001 | [Voice/Action aboard the Shepherd]

[seakingbait]

[So it's been a bit of time since she and Robin have been rescued by the good people aboard the Shepherd. She had jumped overboard to save Robin, who had been knocked away by a massive storm.

That she directed the ship into.

Oops.

It's something that's been digging into her ever since it happened. Navigating wasn't exactly her expertise, but she should at least have been able to recognize that a storm was coming. Right? She's done her best to keep a brave face, especially in front of Robin. Still, the young mermaid works hard to show the crew of the Shepherd her gratitude, from making snacks to cleaning. It might take the crew a little while to get used to the sight of a green-haired mermaid floating around the ship on a giant bubble, though.

Still, when she's alone, the guilt of the storm continues to eat at her. She knows she can't allow something like that to happen again. Everyone made it out unharmed, but she might not be so lucky next time. If someone was seriously hurt because of her incompetence, she would never be able to forgive herself.]

Is there... someone out there who's really good at navigating? Could they, maybe, give some lessons to someone who really wants to learn?

[ (Backdated to before the crew arrives at Empieza) ]

Comments

[seakingbait]

He's... really good at that, isn't he?

[She sighs.]

I owe him for a lot.

[grizzly_tea]

It's not really my place to ask darling but... How did the two of you even become acquainted?

[seakingbait]

Oh, he saved me from the belly of a sea king.

[grizzly_tea]

Good heavens! What in the world is a sea king, and how did you wind up in its belly?

[seakingbait]

It's a giant sea monster, some of them are the size of whole islands. They're pretty much always trying to eat something, whether it be fish, lost ships, or, um... mermaids.

[grizzly_tea]

Remind me to never ever sail the seas of your world.

[WHOLE ISLANDS?!?! Maribelle is just inwardly freaking the hell out.]

How in the world did he manage to save you from something like that? Did he just happen to have a passing armada of ships?

[seakingbait]

I was inside it, so I don't really know for sure. But I think he punched it in the stomach?

[grizzly_tea]

He punched it... he punched it...?

[She suddenly has a lot more respect for that simpleton's strength... that and Smoker's for being a Vice-Admiral in a world like that.]

I suppose I should be grateful that he isn't quite an enemy of mine.

[seakingbait]

I'll never stop being amazed by not only his strength, but all the good things he does with it. He's saved me more times than I can imagine...

[grizzly_tea]

[Well... she's not exactly an unbiased source, but it couldn't hurt to learn a little more about him.]

What kind of good, and how did he manage to save you more than just from a giant mermaid eating sea monster?

[seakingbait]

Well, um...

[Just gonna look down at her hands again.]

He saved me from... being sold as a slave to a noble.

[grizzly_tea]

WHAT!?

[She's read her history, she knew slavery was even still commonplace in her world. But a noble? What kind of barbaric civilization did her world have?]

Such barbarism hasn't been outlawed in your world?! And a noble no less was the one who was going to own you?! I hope he killed the dastard rather than just punching him in the stomach! He is clearly a disgrace to his station, and were he brought before me in the courts of Ylisse, I would have seen that he were hung at the gallows!

[seakingbait]

Well... it mostly has, for humans, at least. The World Government doesn't recognize merfolk or fishmen to be on the same level as humans, though. The noble paid a lot of money for me at an auction... wanted me as a pet, I think.

[She clenches her fists.]

[grizzly_tea]

[Maribelle is so torn between outrage, sorrow, indignation, gratitude towards Luffy, and overall confused anger.]

How dare they! I know exactly what you speak of, as a species known as the Tanguel suffered a fate almost identical to yours... they were often kept as pets until they grew older and became slaves, or worse.

The sheer outrage of it all I just... NNG! I'm coming over there!

[Maribelle closes her journal, and soon there's the sound of her boots clopping down the hall as she makes her way towards Keimi's location.]

[seakingbait]

R-really that's not necessa--

[Too late. She's already coming. Keimi had found a quiet corner of the ship to get some privacy, but now it looks like that privacy was over.]

[grizzly_tea]

[It certainly took her a while to track her down on the ship, since she had no idea of where the young mermaid hand managed to hide herself. After all, most of the crew was still unaware of her existence. However, she finally opened the door to her little hideaway, and promptly closed it behind her.]

Keimi... I have something very important that I want you to give that straw hat boy when you see him.

[seakingbait]

Really? I'll do my best to get it to him.

[grizzly_tea]

[Without warning, and without saying a word, Maribelle closes the distance between them, and wraps Keimi in a big hug.]

[seakingbait]

!

[She freezes for a moment. This was the last thing she was expecting from the up until now very formal woman. Slowly, she returns the hug, first simply draping her arms around Maribelle's back, then tightening her grip as the hug becomes more earnest.]

[grizzly_tea]

[Maribelle runs a comforting hand up to pat Keimi on the back, trying not to get herself teary eyed or anything. Failing at that, Maribelle finishes her embrace and pulls out a handkerchief for herself.]

Now... please don't tell anyone about this, I have an image to maintain, and I can't very well let the cutthroat pirates out there know how sentimental I can get. And when you give this to him, please don't tell him it was me... just say that it was a friend of yours, or that I've come to understand him a little better.

[seakingbait]

[Keimi reaches up to her own face, wiping a pair of tears before they can stream down her face.]

I-I won't say a thing. R-really. Thank you, Ms. Maribelle.

[grizzly_tea]

[With a final sniffle, Maribelle stands up and offers Keimi a hand.]

Well... it simply won't do to stay down here all day thinking gloomy thoughts. Would you like to come join me for a spot of tea in my cabin? I'd like to learn a few things about your merfolk culture if you feel willing to share.

[seakingbait]

[She smiles, taking Maribelle's hand, using it to stand up. She nods politely, reaching into her backpack and retrieving what looks like a palm-sized piece of coral. With a push on the back, a bubble large enough to support her weight is dispensed from a hole on the opposite side.]

That sounds wonderful, thank you.

[grizzly_tea]

[Whoa... giant floating bubbles. Give Maribelle a moment to process that one because... wow.]

I... how... what in the world is that?

[And where can she get one? That looks so classy!]

[seakingbait]

[The classiest way to get around under the sea.]

It's a bubbly coral. It uses sap from Yarukiman Mangroves to produce really strong bubbles. They're how mermaids get around on land, back home, but humans like to use them to breathe underwater.