Chapter 21: Sweet Teasing
The grand hall of Whole Cake Chateau buzzed with excitement as the Charlotte siblings gathered for their weekly family brunch. Towering cakes and delicate pastries adorned the massive table, their sugary scents mingling in the air. But today, the confections went largely ignored as the siblings focused on a far juicier topic - their sister Galette's marriage to Captain Sanjul Rahmuro.
Pudding plopped down next to Galette, her third eye twinkling with mischief. "So, dear sister, how's married life treating you? Still enjoying your jackpot of a husband? I think it's been a year now?"
Galette rolled her eyes, but couldn't quite suppress a smile. "Sanjul is wonderful, as always. Not that it's any of your business."
"Oh, come now," Smoothie chimed in, lounging in her chair. "You can't expect us not to be curious. After all, it's not every day one of us lands such a... unique specimen."
"Unique?" Cracker snorted, spraying biscuit crumbs everywhere. "That's one way to put it. I mean, who knew there was a smart, thoughtful, temperate, patient, hard-working, family-oriented, powerful, well-dressed, goal-oriented, disciplined, understanding, quietly romantic, money-making from debt, slightly conservative New World virgin-before-marriage pirate captain just waiting to be snatched up?"
The table erupted in laughter, with several siblings nearly choking on their tea.
"Don't forget his nice body and interesting hobbies," Flampe added with a giggle. "I mean, ice climbing, meditation and collecting rare plant? Be still my heart!"
Galette felt her cheeks flush, but she held her ground. "Are you all quite finished? So what if Sanjul is a bit... unconventional? He's a good man and a great husband."
"Oh, we don't doubt that," Pudding said, patting Galette's hand condescendingly. "It's just... well, you have to admit, it's a bit like winning the lottery in the most boring way possible."
"Boring?" Galette bristled. "I'll have you know-"
"Now, now," Perospero interrupted, twirling his candy cane thoughtfully. "Let's not get too worked up. We're all happy for you, Galette. It's just... amusing to see how much you've changed since marrying our dear Sanjul."
Smoothie nodded, a smirk playing on her lips. "Indeed. Who would have thought our wild child Galette would turn into such a... proper lady?"
"I am not a 'proper lady,'" Galette protested, but her words lacked conviction.
"Oh really?" Pudding challenged. "Then explain why you've started color-coding your closet and meal-prepping for the week."
"And why you suddenly have strong opinions about the 'correct' way to fold maps," Cracker added.
"Don't forget her newfound obsession with chemistry and reading archives," Oven chimed in.
Galette opened her mouth to retort, but found herself at a loss for words. It was true, she had picked up some of Sanjul's habits over the course of their marriage. She didn't want to tell them the real reasons. But were some of the new hobbies that really so bad?
"So what if I've adopted some of Sanjul's traits?" she said defensively. "He's my husband. Is it so wrong to want to support his lifestyle?"
"Support his lifestyle?" Flampe repeated, her eyes wide with mock innocence. "Galette, darling, you're practically and partially turning into a female version of him!"
"Minus the gravity powers, of course," Pudding added helpfully.
And the crippling nightmares. Though Galette never told them that.
"I am not turning into Sanjul," Galette insisted, though her voice lacked conviction. "I'm just... embracing some of his better qualities."
"Like his penchant for late night calisthenics?" Smoothie asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because I could have sworn I saw you doing jumping jacks at dusk the other day."
Galette flushed. "It's good for circulation," she mumbled.
"Oh, and let's not forget the best part," Pudding said, her third eye gleaming with glee. "Our dear sister has taken up meditation. Can you believe it? Galette, the girl who once said sitting still was for 'weak-minded fools,' now spends an hour every day in silent contemplation."
The table erupted in laughter once more, with several siblings wiping tears from their eyes.
"It's not funny," Galette protested, but she couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "Meditation is very beneficial for mental clarity and stress relief."
"Who are you and what have you done with our sister?" Oven asked, clutching his chest in mock horror.
"Maybe Sanjul's using his gravity powers to keep her in line," Cracker suggested with a wink.
"Or perhaps it's his 'quietly romantic' nature that's tamed our wild Galette," Smoothie mused. "Tell us, sister dear, does he woo you with poetry and disciplined displays of affection?"
