"Hmm... it's somethin' like... an assignment really," he shrugged his shoulders. "For the arts n' crafts group. Just lookin' into some ideas I s'pose." He glanced up from his notebook at Usopp. He wasn't sure if the man was trying to keep him from getting it now or just really was concerned about someone getting hurt by making it.

"Mm..." he nearly purred, "M' a lil' better with a sword, I'll admit." He paused, twirling the pen in his finger for a moment, "but it sure would be useful 'round here. Could bust open some doors... maybe do some damage on the bigger monsters... an' I'm sure it'd make a pretty good distraction, ne?" Not to mention the potential fires or chaos it would cause. It seemed like a fairly nice thing to have around.