Finally! The next one! I feel so off though...
The next morning, her friends filled her in on their plans to gather a chef. When they told her about the ocean going restaurant, which their guests called 'Baratie', Gwenyth could only sigh and shake her head; wondering what other madness this world would come up with. She spent the rest of the day gathering her friend's measurements and becoming reacquainted with her sewing muscles.
Nami had known most of hers off the top of her head and gave Gwenyth a short list of things she did and didn't like to wear. Other than a fiery burst of envy at the older girl's bust and waist measurements, the event went by smoothly. The boys on the other hand were a bit more difficult. Luffy, for one, could barely hold still. He kept asking questions and jumping in place; babbling on about this and that while Gwenyth regretted the amount of sugar Johnny had put in their breakfast.
Zoro slept through the entire thing. Forcing the seamstress to deal with his dead-weighted limbs. Something for which she swore revenge.
Usopp would have been easy enough to measure, since he had the remarkable talent to be both still and conscious. But instead, he argued that she didn't need his measurements since he'd brought everything he owned, including all his clothes, when they'd left his village. Gwenyth insisted upon having them though, just in case, and eventually threatened to throw his slingshot overboard in the dead of night if he continued to refuse her. Needless to say, she got his measurements.
By the end of the day, Gwenyth had started and finished an oddly patterned T-shirt as her revenge against Zoro. The design vaguely reminded her of big hawaiian shirts that she often saw tourists wear back home. She'd made it with the plans of somehow wrecking the shirt he usually had on and forcing him to look like a touristy idiot for not helping her earlier. However, the swordsman was surprisingly grateful for the garment. His sincere 'thank you' made her feel like a total ass-hat and guilted away the malicious thoughts from her mind.
The next morning, the seamstress awoke to Nami's loud shouting from somewhere above deck. In her groggy state, she was only able to catch a few words, such as: "Luffy", "how", "break", "water", "idiot" and a particularly loud smacking sound. At lunch, after asking about the incident, she found out that Luffy had broken one of the water-pump-bikes. Later, Gwenyth moved Maaya's sewing books from the crates in the storage room to her and Nami's bookcase.
That evening she spoke with Yosaku for the first time without feeling queasy, which, as plain as it sounds, is actually quite noteworthy. During the conversation, he told her that most people called the other other room either an anchor room or military storage. Which she immediately and ecstatically told Luffy, who thought it was interesting but didn't get why she was so happy about it. To be honest, she didn't either. The day was otherwise uneventful.
On the third day, the girls silently worked in each other's company; Nami at the desk, Gwenyth on her (lovely) bed. She was just finishing the first side of a pair shorts for the navigator when one of the bounty brothers started shouting. Neither understood the first half of whatever was said, but when Nami opened their bedroom trapdoor it became much more clear that they had arrived at their destination.
"-other Usopp! Brother Nami! Baby Sister!"
Nami scoffed. "Does he have to call me 'brother'?"
"You're the one who told them not to call you 'sister'," Gwenyth snickered.
"At least I'm not 'baby sister'," Nami teased right back, thoroughly shutting the younger girl up.
Once they were on deck, they rushed to the front of the ship with the boys to get a better look at the restaurant. It was sight to behold. The main body was the color of mint ice cream and stacked upwards like a round, three layered cake with a reddish roof. Each story had large glass windows shinning in the sun and X-shaped railings all around. Its vibrant orange and white sails were tied up, but their strips were still colorfully obvious. The most obvious thing of course, was the fish head at the front of the ship and a tail fin in the back.
Her friends made comments of awe and amazement. The blonde pirate was also impressed, but a part of her wanted to start laughing. The idea of an ocean going restaurant had been ridiculous enough, but an ocean going restaurant that looked like a fish? First a goat, then a fish. What was it with this world and animal themed ships? It was so strange.
"WHOA, A NAVY SHIP!"
Gwenyth's head whipped to the side. Sure enough, a larger, more official looking ship had pulled up beside the Going Merry. The word 'Marines' was clearly painted along the side.
"How long has that been there?!"
"Where'd it come from?" Luffy echoed.
"I hope they don't blast us..."
"Geez, Usopp, turn down the optimism a bit, will ya?" The seamstress watched with curiosity and skepticism as a man on the deck began to address the group.
"I'm Lieutenant Ironfist Fullbody, Minister of the Navy," he introduced, raising an ironically ironed fist. "Who's the captain? Speak your name."
