melodiesoflife | Dreams Across the Water - [Bulletin Board Post to Action]

Who: [OU] Monkey D. Luffy and if you'd like? You!
When: The afternoon of the 16th of December
Where: At the river bank where there should be (assuming) a number of boats docked and ready for use.
What: The call for adventure is too difficult to ignore. There's something out there. The Queen? Answers? It's all waiting to be discovered by some one.
Warnings: Possible language, but nothing else as of yet.

- - - -

Luffy is not known for his prose or his dictation, but thankfully Pakku is able to convey the urgency of his message with the sort of inflection and severity that the pirate wishes for. Upon the bulletin board in town is posted a simple scroll. No illustrations with the energetic hand so frequently used these days by Luffy, no assumptions or odd-ball questions that he was commonly putting to those he caught on Mognet's many deliveries. This time, at the height of the hour, the pirate is direct and to the point with his intent. To those who read, the post flows as follows:

To those whom it may concern, to the individuals who have met and befriended Monkey D. Luffy,

There is a voice which calls to people of the sea, the sort of siren that sings the sweetest of hymns that even the strongest will of the heart cannot ignore. This voice has been gripping at my soul since I arrived here, telling of a vast world to explore and an endless sea to chart. There's a scent of adventure, a hanging air that pulls at the very essence of my being that I am afraid is winning in a struggle that I have given great opposition to.

I have not met many here, but the few that I have had the pleasure of crossing paths with, for better or for worse, have been the sort of people that this world needs more of. Persons vying to fulfill their dreams, to seek out the answers which draw at both their waking thoughts and manifests beyond comprehension in their sleep. If ever we are to meet again in this world, I do hope it is over good drink and incredible food. One can never have too much of either in their lives.

I know not where this river will take me, or where my journey may end, but I know I do this with no regrets or fear. What I do I do so knowing that my life is on the line, but I would have it no other way. If I am not giving to this adventure fully, then what point is there in living? I'm setting out to see what it is that we've been brought here, to refuse this title of "hero" that's been given to me, and take charge of the pirate blood which flows inside my veins.

Pakku and I thank you for your generosity, ~~your patience~~ and your compassion.

Dearest regards,
Captain Monkey D. Luffy
Pakku the Moogle

- - - - - - -
Meanwhile, at the river bank
- - - - - - -

Pakku wipes away the tears in his eyes. It's been some time since the fluffy companion has set out beyond the continent, away from the comforts of home and the delicious food in which it provided. It takes a great deal of conviction to try and collect himself while he tugs upon the ropes which keep the small row boat in place. Having tiny mitts for hands isn't the most accommodating to the task, which only adds to his worry about what may lie ahead on the open waters.

Having to care for a pirate who cannot swim sends a whole different set of anxious shivers down his miniature spine, or what little of it actually exists, as far as courage is concerned.

"Almost done, Pakku?," the pirate asks from the head of the small boat.
"Can't-.. *SNIFF* Can't we stay just-.. Just one more night?"
"No can do! You can't hear that? The sea is begging for us to explore it, Pakku! You wanna' just stay here and get dusty and let them call us he-Ah! I mean, use that stupid word again?"

The boat certainly doesn't belong to Luffy, and in an rare circumstance where the self-proclaimed pirate actually commits and act of piracy, he hasn't chosen the best vessel for a long journey. He isn't bothering to keep quiet, either, drawing the attention of any and all who might be walking along the small pier and bank.

"Come on, Pakku! Wipe away those tears! You're a man, aren't you?!"
"I'm a Moogle.. *SNIFF*"
"That's the spirit!"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Someone had come to the police barracks with a complaint about a stolen boat. Just a small row boat, sure, but theft was theft. And so Sparks Nevada was the one to draw the short straw for this case, and he wandered his way down to the shore to investigate this situation. Sparks's moogle had taken notice of the memo on the bulletin board, and filled the marshal in. His only response was a quiet grumble.

After awhile he spotted Luffy with the boat, getting ready to leave. Sparks walked up, wearing his police uniform and badge. He folded his arms and gave Luffy a flat look. Chances were, this was his culprit.

"Kid. What're ya doin'."

The lad whips his head around the see the Officer standing with what looked like a tired, worn-out expression on his face.

