Look at him and tell me there's a God

You'd always been more of the non-traditional sort. It wasn't out of any particularly spirited sense of rebellion, it was just that a lot of more typical things in life didn't interest you. Things like settling down, getting married, ending up with kids before you'd even turned thirty. Even more than that, gender roles just weren't for you, with eclectic interests from both "sides", purely because that was what you liked or wanted to try. 

"He is handsome though." You heard your friend say, suddenly snapping you out of your thoughts.

"Who?" You asked, leaning forward on your arms, slotting yourself back into the conversation.

"Julius Reinberg." She replied, gesturing over to where he stood with his two friends, practicing (see: showing off) their spells for anyone hanging out nearby. 

He wasn't your type, far too arrogant. Sure, he was in the academy's top three, but there was just no need for him to be so.. up his own. Boldly claiming he'd take over from Albis Vina, as if she were a mere first year student and not a magia vander.

Blegh.

"Not for me." You denied, leaning back on your hands against the grass, looking around the area to see who else was lingering around. "Oh come on, you say that about everyone." Another of your friends protested, reaching over to lightly shove you. "Then maybe the men around here need to get their acts together." That got a chorus of laughter from everyone, which was enough to satisfy you. You cared far more about the feelings and thoughts of your friends than any man, any day. "There must be at least one person in the academy that you'd settle for." "Settle? Are you sure you even know our dear friend?" Another round of laughter, because of course everyone knew your stance on those sorts of things.

"Well.." you trailed off with a small smirk, watching as a head of green hair emerged in the courtyard, followed by one of his own friends. "What?" A friend asked loudly, dramatically leaning over to shake you excitedly. "Details! Immediately!" You rolled your eyes, but you supposed you couldn't deny them after an implication like that.

"Listen - it's not my thing, we know that. Well. But.. there's one guy, where if he asked? Yeah, maybe I'd consider it." "You? You? You'd consider actually getting married to someone here at Regarden?" "Stop talking so loudly!" You scolded, which of course only prompted your friends to start looking around to figure out who you might've been talking about.

"And stop being so obvious!" You added after a moment, reaching to tug their sleeves to return their attention to you rather than the surrounding students. "Come on then, stop being so vague." "Fine! Fine. Yes. He's the only guy I've ever really thought '.. yeah I'd maybe marry him'. Just.. other guys don't do it for me I guess." Another of your friends, Karen, leaned over with eyes bright with mischief.

"At least give us a hint." "A hint? To who it is? Absolutely not- I couldn't. You'd never let me live it down." Came your reply, much to the simultaneous amusement and frustration of all your friends.

"Seems like someone over here is a comedian." Came a voice behind you, making you startle. All of you turned to find Wignall Lindor standing there, with amusement and curiosity there on his own usually impassive face. "Oh, hi Wignall." Karen chimed, waving to Terry standing beside him. The three of them were highly ranked wind sorcerers, so they often found themselves working together on things. "Hello, Karen. Having fun?" "Just teasing our favourite little rebel." She replied, reaching over to poke your cheek, even as you attempted to swat her hand away.

"Well, now you'll need to explain." Wignall replied, which only served to make your eyes widen. "Oh, no, we don't-" "'I'll never get married', 'I'm just not into traditional stuff', 'no man could make me settle down'," one of your friends listed off in a ridiculous voice, clearly intended to convey that they were imitating you, "but apparently? There's one special someone here at Regarden. One guy." "He'll be a lucky man then, I suppose."

You dared to glance over at Karen, whose mouth was hanging open almost comically. She looked from you, up to Wignall, then back to you. When you shook your head, she mimed zipping her lips to confirm she'd keep it to herself. But, you were quite sure this was far from the last you'd heard on this topic.

"So," Karen started out of the blue two days later when she managed to catch you alone in the library, catching you totally off guard, "Mr Wonder Elf, huh?" "Karen please-" "No, I said I wouldn't tell anyone. That doesn't mean we can't talk about it." You'd known there was no chance she'd leave it alone. "Fine. Just.. sit down and don't talk so loud." And at that, she obediently dropped into a chair at the table you'd chosen, resting her chin in her hands to listen.

