"Those damned Celestial Dragons make my skin crawl. I ought to let a golden stream loose on the lot of them."
"Come on, boys, together. Let those pampered brats get a taste of pirate rain."
"So-called World Nobles. Drink up your own medicine."
"Hahaha. Let's see who can pee farther."
Rakuya paused mid-tease with Momousagi when the Roger Pirates started shouting filth. He almost swore out loud. These lunatics were really going to relieve themselves over the Holy Land of Mary Geoise. If this got out, the world would explode.
Mary Geoise sat atop the sky-piercing Red Line, seat of the world's highest power. The Gorosei ruled from here. The Celestial Dragons preened here. And these idiots were about to water it from above.
The ancient city unfurled across the Red Line like something carved from a bygone age, towers and mansions gleaming amid manicured groves. From this height Mary Geoise looked swaddled like a baby, cradled by sea and stone.
Nobody on the Roger Pirates' ship had eyes for the scenery. Grins turned wicked as they went to work.
"Lewd degenerates." Momousagi heard the crew's coarse taunts and ducked her head. Color flooded her face until her beauty turned near translucent with heat. For all her iron composure, she was still young, not yet the iron blossom she would become.
"Hey now. Who are you calling lewd? I am not the one doing it wherever I please."
"You. And every last one of you stinking men. Degenerates."
"If you are going to slander me, I suppose I should live up to it." Rakuya whistled, hands deliberately drifting toward his belt.
"What are you doing? You pig."
"Relieving myself. Holding it is unhealthy."
"Back off. Degenerate. Shameless mutt."
She squeezed her eyes shut and yelped, braced for the worst.
"All right, all right. You are easy to wind up." Rakuya backed off when it looked like she might cry.
He set her aside and looked over the rail. The crew had already lined both gunwales. There was a lot of belt-buckling and crude laughter, then a glittering curtain began to fall.
"Feels great. Hey, Celestial Dragon mutts, try a taste of this."
"Fatty, you are huge, but your equipment is small."
"Say that again and I will feed yours to the dogs."
"Thrilling. Who else but the Roger Pirates would dare water Mary Geoise."
"Captain, a leader should set the example. Your turn."
"Rayleigh, come on. Winner gets bragging rights for first mate."
"Captain, your bounty is going up for sure. We better celebrate."
"Buggy, even your stream is tiny," Shanks snickered, snapping a pair of shears for effect and snipping the ribbon at Buggy's waist with a wicked grin.
"Hey. What did you just cut," Buggy yelped, looking down in alarm before seeing the grinning redhead twirling the scissors.
"Relax. You ate the Chop-Chop Fruit. You pop apart and pop back together. Here, want a horsehair tassel for a bigger look," Shanks joked, waggling a gaudy ornament.
"Shanks. I am going to kill you," Buggy raged, face turning an impressive shade of navy.
Laughter rolled across the deck. The two cabin boys were a double act nobody could script. Roger and Rayleigh exchanged a look and chuckled until their shoulders shook.
"Rayleigh, were you not just saying you needed to open the floodgates. Down there is Mary Geoise. You will regret it if you do not."
"Haha. Captain, blessings are for sharing and hardships too. Still, a captain should go first."
"You sly dog." Roger pointed at him, laughing.
Jokes flew and the yellow rain thickened until it fell like a shower.
The Roger Pirates were having the time of their lives. The Celestial Dragons below were not.
Inside Mary Geoise, palaces dotted the inner districts, mansions by the dozen. The most exalted aristocrats on the planet strutted along marble walks.
"Hurry up, worm. Lord Warro Saint is waiting on me. Waste my time and I will have your head."
"Mother, I broke this slave. Get me another."
"This mermaid is useless. Half an hour and she is already fading."
Then the sky started to sprinkle.
"Rain. Now? On a day like this," sniffed one Celestial Dragon, raising a hand to catch a few drops. He touched, sniffed, tasted. His face warped. "That is urine."
"Which animal did this. I will have his head."
"Disgusting. My new clothes. Filthy trash."
"Look. A ship in the sky."
"It is them. Whose flag is that. I will tear him limb from limb."
Mary Geoise erupted. It was pandemonium, fit to rival the death of a Celestial Dragon. Even the highest offices stirred.
Up above, the culprits zipped their belts and shook out their hands like nothing had happened.
"That was cathartic. Let them swagger now."
"Heh. If they tasted ours, does that make us nobler than nobles."
"Best fun in ages. All thanks to the kid. Without him, we would never get a shot like this."
"Agreed. Join us, kid. The Roger Pirates are strong. We will be the greatest crew on the seas. Our captain will be King of the Pirates."
"Sorry. Crews are not my style. I am addicted to being free."
Rakuya smiled as he turned them down. Join a crew and give up his freedom. Not a chance.
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