After several minutes spent gawking at the interior of the restaurant, the strawhats allow themselves to be lead among the white clothed tables, around golden corners, and below crystalline chandeliers to the table that was specifically reserved for them. They pass through at least three large rooms full of guests before they finally reached their own place. If the staff knew they were pirates, they showed no sign of agitation at their presence, and from that they could conclude that it wasn't the first time a big name pirate group has shown up as patrons. The crew find themselves at a booth in the far corner of this particular room, sitting down at the second to last table in the row. The cushioned booth sits perpendicular to the wall, wall being a generous term as it seemed to actually be made of mostly windows, and five strawhats sit on one side and four on the other. It was also decently close to the entrance to the kitchen, which was not very good for Luffy's attention span but they managed. On one side, closer to the door, sat (in order from the window out) Franky, Sanji, Robin, Chopper, and then Zoro. Opposite them sat Brook, Usopp, Nami, and Luffy on the end.
Luffy and Zoro were often on the ends, though the crew had differing opinions as to why. They felt as Captain and Vice Captain respectively, they should be the first to receive confrontation due to the fact that when they sit like this in restaurants they're mostly cornered in. What they didn't know, however, is that the others put them on the end because Luffy is rather enthusiastic in restaurants and conversation. Having nine people that always want to eat together means that they're often short on room, most of them sitting shoulder to shoulder, arms pressed against each other. This lack of room paired with Luffy's wild hand motions never goes well. They've learned that the hard way. His arm motions quickly become too much to endure for those around him and being on the end gives him more room to gesticulate. Zoro is there too, either to calm him down or catch him when he's about to run off. For either purpose, it works just as well.
The pirates settle down quickly, with only a bit of squabbling over seats. The waiter comes fast, face a mask of calm as he adeptly avoids Luffy's calls for meat and ignores the physical abuse Nami delivers to his head shortly thereafter. Drinks ordered, they now look to each other for entertainment. Out of forced habit, Nami requested a kids menu for Luffy so he could color, which helps distract Usopp and Chopper too. She's usually pretty desperate to keep him under control at places like these, his attention span isn't very long while their waiting. Unfortunately for her, restaurants are built around waiting, so through trial and error Nami has discovered ways to keep him busy, which indirectly calms the rest of the crew down. The rest make attempts at casual conversation.
"Ah Robin, do you want to go shopping with me tomorrow? I thought I saw some rather high class shops farther down the road from here." Robin smiles and sips her drink.
"I think I'd enjoy that. I've been needing a new sun hat."
"Oh that's right. Your last one started on fire in that Navy attack a few days ago… Hey speaking of that! I need another set of sandals because-" The rest of their conversation mostly follows along those lines, delving into the list of things that need to be replaced clothing wise, expanding from just them to the rest of the crew.
"Oi Nami do you think you-"
"I'll give you 100,000 with a 50 per hour interest fee."
"Damn witch."
"What was that shitty marino?"
"Are you starting a fight crap cook?" Chopper looks terrified as Zoro and Sanji lean across him and Robin in order to get in each others faces and insult each other. Robin just simply leans back as she casually continues her conversation with Nami. Nami ducks her head slightly so she can see Robin's face between Zoro and Sanji's snarling ones and their talk continues as though nothing is happening. A hand pops out of the table and catches a water glass as it starts to lean over the edge, bumped by Zoro's elbow.
On the end of the table closest to the window, Franky and Brook talk, discussing the wood carpentry shop they had passed on the way over.
"They had some suuuper pieces of wood in the workshop."
"Yes and the craftsmanship of the violins in the window was exquisite. Maybe we should check it out tomorrow Franky-san."
"Ow! That's be super Brook! I can collect some wood for a project I've been working on!"
"Yohohoho! I wonder if they have any good acoustic guitars? I've been meaning to find one… Ah! Nami-san! If I serenade you with an acoustic guitar will you show me-" He's cut off as Nami arm quickly slams into the back of his head, and his face smashes into the table. Not even turning her head to face him, Nami and Robin's chat suffers no interruption.
