[Plot] Walk like a star.

[Fluffy Lynx]

WORD COUNT: 1091

TAGGED: @lynx

TAGGED: Roin

It had been quite a few days since things had gone awry while aboard a liner, sailing between islands and having guests of various different backgrounds, all having the same goal of reaching new places. That liner had come under attack by a crew of pirates, and most of the passengers had been unable to do anything, either out of fear or out of powerlessness. Either way, Amelia had stepped up at that time, and shown just how much she was capable of when she put her mind to it. Though the outcome hadn't been secured by her alone, the girl felt that doors had opened in the worlds. There were things that had stopped being impossible, and she had been given a chance to place a foot down. The girls name had been etched into the tablet of time for this era, and it was time she hammered it in that it would echo to the tablets concerning both the future and the past. The opportunity had come, when she had gotten an invitation to a cruise. Among the guests on the liner, had been the son of a noble. A devious boy, who had run away from home, almost losing the head on his young shoulders. Since Amelia had prevented his demise, the girl had been invited to a private party on a cruise. Within the invitation, she had found a card to one of the clothes stores on one of the nearby islands, that she may arrive in proper clothing for such an event. About hundred or so guests, loosely connected to people with power. So it was the perfect place to step up and make a claim of what was going to be happening. In the meantime too, Amelia had claimed the powers of a Devil's Fruit, and now she felt she was more than an unprepared group of party-goers could handle.

The first step had been picking out a dress. Through expertise and guidance, she had ended up with a sleeveless green beauty. The top was glittering, sitting tight around her chest, keeping her forms in perfect check. From the waist and down, long green fringes were hanging freeley, appearing like a soft green veil atop the silken layer. The girls high heels were tall enough, that she needed them strapped around her ankles to be able to move properly. Amelia's hair had been braided elegantly by her stylist, adding flowers of violet into her hair of red. Pursing her lips, she had applied a dark red lipstick, making her seem all the more alluring. Having already stored away her bags and belongings in a safe place, Amelia had boarded the cruise with nothing else but her invitation. The day had moved towards evening, and the guests were finally starting to arrive. Their attires were strict, formal, like they were bankers expecting to greet customers that very eveningt. From the dock, they'd be moving across a long plank with the red carpet rolled over it, the bouncers standing guard at the entry, checking invitations. The invitation had said to arrive by 19:30 in the evening, or risk the ship sailing without you. Arriving at 19:52, fashionably late, Amy was nothing like the regular person arriving there. There was color within her, life, happiness. The bouncers immediately noticed, fluttering as she handed them her invitation, giving them a soft wink as she moved across the walkway onto the cruise, the walkway practically following just behind her as she was the last to arrive.

From there, Amelia headed through the cruise, with all the gazes following her. They knew it, without being told anything. Amelia was there for a reason, she was different, she was interesting. Stepping by the waiter with the entry drinks, she elegantly picked a glass right off the tray. The waiter, in his attempt to look after Amelia, tripped over himself, dropping the drinks and making a mess. With every step she took, the high heels clicked against the floor of the cruise. Heading directly for the highlight of the party, the young noble she had saved, she gracefully bowed before him, revealing the form of her behind slightly against her dress. "Thank you for the invitation to this splendid cruise. I sure hope it will be a party noone will soon forget." A short fifteen minutes later, when everything was accounted for, a voice echoed through the ship.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome! We're gathered here, to celebrate! The pirates that have attacked our liners have been captured, and the seas are safer than ever! In the kitchens, we've got our excellent chefs working to provide you with the finest cuisine! On the deck, we've got muscicians for those wishing to let loose! There's plenty to drink, so make it the night of the year! With us here tonight, we also have one of the heroes who saved my son! Please, treat her with the respect she deserves! MISS. AMELIA. DELACREUX!

As the spotlight found Amelia and applause went through the crowd, Amelia could bow once more, gracefully. Oh, they'd not forget her name anytime soon. That much she could guarantee. Already now, she had the whole night of attention on her. This would be a perfect way to start everything off. A reputation would be the quickest way to secure herself allies of the right kind. Infamy, wouldn't be too bad either. Later in the evening, she had been asked to hold a speech about what happened on the liner, and how everyone could make a difference if they put in the effort. It would be during that time she'd need to cement to the world just who she was!...

For now, though, she merely enjoyed her drink while strolling slowly towards the kitchens. World dominance wouldn't come quick, and she'd not like partying all night on an empty stomach, so hopefully the chefs would have something nice prepared for her, and hopefully it wouldn't be all fish.

