The Fourth Shout! Cooking Up A Storm!

[Vio]

^{Cyndia #1 — Perenelle #1}

---

^{“Gooood mownin’!” “Morning, Perri!”}

Two bundles of energy had entered the kitchen of the quaint farmland cottage, itself settled on the eastern edge of Sakemura’s sprawling farmland. One was a young girl, eight years of age with chocolate brown pigtails tied by polka dot ribbons and a few short, straight bangs. An equally spotty, slightly poofy dress complimented her young, round visage, like a doll brought to life, missing a single front tooth that had been recently lost. The other; a budding adolescent male of about fifteen years, quite lithe of frame with a healthy complexion, sporting a chequered shirt and slacks and an uneven brown bowl cut.

“Hi, Himiko, Koji!” she replied heartily. A young woman of unassuming stature, dark and smooth skinned, currently working over a hot stove as she moved bacon and eggs from frying pans to plates. Slices of tomato, hash browns, and some pork and onion sausage were added in measured helpings to the dishes before she took them and set them in their respective places. “How’re you two this morning?” Perri asked, orange eyes meeting the shining sapphire blues of the two children—eyes just like their grandparents’.

^{“I’m gweat~!”}

^{“I’m alright,” replied Koji, inhaling:
“Better when I’ve eaten this! Om–”}

^{“Hey! Wait for your grandfather, Koji!”}

“Buh–” He swallowed a chunk of bacon and egg loudly. “I’m starving~! …Huh, where is gramps, anyway? He’s usually up and at ‘em before us,” the teenager said, clearly finding it strange that the seat where the cook was setting down a third plate was still empty. Perri’s eyes briefly glimpsed down the hall, where a simple door sat slightly ajar, the angle just outside of the reach of the gaze of the two children.

^{“He’s awake,” she answered succinctly:
“He’ll be with us in a minute or two…”}

“Mm… Huh! Not having bwekfast with us, Pewwi?” asked Himiko, looking up from her plate as she finished pouring copious amounts of ketchup over her cooked breakfast. For a moment, the woman with dark grey hair looked at the grandchild questioningly, not quite processing what it was the girl meant. The misunderstanding was not even due to Himiko’s limited ability to pronounce her r’s, but something else that the farming family had found out about the helpful lady’s mannerisms.

^{“Hm? I– Ah…”}

^{“Pewwi,” the girl eyed disapprovingly:
“You fowgot again, didn’t you…?”}

^{“…What did you blow up this time?”}

“Nothing! Nothing… And don’t look at me like that!” Much to Miss Ripley’s confusion, Koji—about to stuff his face again with a whole piece of bacon—stopped and set his fork down before getting up and approaching. Eyes seemed to analyse her before he leaned in and took a sniff. Those same eyes narrowed as he backed away and returned to his seat, but not before gesturing silently that he knew something had gone awry. The scents of such food hid it well, but she still reeked ever so slightly of smoke from an accidental fire. Most importantly, she hadn’t lied, but a form of combustion had happened.

A door creaked softly and closed, drawing her gaze—and the smiling eyes of the two children—to the hallway as a figure stepped into the kitchen. A decently built man of late middling age, with a stubbly salt and pepper beard and short, heavily grizzled chocolate brown hair upon his head. His wrinkled face and weathered complexion clung to health, despite showing the signs of progressing age, though it was crystal clear he was a handsome man in his youth. A beige shirt, brown sweater vest, black slacks with braces, and well-worn boots gave him that hard labourer look, but his solemn expression—one which she caught a glimpse of—was quickly replaced with a warm and toothy smile.

“Good morning, all!” he cheered, taking his pride of place at the table.

^{“Gwampa!” “Hey, gramps!”}

^{“Wow! This looks great, Perri! Ahaha~!” he laughed:
“Nothing like a cooked breakfast to get the day started!”}

^{“Enjoy, Mister Akahagane!”}

“I will! I will… Oh! Perri? You’re going to Minatsuki to pick up some supplies, aren’t you?” the old man asked, looking up to her with sapphire eyes that spoke of a mix of emotions. “Could you do me a favour while you’re gone? I need this letter posted,” he added, reaching into his vest and pulling out a simple brown envelope, stamped and sealed. Curiously, she stepped over and accepted it, spying the beautiful calligraphy of the handwriting upon its front and an address of some distant country. “I figure if you’re heading that way, the main post office is a better shot than Sakemura’s! You don’t mind, do you?”

