Once Izo got down with my hair, he pulled out a mirror so I could see what he did. He had given me an under fade but left enough long hair on top to put into a top knot, curling individual two strands on the sides of my face. Thatch clapped his hands together, "I got it! Why don't we call you Clarity?" I gave him a warm smile, "That sounds nice." "You must be starving, I am going to start lunch." Thatch stood with a spring in his step as he hurried off to the kitchen. I glance back at Izo, "Thank you for the haircut." He smiled, "It was my pleasure." He swiftly cleaned up the hair mess and went on his way. Marco walked over to me after I stood up from the chair and dusted myself off. "Miss Clarity." He rubbed the back of his neck, "We don't arrive to the next island for another three weeks." "Oh, I see." I replied in a soft voice. Trapped in enemy territory for three weeks! "I guess I will do my best to make myself useful to your crew. I can clean really well." I gestured to the deck. "Maybe after you properly recover." He gently placed at hand on my forearm, "Let me take you to meet the rest of the crew."

It was dinner time and everyone had gathered around inna big circle as they were all cheering and chanting. Curious, I walked over slowly and just stopped slightly out of sight "What's going on?" I tilted my head, trying to get a better look. Inside the circle was one of the many crew mates and they seemed to be having a contest of some sort. Whether it was about the food or the beer, I wasn't sure. The second crew mate was one I don't remember meeting today. He wore a giant orange hate that had a two little faces on the front. One was smiling and the other frowning. He had a matching red bead necklace around his neck. The draw strings to his hat had a strange skull looking thing on the end. He had raven hair that matched mine in color and his eyes were I think amber? It was hard to tell from this distance. He wore no shirt and only a pair of his short pants like the ones I was borrowing. He laughed loudly as he quickly chugged down the rest of his beer and then slammed down the mug on the makeshift table. "DONE!" The crew cheered louder for him as he just won whatever competition they just had. He shifted in his seat and took a glance in my direction. I gave a small squeak and ducked back into the shadows of the cabin I was standing next to.
I placed my hand against my chest and let out a heavy breath. Why is my heart beating so fast? Am I scared of this man? "Hey, you okay?" I give a startled yelp as the same man from the competition just sudden appear next to me. "Y-yes! I am fine!" I stammer and keep my eyes locked to the wooden deck, my face a hot mess. He stepped closer and grabbed the shirt I was wearing, "This looks like my shirt..." "T-thatch let me borrow it...my clothes were shredded." I answered quickly and he let go of the shirt then nudged my shoulder "I am glad that it fits you." It honestly didn't. The shirt and pants were actually a couple of sizes too big for me but now I could see why. The man in front of me was pure muscle compared to my slender nature. I took a small breath as my chest began to feel a bit fluttery, "You sure you're alright? Your face is all red." He asked and I carefully touch my face, feeling the heat on my possibly rosy red cheeks. "Oh yeah, I might just be a little sea sick." I glanced up at him. I got a much better look at his doe eyes and the freckles that sprinkled across his face. "Why don't we get you a chair to sit in in the open air of the deck, you might feel better." He suggested and carefully took my hand, leading me into the light from the oil lanterns that were hung up all around. "My name is Ace." He introduced himself as I sat down in the seat he provided. "I'm Clarity." I responded a few minutes later. "I heard that you were found in the ocean." He moved his hat back a bit more so he could look me in the eyes. "Yeah, I got caught in a storm." I rubbed my neck and tried to avoid his eyes.
Why do I feel this way? What is this feeling? It's so strong. I can't seem to focus and it feels like my heart is pounding out of my chest! "Hey! Congrats on winning man!" Thatch's voice came from the left side of Ace and he smacked the younger man's shoulder with a bit of force. The presence of someone else seemed to break whatever trance I was in and I felt relief wash over me. "It wasn't even a challenge." Ace replied, his focus now on Thatch. I took the opportunity to quietly excuse myself and hurry off to a different part of the ship. The farther I got away from Ace, the clearer my head became.
"That was so weird..." I rested my hands on the side of the ship and then leaned forward a bit, taking in a slow breath.
Was that a panic attack? That's never happened before. Does he intimidate me? I grabbed the ring around my neck and began to fiddle with it, trying to calm myself all the way down.
It's going to be a long three weeks. Especially now that I have to avoid Ace.

