A bonfire crackled against the darkening sky, its flames licking upward, sending sparks spiraling into the growing dusk. Master Gaius Vesper stood beside it, his long silver hair reflective in the firelight, his kiseru pipe trailing smoke.
Annabell Ellis stood close to the warmth, her oversized glasses glinting, her satchel still slung across her shoulder. Alistair Reginald Finch stood beside her, his bespoke Marine uniform slightly rumpled, his silk cravat loosened.
"How are the vessels coming?" Gaius asked, his voice lazy.
Alistair took a long drink from his glass. "Bianca told them three days, but they could leave now and be fine. Think she just wants to run a few more tests and make sure they're good on spare parts."
Annabell looked up. "So soon?"
Gaius nodded, gesturing toward the cluster under the palm trees where Marya stood with Atlas, Galit, Law, and Bepo. "Yeah. They're not going to wait any longer than they have to."
Annabell followed his gaze then turned to see Charlie and Emily walked toward the water together, Emily's face flushed pink. Annabell's expression flickered. "That is disappointing. It would have been nice to—"
Gaius cut her off, his voice gentle but firm. "They are young. They are not interested in standing still."
Alistair nodded in agreement. "I am confident this will not be the last time they cross our path."
Gaius grinned, smoke curling around his face. "Absolutely not."
Footsteps approached. Bianca, Zola, and Emmet joined the group, each holding a meat skewer.
Bianca pointed over her shoulder with her skewer. "So like, if you are like hungry and stuff, you better like get food, because like, everyone is like eating."
Zola swallowed a bite, her violet eyes bright. "I must say, this is very well seasoned."
Annabell turned her attention to Emmet. "Did I hear correctly?"
Emmet blinked at her, his mouth full.
Annabell continued, "That you proposed to Natalie?"
Emmet coughed, nearly choking on his skewer.
Bianca stopped mid-chew. "Are you like serious?"
Zola nodded. "Oh yes, I meant to ask about that as well."
Master Gaius clapped Emmet on the back with enough force to make him stagger. "Well, come on, my boy! Don't keep us waiting!"
Emmet looked at the expectant faces surrounding him. He swallowed. Then he nodded. "Yes. I did."
Bianca's eyes went wide. "Well, like, what did she say?"
Emmet cleared his throat. "She said yes."
Bianca squealed, throwing her hands in the air. Zola clapped, her pink hair bouncing.
"So like, when?" Bianca demanded. "Like, what—like, I have to know all the details!"
Zola nodded vigorously. "Me as well."
Master Gaius grinned. "Congratulations."
Emmet nodded, his usual composed demeanor cracking slightly. "Thank you."
Annabell asked, "Have you picked a date?"
Emmet shook his head. "No. But we are not in a hurry. So we gave ourselves a year to plan."
---
Under the shade of a palm tree, Marya stood in a loose cluster with Galit, Atlas, Law, and Bepo. The firelight from the bonfire flickered across their faces, casting long shadows on the sand.
Atlas and Bepo were demolishing meat skewers with mechanical efficiency. Galit stood with his arms crossed, his long neck arched in that constant S-curve.
Galit told them, "Bianca wants three more days."
Marya nodded, her golden eyes unreadable. "Yeah. She told me."
Bepo interjected, his ears drooping slightly. "We could go now, but…"
Law raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Bepo's ears flattened. "Bianca wants to make sure we have enough spare parts in case something breaks."
Marya's lips pressed together. Law sighed.
Atlas swallowed a mouthful of meat. "Sounds like we're stuck here for a little longer, then."
Law looked at Marya, his expression calculating. "We can use the extra time to plan."
Marya raised a brow. "How much planning do we need to do?"
Atlas smirked, wiping grease from his chin. "We're talking about the King of the Pirates."
Galit nodded. "The fur ball has a point. We should use this time to prepare."
Atlas growled, his fur bristling. "What did you just call me, Noodle Neck?"
Galit snapped back, his neck coiling. "Noodle Neck! Why didn't you—"
Bepo attempted to intervene, his paws raised. "Um, hey guys…"
SPLAT.
A beach ball landed in the middle of their meeting, bouncing off Atlas's head and rolling to a stop at Law's feet.
Law snapped, "What the hell?"
He looked over at the source. Jean Bart, Ikkaku, Uni, Clione, and Hakugan stood at the water's edge.
Clione waved. "Hey! Can you throw that back?"
Bepo picked up the ball, tossing it with a flick of his wrist. "Hey, guys!"
Marya wasn't paying attention. Her gaze had drifted to the water, where the swimmers were still splashing and laughing. Her expression shifted—something softening at the edges.
She reached down and began pulling off her boot.
Law asked, "Hey, what are you—"
Marya nodded toward the water. "I'm getting in."
Atlas grinned, his earlier annoyance forgotten. "That's what I'm talking about."
Marya dropped her jacket onto the sand and pulled her shirt over her head. She looked at Law, Bepo, Atlas, and Galit.
"Race you."
Without waiting for a response, she ran.
Atlas's grin widened. "BET!"
He tore after her, his feet kicking up sand.
Law blinked, caught off guard.
Galit pulled off his cloak. "The fur ball isn't beating me!"
He took off, his long legs eating up the distance.
Bepo looked at Law. "What do we—"
Law was already gone, a pile of clothes left in his place.
Bepo jolted. "Hey! Wait!"
He ran after them.
Marya hit the water first, diving cleanly beneath the surface. She surfaced a moment later, her raven hair slicked back, and splashed Law since he appeared in the water.
"No fair using your powers!" she called out.
Law, already submerged, smirked. "I don't make up the rules."
At the water's edge, Jean Bart, Ikkaku, Uni, Clione, and Hakugan watched the chaos unfold.
Jean Bart announced, "Last one in has to clean the toilets."
He raced toward the water.
Ikkaku snapped, "It ain't going to be me!"
She charged after him.
Uni, Clione, and Hakugan exchanged a look—then scrambled to follow, their shouts of protest swallowed by the crash of the waves.