Moderating Manners // One Piece Various x Female Oc

Forgotten Friends

Picture: ???

Become a Patreon to get early access to chapter + mood boards + character descriptions

Keys:-

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Emphasis/Emphasis

A long passage in italics implies a flashbacks

.

.

.

"Is there something the matter, Vivi-san?"

Bristling slightly, Vivi craned her body around the chair to look at Hiriko -- who was retying her hair into a ponytail in the mirror in the girl's dorm.

Earlier, when Vivi had first laid eyes on the girl upon her landing on the ship, she had been so occupied with making sure Hiriko wasn't fatally injured that she didn't notice the change in hairstyle. After she did take notice of it, she was reminded of her earlier ponderings on what Hiriko would look like with her hair loose. 'Pretty' was what she had decided on at the time. Hiriko did indeed look very pretty with waves of slightly curled strands of brown hair framing her face and delicately falling over her shoulder. In fact, 'pretty,' barely did her justice, Vivi realized.

Yet, that was beside the point. Vivi had just finished writing an extensive report on the inner workings of Baroque Works and planned to have Carue deliver it to her father. However, as much as she trusted her feathered companion, she also knew he could easily be overpowered and thus the letter could easily be stolen and leaked, which would mean them losing the potential advantage they might have over Baroque Works.

This, however, was all classified information. These were problems she didn't feel completely comfortable talking to the Straw Hat Pirate crew with, so, it would make sense that she wouldn't even dream of spilling out her problem to a random stranger who had joined their journey temporarily. No matter how much, said stranger had grown on her.

Yet, as she looked into the girl's concerned eyes and saw the genuine desire to help, she couldn't stop the words from spilling past her lips. Her shoulder slumped and her eyes glazed over as she allowed the situation to sink in and for her vulnerable side to show for the brunette's eyes only.

She didn't give out any names though, leaving Baroque Works out of the conversation entirely. Instead, she said she wanted to deliver sensitive information to her father but was worried about the risk of interception.

"Well, I could offer to go along with Carue-san," the brown-haired girl began, but upon seeing the pure denial in Vivi's expression she nodded in understanding. "However, I think it is safe to assume you wouldn't agree to that suggestion," a chuckle left her lips as she saw Vivi nod strongly with a huff. Hiriko had come to learn that the crew, especially the females, were easily worried people. They barely allowed her to leave their sight, especially after the stunt she pulled while they were running away from the marines.

'This must be what people mean when they say laughter that sounds like chiming bells, huh?' The girl's laugh was melodic and Vivi could barely quell the urge to hear more of it.

"Thus, I would recommend writing in code." At that Vivi perked up. Muting the mental recording of the girl's laugh -- to probably replay over and over later -- she gave Hiriko her full attention. "There is an ancient scripter in Alabasta, known as Cuneiform*. I believe I read somewhere that Nefertari Cobra is familiar with this script. I am able to read and write Cuneiform as well but I doubt you will want to disclose the sensitive information you were speaking of earlier. So, instead, I suggest using a key sheet of sorts. I will be responsible for making it and I am hoping it will allow you to translate the letter yourself."