Josie stripped and sank into the hot water with a long moan of pleasure. It was amazing the relief a bath could offer, especially after a day or two without access.
The bathroom itself was amazing, a dark tiled room with matte black walls and gold accents. It suited the muted air of the mansion perfectly, offset from being depressing by the greenery dispersed around the room. There were small potted trees flanking the big, arched window and the marble fireplace. There was no fire at the moment, but the room was pleasantly warm and steamy from the heat of the water.
The bathtub itself was the centerpiece of the room, settled in the middle of the tiles with a long bench table pressed against it, a beautiful clawfoot painted black on the outside and a pure, clean white on the inside. The scent of sandalwood was prominent, several candles burning the smell into the air from their place on the table and mantlepiece.
Josie sank deeper into the tub, feeling her stress and anxiety float away along with the grime leftover from Buggy's circus and her time spent sailing to the Gecko Islands with the Straw Hats. She finally felt like herself again and could almost pretend that she was vacationing in a fancy hotel rather than a stranger's house in another world.
In the privacy of the bathroom, it was all too tempting to avoid thinking about what she had gone through so far.
Still, this was the first moment alone she'd been given — here, she could take a moment to process her situation without intrusion.
Josie thought back on her last disastrous dinner party, her last meal in her own world, to be precise.
It had felt like an entirely normal evening with her grandmother. There had been the usual small talk made between them in favor of catching up. Josie had little interest in the day-to-day happenings of the local country clubs or the social gossip about her grandmother's associates. And Grandmother held very poor comprehension of the complexities of Josie's job in administration and customer service towards the parents that used her center.
The older woman just didn't understand the concept of working for someone else.
There had been a slight… discrepancy to their usual conversation, though.
Grandmother had asked, rather bluntly, when Josie planned on marrying and settling down.
The question wasn't an odd one — Josie often heard the same from her mother's family. But the topic of marriage had often been reserved for cousin Sterling and had been dropped altogether after he married his high school sweetheart.
In all honesty, Josie thought Grandmother just didn't care if she or any of her half-siblings ever got married, let alone had any children. The matriarch didn't expect much from her most promiscuous child's progeny except for proper behavior in her presence.
Maybe it was a good thing their dinner had been interrupted — it had saved Josie the trouble of answering.
She wasn't even sure if she wanted to marry anyone, even if she did want kids of her own some day.
These days, it wasn't like you actually needed a partner.
No, Josie was perfectly happy to continue her single-woman lifestyle and enjoy the pleasures that came with casual hookups instead of the drama that always seemed to accompany relationships.
Buggy would have been a pleasure, her brain traitorously supplied.
Josie flushed and ducked her head under the water. Perhaps if she stayed submerged long enough, that part of her brain would drown.
If only she could be so lucky.
She couldn't help but remember the sensation of the man's tongue and teeth on her skin, her neck still feeling tender from the excessive attention.
She resurfaced with a gasp and scrambled for the small hand-mirror on the table beside the tub, angling it all the places Buggy had paid special attention to.
Her skin was clear and she sighed in relief.
"Thought he would've left a mark, hard as he was going in on me." she said to herself, then giggled at her unintended innuendo.
Heh, hard.
And he had been — strong hands that gripped her legs and breasts so firmly, thick thighs that had felt so solid beneath her, a muscled chest built on a lifetime of working on ships and battles.
Hard, brutal kisses that had threatened to consume her entirely.
"Fuck," she moaned, covering her face with her hands. "Why did the clown have to be so hot?!"
She dragged her hands down her face and stared at the ceiling moodily.
Even now, after he'd turned on her, Josie couldn't deny that the man had played her perfectly. He pushed her buttons and got her more hot and bothered in a matter of minutes that she'd been after an entire night with former partners. As much as she hated to admit it, she and Buggy clicked together like flint creating a spark. It was a sexual tension she'd never experienced before.
"Maybe I should have let him fuck me." she sighed gloomily. "At least I wouldn't be wondering about how good it could have been."
She was certain that sleeping with Buggy would have been one of her Top Ten Sexual Encounters — if not among the Top Five.
Josie had never hated anyone enough to find out if hate sex was truly as good as people claimed, but there had to be something about it to keep people coming together like that. She might have been tempted into it herself, had she not been spooked so badly.
To think, she had missed out on hot, kinky sex with a Devil Fruit user with so much potential in the bedroom.
"Every part is detachable," she despaired, cheeks flushed and eyes wide. "That's so weird… but stupidly hot. Flexibility isn't even an issue with him."
Josie whined and dropped her head against the side of the tub. Her fingers ran idly over her thighs as she considered the lost opportunities.
How things might have gone if she had decided against fighting back.
Buggy had been well on his way to getting her clothes off, at the very least…
Buggy pulled back with an annoyed huff, bringing both hands up to the buttons on Josie's blouse and undoing them with a speed even the most skilled masters of Soru would envy.
She flinched when those hands dove beneath her shirt, sliding along her ribs before pressing against her back, urging her closer again. Josie gasped, head falling back as Buggy laved his tongue over the exposed swell of her breast. Her own hands rose to his head, knocking his hat and bandanna out of place so she could bury her fingers in his long locks. They were cool and as blue as the ocean, sliding over her skin like silk.
Buggy groaned, lashes fluttering, when she gave his hair a tentative tug. Whether she was trying to pull him off or pull him closer was anyone's guess — even she wasn't sure what she wanted.
But he was less uncertain and the action certainly seemed to get his motor running.
"Off." he demanded, lifting his head to watch the slide of fabric over her shoulders. Her blouse came off with little struggle, baring her smooth, pale skin to his ocean eyes — falling along with her bralette.
