Hugh watched the island come into view, it wasn't much to look at but would be fine for stocking up. The important thing was the lack of Regime banners waving, not even Marine flags. It seemed a safe enough place for them for now.
“Look at that.” Oriel said, she stood on the other side of Isaac, the three all leaned against the ship railing. She pointed at a large tower with a shining yellow pointed roof. “What do you think that is?” She asked, turning towards Isaac.
“Not a clue.” Isaac said absently. “Would you like to check it out?”
“Could we!” Oriel said. She was faking excitement. She did this all the time with Isaac.
“Of course!” Isaac said, spreading his arms as if for a hug. “Anything for you.”
Hugh grunted at Isaac, when did his friend get so bad? With a sigh, Hugh accepted the fact those two would not be on the ship to assist with the stocking. He began to walk towards his crew, he had to double check the inventory of what they needed to stock on. Luckily they had a ton of berries to spare.
Hugh was not very happy as he stood at the edge of the ship's gangplank. The crew had requested he chaperione Isaac, which Hugh had to admit he needed to. Now he stood waiting for Isaac, who went to doll himself up.
“It's cute how much you care about your friend.” Oriel said, she leaned against a railing waiting.
“I'm just watching out for the both of you, consider it a bodyguard.” Hugh said flatly.
Oriel tilted her head at Hugh, a wide smile on her face. “I can believe that, If you're with us I know i'll be okay.”
“Are you being condescending?” Hugh asked.
“No, I meant it wholeheartedly.” She said, keeping that teasing smile.
Isaac emerged from his cabin, his face dropping when he saw Hugh waiting for him. “Aren't you going to be with the crew?” Isaac asked, his outfit was the same overcoat but his fair seemed jelled.
“I already finished telling them what to get.” Hugh said, trying to sound bored. “I wanted to see the village, see if there was anything cool to get.”
“So why are you coming with us?” Isaac asked, annoyed.
“Is there a problem with me walking with you? I'd like to see that tower too while we're here.” Hugh said, shrugging at him as if to say ‘Can't be helped’.
Isaac wasn't too happy about it, but Hugh was kind enough to stay several paces behind them. He couldn't fully hear what they talked about, but he could see Oriel laughing her fake laugh at him. Was she ever truly real around them or was it all a show? Hugh thought back to when she joined their crew as he absently looked around for anything of interest.
She had approached them in a tavern, it was after Isaac had gotten his first bounty. Hugh was just as surprised as Isaac was when she spoke.
“I'm going to join you.” Oriel had said, as her opening statement.
“I'm sorry?’ They both had said in disbelief.
“I'm going to join you.” Oriel repeated, she had her face one, she seemed energetic but even then Hugh could notice the act. “If i'm with you i'll see so much and learn so much, so i'm joining you.”
Hugh was about to speak up but was stopped by Isaac. “Of course, we would love to welcome you to our crew!”
“Hold on!” Hugh chimed in. “How do we know she isn't a Regime spy?”
“Because I'm not.” Oriel said, when had she sat down at their table? The table was filled with the few crew they had at that time, but there were still empty seats that she snuck into. “I would be a bad spy for the Regime or whatever.”
Hugh sighed. “That isn't very convincing.”
“Well, the best way for me to convince you is to work with you.” Oriel said straight forward. “Put some trust in me, it'll be fine.” She spoke so certainly, it was intimidating to Hugh.
“Okay, what can you do?” Hugh asked.
“Alot.” Oriel said. “So when do we head out?” She turned the question to Isaac.
“That isn't an answer!” Hugh said before Isaac could speak. “Look, we don't need a whore on the ship if that is what you're getting at.”
“Oh, I'm not one of those.” Oriel said dismissively, not turning to Hugh.
“Then what are you!” Hugh asked, annoyed at her attitude.
“I'm Oriel.” She said to Isaac. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain.”
Isaac took her hand and shook it. “Isaac Newman.” Hugh collapsed to the back of his chair, staring up at the ceiling. He was used to Isaac’s obsession with women, but letting one on their crew when she offered nothing of substance? This was insane.
Hugh found himself pulled back to the present as he was jerked hard to his left. He watched as blurs that were Isaac and Oriel vanished, continuing their march onwards.
He was in an alleyway, a man in dark clothing pressed him against a wall, his elbow at Hughs throat. The man wore a strange necklace, some kind of talisman? At his waist were two knives, he assumed they were sharp.
“What are you doing tailing them?” The man said, spittle coming out with every word.
Hugh felt dumbfounded. “What.”
“You're tailing the Zombie and his first mate, don't lie I've been watching since the dock.” The man said.
Oh, Hugh thought, he’s a bounty hunter.
Hugh was used to this, he always looked generic. He had a knack for blending into a crowd even if he didn't try to. He was almost a polar opposite of Isaac. Whereas Isaac stood out everywhere he went, Hugh vanished.
Wait, Hugh thought, I have a bounty too!
