#Children Yoga Teacher Training

[yogakulam]

200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training Course: A Transformative Journey from Home

In today’s fast-paced world, finding time for personal growth and professional development can be a challenge. For yoga enthusiasts and aspiring teachers, the 200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTC) offers a flexible, accessible, and transformative way to deepen your practice and share the gift of yoga with others. Whether you’re a beginner looking to build a strong foundation or an experienced practitioner ready to step into a teaching role, this course is an ideal gateway to the world of yoga teaching.

What is a 200 Hour Online Yoga TTC?

A 200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training Course is a comprehensive program designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and certification needed to become a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200). The online format brings this traditionally in-person training to the comfort of your home, allowing you to balance your learning with your daily responsibilities.

Accredited by yoga alliances worldwide, this course typically covers:

Asana Practice: Mastery of yoga poses (asanas), including alignment, modifications, and benefits.

Pranayama and Meditation: Techniques for breath control and mindfulness to enhance physical and mental well-being.

Yoga Philosophy: Insights into the ancient texts, such as the Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita, to understand the spiritual essence of yoga.

Anatomy and Physiology: Understanding the human body to ensure safe and effective teaching.

Teaching Methodology: Developing skills to lead classes confidently, create sequences, and adapt to students’ needs.

Why Choose an Online Yoga TTC?

The popularity of online yoga teacher training courses has surged in recent years, and for good reason.

Here are some key benefits:

Flexibility: Learn at your own pace and schedule, making it easier to balance training with work, family, or other commitments.

Accessibility: No need to travel to a training center; all you need is a reliable internet connection and a quiet space to practice.

Affordability: Online courses are often more cost-effective than in-person programs, eliminating expenses like travel and accommodation.

Global Community: Connect with fellow yoga enthusiasts and instructors from around the world, fostering a diverse and supportive learning environment.

Lifetime Access: Many programs offer lifetime access to course materials, allowing you to revisit lessons and refine your skills over time.

What to Look for in an Online Yoga TTC

Choosing the right 200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training Course is crucial for a fulfilling experience.

Here are some factors to consider:

Accreditation: Ensure the program is certified by a recognized yoga alliance, such as Yoga Alliance USA, to guarantee the quality of training and eligibility to teach globally.

Experienced Instructors: Look for courses led by seasoned yoga teachers with a proven track record.

Interactive Components: Live classes, Q&A sessions, and peer interactions enhance the learning experience.

Comprehensive Curriculum: The program should cover all aspects of yoga practice, philosophy, and teaching methodology.

Positive Reviews: Check testimonials and reviews from past students to gauge the program’s effectiveness.

Transformative Benefits of the 200 Hour Yoga TTC

Enrolling in a 200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training Course is more than just a step toward becoming a certified yoga teacher; it’s a journey of self-discovery and growth.

Here’s what you can expect:

Deepened Practice: Enhance your understanding of yoga’s physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions.

Teaching Skills: Gain the confidence and competence to lead classes and inspire others.

Personal Growth: Cultivate mindfulness, resilience, and inner peace through dedicated practice.

Global Opportunities: Open doors to teaching yoga worldwide, both online and in-person.

Community Connection: Build lasting relationships with like-minded individuals who share your passion for yoga.

Practical Tips for Success in an Online Yoga TTC

To get the most out of your 200 Hour Online Yoga TTC, consider these practical tips:

Create a Dedicated Space: Set up a quiet and comfortable area in your home for practice and study. A clutter-free environment can enhance focus and relaxation.

Stick to a Schedule: Treat your training as a priority by setting aside specific times for live classes, self-study, and practice. Consistency is key to progress.

Engage Actively: Participate in live sessions, ask questions, and connect with instructors and peers. Building relationships and seeking feedback can deepen your learning experience.

Maintain a Journal: Document your journey by writing about your experiences, insights, and challenges. This reflection can help track growth and solidify your understanding.

Practice Regularly: Beyond structured lessons, dedicate time to personal practice. Applying what you learn on the mat helps integrate knowledge and refine your skills.

Final Thoughts

The 200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training Course is a life-changing experience that combines the ancient wisdom of yoga with the convenience of modern technology. Whether you aim to teach yoga professionally or simply wish to deepen your practice, this program empowers you to unlock your potential and embrace the yogic path.

Embark on this transformative journey today, and discover how yoga can enrich your life and the lives of those around you. Namaste.

About Yogakulam Academy:

Yogakulam Academy is dedicated to promoting wellness and mindfulness through yoga, meditation, and holistic practices. With a mission to inspire and empower individuals of all ages, we strive to create supportive and inclusive environments where personal growth and transformation flourish.

For more information about the Yoga Teacher Training and to register for the upcoming webinar, Please visit https://www.yogakulamacademy.com or contact  Raghu Shankar at  07829210166.

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Yoga Alliance: https://www.yogaalliance.org/SchoolPublicProfile?sid=7998&lid=9591

[yogameditationstraining]

50 hours Online Teen Yoga Course

Discover our 50-hour Online Teen Yoga Course, tailored for aspiring instructors. Our Teen Yoga Teacher Training program blends theory and practice to equip you with essential teaching skills. Learn from expert instructors, explore adolescent yoga techniques, and earn certification conveniently online. Join a supportive community dedicated to empowering teens through yoga. Start your journey today towards becoming a confident and skilled teen yoga teacher.

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Online Kids Yoga Teacher Training: A Path to Empowering Young Minds

In recent years, yoga has gained widespread popularity as a tool for promoting physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Traditionally seen as a practice for adults, yoga has expanded to include children as well. As a result, the demand for trained Kids Yoga Teachers has risen, and Online Kids Yoga Teacher Training programs have emerged as a convenient and accessible option for those wanting to guide children through this holistic practice.

Online Kids Yoga Teacher Training offers a unique opportunity for yoga enthusiasts, educators, and wellness professionals to specialize in teaching yoga to children of various age groups. These programs cater to individuals who want to enhance children’s well-being, improve focus and behavior, and foster emotional intelligence through the practice of yoga. Let’s dive deeper into the benefits and features of Online Kids Yoga Teacher Training.

Why Choose Online Kids Yoga Teacher Training?

1. Convenience and Flexibility

One of the most significant advantages of online training is its convenience. You can complete the course from the comfort of your home, at your own pace. Many programs offer self-paced learning modules, allowing you to access video lessons, reading materials, and quizzes at times that suit your schedule. This flexibility makes it easier for individuals with busy lives, such as parents, teachers, or professionals, to pursue the training without disrupting their daily routines.

2. Access to Expert Instructors

Online Kids Yoga Teacher Training programs often feature instructors who are seasoned yoga practitioners and educators with extensive experience in working with children. These experts can offer guidance, tips, and advice through webinars, live sessions, or video lectures. You also have the opportunity to ask questions and receive personalized feedback, helping you hone your teaching skills.

3. Comprehensive Curriculum

Online courses generally provide a well-rounded curriculum that covers everything you need to know to teach yoga to children. This includes:

Age-appropriate Asanas: Learning how to adapt yoga poses for different age groups, from toddlers to pre-teens, ensuring they can safely participate and enjoy the practice.

Mindfulness and Breathing Techniques: Teaching children breathing exercises and mindfulness practices that help with relaxation, concentration, and emotional regulation.

Classroom Management: Understanding how to maintain a fun, engaging, and safe environment while ensuring children stay focused and involved in the practice.

Games and Activities: Incorporating creative activities, such as yoga games and stories, to keep children engaged while helping them develop physical coordination and flexibility.

4. Building Emotional and Mental Health

Kids yoga is not only about physical movement; it also helps children with emotional growth. Online training programs teach you how to guide kids through practices that promote emotional intelligence, help them deal with stress, and foster positive thinking. By teaching children to become more self-aware, grounded, and empathetic, yoga offers tools that benefit their overall mental health.

5. Certification and Career Opportunities

After completing your Online Kids Yoga Teacher Training, you will receive a certification that qualifies you to teach children’s yoga classes. This certification opens up a range of career opportunities in various settings, such as:

Schools and Daycares: Introducing yoga programs in schools or childcare centers to support physical education and mental well-being.

Private Classes: Offering private yoga sessions for children with special needs or those looking for more personalized attention.

Community Programs: Running workshops and classes in community centers or yoga studios to introduce children to the benefits of yoga.

Online Yoga for Kids: Teaching virtual yoga classes for kids, expanding your reach to children worldwide.

6. Inclusivity for Diverse Populations

Kids Yoga Teacher Training programs are designed to cater to a diverse group of children, including those with physical disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and other special needs. Online programs often offer insights into how to adapt yoga practices for children with different abilities, ensuring that yoga becomes accessible and beneficial to all kids.

What Will You Learn in Online Kids Yoga Teacher Training?

While each training program varies slightly, most courses will cover core concepts necessary to confidently teach kids’ yoga. Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect:

1. Child Development and Yoga

Understanding child development is crucial when teaching yoga to kids. Online Kids Yoga Teacher Training programs often cover stages of cognitive, emotional, and physical development, helping you tailor your yoga classes to children of different ages and abilities.

2. Yoga Poses for Children

You’ll learn how to modify traditional yoga poses to be safe and fun for children. For example, simplifying postures like Downward-Facing Dog, Warrior, or Tree Pose, and incorporating elements like animal-themed poses (e.g., Cat-Cow, Cobra) to capture their imagination.

3. Yoga Philosophy for Kids

While many adults might practice yoga for its philosophical aspects, children are more engaged when the teachings are simple and fun. Online programs guide you on how to introduce basic yoga philosophies like kindness, gratitude, and mindfulness in ways children can understand and apply.

4. Creating Engaging Classes

You will learn how to design engaging yoga classes that incorporate music, storytelling, and games to keep children excited about yoga. Creativity is key in making yoga enjoyable, and your training will help you blend yoga with fun, age-appropriate activities.

5. Safety and Injury Prevention

Teaching yoga to children requires an understanding of their unique physical limitations and needs. Online training covers how to ensure the safety of your students, including proper alignment, preventing injuries, and providing modifications for different abilities.

6. Behavioral Management Techniques

In any classroom setting, managing behavior is key. You will be taught techniques for keeping children focused and engaged while maintaining an atmosphere of respect, kindness, and fun. This includes using positive reinforcement and making yoga accessible to children with varying attention spans.

Conclusion

Online Kids Yoga Teacher Training is an excellent way to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to teach yoga to children in a fun, engaging, and safe way. With a focus on mindfulness, physical activity, and emotional development, yoga for kids is an invaluable tool for promoting overall well-being. Whether you're an experienced yoga teacher or a beginner, this training offers an exciting opportunity to help kids develop healthy habits that last a lifetime while also opening up new career opportunities in the growing field of children's yoga.

About Yogakulam Academy:

Yogakulam Academy is dedicated to promoting wellness and mindfulness through yoga, meditation, and holistic practices. With a mission to inspire and empower individuals of all ages, we strive to create supportive and inclusive environments where personal growth and transformation flourish.

For more information about the Yoga Teacher Training and to register for the upcoming webinar,

Please visit https://www.yogakulamacademy.com or contact  Raghu Shankar at  07829210166.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Call:     +917829210166

Email:  contact@yogakulam.com

Visit:    https://www.yogakulam.com/

WhatsApp: https://wa.me/7829210166

Follow Us on Social:

Yogakulam Academy:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KulamYoga/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yogakulamacademy

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Yoga Alliance: https://www.yogaalliance.org/SchoolPublicProfile?sid=7998&lid=9591

[yogattcnepal]

Rishikul Yogshala Nepal Announces 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Pokhara

Pokhara, Nepal – Rishikul Yogshala Nepal is excited to announce its upcoming 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program in the serene and picturesque city of Pokhara. This comprehensive training course is set to begin on 7th-August to 30th-August 2024 offering participants an immersive and transformative experience in the heart of Nepal.

The 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Rishikul Yogshala is designed for individuals who are passionate about deepening their yoga practice and acquiring the skills necessary to teach yoga professionally. Nestled amidst the stunning backdrop of the Himalayas and the tranquil Fewa Lake, Pokhara provides the perfect environment for yoga enthusiasts to explore and connect with their inner selves.

Program Highlights:

Comprehensive Curriculum: The training covers a wide range of topics, including Hatha and Ashtanga yoga, pranayama, meditation, anatomy, philosophy, and teaching methodology.

Experienced Instructors: Learn from seasoned yoga instructors with years of teaching experience and deep knowledge of traditional yoga practices.

Immersive Experience: Engage in daily yoga practice, meditation sessions, and interactive workshops designed to enhance both personal and professional growth.

Scenic Location: Enjoy the serene and spiritual ambiance of Pokhara, known for its breathtaking natural beauty and peaceful surroundings.

Community and Support: Become part of a supportive yoga community, fostering connections and friendships that will last a lifetime.

