Link to Registration thread: https://strawhats.rpg-board.net/t1596-the-first-rehabilitation-grand-voyage

Sofia was at Shaobody, tending to Montgomery’s novelty shop that he had in one of the bubbles, covering for one of the part-timers who couldn’t make it for today. She was in debt with him, she had to take care of his business for a month so that he could take care of his family and reunite with them - so, her job wasn’t just standing being the counter like she was now. It was to handle the whole deal, although right now she was just caught up in having to be a substitute for that guy. She wondered what Montgomery would do during his “vacation”. Maybe make plans too so that his business didn’t take up so much of his time, but that was up to him. Her contract was to just take care of things with this business for a set amount of time. After that, she was off the hook.

This also meant that she would have to pause or at least set to a very low tempo her usual business enterprises, but for that Devil Fruit, it is all worth it.

And as she tended this shop today, a Marine officer came inside. A very small one at that, with pale skin, pale hair, and a grimace as she strolled into the store.


“Hey.” she barked, as she passed by “mystical” vases and dreamcatchers. “I got to speak to the manager.”

“I’m the manager.” Sofia replied. It was a bit of a confusing question. Montgomery was the owner, but the person who was managing it was technically herself. Maybe this officer was referring to them. Either way, she would see how it turns out first.

“Alright. I’m here for papers B-7.”

“B-7?” Sofia wondered. Oh man. She didn’t know what that was. She had just talked Montgomery into agreeing to this deal of her managing the job - she wasn’t actually experienced in this sort of thing. So, she didn’t know what these papers were about.

It seemed that she would have to try to talk herself out of this one was well. She swallowed saliva and put on her best smile.

“Oh! That paper. Why do you need it? Isn’t it a bit early to hand those in?” she wondered.

“HEY!” the officer replied, and slapped her baton onto the counter. “I’m the one to make the questions here, not you. Got it?”

“I apologize” she replied, showing her palms. “I’m just trying my best to comply.”

“Good. Now, the papers.”

“Sure, in a moment!” she said, and started to make her way to the back of the store.

There, she started to frantically look through the storage boxes and cupboards for some kind of place that Montgomery would’ve left the documents. She noticed that there was a Den Den Mushi too - likely to receive delivery orders of some kind, and she considered simply calling Montgomery for this. He would know, wouldn’t he?

She stared at the snail for a while.

Then, she shook her head. She couldn’t do it. That man had to have his vacation with his family, she couldn’t get in between that.

She eventually found a cupboard with binders, and within, papers. Business registration, tax payments, supplier payments… And papers B-1 to B-5. They seemed to be some sort of inspection papers, with the later dates being higher numbers - one for each year.

And the latest one, B-5, seemed to have been made two month ago. Which meant that it would be valid for ten more months - so why was this Marine asking for a B-7 this soon? It didn’t make sense.

Sofia took the binder with her and then put it on the counter, to then open it on the B-5 page.

“Officer, there seems to be a mistake. As you can see, this is still valid.” she mentioned.

“What?” the little Marine replied, and slapped her baton onto the counter again. “Are you RESISTING AUTHORITY?”

Sofia narrowed her eyes and turned her head slightly away. “No, I’m just trying to clarify that there mig-”

“And now you’re HARASSING AUTHORITY?” the little one interrupted.

Sofia shut her mouth and just stared at her.

“Young lady...” the Marine then said, tapping her free hand with the baton. “I believe you’ve got to come with me to the station. This is unacceptable.”

And it was ridiculous, Sofia thought.

“B-5 is still valid.” she then said. “It was taken two months ago.”

“What did I just say!!” the Marine yelled back, as her eyes darted one moment to the paper and then back to her. Her face started to become red. She was embarrassed.

“OK, I’m going. Just let me lock up the store.” Sofia then mentioned.

“A-and do it quick!! And hey! Don’t take that binder with you!” the Marine added.

“Fine, fine.”

---*---

After getting escorted to the Marine station, the loli went over to the head counter with her.

“So, this young lady has been charged with Resisting Authority, and Harassing Authority.” her captor explained.

“Alright. And where’s the document?” the man there asked.