^{“No! No, not at all, sir!” she replied:
“It’s the least I could do for your generosity…!”}

^{—— AN HOUR OR SO LATER ——}

A good wind had carried the Calamity Jane swiftly across the waters, though it had still taken the fledgling pirate crew a day or so to reach their destination. Of all the options, Roland had probably chosen one of the better ones to visit, and so Maleev Cyndia had done as a helmswoman should and steered them in the right direction. She’d even given her Captain and First Mate, Ryuji, some pointers about sailing a proper ship along the way. But now, the midmorning sun burned bright in the blue sky over their chosen venture, and the long-legged lady had no choice but to announce their arrival as the sprawling yet very simple port presented itself. Hopefully, the town would offer them what they needed, including an actual breakfast.

^{“Here we are, guys,” she chirped:
“Dance Island! This is Minatsuki…!”}

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synopsis:—}
<sub>Miss Ripley prepares breakfast for the Akahagane family before setting off to Minatsuki, while Cyndia steers her crew into port!

Notes:— Kami-Gaz Blushing z0ro</sub>

---

Maleev Cyndia | #e48400
Ripley Perenelle | #b2beb5
Roland Arch | #efff9b
Resukuie Ryuji | #0d4d01
Himiko [NPC] | #ce6cd0
Koji [NPC] | #6ccad0
Mr Akahagane [NPC] | #d06c6c

[Kami-Gaz]

“Here we are, guys,” Roland heard coming from the helmswoman. The words that that picked him up from his nap, where his fruit powered light snores vibrated the ship, and got him charging from his hammock to go see the view of the island. A bright grin washed over his face as he looked around to find Ryuji, the swordsman first mate.

“Look! Our first proper island without crashing!” He exclaimed playfully, remembering how he had used his fruit to rocket the small houseboat that they were on through the air and into a small building. Despite it being only a few days ago the young captain felt it was such an ancient event that it brought a wave of nostalgia to him.

“We can get food, a cook and see what this place is about! If there are any bad people there we can deck them and show the people how real pirates work.” Roland explained as he twisted his upper body and pushed his right arm outstretched to the side as his left came up over the elbow. His body clicked and cracked in places where the joints and the vertebrae released pressures. He repeated the movement in the other direction and let out a relieved sigh. “I hope we find a cook with a good dream, people with dreams make for the best friends.” He spoke softly.

With a sudden realisation his head swivelled around to look at Cyndia and a look of deep curiosity filled his sapphire eyes. “Say, Cyndie… You never told me your dream, did you?” He asked softly, raising a hand to rest his chin on. “It’s only fair, you know I want to be King of The World after all. And Ryuji wants to cut the heavens!” Roland announced with gusto, his words amplified until they echoed in the open air.

---

Post: 1
Roland: efff9b

[Blushing z0ro]

RESUKUIE RYUJI
ACT I SCENE IV

- The Fourth Shout:
Cooking Up A Storm -

---

As they made port, Ryuji got busy packing a large bag, this time they would be prepared. So Ryuji filled the large canvas backpack with booze, dried meat and his weapon maintenance kit. All they would need to survive should they find themselves unable to return to the ship.

As Roland rightly pointed this was the first time they actually landed anywhere without crashing. Which arguably was not a comforting thought and the First Mate just stared blankly at his captain as if to ask if that was something he was actually proud of.

Regardless, Ryuji finished his packing and lifted the bag, now filled to a size nearly as wide as Ryuji himself was tall and began to make his way to get off the ship behind the other two. Only to stop again as Roland began asking his all important question to the long-legged woman.

So he had dragged her in without even asking? The more Ryuji found out about Roland's recruiting habit the more like kidnapping they sounded, Still Ryuji stopped and looked at Cyndia, trying to gauge her body language and response. The swordsman could not help it, he did not like that woman, something about her just felt wrong.

If only he could actually figure out what it actually was.

---

Tag: Vio Kami-Gaz
Words: 215
Ryuji: 0d4d01

[Vio]

^{Cyndia #2}

---

A bustling port would prove fruitful, but before Maleev Cyndia could disembark from the now moored Calamity Jane, she was stopped by nothing short of the strangest question by her Captain. Roland’s eyes were alight with a curiosity the likes of which were only seen in adventurous children—a glimmer of vested interest in his gaze as he pitched the greater intentions of himself and his First Mate to the breeze. Honestly, it was somewhat perplexing, but she scratched her cheek with one finger as she considered.