[Roin]

The party was full-swing, the cruise's various staff all working hard. Specifically, one man was working his hardest. The staff in the kitchen were moving a bit slow, staring in awe as the Head Chef for the voyage worked on two large servings at once. A giant elephant fish, fried and scented with spicing, was being cut by the man's rapid-moving left hand. The knife in his hand chopped clean and clear through the prepared meat, the strength in his arms only making it more efficient. The other hand was stirring a massive pot that appeared almost comical, the log-fire underneath it burning brilliantly. The ladder he was on allowed this man to easily manage both, but turning his fiery gaze back to two aides he'd chosen, his voice barked out easily as Amelia would be making her way through the hall.

"Hurry your asses up! I need two pounds of onion and the three pots with the chicken-broth poured in! We need more flavor to bring out the spices in the stew!"

As the two figures rushed to gather the ingredients, pouring the broth and dropping the onions straight out the bag into the stew, Cormad could only wonder how he'd lasted a year like this. Running a kitchen was new to the chef. Back home, he'd only ever helped run the kitchen... but to lead it like this finally let him make spicy dishes. Fish was bland, but the cruise liner getting a chef seasoned with using winter plants and animals helped bolster their menu considerably. The whole time he'd been there, the ship's passengers only had good things to say. Reaching the end of his reach mid-chopping, Cormad turned his attention from the stew to the large fish. Most of the fish's body was chopped beautifully into proportions... and the head was cleanly preserved. That is, minus the large ears. Those had been cut off and thrown into the stew once done to give a complexity to the heavy beef from the Sea King cut he'd been given. If it were up to Cormad, he'd kill a Sea King everytime he cooked. They were fish, but those magical beasts were able to have beef-like properties, even fowl-like ones! They were amazing to prepare, to say the least.

"The Elephant Tuna is done! Get it out to the outdoor party area! Make it snappy or I'll cut your ears off and use them in the stew!"

The aides were in a panic as Cormad flashed the knife threateningly, the duo quickly grabbing the ends of the large platter before rushing out the door just as Amelia would finally enter view and be able to view the entire kitchen as she'd please. The two gawked as they passed, one of them giving off a whistle that drew the attention of the other chefs. Immediately, a bunch of them put on a smirks and turned their gazes toward the adventuring woman. The dress and heels gave a lot for the men to like... but just as quick as it had occurred, one of the men gave an "Ow!" as an apple hit him. "Get your ass over here and stop bothering the guest! I need someone to manage this stew for a good two more minutes! Keep stiring and keep it nice and hot!" As the man darted over, Cormad dropped off the side of the small ladder... and easily caught himself before spinning the knife expertly in his hold. While the staff went back to work... the cook made his way toward her... but strangely stopped a considerable distance away, roughly ten feet or so.

The ex-pirate had his harmonica in clear view, his white turtleneck fitting the white uniforms of the staff... but the sight of a red apron made it clear that he was better than the brown apron-toting chefs in the kitchen. Hell, even the man's shoes were better, the black shine of dress shoes marking someone who enjoyed being of high class. The final thing of note? Unlike the various norma-bodied men... Cormad's shoulders were a bit wider than his waist, suggesting either he was a brute of a man or had some sort of Giant ancestry.

"Sorry Miss, this group is as motley as they come... surely you have no issue with the food we've prepared for you tonight, do you? I have worked hard preparing almost thirty dishes in the last hour or so, picked the most excellent drinks to fit the theme for the meals, and haven't even got to listen to the bands... if there is anything out of place, I would wish to hear your thoughts... from this far apart, that is."

The blade stopped its spinning as the cook masterfully squeezed the grip. With his sleeves rolled up, tiny scars spotted his hands and wrists, the normal indication of someone who uses knives in their cookings, as well as revealing a single mark branded clearly into his hand. Carefully depositing the knife into a sheath at his hip, it would give a good idea to how much he actually enjoyed using knives... with one on each hip and three on each arm, the trios kept in bands tightly wrapped around his upperarms.

"I apologize if this is too far away to speak... but I-" "The head chef is a-"

The man cut off when Cormad shot a look his way, finally turning his gaze back with a sigh. Before he could even apologize, however, the head chef's lackey once more spoke, this time uninterrupted.

"The guy is scared of women, miss! Just try touching 'em if you want some fun!"

Immediately, Cormad stiffened before turning his gaze toward the man. If not for the fact he needed the beri, he'd cut the man down for saying something like that. Even after a year, the time he'd spent in the Queendom... the pirate couldn't even dare to recollect the horrible women trying to capture him and break him into some loyal lapdog. Quickly turning back out of fear she'd get close, Cormad nervously put on a small smile.

"I apologize for him, Miss... my name is Cormad. Tell me, how can I make your ex-experience on our Cruise better? If you need music, I could even play a song for you, since my major dishes are done for the night's events..."

