A Sailing Pt 1

Anon lied on the crates he called a bed as the H.M.S Doki Endeavor rocked with the calm waves of the sea. He closed his eyes hoping to finally rest after cleaning the undermanned, British ship of the line.
Just as the rocking started to slow to a relaxing sway, the door to Anon's "bedroom" slammed open. Anon shot his eyes open and turned on his side to find Sayori standing in the nearly broken doorway.

"Not now, Sayori," Anon groaned before shoving his head into his hat the worked for a pillow.

"But it's important this time!" claimed Sayori.

Anon peaked his eye from the pillow to address the plainly dressed helmsman. In her plain white tunic,  brown trousers, and red bandana, Sayori never really looked the part of a hardened pirate.

"Extra booze isn't important," rebutted Anon shoving his head back into the pillow.

"It's not that!" said Sayori grabbing the back of Anon's collar," the captain called a crew briefing! Come on!"

After a few moments of Sayori struggling to pull Anon off the crates, he finally decided to believe her and get out of bed. Seemingly content, Sayori led Anon out of the cargo hold and up to the surprisingly spacious mess hall where all the current crew sat: the in-house chef Natsuki, top navigator Yuri, and, of course, captain Monika.

"Looks like we're all here," noted Monika as you sat next to Sayori.

"Yeah, all five of us out of the three hundred you could've brought," said Natsuki seemingly annoyed.

"Natsuki!" scowled Yuri from across the table.

"No, she has a point," reasoned Monika," this job is taking longer than I anticipated."

"What job would need only five people?" Natsuki continued.

"It was supposed to be a simple meet up with some smugglers," explained Monika," we meet them out here and they give us the goods to smuggle back home; then we cut the profits between the two parties."

"It seems, however," pitched in Yuri," the smugglers have most likely been sunk by a recent storm."

"How would you know it was a storm and they're just a no-show?" questioned Natsuki."

Yuri looked down at the table, nervously fidgeting with something in her jacket pockets.

"Th-the storm that grazed us," muttered Yuri," that headed for the smuggler's ship. J-just a guess though."

Before Natsuki could protest, Monika continued on," Either way, the smugglers aren't going to show."

"So we wasted our time with this?" answered Natsuki.

Monika faced all four crew members, took off her admiral cap, and gave an apologetic bow," I'm sorry, but yes," she said.

The some of the crew members gave each other uneasy glances as they all felt bad for constantly complaining for the past two months.

"I-it's fine, Monika," Sayori spoke up after moments of silence," what's the plan now."

Seemingly back to her cheerful, confident self, Monika popped her cap back on and went back to facing the four.

"It's time to finally go home!" she proclaimed.

With the word waking him from his nap being 'home', Anon gave a cheer with Sayori soon joining him. To finally go home to a warm bed and the solid ground seemed like fever dream to him a month ago, but to hear it become a reality! Monika and Yuri, meanwhile, watched the two seemingly content to have the other two be happy without the use of alcohol.

"Wait a minute!" cried Natsuki getting the attention of the other four,": if it took us two months to get out here, wouldn't it take us another two months to get back home?"

Anon's smile faded, while Sayori kept jumping in glee seemingly unaware of Natsuki's logic.

"She does have a point, huh," realized Anon giving Sayori's head a slight chop to make her calm down.

"Yuri actually found a shortcut," answered Monika her confidant smile unwavering," even though there may be some roadblocks, we'll cut our time in half!"

"What do you mean roadblocks?" Natsuki asked," we're in the sea."

"Remember those French mercenaries from the last job?" Monika asked despite being taken off guard by Natsuki's total bluntness.

Anon thought back to half a year ago when he vaguely remembered something about his first kill cursing him in French.

"You mean those guys who tried to loot us in the middle of the night?" Sayori asked helping Anon fill in the blanks

"Yeah, them!" answered Monika her smile of realization quickly devolving into one of unease," we... may be grazing their home port..."

The air full of cheer and celebration soon turned into regret and exhaustion. Anon and Sayori slumped back into their chairs, while Natsuki stood from her's with a clinched fist.

"So now we have to deal with some Frogs to get home!" she cried.

"I-I'm sorry," bowed Yuri her purple bangs going down with her," I couldn't find a better route for us."

"Damn right you're sorry!" continued Natsuki slamming her hand onto the wooden table," I'd rather take the two months than deal with those fil-"

"Natsuki," soothed Sayori taking Natsuki's hand," it's going to be fine."

Natsuki glanced down at Sayori's caring gaze before facing the others. Anon seemed somewhat concerned about Natsuki's hatred for the French considering it was so long ago. He was honestly surprised she even remembered a routine raid just because it had Frenchman.

"I-I," Natsuki stammers before sitting back in her seat with a deep red blush,"s-sorry."

"Don't worry about it," assured Sayori.

"I just... don't want to clean the decks by myself again," muttered Natsuki seemingly changing the subject.

"I cleaned them with you!" Anon protested.

"Like you helped!"

"Who helped you dust the top shelf in your own kitchen?"

As Natsuki let out a growl in protest, the others seemed to be enjoying the fireworks between her and Anon. Anon didn't mind considering he did this intentionally; most of the time at least.

"Ahaha~," laughed Monika," will, I think that concludes this briefing. Sayori, Yuri, get back up so we can plot where we're going."

The two gave a brief salute before leaving the table and hurring up the stairs on the far side of the room. Anon looked up at Monika expecting to be handed an order himself. After a few moments of silence, he decided to speak up.

"And us?" he asked gesturing to Natsuki and himself.

"Oh," realized Monika," you two can call it a night, and we'll wake you for breakfast."

"Works for me," accepted Anon standing from his chair and stretching his arms.

"You gonna sleep in my pantry again?" Natsuki asked untying her dirt covered apron.

"Where else can I sleep?"

"The brig!"

"That's not where we put crew mates!"

"Anon," called Monika breaking up the fight," you can sleep in my quarters tonight."

Anon, caught off guard by Monika's sudden kindness, felt a small heat roll up to his face.

"You're gonna let the new guy sleep in your bed?" Natsuki questioned.

"Y-yeah," agreed Anon ignoring his blush," are you sure you want this?"

"Well, I'm going to be staying up most the night anyways with helping Sayori and Yuri and all," reasoned Monika," so it's fine, really."

Monika shot a sweet, warm smile at Anon to finally have him cave in.

"Th-thank you, captain!" bowed Anon

"Ahaha~," giggled Monika," I'll go unlock it now."

With that, Monika walked off her navy blue Admiral coat bouncing with her boot cladded feet. When she finally faded from vision, Anon gave a cheer; he not only get's to sleep in a bed, but for it to be the courageous captain's bed! Before running off to the stairs, though, Anon turned back to Natsuki, who gave small pout.

"I bet you're excited, huh," she guessed.

Anon grew a small grin before quickly patting Natsuki's pink, fluffy hair.

"I'll see you in the morning, Chef!" Anon cried running to the stairs.