Marco the Phoenix (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fierybluebird) wrote2013-02-18 07:49 am
fierybluebird) wrote2013-02-18 07:49 am
Ace and Sabo are gone // Written, Action
[The first few times Marco tries to find his voice, he can't. This is what Robin, what everyone tried to warn him about isn't it? And he didn't listen. He always refused. Even if his father had been here and told him the same things, he wouldn't have listened to him either. At first he tries to seek solace in the rooftop, the memorial for his Pops, but today, not even that is enough. Where can he go other than "home?" And home is no longer CH3. It is still Luceti, scattered throughout his loved ones, but other than Leanne, that describe CH3 now.]
[He opens the journal and tries to speak, but he can't. So he winds up writing instead.]
Happy Post-Valentine's Day to anyone. I hope many happy couples found each other and no one was too disrupted.
[His hand shakes, and then clenches and the pen breaks. Too angry, so much rage. He uses the bottom half of the quill as best as he can to write more.]
My little brothers, [A long pause. He looks up at the flag and... it's not enough. Nothing is.] are both gone. Even knowing that every single day they had here was extra time, and as grateful as I am for that, they deserve more. I can't tell you they've gone to a better place, because they haven't.
[The last thing Sabo saw before his death was fire. And Ace died crying and smiling at the same time.]
But they're in good company I guess.
[Good company? He was jealous of them, still, even now. He had a huge fight with Ace about it, but he was jealous. Ace was jealous that Marco could be with the living, and Marco was jealous that Ace could be with the dead, could protect someone he loved that deeply by dying for them, something Marco never could. It was a dumb thing to be jealous about, but even knowing how infantile it was, didn't make it go away. It's a good time to go get a new pen. So Marco jumps down and goes to the item shop, finds a pen and right there, in middle of the shop, sits down on the floor and continues.]
I've lost a lot of nakama before, but Ace's affected me the worst. He brought with him a new era. He saved the man who will be the New Pirate King and renounced the world's idea of villains and heroes. [Marco sets the book and pen down so he won't break them again and it's all bit before he picks them back up.] In legends, phoenixes are supposed to herald the changing of eras, but I hate it. Mankind's eras in my world are tragically majestic things, but what use are they to an individual?
I'm not going back to the apartment for a long time. And I might move when I'm ready. I took the important things with me, but I'm not going back there.
Luceti is still my home. Make no mistake, I'll fight forever for my right to stay and the right for anyone else who wants to stay. I always will. That's who I am.
[He needs to talk to people, to try to comfort them in the wake of Ace's absence, in the wake of Sabo's, but all Marco wants to do is fly away. It's too cowardly though, so he won't. He wants to switch into phoenix form and stop feeling anything, but that's also cowardly and he know Robin's been trying to break him of the habit.]
If you think you can find me, you can try, otherwise, say the word and I'll come find you. No promises about the state I'll be in.
- Marco
[He opens the journal and tries to speak, but he can't. So he winds up writing instead.]
Happy Post-Valentine's Day to anyone. I hope many happy couples found each other and no one was too disrupted.
[His hand shakes, and then clenches and the pen breaks. Too angry, so much rage. He uses the bottom half of the quill as best as he can to write more.]
My little brothers, [A long pause. He looks up at the flag and... it's not enough. Nothing is.] are both gone. Even knowing that every single day they had here was extra time, and as grateful as I am for that, they deserve more. I can't tell you they've gone to a better place, because they haven't.
[The last thing Sabo saw before his death was fire. And Ace died crying and smiling at the same time.]
But they're in good company I guess.
[Good company? He was jealous of them, still, even now. He had a huge fight with Ace about it, but he was jealous. Ace was jealous that Marco could be with the living, and Marco was jealous that Ace could be with the dead, could protect someone he loved that deeply by dying for them, something Marco never could. It was a dumb thing to be jealous about, but even knowing how infantile it was, didn't make it go away. It's a good time to go get a new pen. So Marco jumps down and goes to the item shop, finds a pen and right there, in middle of the shop, sits down on the floor and continues.]
I've lost a lot of nakama before, but Ace's affected me the worst. He brought with him a new era. He saved the man who will be the New Pirate King and renounced the world's idea of villains and heroes. [Marco sets the book and pen down so he won't break them again and it's all bit before he picks them back up.] In legends, phoenixes are supposed to herald the changing of eras, but I hate it. Mankind's eras in my world are tragically majestic things, but what use are they to an individual?
I'm not going back to the apartment for a long time. And I might move when I'm ready. I took the important things with me, but I'm not going back there.
Luceti is still my home. Make no mistake, I'll fight forever for my right to stay and the right for anyone else who wants to stay. I always will. That's who I am.
