Title: Play That Funky Music
Fandom: One Piece
Characters: Brook with Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper (Others, too...)
Words: 1042
Rating: G/K
Warnings: I honestly drew a total blank on what to write, so this is very rambling and kind of crappy!

"But, Nami, it's a festival!" Luffy whined. "We wanna go!"

"I already told you; I have to be here to help navigate us through the canal lock system." A large expanse or coral reef stretched off to either side of the current island, so to avoid taking the long way around, a canal system had been put in place. "You three," Nami paused to point at Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper each individually, "are not allowed anywhere without responsible supervision!"

"Sanji?" Three sets of imploring eyes slid over to the ship's cook.

"As fun as babysitting you lot sounds," Sanji drawled sarcastically, "I have to get started on dinner. Besides, I promised Nami-san I would help with the locks."

"Zoro?"

"Will also be helping since he owes me! You three really ought to be helping too, you know," Nami informed them. "Besides, I said responsible. He'd just get lost, leaving you to run amok!" The swordsman in question rolled his eyes, but refrained from commenting.

"Robin?"

"I've read about the canal system of this island. I've been looking forward to seeing it in action. Did you know these canals have been here for centuries? The technology is a recent addition, but it's interesting just the same. Maybe next time?" she offered as consolation.

"Franky?"

"Sorry, guys," Frank apologized with a shrug. "I want to get a look at this canal system's set up, too. Maybe I can pick up something I can use for an upgrade." He didn't specify whether he meant for himself or for the Sunny.

"I could escort them." Brook offered.

Nami gave him a skeptical look. The musician was often just as ridiculous as the captain, but he had also proved to be dependable when it counted.

"Yeah!" Luffy hooted. "Brook can do it! He's the oldest, so he's responsible."

Nami debated trying to argue with Luffy's logic for a moment, but then decided the tricky trip through the canals might go more smoothly without a certain energetic captain.

"All right, he can take you, but you'd better not make me regret it!" Nami warned, eyes blazing.

"I promise to keep a close eye on them at all times, though I have no eyes! Yohohoho!" Nami glared at him for the joke. "In all seriousness, I shall not let you down!"

"Good." Nami started to turn back to supervising the ship's preparations.

"I have one request before we leave, however." Nami looked over, expression darkening. "Might I see your-" Brook's three charges hauled him off at an impressive speed before he could ask the question that would doom their whole trip.

The festival turned out to be a celebration of the island's cultural history. Luffy was thrilled by the booths of traditional island dishes, Usopp enjoyed stopping by a stage where a storyteller was relaying folk tales to a crowd of small children, and Chopper made several purchases at an apothecary's exhibit, but the most pleased of all turned out to be Brook. Small groups of musicians wandered throughout the festival grounds, playing traditional songs on handmade instruments. It was clear that the island's residents had a deep love for music, and people in the crowd frequently sang along when their favorite tunes were played.

"They look like they're having so much fun!" Chopper observed as a particularly merry group of musicians strolled past. "I wish I knew how to play an instrument."

"You could learn," Brook told him. "Like with anything one does, mastery takes a great deal of time and effort, but anyone can learn the basics."

"Really?"

"Indeed." Brook scanned the area around them, and had he any skin to produce the effect, his smile would have widened when he spotted a stall selling musical instruments. "Shall we start our own group of wandering musicians?"

His suggestion was met with boisterous agreement all around.

The trip through the canals had gone smoothly, and the Thousand Sunny was now docked on the other side of the island while they waited for the log pose to set. All in all, Nami was in quite a pleasant mood. Then she heard what was quite possibly the most terrible racket she had ever witnessed.

"Who's torturing small animals?" Zoro voiced the question several others had been thinking.

"Where is that coming from?" Sanji frowned and gazed inland.

"I have a bad feeling about this..." Nami pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

A familiar group of four came over a small hill and headed down toward the ship. Chopper had some kind of stringed instrument, Usopp had an accordion, and Luffy was enthusiastically playing a wooden recorder.

Nami had many, many things she considered saying, but she settled for simply asking Brook, "Why?"

"How could I deny them instruments of their own when they show such passion for music?" Brook defended. "My heart swells with pride, seeing such enthusiasm, but I have no heart!"

Nami lowered her voice so the boys in question wouldn't hear her, not that they could over the cacophony. "They sound terrible! I knew I was going to regret this..."

"All they need is a bit of practice. Besides, I am happy to report that there was no trouble at all at the festival." The musician definitely sounded a bit smug.

The others all turned back to the road down which the group had returned. Sure enough, no angry mob appeared, even after several minutes.

"At least take them up to the gym for 'practice,'" Nami pleaded. "The sound won't carry as well." Nami turned to head back to the surveying room and her charts.

"Wait a minute, Nami!" Luffy called after her. "We wrote a song for you!"

"You wrote it?"

"Well, Brook helped."

Nami looked at their smiling, eager faces and sighed. "Oh, all right; play it."

It really wasn't that bad; she supposed she had to give them that much. They could definitely use more practice, though!