"Fishing gear?"
What followed was a cluster of rattling noises as a box loaded to bursting with the rods in question and every attachment needed was slammed onto a hard wooden surface.
"Check!"
"Drinks?"
The clinking of ice on glass sounded, as several tall goblets filled with lime green juice were raised.
"Check!"
"Bait?"
There was a low murmur of confusion, as those around swept their gazes over for what could be used to lure the fishes to their lines.
"Hey what about…" One high-pitched voice started, casting a gaze at one of their circle. Each of those around slowly turned their eyelines at the odd one out of their little group.
"Squark?" A scared quack sounded as four humans stared at what was a giant duck sitting across from them, sweat beading down from its blue and white helmet and slicking its yellowed feathers. It gulped, almost human-like as it slowly backed away from its own drink, feeling that this conversation had taken a turn for the worse.
"Wait, guys! I have some worms!" The same voice that had cast the suggestion hefted up a tin can, earning him a chorus of acceptance...and one relieved sigh from their avian companion.
"Alright! We got everything! Let's go get some fish!" Leaping to his sandal-covered feet, the first to break from their planning circle was a spot-on reference for the emblem that decorated this small ship's flag. The skull and crossbones fluttering in the breeze was adorned, much like the lad who excitedly bound to the starboard of his ship, with a simple straw hat. Black hair, mussed and wild, was held in place by the symbol of his pirate crew; even as it threatened the chocolate-colored eyes staring wildly off into the sea. The smile splitting his face in two forcing those eyes to shut, as well as squeezing the small scar under his left eye further upward. One might define him as lanky, given his smaller stature and noodly appearance. Though upon closer inspection, one could see his tanned arms and legs were more muscular than not, each jutting out of his non-imposing ensemble of red vest and blue shorts.
"Luffy! You forgot the bait!" The high-pitched voice scrambled after his captain, holding aloft the can in question. Though of similar height, it was easy to see that compared to Luffy, the lad desperately trying to wrangle him was scrawny in comparison. With nothing on him save a pair of pear-colored boots, a dingy set of umber overalls that managed to cover his petite frame save his olive-skinned shoulders, arms, and collar. A dark khaki headwrap did its best to contain the thick curls of his ebony that cascaded down the back of his head, looking like one would need the strength of a madman to comb through. What was most apparent, was that his long face and thick lips were overshadowed by the needle-like nose that protruded outward, longer than a knife's blade.
"Watch this cast, Usopp!" Luffy yelled back, not even paying heed to those behind him as he whipped his line back haphazardly, whizzing past the sniper and into the dimming circle of men behind him.
The hook found purchase, not that Luffy would notice as he thrust his arms back forward.
*RIP*
"LUFFY!" Came a disgruntled, deep voice that was rife with indignation. Luffy turned back to see what the dilemma was, only for an off-white shirt to go sailing off into the water. And one angry man seething at him, sans top. Skin bronzed from the sun dappled his muscular chest, it's only mar being the massive stitch that curved downward from his left shoulder to his right flank, a neat split right along the middle, like one half of an X. An emerald haramaki wrapped around his waist, keeping both the three long katanas at his hip and the near-black/green pants aloft. Keeping with the green theme, his ruffled and short crop of mint-colored hair sat above a pair of thin, gray eyes burning with a new anger towards his captain. His strong jaw set in a fierce snarl as he marched forward to pummel Luffy, only to kick over the tray of glasses in his rush.
"Hey!" The fourth voice sounded, "Mosshead!" The insult forced away the swordsman's anger, back towards their fourth. Standing up was a man clad in black, a fine suit belonging more to a formal affair than a pirate ship fitting over his long-legged frame. More leg than torso to offset his opponent's mostly upper body strength, he knew no fear as he marched forward past the destruction of glass and juice. Golden blonde hair billowed in the wind, finely combed over his left eye, leaving his other baby blue one to stare daggers ahead. Of course, the swirly eyebrow above lessened the threatening aura radiating off him, his cream skin almost boiling the sweat off of him in anger as he bashed his head against his new opponent. The two began shoving their heads against one another, like bighorn rams fighting for territory.
"You ruined my lunchtime specials, jerk!" He snarled, gritting his teeth hard enough to potentially snap the burning cigarette clenched between them.
"Maybe don't put your crap on the ground, Curly!"
"Maybe I'll put you IN the ground, you samurai-wannabe!"
"Just try it, cook, and I'll use you as chum for next time we fish!"
The two kept shoving against each other, daring the other to make the first move to escalate this to a full-blown fight.
Luffy just sniggered, "Zoro and Sanji are fighting again...Hey, Usopp, this bait looks funny." He says, smiling down at the sight of the shirt drifting on top of the water.
Smack. Usopp's hand greets the back of Luffy's head, not eliciting a reaction from their jovial captain. "What kind of fish eats clothes?!"
