Eventually the crew had rounded Bara up and got her to sit down, promising Melia would sit beside her for dinner. The promise was fulfilled; Shanks sat in his usual spot with Melia between him and Bara. Dinner was a little more quiet than usual since, for once, nobody really knew what to say. Hearing the occasional lewd comment about Bara or Melia, Shanks (or even Bara herself) would occasionally glance sideways threateningly. Melia herself was oblivious to any coarse thought but ate her dinner placidly, and Bara was too deep in thought to bother with actually punishing any idiocy.

Once the unusual dinner was finished, Shanks decided that being reunited with his sister was due cause for a party. He and most of his crew always enjoyed a chance to drink and get drunk, despite the problems they'd have the next morning. It was worth it to most of them, and those that remained sober enough were always amused by the sight of their drunken crewmates harassing each other and being rowdy.

Melia and Bara weren't so much used to all this. The simple drunks from the cruise ship's small, attractive bars seemed tame compared to drunken pirates. Bara kept a suspicious eye out for any drunks, while Melia kept close by her and Shanks...though he proved to be of little help as he, too, was quickly intoxicated.

"Huvva drink, Melyuh!" Shanks slurred, slamming a bottle down in front of her with a wide grin.

Melia jumped a mile into the air then calmed herself. "Oh...no thank you, Bara might like some, but I only like sweet drinks," Melia answered politely, having no intention of drinking herself into oblivion in front of a pirate crew...or anyone, for that matter. Besides, it was true, she really didn't see the appeal of grog. Bara just sat sullenly.

"Huh? That...the...the kid? She's too young..." Shanks sniggered at his own "joke" as Bara went into a fit of angry twitching.

Turning to his sober first mate who was standing calmly over his shoulder, Shanks requested, "Oi, Beckman...git Melyuh somethin' sweet ta' drink 'n'...kanpai with, eh?..." Melia became a little alarmed and tried to object but the order was obeyed too quickly.

Benn came back only moments later with a glass of light red liquid, which he handed to Melia. "That was easier to find than I thought it would be, considering this crew's tastes," he said, almost to himself.

She hesitantly took the glass and scrutinized it. "Thank you," she said timidly after a moment and sipped it. He nodded and he sat back down.

"Melia the Deathflower, eh?" he said with a chuckle. "Sorry about earlier. That was strictly orders..." he laughed a bit. "I'm Benn Beckman. I'm Shanks's first mate."

Bara rolled her eyes at Benn irritatedly and huffed, then turned to Melia and said, "Hey, I'm gonna go somewhere less...noisy, mm-kay? I'll see you in a bit." Seeing Melia's brief nod, she walked out in search of peace and quiet.

Melia flinched slightly at hearing her alias. She hated the Navy for giving her the infamy of a dirty cutthroat. She wasn't like that, and didn't think it was right that the Navy should decide her reputation, rather than letting her set it herself through her actions and character.

"That's just...I...the Navy--"

"No, I understand." Benn smiled and nodded. "The Navy doesn't usually know what they're doing. I've seen lots more deadly flowers than you."

Melia blushed a little at being referred to as a flower. "I...it's because my name...it's a type of flower," she explained, "a...a plumeria." Her fingers reached up to touch the small flower behind her ear, presumably the type she'd been named after.

"It matches your eyes," Benn remarked with a nod, causing Melia to blush again, before she turned to her intoxicated older brother with a curious look. He was rustling aimlessly through some papers and maps. Knowing what the captain was trying to find out, Beckman stood and went out of the room for a moment, then came back and began helping Shanks reorganize his papers. "You won't find out anything by doing that. Stop making a mess," he ordered.

"I will too," mumbled Shanks, making even more of a mess, and was promptly backhanded across the face.

"You'll thank me for that tomorrow when you can actually find the papers you're looking for," Benn informed him, restacking the pile. "I just checked with the navigator. We'll be at the island tomorrow morning at about nine."

"You...you think I'll recover from my hangover by then?" Shanks sniggered drunkenly, picking himself up off the floor.

"...no. You won't even be awake by then."

Shanks swore sadly and took another drink. "That's too bad. Oh well, it's worth it." He took another swig before turning to Melia. "Hey...hey...sis...let's have drinking contest!" he challenged her cheerfully.

Melia's eyes widened a bit with alarm. "Erm...no, thanks..."

"Awwwww, ci'mun..." Shanks patted her shoulder heavily.

Thinking fast, Melia replied sweetly, "I'd love to, but...I don't stand a chance against you. You wouldn't want to embarrass me by winning with no challenge, would you?"

Shanks grunted. "That would make me a bad brother, wunn't it..." He gulped from his drink once more then passed out.