Festival Dancing [John & Xander]

[Xander Touchstone Abernathy]

The drunken Xander cantered over to the dock area, giggling happily as he tried to outrun Kyun, calling him the boogie monster, which could only be a mix between a monster and the boogie man. But whatever the reason, the glassy eyed male was soon caught by his friend, and felt his warm lips pressed against his neck, causing him to sober up quickly. He let out a soft sigh, tilting his neck a bit to allow better access, until all the fog had cleared from his mind, and he realized what was happening.

With a small surge of fear and guilt, mixed with a strange feeling of, actual love, the Marine gently pushed his friend away and continued walking. Half of him wanted to run over and embrace Kyun in a tight hug and kiss, but then again, they needed to figure out who the pirates where who owned the ship. And seeing as all the people in the city where in one area, it would be hard to not make a ruckus.

"K-kyun...I-I was just wondering if...you would go with me onto the ship to look through it..." He asked softly, a little nervous to be around the other marine after what had just happened. What if he was just drunk too, and he really didn't feel this way? He didn't want to hurt himself twice in one night. First Eri then Kyun? He wouldn't know what to do with himself if that was the case.

[John Taylor]

John patted his captains hair softly, giving her comfort and well a chest to cry on, his arms gently embracing like a mother would do a child, if his shirt suddenly had a damp patch on it he wouldn't be too surprised.

Despite not really knowing the relationship between the marine and his captain, John didn't ask it wasn't his business to pry, and if Eri wanted too she would tell him, and it was as simple as that, the only thing to do now was try and cheer her up before vacating or making an escape of Micqueot.

Slowly a faint idea popped into his head as his hand rested on Eri's shoulder after another comforting pet of her head. "I do believe I promised you a sunset, how about we go see before sailing off into it?

[Eri Tokito]

When Eri felt John's strong arms surround her she burried herself further within his chest, if that was even possible. He smelt comforting, and as she had her head nuzzled into his shirt she couldn't help but breath in the scent which was so uniquely John. As she felt the tears beginning to leak from her eyes she felt her chest shake with soft sobs as she fisted her hands into his shirt.

Feeling her pat his head comfortingly, Eri soon began to calm down as she eventually let her crying lessen, finally being able to pull away and smile softly at John's statement, replying, "...ok...that sounds good to me John...and thank you for pulling up with my uh..." Eri glanced down at the now wet patch on the man's shirt before grinning at him, a few stray tears still falling from her large brown eyes but she felt a whole lot better than she did before.

Gently, Eri slipped her hand into John's before gaining her usual enthusiasm, although it was a bit dulled than before, and began to lead John back to the docks.

[kumacy12]

Kyun's bright smile grew even wider when the alcohol in Xander's system began to wear off and he became more and more uncomfortable with his advances. It made him feel like he was playing hard to get. "Whatever you say Xanny." The marine said with a wink, walking up onto the boat with Xander not to far behind. Then, Kyun had a revolutionary thought. Maybe if he got Xander all drunk and loopy again, he wouldn't be so reserved around him. This was a good plan, since it was obvious that he was still hurting a bit.

Looking around on the ship, Kyun was a bit shocked. Was this protocol? This ship only seemed to house two people. Was it really necessary to go barging in on a pirate ship with two people. Were they even pirates? Knyn needed to think about this for a while. Then, one of the other marines began gaping. Kyun asked what was wrong, and got his convicting proof, a very important asset.

A while back, two people skipped out on paying their bill at the Baratie, and they where allegedly spotted in THIS ship. SO if there were pirates on the Baratie that night, it was almost definitely them. "So, we should wait for them here...I think it is best if we apprehend them now, nipping this problem at the bud." Kyun said, walking off the ship and back onto the dock, calling the other's, "They don't seem to be that big of a crew, so I think that we won't need that many of ya. If ya don't want to fight on yer day off, then ya can leave now..." Undoubtedly, many of them left, until it was just Kyun, Xander, and another recruit who looked around twenty two.

