[Edward POV]
"So, why did you bring Phil to the tattoo parlor?" Frankie asked as I got home and showed her the tattoo.
"You're not keeping that by the way." She said, pointing at the cat chasing a yarn tattoo on my right hand.
Taken aback, I blinked slowly and said, "Why can't I keep it?"
"You're a public figure with an indescribable amount of fans. If you do this, they'll try to emulate you." Frankie said seriously. "So, it's either you cover it up, or influence the developing kids that's looking at you for guidance."
"Be honest." I said abruptly.
"Heidi would want a tattoo." Frankie replied flatly.
"Fine." I sighed in defeat. "It's a cool art though. So I'm just going to do this."
I used partial transformation jutsu on my hand, making the tattoo disappear. Frankie nodded in satisfaction and asked again, "You're ignoring my initial question."
"Why did I bring Phil? I was drunk. There's no other reason for it." I replied.
Frankie shook her head and said, "I've known you for so long, I could read you like a book. You did that on purpose to mess with him. Why?"
"Um…" I hesitated, not really having an answer.
Frankie sipped her tea and said, "If I had to guess, you were feeling rejected."
"Maybe that's it." I agreed with her.
She added, even though it wasn't necessary. "He's one of the people you look up to. But he rejected you. So you're lashing out at him. Am I right?"
I paused, caught off guard by her dissection.
"I think, we need a break from each other." I said playfully, with a serious expression.
She replied in the same manner, "Unfortunately, there's no break in being a mother."
"My mother took a break from being a mother." I argued.
"Because she's mentally ill. I still have my sanity, although I can see now why her mind broke."
I threw my hands in disbelief. The trauma felt so long ago that we were already joking about it now.
I went to Alex and told her about what I talked about with Frankie. Alex was at her lab in Pasadena, wearing a lab coat and her black frame glasses.
"So, is it true? You made my dad get a tramp stamp because he rejected you?" Alex asked with a teasing grin.
I nodded and said, "I think so."
"Which would be worse? Rejected by my dad, or rejected by Luffy and not being able to be his crewmate?"
I looked at her with disbelief, frozen in shock slightly.
"Eddy?" Alex snapped her finger in front of my face to snap me out of my frozen state.
"Don't… Don't even joke about that." I was truly shaken by that thought. "If Luffy said to me, 'You're a bad guy'... I'll lose all of my motivation to live."
"That serious huh?" Alex was shocked as she heard it. "So… If Batman said that?"
"I don't really care. Bruce Wayne got nothing on me."
"What about Spiderman?" Alex asked.
"I'll bribe him. A million a month." I joked.
She laughed, "He's not taking any bribes."
"He would if I'm around. It actually happened in my comic book."
"Really?" Alex's eyes flickered. "You never told me that."
"I did , on 27 September 2015. I told you they were making a comic book, adding me as a character in Marvel Comics, and you said, "No one cares. Tell me about the ruins you see on the moon!'"
"Oh. Right." Alex exclaimed flatly.
I teased her. "I think someone owes me an apology."
"You sure do. You never told me about the ruins!" Alex began tussling with me. She wanted to pin me down, but I just laughed and pinched her butt.
"There's no ruins. The data is mistaken." I told her.
"Nuh-uh. You're keeping it a secret because the government told you to!" Alex didn't believe me.
I showed her my tattoo, and she gasped, touching my hand in admiration.
"That's so cute." She rubbed it, trying to check if it was real. "You finally got one. But to be honest, I thought you're going to get the X mark."
"The X mark? You mean, the nakama mark?"
"Yes." She grinned. "On your left hand."
"What about a full Whitebeard flag logo on my back?"
"No!" She grimaced.
I laughed and kissed her a little before saying, "I need to go now."
"And I need to check out that comic book." Alex said while grumbling. She hated how easy it was for me to placate her with a kiss.
"I'll go find Abby someone to love, and I'll see you tonight?" I asked her.
"Sure, what's one more day of building up sexual tension between us?" Alex replied mischievously.
"I'm really looking forward to the day the dam bursts." I said, slapped her butt and left.
She gasped slightly, a smile tugged on the corner of her lips.
[Alex's commentary]
"I hate how much I love that. I'm supposed to be a role model. What's wrong with me?!"
[commentary ended]
I went to meet with Abby at a restaurant.
"So, I'll sit behind you. If you feel like it's over, and you want to move on to another guy, just tap your glass and I'll come to you." I told Abby.
"Can't I just text them? Why do I need to meet all of them?" Abby was a bit nervous.
I've set up ten meetings for her today for her to find a romantic partner. Robin had gathered the data of some eligible bachelors in Concert City, and sent it over to me.
"Because, what if you hate the sound of their voice? If it's Spongebob shrill, or even Squidward's voice–"
"I get it." She grimaced at me and stopped me. I smiled and put on a blue cap and sat behind her in the next booth.
The first guy arrived. He's fit, young, and Korean-American. Abby talked with him for a bit before tapping her glass on the table.
