Why Hello [John]

[Eri Tokito]

Eri had been sailing in her small boat for more than a few days, the last island which she had encountered being nearly a week back and she was soon running out of supplies. Sitting back against the starboard side of the wooden ship, Eri leant her head back as she stared at the vast blue sky above, the constant lulling motion of her boat soothing and familiar. Eri smiled widely to herself, this is why she wanted to be a pirate.

The freedom of the oceans was so vast and the mere thought of the different islands and people whom she could meet had Eri's mind spinning in excitement. The sound of laughter up ahead had her standing up on her boat as she realised there was a giant wooden fish ahead of her, the laughter resounding from the strange looking ship. Eri must have been zonning out for longer than she had expected as she didn't even realise that there was a ship before her. She had heard of the ship before, it was famous within East Blue where Eri came from. The Baratie, the only sailing restraunt in the world.

Grinning to herself, she merely steered the small ship towards the small docking area beside the boat, jumping overboard and onto the small wooden platform which was the deck. Checking her clothes and seeing that she was decent she made her way inside, the laughter only becoming louder and louder as she made her way to the doors of the restraunt. Seeing the waiter at the door she asked for a table, smiling softly at the large amount of probably pirates within all drunk of their minds and singing songs of the high seas.

As she was seated, she didn't expect another man to join her at the table. Giving the man a smile, more than happy to have some company she said happily, "hello! Take a seat, take a seat!"

[John Taylor]

Despite leaving his homely little village in South Blue about a week ago John had easily grown accustom to the sea life, himself assuming he had a long line of relatives that each took to the sea at some point like his mother and father, although piracy was probably not the path he would of walked down if they were still alive.

It had been two days since he arrived on the Baratie, he was expecting to spot Vega on the famously known part ship part restaurant but it seemed like he was in the wrong place at the wrong time once again, not that John minded being stuck somewhere with bounties of food and drink, it was a sight lot better then waiting on an island.

After a short lounge on one of the more sunny areas of the ship he eventually was motioned by one of the waiting staff or possibly a chef, you could never really tell but then you never really needed to ask, the food was good and the service as long as you didn't cause trouble and paid the bill was the same, although as John noticed as he was ushered to a table a smaller younger lady was sitting at. ' Fair enough' He thought as he sat down casually at her invite.

"I'm gracious for the invitation Miss." John bowed his head slightly in a very upper class kind of greeting, something fun to break the ice.

[Eri Tokito]

Eri could only note that the waiter had placed the man at her table as they had pretty much had every other table packed with people. She know knew why she could hear the laughter from such a distance before, there was just so many people in here! The happy mood was so infecting, Eri couldn't help but continue to grin happily, her cheeks dusted pink at the very handsome man before her.

She, like most girls her age was more than observant of the men around her and was more than open with her fasination with them. She giggled lightly at the man's attitude, happy to see that he wasn't going to refuse her offer or anything. She wouldn't have known what to do in a situation like that. Happily though, the man was more than nice and was clearly a gentleman.

"Of course Sir," Eri replied with another giggle, playing along with the man, "I wouldn't be a lady if I didn't ask a fine man such as yourself to sit down and have a drink."

[John Taylor]

John smirked at the girl opposite, it was better when they played along with small games, it made for a fun experiment on people he met to see whether he could get along with them, nevertheless as the wine was poured into their glasses the light tint from his white wine shining on the cutlery giving the effect that there was gold under all that silver coating.

Thinking it best to introduce himself to the young lady he gently picked up his wine glass holding it by the stem and in giving the usual smell to see what flavours would erupt upon the stage of drinking, this was pointless since his sense of smell was incredibly bad. "John Taylor, privateer and pioneer at your service, Miss...?"

Soon after he spoke John placed the wine glass back down this was the moment he would give to the other before an interruption would most likely appear either from an outside person to this table or by the eventual chinking of glasses that normally intervenes.

[Eri Tokito]

Ellie gave the waiter who poured them wine a small smile before turning back to the man across from her, following suit as she picked up her own glass, taking a small sip at the slightly earthy taste. Perfect. Seeing as he introduced himself, she smiled and replied, "Ellie. Ellie Tokito, and unfortunatly I am just a young girl traveling the seas and have no real special titles I can claim to." She added with a small cheeky grin.

She took another sip, taking the menu which the waiter who had returned and offered to them, flicking through it to see what caught her fancy. Finally settling on the fish pasta she looked up at John, asking politely, "you decided on what to eat yet?"

[John Taylor]

John watched the girl take a sip of the wine, he noticed that she approved of what she just tasted it was barely noticeable but you had to be quick to notice things like that or you might get a bullet to the head at the worst of it. "Charmed Ms Ellie, the pleasure is all mine."