[Xander Touchstone Abernathy]

Xander sighed weakly, finally able to get out of that awkward situation with Kyun. He was actually a really nice guy, but it felt..wrong in a way. Shaking off the kiss and wink, he sighed and continued walking over to the boat. "Yes...whatever I say..." He mumbled softly, brushing a few loose strands of hair out of his face, and wrapping the scarf tighter around his neck, against the chilly twilight air. It took a few, hesitant seconds before he finally wondered onto the boat with Kyun, looking through the boat, examining anything that shows that they where pirates. He was about to give up when the marine heard the other marine recruits talk to each other.

Apparently the owners of this boat ate at the Baratie and ditched out on paying, causing quite a bit of an uproar in the process. That sealed it for him. There was little evidence that they where pirates, but then again, the chefs at the Baratie would feel better knowing that the people who ditched out on the check where caught. Xander stepped off the ship and walked over to hide with the others, waiting.

But while he waited, his mind began to drift back to Eri. She was so nice and sweet. And such a fun person. But she was also taken. That is what hurt the worst. He wished that he could be around her all the time, and be her boyfriend, but it wasn't meant to be. Maybe it was for the best, it wouldn't work anyways. He would not get to see her very often, seeing as he had to go wherever his superiors told him to go. But he shook the thoughts away, hearing footsteps in the distance.

[John Taylor]

John waited comforting his captain until she was ready to move off from the spot they stood, he felt the feeling of his shirt getting a bit damp from tears his only fear that there would be other substances on there as well.

It took a while before she removed her face from his chest his suggestion to take her mind off of things seemed to be a good one, the marines could wait for now and if they had an encounter there was no way Eri could fight in this state of mind. "Think nothing of it, I thought it was part of my duty to help the captain."

John wiped the tears from his captain's face like a parent would do to a child before his hand was gripped by Eri's, it took him a few minutes as he walked along side her that they were heading for the docks, granted this was the way to the view he'd seen but it was unexpected that Eri seemed to know as well.

He walked with her until they came to a turn off, one leading to the docks and their ship the other to a path and a slight ridge looking out to the sea, it was hidden but John liked to explore. "This way princess."

He smirked lightly and lead the way revealing the sunset.
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[Eri Tokito]

When Eri felt John's hands against her face, wiping away her overflowing tears she had to giggle through her crying, the motion so parental Eri was reminded of her childhood. Her mother would do the same thing whenever she would fall over and scrap her knee, and the fact that her first mate was repeating the action only made Eri laugh.

Eri hadn't actually any idea where she was going, just that she was heading back to the docks. She hoped that John would tell here where to go or at least lead her there. Slowing down so that she walked along side John, her smaller hand still clutching at his, she let out another giggle as he called her a princess. For some reason it made her heart flutter as she smiled happily at John, replying, "why thank you sir knight. If I'm the princess then you definetly are the knight."

When John led her into the side alley which opened out onto the small ridge, the sunset which set over the horizon staining the sky in a rainbow of colours. Gasping aloud at the sheer beauty, Eri rushed forward, standing right at the edge as she gaped out at the sight before her. Turning to grin at John, her eyes alight with excitement she called out, "John! This is absolutely amazing! Thank you!"

Facing back to the sunset, Eri lifted her arms out parallel either side to her, closing her eyes as the wind blew her short curled hair about, a smile on her lips. It felt amazing. Eri couldn't help it but a laugh bubbled up from within as she giggled happily, holding her position at the edge of the ridge as she stood there in the red light of sunset.

[kumacy12]

The cold winds began to pick up as the sun began to set. It's crimson rays saying farewell until morning. The marine always found the sunset to be so romantic. It was the death of a day, and the birth of the night. Speaking of romantic, Kyun looked over to the, rather stoic looking Xander, patting his shoulder comfortingly. He looked like he was thinking of the one that hurt his heart so badly.

he wondered if Xander would ever really let it go. He had to eventually, for being a little sad sack all the time just wasn't healthy. It may not have seemed like the right time, but seeing as their suspects appeared to not be coming anytime soon. Kyun's gentle, reassuring pat on the shoulder began to grow until he wrapped the afflicted one in a tight hug, pressing his face into the white puffer vest of Xander, feeling the faux fur hood tickle his cheek.