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy. We just made our flag the other day," her captain replied, over informing the man.
"And I'm Usopp," the sharpshooter added.
"Should we introduce ourselves, too?" Gwenyth glanced to Nami for an answer, ignoring Johnny and Yosaku's laughter and the snide comments of her crew's amateurism. The navigator simply shook her head with a loud, irritated sigh.
"Idiots."
Gwenyth continued to stare at the older girl, waiting for a better explanation, but none came. She dumbly returned to the exchange at hand as the Bounty Brothers withdrew their weapons. Her eyes darted back and forth between the Navy man and her new friends as they attempted to jump him. Returned like a volleyball by the man's iron fist, Gwen didn't know whether to laugh or freak out when they slammed back onto the Going Merry's deck.
"You guys okay?" She asked leaning cautiously over them. Hands behind her back as if their swollen, bloody, bruising faces were somehow contagious. It had happened so fast, she'd missed the entire butt-whooping. She didn't even know what had set it off.
"A hair's breadth from death," they answered together.
Gwenyth's brows knit together as she tilt her head. "Huh?"
"Are you guys weak or what?" Luffy asked from beside her. Disappointed and unimpressed with their performance.
"N-No... He's just really tough," Yosaku managed to choke out.
"If you say so, dude... Just don't almost die again, okay?"
The brothers quickly jumped up at this. "Don't worry for our sakes, Baby Sister! Your big brothers were just kidding anyway."
"That's right," Johnny insisted through a puffy, bleeding lower lip. "If we'd really gotten into it with that guy, he'd be one sorry sucker!"
Gwenyth felt a drop of sweat roll down her head as she nodded. Why did they feel the need to baby her? She wasn't a little kid. She was somewhat able take care of herself. At the very least, she knew who it was and wasn't okay to pick fights with. Which seemed to be more than her 'big brothers' could say. It was probably safe to assume Zoro had been the greater force behind their bounty hunting gang.
Nami bent down beside them, picking up a piece of paper. "What are these?"
"Wanted posters... Pirates and bounties, Sister Nami. An ugly business," Johnny assured. "I get paid for every one I kill."
Gwenyth glanced over the redhead's shoulder. A particularly scary face was grinning back at them. She heard herself slip out a small 'holy shit' at the man's face. It was a shade between grey-blue and light purple, his pupils were almost too small too see. What could be seen, looked almost slanted. His nose was longer than any normal human's, with sharp points along it. His teeth, too, were similarly jagged, as if they were used to tear a person apart, chomp by chomp. She hoped they'd never have to come face to face with this man-like creature.
She was about to ask what it was, when fear entered her heart. Fear and something else. Worry? Anger? She wasn't quite sure what the other emotion was, but it wasn't pleasant. And it wasn't hers. Nami's hands began to shake, quickly catching the younger girl's eye. The seamstress opened her mouth to console her friend; assure her that it wasn't likely they'd ever run into the shark looking man. But before the first word could be uttered, Usopp had already begun to scream.
"THIS IS BAD! THEY'RE AIMING A CANNON AT US!"
"WHAT!?"
A thundering BOOM! ripped through the air as a large, black cannonball soared straight for them.
"THEY FIRED ON US!"
"NO SHIT! WE'RE FUCKING DEAD!"
"I'll handle it!" Luffy jumped onto the railing, inhaling a vast amount of air.
Gwenyth heard herself screaming in protest. Just as the oversized bullet reached the Straw Hat, his body popped out like a balloon. A resounding "WHAT!?" echoed across the ocean as his body stretched with the ball's force. Then, for just a moment, everything froze. As quickly as it stopped, it started again. Luffy's elastic body hurtling the cannonball away from them and the Navy ship.
Where is it-? The ball crashed into the restaurant's red roof before Gwenyth could even finish the thought. A thick hush fell over the pirates as Luffy fell to his back, water falling from his face, jaw slack. Too shocked, amazed, and dumbfounded to really move. Just like everyone else. After perhaps a full two minutes of gaping, Gwenyth and the rest of the crew realized they'd docked. With Nami, being the only semi-functioning person onboard, doing all of the work. Gwenyth dragged herself over to the redhead in a zombie-like fashion and attempted to apologize for not helping.
