Desires of Men ~SEQUEL TO THE LIFE I LIVE~

Break The Living, Mourn The Dead

There was a warm breeze that picked up from the north, tossing the waves against the surfaced submarine. The day was quite beautiful, but the Heart Pirates were in no mood to enjoy the view. Solemn faces watched as their dead cremates were carried outside into the afternoon heat. Their bodies were wrapped in white canvas, preserving their remains for the short day they had been kept in the infirmary, as well as sparing their friends the sight of seeing their faces pale and cold. Silence, and the occasional sob, seemed to stab itself into Law's heart even more.

Now, the Heart Pirates were by no means weak. They were quite strong and hardened men, facing adversaries by the hundreds and overcoming death on multiple occasions. This did not mean that they wouldn't weep for their deceased nakama. And weep they did. Whether it was silently, or if a cry broke through every now and then, the company did not care, for they all grieved and allowed that small moment of emotion to present itself.

The two bodies were set down on the deck gently, and the few men who had carried them receded back into the general gathering. Law, who had hung back to wait, stepped forward and lowered his head. He winced slightly, forcing himself to ignore the sharp pain in his side until the end of the burial. This wasn't about him, and he could deal with a little pain until it was all over. He gripped his hat a little tighter in his hand.

"We've lost two good men." He started, seeing many of his crew try to hold back tears. The only reason Law was able to control himself so well was because he'd taken out his frustration on Viper's body-superficial wounds, of course, to allow Summer the opportunity to do what she wished with the man. His tears had already been shed, in the privacy of his sanctuary. It was not for selfish reasons. He was convinced that appearing as his usual calm self would help them grieve more naturally.

"Whether it was defending their nakama, doing their duties, or even winning drinking contests," The men chuckled, remembering a time long ago, "they always exceeded our expectations. They were both men you could depend on with your life, and I trusted mine in their hands. It was an honor to have them as nakama." Law finished, then stepped back to allow others to say a few words.

Casper went first. His head was bent, hands clasped in front of him. "Those two boys were always trying to sneak leftovers from the fridge when they thought I wasn't lookin'. But they would lend a hand in the kitchen sometimes, even without me asking. They'll be missed." He backed away, and Liam stepped forward.

"Scott and I were really good buddies. I didn't know Mark as well, but we could share a drink and talk easily." He swallowed, wiping at his eyes defiantly. "Scott could be working on one thing and be planning how to fix the next machine all at the same time. I didn't always understand what he was talking about, but he sure could do his job." He nodded, before fading back into the crowd.

Penguin and Shachi approached together, openly sobbing when they finally got out their words.

"Mark, that bastard, owed me 1000 beli, and then he had to go and die! I dressed like a woman for nothing! He was one of the best friends you could have though..." Shachi cried, and Penguin patted his shoulder as they finished.

There were many remarks about Mark's caring nature and Scott's quick wit. Law reflected that his crew's words really painted the picture of their lives, and he knew they'd be rolling in their graves if they knew how sentimental the men were being.

'Always the tough guys.' He thought with a tiny smirk.

It seemed that everyone had put in what they felt the need to say, and Law stepped up once again. His mind returned to the somber affair at hand.

"Scott-ya and Mark-ya will remain in our thoughts and hearts, and we will carry out their dreams and wishes to the end. Their deaths will not be in vain, and because of their sacrifice we honor them with a burial at sea. Their souls truly belong to the sea, and so here they shall remain."