“Why are you following them!” The bounty hunter said sharply.
Hugh took a breath. So what if he wasn't recognized? Though now the bigger thing was, someone was trying to catch his captain, or even hurt him. Hugh took another breath, then drew his saber as sharply as he could.
The bounty hunter bounced back once Hugh put a hand to the sword, drawing his knives to match. Hugh was no master swordsman, his skills with a saber were nothing fantastic, though he was the only one on the ship to keep pace with Isaac.
Hugh watched the Bounty hunter closely, he needed the color. The man charged at Hugh, using his left blade to try and parry Hugh’s saber, the right going for a stab. Hugh side stepped to the man’s right, leaving the left blade alone and parrying his right blade. The man was telegraphing his movements too easily, his color would appear.
Gray, it made sense it was gray. Most people without fighting skills were gray. The bounty hunter was outlined in gray, a ghostly image of himself moving forward to Hugh. Hugh never knew why he had this talent, but once he understood an opponent their color would show, and he would be able to see the move they made in the next few seconds.
The ghostly gray image moved forward towards Hugh, dropping low to stab at his ankles. It was only a breath later that the man was following his ghost. It was more than enough time for Hugh to react. He jumped up slightly, planting his feet on the flats of his knives, pressing them into the ground. Hugh took his saber and stabbed it through the man’s shoulder, drawing it free, releasing a stream of crimson blood.
“You can run now.” Hugh said, holding the bloody blade to the man’s throat. “If you do, Then you live, but only if you give up on Isaac.”
The bounty hunter ran, leaving Hugh alone. He sighed deeply, he wiped his blade with a rag and returned it to his sheathe. Stepping out of the alley, he looked around to see no sign of his Captain.
Hugh hated how fast he ran, he could see that tower from everywhere in the village. It was the only place he could think to find them, he just hoped Isaac didn't distract her away from it. He ran through a well trekked forest path uphill, the tower growing closer. As he reached the top of the hill, he saw the front of the tower, and two people standing in annoyance outside its front door.
Well, Isaac was annoyed, Oriel still had a big smile on her face.
“Jeez you kept us waiting.” Isaac said.
“Surprised you waited.” Hugh said, approaching them.
“Oriel said to.” Isaac said with a shrug. “I said you probably got caught up shopping or pissing.”
“Thanks buddy.” Hugh said to Isaac. “Glad you pointed out my bathroom breaks.”
“Lets go, we waited long enough.” Isaac said, pushing open the two double doors.
The tower was a single spiral staircase that wound along the walls towards an upper platform. The three walked up, Isaac leading from a few steps, commenting on the height, how the ralings looked to be made of gold, and other things that meant nothing.
Oriel fell back into step with Hugh, leaning close and whispering in his ear. “I told you so.” She said so softly he almost didn't hear.
“What do you mean?” He asked.
“I knew if you were with us I would be alright.” Oriel gave another of her fake smiles, then began moving faster, towards Isaac.
The top of the stairs lead to a platform. The roof of the building was held but supports, leaving openings in the walls to look out over the sea, from their Hugh could see their ship, Famous Last Words.
“What do you think it's for?” Isaac asked out loud, taking in the sights.
“Wishes.” Oriel said. “It's like a shrine, you throw out your prayers or wishes to the sea so that the sea god can hear them.”
“You yell a prayer?” Isaac asked, ignoring the many other questions Hugh wanted to ask.
“No.” Oriel said with a laugh. “A prayer should always be between you and whoever you send it to, if too many things get in the way of that it ruins the prayer.”
“A wish to?” Isaac asked.
“Is there much difference between a wish and a prayer?” Oriel said, she pressed her palms together in front of her face. “You do this, close your eyes, and bow your head. Then make your wish.”
“Let's do it.” Isaac said, turning to the sea and copying what Oriel told him. She followed suit. Hugh caught Oriel peek at him till he followed suit.
A wish, Hugh thought to himself, what kind of wish do I want?
He thought about their goals, to inspire the people of the north blue. To destroy the Regime, to show them that no matter how hard they tried they couldn't break them. Then he thought, is that what I really wish for? Isaac came up with those goals, and Hugh was all for them, but if he had one wish, would it be that? The answer came then.
I wish for Isaac’s dreams to come true, and to find my own dreams.
“Hey Isaac.” Hugh said later that night as they sat together on their ship. Isaac turned a curious head towards Hugh. “You made a wish to the sea god right?”
“Yeah of course.” Isaac said, looking out at one of the moons that was in the sky, Luno.
“I was just thinking, you ate the Revive-Revive Fruit right?” Hugh asked.
“I assume so based on you know, the not dying thing.” Isaac said casually.
“Well, dont they say the reason Devil Fruit users can't swim is because the Sea God cursed them?” Hugh said, watching Isaac’s eyes widen. “Maybe whatever your wish was is going to be reversed because of your Devil Fruit?” Hugh almost laughed at the horror that crossed Isaac’s face.