She hadn't even noticed him unhook it!
Josie yelped, her face red, and lifted her arms to cover herself.
"Don't—"
Buggy caught her wrists in one hand and pulled them over her head, forcing her to rise and arch her back to avoid straining anything. Forced her to put herself on display for the pirate captain.
His eyes roamed the picture before him with satisfaction, taking in Josie's heavy, teardrop breasts and pink nipples.
"Now that's more like it," he said quietly, lust turning his voice into something dark and silky. "You're center stage material, doll."
Josie shuddered beneath the praise, hips rocking down on Buggy helplessly.
"Oooh, she likes that, doesn't she?" the clown laughed, his free hand drifting back to his newly exposed prize. "Go on and sing for me like a good girl, hmm?"
Josie moaned as Buggy cupped her breast, running a gloved thumb over her nipple. The bud perked and tightened almost painfully beneath the gentle touch. That had always been a sensitive zone for her, fire burning a path from her breasts to settle warmly in her weeping core.
He grinned in triumph, blue eyes hooded and dilated near black, before putting his mouth back to use on her unattended breast. He laved his tongue over the bud before sucking it inside his mouth, catching it with his teeth.
The sound that escaped her was nothing short of a wail of pleasure as Buggy plucked at her sensitive peaks, switching lazily from one side to the other to get a strong reaction. He punctuated his control of her body by resuming the steady rhythm of his hips, grinding freely against her core as he swirled his tongue around her nipple.
"More…" she finally whimpered, face a furious crimson as she caved to the desires of her body. She felt so weak, giving into the pirate with just a little foreplay, but she had never liked denying herself simple pleasures. She refused to join up with him, but she could at least enjoy the experience while it lasted.
Buggy's eyes lit up with delight and he pulled away from her breast with a quiet 'pop', enjoying the way she shuddered.
"Well, it's about time." he huffed, releasing her hands in favor of holding her hips again. The rough texture of his gloves drew goosebumps across her hips, his thumbs dipping beneath the waistband of her jeans to draw circles on the smooth skin there.
Josie responded by sliding her fingers back into his hair and drawing the pirate in for another kiss.
This time she gave as good as she got, tugging on Buggy's long locks to angle him where she wanted, and took control of the kiss until he moaned beneath her. She nipped at his lip, the grease paint heavy on her taste buds, and slipped her tongue into his mouth. He gasped when she ran the appendage over the back of his teeth, his hips stuttering beneath her. Josie pulled back to admire her handiwork.
The man looked rather dazed, his hands drifting mindlessly over her ass and thighs, petting her absentmindedly. Lips swollen, eyes glassy and face flushed beneath his stage makeup — Buggy painted a prettier picture than Josie ever thought he would.
"Buggy," she murmured, drawing him from his trance with a more gentle kiss.
He hummed in response, meeting her eagerly with a lick against the roof of her mouth, and urged her closer until she was flush against his chest again. His fingers ran across the inseam of her jeans with intent, finding her clit through the thick fabric.
Josie's breath caught on a gasp and she broke the kiss to hide her face in his neck, mouthing desperately at his skin.
"Please." she whined.
"There's the good girl I've been waiting for." he sighed, voice hoarse. "Just you wait, doll — I never leave my audience unsatisfied."
Josie bit her lip, eyes wide with anticipation, and pulled back to watch as Buggy unbuttoned her jeans. He barely waited for the material to part before sliding his hand inside, detaching the appendage at the wrist for better maneuverability. Nimble fingers slid right where she wanted, pulling the gusset of her panties to the side and swiping across her sodden core.
"Fuuuuck!" she moaned blissfully, hips thrusting into the firm touch.
Buggy's gaze snapped over her shoulder, eyes narrowed and a snarl curling his lip.
Josie's brow furrowed in bewilderment and she looked over her shoulder at the door as a knock sounded.
"Josie, you all good in there?"
The boatswain sat up in alarm and groaned as her head spun. She leaned against the side of the tub, feeling dizzy and more than a little woozy.
A side-effect of sitting up too quickly, she reasoned and blinked the spots from her eyes.
She had been deeper in her head than she'd thought.
The water had gone tepid and flat, the bubbles that once surrounded her now gone.
Josie shivered and jumped as another knock came against the door.
"Did you fall asleep?" Nami asked, a slight touch of concern in her voice.
"Ah, just a bit." Josie admitted, dragging a hand over her face. She frowned at her puckered fingers and stood. "I'm coming out now."
She stepped out onto the bathmat with only a slight wobble, already starting to return to her senses.
Having a bath really did make a difference.
She lost some of the tension that had been plaguing her and was surprised to find herself looking forward to dinner.
It was rare that she attended any sort of formal function outside of family dinner nights at her grandmother's house. Not having the woman's judgment hanging over her head all night would be refreshing.
Even the looming presence of Kuro couldn't dampen her enthusiasm.
Josie had full faith in Luffy's ability to defeat the man — he would have her back and if Kuro did try anything with her, the rubber captain would return it tenfold in favor of his friends.
If she didn't know Luffy's character as well as she did, Josie would find her confidence comparable to the low level pirates who thought their power hungry captains would defend them and avenge their defeats.
She was no blindsided Bellamy — Josie knew Luffy would expect her to do all that she could to succeed while on their journey, to fill in the spaces where others couldn't for all their benefit.
She just knew she could expect the same from her captain.
Josie slipped on her robe after drying off and wrapped her hair with a fresh towel. It would take longer for the thick mass to dry and she needed to get started on styling it right away.
Nami's eyes narrowed at the side of the boatswain and the tired look on the older woman's face.