"There's just.. something about him, y'know?" You said with a sigh, burying your face in your hands. You could tell that Karen was doing her best not to laugh, biting down on her bottom lip.

"And for the record- I hate it. I wish he wasn't the exception to the rule because it's so stupidly cliche! But.. he's just.. ugh. Nice? Well, he's not, he's got that whole elf superiority thing going on but he's polite and well spoken and he pretends to be interested when he comes to pick you up from hanging out with us." You continued, much to Karen's amusement. "It helps that he's pretty?" She asked. "Of course it does."

There was a beat of quiet, before the two of you descended into soft giggles.

"You'd be cute together." Karen said once the two of you managed to calm down enough to talk again. "Oh, please don't feed the delusions." "Delusions? Oh Mercedes - please tell me you dream about him or something." "Not dreams.. but maybe a few daydreams in Professor Edward's class when I'm bored." You confessed. Karen's hand found your arm, lightly shaking. "Never did I think I'd see the day you turned boy crazy." "I am not boy crazy." "Just crazy for this one boy." "You're evil." "Mhm, keeps me awake at night." Karen quipped, but her grin was entirely unrepentant.

The crown attack was the biggest event of the Grand Festival. Considering it only happened once every two years, everyone was elated that it was happening again, and that Julius, Wignall and even Sion were competing. The last time the Grand Festival had happened, the excitement hadn't felt this palpable. Maybe it was because older students had been the top three back then, but now that the top three were your age? Everyone seemed to be positively bouncing off the walls.

Karen was off to join Wignall's team, as you'd expected, and you'd wished her plenty of luck with the rest of your friends before they headed out.  "Not going to wish luck to Wonder Elf?" Karen teased you in a whisper, to which you only rolled your eyes. "He doesn't need it."

And sure enough- he didn't. He'd won amongst the chaos of Julius and Will's duel, taking the crown for himself. There were murmurs of it being a 'cheat' win, but honestly? You thought Will or Julius just should've been more focused on what the event was actually about.

The moment you could, your friend group rushed to congratulate Karen, Terry and Wignall on their fairly effortless win. Karen embraced one of your other friends excitedly, jumping around and laughing together, while the rest of you watched. It was nice to see her so happy.

"Congratulations, boys. Well played." You said to the other two, smiling warmly at them both. After all, it was only polite. "Thank you, I'd really thought Julius might put up more of a fight." Wignall mused, that usual light and airy quality to his voice, speaking as if even now he had no real emotional investment in the situation.  "Honestly, I'm still surprised the lagard managed to beat him. It was almost impressive." You replied, stepping aside slightly to give the others space to congratulate Karen and Terry as you talked to Wignall. "I appreciate his effort. After all, if Julius had collected the crown when he'd first gotten there, he would've been the undisputed winner of the event. He does often let his own hubris get in his way." "The irony of an ice sorcerer being compared to Icarus." You replied, and when Wignall actually laughed, you could've sworn your heart stopped. It was only brief, more air than sound, but it had happened and you heard it. You'd made Wignall laugh.

Oh Mercedes - you were so screwed.

"Certainly," he agreed after a moment, mostly focused on observing the others in the group, "you know, I'm surprised we don't talk more." What? Huh? Did he just- "Oh, well, I'm a dark sorcerer, not wind. Karen and Terry are both wind sorcerers." "I suppose that's true, but even still, I know the rest of Karen's friends to an extent. You, on the other hand? Not so much. Yet, I'm finding you to be interesting company."

Red alert. Red alert. Interesting company?

When Karen looked over with raised brows, you quickly looked away, lest you start blushing.

"Well, I'm always around. You'd be welcome to join me in the library some time, or something like that. I'm sure there's very few better people to study alongside." "Objectively speaking, there's just one." "Lihanna intimidates me far too much." You confessed, and you saw the way Wignall's lips twitched, as if he'd almost laughed again. "You and many others. She's sweeter than you'd think."