I sent him away and asked, "What's wrong with him?" I didn't eavesdrop on her conversation, just tuned it out while I planned for Jacob's bachelor party tonight."
"He saw my tattoo and he kept saying his mother won't let him date a guy with a tattoo. He's a momma's boy." Abby grimaced. "And he kept checking out my rack."
"I mean, who wouldn't? That thing is popping today."
"Ah." Abby melted a bit. "Thank you." She turned to her dress slightly. She wore a tank top as usual, but with pushup bras today.
Another guy came along. He was a tall hunky man with a deep voice.
Abby tapped her glass after a few minutes.
"Why?" I asked her after he was gone.
"He loves unicorns and rainbows." Abby grimaced.
Next guy came, a tanned latino man.
Abby talked with him for a while, and then tapped her glass again.
"And what's wrong with him?" I asked her, slightly frustrated.
"He's into close up magic." Abby scowled. "That's so lame."
I paused for a bit and said, "I'm into close up magic."
"Yeah, and I would have bullied you out of it if I stayed behind." She said seriously.
Next was a girl with a red streak on her brunette hair. Abby talked to her for a bit, and they seemed to hit it off. But she tapped her glasses still.
"Now what's wrong?" I threw my hands up in frustration.
"Hmmm… Too slutty." She told me. "Like you." She teased.
The dating continued however Abby wasn't interested in anyone there. I checked my watch and said, "I need to be back home now for the bachelor's party."
"Where are you having it?" She asked as she drank some scotch.
"My cruise ship." I replied with a grin.
"Will there be any strippers?" She asked teasingly.
"No." I said decisively. "But the girls are having their bachelorette party on the same ship."
"Hmm…" Abby suddenly sulked. "You know, I never went to a bachelorette party before."
"Because you have no friends?" I teased.
"I did have a few… while I was in college." She recounted the memory with a nostalgic look.
"What happened then?" I asked as I called the waiter to get the check.
"I slept with a couple of them." She sighed as she confessed casually. "And the two others, Well…their boyfriend wants to sleep with me, so they blamed me for it and cut our friendship short."
"Um…" I hesitated a bit, caught off guard by her recollection. "Well, the first part is kind of your fault, but the second part isn't."
"You're judging me now? You." She narrowed her eyes at me, looking at me up and down while scoffing.
I laughed and said, "Nope. Just stating some facts. That's also why I never slept with my friends."
"A big fat lie." Abby exposed me cruelly.
I was taken aback and said, "I know it's a lie. I was being facetious."
"Still." She laughed slightly, feeling embarrassed that she fell for my sarcasm. "So, can I join the bachelorette party?" She asked.
"Ask Jenna, who by the way, is still single, if you want to try her out." I said to Abby before we both left the restaurant. I called Jenna for her, and Elsa agreed to Abby attending the bachelorette party easily.
"Sure. What's one more guest?"
"There's other guests? Who?" I asked nosily.
"Your ex." Elsa grinned. "Guess which one."
"Her?" I pointed to Abby.
"A second ex." Elsa chortled viciously.
"Damn." I whispered. "I probably shouldn't go aboard this ship."
Abby cackled and said, "But you'll have to."
…
[General POV]
Phil sat down on the dining table at his house, served with all of his favourite dishes in front of him.
"What's all this?" He gasped, exhilarated by the surprise. He turned to Claire and froze slightly, "Wait, is today our anniversary?"
"No. Phil!" Claire rolled her eyes and exclaimed with a slight disappointment. "I just feel like we don't talk anymore."
"So, this is a date?" Phil was excited again.
"It is." Claire said with a giggle. "Also, like, a moment for us to talk with each other… freely… about stuff that is currently going on… without any judgement."
"Really? Without judgement?" Phil was taken aback.
Claire nodded with a smile and said, "Yes!"
"So, if I tell you I want to buy a new trampoline?"
"Just buy one." Claire replied easily.
Phil smiled innocently and said, "You're the best wife ever."
[Claire's commentary]
"Eh, we have money to spare." She said with a slight annoyed tone.
[Commentary ends]
Claire slowly steered Phil into the conversation she wanted to have.
"Eddy? I think he's a good kid." Phil replied after Claire asked Phil about Edward.
"I think so too. So, I don't get it when people said they don't want Edward to become part of their family." Claire sighed.
Phil was manipulated and said, "Maybe they have reasons for that."
"Like what?" Claire asked. "Just for an example, let's take Alex and Eddy. What could be wrong with that pairing?" Claire set up a trap.
And Phil stepped into it willingly, "There's nothing wrong with them. It's just that, they don't bring out the best in each other."
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Claire was confused.
Phil swallowed his food and said, "His life is a musical. Did he break into songs while he's with Alex?"
"Huh?"
"It seems silly, but I mean it. Did he write any songs for her?"
"I don't think so." Claire caught off guard. Phil said, "There you go."
"They are too comfortable with each other." Phil added. "Like, when I'm with you, it's still a little scary sometimes."
"Really?" Claire raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. I'm afraid of how much I love you, and how someday you're going to wake up and realize you're much hotter than me."