"Are you sure you're alright?" The redhead asked brusquely, crossing her arms. "You look exhausted. I don't think anyone would have a fit if you just skipped dinner and went to bed."
Josie smiled reassuringly and gently pulled Nami back towards the wardrobe room.
"It's fine. I want to go."
"If you're sure." Nami pursed her lips. A mischievous glint entered her blue eyes. "Just can't wait to see your butler boyfriend again, can you? He's a bit prickly, but I guess anyone's better than the clown."
Josie flushed at the tease and gave the redhead a gentle shove.
"Quiet you. The butler's not my type — I just think something's off about this place. Opening an avenue to investigate won't hurt anything."
"Only if he doesn't fall in love with you and get his heart broken." Nami mocked and exaggeratedly batted her eyelashes.
"We won't be here long enough for anyone to fall in love." Josie scoffed, making air quotes with her fingers. She smirked. "Unless it's Usopp and Kaya, but I think they may be already at that point."
"You really think anything could come from it? She's a rich girl and he's just the guy working for her. I can't see it working out."
Josie hummed thoughtfully. "They may struggle at first. I admit, they do come from different worlds, but the odds aren't impassable. Their story reminds me of Aladdin and Jasmine's."
"Who?" Nami looked at her blankly, causing the older woman to stop short.
"Aladdin. And Princess Jasmine." Josie repeated, dumbfounded by the lack of recognition. "The genie and the lamp? The Book of One-Thousand and One nights?"
"Is that some kind of fairy tale?"
"I am in physical pain right now. You have no idea." The brunette clutched her chest dramatically. "You don't know Aladdin?! What about Cinderella? Snow White? Sleeping beauty?!"
Nami's shoulders relaxed and she rolled her eyes. "Never heard of them. I wasn't one for things like that. As a kid, adventure stories were always better."
"You'd love Mulan, then. Oh, no — Moana would be better. It's the story of a girl from a small island who sets sail in search of a demigod to save her island."
The resemblance to the tale was rather ironic — even shape shifted like Maui.
Despite the satisfaction Josie got from the comparison, Nami looked unimpressed. The girl's expression closed off as they reached the wardrobe room.
"You'll have to tell the story when we're not so pressed for time. Any idea about what you want to wear?"
Josie allowed the subject change without further comment.
The girls fell into silence as they stepped inside the room, stunned by the sheer amount of clothes on offer.
She had been in malls with less options.
It was like a lifetime of outfits had been crammed into the space, what little light there was muted by the layers of fabrics along the walls. It might have been a bedroom at one time, but had been repurposed with long poles running at different level overhead. Fabrics of every kind, from lace to leather and silk to corduroy, hung above the occupants. Nami had disappeared into the lower racks, only the subtle rustle of fabric signaling that she was still in the room.
In the center of the room, sprawled out over a long padded settee, was Luffy. The boy was laid out on his back, staring into the depths of the room with a frown.
"Why would anyone even need this many clothes?" he wondered in genuine confusion.
"Different occasions call for different styles." Josie muttered absentmindedly, running her fingers over a collection of ballgowns that hung from an upper rack. She disregarded them with a shake of her head, moving on to what looked like an entire row of cocktail dresses.
The more childish part of her heart begged her to go back and at least try a few on, but the more rational side of her mind reminded her that dinner was quickly drawing near. She needed to find something suitable for a stranger's birthday dinner instead of satisfying her inner Disney Princess.
But, boy was it hard.
"It's not about need with these people." Nami called from somewhere in the back of the room. "It's about want."
"What are we even supposed to wear?" Luffy sat up and looked at Josie for help, obviously out of his element.
The woman paused her browsing to consider the boy, thinking through the few times she'd seen him formally dressed in the animations.
His sharp suit from Strong World came to mind, but she had little hope that she could convince him into something like that so early in the game. No, it was easier to give him something he was comfortable with for now.
Josie looked back at the clothing racks, fingers combing through the clothes before they landed on a black, three piece suit. She pulled the outfit down, setting the jacket aside before presenting the remains to Luffy.
"Wear this." she said simply, relishing the way he lit up at the suggestion. It was just his style. "Give me a second and I'll find some shoes to go with it. Should I even worry about socks?"
"Nah, I never wear them!" the boy denied cheerfully, already shucking off the button-up shirt he'd worn all morning. It looked like something Garp would wear on vacation. Actually… it might be a hand me down from the man.
Josie averted her eyes at his shamelessness and looked at Nami instead when the girl finally emerged.
"Well?" she asked, twisting to show off her black dress. "What do you think?"
"You look like Nami." Luffy cocked his head obliviously, eyes wide as he searched for the difference.
"It's a no for me." Josie shook her head. "That skirt doesn't suit your frame. Go for something more streamlined."
Nami's face smoothed from the irritation that came with Luffy's naivety, the navigator looking thoughtful as she dove back into her search.
The light from the hallway dimmed briefly, catching Josie and Luffy's attention.
They watched Zoro pass the room, only to reappear a moment later. He looked rather lost.
"Hey, Zoro!" Luffy called cheerfully. "Whatchu gonna wear?"
The swordsman looked around the room with consideration.
"Something black."
"How edgy." Nami snorted.
"Hey." Zoro looked at Josie suddenly, eyes intent. "Does that butler seem familiar to you?"
"Yeah, I think he was at the last dinner party I attended." Nami said sarcastically, sticking her head around the corner so he could see her eye roll.
"No, he's right." Josie said quietly. She looked nervously at the open door before hurrying to close it. She didn't want to chance anyone overhearing their conversation. "Which is bad, considering I'm not from around here and the only way I would recognize someone from around here is…"
"Is if they were a pirate." Zoro concluded grimly. He sat down in the corner and looked unimpressed when Nami came to show off another outfit.