Then, it came to him. Xander needed to laugh! He seemed so sad and full of self pity, that it was Kyun's duty as a friend to attempt to alleviate the problem in whatever way possible. While hugging, his hands crept to the unzipped part of the marine's puffer vest, slipping his hands into the warm inside, feeling him warm shirt and gentle heartbeat, before his finger began to dig gently into the spaces between the ribs, poking and prodding his sides. "There there Xanny, let's turn that frown upside down.." he whispered softly.

[Xander Touchstone Abernathy]

Xander sighed, tightening the scarf around his neck to shut out the cold wind of the dying day. He had been up since early this morning, and was beginning to feel the effects of not taking a break in between his morning patrol, and this festival. He stepped off the boat and fought to keep his eyes open, but was able to with a little effort, the nipping cold allowing him to stay awake. This proved to be quite helpful, for the marine was finally able to think straight again, the alcohol leaving his system. But it was difficult to find just the right temperature

He had looked to the sky, seeing how the sun began is slow descent back down behind the water, off to some new place, maybe it was morning time off in the South Blue. It was always nice to see a sunset, they where different every day, no two where the same, so if you miss one, you'll never see it again.

inwardly, Xander longed to be with Ms. Eri, watching the sun finish the day and sink back to bed until morning, together. But he knew that would never be true, for she looked far to happy with that other man, what was his name...John? Yes, that was it John. She looked to content with him to ever be interested in a Marine. But then, just as he felt the tears threaten to come up again, Xander felt a strange sensation creep up his spine. A sensation that made him giggle and shift to get away from it.

Upon closer inspection of his sides, it appeared that Kyun was tickling him! Not knowing how to react, Xander shook slightly, trying to grab the hands that kneaded his sides and ribs, sending sharp shocks of ticklish mirth up into his brain. "G-Ghehehehehehe! Kyuhuhuhun! Stahahp!" He laughed out, trying to make it as quiet as possible, as to not give away their hiding spot.

[John Taylor]

John sat on the grass, it was barely green due to the sunset's colours illuminating the area around them almost as if they had been turned into a painting, it was quite a sight to behold considering the things they were going to see on their way to the new world and hopefully to the one piece treasure at the end, he sighed softly it was a memory to place in their voyage journal mental or physical it didn't matter too much.

Thankfully somewhat you could see the harbour where their ship had been docked early in the morning, the only downside was the several white coats with the blue markings on, a clear sign of marine activity, had their ship been recognised as a pirate ship? Would their belongings be untouched by the marines? And what if it's a routine check on ships and they are ratted out by the dock workers?

Somehow John was glad he bought the items for his captain, at least now if they wanted to make an escape they could defend themselves from any marine soldiers. "Micqueot be damned, it seems to hate us."

John flopped back laying on the grass with his hands in the air signing annoyance by the marines he just saw, the fact that his staff toppled over from the movement and nearly hit him in the face didn't help.

[Eri Tokito]

Eri stood there at the ridge of the hill overlooking the sea and sunset. She felt energised from her previous mood, although guilt still seemed to course through her as he recalled Xander's expression when she had made up that small little lie which seemed to have consequently, destroyed her friendship with the marine.

Not like they could really be friends though, especially if Xander ever found out about her lifestyle. They're natural enemies, pirates and marines, it would only be a given that he'd have to arrest her and Eri wasn't exactly too fond of that idea. She needed to get to the end of Grand Line to find One Piece, the ultimate treasure. She'd achieve that no matter what, it was her dream after all.

Hearing John speak, Eri turned around and faced him with a smile. Kicking off her shoes as she picked them up, she looked up in time to see John's staff fall and nearly smack him in the face. Eri's only reply was to laugh as she trodded over, shivering in her thin dress. Dropping down onto the ground, Eri snuggled up to John's side, stealing his warmth as the sunlight began to fade over the horizon as the sky began to darken. She lay there beside John, curled up against his side as she breathed out, "I agree...I think we might need to leave soon...and just when we were having a good time too..."