[ well. this is something he is seeing with his own eyes now. (why is there a dolphin) (this is the one piece experience as well i cannot say anything) and at the end of it he doesn't look sad or worried, just... shocked. ]
... You... Did you...?
[ how do you ask someone politely if they are dead when two minutes ago you were asking them to pole dance, actually, because this is what's happening now ]
[ because the ocean is here! at least! aren't you happy! the ocean!!!! well, it takes her a minute, but she offers him a quiet nod, one of her hands settling on her side briefly, like she can still feel it, a knife buried there once. ]
Yeah. I didn't have much choice... was already on my way out. Had to buy the kid some time to escape.
[ what's hotter than fire? lava. but she just watches these pages, her breath held with each passing panel because the familiarity of this stings sharply, like a brand searing into skin. it's... this shouldn't be it. this shouldn't be... she shakes her head quietly. ]
Ace—
[ she's kind of lacking words, she just looks at him like 'this is not the kind of thing i wanted to have in common with you.' ]
Leaving them... [ she doesn't really want to say it ] That's the hardest part afterwards. Isn't it. [ not that there's any regret in her voice. her heart just hurts. ]
[ it's weird to watch yourself die in third person pov. even weirder when it's following watching someone Else die in third person pov. he smiles weakly and wry back at her, but he doesn't look like he regrets it ]
... Luffy'll be okay. I knew before any of that happened. He's got a good crew.
[ Surely Luffy Won't Be Fucked Up About This Forever ]
[ surely luffy will not spiral and become the actual strongest man in the world /cries so much for him. she smiles at that. that's what they would like to truly believe. that they'll be okay. she lifts her chin and is just gonna take his hand gently if allowed. ]
Yeah? Emporio's got Weather on his side... I believe in him too... he's gonna be fine.
[ he lets her hold his hand, though he doesn't exactly hold it back, looking a little unsure ]
... Luffy? [ he says this like he isn't always talking about luffy in some way ] He's... probably the only reason I lived this long in the first place. [ well, he admitted as much in the memory, and it's embarrassing to reiterate, so: ] He latched onto me when he was dropped with the bandits when he was seven. I was ten. I couldn't stand him at first, and I kept trying to ditch him... He was a crybaby, and clingy, and it drove me insane. He's stupid, and reckless, and always getting into trouble without thinking about it-- but he's so honest he's got this way of worming himself into anyone's heart.
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... You... Did you...?
[ how do you ask someone politely if they are dead when two minutes ago you were asking them to pole dance, actually, because this is what's happening now ]
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Yeah. I didn't have much choice... was already on my way out. Had to buy the kid some time to escape.
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[ he stares at her because this is, honestly, incredibly familiar--
for what turns out to be extremely obvious reasons almost immediately when ace's own comic pages turn up. woops same hat even though i KNOW YOU DID IT ON PURPOSE ]
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Ace—
[ she's kind of lacking words, she just looks at him like 'this is not the kind of thing i wanted to have in common with you.' ]
Leaving them... [ she doesn't really want to say it ] That's the hardest part afterwards. Isn't it. [ not that there's any regret in her voice. her heart just hurts. ]
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... Luffy'll be okay. I knew before any of that happened. He's got a good crew.
[ Surely Luffy Won't Be Fucked Up About This Forever ]
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Yeah? Emporio's got Weather on his side... I believe in him too... he's gonna be fine.
[ tilting her head ]
Tell me about him. [ better memories. ]
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... Luffy? [ he says this like he isn't always talking about luffy in some way ] He's... probably the only reason I lived this long in the first place. [ well, he admitted as much in the memory, and it's embarrassing to reiterate, so: ] He latched onto me when he was dropped with the bandits when he was seven. I was ten. I couldn't stand him at first, and I kept trying to ditch him... He was a crybaby, and clingy, and it drove me insane. He's stupid, and reckless, and always getting into trouble without thinking about it-- but he's so honest he's got this way of worming himself into anyone's heart.