Crumbling Worlds (A Charlotte Cracker x OC story)

Chapter 3: Decisions- Part 1

Once Michelle and her family departed from Biscuits Island, it was time to talk about everything that went down. Naturally her parents' reaction to finding out that their daughter spend half a day with a Minister was more than surprised, but just like the young woman had predicted, her father was also very delighted by the news. And the fact that she didn't even recognize the Commander until they sat down and ate some biscuits together was hilarious to him.

"Hohoho! You really saw how the citizens feared this giant man with the huge sword and didn't think any of it?!" Matthias was bellowing with laughter and teasingly shook his head while patting his daughter on the back, "oh that is so like you! But I guess it isn't your fault entirely, seeing how he's misleading everyone about his true appearance."

"Yeeeeahh that's actually another thing I wanted to talk about," Michelle noted and nervously tapped her fingers against the table, "ehm, you can't really tell anyone outside of Tottoland about this. It's kind of an insider thing, and if word about his true appearance gets out... Well, I don't even want to think about what Big Mom might do to you!" her body visibly tensed up at that. It was a well-known fact that the Yonko's information system was broad, so she really didn't want to get her parents in trouble with this. Michelle almost bit her own cheek for even telling them about this crucial information in the first place, but she thought that it would only be fair.

"My, if he's making such a big deal out of it then I wonder why he would reveal his true identity to you at all! Future citizen or not," her mother chimed in, obviously not happy that her daughter- and possibly entire family- might face severe consequences if they said something about this, "as grateful as I am that he was willing to help you out, I don't think it's appropriate to already burden you with this kind of stuff!"

"Well my dear, we knew from the very beginning what she was getting herself into," Matthias replied and  scooted over to pat his wife's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her a little, "don't worry, it's going to be fine- after all, we merchants know how to keep a secret! ...But I guess we should still make it clear to Phillip that he really needs to keep this to himself at all costs, hohoho!"

Michelle forced herself to let out a dry laugh at her father's remark. This was precisely the thing she was most worried about- out of her entire family, her younger brother was for sure the one with the loosest tongue. And although her father was acting rather jolly and excited now, she knew that he would definitely pull the teenager aside later on to seriously burn this into his mind. Matthias might appear open and talkative to strangers, but deep down he was actually an extremely stern and cautious man. And according to himself, both were traits you needed to survive in a profession like his. 

"Still, I don't know if this is really such a good idea," Marina spoke up again while nervously scratching over the back of her hand with her long nails, "doing business with pirates can be difficult enough, but living under their rule? Oh, I just don't know... as beautiful as Tottoland is, I would probably only stay for a vacation instead of moving here permanently. This place just kind of... rubs me the wrong way."

She was looking at both her husband and daughter while saying it, but her words were obviously directed at Michelle alone. Of course. The older woman was never happy with the thought of her child choosing to live in the territory of a Yonko, and at this point it was clear that she wouldn't change her mind about it anytime soon. Even after travelling around the country for a while, she was still as skeptical as when they first arrived. Michelle simply sighed and crossed her arms infront of her chest, signalling her mother that she was not in the mood to have this conversation again. It was far too early for that.

"It's okay if you don't like it here, mom," the young woman simply replied while looking around the cabin with obvious disinterest, "After all, I'm the one who's going to live her, not you."