About Rishikul Yogshala Nepal:

Rishikul Yogshala Nepal is a premier yoga training institute dedicated to providing authentic and high-quality yoga education. With a team of experienced instructors and a commitment to preserving traditional yoga practices, Rishikul Yogshala Nepal has established itself as a leading destination for yoga enthusiasts and aspiring teachers.

Contact Information:

Rishikul Yogshala

Call: +91 98452 71423

Email: rishikulyogshalaindia@gmail.com

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Inclusive and Accessible Online Yoga Training with Rainbow Yoga Training

Rainbow Yoga Training is a leading online platform for yoga enthusiasts offering online courses, workshops, and retreats. With a focus on inclusivity and accessibility, the website is committed to providing a safe and supportive community for all individuals regardless of their background or experience with yoga.

[tamarayoga1]

Unleash the Power of Yoga: Join Online Yoga Classes Today!

In recent times, people have become increasingly conscious about their health and well-being. Yoga is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy body and a peaceful mind. However, finding the right yoga classes can be a challenging task, especially for beginners. That’s where online yoga classes come in, offering unlimited yoga classes and beginner’s courses at your convenience.

Online yoga classes have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and for a good reason. With busy schedules and limited free time, attending physical yogrestorative Yoga pertha classes can be challenging. However, with online yoga classes, you can practice yoga from the comfort of your own home, at any time of the day, and on any day of the week.

[yogagoa]

Get live online yoga classes for children & adults. World of yoga is a trusted name for yoga in Goa which provides its services online & offline both.Contact now - +91 9860015889 or visit- https://www.yogaschool.in/

[burst-of-iridescent]

South Asian and Hindu Influences in ATLA (Part 2)

disclaimer: i was raised culturally and religiously hindu, and though i've tried to do my research for this post and pair it with my own cultural knowledge, i'm not an expert on hinduism by any means. should i mess up, please let me know.

please also be aware that many of the concepts discussed in this post overlap heavily with religions such as buddhism and jainism, which might have different interpretations and representations. as i'm not from those religions or cultures, i don't want to speak on them, but if anyone with that knowledge wishes to add on, please feel free.

Part 1

In the previous post, I discussed some of the things ATLA got right in its depictions of desi and hindu cultures. unfortunately, they also got plenty of things wrong - often in ways that leaned towards racist caricatures - so let's break them down, starting with...

Guru Pathik

both the word "guru" and name "pathik" come from sanskrit. pathik means "traveler" or "he who knows the way" while guru is a term for a guide or mentor, similar to a teacher.

gurus were responsible for the very first education systems in ancient india, setting up institutions called gurukuls. students, referred to as disciples, would often spend years living with and learning from their gurus in these gurukuls, studying vedic and buddhist texts, philosophy, music and even martial arts.

however, their learning was not limited merely to academic study, as gurus were also responsible for guiding the spiritual evolution of their disciples. it was common for disciples to meditate, practice yoga, fast for days or weeks, and complete mundane household chores every day in order to instill them with self-discipline and help them achieve enlightenment and spiritual awareness. the relationship between a guru and his disciple was considered a sacred, holy bond, far exceeding that of a mere teacher and student.

aang's training with guru pathik mirrors some of these elements. similar to real gurus, pathik takes on the role of aang's spiritual mentor. he guides aang in unblocking his chakras and mastering the avatar state through meditation, fasting, and self-reflection - all of which are practices that would have likely been encouraged in disciples by their gurus.

pathik's design also takes inspiration from sadhus, holy men who renounced their worldly ties to follow a path of spiritual discipline. the guru's simple, nondescript clothing and hair are reflective of the ascetic lifestyle sadhus are expected to lead, giving up material belongings and desires in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment and, ultimately, liberation from the reincarnation cycle.

unfortunately, this is where the respectful references end because everything else about guru pathik was insensitive at best and stereotypical at worst.

it is extremely distasteful that the guru speaks with an overexaggerated indian accent, even though the iranian-indian actor who plays him has a naturally british accent. why not just hire an actual indian voice actor if the intention was to make pathik sound authentic? besides, i doubt authenticity was the sole intention, given that the purposeful distortion of indian accents was a common racist trope played for comedy in early 2000s children's media (see: phineas and ferb, diary of a wimpy kid, jessie... the list goes on).

furthermore, while pathik is presented a wise and respected figure within this episode, his next (and last) appearance in the show is entirely the opposite.

in the episode nightmares and daydreams, pathik appears in aang's nightmare with six hands, holding what appears to be a veena (a classical indian music instrument). this references the iconography of the hindu deity Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. the embodiment of divine enlightenment, learning, insight and truth, Saraswati is a member of the Tridevi (the female version of the Trimurti), one of the most respected and revered goddesses in the Hindu pantheon... and her likeness is used for a cheap laugh on a character who's already treated as a caricature.

that's bad enough on its own, but when you consider that guru pathik is the only explicitly south asian coded character in the entire show, it's downright insulting. for a show that took so many of its foundational concepts from south asia and hinduism and yet provided almost no desi representation in return, this is just rubbing salt in the wound.

Chakras

"chakra", meaning "circle" or "wheel of life" in sanskrit, refers to sources of energy found in the human body. chakra points are aligned along the spine, with energy flowing from the lowest to the highest point. the energy pooled at the lowest chakra is called kundalini, and the aim is to release this energy to the highest chakra in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment and consciousness.

the number of chakras varies in different religions, with buddhism referencing five chakras while hinduism has seven. atla draws from the latter influence, so let's take a look at the seven chakras:

Muladhara (the Root Chakra). located at the base of the spine, this chakra deals with our basest instincts and is linked to the element of earth.

Swadhisthana (the Sacral Chakra). located just below the navel, this chakra deals with emotional intensity and pleasure and is linked to the element of water.

Manipura (the Solar Plexus Chakra). located in the stomach, this chakra deals with willpower and self-acceptance and is linked to the element of fire.

Anahata (the Heart Chakra). located in the heart, this chakra deals with love, compassion and forgiveness and is linked to the element of air. in the show, this chakra is blocked by aang's grief over the loss of the air nomads, which is a nice elemental allusion.

Vishudda (the Throat Chakra). located at the base of the throat, this chakra deals with communication and honesty and is linked to the fifth classical element of space. the show calls this the Sound Chakra, though i'm unsure where they got that from.

Ajna (the Third Eye Chakra). located in the centre of the forehead, this chakra deals with spirituality and insight and is also linked to the element of space. the show calls it the Light Chakra, which is fairly close.

Sahasrara (the Crown Chakra). located at the very top of the head, this chakra deals with pure cosmic consciousness and is also linked to the element of space. it makes perfect sense that this would be the final chakra aang has to unblock in order to connect with the avatar spirit, since the crown chakra is meant to be the point of communion with one's deepest, truest self.

the show follows these associations and descriptions almost verbatim, and does a good job linking the individual chakras to their associated struggles in aang's arc.

Cosmic Energy

the idea of chakras is associated with the concept of shakti, which refers to the life-giving energy that flows throughout the universe and within every individual.

the idea of shakti is a fundamentally unifying one, stating that all living beings are connected to one another and the universe through the cosmic energy that flows through us all. this philosophy is referenced both in the swamp episode and in guru pathik telling aang that the greatest illusion in the world is that of separation - after all, how can there be any real separation when every life is sustained by the same force?

this is also why aang needing to let go of katara did not, as he mistakenly assumed, mean he had to stop loving her. rather, the point of shedding earthly attachment is to allow one to become more attuned to shakti, both within oneself and others. ironically, in letting go of katara and allowing himself to commune with the divine energy of the universe instead, aang would have been more connected to her - not less.

The Avatar State

according to hinduism, there are five classical elements known as pancha bhuta that form the foundations of all creation: air, water, earth, fire, and space/atmosphere.

obviously, atla borrows this concept in making a world entirely based on the four classical elements. but looking at how the avatar spirit is portrayed as a giant version of aang suspended in mid-air, far above the earth, it's possible that this could reference the fifth liminal element of space as well.

admittedly this might be a bit of a reach, but personally i find it a neat piece of worldbuilding that could further explain the power of the avatar. compared to anyone else who might be able to master only one element, mastering all five means having control of every building block of the world. this would allow the avatar to be far more attuned to the spiritual energy within the universe - and themselves - as a result, setting in motion the endless cycle of death and rebirth that would connect their soul even across lifetimes.

[astrojulia]

Tarot Cards as Professions

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Major Arcanas:

The Fool: Work with abroad, connections with imports, language teacher, multinationals, entrepreneur, intern, college student, art major.

The Magician: Entrepreneur, job that needs skill with the hands (acupuncture, hairdresser, artisan), actor, salesperson, influencer.

The High Priestess: Education, especially children, nutrition, psychology, cook, housewife, food engineering, toy factory, fortuneteller, spiritual advisor, librarian.

The Empress: Management, business administration, foreign trade, secretariat, translation, decoration, stay-at-home mom, model, cook, farmer.

The Emperor: Business administration, work related to areas of technological innovation, the military or sportsmen, CEO, tycoon.

The Hierophant: Philanthropic areas, ONGs, religious work, social work, diplomacy, and a degree, journalism, writer, editor, priest, spiritual guru, politician.

The Lovers: Sales area in any sector, tourism, theater, advertising, the arts in general, porn star, stripper, masseuse.

The Chariot: Activities related to transport, cars, the latest technology, chauffeur, mechanic, athlete.

Strength: Aesthetics, physical education and various body therapies, medicine, zoologist.

The Hermit: Teacher, writer, doctor, antique dealer, restorer, librarian, gardener.

Wheel of Fortune: Financial market, exchange offices, casinos, lottery houses, stock exchanges, and areas related to public relations, hospitality, game show host.

Justice: Public jobs, won through competitions, politics, police, with government positions, in the diplomatic area, law, insurance company worker.

The Hanged Man: Nurse, auditor, inspector, porter, secretariat, general assistants, yoga instructor, prison guard, philanthropist.

Death: Doctor, farmer, geologist, business administrator, gardener, accountant, assassin, death row executioner, surgeon.

Temperance: Working with liquids in general or with what is transported in liquid form such as alcoholic beverages, medicines, juices. chemist, chef, food critic, regional or even international traffic.

The Devil: Does not limit the individual to a professional wing, so he can also go to extremes for the desire he has, such as landlord, drug lord, sex trafficker.

The Tower: Social assistance, humanitarian aid, medicine, firefighter, police officer, construction worker.

The Star: Music, painting, sculpture, poetry, cinema, makeup artist, dressmaker, beautician, agent, promoter, sound artist, astronomer, harpist, dealer, meteorologist.

The Moon: Oceanographers, sailors, fishermen, owners of bars and restaurants or nightclubs, artists in general, medium, hypnotist, psychiatrist.

The Sun: Motivational speaker, entertainer, comedian, social relationships, work with the public, artist in general, member of society.

Judgment: Work done at home, connection with the law, lawyer, judge, work with disabled or people excluded from society, social assistance, board member, executive producer, director.

The World: Pharmacist, massage therapist, scientist, teacher, community leader, religious leader or priest, fashion designer, makeup artist, interior decorator.

Wands:

Creative industries such as advertising, marketing, and graphic design.

Entrepreneurship and starting your own business.

Athletics, sports coaching, or physical training.

Outdoor jobs like park ranger or tour guide.

Event planning or organizing.

Firefighters or rescue workers.

Ace of Wands: Entrepreneur, startup founder, motivational speaker, fitness coach, personal trainer.

Two of Wands: Business strategist, project manager, travel agent, international consultant, import/export specialist.

Three of Wands: Sales representative, marketing manager, e-commerce entrepreneur, market researcher, international trade coordinator.

Four of Wands: Event planner, wedding coordinator, party organizer, festival manager, hospitality industry professional.

Five of Wands: Conflict resolution specialist, mediator, lawyer, debate coach, competitive sports coach.

Six of Wands: Public relations manager, spokesperson, social media influencer, motivational speaker, winning athlete.

Seven of Wands: Defense attorney, human rights activist, political campaigner, advocate, civil liberties lawyer.

Eight of Wands: Courier, delivery driver, airline pilot, travel blogger, expedition guide.

Nine of Wands: Security guard, bodyguard, soldier, endurance athlete, self-defense instructor.

Ten of Wands: Overworked entrepreneur, project manager, event organizer, professional organizer, heavy equipment operator.

Page of Wands: Assistant in a creative field, aspiring artist, intern in a startup, social media coordinator, apprentice.

Knight of Wands: Travel journalist, adventure tour guide, professional athlete, race car driver, stunt performer.

Queen of Wands: CEO, business owner, charismatic leader, life coach, influential speaker.

King of Wands: Executive manager, entrepreneur, leadership coach, consultant, director of a creative agency.

Cups:

Counseling, therapy, or social work.

Hospitality industry, including restaurant management and bartending.

Wedding planner or event coordinator.

Artistic fields like poetry, writing, or acting.

Healing professions such as nursing or holistic therapy.

Psychologist or counselor specializing in emotions and relationships.

Ace of Cups: Therapist, counselor, social worker, holistic healer, emotional support specialist.