Galette felt her cheeks burn. "That's none of your business," she muttered.
"Oh ho!" Pudding crowed triumphantly. "She's blushing! Come on, Galette, spill the beans. Does Sanjul schedule your romantic encounters with the same efficiency he applies to his debt collection?"
"I bet he has a spreadsheet for optimal cuddling positions," Flampe giggled.
"Spreadsheet? Please," Cracker scoffed. "This is Sanjul we're talking about. He probably has a whole binder dedicated to 'Effective Strategies for Marital Bliss and Progeny Production.'"
As her siblings continued to speculate wildly about her love life, Galette found herself torn between embarrassment and amusement. It was true that Sanjul's methodical nature extended to all aspects of his life, including their relationship. But there was a warmth and depth to his love that her family couldn't possibly understand.
"You can all laugh," she said finally, her voice cutting through the chatter. "But Sanjul is a wonderful husband. He takes care of me in ways I never even knew I needed."
"Ooh, do tell," Pudding leaned in eagerly. "Does he massage your feet with perfectly calculated pressure points?"
"Or perhaps he's developed a scientifically optimized technique for brushing your hair?" Smoothie suggested with a smirk.
Galette shook her head, a fond smile playing on her lips. "You're all impossible. What I mean is, Sanjul supports me. He listens to me, challenges me to be better, and always has my back. So yes, maybe I've picked up some of his habits. Is it so wrong to want to take care of him the way he takes care of me?"
A moment of silence fell over the table as her siblings processed her words.
"Well, when you put it like that," Cracker said slowly, "it almost sounds... romantic."
"In a very Sanjul-like way, of course," Pudding added quickly.
"Still," Smoothie mused, "it's a bit... traditional, isn't it? Following your husband's lead, adopting his lifestyle?"
Galette shrugged. "Maybe it is. But it works for us. Sanjul might be a bit old-fashioned in some ways, but he respects me as an equal. If anything, we're partners in everything we do."
"Even debt collection?" Flampe asked, her eyes wide.
"Especially debt collection," Galette confirmed with a grin. "You should see us in action. We're quite the team."
"Oh, I bet," Pudding giggled. "Let me guess - you soften them up with your butter powers, and then Sanjul comes in with his gravity-enhanced intimidation tactics?"
"Something like that," Galette admitted, a hint of pride in her voice.
"Well, I suppose there's no accounting for taste," Perospero said, shaking his head in amusement. "If you're happy playing the dutiful wife to Totto Land's most eligible stick-in-the-mud, who are we to judge?"
"He's not a stick-in-the-mud," Galette protested automatically. "He's just... principled."
"Principled?" Cracker repeated incredulously. "Galette, the man makes a schedule for his cheat days. And by cheat days, I mean the one day a month he allows himself to have a single cookie with his tea."
"It's called self-discipline," Galette said primly. "Something a few of you could stand to learn."
"Oh snap," Flampe giggled. "Looks like Sanjul's sass is rubbing off on her too!"
As the laughter died down, Smoothie fixed Galette with a more serious look. "All joking aside, sister, are you truly happy? This is quite a change from the Galette we used to know."
Galette met her sister's gaze steadily. "I am," she said simply. "Sanjul might not be what any of us expected, but he's exactly what I need. He grounds me, challenges me, and loves me unconditionally. So yes, I've changed. But it's because I want to, not because he's forcing me to."
A moment of thoughtful silence fell over the table.
"Well," Pudding said finally, her voice unusually sincere, "I suppose we can't argue with that. Even if we don't quite understand it."
"Though we reserve the right to continue teasing you mercilessly," Cracker added with a grin.
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Galette said, rolling her eyes fondly.
As the conversation drifted to other topics, Galette found herself reflecting on her family's words. Yes, she had changed since marrying Sanjul. But it wasn't about losing herself or submitting to his will. It was about growing together, finding a balance that worked for both of them.
And if that meant adopting some of his more... unique traits, well, so be it. After all, there were far worse things in life than being married to a smart, thoughtful, temperate, patient, hard-working, family-oriented, powerful, well-dressed, goal-oriented, disciplined, understanding, quietly romantic, money-making from debt, slightly conservative New World (former) virgin pirate captain with a nice body and interesting hobbies.