After a couple of days, it didn't take me long to learn that a bunch of guys on a ship was nothing but mischief. I was sitting next to Whitebeard as he was discussing with me what I could do to earn my keep on his ship. I did my best to pay attention but it was a little hard to with the boys running back and forth across the deck playing keep away with Ace's hat. I glanced over to see Marco just walking his way through the crowd as they shoved passed him, Ace trying to keep up with whoever had his hat. Marco smiled gently as he greeted both Whitebeard and me before beginning to explain about a fee rapids they might run into soon. I watched as he completely ignored everyone else running around like fools.
"Do they always have this much energy?" I asked and Whitebeard let out a loud chuckle, "Indeed they do Lass, but don't let that bother you." I nodded a bit, trying to heed his advice as I slipped off my seat and went to help Thatch clean up after breakfast.
I opened the door, "Hey, Thatch? Do you need any help with the dishes??" I glanced around, not seeing the chef anywhere and frowned. That's odd. I thought he was in here cleaning? I stepped forward and looked around for cleaning supplies before starting on the enormous amount of dishes piled in the sink. If it wasn't for me working in the Navy for years, I would probably be shocked at the amount of dishes in this sink. I began to hum a song that I could remember but I didn't know who taught it to me. I scrubbed the plates as I let the pots and pans soak in the other part of the giant sink that the kitchen had. "I have an idea!" A voice from outside the kitchen giggled and then whispered something to whoever he was talking to. I paused in my work and looked to see who it was but when I didn't see anyone, I carried on with my chore. The kitchen doors opened and over hurried one of the lesser known of the crew. He tiptoed to me, "Hey, Clarity, could you do us a favor and hang on to this?" "Uh, sure?" I replied, I didn't turn around to see what he was talking about, "Just set it on the counter." "Okay." He replied and set the orange thing down to my left before he told me that he was never here and snuck back out of the kitchen. I tried to ignore it but the color was just caught in the side of my view and it was bugging me. I dried off my hands and turned to see none other than Ace's orange hat, just kind of staring at me. I walked over to it and picked it up. I wasn't sure of the material it was made out of but it was a pretty sturdy hat.
...I wonder...
I glanced around to make sure I was the only one in the kitchen before I carefully placed the hat on my head. The skull medallion that was on the end of the draw strings was cold against my torso. I had recalled seeing Thatch had a mirror hanging somewhere in the kitchen and wandered around until I found it. "I can see why he wears such a badass hat." I cleared my throat as I popped the collar on the shirt I was wearing. I swiftly found a piece of uncooked spaghetti and broke it into a smaller piece before sticking it in my mouth like a piece of wheat. I took a couple of steps  back and glared at myself in the mirror, "This town ain't big enough for the two of us, cowboy." I put my hand next to my right side as if I was about to draw out an imaginary pistol. "I say we have a gun fight to prove who is the fastest gun in the west." I replied to myself, playing out to separate characters. "When the clock strikes noon, we draw." I answered myself as the first character and then I started to make up imaginary music sounds like it was tense between me and the mirror.
After a few seconds, I tried to make a clock noise and then pull out my finger gun "Pew pew pew!" I then pretended that the gun had been out of my hand and that I had been shot in the torso. "You got me!" I kind of fell against the counter and looked up at the mirror, "I guess you really are the fastest gun..." And then pretended to die. Clapping from the kitchen door made me jump to my feet as fast as I could. "Good show." It was just Thatch. He chuckled as he walked towards me. I blushed darkly and took Ace's hat off as quickly as I could. "How much did you see?" I asked him. I had never been more embarrassed in my life. "Oh, I saw the whole thing." He grinned devilishly as if he was planning on holding the little act over my head as black mail. "Please don't tell anyone." I begged. He took Ace's hat and plopped it back on my head, "You know that looks good on you." "Don't change the subject!" I stomped my foot, trying to ignore the compliment, giving him an annoyed look. He laughed lightly "But it suits you well." I huffed but slowly turned back to look at myself in the mirror. The hat sat on my head comfortable. I really didn't look to bad with it on. It felt like it gave me more confidence wearing the orange hat. "It does look nice..." I shook my head, "Ah! Stop complimenting me and promise you won't tell anyone!" I steered the conversation back to him watching me play pretend. He gave me a look, "At a price of course." I blinked at him, giving him a slight uncomfortable look, "What kind of price...?" "I'm not sure yet so I guess you better be ready for beck and call." He shrugged as he swiftly cleaned up the rest of the dishes with no problem. I groaned but reluctantly agreed to his demand as we dried and put all the dishes away in the cabinets.