“Hm… I’ll be honest,” she spoke with nervous uncertainty. Compared to such dreams of grandeur as ‘king of the world’ and ‘cut the heavens’, the closest thing that the wily woman had to a dream was somehow a lot more mundane. Enough so that it was embarrassing to elaborate on. “It’s… It’s nothing special,” she muttered, visibly shying away from an immediate answer with a flush to her cheeks as she stepped from the ship before stopping again and fidgeting. Between Roland’s sparkling intrigue and Ryuji’s cool stare, she felt rather trapped.

“I– I’m not comfortable sharing.” Duplicitous in her nature she might have been, but Cynd clung to a shred of honesty with her response, even though she didn’t want to give an answer. In due time, perhaps, but what had really caught her unaware was the fact that Roland seemed to care about such a thing. Pirates didn’t do that. Sure, they dreamed big, but never of such impossible feats. Even in the grand scheme of things, to become King of the Pirates was at least a plausible endeavour in common understanding.

“Eck! Anyway, they’re probably going to charge some sort of docking fee here—Minatsuki’s the main trading port here on Dance,” shaking off the moment of internal conflict, the long-legged lady gestured towards the town and its veritable assortment of storefronts and carts. “You want to find us a cook, right, Roland? I’d guess the highstreet is as good a place as any to start,” commented Miss Maleev as she checked personal funds. The bright side was that expenses while ‘on the job’ were often covered, though the rather sudden nature of her recruitment left her purse somewhat short.

“I’ll figure out the docking fees,” she said to the boys, posing a smile that quickly turned to something a bit more stern and serious as she mentally processed the possibilities. “You two go on ahead, I’ll catch up… just try not to cause any more trouble, okay…?”

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synopsis:—}
<sub>After dodging an awkward question, Cyndia suggests the others go on ahead as she figures out payment for docking!

Notes:— N/A</sub>

---

Maleev Cyndia | #e48400
Ripley Perenelle | #b2beb5
Roland Arch | #efff9b
Resukuie Ryuji | #0d4d01
Himiko [NPC] | #ce6cd0
Koji [NPC] | #6ccad0
Mr Akahagane [NPC] | #d06c6c

[Kami-Gaz]

Hearing how the navigator got nervous about revealing her dream actually upset the captain a little, sending a wave of sadness to his heart and melting the almost permanent smile that was on his face. The almost consistent hum that was just present when Roland was around stopped dead making the air around the crew the quietest it had been since they had met him days prior. Why would someone not be comfortable sharing their dream? It was something to be proud of, a goal to strive to no matter how the world saw it. Even evil people had dreams, despicable as they may be they could be respected for having them.

“You should be more proud of your dream…” Roland spoke softly as he watched the long legged woman deftly change the subject to that of mooring fees, a dastardly tax that even pirates had to pay.

“You sure?” Roland asked his smile coming back, maybe not as vibrant but back at least. “I don’t want us to get split up! On a strange new island that none of us really know well. We could get lost!” He spoke, knowing that was a real possibility that they could face. When he and Ryuji were split the last time an entire island was caught up in a pirate vs. marine show down. He stood there for a moment deciding on whether or not it was a good idea to split up.

“Okay! We’ll go and see if we can find a cook in town! If you lose us just shout and we will find you!” The irony of this statement was entirely lost on the young captain of the crew, he was blind to the fact that this was likely going to be entirely the other way around. “Come on Ryuji! Let’s go!” he trumpeted, spinning around and grabbing the man’s arm to start dragging him away, that ever present hum returning with Roland’s smile. “We’ll let Cyndie sign in the Calamity Jane.”

---

Post: 2
Roland: efff9b

[Blushing z0ro]

RESUKUIE RYUJI
ACT I SCENE IV

- The Fourth Shout:
Cooking Up A Storm -

---

Ryuji kept his gaze on Cyndia the entire time she beat around the bush about her dreams and goals. What was that woman trying to hide with all her evasive answers? And was Roland really so oblivious to the fact she was shifty about everything she said all the time? Not that there was much Ryuji could do about it anyway. For now the swordsman just sighed and shook his head as the captain gave his orders for the both of them to go on land and explore to try and look for a cook.