"You're just paranoid. No way a pirate would be someone's butler." She dismissed before twirling. "How's this?"
"Still Nami." Luffy grinned.
Zoro looked mildly offended. "I said I'm wearing black. And I'm not paranoid — Harper agrees with me."
"Why are you calling me by my family name?" Josie asked incredulously. "You don't call Luffy, Monkey."
"Your name is childish."
"And Luffy isn't?!"
"I hate you guys." Nami declared flatly before stomping away.
Josie threw a pitying look in her direction.
"That dress was better, but the jacket was a bit much."
"I feel kinda bad for Kaya." Luffy stated as he zipped up his slacks. He glanced up at all the clothes around them. "All this stuff, all this space. It's gotta make a person feel… lonely."
Josie regarded him somberly. She remembered his words to Ace and Sabo about having no one. It made sense that he would identify with Kaya; with Usopp.
(With all of them, really.)
Nami was less sympathetic.
"Rich people don't have the same emotions we do." she said coldly. "This stuff doesn't make her feel lonely — it makes her feel important."
"It's really sad that you think like that." Josie scoffed. Her cousin Sterling was relatively wealthy and he was one of the most empathetic people she'd ever known.
"This coming from the woman with a steady job in administration." Nami said, quirking a brow at her. "You wanna tell us how much you make in a month?"
"Not nearly enough." Josie said bluntly, staring the girl in the eye.
The redhead snorted, some of her good humor returning. "I bet."
"Well, Usopp likes her and she invited us to dinner." Luffy continued with his train of thought. He smiled to himself. "I'm sure we can work out a way to get that ship."
"No way." Nami denied firmly. "Rich people don't stay rich by giving things away."
Luffy smirked at her, the light of challenge shining in his eye.
"You wanna bet?"
Nami paused, turning slowly to look at him with interest. He didn't seem the type, but if he was willing to play then so was she.
"What are the terms?"
"I bet I can convince Kaya to give us that ship." he said cockily, moving closer to the navigator until he was practically in her face.
"And when you can't?" she tilted her head, unmoved by the close proximity.
"We go with your plan — steal one and move on."
Nami smirked. "You're on."
They shook on it, confidence radiating off the teens.
Luffy was convinced that there was more to Kaya than just her money and was willing to stake his dream ship on it.
Nami firmly believed that Kaya only cared for herself and wouldn't be willing to help them at all.
"My money's on Luffy." Josie whispered conspiritibly to Zoro.
He cocked his head at her. "You don't have any money. Besides, the witch won't be able to resist stealing something. It may as well be something we can use."
"Well, if I had any money, I would still put it on Luffy. He's got too much charm for your heart to handle. If Kaya's not at least a little in love with him by the end of the night…"
Zoro shook his head, but his smirk said it all. Even he couldn't deny the effect Luffy had on people — after all, he was a victim of the boy himself.
"What are you wearing?" he asked instead, eyes roving over Josie's still damp bathrobe.
"I wanted to find a nice cocktail dress, but none of these look like my size." she admitted, worrying her lip between her teeth. "I may have to improvise."
"Well, when you have an ass that big…"
Josie looked down at Zoro in amusement.
"You've been looking? Damn, it must be nice if it caught your attention, considering all you ever seem to do is sleep and drink."
The swordsman flushed, glaring up at her.
"It's not like I looked on purpose." he snapped. "You're just always in front of me when we walk."
"And a good thing, too." Josie leaned down to pat his cheek patronizingly. "You're not the best with directions, honey."
Zoro sat up straight, eyes flashing with fury, but was knocked back by a flying shirt.
Nami grinned at them, a knowing look in her eyes as she watched the first mate deal with the boatswain's teasing.
He shook the shirt out, raising an appreciative eyebrow.
"Nice." he hummed before standing and nearly running Josie over.
"Men." she scoffed, rolling her eyes. An idea crossed her mind. She called sweetly to the navigator. "Nami! Could you come help me? I think I know what I'm looking for now."
The redhead took one look at the older woman's mischievous expression before tossing her head back and laughing until she was red in the face.
Sailing with this bunch… was actually kind of nice.
Josie followed Nami down the stairs. She stepped carefully, the train of her dress securely in hand and her focus on keeping her pace slow and steady.
It was, in part, a way to announce her presence with a graceful descent down the stairs. Mostly, however, it was simply an effort to keep her heeled feet from slipping on the rug.
"Oh, wow." a familiar voice whispered from the foyer below. Josie risked looking away from her feet to find Usopp staring at her and Nami with wide eyes. "You, uh, look great. Both of you."
Nami looked exceptionally pleased.
"That's what you say when a girl asks how she looks." the redhead told Luffy pointedly as she stepped down beside him.
He just blinked in confusion.
"I don't get it?"
"And something tells me you never will." Josie teased gently before blinking in surprise when a hand was offered to her. The man at the foot of the stairs was familiar, though they had never met. "Oh, thank you. I don't believe I saw you earlier."
"You're quite welcome, madam. My name is Merry. I am Miss Kaya's accountant and family lawyer — I just arrived for her birthday dinner. And I was ever so pleased to find her friends attending as well!"
Josie smiled sweetly at the man, charmed at once by his kind and gentlemanly demeanor. This man, at least, was genuine in his love for the birthday girl.
"I'm pleased to meet you. My name is Harper Josie and this is Nami. I think you already met the boys."
Merry chuckled. "Oh, yes. They're quite energetic. I've known Usopp since he was a child."
She grinned. The boys had left the girls quickly after donning their suits. They had no interest in waiting around for her and Nami to do their hair and makeup.