"Squark?" The duck sounded again, cocking his head at the show before him. A pair of golden-toned hands wound around him, his head peeking upward to stare into the concerned face that looked at the quartet of shenaniganry before them.
"I know, Karoo, they don't seem to be taking the Grand Line seriously at all." A sigh escaped her, a tuft of cyan hair tied tight into a ponytail came to rest on her horse-sized duck, hazel eyes taking in the sight of the four men she traveled with. Another sigh, forcing her thin face into a look of discontent. The more she watched, the more something bubbled in her chest. Her light frame shivered, feeling the oncoming annoyance, the exasperation slowly eroding into full-fledged anger. A hand gripped at her shirt, the striped olive button-up she bore almost having a new hole in it as her fingers dug into it. "They're acting like….like…." The anger in her voice couldn't even comprehend a proper word for it.
"Idiots? Children?" Another feminine voice entered the scene, as a pale hand extended another of the drinks her way. "Maybe this will help." The glass was shaken but lightly, enticing her to seize it. As it was taken, she continued, "Just relax...these guys are definitely a class of goofy all their own, but take it from me, when the chips are down, they'll get serious in a moment's notice. Trust me, I know, Vivi." The ivory smile sent Vivi's way was one of genuine comfort, the orange curls of the ships' navigator jiggling with her head movement. Her purple and white top managed to hold back her lithe figure, her pale skin unburdened from the sun.
"...Yeah. Thanks, Nami." A sigh of relief came as she stood, taking a sip from the beverage and feeling some of the edge come off. Maybe the drink was just what she needed, something to cool off her temper. Another familiar sigh escaped her, "Sorry, I think it's just stress….of everything that happened." Her eyes turned down, trying to force down the drink she took, like she was trying to do with the image on a constant loop in her head. The small ship, floating away...only to be doused in flames; the cacophonous roar of explosives as shrapnel was flung in direction. The hull was a smoldering crater, not even resembling a ship anymore. Another drink was gulped down, trying to keep that thought down in the pits of her body where it belonged.
"You'll see, this ship will put you at ease!" Nami touted, as though she were marketing for a cruise line's comforts. "So take a breather, enjoy your drink, and just enjoy the show." Her head nods in the direction of the boys, as now the situation has escalated.
Luffy had tugged back too hard to get the shirt and now sent Usopp and himself into a pile of limbs spilling over onto Sanji and Zoro's feud. The four tangled themselves up into an uproarious clout of yelling, and in Luffy's case, laughter. Nami couldn't help but giggle at the situation, prompting a taxed Vivi to do the same. A moment passed as the princess leaned back on the railing, a hand roaming through her locks a moment, before letting a smile creep onto her face.
"I guess...you're right." She said, seemingly trying her best to heed the advice given to her. The wind laced through her then, ushering in a low hum of delight; maybe it was alright to relax just a little. A deep breath as her eyes coles, taking in the sounds and atmosphere around her...it was peaceful for the most part. The wind was nice at least.
Nami, however, was slowly taking to Vivi's worrisome nature. The drink in her hand was forgotten as she looked over the sea, another wind blowing through. Fingernails dug into the wood of the ship, scraping off some paint as she raced above to the helm.
"Nami?" Piqued by this strange behavior, Vivi now was confused by the sudden turnabout, and looked around to try and see what Nami had seen.
Returning to the overlook, Nami clung to it like she was bracing herself for some unseen threat. "Wrap it up, guys! We have a problem!" Like the breaking of a spell, the four men looked up at her, the chaos subverted for the moment. "Full sails and break out the oars! There's a storm coming! A big one! We need to get out of here, now!" Just like that, everyone raced to their positions, a well-oiled machine that had Zoro race for the lower decks, emerging with a pair of oars which one was tossed over to Sanji. Luffy clamored up the mast, freeing the full power of their sails to wholly catch the wind. Usopp took the helm, sending their little lamb of a ship crooning off to its left, the entirety of it tilting from the sudden change. Vivi held on to her position, not sure of where to go now to help. She could only stare as the blue sky turned stormy and grey in a matter of seconds right behind them, the sea suddenly churning about them. Lightning flashed in the sky as the winds, once friendly, began to grow violent. Karoo quacked as he ran about in a panic, feathers fluttering as he paced back and forth.
"Oh no, we're not going to beat it!" Nami groaned, as she looked back, and her face grew pale. "HARD TO PORT AGAIN, USOPP!"
Vivi's eyes too grew to the size of dinner plates, as right behind them, the waters had begun to become more than choppy. Waves rose and smashed down, tides the size of battleships raging about them, throwing the little Merry to and fro in the waters. The entire crew held on for their lives now, trying not to be thrown overboard to a death sentence. The Merry groaned her reluctance to head as Usopp directed, forcing itself into a space where the tides thrashed it about to avoid another head-on collision with a wave.
Again, and again, and again the Merry was tossed about, seconds away from destruction with Nami managing to keep them ahead of that fate with her directions.