The waiter soon handed them both a menu and waited expectantly as if he had nothing better to do as John scanned the menu ignoring all but one meat type, chicken, other then that he wasn't interested in the Red wine lamb, mouth watering steak, nor the succulent fish dish, finally spotting something enjoyable a question rose up from the other side of the table. " Just about, I'll go for the Grilled lemon chicken, how about you?"

He kept quiet for her to answer and for the waiter to leave before asking one important question which would determine what path he would take after leaving the Baratie. "So if you've no title to your name, what do you do to keep by in this perilous world Ms Ellie?

[Eri Tokito]

She knew that John was watching her closely, his eyes which were trained on her face showed her that much. She didn't know whether to blush at the scrutiny of the man's gaze or just stare right back at the man. She had obviously, seeing a good looking man, checked him out thoroughly while he would look away, his jaw chisled and his eyes warm. Ellie also could tell from the other women sitting at nearby tables stares that they too also thought that this man was more than good looking.

"Mm," Ellie replied to the mans question, "I think I'm going to go with the salmon fish pasta...should go lovely with a wine like this." Although she was only 18, Ellie had more than enough experience with different wines from back when she was still only a wee 15 year old who had become friends with a pirate who had shown her the various types and what to eat with what. As strange as that may sound, a pirate teaching a young girl about wine, the man had come from a rich background and had more than enough experience with wine tasting for a life time, or so he had told her anyway.

Grinning cheekily at the man's statement she shrugged, picking up the wine glass once more as she swirled it around, briging it to her lips as she spoke over the rim of the glass, her eyes locked with her companions. "That depends on what you do my dear John..."

[John Taylor]

With the food ordered and the waiter soon departed, a slight feel of eyes were felt on him, but John ignored it, there was no point to feel uncomfortable to anyone who looked at you since people have eyes they can't help but look it was a natural thing, he was more interested in Ellie's reply, and he was about to receive it.

As expected she turned the question back onto him, a smart girl indeed, the words running through John's head like a gentle smile despite one not physically appearing on his face just the normal look he had instead, luckily he had an answer for such a reply already loaded into his brain ready for that chance it could happen. "Well I suppose I do what I like, really I've a goal in my life that I'd like to accomplish, and depending on what person looks at it can be perceived as good or bad.

He takes a sip of his wine gently placing the glass back down on the tablecloth, he'd already said he had a goal and since the question would usually be 'Whats your goal?'John thought to continue one answer to save the time of asking the inevitable question. "Granted of course I'm after the fabled 'Nostra Senora Della Cabo' it may exist it may not but it something worth adventuring for."

John paused for a slight moment before ending his sentence lowering his voice slightly so only Ellie would hear his next words. "And grabbing a treasure of about 209,000,000,000 on a single ship would be pretty good too."

[Eri Tokito]

Eri had no idea whether the man was a marine or a bounty hunter or like herself, an inspiring pirate or hell, even a real pirate! So she had to keep her tounge in cheek so that she didn't say anything which could either a) start a fight, b) cause her to get arrested or c) all of the above. John seemed like a nice man though so Eri didn't want to muck up their lovely conversation which they were having. It was nice, just plain and simple conversion between two strangers aboard a floating restraunt, you know, just your everyday occursion.

"That's a good way to live life," Eri replied as she sipped her wine and placed it down on the white cloth which covered the wooden table which they sat at. Continuing she said, "dreams huh...I guess the ultimate dream is One Piece, but I think the adventure to One Piece would be an even greater experience and I'm sure that others would agree as well."

"Nostra Senora Della Cabo..." Eri said as she stumbled over the words, unfamiliar with the term, "what's that? I've never heard of anything like that..."

When the man lowered his voice slightly and Eri could just barely make out what he said over the loud noise of the diner, she laughed loudly, a grin blooming on her face. She could only reply with, "if only huh? That would be more than lovely..."

[John Taylor]

John listened to each word that was said at the table, one sentence, one word could tell him what way to continue the conversation if he was lucky enough it would appear soon with the talk of adventures and dreams, a key worded sentence only a pirate would enjoy wanting to find one piece or even think about it.

There it was, he was 60% sure she was a pirate or a new pirate like he was, there was just one more key to the puzzle that would make him trust her completely, granted he mentioned he was a privateer which was another name for pirate but luckily she didn't seem to notice. So your one of the many who sail the seas after the legendary One Piece then, made a flag yet?

He went into a short and brief story of the fabled ship that carried the largest prize, this was only in terms of that it was all cargo mainly diamonds and jewelery as well as foodstuff.

"It'd set me for life, granted if I was part of a crew when I captured it they'd get at least 5% each and the captain would get 20%, of course if I like my captain I'd settle for just having lets say 45% or so. He smirks slightly at Ellie, it was his small signal and hint that he knew what she was.