[Fluffy Lynx]

WORD COUNT: 491

TAGGED: @lynx

TAGGED: Roin

Now this was highly curious. A chef, standing in the kitchen of the cruise, essentially attempting to evade Amelia as much as possible. It was apparent by his breathing, by his pupils, by the way he was avoiding her and making himself feel small. Tilting her head to the side, it was obvious that she was highly amused by this turn of event. Pursing her lips and making herself as female as she could, by sticking forward her chest and revealing the curves down her side, it wasn't as much flirting as she was actually just tormenting the poor guy. He was practically ready to faint, and the kind of power that she had over him to this effect wouldn't ever get old. In fact, it might just be something she could get used to. Either way, she still needed something to eat. With how he was currently acting, it was highly possible that she could make him cook her something unique. It was worth a try.

"Oh, its only because I'm not too fond of the type of fish that has been served. I was wondering if you could cook me something personal, mhh?"

The girls voice was purring as she was speaking, there was an odd softness to it, and she was clearly not afraid of playing on others weaknesses. Amelia had her own type of strenght, and while it may not have made her the strongest fighter around, there were other things that she was many times better at. Such as manipulation. In the end, Amelia almost always got what she wanted, one way or the other. Having looked around the ship, there were plenty of valueable items. Things that noone would notice was gone until it was too late and Amelia would make her exit.

"...If you cook me up something nice, I won't have to enter the kitchen and cook it myself. Lord knows, I'm just a beast around the right type of men. You're just my type, too...""

Showing teeth and biting her lips, that ought to be plenty of motivation for him to cook something special to her. Taking a few steps back, the girl seated herself in a chair. Almost immediately, the other men were trying to win her over by offering her drinks, asking what was going on, if she needed anything or if they could otherwise be of service. A rare breed of a bird, with many that wanted to study her feathers. Dismissing all of them, aside from a certain bloke who had offered champagne, because who says no to good champagne, right? The girl was keeping her blue saphire eyes on Cormad. Clearly, he was the most amusing among those in the kitchen, and Amelia needed some entertainment.

"When my meal is done, I'd also like for you to play some music. It is so incredibly relaxing..."

[Roin]

When the woman "flaunted" her stuff, the cook visibly... shook. While some of the cooks hooted and cheered on the act, the cook took a half-sliding step backwards before quickly regaining his composure. "Y-Yes... right-" The cook turned as one of the minor chefs rushed him, the man raising a knife with a lecherous grin on his face. "I'll be cooking for the lady, not y-!" The man didn't even finish his statement, the shaking man having halted his fear while averting his attention fully... and directly toward the challenging chef. The head cook's hand masterfully slid along his arm, stripping a more deadly and real blade from the bands on his arms, masterfully slashing the other chef's knife. The strike was close to the hand, not shedding in blood, but the combat blade found its mark and sent the chef's knife flying... or at least the blade! The man had just enough time to look at it before the gynophobe brought his palm forward in a hard arm-thrust.

The lower chef let out a loud grunt, getting the wind knocked out of him and sent across the kitchen before crashing into and lightly splintering a storage barrel. The result was a storm of apples breaking free and comically covering him. The result was the other men immediately halting... and Cormad once more returning the blade to his arm before speaking... in a rather humorous way.

"I-I-I will prepare a chicken curry for you... a favorite dish of mine, as I can spice it almost freely... but I would like to ask if you would like a dry dish? If not... I will need a-a-a while to p-prepare it..."

The man quietly turned his gaze toward Amelia... before taking two "scoots" away from her. To the others she may appear pleasant... but no woman needed to be near Cormad. The only good thing she had referred to was a mention of him playing for her... which brought his attention to look toward one of the cooks with a frown, having to snap to draw attention from the incapacitated attacker from moments before.

"Go below deck to the storage and fetch the mini-piano! And see to it that this woman gets a seating area in the backroom! My dish isn't for those bastards out on the deck, after all! It would be improper to prepare something for her and then find others wishing to try it!"

One of the men was a bit upset at having to listen, since he'd need to leave, but the narrowing of Cormad's eyes set him off running. None of them had seen a display of skill to suggest Cormad knew his way around a knife beyond that of a cook... yet in one move he'd disarmed the other chef's blade and then sent him across the room. The downside... was that the ex-Captain was forced to cook for this vile woman! Maybe getting stabbed would have been better, but now he had to tolerate her or it would tarnish his reputation as a skilled chef!

