Jolly Roger

Guys, I'm seriously disappointed. I slipped in a little joke during Coby's bet with Nami, and no one seemed to catch it! 😭 As an Author, that hurts more than Zoro losing his swords!

It's like telling a punchline and getting crickets instead of laughs—feels bad, man! Guess I'll just have to up my joke game...

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--xLOVEx--

As the "Merry Go" sailed towards the floating restaurant Baratie, a new scene unfolded on deck. Usopp, with a piece of black cloth spread before him, was deeply engrossed in his task. Coby and Luffy, intrigued by his focus, approached to find Usopp crafting a pirate flag, but with a unique twist – it bore his personal signature, a bandana, and a slingshot.

"Heh, you're pretty good," Luffy remarked, admiring Usopp's artistic flair. Usopp, startled by their sudden presence, flinched, only now realizing he had an audience. "Hehe, this is the flag of our ship," he declared with a hint of pride in his voice.

Luffy, however, scowled in disdain. "No. I am the Captain," he asserted, his tone leaving no room for debate. Usopp, understanding the captain's prerogative, quickly adapted his design. He began to draw a new Jolly Roger, this one featuring a prominently placed straw hat, symbolizing Luffy's leadership and crew.

Coby, observing the interaction, was bot amused and jealous, couldn't help but feel a bit left out. "Draw one for me too," he requested, his voice laced with a hint of envy.

Usopp nodded in acknowledgment and set to work. He sketched a Jolly Roger with distinct features – pink hair, crossed swords, and fearsome pink eyes and a pink sash – an embodiment of Coby's characteristics.

Coby, upon seeing the finished design, was more than pleased with the result. He patted Usopp on the back in appreciation, a smile spreading across his face. "That's perfect, Usopp," he praised, genuinely impressed by Usopp's artistic talent.

Luffy, inspired by the creative process, pointed at the ship's sail. "Draw the Jolly Roger there too," he instructed, his voice carrying the excitement of a child with a new toy. Usopp, now fully immersed in his role as the crew's unofficial artist, nodded enthusiastically and got to work.

The crew gathered around to watch Usopp transform the sail into a canvas for their identity. Nami, her arms crossed, couldn't help but smile at the scene. "Looks like we're really becoming a proper pirate crew," she mused, wondering her place under that flag.

Zoro, leaning against the mast, watched with a rare expression of contentment. "Every crew needs its flag," he commented, his voice tinged with a hint of respect for the symbolism it represented. It reminded Coby about Luffy's unyielding stance against protecting an unknown pirate flag. It really represented honor of the crew.

As Usopp descended from the ship's mast, a sudden cannon blast echoed across the sea, drawing everyone's attention. They turned towards Luffy, who was standing by the cannon, a look of innocent confusion on his face.

Zoro, his expression annoyance and disbelief, questioned, "The hell are you doing?"

Luffy, pointing at a distant rock, replied with childlike simplicity, "I was trying to hit that."

Usopp, unable to resist the opportunity to showcase his skills, smirked and confidently approached the cannon. "Leave it to me. Since your initial shot went there, this angle should do," he said, adjusting the cannon with a practiced hand. With a loud explosion, the cannonball soared through the air and hit the rock dead-on.

Luffy's eyes widened in shock and awe. "You hit it on your first try!" he exclaimed, clearly impressed.

Usopp, equally surprised by his own accuracy, quickly regained his composure and started to brag. "Hehe, like I said, I am a man of many talents. You should let me be Captain."

Luffy was quick to dismiss the suggestion. "No, I am the Captain," he retorted firmly, his tone leaving no room for debate.

Coby, watching the exchange from the deck, recognized the scene unfolding before them. He recalled from his knowledge that Yosaku and Johnny were likely on that rock and would soon launch an attack on the "Merry Go." Johnny would accidentally damage the ship in the coming battle. Deciding to stay on board to confront the potential intruders, Coby didn't alert the crew to the possibility of an attack. It wasn't anything serious anyway. He just wanted to protect Merry.

Nami, observing from a distance, opted to stay on deck with Coby, while Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp went inside the ship. As they were alone, Coby turned to Nami with a mischievous smirk. "By the way, we left Gecko Island with a ship," he reminded her, referencing their playful bet made earlier.

Nami, caught off-guard by the reminder, blushed furiously, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. She remembered their wager well – if they left the island with a ship, she owed Coby a kiss. The thought of such a personal exchange with Coby kindled feelings of embarrassment and excitement through her.

Trying to regain her composure, Nami stammered, "I-I didn't think you'd actually remember that." Her voice was annoyed and bashful at the same time, a clear sign of her conflicting emotions.

Coby's chuckle was soft, carrying a playful undertone as he leaned closer to Nami. The tension between them was palpable, a dance of anticipation and hesitance. Nami's eyes fluttered shut, her breath hitching slightly as she braced for the kiss. However, instead of the warmth of his lips, she felt the heat of his breath tickling her ear. "It occupies my thoughts constantly," Coby whispered, his voice a gentle murmur that sent shivers down her spine.

Flustered, Nami's eyes snapped open, meeting Coby's intense gaze. His pink eyes locked onto her brownish orange ones.

The vibrant pink of his hair contrasted strikingly with her own orange locks, creating a vivid tableau against the backdrop of the sea.

Their breaths mingled in the short space between them, their lips tantalizingly close. Nami, her voice barely above a whisper, acknowledged the unspoken tension. "Well... I did lose the bet," she said, her gaze drifting to Coby's lips, the words laced with resignation and anticipation.

Coby's smile widened with mischief. With a gentle assertiveness, he closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both tender and bold.

The kiss, brief yet profound, left Nami breathless. As they parted, a wave of newfound feelings washed over her – surprise, confusion, but most of all, a sense of something new and exhilarating.

Coby's hand gently caressed Nami's cheek, his fingers lightly entwining in her fiery orange hair. The intensity of their shared kiss still lingered in the air, a moment of unexpected connection amidst the vastness of the sea. Just as Coby leaned in, drawn by the allure of another kiss, he paused, a sigh escaping his lips. "Worst timing," he murmured, his gaze shifting to a new presence on the ship.

There, standing on the deck, was a man brandishing a sword – Johnny. Before Johnny could even raise his weapon in anger, a hand, eerily detached from its owner, swiftly disarmed him. The sword clattered to the deck, taken by an unseen force. Johnny, his eyes wide with shock and fear, looked up to the upper deck to find the source of this bewildering act.

Above him stood Coby, his pink hair blowing gently in the sea breeze, his expression annoyed to interrupted. The scene was almost comical – Johnny, swordless and stunned, staring at Coby, who, despite his irritation, couldn't help but be slightly amused by the situation.

Coby's voice, tinged with a hint of frustration, broke the silence. "Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, come out. We have a guest," he called.

At the mention of Zoro's name, Johnny's shock deepened, his mind struggling to process the situation. The idea of his big brother Zoro being a pirate seemed far-fetched, almost laughable. Yet, here he was, on a pirate ship, confronted by the reality of Zoro's new life.

As Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp emerged from below deck, Johnny's eyes darted between them, he was both in disbelief and confusion clearly read on his face. Zoro, stepping forward, regarded Johnny with curiosity as he recognized him.

"Johnny?" Zoro asked, his voice carrying a note of surprise. "What are you doing here?"

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