Raven's Tentacle: Realizing Dreams And Saving The Lost

[Kami-Gaz]

---

Woosh! A gout of flame exploded from the building and a wave of oppressive heat washed over the area as the sudden man-made fire enveloped the wooden structure of the desert island in mere moments. The sounds of screams inside were drowned out by the roar of the flames and laughter of the large crew of pirates that surrounded the building.

“Raven!” A voice bellowed as a tall man muscled through a few of his men. With a sweeping motion he wrapped an arm around a tall but thin woman with a gothic look and brought her down to his level in a rough method. “Look at this. This is what happens when you make friends, get close to anyone but me.” He growled, his grip on her neck getting tighter, making the young woman start gasping for air.

“You’re alone and always will be you freak!”

---

Waters churned under the large vessel that was caught in a freak storm, something the grand line was known for. It was a storm that people outside of this sea would call freak apocalyptic weather… for locals this was the average Tuesday. The crew of the ship were like a practiced well-oiled machine that moved to keep the ship from taking any damage as it made a move to find the edge of the storm and the calmer rains that usually followed it.

Wilhelmina was the only being not moving a single inch, not to work the ship, or to respond to the rocking of the ship as it rolled on the waves caused by the storm. She was leaning against the railing by the helm of the ship, in the rain without a care in the world and a smile on her face. Months had passed since Samuel and his wife Anabella freed her from brutal imprisonment under the Scorsais Pirates, there were nights where she woke up with terrors about the things she had been subjected too.

Not anymore, she was free and following her dream. There were people on this ship that followed her for one reason or another. She had hired a construction company from Water7 They specialised in building ships, but this endeavour intrigued one of their builders that he just had to take the job. He stood behind the woman that had hired him and his men. “Wilhelmina, are you sure you are okay in the rain? Your cabin is dry and warm.” The man spoke, his tone imperious and proper. He was an elder man that had greyed at the temples and the sides of his hair had shifted from the striking black to a brilliant silver.

“I am more than fine, Mister Aldritch. This is the best I have felt in years!” She twisted her gaze, the half-bleached hair shimmering in the flash of a lightning strike on the waters in the distance. “Soon we’ll be at Utopia Disco! Then we build it!” Her hands let go of the railing and her form instinctively moved to lean against the rocking of the ship in an almost unnatural way. Her ‘legs’ were covered by the length of a long black dress Her large and puffy black jacket was unzipped showing her midriff free to the elements under her cropped top.

“We build my dream.”

---

Captain Scorsais: efff9b
Wilhelmina(Raven): a55eff
Mr Aldritch: acd1fc

[Mr. Moon]

Francis #1

It was just barely a week since his journey started and Francis already regrated his decision to sell his inn and go on an adventure. The idea sounded great in his head. Just him and the sea, no nagging customers, no urge to transform into a giant wolf monster in the night to find the crime. However as was usually the case, the reality was far from what he dreamed of.

First of all, he got lost. It happened on the third day of his voyage, the band of his log pose snapped when he was fishing, throwing the precious instrument into the water. A normal person would jump for it, but Francis, as Devil Fruit user could only watch how it sunk underwater. From there, he was trying to navigate his ship the old fashion way, but on Grand Line, it was a fool´s errand. The days were passing one after another. Originally he was supposed to arrive to his destination on the fourth day, which obviously didn´t happen, so the only hope he had was that he´ll meet some other ship or piece of dry land before he´ll run of fresh water.

“Well, you wanted some adventure, didn´t you? Well, at least the weather is nice…”

He regrated these words just a few hours later, when a storm appeared out of nowhere, hitting his small ship. He did his best to keep it together, but, he was an innkeeper, not a sailor and so at the dawn of the eight-day, he found himself floating on the sea, just barely clinching to one of the few planks that remained from his ship. Too weak to actually do anything then that as the treacherous sea was sapping all of his strength away, leaving him unable to move.

