Hello friends! So as of 6/5/20 this chapter has been revised with the help of my beta Wyrdfyre.

Warnings at end of chapter

A CERTAIN ISLAND, EAST BLUE

LAND!

CIVILIZED LAND!

CIVILIZATION!

SANCTUARY!

I had absolutely no idea what island Ace and I had just landed on, but then again I also didn't care in the slightest. After we left Sixis, the trip to our new found paradise proved to be less than ideal. While the raft did float, it was rickety and did absolutely nothing to keep us dry. So, not only was it my responsibility to keep us moving but I also had to deal with keeping Ace alive. Shortly after we'd left, he had taken a full face of sea water and had never been able to get fully dry after that. The same was true for me, but I had never particularly minded getting a little wet. Well, not usually. Given the fact that I had spent the last week in the same clothes and had been completely soaked with sea water multiple times, it was safe to say that I was not enjoying the ocean spray as much as I usually might. But that doesn't matter now! Because we found land! And there is a city! A big one! That means I can finally take a bath, get new clothes, and most importantly wash my hair! Seriously, I would be able to tolerate my clothes being trashed if the same wasn't true with my hair!

I had just jumped off our raft and was already heading into town when I realised something. I didn't have my bag. When I'd left Law and Sera in the North Blue I had packed my bag with things that I needed when travelling, like money. It just now occured to me that I hadn't had a chance to grab it before the ocean had, oh so kindly ripped me off of my cute little sail boat and spat me out on Sixis. Which meant I was broke.

Ok, Ok, it's ok Ari, don't scream! Don't cry! It's ok, damn it!

I was in the middle of breathing deeply in order to try and calm myself down when Ace spoke up behind me.

"Hey Ari, so... What should we do first? We need a ship and all, but I think getting food and cleaning up is a bit more important. So do you wanna go find a restaurant and a hotel in town?" Ace said as if that was not the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yes Ace. I would absolutely love to go find a hotel and a restaurant. But you see, those places require you to have money. Which we don't have. Which means I CAN'T SHOWER AND I CAN'T GET NEW CLOTHES! SO UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY BRIGHT IDEAS THEN WE ARE JUST FUCKED OKAY!" I screamed.

I can not handle this anymore! I was so close to getting my life back together but NOOOOOOOO the world just had to screw me over just a little bit more today! Cause why not!

"Um, well I don't have any other ideas but I do have a couple hundred thousand berri. So we could, you know, go get things in town…" Ace said while shying away from me and rubbing the back of his neck.

"Excuse me?"

What did he just say?

"Yea, me and Luffy saved up as much money as we could so that we wouldn't be totally broke when we set sail. So, if you want then we can just go into town. And do stuff… if you want…"

Holy shit I think I'm falling in love with this man.

Huh, was that the exhaustion speaking just now or was that me? You know what, it doesn't matter. I can be CLEAN again!

"Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you."

Please let me kiss you...

"Um, alright let's-let's go then." Ace said awkwardly, while turning to walk into town.

I think he's starting to become concerned for my sanity at this point. But then again so am I, so that's fair…

While our little discussion did help immensely, it did leave us with another problem which we were made aware of while walking into town. Honestly, I should have expected it. Because while I was feeling miserable, Ace had actually been stuck on that island for a whole week longer than I had. So it was to be expected that he would also be feeling quite cranky.

But regardless the boy shouldn't have been trying to stand between me and my shower...

"We need food first!"

"No, I need a shower! So we need to find a hotel! Food can wait!"

"How can you say that! I've been living off pears and fish for 2 weeks now! I need real food!"

"Alright you know what? Just give me some of the money and I'll go find us a hotel room and you can go eat yourself sick. That work for you Captain?"

I am so done! I have been done with all this bullshit since I got to that fucking island!

"Fine. Here." He said, roughly grabbing a large stack of bills out of his weird, little green bag and thrusting it at me.

"Thank you. I'll come find you when I don't smell and look like a dumpster." Ace didn't even wait to hear what I had to say before stomping away to find food.

Ugh! Men are so infuriating!

While I was looking for a hotel, something else caught my eye, and I just couldn't turn away from…

Beauty

Supply

Store

That means shampoo! And conditioner! And SOAP!

I couldn't have contained my squeal of excitement if I wanted to. I also couldn't stop my legs from running away with me straight across the street and into the store.

When I got inside I didn't even bother to glance at the lady sitting behind the register. Nope, I had hair care products to find and no one was going to stand in my way! It took a bit of looking but I was able to find a few products that looked to be decent. Not nearly as high quality as I was used to mind you, but in this situation I was not about to complain. So I grabbed them, along with a few other necessities, and paid as quickly as I could. As I was leaving I could just feel the weight on my shoulders start to lift, the promise of clean hair was enough incentive for me to take a deep breath and begin looking at things more logically.

