Luffy pov:
There was a guy sitting near the dock.
He wasn't fishing. He wasn't eating. He wasn't yelling or sleeping or anything fun.
He was just sitting.
Luffy hated that.
"Oi," he said, pointing. "That guy's been sitting for, like... a hundred years."
Nami didn't even look up from her chart. "That's Kael. Leave him alone."
"No," Luffy said. "He's suspicious."
"Because he's quiet?"
"Because he's boring," Luffy declared, now fully upside down on the railing.
Chopper trotted over. "Maybe he's sad."
"Maybe he has no butt bones," Luffy said seriously. "That's why he never moves."
"…What?"
"Like Brook!"
"I HAVE BONE BUTT," Brook called from below deck.
"SEE?!"
Eventually Luffy got tired of spinning in circles on the deck and leapt off the ship without telling anyone.
He landed with a thud beside Kael, who flinched.
"WHY ARE YOU SITTING," Luffy said loudly, hands on hips.
Kael looked over. Slowly. "What?"
"You're always sitting! Like a rock that broods. You're a brooding rock."
Kael blinked. "Do I know you?"
"Nope! I'm Luffy."
"I know who you are."
"Cool."
They stared at each other.
Luffy grinned.
Kael frowned.
"So," Luffy said. "You here to kill me?"
Kael stared. "What?"
"You're a bounty hunter, right? You gonna try to bag me?"
"…Are you inviting me to?"
Luffy shrugged. "I dunno. I'm kinda full. Sanji made soup."
"That has nothing to do with—"
"Unless you're gonna fight me with soup," Luffy added thoughtfully. "Which would be awesome."
"…You're insane."
Luffy nodded. "Yep."
Silence.
Luffy sat down beside him. Loudly.
"Man, you're like Zoro when he doesn't get snacks. All grumpy and squinty."
Kael pinched the bridge of his nose. "What are you doing."
"Vibing."
"That's not a real answer."
"Sure it is. I made it up just now."
More silence.
Luffy fidgeted.
"You ever eaten meat with your feet?"
Kael turned slowly to stare. "What?"
"It's really hard. I tried once."
Kael blinked.
"Don't recommend it," Luffy said solemnly.
A seagull squawked overhead.
Kael finally asked, "Why are you even talking to me?"
Luffy tilted his head. "You looked lonely."
Kael said nothing.
Luffy stood up, stretched, cracked his knuckles for no reason, and said, "Anyway. If you're gonna stab me later or whatever, just do it after dinner. I like eating."
He waved and walked off, arms flailing for balance as he almost tripped over a crate.
Back on the Sunny, Sanji raised an eyebrow. "What were you doing down there?"
Luffy grabbed a roll from the table. "Harassing the quiet guy."
"Why?"
"He was suspicious."
Zoro snorted. "Of what?"
"Of being boring!" Luffy said through mouthfuls. "And maybe soup fighting. I dunno yet."