[Kami-Gaz]

The pounding storm was starting to lighten into nothing but a heavy drizzle of rain, the rough seas calmed from a maelstrom to a violent bobbing that was far safter for sea folk to swim in without getting disorientated. With the easing of the storm and the calming of the weather visibility returned and two sights could be seen. Utopia Disco, it’s immense impossible trees with the glittering of its luminescent fruit and glowing bugs making it look like a night sky mingling with the clouds. And a man, drifting slowly on the last remaining chunks of wood that was most likely once his ship.

Before the man in the crows nest even had a chance to open his mouth Wilhelmina had launched herself off of the edge of the ship and like ink against the night sky vanished into the darkened waters. “MAN OVERBOARD!” The deckhand called from above as he rung the bell that was up with him. “Miss!” Mr Aldritch called as he darted to the edge of the ship and leaned over to see nothing.

In moments the half dark and half light-haired woman’s head appeared by the drifting man, a hand gently moving to rest upon his back, looking for a heartbeat. There was one! “I’ve got you…” She whispered caringly as a pair of tentacles manoeuvred the planks he was on. “You’re safe now! Just hold on a little longer and you’ll be on our ship.”

It was a few slow minutes of careful swimming now her tentacles were tied up in keeping the man secure. “Miss Kissinger! Are you okay!? Is this man safe?” The voice of one Mr Aldritch called out as he lowered some ropes and one of the lifeboats with a pair of men on it to help fish up the two in the water.

“He’s breathing! But weak! I think he needs a doctor!” Wilhelmina called as the crew fished him up and away from her.

---

Captain Scorsais: efff9b
Wilhelmina(Raven): a55eff
Mr Aldritch: acd1fc

[Mr. Moon]

Francis #2

He was floating adrift, carried by the ocean currents while clinging to the only thing, that was between him and the depth below. He couldn´t really remember how he managed to grab it. His last memory was him trying to fight the storm that was raging on. Then came an exceptionally large wave, followed by crashing sounds swirling in the water, and then there he was, lying on a large piece of wood, as the storm was slowly disappearing from above his head, too weak to even try to direct his wannabe raft into any direction. Alone, in the middle of nowhere, all he could though about was how this ended. Will he slip from the slippery piece of wood and drown first? Or will some sea monsters turn him into its dinner before it happens?

“Well, looks like the second option…”

He growled for himself when he noticed something large, that was quickly moving in his direction. Trying his best to at least not give his life for free, Francis focused all his will on moving his legs, but…they didn´t even twitch. The curse of the sea was really strong.

Then suddenly she emerged from below. A beautiful mermaid started pulling him somewhere behind him, where he couldn´t see.

“Oh, so you are the Grim Reaper for drowned guys like me? That´s not that bad…”

The innkeeper grinned, nearly letting go of the plank as for a moment he really thought he was dead. Despite living on the Grand Line for most of his life, Francis never saw a mermaid in person and although he heard about them a lot always considered them a myth, well at least until now. He was slowly sliding down the plank when several powerful pairs of arms grabbed him and pulled up on the deck. Making a crack in his otherwise perfect illusion.

“So not a Reaper huh…”

He muttered, when the mermaid made her way up, calling a doctor for him.

“Well, you don´t have to worry about me. It´s just that the sea hates ability users like me. See? I am perfectly fine…”

Francis climbed up on his feet, only to fall immediately back on the deck, this time face down.

“Ouch…maybe I am not…”

[Kami-Gaz]

Raven got onto the deck and hid her tentacles from view below her now soaked dress… it was not the best but for now it would have to do. The comment he made earlier about her being a grim reaper for guys like him gave her cause to smile now that she could reflect on it. “Oh sweetie, I can be your reaper if you want?” She asked teasingly, shuffling over and lowering herself down to turn him over.