Idly grabbing at his apron, Cormad began unfastening it, taking a moment to breathe a bit deeply... and then turned to move toward the furthest cooking area in the whole kitchen, well away from the door into the backroom and the female guest of the kitchen. Immediately, with a flick of the stove's heat to max which set the stove alight... well, Cormad quickly reached upward to the many spice racks hung in the kitchen. With one hand, the cook plucked three containers free, their contents either red, brown, or black mixes. Putting them on the counter nearby, the man's other hand idly grabbed a skillet and slid it onto the stove top. With his spices picked and the skillet heating up... Cormad grabbed the last bits of necessary things nearby. Curry powder and cinnamon. With it there, his eyes turned toward the many selections of food nearby... before reaching out to grab one of the boneless fowls with a grumble. Already, two chefs had hurriedly brought the oil, flour, cumin, and even the butter and stock from previous dishes! Carrots, cream, and finally peas were brought over... all before the man let out a last breath.

"I'll have it done as quickly as possible without damaging the taste too much, miss... I implore you... to at least give me distance for a short period. It will be worth the wait... and I can play for you after a few minutes to ensure it will cook properly under these fools... which reminds me..."

With a cold look to a nearby duo, the two of the chefs immediately recognized the glance. It was the same one he'd given for rice earlier. As one man ran to start preparing the rice, the other moved to assist as much as possible... and one of the last "free" chefs in the kitchen idly moved to bow his head to Amelia before motioning to a door... right beside the man and the broken barrel of apples.

"Inside is the Captain's private dining area for testing new dishes... please make yourself comfortable while the head chef cooks..."

[Fluffy Lynx]

WORD COUNT: 500

TAGGED: @lynx

TAGGED:

A smirk was on the girls lips. It was obvious that she was playing Cormad right into a corner where he couldn't get out of. Unknowingly, he was stepping deeper and deeper into her domain. It was only a matter of time now before Amelia would have what she wanted. The fact that Cormad and the other cooks could grant her access to the captains quarters was much more than she had bargained for. Surely there would be some maps or other such fine pieces of things that she could steal. To make the world spin, Amelia needed a capital. To get a capital, she needed to get valueable items. The fastest way to get valueable items, was to nick them off of the rich. Captains of such luxorious cruises, usually had quite the amount of items. Maps and equipment that to the right people would be worth a minor fortune. Tilting her head to the side, she looked at Cormad, the same seductive smirk on her lips. Oh how she loved toying with her food. It made everything taste so much better.


"Very well. I shall await you with interest. If anyone should ask where I have gone, I am merely having minor seasickness. I do not wish to be disturbed while I am eating. Right, boys" Amelia winked at the other chefs, who, almost enthralled to her flirtatious nature had done nothing to question what was going on. On the high heels, Amelia started walking towards the captains quarters, soon finding herself in exactly the place she wanted to be. There were all sorts of valueable things there. A golden compass. A collection of maps in a book. A silver-forged sword with jewels. Exactly the kind off  garbage you'd expect a captain to carry around. As soon as the door behind her was closed, she started gathering all the things that she figured she would need, using the sheet of the captains bed to pack up all the items. With a bit of craft and a sharp wit, she'd soon push the makeshift bag out the window, allowing it to hang just above sea level in a rope. When she'd be leaving, she could pick up the bag without having to visibly carry it through the crowd. A quick and effective way of escape. Musing to herself, the girl sat down by the captains desk, patiently awaiting the food to arrive. Surely, it'd be at least a quarter before anything would come out the kitchen..


Amelia wasn't a person very keen on waiting, nor was she overly patient. In earnest, she wished to get this whole ordeal over with so that she could start her own adventure. With money, fame and infamy, there ought to be quite a few would-be pirates that'd join a crew. Once she had a crew, nothing could stop her from claiming even greater fame and fortune. Sitting there at the desk, Amelia had started daydreaming, completely zoning out...

[Roin]

The next few minutes, while the female guest looted the Captain's eating quarters, the kitchen staff were put through the ropes... by the fiery, quick working chef. Flame kicked up from the stove from a sudden adjustment, but the quick hands of Cormad released the various starting ingredients to prepare the dish. Spicing was nice, but his eyes turned to frown at the one man handling the other portion of the meal. The man cooking the rice was already starting to put too much water in the pot.

"Idiot, if you put that much the rice will come out mushy! Put in less!"