Ok, Ari things are going good here! Yes, you look terrible and you smell even worse, but you can fix that soon. You also don't have to wander around the East Blue anymore! You found what you were looking for and so things are going to be-

CLOTHES!

Ok screw the internal monologue! I NEED to get new clothes right this second!

Once again I found myself being forced to run into a store. It was a little boutique that might have been cute to some, but for me it was salvation. I think the sales lady on the floor had made an attempt to talk to me, but to be perfectly honest I was far too distracted by the jeans on display. I found a pair that looked like they would fit, and so I grabbed a few pairs along with a handful of crop tops. Normally, I would try everything on, but given the fact that I hadn't seen the inside of a shower in over a week, I didn't see the point.

Why would I put on nice, new, clean clothes when I was still filthy?

So I once again bought my items as quickly as possible and left. After that I was able to find a decent looking hotel without being forced to make another detour.

I didn't choose to go into those stores, I was forced okay? I didn't have a choice, honest!

Regardless, the promise of a shower was more than enough reason for me to suffer through the judge mental and condescending looks that the receptionist gave me.

Seriously, what is with people and not being able to understand that I had things that I needed to do? Why does no one understand that? I'm dirty! Please just let me take a shower! Please, oh please world!

After I had FINALLY gotten into a room I immediately went to the shower and practically fell in. It took an embarrassingly long time to wash out all of the sand and salt that had accumulated in my hair over the last few days, but eventually I was CLEAN.

FINALLY! I CAN TOUCH MY HAIR WITHOUT WANTING TO CRY!

When I got out of the shower with my hair finally clean I couldn't stop touching it and smiling. So I decided to blow dry my hair, which was something that I can't usually be bothered to do, given that not only do I have weirdly thick hair, but it also hangs down to my waist.

It takes so long! And it makes my arms tired!

But come on, Ari suck it up. Do you want nice smooth, luscious hair? Yes? Then get to work!

After my hair was finally dry, I dressed in my newly purchased clothes, the fit wasn't perfect, but so be it. After that was all said and done I turned to look at myself in the full body mirror that was in the closet…

Not to brag, but I looked good. You can call it vanity if you want to but I prefer to call it being aware of one's assets, and beauty just so happened to be one of mine.

The clothes I'd bought didn't fit quite right, the jeans were a bit baggy on my legs and the shirt was tight on my chest, but I wasn't about to complain. At least my hair looked perfect! I couldn't stop fluffing it up and just appreciating the way it felt, it was so soft! And so CLEAN! I also couldn't help but smile at the color. It had taken me a while to find the perfect blend of colors, but I had finally found it last month. It was a deep blue, almost purple at the roots which then faded into a sea foam green at the tips. Contrary to popular belief I didn't hate my natural blonde hair, but I just felt like this complimented my green eyes and tanned skin so much better.

Ok, stop staring in the mirror! Yes, you look good but shut up! You need to go find Ace!

Grabbing the only pair of shoes that I had, I pulled them on. I knew that there was no way that I was going to be able to find replacements for these things, I would just have to make do with what I had. My boots had been custom made for me about a year ago, they'd been specially designed in order to compliment my tastes, as well as my fighting style. Meaning that while they were 6 inch heels they also had been reinforced in the ankles. So that I wouldn't roll my ankle or hurt my feet anymore than I already did by fighting. After I had those on I left the room in order to find my new captain.

Ok, what the actual hell have I just walked in on?

Well, I found him, but why are there so many plates? Did he eat everything that was on them? Is he still eating? How is he still eating? Has he been here this whole time? What is wrong with this dude? Where did it all go? Oh good they're bringing him more. Alright, I guess I should go see what is going on here...

"Hey Ace." I said nervously, walking up to his table. Not gonna lie, I was a bit nervous to be talking to him after our little tiff earlier. I'd been seriously bitchy to him, hopefully he won't hold it against me but I'll have to see...

"Hey Ari- whoa you look different!" He said, pausing his rapid eating. His eyes bugged out of his face slightly when he looked at me.

Was that a compliment?

"What did you expect? That I always looked that greasy and dirty?" I asked.

"No, it's just- you look different." Ace said before looking back down at his plate.

Ok definitely a compliment but, awh! He's trying to hide his blush! But honey that doesn't work when your blush goes up to your ears… and down your neck… What? Stop! Don't let his cuteness distract you!

"Anyways, what is the deal with all the plates? Did you seriously eat all this?"

"I told you I was hungry"

Right because all hungry people can eat over 50 entrees in one sitting. Obviously...

"That doesn't really explain how you have eaten this much. Have you been here since we landed? That was hours ago!"

"No, I haven't been here the WHOLE time. I was at a different restaurant before I came here." He said as he started eating again.