When the other students began to flood around you, and the group began to part ways, Wignall turned to you fully.

"I'll be seeing you around then, I hope." "Any time, Lindor."

What just happened?

During dinner, after the Grand Festival were all finished, Karen made the excuse of needing the bathroom to grab you and pull you aside.

"What were you talking to Wignall about? He looked happy." "Just the game mostly! But- I made him laugh? I'm still sort of freaking out." You admitted, to which Karen practically squealed. "I was totally right, the two of you are so cute! You looked a little dazed when he walked away though, what was that about?" "Dazed? Oh no, did anyone else notice?" "No, it was just cause I already know, don't worry." She assured you as she finally actually slipped into a bathroom stall. "Okay, good. I don't need everyone teasing me, you're enough." She laughed, the sound echoing slightly off the bathroom walls.

“He called me 'interesting company', so I said he's welcome to join me any time, and he said he'd see me around!" The groan that slipped from you was entirely involuntary, cutting off as you finally hit the ground from sliding down the wall. "Why are we groaning? This is good!" "But- I dunno! What if he's way better mysterious and I regret it?"

"First off, I don't think anything will change cause I know Wignall pretty well by now. Second," she emerged from the bathroom stall, smirking, "since when did you want to cling to a crush?" "It's not-" "Oh it totally is like that, you can't lie to me." "Ugh! I don't know. I guess it's just nice? If that makes sense?" You said, looking up at her where she was washing her hands. "I get it. It totally is nice to just.. be able to fantasise a little. Well - if it goes away, we'll find you a nice fictional man to fantasise about." She suggested, holding out her freshly dried hands to you to help you back to your feet.

"Thanks, Karen." "I'm your friend, this is what I'm for."

It didn't happen right away. Of course it didn't, Wignall had a life and it didn't revolve around studying with you. But you hadn't been expecting what he said when he did find you.

"Ah, I was wondering when I'd finally run into you." On hearing his voice, you looked up to find Wignall approaching, already lifting his bag from his shoulder to join you at your table. "Finally run into me? I'm not hard to find." "I suppose we must study at different times usually. I looked for you whenever I passed through, but I never found you." He explained as he settled into a chair, then took out his supplies. "I guess so. I don't keep much of a schedule, so that probably doesn't help." "Ah, yes that helps explain."

You lapsed into silence for a while as Wignall organised his setup, then found the notes that he wanted for the topic he was reviewing. He was way more organised than you, but you supposed that's how he got into, and stays in, the top three.

"What are you reviewing?" He asked, glancing over at your own notes. "Professor Workner's lecture from Monday. I reviewed it that day, but now I'm working on actual retention." You explained, tilting the page for him to see. "I see, that's quite a good strategy. I assume that also leaves you with ideal notes to study from." "I'd like to think so. I've done it for this long, and I'm on track to graduate, so I must be doing something right." You softly laughed, and Wignall nodded in acknowledgement.

"What rank are you?" "Last I checked I was.. eleventh. But me and two other students seem to play musical chairs with twelfth through tenth, so who gets which place at the end of the year is anyone's guess." You explained, absently running your nails over your scalp. "Well, how about we cement tenth place for you?"

That was how it started. Wignall started turning up to all your study sessions, even the ones with the rest of your friends. Sure enough, it seemed like he knew the others more than he had you, but with all the time you'd been spending together you'd begun to consider him a friend. You had your own inside jokes, you'd learned more about elf culture and in return you'd told him about the town where you'd grown up, you'd heard his laugh more and more over time and you were sure it was your favourite sound. Karen was increasingly amused, and excited by the entire thing.