"Well, I'm glad they haven't broken anything, at least." she teased with a gentle touch to Luffy's shoulder, earning a grin in return.
"What's up with your dress?" Zoro huffed, eyeing her gown.
"Like it? It reminds me of someone, but I can't place the name." She grinned and twirled to give him a better look. "Did I do good? It's not black."
"It looks like Josie." Luffy grinned obliviously, not really seeming to register the difference. "Your hair is so shiny!"
She touched a hand to her curls, feeling the added weight of the diamond pins holding it away from her face. They matched the simple necklace she'd found.
Josie had chosen a long evening gown with very little embellishment, the smooth fabric a muted phthalo green that hugged her body in a mermaid style before falling to just barely pool on the floor around her feet. The bodice was a simple sweetheart neckline with thick, off-the-shoulder straps and barely noticeable panels that criss crossed over her breasts.
It was a basic choice that showcased her cleavage and her figure without revealing too much.
Unlike her last encounter with a pirate where Josie felt uncomfortably on display, this time she did so with a purpose. The dress was her battle armor for dinner with the enemy.
"It's green. That's my color." Zoro grumbled, crossing his arms and averting his eyes from the way the fabric hugged her backside.
Josie looked over her shoulder at him, mischief in her eyes.
"And black is mine. Are you embarrassed to match? What a shame — I was hoping you would escort me to dinner…"
"In your dreams!" the swordsman barked, ears red.
"Of course." Josie nodded sagely. "The only way you'd find the way would be if it were a fantasy. But don't worry — this is reality and I'll be the one who makes sure you make it to the dining room. Would you like me to hold your hand?"
Zoro made an unintelligible noise of rage before stalking over to a side table full of cocktails. He downed one immediately before going for another.
The boatswain lifted a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggle.
"Oh, dear." Merry said with amusement. "He's quite sensitive, isn't he?"
"Much too easy to tease." she agreed. "It's quite hard to resist. I must admit, sometimes I feel like Beatrice facing down Benedick — I hate to let him have the last word."
"Is your friend in danger of a predestinate, scratched face?" Merry chuckled, catching her literary reference. It gave her pause, surprised that Shakespeare was well-known in this world as well as her own.
She laughed.
"Scratching could not make it worse, were it such a face as his."
Nami snorted at the jibe, though the boys looked lost behind her.
Their attention was quickly taken by Sham, who had arrived with a tray of horderves, and they hurried to stuff themselves with pre-dinner treats.
"If you will excuse me," Josie demurred, looking around the foyer with barely disguised interest. The penguin sculptures were adorable, if a bit out of place among the gilded tables and walls painted with detailed scenery. "I'd like to explore a bit before dinner."
"By all means." Merry released her hand and pointed to an open door to the side of the stairs. "There is a lovely music room through there, if that sort of thing interests you. As well as a collection of books and pottery. Having such a refined taste as your own, I think you will enjoy it."
She beamed at him, squeezing his arm in thanks. "I'm sure I will."
"You go have fun with your books." Nami smirked sultrily, sidling up to Merry. "I think I'll stay and enjoy the company. So, you manage all of Kaya's finances?"
Josie laughed quietly to herself as she left the man to the navigator's tender mercy.
He was more kind and charming than she expected and she was quite glad to see him there.
It was better for Kaya.
Josie stepped into the music room with a gasp of awe.
One of the things she had loved most about her grandmother's home was the old world style of it. It was like stepping into a scene from a Jane Austen novel. Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy could step out and nobody would blink an eye there.
Kaya's mansion was no different.
Modeled in the French Renaissance style, the music room was paneled in red oak, the ceiling above possessing the same wood in a darker stain. Large beams of shining wood crisscrossed the ceiling in a square pattern. On the far wall, there was a beautiful marble fireplace, unlit for the moment, and tiled with blush pink tiles. Above the mantel was a faded print of a towering city shaped like a fountain.
A homage to the grandest city of shipbuilders — Water Seven.
On either side of the fireplace were the books Merry spoke of, an elegant collection of dark covers and gold embossing. The smell of them filled the air, giving Josie the much loved feeling of stepping into a library.
Despite the title of the room, it was quiet. The sounds of conversation from the foyer were distant and muted, despite the close proximity.
A small table, painted with a pastoral scene of a fox hunt, sat before the fireplace. A pair of embroidered chairs with similar scenery bracketed the table. To the side of them was another chair, padded and comfortable with a music stand in front. A well-loved violin rested on the seat, gleaming in the muted light from the walls.
Scattered around the room was a collection of complimenting memorabilia, hand painted vases and beautifully cut sculptures. There was even a harp placed to the side, taller than Josie and the strings shining.
The true centerpiece of the room, however, was the gleaming black Steinway piano in the center of the floor.
Josie's eyes glimmered as she approached the instrument and sat on the bench.
Her fingers danced a light melody over the ivory keys, an upbeat tune that filled the air. It was a reflection of the joy she'd felt upon entering the music room.
Josie loved music, loved the way it affected emotions and clung to memories. She particularly loved the way it worked in the brains of children — the way rhythm and melody helped teach them.
She couldn't wait to meet Brook.
The thought of the silly skeleton with the outrageous afro brought a smile to her lips.
It would be quite some time before they met, but she had a feeling that the time would fly by and she'd be able to look back on their early adventures fondly.
They just had to get through them first.
The changes in the world were... somewhat alarming. So far, things had been parallel to the events Josie was familiar with, but being invited to dinner with Kaya was a surprise.
It was like navigating the dark with a candle.
She could make her way around the things she remembered but couldn't account for those unknown in the shadows.
