Ship Errands Pt. 1

Anon ran down the dusty ramp and onto the crowded dry dock. Once on the dock, he stopped and gave it a stomp. A smile crept across Anon's face as the dock gave a solid feeling thump; not a creek or a jiggle to the side, but a solid thump.

Anon looked up from the dock a took a deep breath. The smell of the dirty, polluted air filled his lungs; the nostalgic smell of his hometown!

Anon gave a laugh as he exhaled," We're home!"

Anon looked on to see his old hometown unchanged, as always. Old, brick buildings at the immediate end of the dock, the smog from small factories changing the afternoon skies into a hazy red, and the streets crowded with people of all backgrounds.

"Why do you need to shout it?" snarled Natsuki walking onto the sturdy dock.

"He's just excited, Natsuki," reasoned Yuri following behind.

"You're damn right I am!" shouted Anon swinging back to face the boat," Sayori!"

Almost immediately, a small coin pouch flew from the ship railing and headed for Anon. Anon caught the pouch as Sayori poked her head up from the ship's railing.

"Way ahead of you, Anon!"  called Sayori holding her own coin pouch.

"Of course you are, you drunken bastard!" laughed Anon.

Sayori joined Anon in his laughter before perching herself up on the railing. In a blink of an eye, Sayori jumped off the rail and flew through the air. With Sayori being halfway to him, Anon decided to give into Sayori antics and opened his arms hoping to catch Sayori.

Just as Sayori reached arm's reach, she was suddenly stopped: as if someone had plucked her collar and held onto her midair. Anon blinked to find a sudden large shadow cast over both him and Sayori. The two slowly turned their heads to find a pale, bulky, large man holding Sayori.

"Ivan!" shouted Sayori flailing about," we were about to have a goofy moment!"

"Ah, I'm sorry," apologized Ivan in his quiet, eastern, Slavic accent," I thought you were falling off the ship again."

Sayori gave a pout while the other crew shared a laugh; fresh memories of a drunken Sayoir falling off the docked ship playing in their minds. After they all had their laughs, Ivan let down a now embarrassed Sayori.

"Well, it was great seeing you Ivan," started Anon patting Ivan's rigid shoulder," but we gotta go."

As Anon attempted to dash past Ivan and into the city, he suddenly felt his feet lift off the ground.

"Sorry, Anon, but why the hurry?" Ivan asked dangling Anon by the collar," don't you have loot to unload?"

"The captain can fill you in on that!" claimed Anon swaying in Ivan's grip," now let go!"

Anon then started to struggle to push himself out of Ivan's grip to no avail. As Anon struggled, though, Sayori quickly dashed pass Ivan, hoping to be in his supposed blind spot. However, Ivan quickly spun around lifted Sayori over his shoulder.

The scene devolved into the crew watching Anon and Sayori flailing and shouting about in the weary Ivan's grip. Before anyone could get the situation under control, a voice came from the other side of the dock.

"Officer on deck!" called the voice.

The crew turned back to the ramp of the ship to find Monika giggling to herself. As she finally realized the sudden attention, though, her amused giggles soon became a nervous chuckle. Ivan quickly let go of Anon and Sayori before standing at attention. Despite landing right on his tailbone, Anon quickly got to his feet and joined Ivan. Meanwhile, Sayori gave small whimpers as she rubbed her back in pain.

Half the deck had their eyes on the visibly uncomfortable Monika. She gave another nervous chuckle before finally speaking out

"A-at ease, everybody," she called her smile somewhat wavering.

With that, everyone gave a stern nod and went back to their activities. Anon, meanwhile, gave a quick second to ease the pain in his tailbone before turning to Ivan.

"There she is, Ivan," said Anon," ask her about the 'loot' we were getting."

"But what about you?" Ivan asked before Anon could speed off once again.

For once, Anon was happy that someone asked what he was doing with his day. Anon gave a wide smile as he proudly brought up his small coin pouch.

"To the Homely Inn of course!" he answered.

Shortly after, Sayori soon bumped against Anon making the two stand back to back as if they were in superhero stance.

"The best Inn/Tavern on this side of the seven seas!" Sayori continued.

Anon gave a celebratory shout before turning around and giving Sayori their age-old, complicated handshake; though, at this point, they both knew this handshake like the back of their hand.

"Sounds fun," commented Natsuki," mind if I join?"

