fierybluebird | Voice / Action for CH3 roof

[All right, this is not easy. Marco's a nervous wreck, so he goes pacing, and to find Chun-Li... who isn't home. After a few calls to her journal and looking around, he realizes she's gone home. Again. He greets the morning up on the roof of CH3, smokes a cigarette, and with the Whitebeard flag flying behind him, that's where he is when he makes a post.]

For those who knew her, Chun-Li's gone home. Luceti's lost a great teacher, but I know back in Hong Kong she'll teach kids how to fight and help police up her world. Say a prayer, light a candle, toll a bell, whatever your tradition is.

I have letters from her for Tenten, Spencer, Punzy, Lupin, and Robin. And one for the marine if you could take that to him Ikki?

For the rest of Luceti, I guess I have a question for you, though I guess I should explain with a story first. The first time Chun-Li left, it made me a lot braver. I realized I couldn't take my time for things I wanted. Here, and in my world, everything is fleeting. I'm the type who's not great at taking chances. My Pops and my brothers are great at it. But I always worry about the risks until the chance is gone. And the times I've taken a chance can really hurt, eh? Here I learned that it hurt more to miss those chances and get stuck wondering. Ace is always telling me to braver, to get stronger, and that encourages me a lot to be more like him. If your loved ones were here, are there chances they would tell you to take? Or do you think they'd remind you of the risks instead? [He's still a nervous wreck, but he's at least steady in his voice and more convicted in his decisions.]

[Filtered from Robin:]

To the Straw Hat crew, and those close to her, tomorrow's a special day for Robin, so I'd like to take her out just the two of us. Don't come looking, but I'll bring my journal if you need us.

And to the Straw Hat crew.... [Deep breath! He can do this!] Normally this would be something I'd ask her captain, but you are all just as much her family and so it affects you all too. I have something important to ask. I can do it here, or in person, but please get back to me before tomorrow.

[Filtered to Ace about 50%]
Shit I'm an idiot. Help.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, please. I'll see you there, eh?

[And true to his word, Marco will be waiting with a green tea and to fetch whatever Vivi would prefer best.]

[It doesn't take Vivi long to arrive either, and she sees Marco as she enters, making her way over to his table. She gives a little wave in greeting, though her normal enthusiasm is somewhat dampened considering the nature of this conversation. She's really not sure what to expect.]

Marco-san. [She takes a seat across from him.]

Vivi. [Waves, but grins gently at least.] Any drink you'd prefer?

[Vivi only thinks for a moment.] Chai, please.

[Goes to fetch it and soon returns.] Chai with a hint of vanilla. Apparently it's their special blend today or something, but I'm told it's good.

Here you go!

Thank you. [Her voice is soft but clear. She stirs her tea absently and then brings it to her lips to try a sip. It's good, good enough that she takes another sip before lowering the cup.]

Then, Marco-san... [She pauses to let him jump in. That seems best, especially considering she's not exactly sure what he plans to say to her, why he thought this conversation was importantly enough to have face to face.]

Crocodile and I go pretty far back.

He's tried to kill Pops a number of times. That in itself isn't so unusual, but he's much more of a pain about it. He hates Pops. Even at Marineford, he tried again and Ace's little brother stopped him.

I promised Robin she can always be the one to talk about her past, or to keep it secret, eh?

But I can only say I'm sorry we didn't kill the bastard in the past when we had the chance. Usually we don't. Unless they kill one or our own or they're going to. Otherwise, it loses its meaning, eh? Revenge... Now though... I'm not always so sure leaving all those ends was such a good idea.

[Vivi's brow furrows as she listens, not quite sure where he's going with this. She may not have known what exactly to expect, but this certainly wasn't it. Yes, Robin had worked with Crocodile as he tried to destroy Alabasta, but to bring him up now... Vivi can't see the purpose, though she supposes this must answer the question of whether Marco knew much about the history between Vivi and Robin. She listens quietly until he pauses, then shakes her head.]

Marco-san...that's nothing you have to apologize for.

Perhaps not, but I still wish to if you'll accept it, eh?

I'm becoming rather intimately acquainted with what it's like to watch countries that cannot be immediately protected thanks to the machinations of other pirates, eh?

[Shakes his head and glances away.] As for Robin...

[He really doesn't know how to explain it. Or where to even begin. It ties into the Crocodile thing, but how to explain it, he's at a loss for. So he's just hoping Vivi can pick up the slack.]

Of course, but I-- [She bites back the vague protest she was about to make. No, as far as she's concerned, he has no reason to apologize, but perhaps he still feels he should. Trying to see things from that perspective, Vivi can recall more than a few times when she'd been quick with an apology that no one else thought she owed. One's personal standards for that sort of thing don't always match up with what might be considered logical. So. All right. She'll give him that. Vivi lowers her gaze, inclining her head toward him slightly.] I think I understand. Thank you.

[But yes. As for Robin...]

[If Marco's hoping Vivi will provide a smooth bridge between the subjects, he's not in luck. The princess is still puzzled as to how the two topics relate where it concerns Marco. She watches the liquid in her cup as she lazily swirls it around.]

Robin-san...what she does or doesn't do has nothing to do with me. [Vivi's face goes into a mild wince at the words, which came out sounding harsher than she'd intended. She looks back up to Marco.] ...no, that's not right. I just mean...

[She trails off completely there; it wasn't intentional, but Vivi realizes she has no idea of what to say. Her relationship with Robin has long been an uncertain, confusing thing--for both of them, she sometimes suspects. Finally after a moment or two of hoping she'd be able to order her thoughts into something easily expressed in words, she gives up, raising her palms in a small, helpless shrug.]

Thank you, Vivi. [Politely bows his head.]

You two are not close. But either way, you are both nakama, eh? Perhaps it is a little different for me because with my crew, everyone is family. And a union between crews, even through something like this, is something that affects all of you, eh? And I wouldn't wish to ask her without clearing it with all of you. [Rubs the back of his neck.] If the rest of my crew were here I'd talk to them too, make it a more solid alliance, but this it the best I can do for now.

Nakama yes, but I still don't...

[She brings a hand up to lightly rub her temple. Takes a breath. Between being surprised in the first place and then further confused by Marco's meanderings, she thinks maybe at this point she's just confusing herself. There's no need for it to be this complicated, is there? As far as she can tell, Marco wants a blessing from the crew concerning Robin, and he counts Vivi's opinion on the matter in as high a regard as the rest of them, despite their relationship being a little different than the rest of their nakama. Despite their history, which he clearly must know of at least in passing.]

Marco-san. I don't object, if that's what you want to know. [She gives a small laugh, hiding her wry smile behind the cup of chai she raises to her lips.] And even if I did, Robin-san makes her own decisions.

Thank you.

[A wry grin.] Granted, our friendship will always be removed from my relationship with Robin, but ah... it just seems different somehow. I'm not sure I can fully explain it to be honest.

But thanks.

[At the expression he shows, she relaxes a little. Maybe she still doesn't completely understand, but it seems that satisfied him. She lowers her cup, waving one hand dismissively.]

It's all right. You don't need to explain. I know some things are hard to put into words.

Voice / Action for CH3 roof

[voice] -> [Action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]