squelching | catch-all: [zia, gritting her teeth] ace d. portgas

[she squeezes his hand like she's scared he's just going to poof away if she lets go.]

... I know. [hoarse.] You promised. And I... I thought something was bothering you yesterday, but...

... Don't blame yourself. I think I only half-remembered it happening myself.

[ he squeezes back ]

I'm not, I promise. I just... [she shakes her head.] It's not fair, Ace. Someone did all of that to Reigen. And now I have to lose you, too.

...

I was already dead back home. So I didn't care, if I got caught. [ he's looking at her hand more than her ] But I wanted to know what happened to Reigen. And I think I messed that up for all of us.

[he is really just dropping this on her the day before his execution, huh. she closes her eyes, sniffling.]

... You're stupid. Other people cared if you got caught. [quietly.] It wasn't your fault, anyway. We should've figured things out sooner, and then... maybe we would've had enough time for him, too.

[ other people cared if you got caught makes him tear up a bit, looking a little guilty. ]

... Maybe. It's no good focusing on what ifs. [ he's telling it to himself like a reminder. ] I promised my brother I'd live a life without regrets. So even the stupid things and the mistakes I've done... I don't regret any of that. No matter how it ends up.

[...]

I guess so. It's not like we can change anything now. [what's done is done, unfortunately.] ... You know, you haven't really talked to me about your brother before.

... Really? Everyone always says I talk too much about Luffy.

[ SHOOKETH. but... ]

... I've got two. Sabo's...[ he's touching something inside his hoodie pocket with his free hand ] Sabo died when we were kids. Luffy's a pirate too. He's Robin's captain, you know?

Well, maybe you should listen to them less.

[... but. hm.]

I'm sorry about Sabo. [glancing at his pocket, just for a sec.] Robin told me a little about her crew, but I didn't realize her captain was your brother. You two didn't become pirates together...? It doesn't sound like you were in the same crew.

It's okay. It's been a long time.

No way. Luffy's going to be the Pirate King, you know. [ he grins widely, like he believes it, even if he has no idea if saya knows what that even means ] That means he's got to be captain of his own ship. But he's my little brother. There's no way I'd ever be able to let myself be bossed around by him.

[she has no idea what that means but good for luffy????]

... But wouldn't he have ended up bossing you around eventually, after becoming the Pirate King?

It's more like a title than a real job. [ hmmm... he tilts his head back, grimacing a bit before telling the story; ] The original Pirate King was the worst criminal of all. A little over two decades back, he was caught and executed. But before he went, he told everyone everything he'd ever gained-- fame, fortune, everything-- could be found in one piece. He left it out there to find for anyone daring enough to sail for it.

[ he sounds like he thinks it's a stupid story, but he grins after ]

Luffy's always wanted to be like that guy. So he's searching for it. All the big names are. I never really cared about it, though.

Hmm... But he could have been lying. If it were me, I'd probably do something like that if I thought it was funny. [okay, ms. traumatizes hospital patients for the laughs.] And if no one has fount it in more than 20 years...

[the plot of one piece is so much.]

If you aren't interested in that big treasure, though, then what made you become a pirate?

... No, it's real.

[ he looks unamused but certain about it. don't question it. ]

To be free. Being a pirate is the freest thing there is. ... The three of us promised we'd become pirates, and we'd be free. I'm pretty sure Luffy picked wanting to be Pirate King because he thinks that's the freest man in the world.

... You're sure?

[sorry but she will question it a little. it sounds wild.

she hums, thinking.]

I guess there's a certain freedom that comes with gaining all that fame and power. It's pretty ambitious, though. [...] I'm... glad. That you got to do what you wanted. At least, for a while.

[because he is now in death row and this seems like the opposite of free. and he was also already dead in his world, apparently??? rip.]

... Yeah. The guy might've been the worst, but he wasn't much of a liar.

[ said with a kind of Ew voice. ok. ]

... I did. I've had a pretty good life over all, so I don't regret anything. Even the stupid choices I made.

You... really don't like that man at all, huh.

[ace's beef with a guy who died before he was even born... the unknowledgeable daddy issues.]

Good. [...] I don't regret that I got to meet you, you know. Even if things ended up like this. If there's another world after this one... I hope it's a little better for you.

... It's complicated.

[ he really doesn't, but also, he had a habit of beating the shit out of anyone who talked crap about him, because. reasons. anyway he looks a little surprised pikachu at what she says and then immediately just kind of. horribly fond and touched. ]

... Thank you. [ ... ] I'm not lying, when I say I've lived a pretty good life. Because I met people like you.

[i am assigning them as still holding hands. which means she gently squeezes his hand, smiling a little.]

... People's lives are better because they got to meet you, too. Remember that, okay?

[he won't have to remember it for very long, but. look. they're all squinting at the newspaper by this point.]

[ of course they are holding hands. it's necessary. but she says that and he stares at her a little ]

... You really mean that, huh. [ he says it quietly, like it's surprising, but he squeezes her hand back ]

catch-all: [zia, gritting her teeth] ace d. portgas

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