Thump.
Josie froze, her fingers suddenly cold against the piano keys. Her quiet melody came to an abrupt halt.
There was something moving in the corner.
Splitting off from the rest of the crew was totally a horrible idea.
She thought back to the crowbar in her rucksack and mourned leaving it behind in the wardrobe room.
In any way, she was screwed.
Buchi and Sham had played Zoro for a fool in the animation — she was just a preschool administrator. Not a fighter.
"Joooosieeee." a ghastly voice whispered.
Goosebumps erupted across her arms and she rose to her feet in preparation to run.
There was a thud, the sound of something heavy landing on the carpet, and followed by a wet squelch. Like a soaked towel being dragged over the floor.
What the hell was that?
Now uncertain if there really was an enemy pirate in the shadows, Josie peered closer at the speaker.
"... who are you?" she asked quietly, not daring to move closer.
"Joooosieeee." the voice rattled.
It sounded almost… drowned. Like someone trying to speak through a mouthful of water.
"How do you know my name?!" she demanded, a sense of panic and dread settling in her stomach. Her heart rate kicked up and her voice rose in volume.
"Help ussss…"
"Help you how?" she asked, glancing nervously at the empty doorway to the room.
None of the crew or servants had come looking for her yet — she was alone with whatever was hiding. Even if she screamed and caused them to come running, she'd have to deal with the presence first.
"Open the doorsss..." The voice whispered, drawing her attention back into the room.
A strangled shriek escaped her when Josie suddenly found herself face-to-face with the specter.
The woman was dead — it was perfectly plain to see.
She wore a long gown that may have once been considered elegant and beautiful. Now it weighed her down, torn and soaked with seawater. Seaweed clung to the sleeves and barnacles laced the hem, creating a discord of sound when they dragged over the carpet.
The woman's face was blue and bloated, swollen with salt water and the natural gases that accompanied death. Eyes, lidless and shining like white marbles, stared blankly back at Josie.
The boatswain gagged at the smell of the specter, rotting death and dark water seeping into the carpet beneath them, and fell back. The carpet felt damp beneath her fingers, the water flowing from the specter quickly rising around them.
The dead woman paid her distress no mind, leaning forward to speak again.
"Open the doorssss... and run."
Josie screamed, scrambling to her feet, and bolted from the music room like the very devil himself was on her heels.
She hit a wall and wailed again, fingers clawing at the barrier with wild hysteria.
The wall reached out and grabbed her wrists, forcing a stop to her struggles. It shook her once, her head snapping back and shocking her into silence.
"Josie!" the wall barked sharply.
She panted, feeling half-blind as she focused on the man before her and realized he was no wall at all — it was Zoro, his face pinched with concern and eyes hard.
He had her pinned against the wall with his back to the music room. A solid defense against whatever had been pursuing her. Once again, he offered her protection from the unknown, not even hesitating against a potential threat.
A whimper left her involuntarily as Josie realized they were alone. Her legs gave out beneath her, suddenly jelly-like in their substance, and she felt herself beginning to slide down the wall. Her face felt hot and waxy, like the skin had been pulled tight and solidified in place.
Zoro caught her quickly, pulling her to his chest and holding her upright. He smelled like steel and some sort of cologne that balanced on the edges of musky and sweet. An odd choice for someone like him, but Josie found it soothing all the same.
"There's something wrong with this place," she gasped after finding her voice. "I don't want to stay the night here."
The swordsman's eyes narrowed, looking over his shoulder at the empty room before turning back to his crew mate.
Her previously well-kept appearance was flagging, her hair ruffled and her dress bunched up. Her skin, a normally sun-kissed tan, had gone pale and sallow. The most obvious sign of distress were her eyes. They were wide and wild, the chocolate color nearly blown black, and were starting to brim with tears.
The man felt a surge of his own panic at the sight of them and he patted her awkwardly on the back.
Please, don't let her start crying.
"What happened?" he demanded brusquely, fighting the urge to pull away from their embrace. There was no telling what would set her off into tears and he didn't want to risk it. No matter how uncomfortable he was.
Still, he needed to know what they were up against. As far as he could tell, she had been alone in the room. Luffy and Nami had remained in the foyer with their new companions, along with all the staff for the house. Which meant that there was another face unaccounted for — someone capable of frightening Josie into hysterics.
Their boatswain, soft as she seemed, had a hidden spine of steel.
This was the woman who faced down an insane clown and came away still swinging.
"I don't know." Josie finally mumbled, staring at the empty room. "I saw… something. Something impossible. I know it sounds crazy, but I can tell there's something more going on here than we can see."
"Think the butler's behind it?"
Josie's eyes hardened, the threat of tears dissipating, and Zoro felt the stirrings of relief flow through him. He loosened his hold on her and was pleased that the woman stayed on her feet.
There was that steel.
"I'm sure of it. Don't you think it's odd?" she asked, her eyes imploring him to understand her reasoning. "That some rich girl gets so sick that she doesn't have the energy to leave the mansion and has to stay in, isolated from the rest of the town? That they won't let the person she calls a friend into see her — actively keeping him away from her. The only person outside the walls that would miss her."
"You think they're after her money?" Zoro surmised, brow furrowing. The fact that they were on the same line of thought seemed to please her, an encouraging smile curling her lips and causing him to avert his eyes. "Making her sick so they can control her."
"Exactly." Josie murmured, looking down the hall furtively. Being overheard now would be a mistake. She didn't notice Zoro's sudden awkwardness. "Keep your eyes peeled during dinner — we may get some answers."
"Considering there's no way we're getting out of here until Luffy gets something to eat," the man snorted, turning to continue down the hall. "Not to mention his bet with Nami about the ship."
