fierybluebird | [Audio/Action]

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AAAAACCCEEEE!!!!!

[Hark! It's the roar of an angry phoenix in pirate form.]

MY SHAMPOO?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?! Oh god it's even in my feathers! MY FEATHERS ACE!!! AHHH WHY'D YOU HAVE TO PICK RED?! Even raven black would have been better! I look like I hero-worship Shanks now! I swear when I find you Ace!

[For anyone getting a good look in the journal, Marco's hair has been badly dyed red, oh yeah and he looks every bit as ticked off as he sounds. Later on however, he'll be sporting a fedora to cover up that Akagami-wannabe look, and looking for hair dye remover. Or bleach. Or as a last resort, black hair dye. Anything's better than red with him. He will also be putting up posters: "Ever want to be a pirate? Join the Whitebeards! Limited time offer" though more on that later. And even more than that, a certain usually very blue bird will have a slightly red and purple tinge to his feathers for a little while. So not pleased. Still, he'll be around to help out any New Feathers or someone needing directions to town. And if anything, he arguably looks more like a traditional phoenix. Not that he wants that.]

[Later on that night when he stops trying to beat Ace to a pulp there will be a second very short post.]

Does anyone have hair dye remover, bleach, or something in black? I couldn't find any in the shop. Thanks, eh.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yer th'idiot... don't understand this at all...

Okay then tell me.

... helpless. Had to sit up there 'n watch everyone get hurt. Or die. Couldn't do a damn thing... felt so helpless... 'n useless. [His face looks a lot more pained now, and he's fidgeting more in his sleep.]

Had to watch it all...

[Yup, Marco knew what that was like. He was stuck in cuffs when Ace needed him most, unable to get by Garp, and ordered not to go near Blackbeard, not once, not twice, but at least three damn times.]

You think so, huh? When are you going to realize, Ace? Nakama do everything together. Your suffering is ours. We didn't want you up there and felt helpless that we couldn't get you out.

All our pain is shared. I felt it when Pops was stabbed, just like you. Jozu felt it when I got caught.

We were helpless too. I couldn't save you, all I could do was protect Luffy.

If you fucked up, we all fucked up. Stop taking it only upon yourself. It's time you forgive yourself Ace, because you can't forgive us until you do.

[He fidgets more, a few tears coming from his eyes.]Protecting Luffy... 's more than what I did... nothing to forgive you guys for... only thank...

[Headbutts.]

You died protecting him! You protected him more than anyone else idiot!

[sdkvjdsg and he jerks up, holding his head.] What the hell was that for!? I was sleeping, you dumbass!

You were being sleep stupid. [Deadpan.]

[He rubs his eyes and just glares at you, annoyed.] Wanna explain that so I'll actually understand it?

You said you didn't protect Luffy at Marineford. And if you say that again I'll strangle you.

[His eyes widen at first before he looks a little guilty. Not gonna make eye contact now.] Shit, it wasn't a dream...

[HUGS HIM HARD.] You're an idiot, but you're our idiot.

You protect Luffy more than anyone. Don't. Just... [Shakes his head.] Don't ever let yourself doubt or think otherwise or I mean it, I'll fight you.

[He hugs him back and buries his face.] S-Sorry.

[Hugs and pats his shoulders.] What am I going to do with you Fireworks?

[He simply shrugs and hums quietly for a brief moment. He doesn't even know what he's going to do with himself.]

I'm thinking keep feeding you and remind you of reality until you get it. Worked before a little, right?

[He gives him a light tipped smile, and just lean against him. That smile is gone soon enough, though.]

Ace, come on. I'm serious.

How do you not see this?

You don't know how desperate he sounded. You didn't feel how much he clung to me, yelled at me that I was lying, screaming to get my wounds checked. You didn't hear how he pleaded to the doctor. [His voice is cold and biting, but a few tears fall from his eyes.]

Yeah, it's really "protecting him" if I caused him that much pain.

Ace... [His eyes are tearing up and he leans his head against Ace's, as if they can share their thoughts through a physical osmosis.]

He wouldn't have even been alive to say that much, if you hadn't protected him like you did. If Pops had done that for you, would you have reacted differently than Luffy? I-it's not like you could have saved him otherwise... you just...

[Marco's starting to break, his voice getting less than solid and the tears threatening to take him over.]

[When he hears Marco's voice breaking, he keeps his head against his brother's but hugs him tight.]

Hey... [He soothingly rubs his back. At first, he didn't understand why Marco was about to cry, but then it hit him. They didn't get to protect Pops... he swallows before answering.]

It wouldn't be the same with me and Pops like it was with me and Luffy It was... it was time for him to go. At least by the way you made it sound. F-for Luffy... I've never heard him so crushed in my life.

It wasn't just Pops you idiot. [He doesn't cry, his mild irritation with Ace's general stupidity helping him through that. At least it's useful for something.]

It was you too. We wanted to save you too.

The only reason we forgive ourselves is because you were protecting Luffy, as we'll try to continue to do in the future. So don't you dare say it wasn't enough or that you didn't save him. You did, and that's the way it is.

[There's something Ace has been dying to ask for age, but he never quite found the words. For now, he just winces, and keeps his gaze lowered.]

I protected him. [Even he knows this. He saved his brother's life, and he was glad for that.] But I hurt him just as much as I saved him. And I hate that.

[He rests his head against Marco's shoulder.] D... do you guys... [Ace just closes his mouth, slowly shaking his head. He can't say it sometimes.]

Ace... you can't blame yourself for dying to protect someone. [He wants to headbutt Ace again, but given how depressed the younger man already is, Marco just gently pets his hair soothingly.]

If you want to blame someone, blame Akainu, blame Blackbeard, but don't blame yourself for doing your best. No regrets.

Just ask, Fireworks. [A hug.]

I never said I blamed myself! [He blames himself for the pain.]

And I don't regret anything, okay? I was stupid and reckless and ignored everyone like an dumbass, but I don't regret it.

[He takes a deep breath, slowly letting it out before finally speaking.] Do you guys still feel mad at me for throwing away your efforts like that? Y-You all tried so hard to save me, and then I went and died anyway...

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