“That’s the reason why I don’t have it. She resisted giving it to me.” she continued.

“I see. Well, let’s file it then. Where did this happen?”

“Bubble 41, at…” she started off.

“Hey, wait. Bubble 41? Why were you all the way there?”

“T-to get document B-7 from store #28!” she replied.

“...Lets see… Aha. I got your mission here.” the counter Marine replied. “It’s to go get a B-28 from store #7. You got it mixed up. Man, did you file your paperwork already?”

“Yes, course!” the little one replied, with a salute. “I’m always diligent!”

“And you did it with this wrong information? Then you’re screwed.” the man replied and leaned into his chair. “That’s forgery. And it’s pretty bad to do it as a government worker.”

“So… I’m free to go?” Sofia asked. She had never been brought into a Marine Station before, but she figured that it would just be best to comply. “It’s all been an error, apparently.”

“No.” the man answered. “You’ve still been brought in due to, well, alleged harassment and resistance to authority. So into the jail with you two until the boss comes around to give his verdict.”

“W-wait! There has to be some kind of mistake!” the tiny Marine stammered. “I-I… I always fulfill my duty, ther-”

“Yes, there has been a mistake.” the other Marine replied. “Your mistake. Now, just lock yourself and that girl into the room over there please.”

He apparently didn’t want to get out of that seat, Sofia assumed.

“B-but!” the loli tried to bring up.

“Anna. Go. Now.” the man ordered back.

---*---

“So, we’re stuck here together, huh?” Sofia asked the girl, as they were both seated on opposite sides of the small jail of Shaobody’s Marine Station.

“Shut up.” Anna replied. “What’s it to you anyways, huh? Why did you have to resist in the first place?”

Sofia tilted her head towards the other girl. It was a stupid question.

“Yeah, why d-did you, huh?” she Marine insisted.

“But why do they do it? That’s the issue. They do it because they don’t have a better option. Or because they feel weak, and want to feel ‘powerful’, somehow. Or to fulfill a dream, which they can’t via normal, civilian ways.” the Icon highlighted.

“I want to give those people options, to make them feel ‘powerful’ not via hurting others - but through helping others. To earn respect the right way. And to allow them to fulfill their dreams without needing to resort to becoming pirates, by giving them the means they’re otherwise lacking to do it.” she then continued.

Sofia then looked at Anna, who was staring at the wall with a blank expression. The monologue seemed to have gotten to her.

“Seems good.” the little girl eventually said, after a couple of moments of silence.

Then, both girls jolted up in a jump as a baton clanged against a bar of the cell.

“My, my.” a Marine mentioned. “Interesting lot we’ve got here.”

“Mr. Mint!” Anna then blurted out, and immediately stood up to salute. Sofia assumed that this guy was the supervisor or whatever that had to review their case.

“Rest, Anna.” Mint then chuckled, and waved a hand down to her. “And you. I’ve seen you over at Marie Jois. Noble?”

“Yes.” she replied.

“Oooh!~” the man then said, and rubbed his hands. “If I may…”

He put his hand through the cell bars and took her hand, to then kiss it on the back. “A noble. Not everyday you see one, I must have my manners.”

But it’s Shaobody. There’s nobles everywhere, Sofia thought. He must be just saying that, she guessed.

“Anyways. I’ve been told that there has been a little bit of a misunderstanding here, yeeees? Miss Noble, if you’re a dear, please come over here to the door so that I can get you out. Sorry for this mixup.”

She approached the door, but the man didn’t open it.

“Make sure to recommend me to the higher-ups, eh?” he whispered. “Or I’m coming for you. Got it?”

Sofia didn’t flinch. “Alright.” she replied. “I’ll see what I can do.”

What was this guy about? It gave her bad vibes - a proper Marine wouldn’t try to coax her like that. This whole experience had been a bit surreal for her. It was the first time she had seen Marines behave this way, normally they were all super friendly and professional. Although, that could be just because of how limited her perspective has been until now. She had only lived on the island of Sofia for the most part, in the fine living style of a noble.

Then, she started to walk away. But, slowly, because she started to hear a conversation between the other two start up.

