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

[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.

[grizzly_tea]

[Oh the twinkle in Maribelle's eyes.]

You mean to tell me people use these to trap air inside so that they can have a pocket of air and stay under the sea? How much of this sap to you have that you're able to casually use it for getting around? Is there any way to get more?

[Maribelle opens the door, to allow Keimi through, wanting to see how she makes the bubble move around for her.]

[seakingbait]

[Keimi shifts her weight ever so slightly, and the bubble follows, gently floating through the doorway.]

Well, usually you can only find it back home on Fishman Island, but I was really surprised to find a shop on Empieza that sold them! I bought as many as I could!

[grizzly_tea]

[Maribelle positively beams when she hears that.]

Are you serious?! Keimi, promise me when we get to Empieza that you'll take me to this shop! Oh if only my darling Lissa were here, she would have found the idea of riding on a bubble the most fun thing in the world!

[She leads the way to her captain's quarters, which while modest, are still considerably more furbished than the other cabins.]

If they have such a novelty item from your home world, I hope that maybe I'll be able to stock up on magical tomes and healing staves. My combat expertise isn't worth much should the ones I am currently carrying lose their charge.

[seakingbait]

[It may not be as lavish as Maribelle is used to, but the cabin still manages to impress Keimi. Though not quite as much as the mention of magic.]

Oh! You're a magician? That's so cool!

[grizzly_tea]

[People being impressed by Maribelle is always music to her ears.]

Well the more accurate term darling, would be mage. Magicians are delightful little illusionists that perform for the masses at festivals and the like, where as a mage uses true magic.

[Okay, she can't help but to show off a little, pulling out her fire tome from her bag, and creating a small fireball to float above her hand, letting it hang there for a moment or two before letting it vanish in a puff of smoke.]

[seakingbait]

[Can you see the stars in her eyes, Maribelle? Because there are a lot of them.]

That is incredible!!

[grizzly_tea]

[Maribelle can't help but let a mirthful smile play on her face, even giving Keimi a playful wink.]

This is child's play my dear, just wait until someone has a gaping chest wound and I patch it up in mere seconds.

Now then, why don't you take a seat and I'll prepare us some tea.