Hahaha... um... oops.
The pain surfaced just beneath her forehead, a sharp pain followed by a dull hum, was what had her flutter her eyes open slowly. Annoyance crept over her face, wishing that the unneeded pain would disappear, until her eyes swept over the area around her. Intense shades of dark blue settled around her, in places growing more from blue and into an inky black. Quickly, Nami started whipping her head around in search of any indication as to how to get out of here. Then she spotted what she needed.
Spinning around ungracefully in the water till she was pointed in the direction she checked again. Before her, she could see golden rays plunging down through the water and enticing her to follow it. In which case she did so eagerly. Her limbs felt stiff as she dug them through the water, propelling herself up. The lungs in her chest started to scream for air, more so as she got closer to breaking the surface.
Finally breaking through the water, Nami greedily gulped down air while allowing herself to rest while floating on her back. Above her, she duly noted, was a bright, clear sky. Nothing like the sky she remembered last seeing. There wasn't even a cloud in the sky. The waves gently rocked her, soothing her as she floated. Very unlike the aggressive waves that pelted down at her before.
How long had she been under water? She thought as she shifted to once more tread water so she could get a hold of her surroundings, maybe even catch sight of Vivi or Nojiko upon the water. She saw nothing but the rise and fall of waves, open sea all around her. Nami felt her breath catch in her chest. Where was she? Her movements became a little more frantic as she searched for a sign, anything really, a hint as to where she could be. If she could find a land mark then she might be able to find out where she was.
After a moment, Nami sighed in defeat. She was still tired from before and if there was nothing around her of notice then there was nothing more she could do at the present time. Allowing herself to once more float on her back, allowing the water to support her. Nami closed her eyes to just rest.
.:MM:.
Nami didn't know how long had passed since she closed her eyes last. What she did know was that the water was pushing and tugging at her, almost like someone urgently trying to wake another person. Before she could flip onto her stomach, Nami silently started to shift into treading, finding it easier to keep her head above the water. She could hear loud voices emanating from where the waves were trying to steer her from and slowly turned to see what exactly caused the waves to act up.
At first, all she saw was wood, barnacles and small hints of decay or water damage marring the bottom, becoming a much neater mess the further her eyes trailed up it. Wooden railings bordered the ship and she could just manage to see a few people rush around it. Masts were set in two different locations, allowing for the wind to tug at the tattered clothes of the sails.
Before her eyes could trail on further, a figure popped over the side of the railing and peered down. It pointed and waved, summoning more of the crew to come see. Nami floated there for a moment in awe that, out of the entire ocean, a ship decided to pull up now. Relief flooded her as she shot a hand out to wave at them. She watched as they scampered off then a moment later the ship stop only a short distance from her. Nami started to push her body towards it when she suddenly froze as her eyes caught sight of something she didn't see during her previous examination of the ship.
Waving high on the main mast was a black cloth. It would have been nothing to fret over if it weren't for what was on it. A white outline of a circle, bolded for emphasis, with slanted angry eyes and an upside down curve, obviously making for a rather displeased looking face. Crossed behind it were two rather sharp and rugged looking wings. Sure, the picture wasn't menacing in the least, not with simple shapes and lines, but what is stood for is what made Nami feel threatened.
How the hell were there even still traditional pirates in this day and age? That mark in history had it's day and have long since been buried in the past. Yet here was a silly Jolly Roger and a ship that looked more battle worn then any she has ever seen previously. Then came the question of the day, get out of the water and onto a pirate ship where her fate was out of her hands or take her chances in the ocean, floating for who knows how long or until she is eaten by something or, possibly, rescued by a fishing boat or a cruise. Now being rescued by a cruise most definitely appealed to Nami, especially with all that she has been through in the last few hours?
But who knew how long it would take for someone to find her, this was probably all her luck was willing to throw her way and she really didn't want to test whatever high and mighty hand had dealt her this card. It was that thought that had her swimming to meet the life boat rowing towards her location, manned with three people, one of which she assumed was the figure who spotted her in the first place.
The smaller, more lithe figure, was sat in the front, propped on their knees and ready to pull her into the boat. The figure had short, shaggy dark brown hair that stuck up in some odd places, and in just the right light, you could see the tips of the hair practically glow with the vibrant colors of the rainbow. Nami wasn't sure if the figure was a skinny boy or a girl in baggy clothes, nothing on them gave any indication to either gender. Though they did seem friendly aside from a few small scars marring their skin in a few different spots. They outstretched their hand, in which Nami quietly noticed had rainbow tinted fingernails, and allowed the ginger to take hold. This kid was stronger then they looked, even though she assumed they were no older than 15, as they hauled her in without any trouble and helped her lie down.
"Are you alright miss?" They asked as the two people rowing started to take them back to the larger vessel. Their tone though helped Nami to indicate it was a girl, though the voice was pretty rough.
"I'm fine." Nami said, curling in slightly to shiver. The kid noticed and shrugged out of their amusingly large coat to drape it over Nami's shoulders. The kid was pretty small without the coat hiding that fact. One of the pirates rowing scoffed at the kid's actions while the other looked indifferent, and neither of them seemed pleased to have had to row out to get the red headed woman, especially when she allowed the coat to cover her bikini clad body. The small girl allowed her shoulders to droop at the scoff, almost as if willing herself to be smaller and more out of sight then she already was.