“You ate a devil fruit?” She asked rhetorically, she had seen a devil fruit user before. She killed him, with the help of a simple couple. “You’re lucky to be alive.” She added, her smile being genuine as she propped his head on what should be a normal person’s lap, but to her it was a writhing mass of tentacles that were still quivering from the sudden hard exertion of saving a man from drowning in the still stormy waters.

“Miss Wilhelmina! Please! Do not jump overboard like that, especially in weather like this!” Mr Aldritch called as he pushed his way through the gathered deck hands that were not working on the ship, there were hundreds of jobs to do and most of them needed doing moments ago. “I know you can brave these waters well, but what would happen if something unexpected came?” He asked with some genuine worry for his paycheque. He was a businessman after all.

The mermaid shook her head and sighed softly. “Are you looking for a place to stay fruit man? I can give you one if you can work.” Wilhelmina sang, ignoring the concerns of the captain of this vessel. Her tones were sweet as Mr Aldrich shooed his men away to work and leave the pair alone.

---

Captain Scorsais: efff9b
Wilhelmina(Raven): a55eff
Mr Aldritch: acd1fc

[Mr. Moon]

Francis #3

The dead-tired innkeeper just raised his hand and shook it in a dismissive gesture.
"Nah, that's alright, I quite like living. But thanks for the offer."
He grunted, showing that his dry and sarcastic sense of humor survived his brush with death intact.
"Yeah, I am…"
He slowly raised himself up on arms and legs, before transforming into a large wolf-like creature with dark, grizzled fur, filling the whole deck with the smell of wet dog, before transforming back into his human form, this time staying just on his feet.
"A direwolf man…uh…oh…"
He sniffed as the odor, unfortunately, didn't disappear together with his fur.
"Sorry about that, it's quite a useful ability, especially during winter, but not so much for traveling on the open sea as it seems."
He laughed in a hard, barking way. However, the good mood quickly left him when the mermaid asked him if he is looking for a place to stay because even his not-that-smart self could understand how dangerous this question could be.
"Well, that depends on who are you guys. I mean, no offense, you saved my neck there and I appreciate that, but these waters are usually swarming with pirates and…well let's just say I am not ok with killing and robbing people for a living."
Francis suddenly paused, as he realized, that if they really were pirates, this wasn't the smartest way to express his opinion. Taking a look from one to another, he smiled and raised his hands in a defensive gesture.
"I mean, no offense if you guys are pirates or something like that. I am a quite decent cook so I can work my way to the nearest island or something. Just don't expect from me to scream yo-ho-ho, while jumping on other ships or something and…Uhm, if possible don't throw me back alright? I would really hate if getting wet the second time today."

[Kami-Gaz]

The mermaid shuffled back on her tentacles under the soaked skirt, it was wet enough to make the fabric cling to her otherworldly appendages. She did her best to not move them at the moment to let keep her illusion of being a normal human. The man she had rescued was demonstrating his devil fruit’s ability. It was amazing and beautiful… despite making the entire deck smell like a wet dog.

“Oh wow! I’ve never seen anyone be able to do that before!” She exclaimed before shuffling just a little closer. Then it came out, he was worried that they were pirates and upon mentioning that word her expression shifted to something dark and more befitting of her ruined makeup and dark gothic clothing. If there was one thing Wilhelmina Kissenger was not, it was a pirate.

“Sir, we are not pirates.” She spoke in a cold tone as Mr Aldritch took a step back, he recognised that tone… it was the one she used when one of the men made a very bad pass at her. A broken arm and being tossed overboard was what she had done to him.

“No we are quite the opposite!” The weedly man added with a splutter. “We are a construction crew. Not Pirates so you can rest easy there.” He interjected to help alleviate tensions that could have been caused by this.

“Aye, I hired them.” The woman carried on, regaining her smile, and loosing that dark look that was in her eye. “We are heading to Eutopia Disco to build a bar…” She said before spreading her arms out wide and let her tentacles out from under her skirt without realising what she was doing and spread them as wide as they could go. “The Raven’s Tentacle, where lost souls can find a new home and find a family that cares.”

