fierybluebird | [voice]

[voice]

[Marco's voice starts off cheerfully enough.]

Hey everyone, I think I found the place where the cave-in for the train-thing is. The currents here are pretty weird so if we can get ... some ... strong swimmers then...

[He starts trailing off, obviously seeing something.] Pops...? [His voice is quiet, barely audible. It's not possible, he knows it's not, he watched the man die. So it's just like Luffy's food and an illusion. Has to be. But then it gets stronger.] POPS!! [He starts running, sandals hitting the wood of the deck.] Pops... [This time he just sounds anguished. And then suddenly there's a splash. Uh where did Marco go?]

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Si, si... I don't understand it, really, but whatever. I doubt Giappone will even ask me.

[She has her own pause for a few seconds] It... depends. People still remember the Roman Empire but when it collapsed, my Nonna went with it... I suppose it's because she had us, me and Venezia to take her place in Italia.

You think so?

He stalks my conversations, so you never know.

Aye. It's not so much that they're forgotten, as replaced. The future keeps progressing forward I suppose.

Of course.

Yeah, you're definitely smarter than a lot of people I know.

I'm flattered.

I don't guess you're flattered enough for me to use you as an alibi if something ever blows up around here and I get blamed.

Are you asking to be my nakama?

What does that entail, exactly?

To be my nakama, Ace has to approve it first, and it means being respected and in charge of protecting the other crewmates. It's not to be taken lightly. Once I would have said it means understanding Pops is Pops, but that's not -- [Chokes up a little given he just watched his Dad's corpse sink beneath the water.]

I-in this case, I have [Rubs the back of his neck thinking of how to explain.] other categories? Family of nakama I protect the same as my brothers... in some cases more. [Distant look again and a small frown. He saved Luffy but not Ace. And even knowing Ace wouldn't have had it any other way, it's not something he can take lightly.] It's a form of adoption for us. But being nakama, or even family of nakama, means a lot less forgiveness for betrayals, and a lot more expectation of one's ability to hold their own and help out when necessary. Luffy protected my Pops' back and I protected his. It's like that. Not a normal friendship.

... Strange. He doesn't seem like the type to do that if he's anything like Gia... Sakura.

Si... that's basically it. If we don't keep up we're left behind.

Oh? Well, he basically used to ah what's the word, "ship" me with someone. And now that we are close allies, I think he still sometimes gets worried; or he can't believe it. But it's cute, so I don't mind.

Yes. That's how the world works I suppose.

[ There's a pause here, like he's thinking. ]

We oughta work on that then, if you plan to stick with Japan for awhile. [ By which he means 'you better stay with him forever, 'cause I approved it and you already called me brother-in-law, so now I'm attached.' ] I haven't even talked to Ace yet though. [ He's trying to silently file away the stuff he's learning now. ]

You should. For now you can be my little bro-in-law: special nakama. That way, it's up to the rest how much you adopt them or vice versa, eh?

Besides, I think even if I weren't dating Japan I'd have a hard time not keeping you. But don't tell the others.

I'll make a note. [ To talk to Ace, that is. ] Sounds good to me. I'll be in your care then. [ If this were video, he'd bow here. ]

Oh yeah? [ Why isn't this video?! That made him smile.... ]

[Switches to video and takes a picture.]

Yeah. [Bows and grins back at him.] That's a lot of trust though, eh? Don't waste it.

[ Oh wow, two rare occurrences in a row: that just made him blush. ]

Hey, what're you doing? [ Don't take his picture!! Also, he got too distracted to reply, but he's not going to abuse that trust. ]

[Oh... cute... TAKES ANOTHER!]

Nothing. [Innocent voice. Yes. Because Marco is always the first thing you think of when you think innocence. Uh-huh.] You knows it's a good thing a certain borderline pedophile I know isn't around. He'd just eat you up. [... obviously innocent. OBVIOUSLY. China is going to murder Marco if he ever sees this... yup.]

[ Ah, Marco, you schemer!! Get out of here. ]

Don't say stuff like that, Japan might hear. [ Augh, fight fire with fire!! Quick!! Oh gosh, he's going to blush again. Must compose lineface..... ]

And would that bother you?

I wouldn't care, but he probably would. [ Lineface is slowly reconstructing itself. ]

He doesn't know who I'm talking about. But all right, I won't tell him if you don't.

Somehow I don't think it'd matter who was doing the 'eating me up.' [ ... Sob, is... he amused about this now? ]

[Marco certainly is anyway.]

Eh, everyone has to start somewhere, right? Besides, it'd be hypocritical of him to expect you to never get anywhere forever.

[ Let's share our amusement then. ]

Wow, kinda sounds like you're encouraging me to do bad things now.

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[Video -- takes a picture >:P]

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