Anon took hold of Sayori's spazzing hands as he looked over at the apron-less Natsuki.

"You're not going to go shopping for ingredients?" Anon asked.

"I do more than shop for food, you know!" claimed Natsuki.

Anon shared a teasing laugh with Sayori before Yuri spoke up.

"I-I'd like to join too," she said," i-it was hard rationing the booze..."

"Sorry, Rationing?" Ivan interjected.

"Great!" said Anon ignoring Ivan and walking past him," let's get going now before it fills up!"

"A-anon wai-"

With that, Anon and Sayori bounced to the end of the dock while Natsuki and Yuri developed a slight feeling of regret. Ivan, meanwhile, stared indifferently before shaking himself out of his daze to question Monika. He turned to find Monika giving a longing stare of loneliness at the four receding crew members.

"They're going to have lots of fun, huh," she muttered a small frown showing.

"Captain?" questioned Ivan.

"Ah, Ivan," realized Monika putting on her usual grin," how can I help you?"

"What happened during the mission?" Ivan asked.

Monika hesitated as she glanced at the end of the dock.

"Gather the rest of the crew," she insisted," I've got a job for you all."



Anon pushed the creaky wooden door opened to find a small, rowdy, tavern area filled with the scummiest men Anon has ever seen. From the small-time thug to the most wanted men of the high seas, this tavern served and housed any sketchy character that paid.

"Good to be home!" exclaimed Anon," Sayori, lead Natsuki and Yuri to a table. Make sure they get there safe."

Sayori gave a swift nod before taking one of Yuri's and Natsuki's hands. Before she could lead the two off, though, Natsuki quickly retracted her hand.

"I can handle myself," she claimed.

Yuri, on the other hand, crept closer to Sayori. Anon gave a small grin at the three before making his way through the crowded tavern and to the shanty bar. Though it may be shanty, this bar seemed like a tropical paradise compared with Natsuki's jerry-rigged set up: with its actual shelves offering a great selection of booze. Not to mention its hardwood material; the kind of wood that won't shudder after slamming down a drink onto it.

Anon finally made it to the bar to find a short-statured man seemingly letting out his anger onto someone.

"I'm not paying for this damn bill!" claimed the man," we barely had two rounds!"

"Y-you ordered the most expensive drink for your whole group," muttered the petite bartender.

"That don't matter!" shouted the man slamming his gloved hand onto the bar," a cup of booze is a cup of booze no mat-"

"Hey, buddy," called Anon grabbing the man's shoulder," calm it, alright?"

"Take your damn hands off me!" the man shoved himself away from Anon," do you know who you're talking to!?"

"A child who's too inconsiderate to pay for his drink?" chuckled Anon.

The man's cleanly shaved face turned to a cherry red as he stomped up to Anon hoping to intimidate him. When he realized how hard it was to intimidate someone who is a whole head taller, the man instead gave another snarl.

"I don't need to take this!" said the man giving Anon one last shove," I ain't paying for that drink and that's final!"

The man gave a deep glare at both the bartender and Anon before finally stomping out of the bar. Anon rolled his eyes before walking up to the bar.

"Hey, Sally," greeted Anon," sorry you had to deal with someone like that."

"I-it's Sully," corrected Sully brushing his brunette bangs to the side," and I don't mind. Just wish he'd pay for his drink."

"Then consider this, uh, reparations then," guessed Anon throwing out a handful of coins from his pouch," now, four drinks of your strongest liquor!"

"You and Sayori celebrating today?" Sully asked gathering the coins off the bar.

"Not today," answered Anon scanning the tavern for Sayori and the others," we brought some friends in today, so I figured I'd make them pay for the most expensive drink."

Sully let an adorable sounding giggle slip as he brought the four large jugs that passed as cups. Anon hated this part: having to take a grip on these damn 'cups'. Sure they had handles, but they weighed more than his pistol, and were as big as Yuri's ti-

"Need help, Anon?" asked Sully poking his head past the cups.

"Ah, s-sure," answered Anon breaking himself from the begging of a lewd daydream.

With the help of a small, frail looking, boy, Anon managed to slide through the tavern crowd and to the table Sayori selected for the four. As Anon passed around the cups, though, Natsuki and Yuri seemed fixated on Sully.

"I didn't know such cute girls worked here," whispered Yuri.

"I didn't know such a cute girl existed!" replied Natsuki a small blush growing on her face.