"He just.. makes me happy. Even just as friends." You'd told her one day, and the hug you'd gotten after was so sweet it almost felt patronising. Was this how other people felt? You’d always felt like a little bit of an outsider amongst your peers when it came to things like this. It seemed like everyone wanted similar things, all aiming for these big common goals that you just didn’t align with. Even your peers who aimed to reach the tower saw the more traditional things in their future after that goal was achieved - it was treated as a given, get to the tower, become a high mage.. and then all that other stuff too. Maybe that was why you’d focused so hard on denying that you’d ever partake, because somehow choosing to be different and being loud about it felt less isolating than just being a little bit different.

And now, you were starting to understand the appeal. Maybe there was no shame in only wanting something as big as potential marriage with some guys, with the ones that truly appealed to you rather than just every and any guy you thought was kinda cute.

“You seem lost in thought.” Came Wignall’s voice to break you from your thoughts on a crisp Thursday evening. “Oh, I suppose I was.” You replied, turning to look up at where he was looming over you. He always looked good, it was frankly unfair. “Anything you want to share?” You’d opened your mouth to reply, and got a sudden sense of deja vu.

“Anything you want to share?” Wignall asked, a small, private smile on his face, the sort you were quite sure he reserved for you, because it was distinctly different from the polite smiles he gave your friends, or maybe you were just reading into it too far, too lost in your feelings for the elf. “Oh, nothing important.” You replied with a shrug, returning your focus to the book you were supposed to be studying from, laid out on the table in front of you. Wignall moved his hand so the tips of his fingers danced along the edge of the page, catching your attention without ever having to touch you. “I find that hard to believe, when you’re the one saying it.”

“Don’t worry about it, just thinking about what happens after we graduate.” You said, briefly shaking your head to brush off the vague memory of one of your daydreams from the edges of your mind. This was reality, the real Wignall was there in front of you. “Oh? Big plans?” He asked, taking a few short steps to be able to lower himself down onto the stone step beside you, looking out at the horizon as you had been before your mind had drifted away. “Honestly? Not really. I want to make it to the tower, but I think most of us do. But once I’m there I think I’d be happy doing something a little less grand than being a high mage. Maybe research, or magizoology.” You explained, turning to look at him. How was he a better view than the horizon, where the sun was slowly beginning to set? “There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s better to pursue what you’re passionate about, rather than what everyone wants. I’d hate to get to the tower, only to look around and see you looking miserable.”

Stupid accidentally suave elf.

The All Student Praxis was the biggest event of the life of an eigth year at Rigarden Academy. An entire week spent in the dungeon, fighting monsters as you came across them in parties, gathering up any additional credits you might need on that front in hopes of making up your grades, or covering for past instances where you’d failed to pick up credits in the other disciplines. Wignall, much to Karen’s surprise, had formed a party with the other top students.. and Will Serfort, though after his performance in the crown attack you weren’t as surprised as she was. That meant she was able to join the rest of your friend group in a fairly well spread party, in terms of magical attributes, and you had high hopes.

Until it all went sideways, anyway.

When you sat beside your friends outside of the dungeon entrance, being watched over by one of the few spare professors, you could only be glad that all of you had survived. There was a few moments where you’d thought that you wouldn’t, or someone else wouldn’t. Hell, Lyril had almost been stood on by one of the Evil Sentinals that had trampled down the base camps.

The professors were equally confused, and even distressed by the happenings, so it was clear this wasn’t a part of the test. Something had gone wrong.

It wasn’t until you looked around and realised you didn’t see anyone from Lihanna’s party that you froze. Lihanna, Julius, Sion, Colette, Will.. or Wignall. None of them were there. You shot up to your feet to cross through the masses of students sitting around in the hallway until you almost barelled into a professor.

“Lihanna’s party. Where are they?” You asked, eyes wide, hands trembling at your sides just slightly, not enough that you noticed but surely everyone else did. “They..” the professor trailed off, clearly weighing how they were supposed to reply, “Professors Workner and Edward have gone after them, since they were on the lower floors.”

That was good, right? The professors were going to save them. But why were they so deep that they needed two of the most capable professors at the academy to rescue them? You nodded, because ultimately the professor had bigger things to worry about, and stumbled back to your friends. They seemed to speak to you, but you’d spaced out entirely. The lower floors. Lower floors where were Evil Sentinals came from.

