Chapter Text
“Captain Jagae cookie! Opinions on the Manju guild?” A small interviewer ran up handing a small microphone to the merchant.
“The Manju guild? I’ve known Manju Cookie for a good while, he annoys me most of the time but life gets boring without him you know? Honestly I expect our visits, not like I’ll ever tell him that.
Ever since he showed up my guild has been in Jeopardy. It’s not
“The Jagae guild! The best merchants in all of earthbread!”
Now it’s a stupid competition between me and that stupid fox. I will come out on top, don’t get me wrong but it’s slower with him around.” Jagae explains giving gestures while speaking.
The merchant perks up and looks at the camera, “Now turn it to the Manju guild!”
A little boy runs out to the great Manju, handing him a microphone.
“Sir Manju Cookie, opinions on the Jagae guild?”
Manju looks down with his visible smirk before grabbing the microphone.
“The Jagae guild? Oh, yeah I’ve known them for a long time. Honestly I don't pay no mind, she’ll never come out on top. I carry exotic merch no other guilds have ever carried before! Eeeexcpet Jagae, she’s quite the charmer if you ask me but her anger will always bring her down.”
The little boy writes information down on his little notepad before saying his goodbyes and walking away with his crew. Manju stood there in question but shrugs it off before checking up on his guild.
A worker runs up to Manju, stimming with their hands before looking up to their captain.
“Captain Manju, we seem to be having some issues with the ship, the engine keeps breaking down and I’m afraid this will happen while we are at sea and cause us to crash!”
Manju looks at the worker before staring off,
“Interesting, we shall find the nearest shore and try to get this little issue fixed. I’m sure we will be fine.” He reassures the young worker before setting off to the engine room.
The worker nods and runs with the rest of the crew, Manju shrugs it off. This issue has been happening for a while. The engine is weak and old, in need of a new one. But there are no civilizations with the proper materials to help his small case. Manju does his best to reassure the crew that he will get a new engine and things will be fine.
He walks to his office, sitting down with the many letters in front of him. He starts rustling with the pile until he finds the one he was expecting. A pretty dark gray letter with a handwriting that can never be mistaken for.
“Ah, there you are. Looks like Jagae has something to say!”
He picks up the letter, making room on his desk to open it.
“Typical another hate letter, at least she’s creative with the wordings this time.”
He hangs the letter up with the rest before going back to his other unread letters that he has passed simply due to not wanting to read all of them.
A good 30 minutes to an hour passes before Manju hears a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Another worker, she seems taller than the last but a worker no less.
“We have found the shore but we seem to have some visitors.. The Jagae guild beat us here.”
Manju blinks a few times before putting on his usual smirk and walking out to the deck.
His eyes met Jagae before Jagae turned away. She soon broke the silence.
“Manhu cookie.”
“Again with this name? Honestly sweetheart we’ve known eachother for so long I would think you’d know my name by now.” Manju shook his head before putting the pipe to his mouth.
Jagae just stares at him.
“Why are you here Manju? Following me again?”
Manju laughs a little.
“Of course not Captain. Why would I follow you? I am simply here to repair my ship.”
Jagae perks up and looks at him harder.
“Again? Didn’t you repair it last week? What’s going on?”
“Look darling, my engine is just old and burnt out. I need a new one but we’re not in the right area with the right materials.”
“That’s dangerous, you know. Having an old engine run for as long as you did. Did it not break down?”
“It has, a few times.. but manage to make small maintenance to keep it going.”
“You’re going to crash.”
“Don’t be so negative, I am one of the best captains in all of earthbread. I will be fine.”
Jagae smirks-
“I can give you one of my spares for the right price.”
Manju blows out of his pipe.
“Funny. I don’t trust your raggedy engine. I have a special kind of my own. I just hope I can sail there before the engine breaks apart.”
Jagae rolls her eyes before snapping her finger. 2 workers run up to her.
“May you bring me my spare engine.”
Both workers nod before running off.
“Look Manhu- Manju whatever your name is. What’s the fun if you crash? Have mine. No charge included. It’ll at least take you to your destination for the one you use.”
Manju squints his eyes.
“What’s the catch?”
Jagae looks up.
“I don’t know yet, maybe if I have issues in the future perhaps you can help a gal out, hm?”
Manju smirks before sighing.
“You have yourself a deal, oh great captain.”
They shook hands before the workers set to putting on the spare engine. Manju looks at her in awe before boarding his ship.
The weeks has gone like normal, every so often they send each other mail. They’ll bump into each other on different islands they find but something changed. Something in the air changed.
Jagae got handed a letter from her worker. It was from Manju. Expecting another hate letter- her eyes widened when she read it.
“It’s…. Sweet? He never writes sweet letters. Where’s the sarcasm, the passive aggression?”
Jagae scratches her head not knowing how to respond.
“Everything okay Captain?”
Jagae looks to the voice next to her, she leans down.
“How do you respond to this? I didn’t expect him to be THANKING me, it’s sweet and all but I can’t tell if he’s plotting something.”
The worker looks up at her in confusion.
“Are you sure he’s just not showing gratitude for your show of kindness? Sometimes an act of kindness can go a long way, perhaps a better relationship with Manju Cookie.”
“Bah! A better relationship with Manju?! That sly fox doesn’t show kindness unless he wants something. I don’t trust this! He’s toying with me!” Jagae stomps off to her office before looking at the letter again.
She starts writing, erasing a few words in the process. She can’t decide if she should send a hate letter back or not. She sighs in frustration before putting the pen down. She actually liked the sweet letter, she never viewed him as sweet but maybe he can be. Oh what is she talking about!
“Pull yourself together Jagae! It’s just one sweet letter.”
Wasn’t Jagae wrong, weeks to months came by, letter after letter. Some were passive aggressive, some were sweet. She can’t help but feel happy when he sent the letters. It’s like she looked forward to them. She would keep the ones she likes and read them over and over. She would sometimes imagine what it would be like if they weren’t rivals. A combined guild? What would life be like if they weren’t merchants? Unwanted thoughts and questions started coming to her mind and she HATED IT.
Her workers would look at her in concern as they slowly see their captain loose her head. Fortunately for Jagae, the letters stopped. Fortunately? What happened?
Jagae looked at the empty desk where it’s usually filled with Manju’s hateful letters. It’s been exactly 3 months since she received a letter.
Jagae sat at her desk, pen tapping. Maybe she’ll send one to start a conversation. Maybe she should tell him how she felt, that’ll strike his interest for sure. She got nervous. Nervous? Why is she nervous? This is nothing to be nervous about.
She started writing, going with her gut making sure to add her signature at the end. She rolled it up and sent it to Manju.
She watched as the letter was getting shipped. Maybe she’ll get one back. Hopefully..