After another few seconds, everyone slowly began to comprehend the situation. Luffy had essentially just fired a freaking cannon at the restaurant. What were they supposed to do? How did one respond to such an immense accident? Did they go in and apologize? Act like they had no idea what had just transpired? Did they raise anchor and high tail it out of there, never looking back? What was the proper edict when you blew a random hole into someone's roof? Nobody seemed to know.
"Hey!" A voice bellowed from the dock. Two brutish men dressed in white uniforms, complete with doughy hats, glared at the group.
"Are you the ones who fired that cannonball at us?!"
"I'm sorry," Luffy answered, bowing his head in shame. The men demanded he go with them and speak to the head chef, both clearly enraged. Not that anyone could blame them. They had just been shot at after all. The moment Luffy reached the dock, the men grabbed his arms and hauled him away into the depths of the restaurant.
"I hope no one's hurt..." Gwenyth mumbled once they disappeared.
After that, the shock had quickly worn off. Now everyone was sitting, going around complaining about Luffy's shoddy aim, or the Navy douche, or how long they had to wait, or how hungry they were getting.
About done with the shorts from earlier, Gwen gave a heavy groan. "How much longer?" She whined.
"Maybe they're making him wash dishes for a month," Zoro answered.
"Don't even joke." Gwenyth pricked her finger with the needle and hissed. "He'd probably end up breaking them all."
"That honest fool," Nami sighed. "He should've blamed the Navy ship."
"Wanna check on him? And eat?"
Gwenyth rolled her eyes at the sniper and his hunger. "If it's not one, it's the other," she mumbled to herself.
Usopp squinted his eyes. "What?"
"What?" She echoed.
"Did you say something?"
"I'm sewing."
"That doesn't answer-"
"NO!" Nami shouted over him. "She already does that enough with Luffy! Don't encourage it!"
"Encourage what?" Zoro asked.
"The bickering!"
Gwenyth cocked a brow at the navigator. "We weren't-"
"Don't even go there!"
"But-"
"No!"
"But-"
"NO!"
Gwenyth huffed and crossed her arms. "Fiiiiine..."
"Thank you," Nami breathed.
"But Luffy and I don't- OW! MY FUCKING HEAD!"
"THAT'S WHAT YOU GET!"
The seamstress rubbed her head, grumbling about mean ogresses not being grateful, before reluctantly continuing her work. Crashing noises echoed from within the restaurant, along with loud, booming voices. Followed swiftly by more unidentifiable sounds, and finally silence. Shouting even louder than before started up and another loud crash made the entire ship shake.
"What the hell, dude..."
"Sounds like a couple fights broke out," Zoro mumbled just as all hell broke loose on the marine ship beside them. Alarms were sounding, men were shouting, and guns were firing.
Nami eyed a screaming navy man sprinting from the ship to the Baratie. "This place is insane," she sighed. The man's scream became louder as he shouted into the restaurant.
Minutes away from finishing Nami's new shorts, Gwenyth didn't care enough to try and hear his words. She simply stopped listening all together and blocked out the rest of the continued crashing and fighting. Turning the shorts right-side-out, she checked them over for any mistakes and finally tossed them to Nami. The redhead, lost in thought, jumped awake when they plopped onto her head.
The seamstress stood up stretching. "Are we going in yet?"
"Oh, now you want to go in?" Usopp crossed his arms.
She shrugged. "Didn't see a point to stop sewing when I was so close to finishing."
"Well, it's calmed down quite a bit, so this is probably the best time," Nami informed them, folding the shorts and setting them aside.
"Please seat yourselves", Gwenyth read before following her crewmates to a table. "What a nice looking place."
"I'll bet it's pretty pricey," Nami muttered, glancing around at the food being served.
"Who cares?" Usopp slid into a seat. "If this place is as good as Johnny and Yosaku said, it should be worth it."
Zoro reached for a piece of complementary bread at the center of the table. "I wonder what that guy wants."
"What guy?" Gwenyth asked plopping into her chair.
"Hey, you there," a familiar voice called. The group turned to find one of the men whom had dragged Luffy away. "You're the group sailing with the guy who shot at us, ain't ya?"
"Well, if you wanna get technical..." the seamstress started.
"I don't," the man insisted. "The head chef told me to let his crew know he's got to work as a chore boy to pay off the damages."
Gwenyth rolled her eyes. "Of course he does."
