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Once again, Sanji's tea was brewed to perfection, although it's not as if Brook had the tongue to taste it. Setting the delicate cup (off-limits to Luffy) down on its saucer, he gazed thoughtfully at the empty notebook sitting open on the table. On this warm and sunny afternoon, Brook had decided to join the lovely Nico Robin for her afternoon tea, taking the opportunity to possibly write some song lyrics that had been floating around in his skull. Sadly, he had yet to really nail down any solid ideas. Robin lightly sipped her own tea in the matching cup and looked curiously at Brook.
"Nothing coming to mind?" The corner of her mouth curled into a slight smile.
"Unfortunately so, Robin-san. I had hoped that this calming atmosphere might inspire me, but my brain does not seem to want to cooperate. Though it is not like I have one... Yohohoho..." Robin's smile shifted almost imperceptively from curious to mischievous.
"Maybe you hit your skull too hard in the last fight and you've forgotten what words look like." Brook gasped mildly, putting a bony hand to his chest in fake shock.
"Robin-san how morbid! I do hope that isn't the truth." Brook gazed into the middle distance, his left hand fiddling with a pen.
"Ever since leaving Saoboady, we've all been so swept up in the adventures that I haven't had a clear moment to indulge my artistic side. It's not inspiration I lack, but a conduit to thread it through." Sipping her tea, Robin silently considered what Brook had said. When she finally spoke, her smile had taken on a sense of fondness.
"Maybe you only need to look a little closer around you, instead of searching for what you may already have."
Before Brook could question that cryptic statement, the purupurupuru of the transponder snail could be heard rattling in the galley.
"ILL GET IT ILL GET IT ILL GET IT" Luffy, who seconds before had been wrestling in the grass with Chopper and Usopp, immediately thrust his hand towards to railing, ready to slingshot himself through the wall if he had to. Nami yelled angrily from where she had been tending her tangerine trees.
"LUFFY PLEASE STOP FOR THE LOVE OF GOD." But it was too late. With a rubbery thwack, the Strawhats' captain was through the door, audibly slamming against the far wall of the galley. Muffled cursing could be heard from Sanji, who was still cleaning up from lunch.
Brook folded his napkin and placed it next to his empty tea cup. "Shall we?" Robin laughed mirthfully and stood up. "We shall."
Stepping into the galley, they saw that Luffy already had the receiver up to his mouth, a disgruntled Sanji chaperoning over his shoulder. "Hello? My name is Monkey D. Luffy! and I'm going to be the king of pirates!"
The snail glared at him and then spoke.
"I know who you are! You're the idiot pirate who stole our best client!" The snail sighed and became slightly less annoyed. "But that's not why I'm calling today. Put Soul King on the phone immediately!"
The room was silent, all present members turning to look at Brook. At some point, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper had slipped in behind him and Robin, and had been inching closer to Luffy to try and take back command of the snail. Brook tilted his skull to the side, the voice eliciting a spark of vague recognition, not that he should have been able to hear it without ears.
"Brook? What do you want with my nakama?" Luffy stared at the snail with a puzzled look and the snail returned it with increasing frustration.
"Doesn't matter, you dirty pirate! Just put the skeleton on the snail already! Time is money!" At that point Brook swiftly crossed the galley, gently pulling the receiver from Luffy's grip and patting him on the head in reassurance. Luffy made an inquisitive noise but willingly released the receiver.
"Whoever you are, you should not be speaking to my captain in that manner. If that is how you are going to treat pirates then you shouldn't have called in the first place." The face of the snail immediately softened into greasy sweetness.
"Soul King! Good to hear from you! It's been a while. How have you been? Amazing! Anyways, we were wondering if maybe you would consider coming back to work for Longarm Records? We miss you! Your fans miss you! They want a new album! We want to sell them a new album! So what do you think?" The snail's forced smile looked almost painful to hold.
Brook blinked (not that he had eyes), unsure of what to say. His crewmates looked equally caught off guard. Brook didn't really mention much about his stardom, as those two years were often linked with painful memories.