A heavy dread settled in your stomach.

You didn’t like this at all.

You waited a full day to visit the infirmary. Wignall wasn’t the only person there, and the last thing you wanted to do was disturb anyone while they were recovering. You peeked into the room hesitantly, just around the door, checking to see what state everyone was in. Thankfully, or maybe unfortunately, they were all awake and talking amongst themselves. Colette saw you first, and greeted you politely, which drew everyone else’s attention to you.

“My turn to be found, it seems.” Wignall said from where he was still tucked into his medical bed, where Colette sat on the edge of Lihanna’s bed and Sion was stood near the window, seemingly brooding. “Looks like it.”

Quickly, you stepped into the room and closed the door to block out the low level noise, and crossed the space to stand at Wignall’s bedside. He’d looked better, of course. Everyone knew the story by now - Lihanna’s party had fallen down to floor eleven, and if it hadn’t been for the pure coincidence that Masterias Noah had been passing up through the dungeon at the time and had intervened - everyone would’ve died. All of the academy’s top students. It left a horrible taste in your mouth, like bile burning up in your throat.

“All things considered, you don’t look too bad.” You acknowledged, fingers twitching with the urge to reach out and check that he really was okay, to hold him and do.. something. You didn’t exactly have experience in this area, but you hated standing there and doing nothing. You’d never disrespect him by just touching him though. You knew better than that after all the time you’d spent together. “Yes, I could’ve looked dead.” He replied dryly, and while everyone else in the room whipped around to look at him with wide eyes, you caught the twitch at the corner of his lips that betrayed his amusement. “You’re terrible. A horrible person.” “But you’re smiling.” He accused - and he wasn’t wrong. You were smiling.

You looked away with a sigh, shaking your head with more fondness than you could really afford to show with how many people were around to see it. But it all drained in an instant when you felt a feather light touch against your fingers. So quickly that you might’ve given yourself whiplash, you turned your head to see what was happening, and found that it was Wignall’s baby soft fingers that had found yours.

His green eyes met yours, and for a second you were sure you weren’t even breathing.

Then you laced your fingers together.

“You’re really alright?” You asked him, voice softer than before. “Not yet, but I do feel better now I’ve seen that you are.” “You need to stop saying things like that.” The complaint fell from your lips, whinier than you’d intended for it to sound. “But I like the way you react when I do.”

A beat passed before, “You- you’ve been doing it on purpose?” “Of course I was. Did you think I was doing it accidentally?” “Well- yes! I didn’t think you’d.. well, want to. Do that. With me.” “Flirt, you mean.” “Yes. Shut up.”

Wignall’s laughter was warm, a balm to your still nervous heart.

“Karen was right. You’re adorable.”

Tags: @cainnoable @uselessboots @claryeverlarkf @queenmimi2817 @hellkaiserinphoenix @yoonsucks @fanaticsnail @lilithkleia @yuurivalr @satorusdreamer @b-bitter @wrennyx @lunulatalux

‘Extra! Extra! The Blackbeard Pirates have destroyed Polar Tang, and the crew of Heart Pirates has been set deep into the ocean. Our sources assume Captain Trafalgar Law has survived, but the same isn’t assumed for the crew. Read all about it!’

Soft flats tapped along the wooden hall floor. The person walked with the confidence of a human who intended to fight anything; someone who has a goal unstoppable by even the fates. Black shorts started at the mid-thigh and buttoned up over the edge of a flowy white dress shirt, ending at the waist. The sleeves fanned out at the elbow, creating cascading layers of ruffles, with black gloved hands moving back and forth with each step. A large red gem sat on the front of the collar, adding just the hint of color. Attached to the individual's head was a white bow, with a singular strand slowly swaying, ending only inches from the ground. The hair was now slightly shorter, a dark black charcoal color with the hint of brown roots showing, and the bangs were swept up, revealing the forehead.