"Oh. Sparky. What's up?"

A raises a single hand to wave, his lips going to a straight line as he gives the Marshal a vacant stare. Pakku, on the other hand, seems to be screaming internally as his sob-filled mug is overflowing.

"Not Sparky. That's Captain Nevada to you." Someone got a promotion at work this week, and is eager to throw it around. Still didn't have as good as ring as "marshal" to him, though.

"Reckon I was about to ask ya the same thing. Where'd ya get the boat?"

"This?"

He looks down to see the vessel he stands in.

"Pretty great, huh? There's lotsa' boats here and no one is using 'em. Thought maybe I'd set off and start looking for this Queen everyone is talking about."

"No one's usin' 'em because it's December. Ain't exactly a popular month for sailing. And just cuz no one was usin' it doesn't mean ya can take it. It's a little thing called 'stealing'. Maybe you've heard of it."

There's a beat, while something dawns on him, and cocks his head slightly.

"You were just... gonna float off, lookin' for the Queen... in that."

"So? Time of year doesn't mean a thing when your heart is yearnin' for adventure! And I have heard of stealing! We talked about this, remember?! Pirate! Marshal! I'm a pirate! You're a Marshal!"

The young-future-King lets out a huff of air, looking to the boat as he pouts his lips out at the questioning would be quarter-master.

"Yeah? So? It's a boat. I started my journey in a row boat. There's no reason to not start a new adventure in one, too! Why? You wanna' come with?"

"Yeah, no thanks. And I don't care if ya decided to float off into the horizon in a wooden bucket. So long as it's your bucket. 'N since that boat ain't yours, I'm here to get it back."

Sparks taps his foot, but doesn't move yet. But Luffy has about 30 seconds before he does come over there to do something about this.

"But it is my boat. It's got my name on it."

Luffy simply crosses his arms, while his Moogle companion nods his head while still trying to hold back the well of tears pouring from its eyes.

"It's true, Mister Marshal! His name IS on the boat!"

The pair points to the front of the boat, on what would be the port side of the ship if it were larger. Sure enough, in a very crude lick-of-paint is the pirate's name labeled on the wood in bright yellow letters. It isn't the best script, but Luffy HAD insisted on writing it himself.

"Writin' yer name on it don't make it yers. If I go 'n paint my name on the castle, I don't suddenly become king."

Sparks gives the moogle an especially pointed look. And here he thought he'd be the reasonable one in this pair.

He walks right up to the shore now, arms reach of Luffy. Luffy is lucky this is Crystallis and not Mars; by now Sparks would have just shot at him out of pure annoyance.

"Enough wastin' my time. C'mon. Out."

The pirate merely crosses his arms over his chest, giving the Marshall a disagreeing look before he plants his left foot firmly onto the hull of the boat.

"A man's hunger for adventure is NEVER a waste of time! Besides, if you want to be King, why not just go and paint your name? You won't know until you try."

Pakku can't help but get the feeling that he's steadily losing points with the law-man, dropping steadily like the falling prices at a department store until disapproval is practically free for the taking.

If it was any consolation to Pakku, like most people, Luffy didn't really have any points standing with Sparks in the first place.

"Yeah, I-- No. That ain't the point here. Kid, yer under arrest."

He's had enough of this. Sparks reflexively goes for his pistol, which isn't there. Instead, he takes a second to pat around for his handcuffs, never taking his eyes off of Luffy. He doesn't make a move towards the young pirate yet, though, since hopping into the rowboat with him was a disaster waiting to happen.

It's a simple gesture, a quick rising of the leg and a kick against the edge of the pier. Before Pakku can realize what is happening, the long cord of the boat was being drawn out as Luffy sends the rowboat out into the steady current of the water.

"Sorry, Sparky-! You're a cool guy and all, but I can't let the law stand in the way of my dreams! You can try and arrest me later, okay?"

Panicking, the Moogle does his best to scurry to the head of the vessel, biting at the rope in an attempt to gnaw away the fibers of the tie to see that their escape is successful.

"WARN- *chew chew* ME NEXT TIME, *chomp* YOU IDIOT CAPTAIN! *gobble*"

Dreams Across the Water - [Bulletin Board Post to Action]

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