“Aye. Though if we find someone you like, please just ask them first rather than just drag them along this time.”

Not much to do but go along with Roland’s antics for now, hopefully this time Ryuji will manage to keep the world’s loudest man in check long enough for them to do what they need here and move one without incident or getting split up.

Ryuji stepped off the ship, shaking off Roland from his arm and determined to stick to a plan and schedule. They were here to find a cook so they would not starve or suffer Roland’s cooking, luckily Minatsuki appeared to be full of breweries and bars which would also serve food.

“Hmmm maybe we should just go around sampling food and drinks and see what we like. How much money have we got anyway?”

---

Tag: Vio Kami-Gaz
Words: 235
Ryuji: 0d4d01

[Vio]

^{Cyndia #3 — Perenelle #2}

---

“Well, if what happened last time is anything to go off, I shouldn’t have much trouble finding you!” Cyndia assured her Captain as he raised qualms of separation—a valid point to be made in what seemed like a moment of completely logical lucidity for him. Either that, or this was what happened when the rambunctious wannabe king suffered brain fog: A notion she wasn’t too quick to accept for fear of what that might entail. “Will do~,” she confirmed, leaving the boys to their own devices as she sought out some sort of official.

Is this even worth it? He hardly seems the type to survive on the Grand Line, Agent Maleev considered as she moved out of earshot. Even with a Devil Fruit, he’s relying on dumb luck for the most part—Ryuji’s a different story from what I can gather… The woman’s thoughts continued, lingering on the fact that the swordsman was perhaps a little too quiet and contained. Some people were like that, that much she was well aware of, but what irked her most was his apparent lack of commitment to at least trying to understand her. Even if the Cyndia he would learn about was an entirely different beast.

^{—— A SHORT WHILE LATER ——}

“Phew! Finally made it,” Perenelle huffed as she crested a small hill on the road and spied the sunlit city beyond. A necessary return to Minatsuki to run errands. She wasn’t entirely alone, accompanied by a pack mule whose harness would soon enough carry multiple bags of supplies—food and other ingredients that she hoped she could get a hold of. If anywhere on the island had them, it would be here in Minatsuki. “I’d best go get this letter posted first,” Miss Ripley reminded herself as she and her mule followed the trail into the town proper, rather ignorant of the cautious looks she quickly started to receive from locals who had some idea of who she was.

^{—— BACK AT PORT ——}

Now with some distance between herself and her entourage, Miss Maleev stood near an altogether different ship from the Calamity Jane. Out of sight and out of mind, what little contact she had received from those to whom she was affiliated had been ambiguous at best, but the meeting spot had been agreed upon. A far edge of the docks of Minatsuki, unassuming in its placement near the lighthouse, yet far enough away from the business of the streets to offer some secrecy.

“Greetings, Agent Maleev,” said a voice. Two figures in black suits and trilby hats had approached in silence, perfect doppelgangers of one another in part thanks to the sunglasses that rested upon their faces. They would have done a better job of looking normal without the sunglasses. One was empty handed, the other carried a small box, comparable to a suitcase in some respects…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synopsis:—}
<sub>As Perenelle reaches Minatsuki, Cyndia attends an important meeting.

Notes:— N/A</sub>

---

Maleev Cyndia | #e48400
Ripley Perenelle | #b2beb5
Roland Arch | #efff9b
Resukuie Ryuji | #0d4d01
Himiko [NPC] | #ce6cd0
Koji [NPC] | #6ccad0
Mr Akahagane [NPC] | #d06c6c
Men In Black [NPC] | #4b4e52

[Kami-Gaz]

“What do you mean!?” Roland asked as Ryuji, he had never just dragged anyone along… well Ryuji kind of had to come because they were being chased by bad Pirates… and the same could be said for Cyndia too. That was a very long and busy day and some of the facts were already slipping out of Roland’s mind… if it weren’t for those pirates being mean then he was sure asking them would have had the same result.

He walked along with a proud strut, his arms swinging in the air as his steps overflowed with a chill confidence. That otherworldly hum that emanated from the young man radiated a happiness. Ryuji had a grand idea, sampling food and drink to find a cook that they liked would be a fun thing to do!

“OOH!” The word warbled with excitement as Roland nodded. “Great idea Ryuji! You’re more than just muscle on the crew! You’re brains too!” He said before looking into the town proper and sniffing the air, searching for any scents that called to him… anything that resonated with his tastes. The young man dove his hand into his pocket and grinned as he pulled a filled wallet out of it.