Even if said captain did have a slightly concerning obsession with proper map-folding techniques.
As the brunch wound down, Pudding sidled up to Galette once more. "So," she said, her voice low and conspiratorial, "on a scale of one to ten, just how mind-blowing is Sanjul in the bedroom? I mean, all that discipline and goal-orientation has to translate to something, right?"
Galette choked on her tea, her face turning a shade of red that rivaled her hair. "Pudding!" she hissed, glancing around to make sure no one else had heard.
"What?" Pudding asked innocently. "I'm just curious. After all, it's not every day one of us marries a man who probably has a flow chart for foreplay."
"I am not discussing this with you," Galette said firmly, though she couldn't quite meet her sister's eyes.
"Oh come on," Pudding wheedled. "Just give me a hint. Does he use his gravity powers for... you know... enhanced experiences?"
Galette stood abruptly, nearly knocking over her chair. "I'm leaving now," she announced to no one in particular.
As she strode away, her siblings' laughter following her, Galette couldn't help but smile to herself. Let them tease. Let them joke. They could never understand the depth of her connection with Sanjul, the way their strengths complemented each other so perfectly.
And as for Pudding's question... well, a lady never kisses and tells. But if the dreamy smile on Galette's face was any indication, life with Sanjul was anything but boring.
"Ten Beries say Galette is pregnant within a year's time" crackled Cracker behind her as she left.
Her siblings quickly added their own bets just as Galette walked out the door, partially embarrassed by a very real possibility and outcome.
XXX
Later that night the Spectral Pirates had arrived to Wholecake Island per Linlin's request. Though some where nervous, they were assured by the Big Mom pirates that they were not in trouble. And that they were treated like guests for the duration with all the hospitality given for it.
Nevertheless Tessa, Sanjul and Marlowe found themselves standing by as the Big mom Pirates grappled with the fruit in front of them.
The grand hall of Whole Cake Chateau buzzed with nervous energy as members of the Big Mom Pirates and the Spectral Pirates gathered around a simple wooden table. At the center, placed on an ornate silver platter, sat a banana with swirling patterns etched into its skin - the reincarnated form of the Insatiable-Insatiable Fruit.
Big Mom loomed over the assembly, her massive form casting shadows across the room. Her eyes gleamed with a mixture of greed and wariness as she gazed upon the fruit.
"Well," she rumbled, her voice laced with dark humor, "good news, Sanjul. You didn't cheat us on this Devil Fruit. Thank you for that."
Captain Sanjul Rahmuro nodded stiffly, his usually stoic expression tinged with concern. "I'm glad the fruit's authenticity has been... verified, Mama. Though I wish it had been under different circumstances."
Big Mom's lips curled into a mirthless smile. "Indeed. The bad news is that it was worse than we thought. We need a better situation to keep this under lock and key."
"I agree," Sanjul admitted, his brow furrowed. "Not because I'm your subordinate now, but because that... individual who ate the fruit turned into a 12-meter tall Devourer of Shadows. And that was just an above-average person - someone skilled enough to steal it, but with no real fighting ability."
Smoothie, her towering form rivaling her mother's, nodded grimly. "We need better security measures for this fruit. Now. I'm okay with keeping it, but we have to treat it like a Logia... only with far more downsides."
The room fell into an uneasy silence as both crews contemplated the enormity of the situation. It was Cracker who finally broke the tension, his biscuit armor crunching as he shifted.
"Well," he said, a hint of gallows humor in his voice, "at least we know it works. Nothing like a rampaging shadow monster to liven up a Tuesday, eh?"
A few nervous chuckles rippled through the crowd, but the atmosphere remained tense.
Perospero stepped forward, his candy cane tapping a thoughtful rhythm against the floor. "We need to consider all our options. This fruit is too dangerous to simply lock away and hope for the best."
"Agreed," Katakuri rumbled, his scarf shifting as he spoke. "We've seen what it can do in the hands of an amateur. Imagine if a seasoned warrior were to consume it."