The other chef looked at the ex-Captain for a moment before nervously nodding and tipping the pot into the sink for a moment. With a small, quick nod to approve the new amount, Cormad turned back to his own skillet. The ingredients had all been assembled... and it was time to get to work. Pulling free one of his chef knives, Cormad slid the boneless chicken onto a chopping board on the cooking counter. Expertly spinning the blade a single time, the end of the spin was just before the blade sank through the fleshy, juicy meat flawlessly. With a quick series of cuts, eyes fixed on the chicken while using one thumb to keep the cuts roughly an inch each, Cormad finished it off masterfully. In moments, the piece of chicken was now roughly in ten or so one-inch cubes. In a flash of cooking oil and butter being tossed in, the chicken was immediately thrown in with the flat of his blade. Each cube only made Cormad curse mentally, however. To be forced to cook like this, even if it was one of his favorite dishes to prepare, was certainly not fun. Especially if it was for a woman!

A thump at the stairs drew his attention for a moment, however, as the chef who'd run down below already had dragged one of the pianos up. About the size of a small table, however, this piano was more for entertaining small parties or establishments. If it were up to Cormad, he'd take a bigger one... but all of them were out on the deck for the party at the moment. "Put it outside the door... I'll take it in once I'm ready." The chef with the piano frowned, but quickly did as ordered. The man by the apple barrel had made a lot of the staff at least listen to Cormad. Idly turning his gaze back to the skillet, his hand with the knife idly turned the chicken for the next few minutes... until the color was just right!

A quick scoop-like series of movements put the chicken back on the cutting board, Cormad idly sliding the board onto a side stove and putting the temperature to the bare minimum. There wasn't time to get out foil and be fancy... the dish had to keep moving so that vile woman would be out! The temperature wasn't enough to keep cooking the chicken through the board, but at least it'd keep it warm for a while long. A flash of onion into the skillet was accompanied with a splash of one of the spicings he'd selected. It'd help accent the flavoring brought out in the onions in the later dish. Only a moment later, the addition of carrots, chopped as they were added, made the skillet colorfully simmer while the rest of the chefs idly gawked, even the one preparing the rice. Few had seen Cormad personally cook a dish to this degree... and none had seen the man urgently cooking at his best. Being threatened with a woman getting close to him had been more than enough to make Cormad's eager side come out.

Satisfied with sliding the carrots and onions around in the skillet, Cormad began adding the rest of his incredible arrangement. The curry powder first, followed quickly by a teaspoon or two of cumin and the cinnamon. None of the measurements were exactly pinpoint... they were done using the edge of his knife. Few of the chefs there had ever heard him brag, but now they were seeing exactly why Cormad called himself a knife-cook... everything he did revolved around using his skills with a blade to measure and handle ingredients. It only took a bit more stirring, but finally it was just where he needed it.

"Flour, now!"

The man who'd guided Amelia to the room quickly ran up with the bag, opening it for Cormad to peer inside. Rather than reach a hand in... the man released the skillet he'd been managing and drew the second knife. Using the clean blade, Cormad expertly extracted a good bit of flour along the flat of the blade, tossing it into the skillet while his other blade kept moving and rolling the contents of the iron-pan masterfully. Sweat was beading his forehead, but Cormad didn't care. With a heavy hand, the chef chopped his flour-dotted blade into a nearby apple, splitting it slightly but effectively stopping the blade's edge. With a makeshift holder for it, his attention turned to the skillet's collection of food... all before taking the cup of stock from nearby. With a splash into the skillet, making a face before tossing in a bit more, the dish was finally nearing a point he could allow these buffoons to handle it.

Time had flown by fast in the early parts of the cooking... but at last his attention turned to the chicken nearby. Grabbing the knife from the apple, and having to shake it to remove the cursed fruit, the cook slid the blade under the chopping board and tilted it upward, the chicken rolling rather chunkily back into the skillet. Letting the board flop back, he moved the knife forward and carefully flicked the other stove off its minimum temperature. It had hopefully worked... and just like that, he had done most of the dish's work expertly. Stepping to the side with a sigh, the man put the blades into a nearby sink as the chefs were still staring in awe. The rice was well along, the dish was just about prepared, and the man hadn't done much more than swing his knives around.

"Now then... let that simmer for a while until the carrots are nice and soft... don't put too much cream and peas in the dish, though. Once you've finished cooking it and the rice... take them to the quarters. Don't add anymore spicing, as I'll personally see to it."

A few nervous nods from the chefs were all Cormad needed before he ran the sink's water over the blades. A hiss of steam from the more active cooking one was enough to let Cormad know they'd at least cool off. It was only a few moments more and he finally withdrew the blades from the water, shutting it off and sliding them into their sheaths. The kitchen under control, Cormad at last turned with a nervous, shaky sigh... and moved to where the piano had been left next to the door. It had been roughly ten or so minutes, he imagined... but at last he'd give the female guest her requested music and hopefully appease her to the point she keeps distance from him. With one hand easily gripping the edge of the piano, the other brought a hard, steady knock to the door. Without waiting on any answer... Cormad proceeded in, sliding the piano in ahead before stopping at the door and looking toward where the woman had... zoned out?