Josie caught him by the hand, a touch of color returning to her face as she grinned.
"Not so fast, detective. The foyer's the other way."
Zoro froze before doing an about-face and hurrying off in the correct direction in silence, using their linked hands to drag Josie along with him. She stifled a giggle and hurried to keep up.
Dinner, of course, was a disaster.
They made it through the early courses easily enough, enjoying crisp salads and a light broth soup before the main course of a delicately baked fish was placed before them.
Josie, sat between Zoro and Merry at the end of the table, tried not to let her displeasure show.
She'd never been fond of fish, not for the taste nor the texture, and it quite made her stomach sour to have one on her plate — eyeballs still intact.
It smelled wonderful and looked pretty enough on the plate — but she still didn't want to eat it.
It was staring at her!
What had happened to the hog Buchi had been preparing, anyway?
She was silently contemplating how difficult it would be to slip the fish across the table onto her captain's plate without anyone noticing when Sham returned to the dining room.
The maid carried a silver tray with a solitary bowl, some strange earthy scent wafting off its contents.
She made to pass the table, but was forced to pause when Zoro stuck an empty wine bottle out in her path.
"Keep this coming." he commanded, ignoring the maid's disdainful expression.
"Are you planning on getting any protein in tonight, or are you going for an antioxidant diet?" Josie teased, lifting a bottle to look at the label. "Is this a grape wine? How health conscious of you!"
"Anti-what?" Zoro frowned, causing Josie to giggle.
"Antioxidants." she enunciated. "They help your body prevent damage from things like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Though, I'm joking about using wine to do it — alcohol actually has the opposite effect."
"Are you a doctor, Miss Harper?" Kaya asked, rather interested in the subject.
Josie smiled, remembering how the girl had chosen to become a doctor in the animations.
"No, but being health conscious doesn't hurt as long as you don't overdo it. I'm actually an administrator at a preschool, but before that I was a teacher. Making sure the children in my care had a healthy diet was a given."
"And yet she smokes reef in her free time," Zoro snorted, returning to his wine.
"And yet," Josie rolled her eyes at the jab. "There are multiple health benefits to smoking, especially for those with chronic illness or pain. Trust me — if I didn't smoke, you'd be dealing with a much more unpleasant side of me."
Kaya ducked her head to hide a smile, ignoring the disapproving look Kuro gave Josie for the admittance of illegal drug use. Her smile faded as Sham reached her, the girl staring at the bowl of soup with dismay.
"I'd love to try the fish tonight." she hedged hopefully, so earnest that even the maid looked guilty for bringing her something else.
Kuro, however, was unabashedly stubborn and didn't seem to falter in the face of those big, brown eyes.
"I'm sorry, Miss Kaya." he said before Sham could reply, killing the younger woman's hope. "But that is not possible."
"Maybe just a small piece?" Kaya pleaded quietly, seeming a bit embarrassed by the denial in front of their company but still unwilling to back down just yet.
"It does seem a shame to ignore the birthday girl's wishes." Josie frowned, turning from Zoro to back their host up. The blonde shot her a grateful look.
Kuro looked between both of them with careful disapproval.
"Now, Miss Kaya knows that certain foods can affect her constitution." he gestured for Sham to serve Kaya her entree. "Here — Buchi has prepared your special soup."
"Kaya, it's your birthday." Nami joined Josie in speaking up, the girls sharing an exasperated glance. "You should be able to eat what you want."
"Surely the fish can be prepared in a way that won't upset Kaya's stomach." the boatswain agreed, arching a brow at Buchi in challenge. If he wouldn't get back in that kitchen and make Kaya something she wanted on her birthday, then Josie wouldn't have any qualms about marching back there and taking care of things herself. She was no stranger in the kitchen — Southern women were raised there from the time they could hold a spoon and shell peas.
The apparent chef looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
Josie had always been plagued with intrusive thoughts about hitting them when she drove at night. Just once — for the experience of it.
"Miss Kaya's medical condition necessitates that I closely monitor her dietary needs." Kuro stated obstinately, a scowl now curling his lips.
"Does that mean you also speak for her?" Nami asked coldly, looking just as displeased with the argument.
At the head of the table, Kaya looked miserable.
Kuro tilted his head, the dining room lights creating a glare on his glasses. Josie couldn't get a read on him, but she already knew his character well.
Which is where the dinner began rolling downhill in earnest.
Luffy, the sweet idiot, raised his hand with oblivious innocence. "I'll take her fish."
Josie dropped her face into her hand with a silent sigh. Of course, thinking with his stomach would be his first instinct.
At the other end of the table, Usopp looked similarly discomforted. His eyes darted between Kuro and the confrontational women with poorly disguised anxiety. He gulped and plastered on a crooked grin.
"Luffy, isn't there something that you wanted to talk to Kaya about?" he asked hopefully.'
The rubber man perked up.
"Oh, yes! Usopp told me that you own the whole shipyard."
Kaya smiled a bit awkwardly. "Um, actually my parents founded the shipyard and Merry's been running the business since… well, since they passed." Merry lifted his glass in gentle acknowledgement of the situation. Kaya's smile strengthened and she brightened slightly. "But, all of that's about to change. Tonight, at midnight, I will become the sole owner."
She turned to share a look with Usopp, whose anxiety faded in favor of a fierce pride for his best friend.
Josie nudged Zoro's foot with her own and subtly inclined her head towards Kuro. There was a greedy gleam in the butler's eyes that was hard to miss.
Zoro seemed to catch her meaning, nudging her back as he continued guzzling down his wine. His eyes remained sharp and alert, despite the copious amounts of alcohol he had been consuming over the course of the night.
