It was a nice afternoon out here in the sea. Currently me and Orio we're busy hauling coins and anything of worth into our ship. You see after killing those remaining pesky hertons I was gifted with so many coins and pointy armaments.

However, it's still sad how they couldn't understand me. Sadly I had to kill them all using their weapons and bodies. What a tragedy, they could have been my fans. Oh well.

I maneuvered the ship and anchored it right next to our ship. But you do have to take "maneuvered" with a slight pinch of salt. But honestly, a lot of things in life are covered in salt, even more now since we're in the sea.

As I was saying, it was horrendous driving, as of currently I can say with utmost certainty that Grim and Bass were better than me. Well maybe. Let's not get rid of any of my credit and let's just mossy on away from this topic.

Hertons. Their slightly bigger ship was certainly filled with weaponry. A whole pile of it. They were rich with sharp objects and also fishing supplies. Hooks, baits, nets, and even fake fish.

But let's move on from that long period spent driving and start counting our cash. Wonderful delicious black pennies. They were around let's say...

[Orio,] as I wasn't a fan of dust entering my nostrils every time I take a glance at Orio, I forced them to change clothes. They were wearing another black kimono with red stripes which contrasted with their light blue kimono.

[Can you help me count these coins?] I gathered half of the coins into a brown sack and threw it at them. They caught the sack midair and nodded at me.

"Sure thing Scarlet, but first," they grabbed a monocle from one of their sleeves and slapped it onto their jousting helmet. "I want food, specifically fine dining!"

[Then go grab some from our supplies?] I raised an eyebrow and approached Orio closely. [Please don't tell me you forgot to buy food.]

"Hehehehe." They laughed coldly and emotionless and struck a pose where their hand was placed on their head. "Oops!"

[...]

"I'm also winking and sticking my tongue out... But you can't see because... Uh, my helmet... Scarlet?"

I grabbed a spear and raised it above my head. [Hey Orio, quick question how well can you dodge?]

"Calm down Scarlet. Let's take a deep breath now why don't we?"

[Yes... I wouldn't want to miss would I?] I launched the spear and perfectly struck Orio's helmet. Sadly since the spear was in bad condition, the tied blade just bounced off Orio's metallic armor.

"That was close. So as I was saying, let's get something to eat. Maybe s-

I raised a stone axe and slammed it at Orio. They fell on their ass, dodging the axe safely. "You wouldn't hit a person with glasses, would you?" They grabbed another monocle and slapped it onto their helmet again.

[As far as I'm concerned you're a fluent stupid octopus with human gloves.] I pulled my arm for another swing but was interrupted by the cry of a sea creature.

It was deep and painfully shaking to our cores... Well, mostly Orio's core. Upon hearing the cry, they went and fell to the ground, their body shaking immensely and shuddering from an invisible cold.

I looked down from the ship and saw a small tentacle protruding from the sea. "Greetings Human!" Yelled the tentacle.

[Why hello there.]

"Hello!" The tentacle retreated down to the sea and shot up exactly in front of me. Still small thankfully. "Play your instrument."

[Okay.] I went inside the cabin and picked up my broken guitar... [Ah... Damn.] Maybe using my instrument as a weapon for bludgeoning wasn't such a good idea.

[Hey, ] I left the room carrying my once whole guitar. [There is no show here. My guitar is broken.]

"Oh, that's fine." The tentacle submerged and suddenly a massive tentacle wrapped around the hertons' ship. The ship was crushed and pulled down into the abyss.

[Pshh, Orio I think it isn't fine.] I nudged their shaking body on the floor with my shoulder. [Do you have another guitar?]

"Nnnn-no!" They pushed themselves up and leaned on me. "Aaaaaa... Arewegonnadie?!"

[No because I got this.] I placed Orio on the bulwark of the ship and grabbed the pair of magical shoes from the deceased goblin off the ground. I threw my rockstar shoes away and tried to fit my foot inside but the shoe was a tad too small.

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"Excuse me, is the show about to start?" The tentacle circled our boar, its slimy body slapping the boat occasionally.

[Hey Orio, raise your goddamn feet.] I rushed to the staggered Orio and removed their shoes. I then slammed their feet inside the shoes and it was a perfect fit... After I removed the shoelaces and stretched the shoes by just a bit.

[Orio stand up!]

"I-I can't. Deaath will-come to me."

"I can't wait anymore. I think I'm gonna have myself an afternoon snack."

You know what. Screw this tentacle freak, this arrogant bastard thinks it can just mossy on over to us and eat our damn ship. Well, let me tell you something you calamari salty douchebag.

[Hey prick! I'm gonna ea-

"Wait!" Orio stumbled over to me, their body was still shaking immensely but they were able to gain some balance and stand, albeit with noodle legs.

They placed their right arm on my waist and positioned my left arm to be on top of their shoulder. They then grabbed ahold of my right hand and raised it with their left hand.

"Help me." They moved their left foot forward and stomped on my foot. [Ouch! That's metal you know.]

"Noooo, Move your rightfoot backwaah. Beforee moving it back to its original place!"

Just like a dance.

[Shhh.] I shushed them and took the lead. [I'm no idiot Orio, I know a ballroom dance when I see one. Jean was a big fan of them and Bass had two left feet so I'm quite good at it.]

