•○Most days were usual crying over how amazing Luffy-senpai is, but today was different. Aside from that Gambia is about an hour early with his gift, he always had to be the first one to speak to Bartolomeo on his birthday. Since his captain had been getting to be friends with the Strawhats, Gambia had to beat them to seeing the limette.
So why was he nervous? Barto seemed to enjoy his birthday and unless something changed in his captain, Gambia had no reason to be nervous. The blond spent more time debating on folding this paper or not, deciding not to as it was sure to become the most treasured possession to his friend. Reason it had to be kept as neat as possible.
Finding the captain was the troubling part, once he found the cannibal Gambia did his usual habit of sitting on his captain. "I know it’s early but I had to be the first to say it." He held the paper up between them.
[[ ♦ ]]— The day went like it usually did, except they either stock up on the poultry and booze or wreak enough havoc on a town to wipe their supply clean. It looked to be the latter this time, though it’d still be a few hours before they made port. As he lounged on the double mattress in his quarters, Bartolomeo debated on whether he wanted to partake in some finches or ducks for today’s celebration when the door opened and Gambia didn’t hesitate on flopping atop him.
With a grunt, hand running down his face, Bartolomeo peered between his fingers at the sheet of paper, not quite registering what it was at first. Then when he finally did, his expression took on a whole new level of surprise.
Clutching the paper with sweaty fingers, Bartolomeo nearly tore the autograph out of his staff officer’s hands with his enthusiasm, breathing heavily as words escaped him.
He knew better than to grip onto the slip of paper so tightly but he couldn’t keep his eyes off of it, staring so hard he swore he might bore holes straight through the autograph. Eventually, Bartolomeo let the fingers of one hand pull from the paper to tug the other towards him, pulling him into a tight hug, wearing the widest grin.
"S’fuckin’ awesome, Gambo, thanks a’whole lot."