Across the table Usopp offers critiques to Luffy's bright pink and green spotted whale that he's been coloring.
"Pink and green are interesting colors for a whale Luffy."
"I dunno, he just seemed like a pink and green kind of guy."
"Funny you should pick that color scheme, because once when I was eight I was sailing on a stormy night, when suddenly I encountered….."
Aimless chatter fills the air as an easy feeling settles over the crew. They chat with one another like that, barely containing their normal boisterous energy, discussing the island and the various things and people they've seen. Luffy's laughter at Usopp's stories begins to reach his outside volume, though to be fair his usual volume is the usual person's outside, and Robin steps in and suggests they play a game.
"What kind Robin?"
"Oh oh! A game! Yes! Usopp I'll beat you!"
"We don't even know what we're playing yet Luffy… But I used to be called the master of it! My opponents would tremble in fear of my skill!"
"There will be only one winner and it'll be me." Chopper looks at Zoro and then at Sanji, who perked up at Zoro's declaration and leans back a little in his seat again.
"Only one winner? You?" Sanji laughs quickly and leans closer across Robin. "Only if you don't get lost before we finish explaining the rules." He gestures his thumb at himself and declares, "The winner obviously, will be me."
"Oi, shit cook, you-"
"No Sanji I'll win-"
"-think you can beat the master-"
"-alright dartboard move-"
"-be game King! Don't-"
Unfortunately Robin's plan backfires, only managing to incite a new fight between half of the table, fueled by high energies and tensions after their most recent long voyage. In the midst of the argument the waiter reappears, and quickly pales at the scene before him. He looks like he's backing away slowly, and that's enough to spur Nami into action. Four hard slaps later and those involved in the squabble are back in their seats, hands in their laps. She huffs lightly and Robin lets out a light laugh at the display.
Being on the end, the anxious waiter turns to Luffy first and cautiously asks for his order.
"And what'll you have today sir?"
"Meat!" Nami grabs his arm quickly, shaking her head.
"Luffy! Be more specific, meat is too general of a term. What kind of meat?" Luffy lifts a hand to his chin and purses his lips, clearly thinking hard. Behind him Nami sighs. She knows his mind is so focused on meat that he'll think but his mind will eventually always come to one conclusion. It always does.
"All of it?" He tries and she pats his head. Apologetically she looks up at the waiter.
"We'll take whatever kind of meat you feel like bringing out."
"E-excuse me?"
The rest of their orders go about the same way, Zoro's being too general ('whatever' is not on the menu Zoro!) and Sanji's being too specific (s-sir I've never heard of that before…). By the end of it, the waiters cool and indifferent facade had worn down and he looked like he was ready to run at any moment.
"Will that be all?" He looks around the table at them all, and they nod unanimously. "Alright…" he sighs and they just barely catch the 'finally' that he murmurs under his breath. No one points it out.
"I'm sorry folks but my shift ends in a few minutes so another server will be bringing out your meals. Please enjoy the rest of your evening." With that he walks away, moving so fast he's practically running, bolting between the tables and through the double doors that lead to the kitchen. Luffy looks after him for a moment before turning to the rest of the strawhats.
"What was his problem?" Their collective sigh only confuses him more.
Sabo's too busy snooping around the kitchen to notice the man at first.
"-cuse me? Excuse me?" Starting, Sabo turns around, trying to nonchalantly lean against the counter to seem like he hadn't been doing anything suspicious. Unfortunately in doing so he puts his hand in a small puddle of marinara that had been split across the gray counter. Blanching he jumps up again, wiping his hand on his apron.
"I, uh, hate to interrupt this…" He gestures at Sabo while he's still frantically wiping his hand in his previously pristine apron, leaving long red stains across the side. "Whatever you're doing, but I'm ending my shift early. I've earned the over time and-" The man pauses once to shudder. "The table I'm supposed to be serving now is a wild bunch. It was busy today you know? I've been stressed all day covering extra tables and just when I think it calms down…."
Sabo really has no idea what the man is talking about, and doesn't exactly care to listen. However, his role as part of the restaurant staff is to act like he's one of them so he nods listlessly, eyes wandering around the room.
