“You’ve never figured it out because you think there’s such a thing as basic tea.” Tea was simple for people that didn’t know how to brew it properly, and he doubted that Usopp realized just how complex and complicated the process really was. “Different teas need different amounts of time to brew, the water has to be perfect, and you have to measure your tea leaves.”

With practiced ease, Sanji made his way over to the cabinets that held his vast collection of tea tins. Nodding, he motioned for Usopp to join him. “What kind of tea did you want? If you’re gonna learn to make tea, you might as well learn now. Can’t have you serving people dirty leaf water.”

              he’d need knowledge of tea blends, what a perfect pot of water looks               and feels like, and he has to understand the measurement of the leaves.                maaaaybe it was a bit too much, but he had signed on for this lesson                and he’d do his best to take as much away from it as he can. 

“Leave me coat and anything else I may have you say?” It wasn’t an unusual request and certainly she could understand his logic behind it. Leaving her coat and any belongings upon her person would leave her physically unarmed.

She was swift in disrobing her coat. Her pocket had a small purse of berries that would not be missed if they were stolen and another small pouch filled with an orange spice. She gave him a wary smile “just to show you I really mean you no harm” she even rested her emergency dagger that was tucked in her boot with her belongings on the crate as per his request.

She truly had no intention of using it but you never knew on these waters when you’ll need a dagger.

Scarred fingers adjusting her signature hibiscus in her rose blonde hair, she arched a brow at him “Are you satisfied yet dear or do you need me to leave my flower here too?”

for a split second, he fears she would disregard his request. there wasn’t an individual he’d met that hadn’t been defensive of their possession of their  goods. if she had disregarded him, he wouldn’t have been surprised. however,  he’s relieved when she takes his words seriously, leaving her things behind. 

she isn’t heavily armed, it’s plain to see. so what exactly were her intentions  after coming aboard ? what had she planned to do then if she wasn’t armed  to kill ( although the dagger worried him slightly ) .

She could have laughed at the uneasiness radiating from the young man. She was an unknown entity walking through his ship after all. She almost felt bad for him.

Almost.

Her maternal smile was reassuring “Do I frighten you Sogekin Ussop? I mean you no harm. As you can see…” she opened the red jacket over her shoulders, a replica of her late husband’s. She revealed her simple white blouse and her dark pants but no weapons were strapped “I am unarmed”

‘ well... you... ‘ he moves to speak, only falling silent once she adjusts her   outfit, slowly revealing the clothes underneath. both words and breath    catch in his throat. true, she was unarmed, but why the dramatics ?    why the friendly demeanor ? she walked and talked as if she was simply   stopping in for a visit yet nothing about her struck him as familiar. 

Sanji had enough sense not to laugh when the kettle was nearly dropped, but he did feel it bubble up before it was squashed under boulder-sized irritation. He liked that kettle — if it had so much as single dent in it shape.  .  .

The cook shook his head and sighed.

“Relax, will ya? You realize you’re not the only one that’s tried to use the kitchen themselves, right?” He skirted the counter and peered at the kettle. The professional side of him wanted to railroad Usopp into making the perfect cup of tea, assuming that was what he wanted. But, at the same time, it might do the sniper some good to learn on his own. “You makin’ tea? What kind were you lookin’ to make?”

                that’s true, others have wandered their way in here looking to do                 different things, all of which would probably have gotten their                  asses whupped. at least he wasn’t stealing food-- or was making                 tea behind sanji’s back considered stealing ? that didn’t matter                  much now, he was technically off the hook, for now. 

              ‘ well... i know how to make your basic tea but-- i never quite figured                 out how you make it. it always tastes a million times better when                  you make it, so-- i was figuring out how to do it... somehow. ‘ 

A sharp pain hit her, it was more irritating than TRULY painful. Temari has had worse but still, it was annoying to be hit, turning, a classic scowl on her features teal eyes shifted through the crowd to find the idiot that DARED to attack her. “You!” Her voice cut through the crowd as she made her way, cutting the distance between them in a matter of moments. Hand on hips she looks over the other. 

