on trust and ships
“You’re a strange one, Franky.” Franky grinned, lifting up his sunglasses, as Jinbe approached the railing he was leaning against. “I get that a lot.” “And I mean it warmly,” Jinbe clarified, as he joined the other. “Your...unique tastes are to be admired.” “Well, shucks, you flatter me,” Franky said, preening. “But, ah...” Jinbe paused, unsure how to continue. He wasn’t worried about offending the cyborg, but it was something...difficult to explain. “There’s something different about you. Different from the others.” “You mean, besides the obvious?” Franky asked, flexing his mechanical muscles. “Yes, besides the obvious,” Jinbe said with a chuckle. “It’s hard to explain, I’m afraid.” Franky tilted his head, looking at Jinbe patiently. “It’s...hm.” Jinbe rapped his knuckles in the rail, looking out to the sea, trying to get his thoughts in order. “You feel familiar to me. Not in the sense that’s we met before but...it’s the same feeling I get whenever I return to the sea.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Again, it’s hard to explain.” “No, I get it,” Franky said. He looked out over the sea with a sly grin. “I was wondering if you would notice.” Jinbe blinked, surprised. “Ah, so, there is something?” Franky leaned further against the rail, with an almost coy look. “Have you ever heard of the klabautermann?” “Ah, yes, the spirits of ships. I’m familiar.” Jinbe cocked his head, a number of things falling into place. “So, you are..?” “I was,” Franky confirmed. “It was a long time ago. But some things...still linger.” “Like a connection to the sea? Like us fishmen have?” Franky nodded. “And to ships, too.” He patted the rail fondly. “Ah, so the Sunny is your ship, in that sense?” “Yeah,” Franky said. He looked back to Jinbe, and winked. “So, be good to her, yeah?” Jinbe nodded, almost absently, as he thought. If Franky was a ship spirit, and the Sunny was his ship... The full gravity of what he was being entrusted with pressed upon him all at once, and he straightened sharply, looking at Franky with surprise. Was he really willing...? Jinbe clasped his hands together and bowed, as he felt the situation demand. “I will treat her with all of the care she deserves and more. I will be a helmsman you can depend on no matter what, I swear.” Franky laughed, looking pleased. “Hey, there’s no need to be that serious! I trust you.” Jinbe felt a warmth surge through him. Franky trusted him. Trusted him to helm an extension of Franky’s self, to sail her to her end and fulfill his dream, to keep her safe on the dangerous see. It was a lot, encompassed in those three simple words, and it was humbling, for Jinbe to realize the extent of Franky’s trust. He nodded, almost at a lost for words. “Ah, well, thank you. I will...ensure your trust is not misplaced.” Franky grinned, and clapped Jinbe on the shoulder. “I know you will, helmsman!” And with that, he left, off to go entertain the boys, no doubt. Jinbe stayed by the railing, reflecting on what had passed, and maybe, selfishly, feeling a little bit proud of the trust he had received.