"A chore boy?" Nami asked, stifling a giggle. "For how long?"
"One year," the man answered crossly. "No exceptions. Enjoy your meal." He set down four menus and walked away.
"Bet'cha a thousand Berries Luffy 'll cause another year worth of damage by the end of the week," Gwen muttered as she picked up a menu.
"I'll raise you another thousand they drop the charges by the end of the month," Zoro added.
"Why would they do that?" Usopp wondered aloud.
"To spare themselves the trouble he causes," the navigator answered with a sly grin. "They'll see it's more financially sound to just get rid of him than to have him around."
"Speaking of paying, where are the prices on these menus?" The blonde frowned. "Crap. That's how you know it's expensive. When they hide the prices from you."
From where they were seated, the group could just barely hear muffled shouting from the kitchen. It was partially drowned out by the quiet chatter amongst the customers, but, if Gwen listened hard enough, she could still hear it. She wondered if the cooks were yelling at each other or their newly acquired Chore Boy.
By the time lunch was served, the shouts had only gotten louder and more frequent. Gwenyth was now absolutely certain her captain was somehow involved. Her assumptions were proven correct when Luffy was dragged out of the kitchen and practically thrown into the dinning room by a cook who vaguely reminded her of Popeye the Sailor Man.
"Hi, Chore Boy!" Nami greeted cheerfully.
"Ugh! You guys?"
"Sooo..." Usopp smiled. "You gotta work for an entire year."
Zoro grinned. "Can we change the ships flag?"
"Excuse me, I need a refill!" Gwenyth teased, raising an empty glass of juice.
Luffy glared at her for a moment, clearly not finding the humor in his crew's antics, when realization hit him in the face. "You're eating without me?! I'M SLAVING AND YOU'RE EATING OUT!? THAT'S MEAN!"
The group burst into a series of snorts and giggles at their 'betrayal'.
"Why shouldn't we enjoy a nice meal?" Zoro asked turning away from his captain. Gwenyth watched in disgust and gut-wrentching awe as Luffy stuck a finger up his nose and flicked a booger into Zoro's glass.
"Y-Yeah," Usopp agreed, trying desperately not to laugh. "Why not?"
"The food's not bad here," the swordsman exclaimed, picking up his (booger infected) drink and bringing it to his lips. Usopp, Gwenyth, and Nami were choking on their chuckles by this point, (the seamstress was in fact starting to cough). Zoro, seemingly unaware, continued. "But I do feel bad for you..."
In a flash, Zoro jumped from his seat. He threw Luffy into a headlock and forced the drink (and booger) down his throat. "YOU EAT IT!"
The three remaining pirates burst into loud, unruly laughter. They banged the table and slapped their knees, tears welling up in their eyes. Gwenyth threw her head back and nearly tumbled out of her seat. Flapping her arms and spewing forth obscenities, she caused another round hysterics. The rest of the patrons glanced uneasily at the group and whispered to one another, but this was heavily ignored.
"O SEA, HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THIS DAY OF DAYS!" The laughter stopped. Slowly, the small group of pirates turned their heads to a loud, smoking blonde sauntering towards the table. More specifically, towards Nami. "O LOVE! SMILE UPON ME, FOR I CANNOT SURVIVE THIS PAIN!"
Gwenyth giggled at the navigator's confused face as he continue to make a spectacle of his love. When the sound reached the man's ears, he paused and turned to her. After a few moments of silence and staring, the blonde pirate was swept up by wave after wave of the man's apparent love. Followed briskly by her own confusion.
"MY SWEET ANGEL FROM ABOVE, YOUR LAUGHTER BRINGS LIGHT TO MY DARKENED SKIES!"
"Uh-I- Wait, what?"
The man reached for the hand of each girl. "I would stoop to becoming a pirate," he looked from Nami to Gwenyth, "Or even a Devil, if only to be with either of you." He kissed each of their knuckles. The navigator smirked as the seamstress reddened and became even more uncomfortable. "SUCH TRAGEDY!" He cried. "THE OBSTACLES BETWEEN US ARE GREAT!"
"Obstacles, Sanji?" An older man with a peg leg leaned against a chair.
Lover Boy's head snapped to the man. "The crap-geezer!"
The chef's unfathomably tall hat captivated Gwenyth. "Is that Doug Dimmadome? Owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome?"
"Who?" Nami whispered back.