He did this at another place and he STILL isn't finished?

"Where- ok you know what, fine. I've seen weirder things. Moving on. I booked us a room in town, so when you would like to stop smelling like a literal dumpster fire then you can go take a shower. If you can stop eating that is..."

Ok so the kid has a massive stomach. Not the worst quirk to have. It's a good thing that I barely eat as it is.

"No I'm done now actually so we can head there if you want." He said while stretching back in his chair.

"It would probably be best to discuss our plans in private anyways, so that works. I'll flag down a waiter so we can go." I said as I started looking around for an employee.

"Don't worry about it, I got it." He said, standing up and looking around. I was expecting him to wave to a waiter so that he could get his check, you know like a normal person. But instead he just broke into a dead sprint towards the door and left me to just stand there blinking dumbly at where he had been standing.

Um, alright then guess we're running!

"What the hell was that!" I yelled when I finally caught up to him and we had lost the people who had been chasing after us.

"What? Why would I pay when I can run?"

Huh?

"But why would you run when you can just pay? Then people wouldn't chase you!"

Obviously! Why would he draw so much attention to himself when he didn't have to?

"But they can't catch me so it's fine!"

"That is not how this works but fine, whatever. Let's just go."

Ugh, this is going to be a hot mess isn't it? Why did I agree to do this again?

"Hey Ari, your hair looks nice down." He smiled.

Damn it.

That's why I'm doing this…

"Shut up. Just follow me and don't cause any more trouble." I said without blushing while turning away.

Nope, I did not blush. Not at all. Not even a little bit.

When we got back to the hotel I started working on cleaning my jacket as best I could while Ace was in the shower. It wasn't ideal but a damp cloth was helping to get a lot of the dried salt off of it. Thankfully the embroidery hadn't been damaged at all. My jacket, and the embroidery in particular, was very special to me because it had been given to me by one of my close friends.

"I've been meaning to ask, what does that symbol on your jacket mean? Is it a jolly roger?" Ace asked when he walked back into the bedroom while towel drying his hair.

"Sort of. It was my mom's personal jolly roger way back when she was a pirate. But now it's more of just a memory of a good friend of mine. He gave this to me when I left his crew. He said that I should give people a warning before they try to start something with me. He has one that matches, well mostly. His doesn't say Donquixote over the skull of course." I said while lovingly tracing the threads.

"Cool. So do you want to talk about how we are going to get a ship? I don't know if we have enough money to buy a fancy one but we should be able to find at least a little one." He said while sitting down on one of the beds in the room.

"Ace did you forget that we are pirates? Paying for things is optional for us." I said, smirking up at him from my spot on the floor.

"But I want a nice ship! I don't wanna get stuck with some sad little fishing dinghy."

"Obviously we'll find a nice one, but that doesn't really matter right now. Ships from the blues don't last very long on the Grand Line. That sea is just far too rough for ships built out here. So we need to find something temporary for now and then we can get a custom made one at Water 7."

"Why wouldn't it last? A ship is a ship isn't it?" He said while tilting his head like a confused puppy.

"Not really. The Grand Line is called the pirate graveyard for reasons other than it just being full of competition. That sea is violent and temperamental in ways that the blues aren't. Just trust me on this, we should find a decent ship here and get a better one later on."

"Ok, ok. So tell me about this Water 7 place. Why is it so important to get a ship there?" He said as he laid back on the bed with his legs still hanging off.

"The best shipwrights in the world work there. I have only been there once myself but everyone knows that if you want a sturdy ship then you go to Water 7. That's where all the best pirates in the world get their ships."

"Huh. So where exactly are you from on the Grand Line anyways?"

"Sabaody. It's sort of the last island in the first half of the Grand Line depending on how you look at it."

"What does that mean?"

"Well you know how the Red Line divides the world in half right? Well you can only get past it in two places which are on opposite sides of the planet. Reverse Mountain is how most people get into the Grand Line and then they have to get to Sabaody in order to get past the wall again so they can continue on their trips. So while Sabaody technically isn't an island, it's actually an archipelago, it is the last stop in Paradise for most pirates."

"Huh, interesting so guess we'll be heading for your home town then. Cause we're goin all the way!" When he said that he thrust his fist up towards the ceiling. I couldn't help but chuckle at that while also grimacing at the thought of going back to Sabaody.

"Can't wait. But can the rest of this little talk wait until later because I would very much appreciate a nap right about now."

"A nap does sound nice." I'm pretty sure he was already half asleep when he said that.

"Lovely." I said while getting up from the floor and walking over to the unoccupied bed. I climbed in and curled up under the covers. I peaked over at Ace who was already dead to the world and smiled just a tiny bit at his adorable sleeping face.

Warnigs:

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