fierybluebird | [voice]

I can only hope. But this is something where he's a bit more like Ace.

In what way?

Even when he's happy, seemingly little things throw it off-kilter, and he's good at acting content even if he's upset.

That goes both ways, you know. Sometimes he acts angry even when he isn't. [ Ha...haha... he could get in so much trouble for that one. ]

[Laughs.] Tell me about it.

I still like making him blush the best.

You're pretty good at it, aren't you? [ This isn't even locked, man, anyone could listen to this. ]

The best I hope.

[Marco is shameless. One day people will realize the full extent of those implications.]

You might be. I couldn't say for sure, but if you are, I hope you stay that way. [ Pause. ] Don't tell anyone I said that.

Oh, I see. You want me to make your brother blush.

[Deadpan, but somehow... SOMEHOW still quite disturbing.]

[ This is getting a little bit evil. ]

Did I say that?

[He is a pirate after all.]

I chose my own interpretation.

You're a smart guy, I'll just say that. [ Maybe you can puzzle out why he seems so quick to torment Japan. ]

I try. [Because it's everyone's hobby.]

Oh, do you really? [ Well, that. But there are other reasons too. Hong Kong is special like that. ]

Of course not. Where's the fun in going to that much work? [Ah which one is the real lie...?]

[And a sort of passive aggressive envy that Japan is old, Japan, free of China, Hong Kong wants to be like him, but doesn't, wants to be respected, but doesn't, it's all very sibling rivalry... but not. Yes, that was nonsense.]

So you're either hard working or naturally brilliant. [ Marco, you card. ]

[ Yeah, you're gonna have to stop being so perceptive, Marco. Hong Kong can't effectively troll you or fish for information if you see through him so easily. The only part that's not entirely on the mark, at least not now, is the envy of China. Hong Kong stands on his own and has for a little while. Maybe there are some aspects he'd like to emulate and things he wants to do, but that Western influence, coupled with his own growth, means that he does have a stronger sense of self now. Desiring respect for that, however, is definitely hitting the nail square on the head.

Desiring respect from the Japan and China who are here in Discedo, now that is an interesting case. If you sort that one out, Marco, you will definitely be worthy of some kind of accolade. ]

Or both, or neither. I leave my options open. [A small smirk. He knows he's fucked up.]

[Ah, Marco says without ties to their "crews" meaning their citizens, family is the closest surrogate, but that doesn't change the difficulty of being only 150 compared to 4000 and 2300ish. Throw in a healthy dose of time period differences and Hong Kong represents the future, especially with them being "in the past" from his perspective, so he wants them to see and acknowledge that the future is better, even though it also means "Hong Kong is better" in a lesser sense.]

Pretty ambiguous of you. [ He doesn't smirk in return, but you can kind of hear it in his voice. ]

[ And thus, the eternal debate between East and West, old and new, big and small, rich and poor... is all neatly tied up in Hong Kong. ]

It's fun that way.

So how is it when someone's just as ambiguous as you are?

You tell me. I think it's even more fun, eh?

I'm sure you weren't calling me ambiguous just now.

Me? Now would I do a thing like that?

I'm sure I couldn't tell you. [ Why is he amused again? Why? ]

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