"Never mind," Gwenyth mumbled, highly confused as the 'Crap-Geezer' began listing the younger man's faults.
"Don't step over the line, old man! You can insult me, but don't ever insult my cooking!" The younger man- Sanji- jabbed a finger into the older man's chest. "I'm staying right here! You have no say in the matter!"
"Grab the food," Zoro mumbled. Gwenyth blinked as Nami and Usopp complied before following suit. Not a moment after she'd picked up the bread bowl, the blonde cook was slammed into their table, successfully demolishing it. To her surprise, none of the other patrons batted an eyelash.
"YOU CAN'T KICK ME OUT! I'LL COOK HERE FOREVER! UNTIL YOU DIE!"
The older man began to walk away. "I won't die," he said calmly. "I'll live another hundred years."
"Tch. Always gotta have the last word, eh?" Sanji grumbled, slowly standing.
"Great! You got permission!" Luffy grinned. "Come be my cook!"
"NEVER!"
Gwenyth chuckled. Does he ask everyone to join his crew so bluntly? Do we all decline at first, as well? She wondered, recalling her own invitation. I wonder if that means he'll be joining us eventually...
"Are you alright, Mr. Cook?" She asked as he led them to another table.
He smiled pulling a chair out for her. "Don't worry for my sake, sweet angel."
"O... Kay." Gwenyth thanked him and sat down. He did the same for Nami before excusing himself.
"Luffy, you want that guy as our cook?" Zoro asked.
"Yep!" He nodded. "He's a good guy. He fed a hungry man when he had no money."
"No money, huh?" Nami grinned, clearly plotting. Gwenyth felt a drop of sweat roll down her neck before turning to Luffy.
"Well, he does seem nice. Weird and super girl-crazy, but nice. I'd be okay with him if he decides to join."
"He will! He already got permission!" Luffy laughed.
"It didn't seem like he was too thrilled with the idea to me," Usopp mumbled as the cook made his way back to their table.
"Here." Sanji plopped down a cup of tea in front of him and the other boys. "Please forgive the commotion, ladies," He cooed, setting down a dish in front of each of them. "A fruit macédoine with my complements. Grand Marnier as a digestive for my princess, and sparkling rosemary limeade for my angel."
"Wow! Thank you so much!"
"How gallant," Nami teased.
"Not at all," he insisted.
"Hey!" Usopp shouted. "Don't we get any?! That's discrimination! I'll sue!"
Gwenyth laughed before taking a bite. She froze. With wide eyes she grabbed Nami's hand, quickly gaining the older girl's attention.
"What? Is it good?"
The seamstress nodded frantically, eyes sparkling, before taking another bite.
Nami chuckled and tried it for herself. "MMMMM! You're right, Gwen. It's delicious!"
She nodded again before offering a forkful to their whining captain.
"Don't eat the damn fork!"
"It's good!" He shouted with his mouth full.
"Here, eat these." Gwen stabbed a few select fruits. "I don't like kiwis."
"Okay!"
"Um, dear chef? This gourmet fair is a tad pricey. And seeing as I also have to pay for Gwen-y..." Gwenyth turned to see Nami caressing Sanji's cheek. The poor man was putty in her hands.
"For the two of you, it's free!"
"Hurray! My hero!" Nami hugged him around the neck, lightly pushing her breasts against him.
Sanji turned to the men. "Pay up, bums."
"WHAT!?" Usopp snorted.
"Did you bewitch him?" Zoro whispered, glancing at the cook as he walked away.
The redhead giggled. "You three better watch out, too."
"You are truly a master of deception, Nami," Gwenyth teased.
She winked. "Naturally."
Usopp was grumbling about the lady's man and wanting fruit when Sanji sped back over to the table. He lifted his leg and swiftly brought it down upon Luffy's head.
"ENOUGH GOOFING OFF, CHORE BOY!" He grabbed the Straw Hat and dragged him across the dinning room, giving him orders.
"Hey, Usopp, gimme your fork and I'll give you some kiwi."
"I don't have a fork..."
"Oh. That's too bad."
"HEY!"
Gwenyth took another bite. Paused. Then pushed the half-finished dish away. "I'm full."
Hey, hey, hey... Wanna see what Gwen more-or-less looks like in my head?
Go to DevianArt .com and search for Gwenyth Jones.
(I can't put up a link for some reason... I'm sorry.)