Once they had reached the ship the kid stood and gestured Nami to head up first before following after, ropes were tossed down on either side of them to hull of the lifeboat. The ship was in rougher shape than she first thought, the wood that jutted out to make a mock ladder was damp and almost crumbled beneath her touch. The railing seemed solid though, she noted as she pulled herself over the side. She froze in spot at the railing as she saw the crew all eyeing her. She wouldn't have moved if not for the kid behind her.
"Miss?" the soft voice whispered as they tried to keep perched behind her on the railing, finding it difficult with Nami practically seated on it. Nami shifted a step forward so they small girl could securely rest herself on the railing.
"So, what do we have here?" boomed out a voice from the crowd before the crew parted like the red sea. Out of the crowd stepped, what she assumed, was the captain of the vessel. Her assumption based purely on the fact that he didn't have dirt and grime covering him. Though it was odd seeing as he looked to be only twenty whereas the rest of the burly and, much more intimidating, crew seemed older and more experienced. The young captain had longer silver hair, drawn back into a loose ponytail, his eyes a bright crimson and was dressed casually in a white button up and fit brown pants tucked into black boots. Around his waist, covering where the shirt met pants, was a black sash. He carried himself with a cocky air, but she could see that it was a front to make people drop their guard.
She stayed still as he stepped up to look at her, noticing the way the small pirate behind her stiffened at the proximity. Nami drew the coat in closer unconsciously as he seemed to study her, eyes sweeping over her.
"What, pray tell, were you doing all the way out here?" he questioned, stepping away when he was finished observing her, probably trying to see if she had anything of worth on her being.
"I got caught in a bad storm. I got washed out here." she stated, allowing her voice to shake, if he was going to hide behind a front, then so would she. She knew how to play people and making herself look like an startled and scared damsel would work nicely in this situation.
"Oh, you poor poor woman." the captain said then turned to smirk at her. "If only your story actually matched with the weather out here." he pointed at her, "The amount of sun you got says that you've probably been set acast for, at most, half a day." she narrowed her eyes at him, what was he getting at? "There have been no storms anywhere around here for a week." he stated watching as Nami's face contorted into one of extreme confusion.
"Miss?" the small child peeked around and up at the ginger, concern laced in her hushed voice.
"So, why were you really set adrift? I didn't spot any flotsam around, so it couldn't have been a fight." the captain kept up with his deduction, "Perhaps you were just tossed overboard because they could find no further use for you?" he snided. "Whatever the case is, it isn't good for you." he turned to his crew as he walked back to what she assumed to be the path leading to the captain's quarters. "Tie her to the mast till she clears her head and decides to share just what exactly transpired."
Nami put up no struggle as an enlarged hand grabbed her upper arm and led her to the main mast. Nor did she fight when they tied her wrists together then around the mast. She was too far in thought to care much. No storm? There was a horrible one that she knew for a fact encased a few hundred acres if not more the other day?
Needless to say, that was all that was on her mind as she sat there. Where was she? She couldn't have drifted too far in, if the captain was right, twelve hours. Definitely not far enough to have not been hit by that dreadful storm.
.:MM:.
With a sigh, Nami finally looked up to see that she swam in that pool of thoughts till the moon claimed the sky and the deck was silent. The sound of soft snores echoed from below and the only light came from the few lanterns on deck and the stars above. Nami allowed her head to drop once more, she kind of missed the endless drifting at sea. At least she didn't get a slight rope burn out there.
Then she heard a small shift, just the slightest sound somewhere off to her right. Nami felt herself bristle, ready herself for an attacker or something along those lines. But, what she saw was the kid from earlier creeping forward slowly. She seemed to have paused when she noticed Nami stiffen like that.
"I'm sorry miss," The child started and retracted themselves a bit "I didn't mean to startle you." They watched Nami with worried eyes. She remained still till Nami relaxed herself, watching the lithe form slowly walk over to her.
"You're fine." Nami said, trying to ease the child. "And you can call me Nami." She tried.
"Miss Nami." The kid nodded as they stopped crouched beside her. "I thought you might be hungry." She said as she pulled out a plate of food and silverware. Placing them down, she reached over and loosened the ropes grip. Leaving a fairly nice gap between the mast and the rope on Nami's wrists, giving her enough room to reach out and grab the food. The ginger turned to the girl.
"Won't you get in trouble?" She asked with a small tone of worry in her voice.
"It won't be anything new for me miss Nami." She replied as she sat on her feet.
Nami looked from the food up to the brunette beside her. "What's your name?"
The girl looked down for a second with a light blush. "Don't laugh. My name is Roy." The girl said
Nami looked confused, "Why would I laugh? That's a nice name." The woman said as she picked up the plate. Roy stuck out a finger, silently saying she wasn't done.
"Roy G. Biv." She finished. "And I think you can tell why, I saw you noticed the weird effect the sun plays on me." Roy said.
Nami nodded, "The rainbow tips right?" She glanced down at Roy's hands noticing that her nails were a normal shade, "And your nails? Is there a story about that?" Nami asked curiously as she started to eat the food in front of her. Roy nodded but made no move to speak. Nami assumed that she was weary around strangers, as you should be when in a group of pirates.
The silence stretched on before Roy stood. Nami curiously watched from where she sat on the floor, placing the fork down on the now vacant plate in front of her.
"I'm sorry miss Nami." Roy said as she picked up the dishes. "I have to go." She said, eyes shifting over the deck of the ship before locking onto the window of the captain's quarters. She shook her head before turning to hurry away.
Nami watched confused before turning to look in the window. Catching a glimpse of something moving away before she was left alone on the deck. With no one around, Nami let her head lull forward, finding a comfortable way to lay, but not sleep. Not here.