Two of Cups: Marriage counselor, matchmaker, relationship coach, wedding planner, love psychic.

Three of Cups: Event organizer, party planner, celebratory event coordinator, community organizer.

Four of Cups: Meditation teacher, mindfulness coach, spiritual counselor, psychologist, therapist.

Five of Cups: Grief counselor, trauma therapist, hospice worker, emotional healing practitioner, bereavement support.

Six of Cups: Child psychologist, teacher, daycare worker, children's book author, pediatric nurse.

Seven of Cups: Creative writer, fantasy novelist, imaginative artist, dream analyst, visionary.

Eight of Cups: Travel blogger, adventure seeker, spiritual pilgrim, explorer, wanderlust photographer.

Nine of Cups: Life coach, happiness consultant, gratitude coach, self-help author, wellness retreat organizer.

Ten of Cups: Family therapist, marriage and family counselor, foster care advocate, wedding planner, family mediator.

Page of Cups: Creative writer, artist in training, intuitive healer, aspiring therapist, dream interpreter.

Knight of Cups: Actor, romantic poet, musician, art therapist, love and relationship coach.

Queen of Cups: Psychic reader, intuitive healer, counselor, compassionate caregiver, therapist.

King of Cups: Therapist, counselor, intuitive mentor, emotional intelligence trainer, psychologist.

Swords:

Legal professions like lawyers, judges, or law enforcement officers.

Journalists, reporters, or investigators.

IT specialists, computer programmers, or hackers.

Teachers or professors specializing in critical thinking or philosophy.

Military or defense-related careers.

Strategic planners or analysts.

Ace of Swords: Lawyer, judge, legal consultant, investigative journalist, strategic planner.

Two of Swords: Mediator, conflict resolution specialist, negotiator, diplomat, relationship counselor.

Three of Swords: Divorce lawyer, grief counselor, trauma therapist, emotional healer, heart surgeon.

Four of Swords: Rest and relaxation specialist, meditation teacher, spiritual retreat organizer, yoga instructor.

Five of Swords: Military strategist, competitive sports coach, lawyer specializing in litigation, debate coach.

Six of Swords: Travel agent, relocation consultant, therapist specializing in transitions, boat captain.

Seven of Swords: Private investigator, spy, intelligence analyst, cybersecurity expert, undercover agent.

Eight of Swords: Social justice lawyer, human rights advocate, disability rights activist, therapist specializing in limiting beliefs.

Nine of Swords: Insomnia specialist, anxiety therapist, nightmare counselor, sleep coach, mental health counselor.

Ten of Swords: Surgeon, coroner, forensic scientist, mortician, grief counselor.

Page of Swords: Researcher, journalist, fact-checker, apprentice in a legal field, investigative reporter.

Knight of Swords: Military officer, police officer, attorney, competitive fencer, conflict resolution specialist.

Queen of Swords: Judge, lawyer, critic, journalist, literary agent.

King of Swords: Judge, attorney, CEO, strategist, military general.

Pentacles:

Financial advisors or investment bankers.

Real estate agents or property developers.

Agriculture, farming, or gardening.

Architects, builders, or construction workers.

Conservationists or environmentalists.

Accountants or bookkeepers.

Ace of Pentacles: Financial advisor, investment banker, wealth manager, entrepreneur, luxury goods retailer.

Two of Pentacles: Financial analyst, accountant, bookkeeper, event planner, stock trader.

Three of Pentacles: Architect, contractor, project manager, teamwork facilitator, craftsman.

Four of Pentacles: Wealth manager, investor, financial planner, asset protection specialist, treasurer.

Five of Pentacles: Social worker, philanthropist, charity organizer, financial counselor, volunteer.

Six of Pentacles: Philanthropist, humanitarian worker, non-profit manager, social worker, charitable fundraiser.

Seven of Pentacles: Gardener, farmer, agricultural consultant, sustainability expert, botanist.

Eight of Pentacles: Craftsperson, artisan, apprentice, skilled tradesperson, technical trainer.

Nine of Pentacles: Luxury brand manager, independent business owner, successful entrepreneur, vineyard owner, art collector.

Ten of Pentacles: Real estate developer, property investor, family business owner, generational wealth manager, financial advisor.

Page of Pentacles: Intern, student, apprentice in a practical field, aspiring entrepreneur, entry-level employee.

Knight of Pentacles: Accountant, financial planner, farmer, skilled tradesperson, meticulous worker.

Queen of Pentacles: CEO, business owner, property developer, hospitality industry entrepreneur, financial advisor.

King of Pentacles: CEO, business mogul, successful investor, high-level executive, financial consultant.

(CC) AstroJulia Some Rights Reserved

[yourtouchismidas]

Thinking about your posts where you said people at Gigi’s school don’t particularly like Matty. Could we get a blurb of maybe RG and Matty or just Matty showing up at the school to pick up Gigi and a parent or school staff member confronts him? Maybe he gets to defend himself or even Gigi does?

matty is at the school gates with his hands in his pockets. it's chilly, and matty is tired. he is always tired. work is long and there's always people wanting things, wanting him, his words, his time, his thoughts. all he wants right now, is to watch his little girl's face light up when she sees him at the school gates, is to hold her hand as they walk home to you, is to hear about her art project or her circle time or her sums she's finding hard.

there is a group of women next to him, one in yoga pants, one in a pant suit with a skirt, one with those huge nike trainers on women are wearing these days. matty, despite his bank account, gets on more with the ones who rock up in trackies, like he is wearing now, dads who spend their evenings at the pub, mum's who work two jobs trying to get by. today he is too tired to talk to anyone. anyone except gigi, anyway, and you (you've already got the kettle on ready for his return.)

the woman are looking at him, he can feel it. he's got his eyes trained on the doors, where no children have emerged yet, still five minutes to go. one of the woman laughs. they turn to him then turn back to the group. they're all turned inwards, towards each other. one of them is kayleigh's mum. kayleigh who tells gigi she can't play with her. kayleigh who told gigi her halloween costume was stupid. kayleigh who got paint all over the table and told everyone it was gigi. gigi takes it better than him. she shrugs and says kayleigh is mean, and that she doesnt want to be friends with her, and that the teacher always knows that gigi is a good girl and wouldnt do what kayleigh blames her for. gigi says that kayleigh doesnt understand her halloween costume cos she still likes baby stuff. and matty, since he can't drop kick a six year old, has learnt to just do a half smile at kayleigh's mum, breathe and let it go.

except today he is in a bad mood and they are talking about him. he can hear it. he has heard the word "band" and "tour" and he has heard someone say "missing school" which he assumes is about gigi, because she spends some time on the road with him. he has no doubts that if he didnt bring her out to tour, then these women would complain too, about leaving her behind. there is no winning. he is a bad father. because of his career. because of everything they know about his past. everyone knows about his past.

he's trying to breathe and let it go. he's trying to pretend like he can't hear. he should move. the kids will be here soon. gigi will be here. except then he hears the words, "never here," and something inside him snaps.

"i'm here now, aren't i?" he barks at them. he tries so hard. and he misses his daughter with his whole heart when he is not with her, and do they not think, if he could, he would spend more time with her? they all look round in faux surprise, as if they are completely innocent.

"oh don't do that," matty says, "i have ears."

they all look at each other and shrug, frowning, except kayleigh's mum, who stares him out.

"we're just discussing parenting styles. that's all. and yours is... different," she says, still staring at him.

"i'd rather be on tour a few times a year, than have my daughter raised to think that it's okay to talk shit about people in the playground," he shrugs.

"can you not swear please?" one of the other mums says, "we're in a school."

"the kids aren't out yet?" matty says, gesturing at the playground, where only adults stand, "or are you deluded about that too, the same way you're deluded about the fact you were definitely talking shit about me a few seconds ago."

the door opens and kids pour out, running at parents, gigi in the doorway but not quite here yet.

"they're here now," kayleigh's mum says.

"your powers of observation astound me," he says, just as gigi cries out "daddy!" and runs at his legs.

"hi baby," he says to her, putting a big hand on her head where he neat little plaits you tied for her this morning have come loose and are wild and fraying. she looks between you and the other mums, sensing something is wrong, when kayleigh appears, thrusting something glittery into her mum's arms saying "look what i made mummy."

"oh wow that's beautiful darling," her mum says, crouching down to her to zip up her coat that is open. kayleigh starts fussing. whining.

"you ready babygirl?" matty asks, and gigi nods, putting her hand in his, as kayleigh dissolves into a full on tantrum, screaming with a red face on the floor, as the whole playground turns to her.

"kayleigh's crying," gigi says, plainly, as if it isn't obvious to everyone in the playground, or in a one mile radius.

"hmm," matty says.

"she's just getting her coat done up," gigi says, staring too, stopped.

"come on, love," he says, nudging her arm, "don't stare. it's not nice to be rude, is it?"

"no," gigi agrees.

matty starts to walk away, gigi trotting along beside him, not staring, but he does throw back one look at kayleigh's mum, who catches his eye. he waves, doing his little half smile, turning away and smirking.

[yogakulam]

200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training Course: A Transformative Journey from Home

200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training Course: A Transformative Journey from Home In today’s fast-paced world, finding time for personal growth and professional development can be a challenge. For yoga enthusiasts and aspiring teachers, the 200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTC) offers a flexible, accessible, and transformative way to deepen your practice and share the gift of yoga…

[allergictocolor]

Character Profile - Gomez Addams

“Husband of Morticia (if indeed they are married at all), a crafty schemer, but also a jolly man in his own way. Tries hard to be father and teacher to the children, though sometimes misguided - we can depend on Morticia to straighten him out. Sentimental and often puckish - optimistic, he is full of enthusiasm for his dreadful plots. He is dressed in a tight double-breasted striped suit and is sometimes seen in a rather formal dressing gown. The only one who smokes - though Pugsley can be allowed an occasional cigar.” - Chas Addams

That was the description Charles Addams provided for the producers of the television show in 1963. His cartoon depiction of Gomez (named after a friend of his) was short and squat, dark-skinned, with a pushed-up nose, a mustache, and hair parted in the middle. I mentioned previously that he was modeled after Thomas E. Dewey. My husband pointed out to me that Dewey was the “Dewey Defeats Truman” guy. You can read about that weird event-turned-meme here. The TV show included an Easter egg for that in the 4th episode “Gomez, the Politician” (left).

It was the show that established that Gomez is driven mad with passion when Morticia speaks French, or any other language, in front of him, causing him to kiss her arm (right image above). They also established that he’s Spanish (they said Castilian to specify central/northern Spain) and his hobbies include fencing, knife throwing, zen yoga, and blowing up model trains. He calls Morticia “Tish”, “Querida”, and “Cara Mia”.

The comics always portrayed the family as eccentric and wealthy without an explanation as to where their wealth came from. The show depicted Gomez frequently checking a stock market ticker in their living room for his investments in companies with names like Amalgamated Dust.

Gomez in the 60s was a jack of all trades, but a master of none. He was a lawyer, sort of. He fenced, badly. He threw knives, and usually missed. He lost a lot of money in the stock market, but it didn’t matter. They were still rich beyond imagining. Per their creator’s wishes, it was Morticia who really ran things. Gomez was the starry-eyed dreamer. He would do anything for her.

Charles Addams never meant for Gomez to have “leading man” good looks. He was meant to be a bit of a ghoul, a weirdo, a loveable creep. The producers of the 60s TV show knew that wouldn’t really fly with their viewing audience, so they cast John Astin. They could let Fester and Lurch be weird looking. They needed Gomez to at least be cute. Addams passed away before the 1991 movie, but he likely would have objected at least a little to the suave and debonair Raul Julia. At least the movies brought back a little more of the evil.

Charles Addams had complained that the characters in the 60s show were “half as evil” as his cartoon creations. The 1990s Barry Sonnenfeld films may have had a handsome Gomez, but they brought back the sinister nature in a big way. The family drank poison. Gomez practiced his golf swing by hitting balls into his neighbor’s house. Importantly, the very first scene was a recreation of one of the most popular Addams family comics, pouring an unidentified something on a group of carolers at the front door of their mansion.

Raul Julia’s Gomez was many things John Astin’s was not. He was a crack marksman, a skilled knife thrower, and light on his feet. But like Astin’s Gomez, he thought working for a living was for chumps, so he was completely unmoored when the family was ousted from their home. Members of the Addams family don’t have such mundane things as jobs. It was with Julia’s Gomez that we got the real impression that most of the family’s money came from crime, and we loved him for it.

Raul Julia made such an impression as Gomez, that when Nathan Lane stepped into those shiny loafers to play him on a Broadway stage, it was clear he was not so much playing Gomez Addams, as playing Raul Julia playing Gomez Addams. The musical is a hoot, and if you get a chance to see friends in a local production of it, I recommend giving it a shot. However, it didn’t add anything significant to any of the characters.