---

Captain Scorsais: efff9b
Wilhelmina(Raven): a55eff
Mr Aldritch: acd1fc

[Mr. Moon]

Francis #4

Despite the cold tone Wilhelmina used to denounce his accusation Francis was visibly relieved that these peoples were not pirates.

“Well, that´s a relief.”

He laughed almost as if he was completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere his questions caused or perhaps ignoring it deliberately.

“For a moment I was really worried that you guys will throw me back. Would be a real shame if should drown after being saved by such beauty.”

He offered another wide grin to his savior before frowning a little as they mentioned the final destination of their journey, together with their goals.

“Bar huh…”

He muttered, rubbing his chin, almost as if he was thinking about something important. There was a mix of expressions running through his face as several mixed feelings and motivations fought against each other when suddenly he smiled again and nodded.

„Well, in that case, I guess we are both lucky in a way.”

He grinned and reached towards Wilhelmina with his right, offering her a firm handshake together with a proper introduction.

“My name is Francis Morrisay and I am an innkeeper and brew master.”

The wolfman paused, almost as if he remembered something, before adding.

“Well, technically speaking, I was. I quit hoping to use my savings to travel a world and see something new before settling down and dying of old age but…guess I am not really suited for this type of life so if you have a job for me, I am taking it.”

Laughing, he made a few steps back, giving her time to answer his offer, before adding.

“Speaking of which, judging by the fact, you never see an ability user before, I would guess this is your first time on the Grand Line? Because people like me are not really that rare here.”

[Kami-Gaz]

Hearing how Francis was a barman and brewmaster brought a smile and sparkle to the mermaid’s eyes. The first member would also be one of the most vital for a relaxed party atmosphere. A kindly smile turned into a bright and happy grin as her mind worked over the information. Then he went and opened his mouth and assumed something about her that brought out a melodic giggle from her mouth.

“Mister Francis, I was born on Fishman Island… that’s as Grand Line as the Grand Line gets!” She explained, actually laughing now as she scooted forward on her tentacles, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and her entire aura shifted, for just a moment. It was cold, harsh and full of venom.

“The last devil fruit user I met I drowned myself.” She whispered, chilling menace dripping from every word, the same chill that was present in her renunciation of being pirates.

Then everything shifted back, and the smile came back as did the warmth to her eyes. “Well then, member one of the Raven’s Tentacle!” She announced, pulling him into a hug with his face against her chest. The dress she was wearing was draping down to cover the extended tentacles that allowed this action to happen. “When we are all set up and have a few members you can go out with some of them on jobs, get rare ingredients for brewing… you can live your dream! Just this time with some people to take care of the sailing for you!” Willie explained with a bright smile, letting him got and shuffling back what was a few paces.

---

Captain Scorsais: efff9b
Wilhelmina(Raven): a55eff
Mr Aldritch: acd1fc

[Mr. Moon]

Francis #5

Well, if it wasn´t the worst luck Francis didn´t know what was. The first day of his new job and he already managed to p*ss his boss of enough to threaten him with drowning. Or was it something else? When Willhelmina´s mood shifted it definitely made him pause and his shiver had nothing to do with the fact he was soaking wet, standing in the cold sea wind. No, during his career as a vigilante he met a lot of dangerous people, but his instincts were telling him, that this woman was really bad news, well at least if he got on her bad side.

“Yeah, my bad.”

He tried to laugh it off as the woman embraced him. The fact that she was in fact mermaid making a much smaller impression on him, compared to the reveal of her darker side as truth to be told she was barely the first of her kind he met during his life. Although from what she could remember, Jessie´s tail split into two almost human-like legs and not into tentacles…not to mention this woman definitely didn´t look to be in her forties…or was it thirties?

