upon anyone targeted by the Eight Flames, and sometimes even those who weren't.

He was a very creepy man. He was constantly aware of how uncomfortable he made those around him, and even seemed to feed off of it. He seems to be the only Flame who doesn't mind death. Tako also has a book where he places the skin of some of his victims.

Overview
Yaki - A small black octopus with which Tako was psychically linked with. It had the ability to change its size through unknown means. Tako would often use its tentacles to subdue his targets, while also being able to make them spin like a drill. Yaki is also a little different from the other Candle's pets, being able to live after its master has died.

William
William was often paranoid of Tako after he revealed his true personality. Going as far as to hold him at gun point on the way to their designated farewell. William even stated that next time they see each other it would probably end up in a confrontation which would end up happening during the prison break.

Ragnar
Though he acknowledged that Tako's appearance, smell, and mannerisms came off as less than trustworthy, he quickly began to think of him as a son. Through his mere approval alone Tako was halfheartedly given permission to travel with the crew to his target. Ragnar took Tako's death very hard, being the one to kill him.

History
Sometime in the recent past, Tako killed the 2nd seat of the Eight Flames, subsequently becoming the 2nd Flame himself.

The Devil's Luck Pirates find him and fellow survivor Fredrickson a half day after a confrontation between the Steam Pipe Pirates and Marines. After Fredrickson convinces Duros and Ragnar that they were lucky slaves who survived by hiding they are invited to the Yogi Pooh. During the following interrogation with Captain William and Duros, he summons black tentacles and proceeds to capture the crew and kill Fredrickson.

Tako proceeds to reveal himself as an assassin sent to kill an inmate in held in a prison in Tarako Kingdom and offers the crew a truce in exchange for passage to the island. William questions Tako about the workings of his Devil Fruit but he simply laughs maniacally and introduces his little black octopus friend, Yaki. After arriving on the island he parts ways with the crew, and sneaks to an unknown location. The next time he appears is inside the prison heading into a prisoner ward. William, Duros, Ragnar, Verona, and Pearl opt to follow him out of suspicion of his target being Jasper. Tako is seen entering the cell opposite of Jasper, and exiting very quickly, obviously agitated. He claims his target, Boss, was missing and produced a letter with a blue key on it. He stated that he would have to harm something or else it'd be himself which provokes William into activating his Devil Fruit. A battle ensues between the crew and Tako.

He releases his octopus' form and immediately grabs William while the rest of the crew, besides Verona and William, run away out of subjective fears of him. After receiving heavy damage from William and Verona, Tako knocks out Captain William with his drill-like tentacle. Realizing his trust was put into such an ill being, Ragnar flies into a rage turning full grizzly and viciously mauls Tako, and bids his farewells to Not Steve. It is later revealed that Not Steve's real name is Tako and that he was one of the newest recruits to the top secret mercenary faction The Eight Flames.

Trivia

 * The names of Tako and his pet octopus Yaki are a reference to Takoyaki (たこ焼き), a Japanese dish containing balls of octopus meat as a base.
 * So far, Tako and Yaki are the only One Piece D&D-exclusive characters with Japanese-inspired names.