The 2019 animated film blended visual aspects of both the original comics and the 1960s TV show. This version of Gomez is extremely similar to the comic version, and also has a bit of Peter Lorre to him. (He was the Igor type in old horror movies.) He follows Charles Addams’ original brief of trying hard to be father and teacher to his children, though perhaps he takes this too far with Pugsley. The animated medium allowed the storytellers to be as cartoonishly evil as possible. Charles would have been delighted.

One theme which has been present in all versions of the Addams family is the sense that they don’t belong in polite society. This is taken to an extreme in the 2019 animated film, which I do recommend if you haven’t seen it. (You can skip the sequel.) That theme is then built upon in the 2022 Netflix series, where the Addamses are all members of a caste of society called “outcasts”, different from “normies” in various ways. Typically, outcasts are werewolves, sirens, vampires, witches, etc. We have not yet seen what sets Gomez apart, but perhaps we will in season 2.

In the Netflix series, Luis Guzmán is the latest actor to fill out Gomez’s pinstriped suit, and he’s the one we can most easily believe has committed some crimes. People who only know of the Addams family from the 90s movies objected to his casting, but those of us who understand the full history know that he’s a perfect fit. And I, for one, can’t wait to see what he does in the next season.

[bestschoolinludhiana]

Why The Shri Ram Universal School is the Best School in Ludhiana

When it comes to providing the best education for children, parents in Ludhiana want nothing but the finest. Among the many schools in Ludhiana, The Shri Ram Universal School (TSRUS) shines as a top choice for its exceptional quality of education, modern teaching methods, and commitment to overall development. It is widely recognized as one of the top schools in Ludhiana and a proud member of the top 5 CBSE schools in Ludhiana. Let’s explore why TSRUS stands out and why it is the ideal place for your child’s education.  

 A Legacy of Trust and Excellence  

The Shri Ram Universal School is part of the renowned Shri Ram Schools, which are known for their rich legacy of academic excellence and innovative education. This legacy continues in Ludhiana, where TSRUS combines traditional values with modern teaching methods to give students a well-rounded learning experience.  

If you are looking for the best school in Ludhiana, TSRUS offers everything you would expect from a top-tier institution—dedicated teachers, a strong academic foundation, and ample opportunities for extracurricular activities.  

Why TSRUS is Among the Top 5 Schools in Ludhiana  

Parents trust TSRUS for its consistent focus on quality education and overall development. Here are some key reasons why TSRUS is one of the top 5 schools in Ludhiana:  

 1. Focus on CBSE Curriculum  

TSRUS follows the CBSE curriculum, which is one of the most respected and widely accepted educational systems in India. The curriculum ensures that students gain strong academic knowledge while also developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.  

As one of the top CBSE schools in Ludhiana, TSRUS goes beyond basic teaching by integrating creative methods to make learning enjoyable and meaningful.  

 2. Modern Infrastructure  

The school’s infrastructure is designed to create a positive and safe environment for students. Classrooms are spacious and equipped with modern technology to enhance learning. There are well-equipped labs for science, computer studies, and robotics. The library is stocked with a variety of books to encourage reading and research.  

TSRUS also provides dedicated spaces for sports, arts, and cultural activities, making it one of the top schools in Ludhiana for extracurricular engagement.  

 3. Experienced Teachers  

The teachers at TSRUS are highly qualified and trained to understand the needs of every child. They use interactive and personalized teaching methods to ensure that students not only learn but also enjoy their studies.  

At TSRUS, teachers act as mentors, guiding students to achieve their potential. This supportive environment is one of the reasons why the school is considered one of the top 5 CBSE schools in Ludhiana.  

 4. Holistic Development  

Education at TSRUS is not limited to academics. The school believes in the overall growth of children by focusing on physical, emotional, and social development. Activities like yoga, dance, drama, music, and sports are an integral part of the curriculum, helping students build confidence and teamwork skills.  

This emphasis on holistic education places TSRUS among the top 5 schools in Ludhiana.  

 5. Parental Involvement  

TSRUS understands that parents play an important role in a child’s education. The school actively involves parents through regular meetings, workshops, and open communication channels. This ensures that parents are always aware of their child’s progress and can contribute to their success.  

 6. Safe and Caring Environment  

Safety is a top priority at TSRUS. The campus is monitored with CCTV cameras, and trained staff ensure the safety and well-being of all students. Additionally, the school promotes kindness and respect among students, creating a positive and nurturing environment for learning.  

 What Makes TSRUS the Best School in Ludhiana?  

While there are many schools in Ludhiana, TSRUS stands out for its ability to combine academic excellence with extracurricular opportunities and value-based education. Here’s why parents and students love The Shri Ram Universal School:  

A Blend of Tradition and Modernity  

TSRUS respects traditional values while embracing modern teaching practices. Students learn the importance of ethics, respect, and empathy alongside academic and technical skills.  

 Focus on Creativity and Innovation  

The school encourages creativity by offering classes in art, drama, music, and robotics. Students are motivated to think outside the box, which helps them develop problem-solving skills and confidence.  

 Leadership Opportunities  

TSRUS believes in preparing future leaders. Through activities like debates, public speaking, and student councils, children learn to lead and express themselves effectively.  

How TSRUS Ranks Among the Top Schools in Ludhiana  

Being one of the top 5 CBSE schools in Ludhiana, TSRUS is a school that meets international standards. It fosters an environment where students feel supported and challenged to reach their highest potential.  

Parents looking for the best school in Ludhiana often choose TSRUS because of its focus on quality education and life skills. The school prepares students for success not just in academics but in life.  

Extracurricular Activities at TSRUS  

TSRUS believes that extracurricular activities are as important as academics. Here are some of the activities offered:  

- Sports: Cricket, football, basketball, and other sports help students stay active and healthy.  

- Art and Craft: Creativity is encouraged through painting, sculpting, and crafting.  

- Music and Dance: Students explore their artistic talents through music and dance classes.  

- Robotics and Technology: Hands-on learning in robotics and technology equips students with skills for the future.  

These activities help students discover their passions and build confidence, making TSRUS one of the top schools in Ludhiana.  

Parental Feedback  

Parents often describe TSRUS as a school where their children feel happy, safe, and motivated. The school’s transparent communication and inclusive environment have made it a favorite among families in Ludhiana.  

Conclusion  

Choosing the right school for your child is a big decision. Among the many schools in Ludhiana, The Shri Ram Universal School stands out as a place where children receive quality education and opportunities for holistic growth.  

As one of the top schools in Ludhiana, TSRUS is committed to shaping young minds with care, knowledge, and creativity. Its CBSE curriculum, modern facilities, and dedicated teachers make it one of the top 5 CBSE schools in Ludhiana.  

If you are searching for the best school in Ludhiana, look no further than The Shri Ram Universal School. Here, your child will not only excel in academics but also grow into a confident, responsible, and well-rounded individual.

[yogattcnepal]

Achieve Mastery in Yoga with the 200 Hour Online Yoga TTC Nepal Program

Nepal, 5th July 2024 – In the serene landscapes of Nepal, renowned for its spiritual ambiance and breathtaking Himalayan views, a transformative journey awaits yoga enthusiasts worldwide. The 200 Hour Online Yoga TTC Nepal program, offered by Rishikul Yogshala, blends ancient wisdom with modern convenience, empowering participants to deepen their practice and become certified yoga teachers from the comfort of their homes.

Embracing Tradition in the Digital Age

Nepal, nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, has long been revered as a sacred destination for yoga and meditation. The 200 Hour Online Yoga TTC Nepal program encapsulates the essence of this spiritual heritage, delivering comprehensive training that honors traditional yogic principles while leveraging the accessibility of online learning. Participants embark on a journey that transcends geographical boundaries, guided by seasoned yoga masters who bring decades of experience and profound wisdom to each session.

Curriculum Designed for Transformation

The curriculum of the 200 Hour Online Yoga TTC Nepal is meticulously crafted to equip students with a robust foundation in yoga philosophy, asana practice, anatomy, pranayama, meditation, and teaching methodologies. Each module is thoughtfully structured to accommodate diverse learning styles, ensuring that students receive personalized attention and guidance throughout their transformational journey.

Key Highlights of the Program:

Comprehensive Asana Practice: Dive deep into the practice of Hatha, Vinyasa, and Yin yoga, exploring alignment, modifications, and sequencing.

Yoga Philosophy: Study classical texts such as the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Bhagavad Gita, gaining insights into the spiritual and philosophical dimensions of yoga.

Anatomy and Physiology: Understand the biomechanics of yoga postures and the physiological benefits of each practice.

Pranayama and Meditation: Cultivate mindfulness through breathwork (pranayama) and explore various meditation techniques to enhance mental clarity and inner peace.

Teaching Methodology: Learn effective communication skills, class management, and ethical guidelines for aspiring yoga teachers.

Accessible Learning, Global Community

One of the unique aspects of the 200 Hour Online Yoga TTC Nepal program is its ability to foster a global community of like-minded individuals passionate about yoga. Through interactive live sessions, virtual workshops, and engaging discussions, participants connect with peers and instructors from diverse cultural backgrounds, enriching their learning experience and expanding their perspectives on yoga's universal teachings.

Conclusion

The 200 Hour Online Yoga TTC Nepal program represents a gateway to profound self-discovery and personal growth, inviting yoga practitioners of all levels to embark on a journey of transformation. Whether aspiring to teach yoga professionally or deepen one's practice, this program offers an unparalleled opportunity to immerse oneself in the wisdom of yoga, guided by authentic masters in the heartland of Nepal.

About Nepal

Nepal, renowned for its spiritual ambiance and breathtaking Himalayan views

About Rishikul Yogshala

Rishikul Yogshala is a leading institution dedicated to spreading the transformative power of yoga worldwide. With a commitment to authenticity and excellence, our programs blend ancient wisdom with contemporary insights, empowering individuals to thrive physically, mentally, and spiritually.

For more information about the 200 Hour Online Yoga TTC Nepal program and enrollment details, please visit https://yogattcnepal.com/yoga-ttc-nepal/200-hour-yoga-teacher-training-in-nepal.php

Contact Information:

Rishikul Yogshala

Call: +91 98452 71423

Email: rishikulyogshalaindia@gmail.com

[starmieknight]

Sing Me A Story (of the bravest of them all)

Chapter Two

Pairing: Buggy x Original Female Character

Summary: Josie Harper doesn’t know what her family's connection to the One Piece world is exactly. That's not going to stop her from trying to figure it out and how to use it to get back home.

She just had to survive what it throws at her first. And keep from falling under the allure of the future Pirate King and his crew.

---------------------------------

Luffy tugged his arm free to wrap it around her shoulders instead and drew Josie into a hug.

“You understand,” he said proudly.

It was like being embraced by the sun, being in Luffy’s arms and in the face of his pride. Josie could see the appeal — and the danger — of being near him for any extended amount of time. The feeling of safety and security he offered, the sense of freedom, was all too addicting. She’d never felt that way before.

Contents: Isekai, Freeform Greek Mythology, Reincarnation, Recreational Drug Use, Ghosts, DubCon, Pining, Enemies to Lovers, Eventual Smut

Chapters: Prologue, One, Two, Three

Josie woke with a shiver, legs curling up against her chest as she tried to figure out why her room was so cold and why her blanket had disappeared.

She shifted a bit to blink blearily at the ceiling and felt a familiar flare of pain in her hips that came from a long night without proper support. Josie grimaced, breathing deep through the pulsing ache, and gingerly pushed herself into a seated position.

The semi familiar galley greeted her silently.

“There goes the hope of it all being a bad dream.” she sighed, scrubbing a hand over her face. Another ache registered with her, a mild pressure behind her eyes that indicated a headache. Which would undoubtedly become a migraine if she didn’t get her usual fix of addictions in a timely manner.

Coffee and cigarettes were a must, though Josie only had hopes of finding the first with this set of teenagers. She’d have to find a brand of cigarettes she could stand in the closest port or she’d have to wait until she could bum a smoke off of Sanji.

She hoped it wouldn’t take that long.

Josie thought back to the pouch she had stolen from Buggy. That was also a viable option, but how long would it take her until she ran out? Was it just as illegal here as it was back home? In a world of piracy, was being a pot-head even considered a crime?

She’d have to ask Nami.

How long had the younger girl been gone, anyway?

Josie wasn’t usually the type to sleep in, too used to rising early for work. She was quite surprised to see the sun so high in the sky.

It was practically noon!

“Was anyone ever going to wake me?” She asked as she stumbled out onto the deck. She dropped heavily to the floor beside Zoro.

The swordsman looked unimpressed by her arrival. “What’s the point? There’s not much to do on this boat but sleep. There’s not even enough room to train.”

Josie scrutinized the little deck in turn. “True. I doubt I’d even be able to do yoga out here without kicking someone.”

“Yoga?” Zoro snorted at her. He looked at her judgmentally. “You would be the type.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She gave him an affronted look. “It’s good for flexibility and circulation. And it helps my hip pain.”

“You poor thing. You do paperwork down at your retirement home? Sounds like a life full of desk work, the way you talk.”