[He needs to talk to people, to try to comfort them in the wake of Ace's absence, in the wake of Sabo's, but all Marco wants to do is fly away. It's too cowardly though, so he won't. He wants to switch into phoenix form and stop feeling anything, but that's also cowardly and he know Robin's been trying to break him of the habit.]
If you think you can find me, you can try, otherwise, say the word and I'll come find you. No promises about the state I'll be in.
- Marco
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[It suuuuuuuuuuucks.]
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[Lands down soon enough at least.]
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He opens the door and switches to talking in person from talking to the journal.]
Come in. I'll get you a drink.
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[Numbly just follows along. He's not sure what else to say. It's hard to think after all.]
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It's labelled as being made in the Grand Line.]
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Special occasion?
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Grand Line sake was always Pops' favorite.
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[He's pretty misty-eyed now. And not really sure what more to say. He feels he should say something, but he's at a loss for words really.]
I know they'd appreciate that.
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To Whitebeard, Ace, and Sabo. May your journey be swift to what awaits beyond that far horizon, with clear skies, fair winds, and following seas - for your navigator is love. The love of those who have sailed before, and those who will travel yet.
[How many times has he toasted the departed like this?
Too many.]
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It's not like I lost them all over again, but it's like having them here was just fooling myself. Buying a little more time.
Fuck, I couldn't even put Ace's grave together, I don't know what to do here.
[Downs his cup.]
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[Quietly:]
It is a loss, Mister Marco. Even if they're dead back in our world, you're mourning everything that could ever be in this one. Don't sell short your grief.
[It never is all about all that was. It's all that could be that causes the most tears.]
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Both of them fucking deserved better and they just always...
I really hate people sometimes, Doctor.
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[To everything - he feels the same way. He has those days too. Nakama, Itachi, and Katara are excluded of course, but there's some days he prefers the company of animals to people.
He pours Marco more sake.]
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It's worth it though, right? That's what Pops would say.
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So it's worth it. Even if they don't remember it. Doesn't mean they won't carry it with them where it counts.
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[He gulps this one down too and can't the tears welling up in his eyes. Everything had been so simple before Whitebeard died. The solution to problems like this was easy. Pops was the captain, Pops was the father, Pops could solve everything. Back then Marco could just say trust in Pops, and it would work out.]
[Still the "us" in that statement doesn't go unnoticed, just as Law's flag similarities to Doflamingo's and his personal hatred for the man haven't gone unnoticed either. But the rest of the words sunk in just as well.]
I'm not as good at caring as my father was, eh? But you're right... thank you.
[He rubs the back of his neck in thought. Vengeance, that, he is good at. Two missing to complete his record or not.]
Those who abuse and use dumb kids though... That I can never forgive. That angers me even more than those who would spit on Pops' name. He himself would always do his best to end such a thing, what kind of a son would I be if I cannot do the same?
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...
You know, I've always thought good fathers wanted their sons to grow into their own men. Not... copies of themselves. So it's okay you're not him, Marco. It's not what he wanted. He wanted you to be you.
You carry with you the most important part of him - the part of him that can never die. His will. So yes, you're going to stumble and fall. That's natural. That's life. But ultimately you'll prevail.
Because he... they trust you. And they know you can.
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But I don't know what I want my own path to be. Picking a course could have plenty of disastrous results, eh? Not just for me, but my whole family, for millions around us, those I always called friends and allies. It's never an easy thing to tell someone you care about they'll have to fend for themselves, eh?
Besides, the only thing I really know that I want, whether or not my father would normally hold me back, is revenge. [And Whitebeard would hold him back. Did hold him back several times. Marco wants that revenge bad enough he can constantly taste it. But he's not willing to sacrifice his family to get it. He can't, he won't.] Kaidou, Blackbeard, Akainu, Doflamingo, all of them. That's what I want, but it's not in my grasp yet. Not yet. [But biding his time... He was good at that. Unless he waited too long.]
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You aren't alone. You may be in charge of choosing the course, but there are plenty of others to help guide you to that path. Your brothers and sisters. I know it doesn't make it any easier and all this sounds... well, but they'll be there to lift some of the burden away if you want it.
[Sighing. A tired smile.] Not yet. But one day, someone or something will give you your chance.
[Who knows. Maybe it even will be him.]
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[Sidelong glance. He really wishes he could make an alliance with Law. Offer him better protection. The New World usually ate rookies alive.]
If you don't mind my asking, what are your plans for the New World?
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Then finishing it. Between him and I. One way or another.
[You had to know the collision was inevitable. That this was the true battle.
Then to Kaido.
But if he can just take down Doflamingo, even he has to go down himself, then it will be worth it.]
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[A phoenix is never done. An endless parade of foes, a litany of friends that come in and out.]
Sounds nice. I hope I get to see it, eh?