"Hello, Thanklin. I think I made it very clear when I left that I had no intention of coming back, and I'll thank you to respect that choice." The snail went from wide grinning to deep frowning.
"Yes, I figured you say that. But you forget, I spent two years with you Brook. I know how motivated you are when it comes to music, and because of that I find it hard to believe that between when you left and now that you haven't written or composed a single piece." The deep frown lessened and the snail took on an almost bargaining expression.
"All I'm asking is that you slide some of the better pieces our way! We'll produce them on records and you don't even have to lift a finger. The fans will be happy, Longarm Records can stay in business, and you can keep your musical fame. It's a win-win."
At that, Brook paused, not fully sure what to say. While he had been struggling creatively recently, it doesn't mean he still didn't sing. He had lots of songs stored up in his brain(?), and he was all about sharing music with the masses. He glanced at his crew, namely Luffy, who was still standing at his side, uncharacteristically quiet and listening. Minus Zoro, Jinbe, and Franky, the crew all looked at him expectantly. Although they were clearly curious to see him make a choice, it was obvious from the trust in their gazes that they knew that Brook would never choose to leave. That feeling of trust was so strong it hit Brook across the face, as it was small moments like these that can often be overlooked. Here he was, surrounded by people who, for no reason other than kindness, pulled him from the darkest place he ever was and ever will be in for the rest of his long life (death?). Surrounded by people who treated Laboon with such love, even without knowing his or Brook's history.
Just then, something in his mind sparked. It was like two puzzle pieces that were rotated the wrong way had finally been put together. Grinning, he spoke into the receiver. "Yes, I think I can manage that. However, on one condition." The snail lit up in greedy joy. "Yes! Anything!"
"I want to have guest singers on some of the tracks." Thanklin paused before responding.
"That's it?"
"Yes"
"Deal. Who are the guest singers?"
"Well, the Strawhat Pirates of course." With that, Luffy lit up, stars in his eyes. Usopp and Chopper also did a little happy dance. Nami and Sanji mostly looked confused as Robin smiled.
"Eh really? Are you sure that will sound good?' The snail was cringing heavily. "Yes, and I thank you to leave it at that. I will call again when the tracks are ready. Goodbye Thanklin-san."
"Wait bu-" and the snail receiver was hung up.
Before the snail's eyes were even closed, Luffy already had his arms wrapped twice around Brook's ribcage.
"Shishishi Brook that sounds like a great idea!" If Brook had skin he would most certainly be blushing.
"I agree. This sounds like a wonderful thing to do with the crew."
"I don't care much for singing myself but if the lovely Robin-chwan and Nami-swan are on board then I'm in I suppose."
"Did I ever tell you guys about the time I lulled a bloodthirsty lion into sleep with only a flute?"
As everyone was commenting on how excited they were, the ever-scrupulous Nami crossed her arms and frowned at Brook.
"And how much is this all going to cost? What equipment do we even need?" At that Brook faltered, as he was not one of the more technical members of the crew. Right on queue, Ussop perked up.
"We can use the tone dial! We can record the songs on them and just ship them to the record label. As long as they promise to send them back..."
"A wonderful idea Ussop-san, thank you for your generosity." Brook also internally thanked Ussop for sparing him from the threat of a budgeting session with Nami.
"Ne ne, this is an EXTRA good idea too because now we can be together even when we aren't!" Luffy said, smiling widely, as usual. At that, his crewmates paused, not following Luffy-logic. Robin, ever the patient one, was the first to prompt him.
"What do you mean by that, Captain-san?" Luffy responded in the whiny voice of a child who thought what they meant was obvious and didn't require explaining.
"I mean, when we are split up like we were in Wano, we can listen to the records and still hear each other's voices whenever we get homesick!" Everyone in the room suddenly had that warm fuzzy feeling that happens when they realize just how emotionally smart Luffy can be sometimes.
"Luffy..." Chopper looked like he was about to cry.
"Shishishi, anyways, Sanji, when is dinner?" And with that, the moment was over. Sanji sighed deeply, a plume of smoke trailing with it.
"Well I guess we're back on schedule. Not for a while shitty captain. Go back to playing outside." Luffy glowered at the man, but still slid off of Brook and dragged Ussop and the still-teary Chopper out the door to do only god knows what.