“It’s an Early Learning Center.” Josie bit out with a scowl. “And I do more than just paperwork!”

“My apologies.” Zoro cut her a look from the corner of his eye. “Didn’t mean to offend the nursery teacher.”

“No offense taken.” Josie offered him a stiff smile. “I’m used to childish remarks.”

Nami snickered at the exchange, drawing the elder woman’s attention.

“So you’re a teacher?” she asked curiously, tilting her head. “That explains how you handle Luffy so well.”

“He does offer a sense of familiarity.” Josie agreed easily. “Children are often blunt and honest — it’s refreshing to see it in an adult. Well, adult-adjacent.”

“How old are you, anyway?” Nami squinted at her, taking in Josie’s soft features with calculating eyes.

It was a question she’d heard often in her life. With her short stature, heavy curves and laid back attitude she’d stumped many people when it came to her age. As a teenager, most thought she was older. Now it was the opposite. She could still pass as a teenager most of the time, if they didn’t ask her about the latest memes and slang.

“Twenty-six.” Josie said easily, watching the surprise flit across her new crew mates’ faces with amusement.

“Fuck, you’re old.” Zoro muttered rudely.

Josie laughed, ignoring the way Nami slapped Zoro’s arm in reprimand, and leaned forward to pinch his cheeks.

“Old to you, maybe. Still quite young where I’m from. Most of the people I grew up with have long been married and have kids now, but it’s becoming the norm for people to wait longer now.”

The navigator and the first mate both looked horrified by the idea.

“Sounds boring.” Luffy said lightly, flopping down from his perch on the mainmast to join them. “I never had friends, though, so I wouldn’t know about babies and being married.”

Nami murmured an agreement.

Zoro was silent, jaw clenched, and he looked incredibly uncomfortable. He was likely thinking about his own childhood friend who would never even have the option.

Josie tried to avoid thinking about Kuina or how incredibly sad the youngest crew mate’s statement was. At least he’d had Ace — and Sabo, for a time.

“You’re still practically a baby, yourself.” she teased instead. “How old are you three?”

“I just turned seventeen last week!” Luffy grinned proudly, not noticing how Nami and Zoro blanched. They’d likely guessed that he was young, the boy obviously still just a teenager, but the idea that he was younger than both of them…

“Eighteen.” the redhead offered, her tone rather faint.

Zoro looked like he’d rather die than answer, but caved when Josie’s fingers inched towards his cheeks again. There was a mischievous light in her eyes that threatened his peace.

“I’ll tell you if you stop touching me.” He slapped her hand away. “I’m nineteen. Closer to twenty, now.”

“Gee, what an age gap.” Josie sighed, holding her sore hand to her chest dramatically. “You guys really will be putting me in the retirement home one day. Make my kids visit, at least — if I survive long enough to have any.”

“You still like kids after working with them?” Nami asked dryly. “I would have thought you’d be tired of them.”

Josie squinted at the younger woman, recalling how her animated counterpart had loved kids (and Marine women). Had done well in handling and caring for them.

She wondered if that was something different in this world.

“I love kids, especially the little ones. I spent a few years running a two year old class before moving up into administration and they were definitely my favorite age group. Tantrums are hilarious — I love telling someone no. Probably why I’m not losing my mind over what happened with the clown.”

Nami and Zoro sobered at the reminder, remembering how Josie had been dragged off only to return red-eyed, covered in blood and face streaked with Buggy’s makeup. The general idea of what went down wasn’t a hard conclusion for them to leap to, even if Josie continued to play it off. 

The swordsman even had the gall to look faintly guilty, as if he’d had a hand in the violence done against a stranger.

Probably some savior-complex that raised its head when she chose him to hide behind.

Well, she wouldn’t do that again.

Ever in the dark about such matters, Luffy just snickered with amusement at the idea of his new crew mate treating his rival like a child.

“Still, something good came out of it.” Josie said cheerfully, drawing the others (sans Luffy) from their reflective melancholy. She grinned mischievously. “I stole his weed.”

The statement… didn’t have the effect she thought it would.

“You took his plants?” Luffy’s face scrunched up in confusion. “Do you like flowers or something? We could get a bucket of them when we get to the next island!”

While Josie struggled with a response to that, Nami’s brow began to raise in realization.

“You had a bag in your bra.” The redhead’s eyes dropped to the swell of Josie’s T-shirt reflexively before she blushed and dropped her gaze.

Josie grinned and reached down her shirt to retrieve it, mindless of Zoro’s scandalized expression.

He lived with two women now — he’d get used to it. A bra was the most convienent pocket a girl could have.

The teenagers’ faces crinkled with distaste when Josie opened the pouch, the heavy scent of marijuana encompassing them at once. She breathed in the familiar scent blissfully.

“Ew,” Luffy’s voice went nasally as he clapped a hand over his nose. “That smells funny.”

“You smoke reef?” Zoro’s lip curled with disgust. “You’re a nursery teacher.”

“All the more reason to.” Josie nodded sagely, packing the pipe with well practiced fingers. She was well aware of the stress brought on by dealing with children and knew the importance of having a good way to relax. “Don’t worry — I’ll stay downwind if the smell bothers you.”

“Go on top of the cabin or it’ll just circle the boat.” Nami sighed, the only one not leaning away from the older woman like she was a plague carrier. She didn’t seem overly happy with the habit, but was willing to allow it. “If I catch you smoking inside I’ll shave you bald.”

“Wouldn’t dare.” Josie grinned. “That’s your space first and foremost — you were just sweet enough to share.”

The navigator blushed and muttered to herself — something about not being sweet — and hurried away to study the map.

Zoro scowled at all of them before stomping inside, leaving Josie with Luffy.

Who promptly abandoned her in favor of sitting on the prow again, staring at the horizon like he could see all the way to Laugh Tale if he tried hard enough.

Josie watched him for a moment to make sure he wouldn’t fall, then stowed her pouch away again. She carried the pipe and the lighter carefully as she clambered her way over crates and barrels to sit atop the little cabin.

Normally, Josie avoided heights as a rule. She hated them, hated having her feet off the ground, and had suffered more than one nightmare where she fell to her doom. But this was probably the best place for her to smoke without getting in the others’ way. So she scooted to the center of the roof and made due. As long as she didn’t look directly over the side, she could keep her inane fear in check — and after she was high, she wouldn’t care anymore.

Despite being a bit further from direct sea spray, the scent of the ocean was still prominent. It was so clear, so clean — more than she’d dreamed the air could ever be. It was a world as it should be, free of the major pollution and waste that poisoned her own. Beautiful. It took her breath away.

Josie had little experience with the sea.

She lived too far from the coast to make more than the occasional visit every few years or so — and even then, they were far too short. She could count one one hand every time she’d trawled the beaches and the surf in the past ten years. Her last trip had only lasted for a weekend, most of her trip spent driving to her hotel and only a handful of hours dedicated to enjoying the ocean itself.

It had been a girls’ trip, Josie accompanying her younger sisters and their cousin by marriage — Sterling’s wife, Lacey — to spend a carefree couple of days trolling through tourist traps, shops and oddly themed restaurants. That mini-vacation had been the highlight of her life recently.

Being on a boat in the middle of the ocean couldn’t compare — something about this situation was just inherently better.

Josie didn’t have to worry about paying for her food or lodgings. Didn’t have to worry about traffic or other tourists crowding the sights she wanted to see. No wait times or closing hours. And, best of all, no paid parking.

She sighed contently as she lit up her bowl and brought it to her lips.

And there was this, too.

Isekai situation aside, Zoro was right. There really wasn’t much to do on the boat and Josie intended to get fucked up enough to enjoy it.

She coughed against the harsh taste of the weed, but braved another inhale and felt the effects almost immediately. A pleasant tingle settled in the back of her head, near the base of her skull, and slithered down her spine like warm chocolate. Decadent and smooth. Her tension ebbed away on the current they sailed on.

She’d always accustomed the feeling of being high as a type of tunnel vision. The world literally fell away around her when she smoked and, if it wasn’t directly in front of her, it didn’t exist.

Once, she’d even forgotten her cousin lived in a cul-de-sac while hotboxing with him in the car.

So forgetting everything around her but the gentle rise and fall of the waves was easy for Josie.

She forgot about her new crew mates, about the boat she was on. About the clown she’d kissed and nearly been maimed by. Forgot about the different worlds. Her mother waiting for her missing daughter to come home.

It was just her, the sea and a pipe full of weed.

Still, she’d had the forethought to only pack a little in her pipe for now.

Josie had only wanted to relieve her lingering aches for a bit and not deal with the stress of her situation — not be stoned out of her mind when they reached the next island.

Wherever that was.

“The road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began

Now far ahead the road has gone

And I must follow if I can…”

She sat there for a long time, the sun warming her skin until it felt hot and tight, only belatedly recalling she wasn’t alone when she heard someone humming along with her. She blinked in surprise, wondering just when she’d started singing under her breath.

“You’re taking this better than I expected.” her companion observed. “Singing about adventure and smoking a pipe like a true little Hobbit. But you always did like a good tale about far off lands, Jojo.”

“Shame this couldn’t have been The Hobbit.” Josie sighed. “I would have liked to meet the dwarves.”

“And smoked all the pipeweed you could get your hands on. Thorin would have left you in Rivendell — if you’d made it past the trolls.”

Josie turned her head with an annoyed pout. “I would have been fine, Uncle Mossy.”

The older man raised a disbelieving brow as he looked her over.

She huffed and crossed her arms defensively.

“I survived the clown, didn’t I?” Josie gave the man a pointed frown. “Anyway, I’m doing better than you — you’re dead.”

There was something else to this strain of marijuana — had to be for her to be chatting with a long-dead relative like Amos Jones.

He laughed at her. “True.”

The man looked just as she remembered him — long brown hair, mischievous crinkles at the corners of his eyes and a ridiculous handlebar mustache that he’d always been so proud of. Like an old cowboy.

Just as young, too. Amos hadn’t been much older than Josie was now when he’d died.

He was, perhaps, a little more translucent than she remembered. And his eyes were a solid white instead of having a warm, chocolatey brown center — the same shade as her own.

Probably because he was a ghost now.

Josie blinked and looked a bit closer.

“Are you… real?” she asked suddenly, feeling a bit more sober.

“Of course! I’m just rubber, is all.”

She blinked at that answer in bewilderment before turning to the unexpected speaker.

Luffy grinned at her guilessly from where he was dangling amidst the rigging hanging on the ropes like it was second nature to him.

“I think I’m higher than usual.” Josie muttered, setting her pipe aside with an accusatory look. “What’s up captain?”

“Nami wanted to know if you know anything about the Grand Line.” the teenager informed her cheerfully.

“I know a fair bit.” she answered honestly, thoughts of ghosts set aside in favor of something she could actually contribute to. “Care to help me down? We can look over the map together and I could answer any questions y’all have.”

Luffy helped her down from the roof, swinging them around like his namesake, and deposited Josie on the deck as gently as he could manage. Which wasn’t saying much, but at least he didn’t drop her.

She thanked him for the help, getting one of those cute dimpled smiles in return. His eyes lit up.

“Go ahead and talk to Nami!” he commanded, moving to a strip of black cloth laid out near the cabin. “I’m almost finished and I want to show you both something I made!”

She squinted at the fabric, a semblance of understanding settling in her mind, and bit her lip to hide an amused smile.

Luffy really was just like a child, excited to show off his… simple art skills to his friends.

Josie left him to his work and made her way to the prow where Nami had set up shop.

The navigator squinted at their stolen map with concern, a pair of wire-framed reading glasses perched on her nose. They made her look a bit older than someone barely on the threshold of adulthood. 

Watching your mother be murdered in front of you and then growing up under the thumb of said murderer would do that to a person, Josie thought.

Vaguely, Josie recalled a similar pair of glasses gracing the face of the woman’s animated counterpart and wondered if it was the lifetime spent pouring over maps and charts that had degraded Nami’s vision or if it was just a case of asthenopia. It didn’t seem like Arlong to have the girl checked over by an optomitrist for any strain the work caused.

“Reverse Mountain got your head spinning, huh?” Josie asked knowingly as she sat beside Nami. She leaned over her shoulder to peer at the map, her dark curls spilling onto the edges before she brushed them back. It was her first time seeing it outside the case and she was surprised by the detail of it.

There were some familiar names there — Louge Town being the most prominent.

“Is that what it is?” the navigator murmured, brow furrowing in thought. “I’ve never seen that before.”

“If you’re just sailing around the Blues, then it really wouldn’t come into play. It’s only an issue if you want to travel globally. Just getting into the Grand Line is a helluva ride — the rest is literally ups and downs. But it is the safest entrance.”

Josie reached a hand out to trace a line up the blue lines on the mountain.

“I forget the finer details, but we should find more information about the crossover in Louge Town. And a Log Pose.”

“A what?” Nami looked up at her with confusion. “I understand keeping a log, but why would you need a special one just for the Grand Line?”

Josie smiled endearingly, charmed by the innocence of the statement. “Not quite the same thing. It’s to replace our compass.”

