Well, guess who's back after exams lmao. Yeah, I definitely forgot about this- I was actually going to focus this chapter more on Rayleigh, Roger and Shanks, but then I decided against it. I have a soft spot for the romance dawn trio lol. Anyways, I'm probably going to continue this regularly so look forward to it!

Q is for quotes uttered in passing.

"The world started with a quote."

"Huh, what is it all of a sudden?"

The comfortable silence of three people drifting over the sea in a tiny wooden boat was interrupted by Luffy being unexpectedly serious.

"Have you been thinking seriously? That's unusual for you."

Nami scoffed, looking over at him. Even if they didn't know each other for a long time (it had been only two days since Nami joined after all), it didn't require them to be completely buddy buddy to know that Luffy wasn't someone who spent a lot of time thinking about the intricacies of the world.

"It was just an observation." Luffy pouted, looking out towards the sea, hand on his hat. Why on earth he felt that he had to have a conversation is beyond Nami, but she wanted to entertain him. It was like entertaining a little kid, she almost didn't want to disappoint him.

"Are you talking about the Pirate King's words?" Zoro yawned out; one eye closed. You can count on him to decipher everything Luffy's thinking about. It was impossible to believe that these two met just over a week ago.

"I mean, that is the reason the great pirate age started, that's what gave so many people a reason to live."

It gave rise to pirates. Not really something Nami can appreciate. Pirates are the scum of the sea, pillaging and looting, leaving so many people without homes or families. But she can't really voice her concerns. She's also a scum of the sea now.

"Fame, money, power; a man who had acquired them all. Gold Roger. What a life to live, huh. I mean, there was nothing more to ask for." Nami didn't like the slight edge of bitterness that accompanied the words, but it wasn't like Luffy would notice. The pirate hunter on the other hand simply raised one of his eyebrows at her. Having someone so perceptual is a pain.

"That's not it. Fame, money and power, that's not all you could ask for." It looked like a toddler throwing a tantrum, the way Luffy pouted and threw his fists in the air. Welp, no one said that pirates were easy to negotiate with.

"Well, what else are you thinking about?"

The pirate hunter looked amused at the childlike captain's tantrum, it seemed like he got used to it over the short span of time.

"Freedom."

The way he said it, so cheerfully and full of childlike amazement made Nami break out into a fit of laughter. A pirate seeking freedom, like it was something that they haven't robbed from countless others, like freedom was something to be robbed. It was just too funny. But it was something that Nami had also yearned for ages, ever since she was a child. Freedom from Arlong, from the world government. A wish that was so childish but so difficult to achieve. The two others stared at her, before joining her in chuckling and giggling. Just three people in hysterics, floating peacefully on the east blue.

"Now that- "Zoro gasped out between chuckles, "Is something we can fight for."

"I wonder if the pirate king had something he valued."

"More than what he already had?"

"Boo boo, I meant sentimental things."

Huh, now that was a head scratcher. Nami didn't have anything to which she was particularly attached. Except Bellemere's orange trees but even that was unattainable now. She doesn't have something that reminds her of a promise, unlike Zoro's white sword or Luffy's hat.

"Family… Perhaps…" Well, at least to her, it was the only thing that kept her going.

"Heh? A promise to family must be kept. But did he even have a family?" Zoro leaned against his swords at her words. A promise to family is a fighting reason for a lot of people it seems.

"Maa, I wonder if he kept his promise. If you give such a cool quote you must uphold it." Again, with the puffy cheeks, seems like it's a staple.

"Giving a cool quote is a death flag Luffy." Zoro's tsukkomi saves the day yet again. She almost wants to thank him."

"Heh really?" Luffy scratches his head for a bit, before looking at the straw-hat that Nami stitched up after the fight with Buggy.

"Well, if I ever give a cool quote, I'm definitely going to keep it."

"Are you trying to jinx us dumbass?"

"If I don't complete it Zoro can kill me."

"The point is that you will be dead if you break your promise. Are you an idiot?"

"Zoro mean…"

What exactly did she sign up for when she joined their ship? These guys are chronic idiots, yet she feels a bit of endearment towards them. Even with them being pirates. But being hopeful will jinx it…

"Okay, stop it both of you. In the first place, it's not like the pirate king started randomly quoting to the people he loves."

"Nami, that's unfair, I bet he gave a cool quote, Zoro back me up."

"Hey, don't involve me, I just want to know exactly what he says if he gave a quote."

"You both…"

Well, it's not like the pirate king had anyone he loved… Or broke his promise to. It wasn't like anyone was waiting for him, so he didn't exactly break his promise. Whatever happened, it wasn't like Nami could see it happening to these two dumbasses. They were too dense to make a sentimental promise anyways.

"I won't die, partner."

Whatever it was, she doesn't want it to mirror in these two anyways. It sounds too dreary to suit them.