Sofia was slowly building up the foundations for the "Black Ties" - the business alliance she wanted to set up. That she needed to set up, because without any cash, she wouldn't be able to survive out here in the harsh pirate world. Money ruled everything - it was why plenty of pirates became pirates in the first place, to steal money; or things which have value in money.

And to make the Black Ties fully, she would need allies. Partners with the right skills to bring fruition to all of them together; mutual collaboration.

Luckily, she had managed to get in contact with a certain "Mr. Cebolla" by coincidence. However, they still needed to meet in person and fully introduce themselves, but the prospects looked very good so far.

The young woman was waiting quite a bit earlier than they had scheduled at a small café. She was seated on the outside, under a wide umbrella, sipping on a straw that lead to a glass of lemonade. The climate had started to get warmer lately, and she wondered if going around in this dress all day was worth it. Maybe once she got out more, she would go get some adventure-worthy attire. If pirates attacked her now, would she be able to defend herself? Probably yes, but with the right clothing, it would be easier.

She stroked her chin and looked at the other women around, trying to get ideas as to what to get for herself, as she waited for the man to arrive.

Sofia blinked, and just stared with a blank smile the impressive scene that Cebolla had set up. This guy was incredible, and she didn't know too well how to react to all of it.

But, all the better, honestly. She took a sip of lemonade and then nodded. "Yes, I am Sofia." she chuckled. "I'm glad that you're here - Cebolla, yes?"

He also apparently seemed to have special powers - very likely Devil Fruit ones, she assumed. Unless there was some new kind of martial art that could control... white tar? No. Wax. Like the kind from candles.

Excellent. This would do very well. She had initially thought she would have to talk over things for a while to see how he fared in this shady, horrid world of pirates, but this "introduction" alone had already convinced her. However, she then felt that she had to give him at least a good idea of herself too.

"Very impressive, by the way." she then smiled. "Please let me introduce myself fully. I am Phillipa Sofia, the Lady of Sofia. A noble of a small island, over at the Blues. I've got quite the experience in business from that - however, I feel I'm humbly behind you when it comes to combat prowess. But - I'm working on it, eagerly. I already have some plans myself for getting my hands on a Fruit as well. I hope that we can work together."

Then she shrugged and giggled.

"And have fun doing it, heh. I feel like business together will be an exciting adventure."

"Ah, yes." she then mentioned with a nod. "You see, it will be like an alliance. I don't intend to be a 'captain' of a 'crew', just a sort of secretary of an alliance of people with mutual interests. For example, holding land is quite lucrative right now, but it may be attacked by pirates and whatnot who want to take over it. Being in a group for mutual protection would come very much in handy for that. Just the threat alone of going against just, united, could do very well as a deterrent, and that's value. Value for no effort!"

The girl then rose a finger. "Also: logistics. I'm sure we'll want to make transport between different islands for the purpose of commerce. If we go separately, each of us will need a navigator and a Log Pose to get around these waters. But, if we're grouped up, we'll only need one for the lot of us."

She followed by holding her chin and looking slightly upwards. "I already have in mind a prospect navigator for us - a former Marine girl. She's quite promising, and has experience on the sea. And best of all - no bounty of their head. They should probably do for our transport issues."

"And, about bounties." she then mentioned. "Luckily, I have none on my head - and I intend to keep it like that for a long time. And neither does anyone else I've scouted for the group. But, should someone get into... trouble, we could help them out. Act as trusted proxies for them if we're available, until they get everything sorted out, so that their business isn't halted by small setbacks."

"As far as the government is concerned, no. Black Ties wouldn't deal with pirates." she mentioned. "Because it's quite likely to be illegal. And that would make us pirates. Or whatever label they'd like to give us for it."

"So, officially: no, we wouldn't. Officially." she emphasized. She hoped that she would catch the drift that, provided that its concealed and secret, they could indeed deal with pirates.

"...I'm personally aiming to reform pirates." she then admitted. "I want them to rejoin society - to become people again. Lately with so much 'Absolute Justice' around and throwing people into jails, it's been a bit difficult, but ultimately, that's my goal. I just want peace for everyone. To make steps towards a feasible Utopia."

"Fighting is such a waste. There is no net gain - only loss. It's a forced transfer of value, after all." the girl continued. "So, I aim to end the fighting. I want to end the age of pirates, and to bring a new era to mankind. One lead by peace and then, progress."

She then shrugged. "Of course, to finance that, I'll need a lot of money. I've got to be pragmatic about approaching that goal, after all. Hence why I made this group. The best way to get rich is to have allies, after all. And the best I can offer those allies is to become rich in the same way."

The noble then chuckled. "But, that would just be my own 'hobby', if you will. Unrelated to the professional enterprise that Black Ties would be - Black Ties would purely to make money for its members. How you spend it is up to you."

"So, how about it?" Sofia then asked. "Would you like to join, Cebolla?"

"Ah." she mentioned with a soft chuckle. "I've got the papers here, one second..."

She then pulled out a small folder from her purse and unfolded a contract.

"Here we go. With this thing, we're official." she mentioned. "It says that we're simply part of the same business group as partners."

And so it did, although in the usual obscure legal terms.

"I'll write my name in..." she then muttered, and produced a pen, to then write in her name in all caps onto a dotted line, to then make a fancy signature at the appropriate space below.

"There we go." she then confirmed, and showed the paper, to then slide it over to Cebolla. "Please sign over there and sign."

She then put her hands together and stretched them upwards. "Aaaaah..." and then towards her back "Aaah, well. That would be that. I'm so glad to have found you, really. I think... I can get to the World Government Office real quick after this for their bureaucracy to do their thing with this registry and whatnot. I think there's about an hour before they close? But maybe there's a queue? Hrm. Maybe they're the kind that open until later to do a service to the people. Oh well. We'll see"

The girl then took a sip from her Lemonade.

"Oh!" she then exclaimed. "Do you have a Den Den? To exchange contacts."

She then showed a wristwatch and tapped it to reveal a small slug-like being encased beneath.

"Awesome!" she then chuckled to then clap her hands together gently, as she peered over at the signed paper. Gently, she took it back once and tucked it into its small case to then put it into her purse.

"And I think this should do! That's everything." she nodded to herself. "I'm very grateful for having had this meeting with you Cebolla, I appreciate it."

The girl then made a short curtsy. "Now, if I may, I have to excuse myself out" she mentioned. "Got quite a few things to do now!"

She then lightly jogged over to the bar's counter and requested the tab for her to then pay it, then she took her skirt with her fingers and started to rush over the Government office. When she arrived at it, it was luckily not closed yet, and there was no queue. She was in luck!

Then, she spend the rest of the following couple of minutes talking to the lady behind the counter of the place, arranging the paperwork that she needed made in order to constitute the "Black Ties" as an even larger entity - after all, she now had three members! Herself included. Things were going pretty well, and she was proud of herself, and very grateful to the two guys who had joined her.

After getting stamps from that office onto her papers, she then made her way back home - she wanted to plan more about what she was going to do to arrange making Black Ties even greater. All of this was just so exciting that she couldn't wait!

[EXIT]