Sanjul nodded, his expression grim. "I knew an average person would turn into a 6-meter tall monstrosity if they lost control. But I didn't realize how much it would magnify the powers of someone above average. I shudder to think what would happen if a New World pirate captain with no other powers ate this."
"It'd be a disaster," Oven growled, heat radiating from his body. "We'd have an unstoppable force of nature on our hands."
"Not necessarily unstoppable," Smoothie interjected. "The fruit does have weaknesses. The user becomes consumed by their desires, losing all rationality. They might be powerful, but they'd be easy to outsmart."
"Easy for you to say," Flampe muttered. "You didn't see that thing in action. It was like trying to fight a hurricane made of nightmares."
Big Mom's eyes narrowed as she surveyed her children and allies. "Enough speculation. We need solutions. How do we keep this fruit safe and under our control?"
The room erupted into a flurry of suggestions, some serious, others bordering on the absurd.
"We could embed it in a non-sentient being," Daifuku proposed. "Like a dog or one of Cracker's biscuit soldiers. Have it guard something important for us."
Cracker perked up at this. "Ooh, I like that idea. Imagine a giant, shadow-devouring biscuit warrior. We could call it the Cookie Monster!"
"This is serious, Cracker," Smoothie chided, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
"I am being serious," Cracker protested. "Think about it - who'd suspect a cookie of harboring one of the most dangerous Devil Fruits in existence?"
"Moving on," Katakuri interjected, his patience wearing thin. "Any other suggestions?"
Pudding raised her hand, her third eye gleaming with inspiration. "What if we literally embed it in a seastone container, have me create an illusion around it, and then put it somewhere in Brûlée's Mirror World?"
Brûlée cackled, her mirror-like face reflecting the fruit's swirling patterns. "Oh, I like that idea, sister. No one would ever find it in my labyrinth of mirrors."
"Unless someone breaks all your mirrors ," Oven pointed out, earning him a glare from Brûlée.
Sanjul, who had been quiet for some time, finally spoke up. "Those are all... interesting suggestions. But I can't help but wonder if we're approaching this from the wrong angle."
All eyes turned to the Spectral Pirates' captain.
"What do you mean, son-in-law?" Big Mom asked, her voice dangerously sweet.
Sanjul met her gaze steadily. "We're treating this fruit as a problem to be solved, a danger to be contained. But what if we viewed it as an opportunity instead?"
"An opportunity?" Smoothie repeated, her eyebrow raised. "For what, exactly?"
"For eliminating our enemies," Sanjul said simply. "We could use the fruit as 'schmuck bait.' Give it to our enemies as a gift, let them eat it and destroy themselves, then retrieve the fruit and repeat the process."
A moment of stunned silence followed his words, broken only by Big Mom's booming laughter.
"Oh, I knew I liked you for a reason, Sanjul!" she cackled. "That's deliciously devious."
"It's certainly an... efficient solution," Katakuri mused, a hint of respect in his voice.
"Efficient and entertaining," Cracker added with a grin. "Imagine the looks on their faces when they realize they've been had!"
As the pirates began to debate the merits of Sanjul's suggestion, Galette sidled up to her husband, a mixture of pride and concern in her eyes.
"That's quite the strategy you've proposed," she murmured. "I'm not sure whether to be impressed or worried."
Sanjul's expression softened as he looked at her. "It's not a perfect solution, I know. But in our world, sometimes the best defense is a good offense."
Galette nodded, understanding the weight of his words. This was the reality of their life as pirates - sometimes, hard choices had to be made.
Back at the center of the room, the debate was growing heated.
"I still say we should keep it locked up," Smoothie insisted. "Using it as a weapon is too risky. What if one of our enemies actually manages to control it?"
"Then we'd be in real trouble," Oven agreed. "Imagine someone like Kaido with that kind of power."
"All the more reason to use it against them first," Perospero argued. "Strike before they have a chance to strike us."
"And what happens when we run out of enemies to feed it to?" Pudding asked, her voice uncharacteristically serious. "Do we start turning on our allies next?"
The room fell silent as the implications of her words sank in.
"Perhaps," Katakuri said slowly, "we need a compromise. A way to both protect the fruit and use it to our advantage."
"What did you have in mind, brother?" Smoothie asked.