"Ladies," called Anon slumping down into his chair while Sully made his way back to the bar," a toast: to our safe arrival back home."

"That sounds cheesy, Anon!" complained Sayori raising her drink to the others," how about we toast to good booze!

The other two gave out a cheer as they bumped their jugs with Sayori's. Anon, meanwhile, drank to his own toast: the booze may be good, but he still thought to make it home alive was something to celebrate. Even after a year of service, Anon was grateful to see tomorrow let alone make it home.

"Was it really a good idea to leave the others at the ship?" Yuri asked breaking Anon from his daydream.

"Who cares," waved off Natsuki wiping her mouth," we were the ones gone for months, we should be getting some relaxation!"

"It's not like there's much to do anyway," added Anon a bitterness growing in his voice as he spoke," we didn't get much loot, and I cleaned the whole ship."

Anon took a swig from his cup.

"Several times," Anon snarled slamming the cup down on the table.

Yuri and Natsuki nervously shuffled in their seats as Anon's glare grew more and more bitter. Sayori eventually broke Anon's glare by wrapping her arm around his neck and bringing him into a noogie.

"Ah, don't be like that, Anon!" she said her breath already stinking of booze," you know you love that job!"

"Let go!" cried Anon grabbing at Sayori's arm.

"You get to walk around the ship, talk to nearly everyone," continued Sayori ignoring Anon's struggling," hell, you even get to go into Monika's private quarters."

Anon slowed his struggling as a fast-moving heat ran up to his face.

"With her always watching the crew, she's never in there," noted Sayori," you could do anything in there; find anything..."

Anon's blush grew as flashes of not well-hidden laundry went rushed through his head. No, he had to bury that damned memory deep within his head! Anon vigorously shook his head until he finally felt Sayori's grip loosen.

"Th-that doesn't matter!" claimed Anon finally breaking free from Sayori's grip.

As Anon regained his posture, the other crewmates giggled at his red-faced embarrassment. Giving a glare at the others, Anon took another swig from his jug.

Finally realizing Anon's bitterness, Sayori gave a half-hearted apology. Anon shrugged it off, though, since he began to think deeper about what Sayori said.

 If he was being honest, Sayori wasn't wrong. Everything she said was true: wondering to deck to deck cleaning, talking, relaxing. Cleaning wasn't a hard job, to begin with, so throw in the fact that every deck had some crew on it to keep company, it could be said that Anon had the easiest job on the ship.

That is if he had the other twenty to thirty cleaning crew with him! To Anon, cleaning that building of a ship all by himself for months at a time gave him the right to complain!

Anon finally broke himself out of his daydream by finishing his jug of liquor. With half a gallon of alcohol in his system now, Anon felt less bitter toward the others. It wasn't their fault Anon had to clean it all by himself; it wasn't like they could offer to help him or anything.

...Wait a minute!

"Finished already, Anon?" started Natsuki before Anon could go into another inner monologue," you're that much of an alcoholic?"

"Give him a break," suggested a voice," I'm sure he deserves it."

The four turned to find Monika standing at the edge of the table. The crew at the table quickly dropped their oversized mugs and stiffen their backs. Sayori, however, was the exception, since she seemed preoccupied with trying to finish her own drink in an attempt to out drink Anon.

Though no one said a word, it was obvious the ones sitting at attention were waiting for Monika to give an order of sorts. Instead, Monika let out a small giggle.

"We're in a dirty tavern in the middle of the day," she reasoned," no need to be so formal."

Anon nervously glanced at the others before finally leaning back in his seat.

"So you want to join us for a drink?" he asked.

"Not exactly," answered Monika nervously shifting her eyes to the side despite her smile," I actually needed your help with something, Anon."

Anon's heart skipped a beat. Ignoring the small blush forming on his face, Anon shot up from his seat.

"I-I'm ready to go, captain!" he claimed standing with a salute.

"Jeez, calm down kiss ass," groaned Natsuki before taking another chug of her drink.

"What about the rest of us?" suddenly interjected Yuri," o-or do you just need Anon?"

Monika's once bright, confident finally wavered into a nervous one that resembled the one back at the dock.

"I actually have a job for the rest of you," she said.

Hearing this, the females of the crew perked up in their seats; Sayori even put down her drink.

"But first," continued Monika," Anon, step outside for a second; I'll meet out there to brief you."