“Wh—” Nami began, eyes wide.

“Hey! Hey, guys!” Luffy yelled, interrupting the navigator’s half-formed thought. “It’s ready!”

The girls stared as the young captain revealed his masterwork. Nami looked suitably unimpressed and Josie grinned fondly.

It really was as bad as the animation.

Luffy had worked hard on it, that much was obvious, but the poor Jolly Roger had three rows of teeth.

“You layered the paint really well.” Josie observed objectively, falling back into her teacher-voice. When a child showed you their work, it was better to state facts over opinions so that you didn’t taint their creativity with your own desires. It made them more independent instead of relying on doing things that might please their caretakers for attention’s sake. “It’s nice and bold.”

“Bold is one way to put it.” Nami said flatly. “What is it?”

“Our Jolly Roger!” Luffy said cheerfully, lowering the flag to grin over it. “Every pirate crew has to have one — and now we do!”

“We are not a crew and you are not hanging that on my boat.” Nami looked back at the map in a clear dismissal of the younger teen.

Luffy’s face fell slightly before he caught the scent of a new spectator. The boy whirled around, grin reenergized when he heard the cabin door creak open.

“Zoro! Zoro, check it out.”

The swordsman paused, taking in the painting with an expressionless face. At the least, he seemed less put off with the attempt than Nami did.

“That’s unique.” he finally offered, brow quirking. He passed Luffy to speak to the more capable sailor among them. “Nami, I think the toilet's busted.”

The girls exchanged a look of dread.

“We don’t have a toilet.” Nami blinked hard, as if asking the universe to deliver her a different set of words from the green haired man’s mouth.

“Which was a stupid part in planning when they built this boat.” Josie muttered scathingly. “Not everyone can pee over the side.”

To say that she’d been rightly horrified when presented with a bilge bucket last night would have been an understatement.

Really, even a small bathroom would have sufficed their needs. It just wasn’t sanitary.

Even Zoro looked confused with that revelation.

“Oh. Well, then something back there’s leaking.”

“What?” Nami swiftly rolled up the map, pushing past Josie to go look. Her expression upon exiting the cabin was furious. “We’re taking in water. What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything.” Zoro denied, unconcerned with the girl’s anger.

“The way you’re clanging those swords around all the time, you must’ve broken something.” She looked pointedly at the long sheaths dangling from the man’s hip.

A muscle in Zoro’s jaw twinged at that shot. “If you’re such a good thief, then maybe you should’ve stolen a better boat.”

Josie whistled lowly and averted her eyes. “Mom and Dad are fighting again. Awkward.”

The pair shot her a glare.

“Guys!” Luffy spoke up and moved forward to get everyone’s attention, shaking his flag. “Guys. Guys — okay, crew meeting.”

“Not a crew!”

Luffy ignored the other teens in favor of continuing his lecture.

“We’re gonna need a better ship if we’re gonna make it to the Grand Line.” he said seriously. “A real pirate ship. Worthy of the Straw Hat Crew.”

He tapped the brim of his own hat with a grin.

“With a bathroom.” Josie supplied, grinning when he pointed at her in delight.

“Wait.” Nami shook her head in disbelief. “Straw Hat Crew? Really?”

“Yeah, I thought it had a nice ring to it.”

“Demon has a nice ring to it.” Zoro scoffed, more of that unexpected pride showing again. “Headgear? Not scary.”

Luffy blinked. 

“Who said pirates have to be scary?” Nami and Zoro shared a look at the boy’s naivety. “The point is: we need a new ship. So — where do we get one?”

Nami sighed and unrolled the map again, hurrying to find their coordinates and the closest stop.

“Our closest bet is… the Gecko Islands. We can probably make it there before our ship sinks.” She looked up at the others for support, relief evident in her tone. “Ditch this one and get a better one.”

“Good. With a working toilet.” Zoro nodded, exchanging a look of understanding with Josie.

It was the first thing they had agreed on.

Nami gave them a look that was almost amused. Probably at the swordsman’s persistent refusal to take responsibility for their situation. At least the girl was taking it in stride instead of continuing their argument.

“Great job, navigator.” Luffy said proudly and gathered up his flag, eyeing the mast for the best place to hang it.

The redhead gave him a sharp look.

“You’re still not hanging that on my ship.”

Luffy’s grin took on a mischievous edge that spoke volumes.

Josie had no doubt that he’d at least try.

The island that they landed on wasn’t what Josie had expected.

Different from the high cliffed island of the animation, there were far more beaches for them to choose from instead of two sandy slopes. It didn’t seem to be as sleepy either, several old buildings visible from the shoreline in a manner reminiscent of an old European town. It reminded Josie of Italy with its twisting cobblestone paths and stone buildings.

Syrup Village in this world was a bustling town centered around a shipyard rather than the quiet collection of farms Josie was familiar with.

She looked around at it all with wide eyes, playing the part of a distracted tourist perfectly. Her curiosity was so encompassing of her attention that Nami had been forced to backtrack more than once to drag her along.

“Sorry,” Josie apologized after the third time. “This place is just different from what I’m used to.”

The redhead looked over the typical sea side village with disbelief. “You must not get out much.”

“I live pretty far inland.” Josie said sheepishly, eyes trailing over a large bell at the peak of the town. An old bronze thing that had seen better days and reminded her of the bells of Notre Dame. In a much smaller scale, of course.

“It’s a pirate alarm.” Nami informed her, following the older woman’s gaze. “To give the villagers enough time to evacuate and hide… You said you’ve never seen pirates up close, so this is your first time seeing one of these?”

“Pirates aren’t a thing where I’m from.” Josie thought of the rolling hills and endless fields of Alabama wistfully. She’d give anything to be annoyed by the persistent humidity and screaming cicadas again. Or even a deer watching her from the side of the road. “Too far from the sea.”

The navigator wore an unreadable expression.

“... lucky girl.”

“There are other things to worry about,” Josie protested half-heartedly, wanting to emphasize that her world wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. “There’s been some pretty bad floods through there the past few years. Tornadoes, mass disease, a government that only wants to fill their pockets off the poor… And there’s always people to watch out for. There’s no pirates, but human trafficking is still a thing.”

“Guess no matter where you go, people are still terrible.” Nami scoffed, pulling Josie towards a shop.

“To say the least.” She agreed quietly before looking over the window display. There were a few mannequins wearing clothes similar to Nami’s. “You’re clothes shopping? I thought we were gonna find a ship.”

“You’re clothes shopping.” Nami corrected as she headed opened the door. “And we’re doing both — I’m going to get some info while you start building a wardrobe.”

“With what money?” Josie asked dryly, gesturing to herself. She felt like the two day old jeans and borrowed T-shirt didn’t do her any favors.“This is all I got, hon.”

“Looks like a lot to me.” The redhead breathed, eyes glazing over again as she took in Josie’s generous curves.

“Nami,” Josie sighed, wanting to feel exasperated and failing. It was just too funny to see the girl falling for someone else’s charms when she’d always seemed untouchable in the animation. Memories of the old internet joke of ‘you useless lesbian’ came to mind more often with the extended exposure to the money-loving navigator.

Said navigator snapped out of her stupor with a jump, her fair nature betraying an embarrassed blush as she led Josie to the clothing racks.

“Just… go along with me on this.” she commanded, fingers flying through the clothes. “You need clothes and you can’t keep borrowing Luffy’s forever. And you need more than he can lend you, for sure.”

Josie peered down at her own breasts with amusement, accepting the argument silently.

It would be nice to wear something of her own again.

Still, she felt guilty when Nami actually paid for everything, the girls leaving the store with three bags full of basic wear and the boatswain wearing a new sundress. Josie knew what the money was for and felt bad about gaining from Nami’s struggle.

The navigator looked untroubled by the cost, however, and more pleased by the way Josie’s new dress kept fluttering around her thighs.

They met up with the boys on the main street of the plaza. It was close to the docks and had streets leading to every corner of the town. The true heart of the village.

“Hey!” Luffy called as he spotted the girls. “You got us a ship?”

“Workin’ on it.” Nami cocked her head in a shrug. Her tone turned expecting. “Did you push the sloop out to sea like I told you?”

It was like listening to her mother ask about if the chicken had been thawed for dinner, Josie thought with amusement.

“Yeah.” Luffy nodded seriously. “No marines are going to be following us here.”

Zoro and Nami shared a look that spoke of their skepticism and Josie wondered just what had gone down so differently in Shells Town to make them so on edge.

In the animation, the crew hadn’t run into any Marines until Fullbody at the Baratie — and that had been dealt with easily in the end.

“Well, we’re not going to be here for very long.” Nami looked at the boys with a triumphant gleam in her eyes. She was happy enough to share the information she’d gotten from the cashier at the boutique. “Turns out Syrup Village is known for their ship building. Lots of options.”

Excitement covered Luffy’s face.

“Well, what are we waiting for then?”

The rubber man didn’t wait for an answer, eagerly setting off down the street to find the perfect ship for their crew.

Nami smiled after him, looking amused and hopelessly fond for a moment before realization set it. She pointed wordlessly over her shoulder before running down the street.

While the redhead chased after the teen to turn him back in the right direction to the shipyard, Josie joined Zoro at the town bulletin board.

It was neatly done, up-to-date bounties and advertisements carefully arranged so that none overlapped.

At the bottom, surrounded by posters that proclaimed skilled workers looking for jobs, wanted ads, and missing items, was a familiar face on a bounty poster.

Buggy the Clown: 15,000,000 Beri

“Ah, the one that got away.” she sighed mockingly and rested a hand against her cheek.

The bounty hunter-turned-pirate scowled at her and ripped Buggy’s poster down in annoyance.

“Stupid clown.” he huffed. “Would’ve been good money.”

Josie hummed thoughtfully, head tilting to the side. “Probably. But the guy’s too smart and been at the game too long to be caught so easily — no offense.”

“How do you know so much about him if you’ve never even seen pirates before?” Zoro asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. “... you’re not some kind of pirate fangirl, are you?”

Josie laughed loudly at that.

If he only knew…

“I wouldn’t say that!” She protested with a grin. “Though, there are some I would like to meet — Whitebeard, for instance. The Giant Warrior Pirates, Luffy’s Shanks, anyone who survived from Roger’s crew… the Heart Pirates.”

“Whitebeard?” Zoro hissed incredulously. “Are you insane?”

“It’s inevitable, isn’t it?” She asked with amusement. “Luffy wants to be King. It’s likely we’ll run into the man somewhere along the way. Besides, I hear he’s a pretty awesome guy.”

“One of the Four Emperors… is an awesome guy?”

“... Shanks is also an Emperor. And he made an impression on Luffy, didn’t he?”

Zoro’s head whipped around to stare at the oblivious teen in question as Nami dragged him back into the townsquare.

“I didn’t think they were the same person!”

“Is Shanks a common name here?” Josie laughed. “Your world is so small, Zoro!”

The man looked affronted by that, dark eyes flashing. He stepped closer to her, voice low and dangerous as he loomed over her.

“You didn’t answer my question. How do you know so much about these pirates?”

Josie frowned at the sudden steel in his voice. She was really starting to get tired of men trying to intimidate her in this world. She had never put up with it before and had no intention to do so now.

“Like I said, I’m well read. Pirates were always interesting to me. No ulterior motives, I swear.” She said flatly, her own tone short and clipped as her temper flared. She leaned forward, pressing up on her toes until her nose brushed Zoro’s. “Get. Off. My. Back.”

She shot him one last scathing look before flouncing over to join the others, pointedly ignoring Zoro as she looped her arm through Luffy’s and engaged him in a debate about what an ideal ship should have.

The swordsman’s face had darkened with discontent — not too far off from his usual neutral expression — but he made no attempt to press the issue. Zoro lingered at the back of their party, ignoring Nami’s increasingly curious stare.

The docks were as lively as one could expect from a shipyard. Ships and smaller boats sat in the harbor, a colorful array that ranged from unfinished hulls of plain wood to masterfully built barques, sloops, and bilanders, ready to sail out at a moment’s notice. Tall brigantines and clippers loomed over them, their broad sails blocking out the sun and creating large patches of shade. The scent of sawdust and resin hung heavily in the air, swirling around salty sea air like a statement, a testament to the fact that this town was, first and foremost, made to build ships.

“Look at ‘em all.” Luffy said in wonder as they crossed the maze of docks, nearly dragging Josie alongside him. She craned her neck back as well, taking it all in with wide eyes as she was introduced to one of the best parts of life at sea.

There was so much variety in this tiny town that it blew her mind.

“How much do these cost?” Zoro asked from behind them.

“If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.” Nami informed him matter-of-factly.

“Okay, so we need to get one with a very, very impressive figurehead.” Luffy said emphatically, gesturing with his free hand. “At least two… No, no three masts! And a really high crow’s nest.”

Josie blanched at the idea.

“Yeah, how exactly is the watch rotation gonna work? Because I’m not a fan of heights, y’all…”

Nami gave the woman a pitying look before shaking her head at Luffy.