Now, that was something that made him curious but his instinct for self-preservation was telling him, that these questions were better to keep for a different opportunity. Perhaps some nice bonding moment over a glass or two when she will be drunk enough to not drown him for curious questions about her anatomy.

“Sounds nice, just…hope we´ll get an opportunity to visit some civilization too.”

Francis´s said his face suddenly taking a bit broodier expression.

“That damn storm took my trunk, together with my pipe!”

And all his spare clothes too, but truth to be told, the vision of spending a few weeks in the same water and the salt-soaked shirt was less dark for him than the fact he lost the tools for one of his favorite past times.

[Kami-Gaz]

The young woman nodded, her mermaid face dripping with water from the earlier dip to rescue the man and the rain that was currently pelting the ship. With a tilt of her head she nodded to the door that lead under the deck, her new recruit was going to need to dry off and get a change of clothes, using some of the workers spares.

“Let’s get you dry and some food in you, okay?” She asked, her soaked skirt clinging to her tentacles as they writhed in their shuffling motion that made it seem like she was floating over to door without the same bobbing motion normal people had when they walked. “Yeah, we can make runs to some civilised islands to get supplies.” Wilhelmina explained as she opened the door and ducked inside to the well-lit room.

Inside was a meeting room of sorts with a few large private rooms, one being open showing a decent sized cabin. Her dripping form headed towards it and left a damp trail on the stained wood deck. “I’ll get you a new pipe and anything you need as a signing bonus, deal?” Willie asked, her twisting around as she kept moving to her room, a kinder and bright smile on her face.

---

Captain Scorsais: efff9b
Wilhelmina(Raven): a55eff
Mr Aldritch: acd1fc

[Mr. Moon]

Francis #6

The wolf man looked absentminded for a moment as if he was thinking about something, so when Willy spoke again, he jumped a bit, suddenly brought back into a reality.
“Oh, yeah that sounds nice. I don´t even remember when I ate for the last time. One could say I am hungry like a wolf!”
The brew master laughed at his own joke, slowly following the tentacle mermaid downstairs, as he didn´t mind the rain that was falling down on his head. After all he was still soaked from his stay in the ocean and if nothing else, the falling water could get some salt out of his skin and hair.
“Hmmmm, thanks but you don´t really have to make any extra stop because of me.”
The former innkeeper grinned.
“I am pretty skilled with my hands, so I can make my own pipe if you´ll get me a good piece of wood and knife and as for leaves…I am sure guys will share some in exchange for a my brewing skills, am I right?”
He patted one of the nearby sailors on his shoulder, finally disappearing under the roof.
He didn´t mentioned the need for his clothes as he was used to stay in his wolf form for extended period of time and cold wasn´t really an issue when you have fur that was designed to keep you alive during the ice age.
“Still, maybe at least set of pants wouldn´t hurt…”
He though for himself realising, that it was quite hard to smoke a pipe in his full beast form, so he would have to take the human guise at least occasionally.
“Speaking of which…what kind of island is Eutopia Disco? Geography was never my strongest subject.”
Francis chuckled following Raven into her room thinking she is leading him towards the kitchen.

[Kami-Gaz]

The answer to Francis’ question was answered rather quickly as over the course of the next few days the ship arrived at their destination, Utopia Disco. A Large swampy mangrove of gigantic trees that were as hard as stone and coloured like a rich brass. In the canopy glowing fruits and vines lit it up like a permanent night sky that was filled with twinkling stars. As the leader of the expedition Wilhemina had picked out the largest of the outer trees to serve as her base, the guild hall. This operation was going to be different from a standard building operation.

The ship was moored in a cove of roots that would make a fantastic port for the guild and any ships it acquired later on, from there a temporary wooden stairway was lashed to the side of the tree that wove around it to the desired point over halfway up the tree in question and there the works began to carve away the brass bark and then the golden wood to create the entrance. This was going to be time consuming, but the final product was going to be amazing. The entire time Wilhelmina was kept busy, supervising this and that and ensuring everyone was happy on this job, even giving Francis his chunk of wood to use for his pipe.