I grab ahold of Orio's hands and pushed them back a couple of steps. Their weak faltering feet bounced up and down trying to follow my sudden movements.

[Hey tentacle, here's your damn show!] I pulled Orio forward and grabbed their back with my left hand. Our hands clutched each other and we danced sideways through the ship.

Our feet slapped the deck of our boat repeatedly, creating wonderful sounds of percussion. However not only were Orio's taps louder but they also created spikes around us which provided a supporting background beat when they popped.

"This is nice but something is missing." Murmured the tentacle in a drowning underwater with no hope of surviving kind of way.

I spun Orio in a circle, their feet spun like a tornado trying to not fall and hit the ground helmet first. Tiny spikes erupted from the ground around Orio, replicating the sounds of a crowd's applause.

[And what is that?] I jumped onto the bulwark and gazed at the enthusiastic tentacle.

"It's missing singing of course!" The tentacle began humming which further drove Orio into a bumbling mess. I dashed towards them and supported them up.

"Aaahhh! Grahsdskgy!"

As I hold Orio in my hands, my mind began to think of a song. In our band, I was never the lead singer of any of our songs but let me tell you something. I was damn good at singing.

I was born for performing, my voice was golden and every instrument I touched can and will be made into masterpieces. I'm just gifted with talent which I furthered improved with dedication.

You could say I'm one big egomaniac with the biggest fan in the world. Me.

[Oh yeah.] I danced with Orio, leading them and basically controlling their whole body. [Can you feel it? Can you feel it? Oh can you?]

Wow, these lyrics were trash. I guess that's one thing I'm bad at, songwriting. [Fire, Flames, Fun, and Games!]

[It's a ballroom dance so let's play!]

I struck a flurry of taps using Orio's feet. I then slid them away from me. [Dancing with joy, hoping this will never end.]

[Your feet sway and tap, electricity coursing through them.]

I ran towards the fallen-over Orio and hugged them tightly. We walked backward and forward, step by step.

[It's.]

[A.]

[Ball.]

[Room.]

[Dance!]

I hopped and clapped my hands while Orio staggered and stumbled in place.

[Moving gracefully with your partner hand in hand.]

[Equal pushes back and forth, it's a yin and yang.]

I kicked the air with my left leg and lifted Orio's right leg and vice versa. I then spun them on their own again and shimmied backward.

[It's time to ballroom dance!]

[Putting you in a trance!]

[It's a fun great ballroom dance!]

[You better not miss this chance!]

I Grabbed Orio and flipped them around. While they spun away from me. I started spinning away, my feet tapped clockwise and my hands clapped repeatedly up and down.

[It's a ballroom dance!]

I posed for the end of my crappy little song. My right leg was diagonal to the ground and my left leg was supporting me in an arch. My right hand was open and raised towards the sky and my left hand was pointed at the ground, also open.

Meanwhile, Orio was on the ground, assumedly their head was spinning and won't stop spinning until their demise.

"Bravo bravo bravo. Do you want anything? Maybe power or treasure?"

[Give me trea-

"Not you!" The tentacle convulsed. "I want to hear from the tap-dancing human."

[Hey, Orio wake up.] I placed them on the bulwark and patted their back.

"I-uh... Food?"

"Granted." The tentacled submerged and its mind-faltering presence disappeared. Soon after fish began raining down on the ship.

[You just wasted it on fish. That is certainly something, Orio.]

"Turn around I'm gonna remove my helmet."

Truth be told I was kinda angry at Orio but at the same it was nothing. Just something trivial that was not worth getting mad over. I'm just thankful they didn't wish for power because I was not too keen on traveling with a sack of flesh and smog.

Or maybe that was just an ordinary which granting kraken. Anyway, it wasn't anything to worry about. Well, maybe the abundance of food was a problem. I don't want to attract any flies.

"Blraaghhhhh gack bleh!"

[Ah. The sound of seasickness. Are you okay?]

"No."

[That's rough buddy... Are you done?]

*Tap Tap*

I turned around and my dazzling face faced me. Well, its reflection did on Orio's somehow still shiny helmet. I thought all the dust and vomit would have ruined its shine.

"Let's cook."

----------------------------------------

I sat around the definitely unsafe bonfire surrounded by our well-earned food. Now to be honest I don't know anything about any of these fishes or how to even start cooking. Grim did all of that for us, he handled all of it with his usual overwhelming strength and surprisingly delicately... I missed Grim's cooking.

[How's the taste, Orio?!] I shouted into the cabin. I don't know why but Orio wasn't too keen on letting me see their face. Maybe they were scarred as a child or maybe they were just born unlucky. Unlike me. I'm so beautiful.

"Burnt."

[Whatever.]

I picked up one of the shriveled-up fish which was pierced by an herton's dagger. Today was quite eventful which is weird since it was only the beginning of our journey. Not only were we attacked by hertons but also by a tentacled freak... But hey, maybe this journey isn't going to be so bad. If I get this much action all the time then it is gonna help me replace those memories and move on. Honestly, I never guessed I would sound like a broken-hearted teenager.

[Huh. That's life. Right Orio?]

"Maybe... But also why is there a dismembered green head here?"

[A gift for someone.]