"Aww. Phil." Claire melted slightly. "I guess I get it. This here, this is what they lacked."
Phil agreed with Claire. "Yes. They are living in their own bubble. It's not that I don't want them to be together, but I know if I give them my blessing, they'll just… exist."
Claire was excited and added, "Then, you did something right for once."
"Yes– What do you mean for once?"
Claire ignored Phil's question and said, "But, they still want to be together. So how will that work?"
"Most of the time in our early days of marriage, your dad didn't approve of me. But, that makes things sexier, doesn't it?" Phil grabbed Claire's hand and kissed it.
Claire swooned and said, "Yes. I do remember that."
"What Edward needs to do, is focus on Alex, not focus on me or my blessing. If he really loves her, he'll do whatever it takes to be with her."
Claire added, "Or. He'll think it's too much of a hassle and leave her."
Phil froze slightly.
…
[Edward POV]
"The girls go over there, the guys are over here." Finneas said to the girls as they entered the ship.
"Why aren't your college friends here?" I asked Jacob.
"We already had steak and cigars this evening. I don't want to invite them to the ship since I know what they are all like." Jacob replied.
"What are they like?" Enid was curious.
"Horndogs." Jacob replied with a serious expression. "Besides, tonight, it's just about us, and that's more meaningful to me than bringing the other footballers here." Jacob said excitedly.
He paused and turned to Abby, pointing at her slightly, "Well. Except for you."
"How rude." Abby grimaced. "I thought there'll be more people, not just seven closely knit groups of friends."
She turned to me and sulked, "You should've told me."
I laughed slightly and said, "To be honest, I thought Elsa's sisters, her work friends and cousins will come too."
Elsa shrugged and said, "Too much hassle. Besides, Jenna is the head of the party planning committee."
Jenna gasped, "You said you don't want them to come!"
Elsa smirked slightly.
The girls left to their side, and we went to the guys' side.
"How can there be a party with just three people?" Finneas grumbled. "At least, hire a stripper."
"What? Starting my forever marriage with enjoying some other harlot jiggling their stuff at me? What's the point of getting married then?" Jacob grimaced.
"It's not for you. It's for us!" Finneas said, pointing at me and himself.
"Don't drag me into this." I replied. "Although, I agree with you on the numbers part. It'll be hard for us to have the party with only three people."
"What do you have planned?" Finneas said cheerfully.
"We're going to an island to play some games." I replied.
Jacob and Finneas froze.
"Not… the… you know, that island, is it?" Jacob was a bit guarded.
"Huh?" I was confused.
Finneas added, "You know. The Redacted island. The ones where people ate other people and diddle kids–"
"Hell no!" I was taken aback and replied quickly. "I already burned that place to the ground three years ago, and punished everyone related to it."
"Good. Great." Jacob replied with a smile.
Finneas sighed and said, "Am I the only one who's curious as to what he did to those people? What punishment?"
After a four hour cruise from the port, we finally arrived at the bachelor party location.
"Ladies and gentleman." I spoke to everyone as they came out to check out the island.
"To honor my best friend's viking ancestry, and his peculiar tendency for physical activities, I decided to create an arena for him to unleash his full animal instinct."
Alex grimaced and said, "The Epstein island?"
"Not that!" I pointed at her, snickering slightly. "This is better. A fantasy island."
"Fantasy Island of Dr Moreau?" Abby asked.
"Different. It's…"
A thunderous roar drowned my voice. I smirked and said, "Isekai island!"
A huge, 5 meters tall minotaur came out of the forest. Everyone was shocked when they saw it. Enid falls to her knees, shivering in fear.
"Calm down. It's just animatronic." I told everyone after they were screaming that I wanted to kill them.
"So, is your bachelor party plan a real life D&D?" Alex asked.
I smiled in excitement and said, "Yup! We also have armors, and weapons."
"Oh Eddy." Jenna exclaimed with pity.
"What?" I was caught off guard by the girl's reactions.
"You're a nerd." Alex exclaimed flatly.
Frazzled, I turned to my guy friends and said, "You guys don't think this is too nerdy, do you?"
"Are you kidding me? My viking blood is boiling!" Jacob screamed in excitement. "Let's gooo!!!"
"Wait. One question. When did Jacob have viking blood? His dad's from Minnesota, his mom from Ohio." Finneas said begrudgingly.
We left to venture the island while the girls decided whether they wanted to join the campaign or not.
"Eddy!" Jenna suddenly called as I descended the ship. "What?" I shouted back.
"Is there a bosomy barmaid role? Or a bosomy elf? I want to be that!" Jenna asked excitedly.
"Sorry. Only monsters here." I replied. "But there is a combat elf costume you can take."
"Hell yeah!" Jenna squealed and went to pick her costume.
"What's the end game here?" Elsa asked.
"Simple. Find the final boss, and kill it." I replied with a grin.
Their armor would protect them from the monster attacks. It was like a game, there would be no pain from the monsters.
"Let the campaign, begin!"