“The guy who left the ship for us left all his money in a chest!” Roland said with a cheeky chuckle “We should have enough to eat at every restaurant and get supplies!” He announced, his unnaturally loud self-drawing the attention of passers by as he walked through buildings, still aiming to follow his nose. Following his instincts to the treasure they were seeking… the treasure they needed to truly thrive on the seas, an excellent cook.

---

Post: 3
Roland: efff9b

[Blushing z0ro]

RESUKUIE RYUJI
ACT I SCENE IV

- The Fourth Shout:
Cooking Up A Storm -

---

Ryuji pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ward off an oncoming headache. Don;t just announce we have lots of money out here in broad daylight… Not that there was any point in even trying to reason with the world’s loudest man, sometimes it was just easier to go along with it. Although that was how Ryuji got himself in this mess of a crew in the first place.

Well… made your bed, sleep in it and all that. “Whatever.” Ryuji let go of his nose and decided to just move on along with the captain to the first eatery on their way, some little sandwich place next to the town’s post office, not so much a building as semi-permanent stand with stools set up in front if it so people could still sit and eat if they wanted.

Seemed the idea was you picked whatever ingredients you wanted from the list and they made the sandwich fresh in front of you at record speed, a novel enough idea Ryuji thought.

“I’ll have beef, chicken, ham, turkey ham, South Blue Sausage, salami, chorizo, and bacon… and lettuce.” It was important to have some fibre in one’s diet after all. The swordsman did look over to Roland to see what the captain’s order would be, you could tell a lot about a man from what they ate after all.

---

Tag: Vio Kami-Gaz
Words: 230
Ryuji: 0d4d01

[Vio]

^{Cyndia #4 — Perenelle #3}

---

Minatsuki’s streets bustled with all the usual livelihood that the town seemed to possess as the chief centre of commerce, the business of the day now in full swing as people worked, shopped, and ran errands to keep the flow of the island steady. Miss Ripley had made her way down into the town proper, stopping once or twice to check storefronts for possible tools and essentials, but not actually purchasing anything as yet. Her priority was postage, and soon enough the young woman came upon the head post office of Dance Island, making sure to secure the pack mule to one of the wooden posts outside before entering.

It wouldn’t be long until she exited again, letter posted and ready to traverse the seas. However, it seemed the whispers of the town had started up in full swing. A wide berth was given, eyes cautiously watchful of a woman otherwise unassuming as she stepped out into the sun.

^{—— MEANWHILE ——}

“Agents,” Cyndia uttered, confirming the suits’ address but not daring to offer any more than that. Words needn’t be exchanged too frivolously. Rather than looking them directly in their shaded eyes, the tall woman instead cast her gaze out to sea, though eyes of pink hue cared not for the gorgeous horizon of blending blues and the odd fishing vessel. Rather, the woman’s mind was elsewhere, keenly focused on the job as passive thoughts were filtered through a stern and steely sieve.

“How fares your current assignment?” asked the man with the case, his question quickly added to by a nearly identical voice that even Cynd would have been unable to pick apart. “We’ve been informed that you have taken this one of your own accord, rather than by direct order,” he added. It took a moment to realise that the first had started to speak again, the transition smooth and uncanny. “An impressive display of dedication to your work, we might add.”

“It’s far from a proper pirate crew,” Miss Maleev uttered. “Myself aside, it’s only a Captain and First Mate—they’re on the lookout for more members, especially crucial roles.” Breaking down the inner workings of the crew she had infiltrated was surprisingly difficult when it only consisted of three people.

^{“When you contacted us,” one began, the other followed:
“You seemed to suggest you would need backup. Why?”}

“Roland Arch. He’s an Ability user,” she answered.

^{“Are you not prepared to deal with such powers, Agent?”}

^{“Not all Devil Fruits are equal,” the woman regaled:
“I thought other agents would be aware of that…”}

“A fair assessment. Fair indeed,” they alternated again, prompting a twitch of an eyebrow as their behaviour began to stir up some of the long-legged lady’s ire. Cipher Pol always seemed to be full of weirdos and freaks. Perhaps she was no exception, given her lineage. All the same, the sound of a catch clicking drew her focus from the horizon towards the duplicitous duo. “The higher ups have already decided to issue you a ‘reward’—and an additional tool with which to work—for your efforts in dismantling potential upstart crews before they can truly spread their wings, Agent Maleev. We think it will help level the playing field—if not sway the eventual bust in your favour. After all, you said it yourself. Not all Devil Fruits are equal…”

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synopsis:—}
<sub>The town begins to whisper about Perenelle, while Cyndia exchanges curious words with fellow agents.