Luffy looked pleased and took a sip of his grape juice before speaking.
"Ah, well that's great — because we want to buy a ship from you."
Josie raised her eyebrows, wondering just how he expected to pay. It wasn't like he had his Pirate Fund (or whatever it was the ASL brothers had called it) stashed in the lining of his hat.
Whatever he proposed was sure to be entertaining.
"I see." Kaya said pleasantly. "Usopp mentioned that you're sailors."
"Nope, not sailors." Luffy grinned. "We're pirates."
Across the table, Usopp promptly choked on his wine and did a spectacular spit-take back into his glass.
Josie was mildly impressed at his lack of spillage.
Then again — world's best sniper.
At the end of the table, Merry sat down his fork and knife. He looked mortified by the turn of events and gave Josie a betrayed look.
She shrugged impishly as Nami shared a horrified look with Zoro.
It was what it was, now.
Whether they got thrown out or not at the end of the night, it was clear to her that Luffy was only beginning his spiel and they were his captive audience until he was through.
Because, really — did anyone actually have a chance at stopping the boy once he got going?
Josie had yet to see the rubber man fail to bounce back and come out on top.
Even Kaido couldn't keep him down for long.
Zoro looked to be joining her train of thought, a smirk curling the corner of his lips.
"This ought to be good."
Kaya was visibly struggling to maintain her composure. "Pirates?"
"Yep." Luffy nodded enthusiastically. "We haven't sailed together for very long, but we have already defeated an evil clown, raided a Marine base, and taken down a captain with an axe for a hand."
Josie nudged Zoro again, the pair watching as a flash of emotion crossed Kuro's face. It was a brief expression of fear and derision before he composed himself again.
"These sound a lot like your adventures, Usopp." Kaya tried to laugh the boy off.
The sniper chuckled awkwardly, his silver tongue seeming to fail him. "Yeah, that's… That's crazy."
He wiped the remnants of his drink from his chin.
"Oh, yeah. And we're just getting started." Luffy seemed to grow on the attention, quickly climbing onto the table with drink in hand.
Josie screamed out a laugh, hurrying to save her wine from the boy's path. She giggled at the staff's appalled expressions and sat back to watch the show with open amusement.
"What are you doing? Get down from there at once!" Kuro was less amused and scolded the teenager. He rushed to Kaya's side, apparently ready to pull her from the line of fire.
The blonde, however, was caught under Luffy's spell, an amazed smile curling her lips as she watched him draw near.
"Being a pirate has been my dream for as long as I can remember. And I'm finally making it a reality."
Zoro looked similarly taken by the young captain's speech, his wine forgotten in favor of dreams.
"We're heading out to the Grand Line, where even more adventures await us. And at the end of the journey, I'm gonna find the ultimate treasure — the One Piece. And become King of the Pirates."
Despite jumping at every clatter of the silverware, Kaya was unable to look away.
Josie noted with amusement that Buchi was also jumping with anxiety as Luffy crossed the table, the man's eyes fixed on the food like a mother with a newborn.
It was an unexpected quirk that made the man more sympathetic.
Though, Josie had no such sympathy for an assassin like him.
"You're… serious?"
Reality seemed to be dawning on Kaya as Luffy handed Kuro his glass. The butler took it reluctantly, a heavy sigh of annoyance escaping him, but didn't stop Luffy from crouching down and taking Kaya by the shoulders.
"Kaya, you have a beautiful ship out there. A caravel with a sheep figurehead. It spoke to me." Nami looked annoyed by the speech, no doubt thinking of their bet and her own seemingly lost dreams. "That's the ship we need to follow our dreams. I promise you, we'll take care of it. Maintain it, treat it like any other member of our crew — because a ship is also a home."
Finally, Kuro seemed to reach his boiling point and snapped.
"That will be quite enough! I should have known Usopp would bring riffraff to our doorstep."
Josie scowled, feeling affronted about being called riffraff, and felt her dislike of the man grow. She didn't think it was possible to hate the man any more than she already did, but stranger things had happened.
"Klahadore, it's okay. I—" Kaya tried to reassure him, only to fall victim to a coughing fit.
"Now look what you've done! You've upset Miss Kaya. All of you — out of this house at once!"
"No." Kaya shook her head firmly as Kuro gestured for Buchi and Sham to come help her. She met the butler's eyes defiantly, putting her foot down as the mistress of the house. "It's late. Let them stay the night."
"As you wish, Miss Kaya, but they are out first thing in the morning."
Josie's expression pinched as she tried to keep her smile, but Zoro saw through her.
His hand dropped heavily onto her leg, giving her thigh a quick squeeze. She looked at him questioningly.
"It'll be fine." He murmured only for her ears to catch. "You're not alone."
Her smile regained its strength and she covered his hand with her own.
Merry caught the exchange. His expression fell briefly before he shook himself into a better mood.
"Well, this has certainly been a birthday to remember." He cleared his throat as he stood. "Since the others are busy seeing to Miss Kaya, I believe it's up to me to get you settled for the night. Come — I believe I'm familiar enough with the house to find you appropriate quarters."
"That would be lovely," Josie sighed in relief, thinking about a comfortable T-shirt and some pajama shorts. She looked to her captain first. "Luffy — any objections to turning in for the night?"
"Nope," the boy grinned, gesturing Merry forward. "Lead on."
The rest of the crew released a collective breath, hoping to get a respite from the excitement of the day.
Josie glanced out the window as they filed out of the dining room.
The full moon watched her from the sky, a beacon that called out all sorts of strange behavior in people.
Josie had seen it often enough while working with children — she doubted the effect would be any different on pirates.