“We are not gonna be able to sail a ship anywhere near that size. There’s only four of us.” She insisted logically, trying to make Luffy look past his daydreams in favor. A lofty, but unattainable goal.

“Four of us, right now.” The boy countered easily, eyes alight with the possibilities the future held. No doubt thinking of the cook and musician he so desperately coveted.

Nami scoffed a laugh. “Well, unless you can find another weird, desperate soul to help us…”

“Don’t underestimate his instincts.” Josie warned with an amused quirk of her lips. “I have a feeling that it’ll be a pattern with him.”

“Speak for yourself.” Zoro muttered, annoyed at being lumped in with the weird and the desperate crowd.

The girls shared a look before Nami returned to her point.

“Listen,” she sighed. “We are going to need something a little less flashy if we wanna sneak out of here.”

Luffy slowed to a stop, his grin slipping, and Josie paused with him. The dark haired pair looked at each other with concern as Nami and Zoro continued on before noticing the break.

“You want to steal a ship?”

The disapproval in the young captain’s tone drew the more colorful pair to a surprised halt.

The navigator scoffed incredulously after a moment. “How else did you expect us to get one?”

She crossed her arms and looked at him expectantly.

“I don’t know.” Luffy shrugged. “But we can’t steal one.”

“What kind of pirate are you?” Nami asked, not really pitying the boy… but like she wanted him to really think about his life choices.

Luffy’s brow lowered and he looked between his friends.

“A ship is not just a ship. It’s a part of our crew.” he insisted, trying to make them see his point. It was obviously one of the things he considered important for the kind of pirate he was aiming to be. “We need to find the perfect one — and we’re gonna get it the right way.”

“Okay, pitch that to the salesman. I’m sure that’ll win him over.” the redhead said sarcastically, sharing a look with Zoro.

Luffy smiled in satisfaction.

“Exactly!”

He tugged on Josie’s arm, continuing his search with her in tow.

“I’m sure it’ll work out.” Josie said firmly, grinning up at her captain. “We’ll find someone who’ll understand and the ship’ll be all the better for it, coming from someone with a good heart. It will be a home we can take pride in.”

It was easy to see why Zoro and Nami were so skeptical of the boy’s plans, but Josie was too familiar with the way his mind worked after following the animation for years. Perhaps it was cheating, but she knew that having faith in him would always be the best course of action. With Luffy, they would end up where they needed to be and find a way to get what they needed, even if it didn’t seem clear at first glance.

Luffy tugged his arm free to wrap it around her shoulders instead and drew Josie into a hug.

“You understand,” he said proudly.

It was like being embraced by the sun, being in Luffy’s arms and in the face of his pride. Josie could see the appeal — and the danger — of being near him for any extended amount of time. The feeling of safety and security he offered, the sense of freedom, was all too addicting. She’d never felt that way before.

She hugged him back tightly before tilting her head in confusion.

She could have sworn that she heard someone call her name, the sound barely more than a whisper and easy to miss beneath the chaos of construction work.

The rubber man did the same, peering over her shoulder. “Did you hear that?”

Josie turned and squinted down a narrow side path, little more than a few planks of wood balanced over the water. She couldn’t see anyone watching them, but the hot afternoon sun had brought a mist to the water that made it hard to see details around the shipyard. There could be someone there…

“I… think? It was so soft, but I could hear something even with all this racket…”

“C’mon.” Luffy grabbed her hand and pulled her forward, easily maneuvering the narrow path.

Whoever — or whatever — it was they were chasing, Luffy was clearly more in tune with it than she was.

He came to a sudden stop, narrowing his eyes against the sea mist before huffing a quiet laugh, like the breath had been knocked from his lungs by the sight.

The young captain squeezed Josie’s hand and leaned to the side so she could see what he found.

“Oh!” she gasped, eyes wide as they landed on a somewhat familiar ship.

It was the Going Merry come to life, a bit more rugged and less colorful than Josie had expected, but she was learning that little in this world was.

The figurehead was bigger than both her and Luffy put together, its mouth open wide in greeting, and she wondered if it had known they were coming — if it was calling to its captain.

Anything was possible with a Straw Hat, even if the ship hadn’t been officially christened yet. And this was the Merry, the ship that had accomplished the impossible and had a will of its own.

Luffy dropped her hand, slowly stepping closer and looking a bit dazed.

Josie shot him a look of concern, but followed closely as he ascended the scaffolding around the ship. She kept her eyes pointedly fixed on her captain’s back and tried not to think of the wood potentially collapsing beneath them.

Luffy stared at the wooden ram’s head in awe, slowly raising a hand to touch the chin.

Josie was too short to even think about closing the distance and chose to memorize the face of their new home instead. It looked so alive, like the figurehead could suddenly blink and start bleating at them any moment.

“Real beauty, huh?” A new voice asked, full of understanding in the face of their admiration.

Josie blinked and tipped her head back in search of the speaker.

Luffy gaped at the figurehead. “You can talk?”

A dark head popped over the side of the railing to look at him in disbelief.

“No! Over here!” Luffy and Josie leaned to the side and met the boy’s eyes. He waved a chisel in greeting. “Yo.”

Luffy took his sudden appearance in stride, familiar grin stretching his face. He wrapped an arm around Josie’s waist to steady her and led her closer to the boy she was quickly beginning to recognize.

He was everything she’d hoped the real life Usopp would be, more human than an exaggerated caricature of a long-nosed liar from the animation, with smooth dark skin, heavy lidded eyes, and a lovely straight nose that most certainly didn’t stick out of his face like a certain wooden puppet from Disney studios. Not to mention the absolutely adorable smile he had.

He looked a lot like her younger brothers, honestly.

Josie wanted to wrap him up in a blanket and hide him away from the world.

“This ship is amazing.” Luffy said earnestly.

Usopp’s eyes widened a bit at the sight of that infectious grin when the rubber man got close enough to turn the full force of it on the unsuspecting sniper. He ducked his head, a faint flush darkening his ears, and played off the motion by running a rag over the railing.

“Yep.” he agreed quietly, peeking at Luffy from beneath his lashes.

Huh, Josie raised her eyebrows curiously.

“What can you tell me about her?” Luffy pushed on obliviously, unaware of the effect he was having on the other teen. Josie sympathized — she had felt the same way, sucker-punched by the rubberman’s natural charm.

“Caravel class, top-of-the-line. Ninety-six feet of pure luxury. Whipstaff rudder, full galley. Cannon decks fore and aft.” Usopp listed confidently, finishing with a kiss to his fingers like he’d just produced a five-star meal. He obviously had a history with the boat and knew it like the back of his hand.

Josie grinned at the gesture and the return of the boy’s confidence.

“And the bathroom?” she asked eagerly. If she remembered correctly — and hoped that the feature would carry over into this world — the Merry had a lovely soaker tub.

“Practically a spa.” the boy bragged, grinning at her.

“Is she fast?” Luffy was practically bouncing on his feet, eyes alight with joy. He was the very picture of a kid on Christmas and was just as eager to jump onboard and explore.

“The fastest.” Usopp confirmed proudly. “Not a ship in the East Blue can keep up with this baby.” He patted the railing with an exaggerated sigh.

And if that wasn’t the truth now, it soon would be with Nami navigating.

Luffy laughed gleefully. It was easy to see that he was already in love with the ship. “She’s perfect!”

“You can say that again.” Usopp agreed, looking pleased with himself.

“There you are.” a familiar voice interrupted.

Josie glanced down at the dock to see their missing friends fast approaching, Nami peering up at them like a mother after her wayward children.

“Guys! I found it.” Luffy stepped to the side and presented the ship joyfully. “I found our ship — and this guy will sell it to us!”

He hurried down the scaffold, his feet pounding against wood and causing the structure to wobble. Josie followed at a more cautious pace. She glanced over her shoulder to gauge Usopp’s reaction.

While the teen had seemed happy at first with the others’ arrival, his amusement quickly soured into panic with Luffy’s words.

“U-uh, wait. Whaaat? Uh…” he stammered, hurrying to join them. His hands twisted nervously around his tools.

“Yeah!” Luffy continued obliviously. “The ship — we’ll take it.”

“Technically… she’s not for sale.” Usopp said in a way that reminded Josie of all the teenagers she’d worked with in college. He didn’t want to upset them, but he didn’t want them to just leave either.

“Huh?”

“And technically… I’m not a salesman?”

Nami put her hands on her hips and shook her head.

“Do you even work here?” she asked in exasperation.

“Of course I do.” Usopp looked at Luffy sheepishly before continuing with false bravado. “I’m Chief Technician in charge of encrustation removal and aviary waste eradication.”

Well, there’s someone who knows how to spice up their resume, Josie thought and muffled a laugh.

“Encruwhat?” Luffy’s brow furrowed with confusion.

“He scrubs barnacles and cleans bird shit.” Zoro summarized flatly.

“He can’t help us.” Nami concluded, crossing her arms in disapproval.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Usopp protested. “I can help you. The owner of this ship just happens to be my closest friend in the world.”

“Your friend owns this ship?” Nami asked dubiously, eyeing the boy’s workworn clothes. He certainly didn’t look like he was rubbing elbows with anyone wealthy, especially doing grunt work around the shipyard.

“Not just this one — she owns the whole shipyard.” Usopp boasted, waggling his eyebrows. “She’s rich-rich.”

“Oh!” Luffy looked impressed, at least. 

Usopp looked rather relieved by the other boy’s renewed faith.

“I’m sure you could strike a deal with her.” he offered hopefully.

The younger boys wore identical expressions, both staring at the older crew mates beseechingly — like a pair of puppies begging for a treat.

Nami looked at Zoro, then Josie before shrugging, no doubt thinking about all the things she could steal from someone that was ‘rich-rich’.

“Well, I guess it couldn’t hurt to say hello.”

Josie whistled through her teeth as Usopp led them through the gates to Kaya’s mansion.

Much like the tall, wrought-iron bars that fenced in the grounds, the mansion itself was the very picture of opulence. It reminded Josie of the old sugar plantations from the south, being a mostly rectangular building with tall columns spaced out over hidden pathways on the sides. It loomed in the distance like a beacon, a crown to the town it thrived around.

The gardens were beautiful, too. There were tall, meticulously trimmed hedges that bordered the courtyard and path to the mansion, interspersed with more colorful flower beds and delicate, spindly trees for shade over stone benches. Arranged around the courtyard and well were a quartet of hedge animals, one even trimmed to resemble a panda bear.

I found Pandaman, Josie thought to herself, grinning at the sight.

Her mind, ever fixed on the content she consumed back home, wandered to the more malevolent hedge animals from Stephen King’s The Shining.

Her grin slipped and she stepped closer to Nami in an attempt to further herself from the fauna.

There are no ghosts here, she told herself firmly. And no evil hotel looking to trap them forever. Just one lonely girl and her evil butler.

“This place is really ridiculous, isn’t it?” Nami scoffed, misinterpreting Josie’s unease.

“It’s a lot, even for a whole family.” the boatswain agreed cautiously.

“I’ve never seen a house this big before!” Luffy bounded into the cobblestone courtyard, taking it all in with wide eyes.

“Impressive, right?” Usopp asked smugly, grinning at the place. “Kaya’s given me an open invitation to drop by anytime I want.”

Josie hummed at that, a mischievous sparkle coming to life in her eyes.

“Probably wants you to be familiar with it all before she puts a ring on you.” she commented slyly, enjoying how the boy’s face went red.

Fortunately for him, Luffy still couldn’t read a room.

“Wow. All of this just for one person?”

Usopp jumped on the chance to change subjects.

“Well, she lives here with her butler and a few other staff.” he explained, his face falling.

Josie couldn’t blame him for the sudden melancholy.

Living alone did get lonely at times. 

It was a fact that she had learned the hard way, especially when she was sick and living alone without her mother there to help care for her.

She had never felt more alone in life than when she’d been stuck on the bathroom floor, too weak to move and with only a bathmat to rest on.

“Imagine filling it up with all y’all’s kids!” she said brightly, ignoring the pang in her chest, before squinting critically at the mansion. “You’ve got a lot of work ahead of you.”

Usopp stumbled and nearly fell into the well, only saved by Luffy’s quick reflexes.

The air around them, displaced by their sudden movements, carried a sour smell out of the well that made Josie gag. She covered her nose in alarm and stared at the well.

Usopp and Luffy, balancing over the lip of the structure, looked unbothered.

“Do y’all smell that?” Her brow furrowed at their unaffected faces.

It was so strong and pungent, like meat left to rot.

Josie had seen her share of roadkill on the side of the road and had to hurry to roll her car windows up before the smell of them invaded her car. This smell was similar, only much more foul and intense.

“The flowers?” Luffy asked, tilting his head back to sniff the air. “Oh, yeah! Maybe Kaya’ll let us take some since you like plants!”

Josie frowned and looked to the others for aid.

Nami and Zoro seemed no more concerned than the rubberman, though the navigator did look put off by the sight of the mansion.