Raposa was not her true name, nor was it her first alias. It was a little petname given from an uncle to a niece many moons ago, but now it carried more than family affections; it contained a new identity. This was Canidae of the Heart Pirates, now Raposa (fox) of the Cross Guild, Mihawk’s current student, to the ever-curious Marines. When the battle collapsed, the crew barely survived. Lyle, Cani’s mother, went to Mihawk and even offered his family's sword, asking him to become guardian of Canidae and others, keeping them safe. Although Buggy was happy to acceptthe sword, Mihawk refused it and accepted the request as a favor to the first man who helped him hold a sword. With this wish granted, the Heart Pirates were temporarily safe to heal.

Raposa pushed the door open to the loungeroom where Mihawk and Crocodile were tormenting Buggy during a usual Cross Guild meeting.

“Uncle, Sir Crocodile, Buggy; I am here to inform you we will be leaving,” Raposa said, hands clenched at her side. “We have recovered enough, and it’s time. We, the Heart Pirates, will be leaving soon. I have come to bid adieu as the honorary captain and highest officer of the crew within the Cross Guild.” The noisy whining of Buggy turned into silence as Crocodile blew smoke out of his mouth, lowering his cigar.

Raposa had been very useful; all of the crew had. Despite also focusing on health recovery and their own project of rebuilding a submarine, they had proven to be very useful pirates and had given a benefit to the Cross Guild, from medical lessons to current medical staff, to sharing internal understandings of those in the Worst Generation who were still out in the seas.

Although some interesting interpersonal alliances had developed as a result, as well, with one that stood out being Cabaji and Raposa. Cabaji even offered Raposa a spot as a fellow acrobat within Buggy’s crew as his assistant, to which she laughed at him for. Another was with Galdino, who also helped with the plans for the Polar Tang's redesign after a few well-placed threats.

Mihawk lowered his wine glass, “Are you prepared for defeat, injury, and death this time? I took your mother’s begging and have kept you under my guardianship.”

“I have to do this; we all do.”

“I will certainly miss such balanced accounts.” Crocodile said, “I hope you return in one piece. I enjoyed your company more than the clowns.” In the months of recovery, Raposa had not only taken on direct swordsmanship lessons from the World's Greatest Swordman, but also had become a very competent financial advisor for the Cross Guild. The other positions occupied by the Hearts were unknown, known only to the three men in this room; their existence hidden from Blackbeard, and even the Marines had paraded their death on the front pages.

“H-Hey! I’m right here.” Buggy yelled before Crocodile gave him a sideways glance.

“That’s why I said it.”

For the past four months, these three had willingly hidden an entire crew. The false names, the quiet support of rebuilding without the intention to keep them as forced assistance in their run for the One Piece. But then again, the Heart Pirates were not aiming for the One Piece; they were aiming for revenge and retaliation. Penguin, Shachi, Ikkaku, and the others had all become different people: Pássaro (bird), Tubarão (Shark), Narval (Narwhal), and more.

Raposa bowed to the three figures before turning to face Mihawk.

“What did I teach you during these past months?” He said, finally looking her in the eyes, the ones that mirrored his in an uncanny sense.

“Victory is mine.” She replied before she left the room. Raposa…no, Canidae exhaled the breath she had been holding in and looked at her open hands before squeezing them into fists and starting to speed walk before breaking out into a run down the hall to Penguin and Shachi, and more. To the crew to tell them, it was time to raise hell and take names.

Buggy, now free from being hung from Crocodile’s hook, started to speak. He jumped to his feet, realizing he was about to lose 30+ ‘underlings’ who had been cultivating skills and had a talent in the medical fields. Such medical knowledge could allow pirates to fight longer and recover faster, considering the knowledge each one held was a doctor’s worth.

“Was that a smart idea? We just had an entire other warlord crew under our flag, and it would’ve helped make the One Piece easier to get--” Crocodile reached out and grabbed his collar.

“Stop your whining and nonsense, clown.” Mihawk said, before adding, “My niece..Raposa, I hope we meet again.”