Ameliorate ✦ One Piece

51

The people of Whisky Peak knew how to throw a party, that much was certain as the one meant to welcome the Straw Hats to their town continued on and on. By now, the crew had spread around, doing their own things and interacting with the people. Well, most of them were, like Nami who was in the throws of a drinking contest with none other than a nun. Or Usopp, showing off his sharp aim as he played darts while bragging that he'd never done it before.

Others like Luffy were too busy with their own passions, sitting at one of the tables with an endless pile of empty dishes surrounding him while a waitress brought over more food which he happily begun to scarf down before the plate was even fully set down in front of him.

And then there was Zoro, of course, with his passion for beer. "Give me another," the sound of his slurred words had Akira looking over as he slid up to the counter of the bar beside her, demanding the attention of their crewmate who'd somehow managed to replace the barkeep on the other side of it.

Although, Sanji seemed to lack the same hospitality manners. At least when it came to Zoro. Whether he was purposefully ignoring the swordsman or too busy with his own adoring crowd as he made a spectacle of flipping and throwing bottles while preparing drinks, wasn't entirely clear. All that mattered was that Zoro wasn't getting what he wanted, forcing him to get it on his own.

Akira did her best not to laugh, and failed, as she watched him flail his arm over the edge of the bar, grabbing not one but two bottles of beer all on his own, eyes never stopping their glaring at the cook. Which was probably why he managed to make all three bottles crash around the bar counter when one slipped from his hold.

"Someone's gonna be feeling that tomorrow," she muttered out to herself as she watched him scramble around to grab the bottles away before pushing himself off of the counter and walking away, seemingly never even realizing he'd had an audience. Or didn't care.

Sanji on the other hand, definitely did care. If the way he was smiling and flirting as a redheaded woman walked up to the bar. "For you, the key to a good cocktail is balance. Because all of this means absolutely nothing if the drink tastes terrible. But, lucky for you guys, nobody is more balanced."

Akira watched him as he put graceful effort into the acrobatics, throwing a bottle over his head and onto his shoulder, letting it roll along his arm as he continued to show off to the crowd clapping for him. "And I call this..." He began to pour a steaming cyan drink into the glass he'd prepared. "The finest view in the Grand Line." And he finished the performance off with a playful wink to the redhead watching his every move.

The small laugh she let out as she watched him brought his eyes over to her, the redhead momentarily forgotten as he walked over to stand at Akira's side of the bar. "And what can I get for you, my lovely?" He asked, sweeping away the empty glass which she'd had in front of her.

"Surprise me," she said with a smile which only widened as she saw the spark in his eyes as he started to look around the vast display of drinks and options on the shelves behind him. "Maybe before we leave here we can get some more drink options for the ship." She said as she he got to work on her drink. "Have cocktails regularly."

"Like my concoctions, do you?" Sanji's pride over the indirect compliment shone through instantly, making Akira laugh again. However, she got no chance to warn him about getting a big head as someone slid up beside her on the bar, bringing her eyes over to the boy who seemed already focused on her curiously.

"Hi," he greeted.

"Hello," Akira said back, offering him a friendly smile.

"So, I've been told you're the archivist for your crew, keeping records of stories and adventures?" He asked her, the smile on his face excited and hopeful.