Trying to wrack her brain, wondering if she had seen him before if they had fought. That wasn’t unlikely, she was on a quest, after all, a quest that leads her to do EVERYTHING that was necessary as long as it helped her find that missing someone. “Tch, are you picking a fight with me?

              oh no-- not only had she actually been hit, but now she could pick               him out of a crowd. he was dead, he was actually dead. what if he                ducked into the nearest shop or something ? was there a restaurant               or some kind of building he could take refuge in for the meantime ?                as he desperately scans his surroundings, he loses sight of her, only               to have her standing right at his side. 

He would make the tea on his own if that was his goal, but he would be far from alone while doing it. A few, short seconds after he crept into the kitchen, another joined him. Sanji, curious to see why their sniper had snuck in, waited by the door with arms crossed and weight supported by the door frame — partially because he wanted to see what Usopp’s plans here, and partially because he wanted to wait for the opportune time to startle his nakama.

No one said he couldn’t have a slightly mischievous side.

“What’re you doing in here?”

                  by the time he, unknowingly, finds himself with company, usopp’s                   already preparing to set the kettle atop an open flame. there was                   nothing wrong with the steps he was taking so far. however, all of                   that nearly goes southward at an alarming rate upon a voice,                    suddenly sparking into the silence like a blast from a firework in                   the middle of the night. 

                  fingers nearly slip from the kettle’s handle and drop both kettle                    and contents, thankfully not yet hot, onto the floor. 

     it was even more amusing when the other kept believing him. he could easily keep this going but at the same time he didn’t know if it was really worth scaring the poor guy. 

     so he just shrugged his shoulders. 

          “dunno, i mean it would make sense. but i’m sure that this island just has a curfew or something like that. the place was busy earlier after all.” he then went serious. “unless they were all ghosts who can’t be around during the night—” 

     he just couldn’t help himself. 

                 ‘ yeah ! yeah that’s probably what it is ! a curfew ! everyone’s                    just hanging out at home for the evening. i bet if we knocked                    on any of those doors, someone would come answer it.                     that’s how sure i am that it’s just a curfew ! ‘ 

                   and then... he heard ghosts. 

“The… rock…” Ace repeats, glancing around for the object in question. As the sniper continues, he can’t help but to feel his heart sink a little. Usopp sounded so scared, and Ace is left wondering why. 

Did he do something to give Usopp the impression that he would just– blow up with anger because a rock hit him? The expression on his face couldn’t read more concerned than it already was; the ex-commander rests his hands on Usopp’s shoulders lightly.

“It’s okay,” he assures in a soft voice plagued with uncertainty. “You.. you don’t have to be scared of me, y’know. I’m not gonna hurt you cause you hit me with a rock. Luffy used to do stupid shit like that all the time.”

Luffy still does stupid shit like that. 

                ‘ thanks... ‘ it’s about all he can get out while he catches his breath.                    there’s still a bit of stiffness in the way that he stands, but overall                   he’s slowly coming back around to his normal self. ‘ if anything                    like that had happened to... say... nami or sanji... i’d probably be                   completely overboard. ‘ 

                  as someone with a strength that’s almost strictly limited to the                    aid of a weapon or his own skill as a sharpshooter, there really                    isn’t any way for him to physically engage with anyone. if someone                   were to fight him physically, there wasn’t a guarantee that he’d be                   able to hold his own. of course, he’d been working harder to                    strengthen his body along with his mind, wit, and trained eye, but it                   wouldn’t always be enough against someone with devil fruit powers. 

                  ‘ i’m not dead... at least... i don’t think i’m dead. ‘ 

                    whatever reason he originally had for jumping off                     the boat, wasn’t much of a logical reason anymore.                     he knew that. he knew it and yet-- here he was,                      coughing up seawater. 

                ‘ take that !! ‘ 

                             he shouts something having to do with                               a quick-witted pebble blast attack before                              launching a small pebble across the way                              anticipating a hit. 

                                             the desired effect, however, isn’t really--                                              satisfied. the pebble bounces off the top                                              of her head plopping into the water behind                                              her. pretty anticlimactic indeed. 

                  the kitchen’s empty. now’s his chance.                    every step is calculated, he hushes his                   breathing so as to make as little noise                   as humanly possible, and heads for the                   stove. 

                                     today was the day-- the day when                                      he’d make a cup of tea all on his own.