"Miss, you still want music, don't you? The food will be done in a short while... but I hope my playing is enough to distract you from the wait... a-and to keep you from getting t-too close."

[Fluffy Lynx]

WORD COUNT: 811

TAGGED: @lynx

TAGGED:

The girl was getting rather bored with it all. These kind of parties really weren't her cup of tea. Amelia wanted to become famous, rich.. Men across the world were going to throw themselves at her feet, praying that she would give them as much as a single glance. Sitting around on a ship, indulging herself with these boring richkids without any inspiration or aspiration to reach higher, wasn't one of the things she saw herself doing for long. The day dreaming was vivid. Colors of gold, people admiring her from every angle. Lost deep in thought, she didn't even immediately notice that Cormad was returning. In fact, it wasn't until his voice cut through her little dreamy illusion that she seemed to snap back to reality.




"I am not much interested in music, if I am to be honest. I have goals that I want to reach, yet I am unsure of how to proceed. To go where I want, I need to take a leap into the unknown. I hope it will be as thrilling as I am lead to believe." 




Amelia rose from her position and stretched to her full lenght. They were going to need her outside soon. It looked like the whole idea of having a proper meal was going to have to wait. The finalé of the evening was going to begin, and it was something that she absolutely couldn't miss. "I'm afraid our time has mostly run out, master chef. I've been asked to hold the opening speech, and these rich kids aren't used to waiting. Oh, and, be sure to listen in. You might hear something interesting..." With a smirk on her face, she slithered past Cormad once again, letting him know just how much she had toyed with him. It wasn't about the food. It wasn't about his phobia of females. It was about making her feel like she had the power to do anything. A trait that wasn't shown about her until the very last moments.

...Amelia stepped out onto the deck again, smiling and beaming like the sun. The spotlight was on her, as she was introduced by the snob of a father. Walking up to the stage with a white envelope, that clearly was meant to hold some kind of excellent speech, it seemed that she was following protocol. That is, right until she reached the point where her voice could be heard across the ship. The speech she was going to hold for them, was quite different to what they may have expected.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. As I am sure most of you know by now, my name is Amelia LeSorange Delacreux. I stand here today because I, on a fateful day, decided that my fate was in my own hands. That course of action saved quite a few passengers from being taken hostage, or worse. It made me realise, that I have spent too much of my life following in others footsteps, in following what others have paved into the road before me." Drinking from her glass, applause was going through the crowd as she made a short bow before them, a short laugh running over her lips before she gestured for silence; She was going to continue talking. "The world today is built on riches. Those who have everything given to them, like you fine gentlemen, are priviledged. Those born with nothing, are not. When they take what they must to survive, they're branded as criminals. When they're escaping certain death by taking to the sea, they're called pirates. Out there, on the ocean, there are countless pirates who've done more good for this world than you fat-lazy asses ever would." Talking was quickly spreading through the crowd, and it was obvious that Amelia wouldn't have many more seconds to talk before they'd shut her up. So, it was time to come with the punchline and get out of there.

"I have decided to follow my own path. I've decided to punish you swine for your ignorance and incompetence. Everything of value that was stashed inside the captains office has been lifted. Remember my name. Since you cannot tell the difference, I will show you what a true pirate is capable of."
Leaping backwards from the stage, the girl quickly got herself into a lifeboat, cut the rope and plunged into the water. Just as planned, the sack with belongings was hanging right outside the captains window. It was easy for her to cut loose and get aboard the smaller lifeboat. Since they weren't far from shore, it was much easier to gain traction in a smaller boat. Once ashore, she had a plan prepared to leave the premises extremely quickly. As long as she could make it out of fire-range of the guards, she'd be home free.

[Roin]

Not only had Cormad been used to make some meal, but the woman had toyed with him on the way out. The hoots and looks from the other workers didn't even reach the cook. All he could think about was how effectively a woman had wasted his time... and she hadn't even wanted to hear him play!? Visibly shaking, Cormad let the small piano crash to the ground, idly moving a hand to his harmonica as one of the chefs approached with a smile. The food was done, no doubt, but Cormad could only raise a hand to cover the look of complete defeat he had. So long ago, women hadn't been able to terrify him... yet just a simple one like that had just toyed with him and left... the once-rising Captain of the Harmonic Pirates was just some lowly, gynophobic cook!

