"I know you hear the people whisper, Mira. About how your father only gave himself up, because he'd decided that the old ways needed to die with him?" Buggy looked at her and for the first time in way too long there was nothing mocking or bitter about him. He looked almost.. pleading, like the answer to his next question had the power to shatter everything he'd ever believed in. "It wasn't all bad, was it?" Mira took a long sip of her wine, fighting to swallow against the sudden lump in her throat. She knew that for Buggy this wasn't about nostalgia. He needed someone to tell him that there was still a place for good old fashioned pirates like him in this new world, because all his life that was the only thing he'd ever wanted to be. "Of course it wasn't all bad," she finally replied softly and found that it was her truth as much as it was the lie she told to comfort him. Because she'd never again known happiness as utterly complete as what she'd felt back when it had been her and "her stupid boys" against the world...

ONE PIECE, 1.05 "Eat at Baratie!"

As the female pirate with the highest bounty in the East Blue, Alix Rose, captain of the Red Thorn, has a weight to her name. Known for both her bubbly nature and her ability to cry poisonous tears, Alix is a force to be reckoned with, though admittedly overshadowed by much bigger names in the pirating world. One of those names? Kristo Brand. One of the Seven Warlords, and someone Alix has a fierce grudge against. Everyone else is seeking a map to the Grand Line, but if Alix wants it, there's only one reason: leverage against Brand. She will use whatever weapons are in her arsenal to destroy him, even if pirates everywhere are scratching their heads as to why. Another of those names? Dracule Mihawk, greatest swordsman in the world. Typically killing time devastating pirate fleets, but potentially an ally to Alix. She can't be certain of much with him, especially as he seems perpetually bored. Nonetheless, what starts as a vague curiosity and a perceived shared similarity results in something much more. With a ragtag group of young pirates on the run, a map to the Grand Line in the open, notorious pirates crawling out of the woodwork, and feelings she'd rather not admit to, Alix begins to wonder if perhaps Brand might be the least of her concerns.

- Without our immunity — - I would still do precisely what I want. No more and no less.

She chuckled. "Isn't that the saddest thing you've ever heard?"

"It's supposed to be good luck, you know." Monkey D. Luffy looked up as the young woman approached, though her gaze was set ahead, taking in the sight of the sea. Zoro lingered close behind, keeping a close eye on Minxie as she leaned dangerously far over the railing, enjoying the way the ocean breeze felt on her face. "What is?" Luffy asked curiously. Minxie finally turned her attention fully onto the straw hat pirate, lips quirked up into a mischievous smile. "Having a cat on board, of course." A wide smile split across Luffy's face as he regarded the young woman. "Is that true?" He asked, looking to Zoro and Nami. Zoro simply shrugged his shoulders, gesturing to Minxie. "She would know," he said. From behind him, Nami rolled her eyes. Still smiling, Luffy turned back to Minxie once more. "You'll be the crew's good luck charm then," he announced. "And with you with us, we'll definitely get to the Grand Line and find the One Piece!" He threw his arms into the air with a loud whoop. Minxie smiled softly, exchanging a look with Zoro who didn't seem quite as amused at Luffy's excitement as she was before turning her gaze back over the expanse of the ocean once more.

Kiana of Cintra was a failure.  She failed at producing magic the way her sister had, she failed at being the princess her mother wanted, and when the time came to save her niece from the hands of Nilfgaard she had failed at that too.  Queen Calanthe had charged her own daughter with the safety of Pavetta’s child and Kiana had lost her amongst the madness and chaos of Cintra’s fall.  A chaos her mother had spent trying to help her daughters master after that fateful feast.  Kiana of Cintra was a failure. but Kya the Woodwitch was not.  Kya provided the people of Novigrad with their herbal remedies and soothing cures. Kya smiled and shared stories with the merchants decorating their tables and selling their wares.  It was Kya who healed them with what little magic she possessed, and it was Kya who took in the Witcher and his Bard when they’d been injured.  Kya who froze instantly upon hearing the name Geralt of Rivia.  Kya, who was now forced to return to the life she’d known before the fall, as the Witcher and his Bard escort her back to Cintra in the hopes of passing her off as the missing Princess Kiana to earn their coin.  The meeting feels more like chance than anything, but the threads of destiny are at work, drawing Geralt of Rivia and Kiana of Cintra closer together than ever before.