“Anna, Anna. Anna.” Mint chuckled. “What have you gotten into this time?”

“S-sir! I assure you that it won’t happen again! It has just been a small error, please! I’m always diligent with my work!” Anna stated, saluting.

“I don’t care.” Mint shrugged. “You did what you did. Deliberately obfuscating the operations of the Marines.”

“D-deliberately?!” Anna replied.

“Didn’t you say it yourself just now? That you were always deliberate with your work?”

“Diligent! I said Diligent!” she nearly yelled back.

“Oh. Harassing me now, are we? Tsk tsk. We can’t have any of that, now can we?” Mint replied with amusement.

Sofia sighed to herself. So this was why Anna was like this. Abuse was breeding more abuse - just like how Mint liked to put blame on others (although it seemed more that he was planting it, so was Anna, with a similar technique.

She had to get her out of that.

“Excuse me, Mr. Mint.” she then said, going back to them. “I must do a request.”

“Oh, hello again, Noble. What is it?”

“You see, I have a bit of a safety concern with my business, that this Marine visited. And I’d like some kind of compensation for the damages she has caused to me - so I request to have her assigned to me, for protection - I am a Noble after all, and as her pardon.”

“Really now?” Mint wondered. “Why should I do it? It’s quite the request.”

“It will be tangible evidence that you’re the great Marine that you are - something that others can see as a token of your generosity and good faith towards Nobles, which I’m sure they’ll appreciate.” she stated. “Your trophy.”

He rubbed his chin.

Then he looked at Anna.

“It’s a bit of an odd request, Noble.” Mint said. “But, I do have to reassign her anyways. She’s demoted down to Chore Girl, anyways. Not many Chores to actually do, so… Alright. I think it works out great for the two of us. We can sort out the details later. Deal. For now, I’ve got to talk to my Marine here. So, please leave.”

“Alright.” Sofia then replied. “Thank you.”

That would give her a chance to change this vulnerable girl for the better. She had hope.

---*---

The next few days, Anna's behavior towards Sofia became less abrasive and more friendly, as they greeted each other each day and did some small talk. Sometimes the Marine would bring up casual anecdotes she was proud of. Or complain about Mint - and that was good in Sofia’s eyes. She had to get that out of her system to heal emotionally, she believed. And Eventually they even started taking lunch together.

During one of those lunches, they had gone to a popular cafeteria, and they were seated eating some burgers.

"And that was when I caught that guy!" Anna said, in the middle of telling her story. "It was a rough one, but we managed to pull through! Don't ever lost hope!"

Sofia nodded. "Amazing." she complimented, before taking a bite from her burger.

"And it's "lose", not "lost"" the noble added.

"That's harassment!" Anna joked. "Anyways, I love these burgers. Damn. Is this calamari or something in them? It's good."

The tall girl wanted to smile. Her dream was getting to her. She was seeing the wrong in her ways - she was even joking about it! This was great progress. But she couldn't be too obvious about it. She didn't want her to realize that she was trying to lead her into this. It was better if she believed it was her own doing.

"- Speaking of the devil, there's that guy I was talking about." the midget then whispered, as a man with a large bandana came over to sit across them, on another table. "I can't forgive those guys. You catch them, they do their time, and they come right back out, doing the same shit."

The noble swallowed some food down and then looked at her with eager eyes. "Right? Right? That's what I want to solve."

"I get that, and I think it's great - just, how." Anna replied. "Look at those bastards. They're hopeless."

"Wasn't it you who said that you should never lose hope though?"

"Yeah OK. But this is different. How can you change people like that?"

"You just got to talk to them. I've got you to believe in me, haven't I?"

"Well, yes, but..." the Marine muttered.

"This is the same. Everyone's got that light inside them. That good. You've just got to nurture it in the right way, and it will come out. That is how I believe I can change pirates for the better."

"Alright. That sounds great and all, but I still have my doubts. But we can at least try. And I'm just a... Pseh. Choregirl now. Who cares about me?" Anna scoffed.

"I do, of course." Sofia replied.

The small girl then looked aside, and tried to conceal a warm smile trying to curl itself in her lips.

[Exit]

[WC: 3307 words]