"Brook, I'll get you the dials later today just let me know where you want em'" Ussop called over his shoulder.
"I wonder if swordsman-san will chose to participate or not. He has never been the most festive of us." Robin once again had a mischievous smile on her face.
"A hundred berries that he does, but only after ten drinks," Nami called as she strode out the door to continue gardening. As everyone resumed what they had previously been doing, the warmth in Brook's chest (cavity) only continued to grow at the prospect of what came next. He hadn't even considered keeping the records for times they were away from each other. He was proud to be under a captain that thought of that kind of thing.
Weave Me the Sunshine
"Weave me the hope of a new tomorrow
and fill my cup again."
After a battle, when everyone was tired and dirty, and just ready to sleep, is when Brook would sing this song. A gentle reminder that no matter how much the world may seem dark and desolate, there's always sunshine waiting in the future. For the people they saved, this song was many people's first introduction to the Strawhat's musical side, before the banquet and unavoidable rounds of Bink's Sake.
Hog of the Forsaken
"An' The Hog of the Forsaken
Well, he ain't like you and I
With bones always breakin'
An' no place to go an' lie"
Sung on warm afternoons and slow days, Brook's violin would bounce this tune across the decks of the Sunny. Sometimes Franky would join in with his guitar if he has the time. Even Zoro sometimes finds himself bobbing his head to this song.
The Loco-Motion
"My little baby sister can do it with ease
It's easier than learning your A B C's
So come on, come on, do the locomotion with me"
Behind Bink's Sake, this one is the party favorite. It is pretty much as simple as that.
Shout, pts 1 and 2
"You know you make me wanna (shout-woo)
Lift my heels up and (shout-woo)
Throw my head back and (shout-woo)
Kick my heels up and (shout-woo)"
Brook wrote this one during their two years apart and just now introduced it to the crew. Franky was more than happy to provide the "doo-wop" background singing, but Luffy had a hard time understanding the "a little bit softer now" part.
Tiny Sparrow
"I wish I were a tiny sparrow
And I had wings, and I could fly
I'd fly away to my own true lover
And all he'd ask I would deny"
Written by Brook (with input from the ladies), this song was performed by Robin. The first of the aforementioned guest singers. Brook felt her voice was too pretty to waste and insisted she sing it. Robin commented that she relates to the lyrics, her many years as an assassin giving her experience with fickle men (but also she conceded that yes, her name is a bird and the song is about a bird so it fits).
If I Had My Way
"If I had my way,
If I had my way in this wicked world,
If I had my way I would tear this building down."
This song was actually a song Ussop introduced to the crew, but as everyone got more excited about the project the rules surrounding what was to be included loosened quite a bit. Who was Brook to put a damper on the musical mood? If Thanklin didn't like what he got, then that should be his problem. And so, Brook was guitar, Ussop was the main singer, and Luffy and Nami were back up. Nami, because she likes the idea of tearing things down (fuck you marines), and Luffy, because he likes to pretend to be Sampson and wrestles with Chopper like he's the lion.
And When I Die
"I'm not scared of dying and I don't really care
If it's peace you find in dying, well, then let the time be near"
Luffy's never been one to shy away from the topic of his death, so when Brook introduced this song, Luffy was adamant about being a singer in it. It's not that he intends on dying before becoming the Pirate King, but if he does after that happens, so be it. And of course, he dragged the other two constantly death-defying members of the crew with him. Sanji had been hoping to maybe sing a duet with one of the ladies, but he can't deny his captain. This was the only song Zoro joined in on because he liked the concept and he and Nami had just finished their drinking contest (Nami did it on purpose).
Sun King
"Here comes the Sun King
Ev'rybody's laughing
Ev'rybody's happy
Here comes the Sun King"
Written after the Onigashima fight, this song hasn’t been listened to very much. It's a good song, but the events are still very raw. It's the kind of song Brook practices late at night when most of the crew is asleep. Secretly though, even with the memories it brings, it's almost everybody's second favorite song (behind Bink's Sake).