fierybluebird | Appointment Post 2.0 since the other is pretty full

I guessed.

[Doesn't frown, just deadpan lineface.] So what's up? Something I can do to ease your mind?

[He takes a seat on Marco's bed, letting out a quiet sigh.] No. But... I need to leave the village for a couple days. I have to think about some stuff, and I'd like some space while I do.

[His expression softens even more, a little concerned, and slightly worried that it might be Marco's fault, but eventually he nods. Ace will always be Ace, and that means things like this happen sometimes. They pass.]

All right. But bring your journal in case something happens, and a rain jacket. And make sure you eat enough, okay? And I'm not telling Sabo for you, you have to tell him yourself, eh?

[Really should've expected the fussing. But he's a little surprised there's not questions.] I know, I was going to bring it in case something came up. And I'll remember the jacket, and I'm going to talk with Sabo right after this.

Anything else?

[A small shrug.] Sorry, eh?

[For the fight, for the underlying causes he knows aren't completely resolved and everything else involved.] You'll be okay? I'm trusting you on that Ace. [And his trust on Ace not coming home battered and bruises is taking its own beating in the last year and a half.]

[He nods in return.] I'll be fine. If anything happens, I'll contact you over the journal right away. I just... [He's silent before sighing.] I've got to figure something out.

[Continues the soft look. He's not sure whether to ask, if Ace wanted him to know what it was, he wouldn't be taking off to get space right? But if he brought it up this much... Well, if nothing else Ace could just not answer.]

Mind if I ask what that is?

[He expected Marco to ask, but he didn't want to tell him unless Marco directly asked him what it was about. He just hopes Marco doesn't... well, get a little annoyed or angry.] It's about Roger.

[Just gives him a flat look. "What is there puzzle out about him?" He wants to say. "Forget about him already. What does he even matter at this point?" But if it was that simple Ace wouldn't be taking off alone to go puzzle through it, now would he?]

Oh?

[Clearly unimpressed.] What about him?

[He'd rather Marco didn't press it, but he does deserve this much. But any more questions, and Ace won't want to answer.] I learned some stuff about him. And I don't think he's the kind of person I thought he was.

Edited 2012-10-12 05:23 (UTC)

[Marco is pretty damn taken aback by that. Of things he never thought he'd hear Ace say, that was definitely near the top of the list. Hell, it took Ace forever just to realize Whitebeard wasn't the kind of person he thought; and that was while living with him and several hundred people who all tried to show him otherwise.]

I won't press it if you want to go or you still need to work it out, [Holds up both hands in surrender.] but just what kind of person do you think he is now?

[That question presents the entire problem Ace is having right now. He sighs, frustrated, looking at the ground.] That's just it. I don't know. I've been told he was a terrible person, and he's the cause of so much hate. Now I'm told he was a great captain, and a good man.

[There's a pretty soft grin at that. Marco remembering all the times Ace was like this at the start of his joining the crew. As much as they fought about it in Luceti, in a way Marco really did find it cute of his younger brother.]

Ace...

Okay, you can go alone. But let me just say; a lot of people in our world are hated. And a lot of them are loved by those that matter to them. Do you think Pops was universally adored? We had the islands, and he had the biggest family of anyone, but the government, people like Crocodile, hundreds of rookies that failed, they all despise him. They think he's a monster. We know better.

Roger was a lot of things to a lot of different people. But even if the whole world hated him, I don't think he'd have cared.

You're a very different person from him. No matter what he did or who he was, you're not Roger. You don't carry any responsibility for him, got it?

But I knew Pops. I got to be with him, and actually know what he was like. The only things I can ever know about Roger I have to have told to me. I didn't care about people who hated Pops because I knew better.

[He lays down on the bed, covering his eyes with his arm.] But if people scorn me for being Roger's son, I can't tell them otherwise because I have no idea who he was.

You should tell them otherwise because you're Pops' son. Because they didn't bother getting to know you. And that has nothing to do with Roger. Would you feel this way if they hated you for being my brother? Or Luffy's? Or Garp's grandson?

Marco, this is the guy who has made a huge impact on my entire life. I can't just ignore him and pretend he's not there. I don't like him, and I probably never will. As much as I hate him... he's my dad, too. He helped bring me into the world. For that much, I at least need to know about him, and give him the credit he deserves. But only for that.

[He bristles at Ace calling Roger his "Dad," but calms his feathers down at the rest.]

I'm not suggesting you ignore him, but so long as you keep thinking there's something to blood, you won't be able to tell others off either.

Ahhh go figure things out, eh? [Ruffles Ace's hair.] I'm trusting you to come back in one piece. [Because no matter how often Ace proves he probably shouldn't still have that trust, it'll never outweigh all the other non-mistakes in Marco's book. Nakama and all that.]

[He notices Marco bristle, and pats his head after the ruffle.] He's never going to be a father to me the way Pops is. I might think differently of him, but I still don't want to have anything to do with him. Pops is my only dad.

[He hugs Marco tightly, and nods his head confidently.] And I'll come back okay. [...] We need to talk about the fight, after all.

Right... sure... talking about that.

[Ahahahahahah. Good luck dragging that out of him Ace.]

I know it's gonna be hard, but we have to, Marco. We both said some really stupid things, and we have to try and fix them.

You want to wait until you get back though?

... not really. I want to talk about it as soon as possible, but you don't really seem comfortable talking about it now.

I'm not going to be more comfortable when you get back, and I'd rather get this over with as soon as possible.

I just don't want to make it worse by saying something stupid, or if you need time to think it out too.

There's not really much to think out. We just need to say what we want clearer. We were... too angry last time. [He leans against Marco.] I'm sorry I kicked you out of my room that time, too.

Agreed on the clearer. [Hugs Ace and pats his shoulder.] I'm glad you did though. I really needed the air. Normally we just kick and punch and be done with it, eh?

[Takes a deep breath.] And I guess some of this should probably come out more often... before it boils over like this again.

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BTW THAT SHOULD SAY OCT 8TH, NOT SEPT.

ffff Oct 8th; which it totally was all along >>;

yes, yes it was

B)

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