[Eri Tokito]

Eri was pretty sure that John, like her was a pirate...or she assumed he was from their little chat at the table. Although, as he asked her a question she could only answer truthfully. She liked John and who was she to lie to the man...it was just something that the young girl never did. Lie to people that is.

Eri replied to his question, "not yet...haven't even got a crew...but don't tell anyone alright? I have no idea if you a marine or not but just...don't arrest me if you are. It would suck to be arrested before I could even enter Grand Line."

She waited for his response, hoping to God that he was not a marine or else everything would just go downhill from there. She liked John and would have been extremely disapointed if he had to put her in cuffs and chain her up...as kinky as that sounded it wasn't her ideal first date or anything. Wait...date? Eri thought to herself as she mentally slapped herself on the forehead, thinking, no...you just met John you silly girl! No!

Shaking her head she shifted in her seat, getting comfortable on the slightly too hard wooden chair she listened to him explain the history behind the ship, fascinated she replied, "really? There is a ship like that? Wow, I've never heard of a story like that...that would be a pretty amazing feat to find such a ledgendary ship...and you would definetly be settled for life."

Laughing at John's statement, Eri could only grin and say, "well...I must say that being your captain would certainly be rewarding...that is if you like me...?"

[John Taylor]

John chuckled, he managed to actually find out first who was who, it seemed oddly naive of her to ask not to be arrested before she entered the grand line, it only seemed reasonable to inform her that he was of no threat even though he'd mentioned that several times just hidden behind words. "Well my parents were marines, but I follow the opposite path to them."

He figured best to repeat in an easier way as it looked like Ellie was in a bit of thought as he spoke. "As I said earlier John 'Silvers' Taylor, Pirate, Adventurer, Quartermaster."

John nodded to the story whilst listening to her opinions to the words he had just said about the reward system, he listened intently was that a offer to go on her ship? She never really mentioned about being a captain herself, she was smart, enjoyable company but these were the only aspects he'd logically put down in his head, she was young, cute and not afraid to ask someone to join her crew if he guessed right, so the only way to go was to answer. "Well tell you what, I'll sail with you to the grand line and tell you my reply there.["/color]

It was about a second after the answer two plates were placed on the table with the normal waiter like words, ' enjoy.' Ringing after as if the deal had been made with the placing of a meal.

[Eri Tokito]

Eri could see that John was a little taken aback by her blatent openess about being a rookie pirate. But to tell the truth, even if it did seem naive on her part she saw no point in lying. Besides, John kept hinting at the fact throughout their talk about being a pirate, but Eri wasn't about to jump out and out right accuse the man if he was pirate or not. So she just would have to take the first step.

When he replied she smiled brightly. Ah, so a pirate... Eri thought to herself, immensly glad that he was. Maybe...just maybe, she might have a new friend. Replying happily, "so a pirate huh? Well, nice to meet you fellow pirate, might as well try and get along huh?"

When the waiter placed the plate of pasta infront of her, Eri waited until the waiter who had served them was far out of ear shot before replying in a hushed, excited whisper. "Really? You'd join me? Honest to God? Brilliant!"

[John Taylor]

John nodded in agreement to getting along, he was already getting along with her and saw no reason to stop doing so, granted their meal could be stopped at any time by unwanted pirates or marines appearing, so it seemed best to make do with what they had at the given time, some peace of mind and a relaxing atmosphere to ease any future stress, besides it wasn't exactly a bad place for a first meeting.

He gently plucked his glass up from the table and held in a position for the 'clinking' of glasses as many people would do."The starting point of great success and achievement has always been the same. It is for you to dream big dreams. There is nothing more important, and nothing that works faster than for you to cast off your own limitations than for you to begin dreaming and fantasizing about the wonderful things that you can become, have, and do."

John smirked softly to Ellie, if indeed he was joining her crew and if indeed she was to be his captain then he had another goal in life, for his captain to achieve her dream and happiness.

[Eri Tokito]

Seeing John pick up his glass and guesture to her to do the same, she merely complied, picking up her own wine glass by the base and clinking her glass against her companion and now, if he decided to say yes, first mate. Eri was so excited and estatic to have her first crew member, she was about to jump out and cry out in joy and tackle hug John in happiness.

It really was one more step towards finding One Piece, and all Eri could do was grin widely and reply, "here here! I can easily drink to that!" She drunk from the glass deeply, not caring at all that it probably looked unsightly for a woman to be chugging down wine of all drinks, but she really didn't care at the moment. She had her first friend and shipmate on the high seas and nothing could dampen her spirits right now.

Eri saw the smirk which John gave her, giving him a cheeky smile back as she tucked into her pasta, a soft groan escaping her lips as she ate the wonderfully cooked dish. "God...I can see why this place is so famous...this is amazing!" she said in pure ecstasy, closing her eyes and savouring the taste.