“Smells like a lot of wastefulness to me.” the redhead muttered with a roll of her eyes. “Money really shows you who people truly are. Most people only care about themselves and what’s theirs.”

“Sounds like someone I know.” Zoro said under his breath, cutting his eyes at the fair woman in judgement.

Nami brushed off the comment with a shrug. “And a small staff makes for easy pickings.”

“Why? You’re gonna rob the place blind?”

“At least a little blurry.” Nami smirked.

Josie gaped at her in horror, looking over her shoulder at Usopp to see if he’d overheard.

The boy was still leading the way, Luffy hot on his heels as they laughed and hopped across the pond by using large lily pads.

“Nami,” she hissed, stretching up to reach the girl’s ear. “You can’t be serious!”

“What?” the redhead asked guilessly. “It’s not like she’ll miss anything. This place is so big, she won’t even notice a few trinkets being gone.”

“You’ll get Usopp in trouble.” Josie protested. “He’s trying to help us and stealing from his friend won’t do their relationship any favors. Listen to how he talks about her! That’s not just plain friendship.”

“You really think she’s his friend?” Nami scoffed. “Rich people don’t care about you if you’re poor. If she cared that much, he’d be living with her instead of working for her. He’s not even taking us to the front door — she doesn’t want people to see him coming here.”

Coincidentally, Luffy spoke up, voicing an aid to the navigator’s argument.

“So if you have an invitation, why are we going around the back way?” the boy asked innocently.

Usopp hesitated, his mouth pressed into a nervous line before he pushed on with false bravado.

“Oh, I never use the front entrance — this is more of a VIP entrance reserved for special guests.”

“This guy’s full of shit.” Zoro snorted, looking pointedly at Nami.

She shrugged. “Yeah, but as long as he gets us inside the house, who cares?”

Josie growled in frustration, falling behind the others and shaking her shopping bags in a silent display of anger before stalking after the kids.

She had forgotten what it was like to be around teenagers and their more devil-may-care attitudes. She was seven years older than her youngest sibling, the only teenager left between them, and had grown accustomed to the maturity her siblings were growing into as they moved into their twenties.

Perhaps it was because she was used to them following her advice or the fact that she was closer to the age where one considered the consequences more carefully before taking action, but being blown off by the younger crew mates was really grating on her nerves.

Josie couldn’t wait for Robin to join them.

Then she could relinquish her title of Pirate Den Mother to the older woman and let her deal with that headache.

Still, for the time being, it was up to Josie to keep the others from accidentally sabotaging the relationship between Kaya and Usopp.

(And she truly hoped there was more to it here than them just being ‘best friends’.)

As they drew closer to the mansion, a wet slosh caught Josie’s attention and made her pause.

Beneath the porch, there were a pair of staff, the smaller being a slim woman with blue hair. She was vigorously mopping the floor while her companion cleaned the fat and skin off of a hog that was probably the night’s dinner. The larger of the pair, a big bellied man with an odd, curling hairstyle, looked up from his work to scowl at them.

Buchi and Sham, Josie realized with no small sense of horror.

As if Kuro being around wasn’t enough, they would have to deal with the Black Cat Pirates’ specialty duo slinking around right beneath their noses.

She wondered if Jango was hiding somewhere in the bushes disguised as a groundskeeper.

Usopp pulled up short as he locked eyes with Buchi, pivoting on his lily pad to stop Luffy.

“Oops — you know, there’s actually a more exclusive entrance back this way.” the sniper said quickly.

Luffy barely had time to look confused before a meat cleaver buried itself in the lily pad between Usopp’s feet.

The boy gasped and turned to the cook, mouth gaping in shock.

“The hell are you doing here, Usopp?” the man asked darkly, moving down the steps towards them.

Behind him, Sham — who was apparently a woman in this world — raised her mop like a weapon.

“Buchi, buddy, uh,” Usopp said nervously, practically spitting his words in his haste to explain himself. “Kaya’s expecting me.”

“Another one of your lies.” Buchi sneered, grabbing Usopp by the straps of his overalls and lifting him effortlessly. The boy kicked his feet, the toes of his boots skimming the top of the pond before he was dragged back onto the lawn. “You ain’t welcome here and you know it.”

“I know nothing of the sort!” Usopp exclaimed. “I’m here to give Kaya an extra-special gift.”

“Usopp!” a feminine voice cried with delight, drawing everyone’s attention to the side of the house.

Sham hurriedly righted her mop and straightened up.

Buchi held onto Usopp a moment longer, visibly fighting the urge to throttle the teenager, before lowering him back down. He kept his hands fisted around the overall straps, pinning the sniper in place and keeping him from the lady of the house as she rounded the corner, practically hanging off of her butler’s arm.

“What a wonderful surprise.” Kaya said breathlessly, seeming winded by the simple action of walking down the stairs.

Usopp smirked smugly at Buchi, brushing him off and hurrying towards the waifish blonde with a more genuine smile.

“Kaya!” he exclaimed, making her laugh shyly. “Happy birthday.”

“You remembered.” she said fondly, loosening her vice grip on Kuro’s arm. It seemed like the mere sight of Usopp had returned some of her strength, her pale face gaining a bit of color.

“Of course I did.” the boy smiled. He straightened, smile slipping a bit when Kuro cleared his throat pointedly.

Josie shivered as the man adjusted his glasses, using his palm as he did in the animation.

Years of avoiding cutting himself with his own weapon, she remembered with a grimace. She stepped closer to Zoro on instinct before remembering her resolve to not use him as a shield, moving away from him at the last moment.

It left her in the open, in full view of the disguised pirates, but she didn’t want Zoro left with whatever guilt he’d felt last time when things went sour. He’d probably be even more unpleasant if he thought he failed again.

Josie would rely on herself this time.

The swordsman frowned at her, noticing the aborted action, and rested a hand on his sword hilts. He clenched his jaw, a muscle ticking there, and glared at the butler with discontent.

“Usopp.” Kuro said quietly, his voice even and full of polite distaste. “We’ve had this discussion — you mustn’t show up unannounced.”

Josie looked at the awkward expression on the sniper’s face and held back a snort of derision.

She was sure he’d tried that before, at least once or twice, and had been turned away by the disguised crew without a word to Kaya. They wanted her as isolated as possible.

After all, who would look for a sickly, lone girl around town if she was always at home and had her staff running her errands.

Kuro could have easily done away with Kaya and no one would have been the wiser for some time.

Unless Merry was there to watch out for her, Josie bit her lip. They hadn’t seen the sheep-like man yet and she hoped that Kaya had at least one trustworthy employee on hand.

… speaking of trustworthy companions, she wondered where the Usopp Pirates were.

The only children she had seen were back in town — and none of them resembled vegetables like the young friends of Usopp in the animation.

Maybe it’s better they aren’t around.

Josie didn’t know if she could control herself if there were children in danger.

It was bad enough that all her new friends were teenagers.

Her mama bear instincts would go out of control.

(She already had a target painted on Buchi for his manhandling of Usopp.)

“Nonsense, Klahadore.” Kaya said, drawing Josie from her thoughts. She watched the girl relace her arm with the butler’s and give him a reproachful look before turning back to Usopp. “Have you come to tell me another story? I do love hearing about your adventures.”

Usopp brightened at the attention. Like a flower turning towards the sun.

“I’ll do you one better — I brought some of my crew.”

Josie giggled at the others’ stunned expressions.

So that was why he brought them along — he wanted to impress his girlfriend.

“Is he talking about us?” Luffy asked in bewilderment, looking at his friends for clarification.

Nami and Zoro exchanged a concerned look.

“It’s so nice to meet you.” Kaya addressed them with genuine joy. “You all must stay for dinner.”

A smile slid across Luffy’s face, instantly enamoured with the girl. He likely already considered her a friend for offering to feed them.

“A dinner that’s more than hardtack and dried fruit would be wonderful.” Josie sighed longingly, grinning when Kaya met her eyes with amusement.

The blonde had the warmest brown eyes and a beautiful smile despite her sickly, gray pallor.

“Miss Kaya, it is a bit last minute.” Kuro interrupted carefully, ignoring the way Usopp’s face settled into resignation. How many excuses could the butler make to keep the boy away? “I’m afraid the kitchen hasn’t prepared for any extra guests.”

“On her birthday?” Josie couldn’t help but ask, giving the girl a pitying look. She turned to Buchi, the apparent cook looking startled beneath her sudden attention. “I’d be willing to help y’all out with the prep if she really wants us here.”

“Please, Klahadore.” Kaya begged, using Josie’s words to her advantage. “Like she said, it’s my birthday. Can’t be too much trouble, can it?”

Sham rolled her eyes at the display, Buchi peering warily over her head at his captain.

Still, Kuro played his part to the letter, seeming to cave beneath the pair of beseeching brown eyes the girls were giving him.

“Of course, Miss Kaya.” he agreed quietly, glancing away from the blonde to look Josie over with a frown. His brow quirked before he turned back to the girl in his care. “Anything for you — though I won’t have a guest doing housework. It wouldn’t be proper.”

Kaya and Usopp shared a relieved smile.

“Alright!” Luffy clapped enthusiastically, looking at everyone with his signature grin. “When do we eat?”

“You don’t.” Kuro cut him off flatly. “Not dressed like that. Sham, kindly show Usopp and his friends to the guest suites. You will bathe and change before dinner.”

“A bath does sound nice.” Nami grinned excitedly, looking genuinely happy for once.

Josie couldn’t stifle her giggle at the subtle way Usopp sniffed himself.

Her humor fled when the noise drew Kuro’s attention back to her, his eyes drifting over the crisp sundress that Nami had talked her into wearing. She did look rather different from her friends, more ready to visit the lady of the house than her more casually dressed friends.

Coming to the mansion reminded Josie of visiting her grandmother’s house.

The woman was never pleased when her grandchildren came in anything other than their Sunday best and Josie had more than enough experience dealing with disapproving authority figures.

She knew how to handle this.

Drawing up every ounce of sweet Southern charm she had been raised with, Josie smiled at Kaya and stopped to speak to the girl as her friends followed Sham inside.

“Miss Kaya,” She inclined her head gracefully at the younger woman. “On behalf of my friends and I, I would like to thank you for your hospitality. The past few days have been particularly… energetic and a chance to decompress is an appreciated one.”

“You’re quite welcome, Miss…” The blonde trailed off curiously, wearing a kind smile that seemed to be her default expression.

“Harper. Harper Josie, to be precise. Please forgive me for forgetting to introduce myself first — I've been a bit out of sorts recently.” Josie pressed a hand to her cheek and looked down.

“Forgive my forwardness, if you will,” Kuro said softly, surprising the women. His sharp eyes were fixed on Joise much like his epithet — like a cat sizing up a mouse. “But you seem rather… out of place amidst your companions, Miss Harper. You have much grace and a well-educated air about you. It was very kind of you to offer your assistance.”

Josie peered at him from beneath her lashes, playing up the part of bashfulness as she regarded the man’s sudden interest. She really hoped catching the eye of some washed up, middle aged pirate wouldn’t become a habit. Still, she hoped it was merely a physical interest the man had for her, rather than the beginnings of another long-term scheme.

“Ah, that would likely be the upbringing I had. My grandmother is a rather well-to-do woman. By my understanding, Miss Kaya and I are similar in that regard — apart from my sudden displacement from home, obviously. Pirates… can be quite a storm to weather on these seas.”

It was a vague enough explanation that would let the pair come to their own conclusions.

Kaya’s face softened sympathetically. She reached out to give Josie’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I see. You must be exhausted, Miss Harper. Please, make yourself comfortable tonight and try to find some peace.”

Josie murmured a thanks to the younger woman and turned to follow the others. She could see why Usopp was so besotted with the girl. Her kind and earnest temperament made her easy to like. Not to mention that she was beautiful.

If she was a bit older, Josie might’ve developed her own crush. She always did have a thing for blondes.

A gentle touch to her elbow stopped her and Josie’s blood ran cold when she noticed the gloved hand on her arm. Another recurring situation.

“If I may be so bold,” Kuro murmured, eyes glinting behind his glasses. “Whatever storm you have weathered has done little to mark you, Miss Harper. Even amidst the soil of the earth, you have retained the shine of a more precious metal. Please, do let me know if you need anything.”

“... I shall.” Josie breathed after a moment, eyes wide with shock. If she didn’t know the man’s true nature, she’d have been fooled by the act herself. It was frightening to see firsthand how well the man could play his part.

Kaya had a similar expression on her face, though tinged with excitement. When the older woman moved to rejoin her friends, the blonde burst into a whispered commentary of her companion’s thinly veiled compliments. She seemed ecstatic by the interaction and was full of enthusiasm for it to continue.

Josie rounded the corner of the building and pressed a hand to her cheek again, this time feeling both flushed and chilled. Goosebumps erupted over her arms and she had the strange feeling that she had just stared down her own death and just barely escaped.

What the actual fuck?

[tamarayoga1]

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