Katakuri's eyes narrowed in thought. "We keep the fruit secure, as Pudding suggested - seastone container, illusions, hidden in the Mirror World. But we also spread rumors about its location. Let our enemies waste their resources trying to find it."
"A wild goose chase," Sanjul nodded approvingly. "And if anyone does manage to get close..."
"We have a nasty surprise waiting for them," Cracker finished with a grin.
Big Mom clapped her hands, the sound like thunder in the enclosed space. "I like it! It's devious, it's practical, and it keeps the fruit under our control."
"But who would be responsible for guarding it?" Galette asked, voicing the question on everyone's mind.
All eyes turned to Brulee, who met their gazes impassively.
"I'll do it," she said simply.
Big Mom nodded, a proud gleam in her eye. "Excellent. It's settled then. Brûlée will guard the fruit, with Pudding assisting in its concealment."
As the pirates began to disperse, discussing the finer points of the plan, Sanjul found himself cornered by several of the Charlotte siblings.
"That was some quick thinking, brother-in-law," Oven said, clapping him on the shoulder with a hand that radiated heat. "I'm impressed."
"Indeed," Smoothie agreed, her usually stern expression softened slightly. "You've proven yourself a valuable ally once again."
Sanjul nodded, accepting their praise with his usual stoic demeanor. "I'm just doing what's best for our alliance. The Spectral Pirates are committed to the Big Mom Pirates' success."
"Oh, lighten up," Cracker laughed, elbowing Sanjul playfully. "You can admit you enjoyed coming up with that devious little plan. I saw that glint in your eye!"
Before Sanjul could respond, Pudding sidled up, her third eye fixed on him intently. "You know," she said, her voice syrupy sweet, "I'm starting to see why our Galette is so smitten with you. That brilliant mind of yours is quite... attractive."
Sanjul shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to respond to his sister-in-law's flirtation. Thankfully, Galette chose that moment to intervene, slipping her arm through his.
"Now, now, Pudding," she said, her tone light but with a hint of steel beneath. "No need to go testing your charms on my husband. I'm quite happy with him, thank you very much."
Pudding pouted playfully. "Can't blame a girl for trying. After all, it's not every day we come across a man who can match wits with the Charlotte family."
As the siblings continued to tease and prod, Sanjul found himself reflecting on the strange turn his life had taken. Here he was, surrounded by some of the most feared pirates in the New World, joking about deadly Devil Fruits and devious strategies. It was a far cry from the life he'd once envisioned for himself.
"Penny for your thoughts, Captain?" Galette murmured, noticing his distant expression.
Sanjul looked down at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Just thinking about how unpredictable life can be. If someone had told me a year ago that I'd be here, strategizing with the Big Mom Pirates..."
"You'd have thought they were mad," Galette finished for him, grinning. "Life has a funny way of surprising us, doesn't it?"
Before Sanjul could respond, Big Mom's voice boomed across the room. "Alright, enough chit-chat! We've got work to do. Katakuri, Pudding, Brûlée - you three start working on securing that fruit. The rest of you, spread the word. I want every pirate crew from here to the Red Line quaking in their boots at the mere mention of the Insatiable-Insatiable Fruit!"
As the pirates scrambled to carry out their orders, Sanjul and Galette shared a look. This was their life now - a delicate balance of power, strategy, and barely controlled chaos. But as Sanjul felt the warmth of Galette's hand in his, he couldn't bring himself to regret the path that had led him here.
"Well, husband," Galette said, a mischievous glint in her eye, "ready to go strike fear into the hearts of our enemies?"
Sanjul allowed himself a rare, full smile. "With you by my side? Always."
And with that, they set off, ready to face whatever challenges the New World might throw their way. After all, in a world where fruits could turn men into shadow-devouring monsters, anything was possible. It was just another day in the life of the Big Mom Pirates and their unlikely allies, the Spectral Pirates.
As they left the grand hall, the banana sat innocuously on its silver platter, its swirling patterns seeming to dance in the flickering candlelight. The Insatiable-Insatiable Fruit, a source of both terror and temptation, waited patiently for its next unsuspecting victim. In the world of pirates, power was everything - and this fruit promised power beyond imagination.
And in the unpredictable waters of the New World, that may have been the most dangerous thing ever ...