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

After Allenby had spotted the notice, she quickly hurried to rent the nearest chocobo to catch up with Luffy. She knew where ports were and wasted little time getting there. Much to her luck he hasn't left yet.

"LUFFY!" she shouts, dismounting the chocobo, and even without the ChocoKnight job, flies off and is prepared to deliver a flying punch to her 'friendly rival'!

The blow hits him as the young rival plummets towards his face like a dart to the cork. It lands direct, making his face cave only slightly, now that he was no longer made of rubber. When he comes back up from being assaulted, he barks with the full volume of his voice in response to her introduction.

"HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA, HUH?!"

Pakku brightens up, wiping away his tears as he flutters with a fast flight over to Allenby. Resting atop her head, the Moogle points to Luffy in accusation.

"You rescued me! He was gonna' feed me to the Sea Kings, whatever those are!"

"I was not! Pirates don't eat their own crew members, you know!"

Allenby didn't believe the moogle for a minute.

"I heard you were leaving, and you weren't even going to give me a final challenge before you take off?" she pouts. That was their relationship, friends, but still a friendly rivalry, battling back and forth.

"I mean, I'm all for you doing what you feel is natural to you but... c'mon Luffy!" she puts her hands on her hips.

Uh oh. Had he really forgotten the fight they'd arranged?

The pirate stammers, mutters, mumbles, and fumbles while trying to recollect just what had been their agreement. Things had been in such a haze as of late, what with the Moogle search and his stint in the clinic.

And then it finally dawns on him. Alleny had been a helpful hand at helping him recover, and even before then they'd spoken of matching fists to keep from getting out of touch with their own strengths. It isn't in him to run from a fight, especially one between a like-minded rival.

"I.. Uhh.. I just got hit on the head really hard the last time I saw you, okay? So I forgot! But-.. I'll stay if it means you'll actually fight me, got it?!"

"Forgot? Forgot what?" Perhaps even she forgot? OR was this something else.

"I don't mind you going off but... you've got to say goodbye properly! Did you really want to go without breaking the tie?" she grins. "But..." she claps a hand down on his shoulder, even after she'd just decked him, "I makes sense if it gives you some incentive to swing back around too." At least she's being reasonable, right? Well... halfway reasonable?

At least a little? What, she doesn't want her brawler buddy to take off...

Luffy snorts, giving the woman a rather stern stare as he crosses his arms at his chest.

"This isn't 'goodbye'! I'm comin' back! But if ya' want me to stay, I can stick around a bit longer, I guess."

Pakku takes the instance to tie up the bow of the ship, lassoing a pillar while keeping their anchor in the water.

Luffy cannot help but wonder why it might be that a girl would want him around. Is this that thing that Sanji is always yelling about? What was it called? "A crush"? Naw. It couldn't be!

No not really, not yet anyway, but, who else can take a hit like him from her?

"Well, I don't want to make you stick around, but I can think of a thing or two to keep you from leaving right away. It was more about you leaving without saying anything at all, ya know? Just a little note on a bulletin board is hard to see." she gripes, folding her arms over her chest as well.

Luffy merely steps out of the vessel, looking Allenby over with a quizzical stare. A deep breath and the pirate makes his decision.

"If ya' want me to stay that bad, then I can stay a bit longer. Besides, I hear there's going to be a party with a lot of meat soon. Know anything about that?"

"Probably so! People usually make big meals for Christmas. Well, the Starlight Festival here but it's almost the same." Really, food will make him stay, not friendship?

"Besides, you should say bye to all your friends properly before we think you'rej ust running off into the sunset never to be seen again." This ain't no last episode business!

"Oh.. That makes sense. I guess it would be the right thing to say "goodbye" before leaving. It isn't like I was going away forever, though! I'd have to come back once I figured out a way to go home!"

Luffy gives a few sniffs, licking his lips as he can already smell the faint waft of meat lingering in the crisp afternoon's air.

"Yeeeeah! Someone is definitely cooking!"

"Well a little more explanation might help too! But checking out the rest of the world, that'd be good. For sure. But then you'd be missing out!" she grins, giving him a friendly punch on the arm.

"I might go with ya some time. I mean, if you're the captain, someone's gotta do all the fighting, right?"

His expression becomes bright once more, grinning with excitement at her response.

"So you'll join my crew?!"

Then a pause..

"..Wait. Are you trying to steal all my fights?"

"I dunno about that but... Isn't the captain of the ship supposed to just fight last and bark out orders?" At least that's how battleship captains did in her world. Shout orders and command when to fire the 'big gun'

"Not really. Captains fight whoever the stronger guy is, while the other members of the crew have their own fights and do what needs to be done to keep everyone safe."

All of this coming from one of the best AND worst examples of a Captain, let alone a pirate.

"Well that's different. But, I think I'll go with you some other time, if that's okay? I'd rather not get lost. Come back after you have the world mapped out and then we can sail the seven seas or whatever." she giggles.

"But, I guess that makes you a pretty cool captain if you fight at the same time as your crew."

"Yeah! I'm the best Captain there is!" He doesn't back down from the compliment, taking it without an ounce of modesty.

"Sure! I'll have to find a navigator first, but they'll need to be even better than the one I have back home."

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

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