Notes:— N/A</sub>

---

Maleev Cyndia | #e48400
Ripley Perenelle | #b2beb5
Roland Arch | #efff9b
Resukuie Ryuji | #0d4d01
Himiko [NPC] | #ce6cd0
Koji [NPC] | #6ccad0
Mr Akahagane [NPC] | #d06c6c
Men In Black [NPC] | #4b4e52

[Kami-Gaz]

Roland came to a stop at the first of many of this place’s eateries, a bright grin on his face and the other worldly hum thrumming in the air around him as a quick positive beat. He perched himself on a stool and listened with intent to the order his first mate was placing, a meaty endeavour to be sure. As the order went on and finally finished with lettuce the young man turned to his companion and looked at him with a raised eyebrow, the questions running through his eyes.

“Coming right up sir.” The young sandwich slinger spoke, already cutting the bread, buttering it and making a move to fill it. She was a very efficient woman with her hair in a net and little plastic gloves on. Hands were moving as a blur and before anyone could speak the mighty meaty was placed down in front of Ryuji. It was a neatly presented hoagie that could have been used for advertising.

Roland shook his head and a chuckle that rumbled like distant thunder escaped his throat. “Listen up Ryuji, I will show you a real Sandwich. The Hulk Hoagie.” His attention turned directly to the sandwich slinger and that playful air vanished, the sparkle in his eye turned into something of a lethal weapon and that upbeat hum was replaced with war like rhythm.

“Give me a footlong toasted bread, buttered and filled with a bed of turkey and bacon. A sprinkling of red and green peppers. Add a few slices of salami and a sprinkling of red onions then a layer of lettuce with some tomato slices in there and another layer of turkey and bacon. Oh, add some baby leaf spinach.” He stopped his finger raised to his chin and a flash of inspiration hit. “Oh and add four kinds of cheese too!”

That menacingly warlike air to Roland vanished now his order was placed, and the upbeat young man returned as the Sandwich slinger got to work making this behemoth of a hoagie. “Challenge accepted Sir.”

The king in the making turned to his first mate and cracked his tell-tale grin again. “The sandwich of a king.”

---

Post: 4
Roland: efff9b
Sandwich Slinger: ffd1f6

[Blushing z0ro]

RESUKUIE RYUJI
ACT I SCENE IV

- The Fourth Shout:
Cooking Up A Storm -

---

Ryuji simply raised an eyebrow and shrugged at his captain's seeming sandwich competition, it wasn’t about the best sandwich or even the biggest, it was about what you enjoyed the most.

“You won’t even be able to taste the meat with all that stuff on it.”

A few moments later Ryuji's own sandwich manifested in front of him, all warm and steaming. The swordsman did not wait a single moment before beginning to scoff down the meaty goodness. Hmmmmm yes, truly meat was best.

Finding himself satisfied with the meal, Ryuji looked at the young woman who was making the sandwiches and thought she certainly was a satisfactory cook. Maybe it would be better to ask before Roland decided to act this time…

“Hey.” He said, catching the sandwich maker's attention.

“Wanna become a pirate?”

---

Tag: Vio Kami-Gaz
Words: 230
Ryuji: 0d4d01

[Vio]

^{Cyndia #5 — Perenelle #4}

---

A soft rumbling within alerted Perenelle to nature’s greatest need: Sustenance. Truth be told, she had indeed skipped breakfast, having been more caught in the moment of cleaning up her own haphazard experiments and cooking up a well-rounded first meal for Mister Akahagane and his grandchildren. Were it not for the focus on gathering supplies, the thought of actually eating something may have skipped her over entirely.

“Uh… I guess I’d best eat something before I start,” she muttered beneath her breath, eyes seeking out one of the local eateries as she did her utmost to ignore the cautious glances she was getting from some store owners and pedestrians. A local eatery—a sandwich shop situated next to the post office—was a perfect place to stop and grab a bite to eat before going on her merry way. She approached, mostly ignoring the current patronage and expecting they would mostly do the same, and watched as the sandwich chef put the finishing touches upon a hoagie that could have single-handedly lasted a bear through the winter.