By the time the speech had been starting, the crowd was ignorant enough of a tall figure emerging from the kitchen. In one hand was a crewman bag, the other holding a tightly sealed box. The man's intentions were clear, even if his infamous temper was boiling up. The man from the North Blue would find the woman who'd toyed with him and made him cook the meal, force her to take it, and then demand to leave the liner. Sailing the seas, trying to get money for a new ship or passage to the Grand Line wasn't going to happen if he stayed like this. A pirate wasn't born to cook meals day in and day out, entertaining others for no greater reward... they were born to see the world, chase their ambitions, and take any wealth they desired! And then, it happened.

The woman was speaking... and she was insulting the men and women of the voyage.

What the hell is she doing talking like that!? Talking about pirates and-

Cormad had frozen at the very thought of pirates. Surely she hadn't recognized his origin... that'd be quite the hard thing to do, since any bounty he might have had years ago would be decommissioned from the idea he had died. The last thing anyone knew of the Harmonic Ghost was that he'd fallen terribly ill years ago... how could anyone piece together his identity in an entirely different Blue? And as he started forward, the mumbling crowd making the man all the more nervous, the woman fled, declaring she had taken much of the wealth... from the very room Cormad had let her into. And all in that moment, as the girl fled and cut the rope and intended to flee with the valuables... one voice stood over the other yells and jeers.

"I was used!? No one uses Cormad Morre! Man, woman, or child... none of that matters!"

The crew on the deck turned, shocked as the man slung the bag onto his back and rushed forward. The defenders were all stumbling, hired goons with nothing more than instructions on how to hold weapons, but they all parted as the large man moved to the edge of the ship. Even as Amelia would be drawing away, the musician appeared at the side, his foot stepping hard onto the raling and raising him to stand rather menacingly above the small lifeboat.

"I'm going to go down there and... a-and... k-k-kick your ass! I won't touch you, but I'll make you pay for tricking me!"

The passengers and staff of the party all were stunned... but none the more than one man who called out and stood, a finger pointing across the crowd. "That man said he was Cormad Morre!? Isn't that supposed to be a dead pirate!?" The gasps fit something out of a play, as if it was some cheesy drama. Immediately, the head chef turned to snarl at the man. "I'm not dead! I'm clearly alive, idiot!" The chuckles were quickly replaced with confusion at the accusation and retort, the exchange rather quick and uneventful despite Cormad's clear anger... but they all turned to gaze and boo toward Amelia... all until the large chef leaped from the railing and out toward the sea and the parting craft. Unlike the staff who didn't trust the waters, Cormad knew the limit of his agility and the rolling of the waves. How could he miss... wait, how could he miss!?

As Cormad soared closer, visibly shaking his head in fear, the man lost his balance in the long-distance jump... and landed half in the craft and half out, the air knocked out of him as he landed on the railing of the small lifeboat and almost tipping it. The box bounced within the ship, sliding to a stop in the low footing by some miracle, before Cormad let out a groan. Landing on the railing... hadn't been fun. The only plus side was that nothing was broken... nothing except his pride anyway. The man from the North Blue pulled himself rather horridly into the ship with the intention of avoiding falling into the water outright... but the moment he was before Amelia, the man turned his head from the floor of the small craft... and stared.

"... Y-You don't g-g-get any c-closer... I-I-I didn't think this th-through. I wanted to give you the d-damn food, not get stuck in this little boat with... with a vile woman like you!"

As fast as Cormad had effectively boarded the woman's craft, the man from the North Blue... had immediately made himself into a hostage by his own fear. Everyone on the ship was silent, most of them staring in disbelief at the now sheepish behavior of the chef... but it was the defenders that were reeling and trying to figure out what to do. With the chef on the ship, even if he was some weird-named guy, they couldn't exactly open fire on her! In one swoop... the man had made himself a hostage!

[Fluffy Lynx]

WORD COUNT: 892

TAGGED: @lynx

TAGGED:

Amelia had been rather unfortunate. The motor for the lifeboat hadn't been functioning, so now she was forced to take the ores to paddle. With her strenght, it wasn't exactly going too fast, but she was starting to row the boat away, little by little, musing to herself as the confused guests of the ship were coming to the railing to have a look at what had transpired. Much according to plan, instead of immediately getting the ship prepared to move and turn, the captain had ran to his own quarters at the news of having lost all of his belongings. It'd buy the girl at least a good few minutes, and large ships weren't exactly the fastest in acceleration or turning speed. So the girl figured that there was plenty of time to escape, as long as the damn goons on the ship didn't manage to start shooting at her. Not that she expected them to be able to hit anything at that distance. Fools. Before getting much further though, a loud roar reached Amelia's ears, followed by the whispers of people recognicing someone as a pirate. Cormad?..