"-anyway could you cover table 56 out there? I think that lot is a pirate crew and I don't think they'll take well to waiting for a new server to get in." Now that caught Sabo's attention. Were they the pirate crew that Koala mentioned earlier? Their sudden arrival at the same restaurant he was infiltrating couldn't be a coincidence… Is it possible that they're involved in the arms deal? Realizing that the other waiter in front of him was still waiting for an answer Sabo quickly agrees to serve the table. Slumping in visible relief, the man begins to untie his apron and walks out into the hallway that Sabo had previously been in, presumably to grab his things and leave as soon as he was able.
Finally given something to do, Sabo makes his way to the front of the kitchen where the other waiters were, all lined up and waiting to receive plates for the many tables they've taken the orders of. Sabo slides into the line and waits for… what number was it? Oh 56. He waits for the call of number 56 and ponders his plan of action. Well not action exactly, more like plan of observation. (Koala would throw a fit if he decided to take any action on his own without consulting her first.) He'll walk out with the food and focus his attention anywhere he could until he reaches the table. When handing out the pirate groups food he'll have plenty of time to analyze them, so he decides to utilize his walking time for observation. Sabo already memorized the floor plan of the restaurant, so he won't have to look for the pirates at table 56, he'll just be able to head straight there. Secretly he hopes that it isn't that famous of a pirate group. The more famous ones usually keep tabs on the news more than lesser known ones, and thus were more likely to have seen his face. He could use a good brawl though, so he wouldn't be that mad.
"Order up! Table 56!" Oh that was him. Sabo steps forward and grabs two large trays, picking up the individual meals and placing them on each tray, five on one side and four on the other. He also grabs the order sheet that the original waiter made so he could review the dishes. Walking out to the doors leading to the main room of the restaurant, he laughs a little at the ridiculous orders on the sheet. Who the hell just orders 'whatever' at a five star restaurant? Bold bastard.
Once he's through the doors, he stops, mind going into mission mode. Ok, from his study of the table plans in three tables forward and two to the left he'll reach 56, so Sabo watches the tables out of the corner of his eye while he focuses most of his attention elsewhere. He scours the room as quickly as he can while still taking in small details. There's a lady over there in the corner who looks like her date ditched her, she's crying her eyes out over an expensive looking bottle of wine, there's a group of men on the other side who seem to be having a bachelor party, in the middle is an old couple with roses in the middle of their table, which should be romantic if it weren't for the fact that they were glaring at each other.
Sabo analyzes as many people as he can before coming up behind his designated table. It's a booth and he's approaching from an angle so he can only see half of one side of the patrons. The rest of the guests are obscured by the wall that separates said booth. He's practically at the table now, so he focuses on the few he can see. The only person that's really in his sight line is a muscular green haired man, who's currently turned to side and speaking angrily to another at the table. The man scoffs at something said by someone else and turns more towards the direction Sabo is in. The man makes eye contact with Sabo, and something in his mind clicks. The green hair. The three earrings. The missing eye. He's seen him before… wait isn't that-
"Oi, food's here." The man's call to his party cuts off Sabo's mental revelation and catches the attention of the remainder of the guests.
"About damn time." Comes a gruff response from someone he can't see. It's quickly followed by a loud cheer. Sabo has reached the table already and has stopped moving. He knows that man. He's the swordsman for-
"Food!" He's cut off once again as the person on the end of the bench closest to him cheers. Sabo's frozen as he watches a very familiar boy wearing a Strawhat turns to face him, another shout on his lips. One that quickly dies out as he finally notices Sabo. His open mouth drifts closed and his brow furrows, a look of distress sliding over his features. Whether from recognition or just simply having to think hard about it was anyone's guess. A heartbeat passes and no one moves, the crew picking up on the change in their captain's mood.
"Luffy what-" A long nosed man- the crews sniper he thinks- starts to speak up but is immediately shushed by a harsh look from the swordsman. Another moment passes. He swallows stiffly and doesn't move under the scrutinizing gaze of brown eyes on him. Eyes that slowly widen as his identity clicks in his mind.
"...Sabo?"