“Excuse me,” Miss Ripley announced, approaching the counter and drawing the attention of the sandwich slinger, whose eyes seemed to narrow for just a moment. “Can I get a thinly sliced glazed ham and pepper jack,” she began, speaking a bit slowly as she recognised the wariness from the woman behind the counter, which was quickly dismissed when both realised that there was no actual harm to come about from an order. “With lettuce, red onion, and a little mayonnaise? Oh. On whole grain bread with just a little butter, please,” she confirmed.

“Coming right up,” the chef responded, once more getting to work at piecing together yet another elaborate order. At least this one wasn’t colossal, but Perri’s orange eyes focused on every motion, every cut, every ingredient as the sandwich was pieced together. Preparatory skills were nothing to sniff at, but she seemed a little sparing on some ingredients and a little overzealous with others, at least in terms of ratios. It was almost ironic that Perenelle could judge such things as an observer.

^{—— MEANWHILE ——}

Maleev Cyndia had taken the reward given to her, cozied away in a small chest that she could easily tuck under her arm as she returned to the ship. The choice had been hers then and there, but she had decided against it. For now. Uncertainty clouded her judgments and, when that happened, she tended to err on the side of caution. The agents had even presented the option: She could have sold it if she wanted, perhaps retired, but that was not something she was considering as she carefully placed the box back with her personal effects. For now, it would remain out of sight and out of mind, offering an edge if she needed it.

“Right, where did the two of them wander off to…,” she sighed, disembarking and making sure that the Calamity Jane was properly locked up and the docking expenses arranged before she headed off in search of Roland and Ryuji. Everything was relatively calm and relaxed as far as she could see, which ruled out the first option, and the lack of ambient warbling in the air meant that nothing too flashy was being done. Process of elimination was quick to dictate to her that the next thing the boys would do would be to follow their stomachs, and so she began to scope out various eateries…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synopsis:—}
<sub>As Perenelle stops by to grab herself something to eat, Cyndia hides away her prize and begins the search for her crew.

Notes:— N/A</sub>

---

Maleev Cyndia | #e48400
Ripley Perenelle | #b2beb5
Roland Arch | #efff9b
Resukuie Ryuji | #0d4d01
Himiko [NPC] | #ce6cd0
Koji [NPC] | #6ccad0
Mr Akahagane [NPC] | #d06c6c
Men In Black [NPC] | #4b4e52

[Kami-Gaz]

Roland 5

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The soon to be king of the world shifted in his seat as his first mate commented about not being able to taste the meat through all the other ingredients. The comment caused Roland to shake his head somewhat condescendingly, the meat brained man he trusted to cut the very heavens themselves was not a man with a large pallet it seemed. Something he, the king, fortunately was.

“Ryuji,” Roland stated, his eyes flicking between sandwich slinger and the swordsman. “The world runs on more than just meat! To be a king you must accept all foods, as just as people all foods can complement each other when put together right!” He announced just as his sandwich was placed in front of him, multiple toothpicks sticking out of it to help it maintain a form.

His eyes examined the behemoth hoagie, it looked decent. As he picked it up a new figure was sitting down just as Ryuji asked the sandwich maker a question. One that gave her pause before the newcomers polite announcing turned their attention away. “Hmmm.” The young captain softly rumbled as he picked out the retaining toothpicks and hoisted his sandwich into the air.

The stranger’s order was good, and incredibly precise. “Good choice.” He remarked, glancing to the side before turning his attention to his own sandwich and opening his mouth a little wider than it should go. Then he and the area vibrated as a cone of purplish energy emanated from his maw like mouth and the sandwich was pulled in. In an eldritch display the sandwich broke down as it entered the young king’s mouth and, in a moment, the entire monstrosity was devoured, and the rumbling stopped.

“Veto.” Roland said as he looked to Ryuji, his eyes deathly serious. “I only take the best and this is not the best sandwich maker I’ve met.” He then looked to the sandwich slinger who had paused in horror as she had watched Roland devour her hard work in a terrifying manner. “No offence… It was still a nice sandwich, but I’ve had better.”

“N-none taken…” The sandwich slinger uttered; the look of horror evident on her face.

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Roland: efff9b
Sandwich Slinger: ffd1f6