Mostly filler this time, but we're heading back into canon territory next week.
On the recommendation of Johnny and Yosaku, Merry's course had been set for a certain inhabited stretch of ocean. With the wind as mild as it was, the men estimated that it would take as much as three days' worth of sailing to reach the place, but Merry doubted it. The reason for that doubt had to do with a certain navigator.
|She really is amazing, isn't she?| Lucille commented from her spot in Merry's arms. It was early morning on the second day of their voyage, and the two vessels watched as Nami adjusted Merry's sails and rudder only a fraction. For any humans, or even the seagull, if he had been awake to see it and not roosting in the crow's nest, it would look pointless and fussy, but the ships could sense how the small changes took even better advantage of the wind. Already they were sailing through the calm waters at a speed usually reserved for much windier days.
|She really is,| Merry answered, revelling in the feeling of Nami's steady hands on her helm.
|How's she do it?|
For a few moments, Merry only kept quiet and thought about the question. It was a good one after all, and deserved a good answer.
|To be fair,| she started, |I haven't sailed with these people much longer than you have.|
|No?| Lucille questioned.
|No. In fact, we only just met, but I can guess. You know how humans can't feel the air and sea currents like we can?|
She was answered by a nod. |'Course not, 'cause they don't have sails or anything.|
|Right. But, it's not like they don't feel the wind at all, they just don't know how to read it. Nami though, Nami can do that. She senses the wind and waves just as instinctually as you and I do. There are people out there with incredible abilities, either ones they're born with or ones they've learned, and Nami just happens to be one of those people. I don't think she even knows why she's so much better at this than everyone else.|
Lucille was quiet for a long few moments, thinking this over, before she turned back to Merry with a questioning look. |But, how do you know about this?|
|Oh! The seagull told me.|
Lucille let her mouth fall open as she looked back and forth between Merry and the roosting gull.
He told you? But, he's just a rude bird!|
Merry laughed a little at that. It was true that he had reverted to being much less sociable after she started talking to Lucille.
|It's just because he doesn't know you. If you get to know him properly, he's really such a big sweetie, but don't let him know I said that.| She stage-whispered the last few words, leaning in with a mischievous smile, even though there was little chance of being heard. The seagull was not exactly an early bird. Lucille thought it was funny though, and the two ships kept up joking and chatting through the morning.
The day passed as peacefully as a day with the straw hat pirates could pass, and eventually turned into evening and later night. Once morning rolled around again, they closed in on their destination. Over the horizon rose the silhouette of the floating restaurant Baratie.