After a few days the young mermaid leader sat in the empty space that was the main bar room and was beaming a smile that did not fit her face. It was an empty space, but it felt like it was home, and it was hers. There was plenty of work to do, but for now a basic operation could be set up. “Francis.” She announced and looked at the man. “I think you get the gist of what Utopia Disco is now.” She spoke before chuckling, remembering the first Monkey that had come to probe them and see what was going on. The constant sounds of waves crashing below and the music of the swampy jungle mixed in a strange symphony.

“Have you any ideas on what you want your room to be? Just a big brewery?”

---

Captain Scorsais: efff9b
Wilhelmina(Raven): a55eff
Mr Aldritch: acd1fc

[Mr. Moon]

Francis #7

As they arrived at the Utopia Disco Francis realized two things. One, that name didn´t really suit that island at all. Second, he finally understood why Wilhelmina wanted to visit some more civilized place before arriving there. That place was just a pure untouched wilderness filled with mangroves, swamps, and nothing more. And while he would lie if he said he wasn´t shocked at the beginning the lifetime innkeeper adjusted to his new home rather quickly. Perhaps even faster than most of the members of their crew as his wolf form protected him from the cold nights and also made him quite helpful during both building their base and keeping everyone fed as his enhanced strength has no problems even with rock hard mangroves and hunting for animals proved to be way easier than hunting for people.
After a few days, the main building of their future bar started finally taking shape. It was there where he met Willy who asked him about what room would he want for himself, kind of implying that she expected him to live in a brewery.
“Oh he*l no!”
He laughed, taking no offense in her suggestion although he wasn´t particularly excited by that prospect either.
“If possible I would like just a regular room, or if we don´t have enough space, some shared dorm will do, I am not picky, but I am not sleeping where I am brewing, that smell would just destroy my nose after few days.”
The innkeeper laughed again, realizing suddenly, that his new employer probably didn´t have any idea about what kind of smells can beer production release. He thought for a moment about giving her fair warning, but then decided against it as his attention suddenly drifted to a different question.
“But speaking of my craft, I couldn´t but notice that we are building inn on a place where the number of potential guests is pretty damn close to zero…so how do you plan to get people in?”

[Kami-Gaz]

Wilhelmina nodded with Francis’ request for just a regular room for himself away from the brewery, it might be a good idea to bridge that out to a neighbouring tree so it could have room to expand. Seeing the man have some mirth in him was a good thing, it was just what the mermaid had always wanted around her; big smiles and hearty laughs, with tall tales and plenty of fun. Then came his damning observation, and his question about how they were going to get customers.

Wilhelmina smiled as she moved around the table that they had been sitting at, the sounds of workers gouging out more rooms, carpenters using the wood to make furniture and the others who were doing what they needed to give the place some basic amenities. “Before I came into the money to hire this crew, I had a career in music. Probably not to your taste and back when I was an edgy kid, but I had quite a following.” She explained, watching as a plumber made his way in through the front door and waved as he moved past them and through the empty space towards the back.

“I was Raven Darktide, Metal and Rock vocalist and guitarist.” She explained before her tentacles writhed out from beneath her dress and wiggled individually. “And a drummer if there was someone that was better on a guitar than me.” The ex-rocker carried on before making the inhuman appendages vanish back beneath her dress.

“First, we get word out that I am going to hold concerts here, get people to come and offer guild membership and jobs out of my pocket. When word gets out we are a legitimate guild jobs will start coming in and so will potential members.” Wilhelmina added, now sitting on one of the many stools at their table.

“Some of the workers want to stay and we can use our port as a way station for those heading to Saboady and the rest of the Grandline.”

---

Captain Scorsais: efff9b
Wilhelmina(Raven): a55eff
Mr Aldritch: acd1fc