"Nami!" Luffy cried out, sputtering out a faceful of seawater when it splashed into his mouth.
"I'm trying, Luffy! We need to get out of this stor- SEABOARD NOW, USOPP!" The Merry was sent spinning, almost threatening to capsize to avoid the latest wave.
"We can't take much more of this, Nami!" Sanji added in, as he and Zoro fought to help Usopp guide the ship from disaster.
"I know! I don't-"
"Nami!"
"WHAT?!" Nami snapped, looking at Luffy.
"There's a light!" Following Luffy's finger, Nami looked far past the port side of the ship, in the middle of this darkened sky, there was a flash of light on the horizon. Then another. Then another. A perfectly timed series of lights, which could only mean…
"A lighthouse!" Nami gasped in thankful glee, "There must be an island nearby!" Renewed, she yelled out, "Alright, we're going to ride these waves as close as we can to get there! It's our only chance!"
"Right!" All sounded in unison, ready for the cavalcade of orders Nami set out. The Merry was forced left and right in quick succession, riding some of the lower waves to avoid the higher ones that would easily capsize them. More close calls than one would want in the span of just a minute to get closer to this supposed island. Nami squinted, trying to see through the expanse of darkness shrouding her sight...but soon enough, the light began to tear through the clouds; and behind that light, loomed a familiar shape through the fog.
"Land ho!" Luffy managed out before her, brimming with excitement despite their imminent danger. It slowly began to spread through the crew, everyone inspired to smile, to grit their teeth at fate's hand in defiance. Closer they drew to the lighthouse, the more they could see the rocky outcropping it sat on, and the island it was attached to.
Through the storm, they could see it was dense with woodlands, the whole island decorated by pines that stood resilient against the storm battering around them. Massive rolling hills wove the island into a series of drastic highs and lows, with more lights shining in the distance.
"We're close!" Nami shouted in glee, "Move starb-" Her order was cut off as the ship lurched suddenly, a rogue wave catching the Merry, and her crew off guard, setting it into a frenzied spin.
"WHIRLPOOLS! HANG ON!" Nami bellowed as the Merry began to spin uncontrollably around, every member of the Straw Hats holding on for dear life. It was then Nami felt her grip loosen, and then...nothing.
"NAMI!" Luffy shot his arm back, seeing Nami tossed from the ship like a rag doll. His hand shot for her, desperate to bring her to safety, gritting his teeth as he stretched farther and farther, and managing to grab-
Water. Nami had gone under the second his hand came for her.
"NAAAAMMMIIII!" Luffy bellowed, seeing the sea swallow up their navigator, and more importantly, their friend.
"LUFFY, MOVE!" Sanji was hot on his hand's trail, diving without fear into the water, recklessly ignoring the cascading tide around them.
"NAMI, SANJI!" Luffy yelled again, as though commanding fate itself to return his friends to him.
"LUFFY! They'll be fine! We have to get the Merry ashore, or else she'll break apart!" Zoro grunted, teeth locked together as he now tried to row them out of this deathtrap.
Sanji fought tooth and nail through the raging sea, his leg's strength striving to find his beloved Nami through the dank and tempestuous waters. A shimmer of orange caught his sight, and he dove, hand extended to try and reach. His lungs were ready to burst, the pressure to breathe choking him, yet he had to try. "Reach, Nami!" He yelled in his head, egging himself onward to get to her.
It was some time before the storm ceased, the waters becoming as normal as they could be. A figure strode down the beach, trailing a cart behind them as they walked. Shoes parted the sand underneath each step, a curious gloved hand probing them for goodies amongst the sea's edge. The usual fair from the storm's tides, as dusted off the head of a broken masthead decoration, some beautiful maiden that sat on the ships' bow to protect her crew.
"Oh, poor dear. You couldn't protect your ship from the Leviathan's Lair, could you?" He sighed, almost feeling pity for the marble head in his hand. "There, there, we'll find you a good home yet." And with that, she was delicately placed alongside the other knickknacks in the cart, pulled along right after.
Then, they stopped in their tracks. The cart was forgotten as his legs brought him closer to a new find from the tides. A blonde man in a suit, in a deathlock embrace with a ginger-haired woman. A sigh, "Oh...poor dears." A tut, a moment of silence for the two still figures as he approaches. "The Grand Line takes another young life. Tragic." A hand reaches down for them, "Should at least give you a proper burial." He stops, eyes trailing down their forms. Measuring, fingers place themselves on their necks, slowly counting. Perhaps a silent prayer. He sits there, waiting for what seems like forever. Perhaps it was a trick of the eye that had him stop, or maybe just groundless optimism for these two young souls. He shouldn't do that. Fate isn't that kind, especially to the unprepared. A sigh found its way out of him, and just as he was about to withdraw from them…
*Bump*
*Bump*
"...Good god, you're alive."