"No problem," nodded Anon.

Before leaving the table, though, Anon threw out another handful of coins onto the table.

"Tell Sully she can keep that tip," insisted Anon," she's gonna need for her husband."

'HE needs it for HIS wife," corrected Sayori.

By that point, though, Anon was already out of the cramped tavern and out onto the busy streets. Despite the busy sailors, hurrying consumers, and jeering merchants, Anon couldn't help but look up at the dirty, crimson buildings in a deep daze; that alcohol was doing its job.

"Hey!" called a voice," tall fella!"

Anon blinked and looked up and down the street. It took a while, but Anon finally noticed the clean-faced dwarf stomping up to him. Anon looked past him, though, to find a posse of normal-sized humans following close behind the man. Anon turned hoping this wouldn't take long.

The man finally made it up to Anon to grab him by the collar.

"You think you could just make a fool of me and get off scot-free?" the man questioned.

"You don't need me to make a fool of yourself," claimed Anon brushing off the man's weak grip.

The man gritted his teeth as he took a step back away from Anon. However, the man quickly regained his composure and pointed back at a boy in his posse.

"Shawn!" called the man," tell this poor fella who the hell he's messing with!"

A teenage boy the same size as the man stepped up; his hands visibly shaking.

"Y-you're Curly, b-boss," muttered Shawn.

"Not to me, you dolt!" shouted Curley pointing to Anon," to him!"

Shawn gave a small jump before quickly turning to Anon.

"Y-you're talking to Curly the boss!" cried Shawn his voice shaking," Heir of Farm Caravan: the biggest exporter of food on the Isles!"

"Good enough," waved Curley," now go get the wagon!"

Shawn gave a quick bow before running off into the streaming crowd. Curley, meanwhile, turned back to Anon hoping to see the face of someone who had made a deal with the devil. Instead, Curley found Anon staring off into space.

"Are you even listening!?" asked Curley.

"Huh?" started Anon breaking himself from his daydream," Sorry, I have to ask, was that kid your brother, or...?"

Curley's face grew redder than back at the bar; levels even Natsuki couldn't even get to. He gave a final shake of his head before violently grabbing Anon by the collar again.

"Little bastard!" Curley cried as he wound his fist back.

Finally realizing the trouble he was in, Anon scrambled his hands out attempting to grab Curley's fist. Before either of them could connect, though, a hand appeared on both Anon's and Curley's chest. Anon blinked to find Monika giving her usual smile at the two.

"Hello, boys," greeted Monika," something the matter, here?"

Before Anon could answer, Curly quickly took his hand away from Anon's collar. Anon looked back to find both Curley and his crew suddenly shaking in their socks. Curley, however, quickly regained his posture as he faced Monika.

"You've got no business here, missy," he claimed," best get out of here before my crew does something."

"What crew?" smiled Anon gesturing behind Curley.

Curley looked back to find his posse of seemingly strong, confident men running down the street from where they came. Curley gave a frustrated sigh before slowly backing away from Monika and Anon.

"Th-this ain't over yet!" Curley claimed before joining his gang.

Anon gave another pitty chuckle as Monika turned to him.

"What was that about?" she asked wearing her own amused smile.

"No idea," admitted Anon.

"Then I guess we should get to our mission," concluded Monika.

Anon's eyes glowed as he remembered the daydreams he had during that play. If Monika had to tell him his mission in private, then it had to be important, right? Sneaking onto a rival's ship, buying secret weapons, maybe even leading a small team on a suicide mission! Anon eventually shook himself out of his daydream to finally get his answer.

"What're we doing, capt'n?" Anon asked failing to hide the enthusiasm in his voice.

"We're going on a little shopping trip," answered Monika.

Anon's heart sank. His hopes, his dreams, suddenly seemed like fruitless endeavors. This wave of disappointment in his chest suddenly became a pulse of rage rushing to his face.

"Why do I have to come along!?" Anon cried," Natsuki has been begging to buy some ingredients for days now!"

"She has her own mission," reasoned Monika.

"But-"

"Come on Anon," beckoned Monika turning to the flowing street," the sooner we get done, the sooner I can pay for the second round of drinks."

Monika gave a wink before assimilating herself into the crowd. Anon gave a sigh: he was getting a free drink in exchange for running errands? Anon gave a groan up into the air before reluctantly following Monika to his inevitable fate.