Eyes widening as someone jumped off the ship and started soaring through the air like some insane bird, Amelia really tried to row away from him. Really tried to make him miss. At the end of the day however, he crashed onto the railing of the boat, hitting it hard enough that Amelia herself was rather shaken by the impact. Never could she have anticipated something like this. It seemed that, unless she could make something out of this situation, her life as a pirate would come to an end very very quickly. Perhaps she could convince those on the ship that she had done all of this to make Cormad confess to being a pirate..?  

When Amelia heard Cormad speak however, that idea was soon tossed into the trashbin. Even if he had appeared extremely eager to jump out there and serve out some justice, now he was nothing more than a scared little puppy. A puppy that Amelia could definitely use. It was just about planting the right kind of seed into his mind, and she might get away with having her first crew member. At least, with his complete fear of her, controlling him wouldn't be too difficult or dangerous.. and with the jumping power and strenght the man showed, he could be a very welcome asset.
"We meet again. Quite soon, if I must say. I heard what you said back there, although only barely. A pirate, huh. Quite the bold thing to state in a place with so many witnesses. I like bold. Though, there's not much of a life up there to go back to, now. They know your face, and know you infiltrated the nobles as a pirate. You'd be as wanted as I am, executed on the spot.. So I suggest you start rowing."

Nonchalantly Amelia pushed the ores over to Cormad, before she slithered over to take the food from him, getting back as far away from him as she could be in the little boat. The food really did smell delicious afterall, and now that she wasn't planning to upstage the nobles any further, getting a little bite wouldn't be such a bad thing at all. So Cormad wouldn't have to force it down her throat anyway, it seemed. The girl took what she liked, did what she liked, and had no qualms about using people. Even so, Amelia hadn't done anything to directly hurt anyone. It seemed she was rather unique. 

"So I have decided a few things for you, mister Cormad. If I find your food here satisfactory, since you seem to place so much faith in your own abilities, you'll get to join my crew and make our food. In turn, I'll make you able to stand around women, I'll grant you riches, and we'll go on adventures to claim the greatest prizes of all time. If however your food tastes awful I'm going to kiss you, push you overboard, and watch you drown from your own fear." The girl licked her lips seductively, before barely biting the edge of her own lip. With the provided fork, the girl started digging into the chicken and rice.

Without saying a word, Amelia merely nodded. "..Now get us out of here. We'll need to find more allies, and more importantly, a ship, before authorities catch onto us." And as such, everything had been done. The girl had cast away the luxury of being a mere civillian in favor of taking fate into her own hands. The girl had met the first member to the crew that she was going to gather. Wheter she could truly make him stick around with the promises she had made, would remain to be seen. At least for now, she was going to have to rely on Cormad's help to get out of there. With him being recogniced as a pirate, it'd be very limited where he could go without her. Fate had brought them together. It was the start of something good, she knew it!

//EXIT\\

[Roin]

Not only had Cormad effectively been forced onto the smaller ship, but the woman threatened to even kiss him and throw him overboard!? There was no doubt his food was of fine quality, the man from the North Blue cursing while pulling the paddles into his hands and quickly aligning into the furthest position possible from the woman. If there was no way to get near her... then Cormad would just have to work with her for now. After that little scene, what could the pirate do on the other ship anyway?

"F-Fine... I'll help you only because I can't work on that ship anymore! Not b-because you're intimidating or anything!"

Taking a moment to swallow the rest of his dialogue, since he was certain it would only make him look bad, the large man began to row them away from the ship. The girl had been smart to choose such an occasion to make an escape on a small boat... but she had to have been crazy to assume someone with her average strength could pull it off with all her loot! Part of him wondered if Legix would have spoken on how impossible this all was in a lifeboat, while the other already knew Izlanda would have simply whined that he went along with it instead of sticking up for himself... but his siblings weren't here.

No instruments, no kitchen, and no room to ensure they didn't get close... how quickly things had turned bad for Cormad. The years had made him this weak... but then, he'd never admit that, especially not with this vile woman aboard the ship! As they started to gain distance quickly with his rowing, Cormad took only a moment to glance toward the island they would be trying to slip away on. It had plenty of smoke rising... so it was either a fiery island or an industrial island. Once they got away and onto that place, maybe he'd pester the woman into getting him some things. If she was wanting to find a ship, after all, then that meant she had stolen enough to buy more than that!

If I'm going to be a "hostage" to this vile, devious woman... then maybe I can use her to get to the Grand Line and find my old crew! With their help, I could easily get my revenge on her for all of this! So for now... I'll just put on a front and use her like she thinks she's using me!

With his "plan" in mind, the musical cook angled them slightly as the crowd continued their calls and curses as the small lifeboat and the pair on it slipped away. They were heading to Dauntaun, little did they know... what they'd find there, only a glorious storyteller could know!

[End :X *nodnod*]