Fandom: One Piece
Disclaimer: Same as in the first chapter.
Notes: My favourite outtake

Subject: AU Outtake of nothing new in this world's 'Diary of a Potato Bag'
Timeline: AU set at an undetermined point in the future
Place: Moby Dick
Title: Merely decent
Alternative title: She really didn't mean it like that

She stepped out on the deck alone and with a bit more bravado than she was feeling. She could take them. Embarrassment never killed anyone. Yet.

As the various groups of pirates lounging on the deck noticed her, whistles and catcalls began.

"Here comes Lady Phoenix!"

"Was he any good?"

"Already finished, it's barely dawn!"

"Had fun?"

"Was it a good ride?"

Nothing too crass or aggressive thankfully. She relaxed a bit, gave them a good glare and then proceeded to the ladders. She had to leave ship immediately if she wanted to finish her given task. Timing was not the best, but then again when had any of her plans worked as they should?!She was in a boat and just about done with detaching it from Moby Dick when a well-known voice called from above, "Hey Girlie!"

She was never going to be anything else to this crew, will she?

She raised her head and looked at a number of colourful pirates amongst whom Thatch's hairdo and pristine white clothes still managed to standout easily. He was looking at her with genuine concern.

"Girlie, he's our brother, but if he did you wrong we'll string him up properly," and then he gave her a questioning, sly, but an utterly heartfelt smile. "How was he?"

She almost brushed him off, but stopped herself. Thatch was Marco's brother and best friend, and his concern for how their wedding night went seemed sincere. Not that they believed that Marco would have hurt her, but they did honestly care enough to express concern.

She straightened to her unimpressive height and sent Thatch and onlookers a grateful smile and gave them a sincere answer. They and she deserved it to be said. After all, they have been spectators to their little drama for years.

"He was somewhat skittish, but we managed to turn it into a decent night."

That being said, she really had to hurry, time's a wasting. She gave a quick wave, turned on a borrowed dial and carried on following the middle log pose.

Not for the first time, not for the last time, she left behind a resounding and unnoticed silence. As one Whitebeard pirates turned to look at their comrade who, a few minutes ago, had followed his newlywed wife to the deck.

Marco the Phoenix, First Commander and First Mate of the Whitebeard pirates, acknowledged as one of the most powerful men on the world and one whose adventures in and out of bedchambers were the talk of the Grand Line and New World had his eyes firmly closed in pain, massaging the bridge of his nose to alleviate what had to be a truly impressive headache.

A massive headache that continued to intensify as chokes, coughing and attempts to hack lungs abounded around him. Unsurprising, since his decade long reputation could never trump the fact that his formerly virgin bride just described his performance, to dozens of his brothers, as 'skittish' and merely 'decent'.

He took a deep, steadying breath.

The explosion of hilarity that followed would not be surpassed in his lifetime.