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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I knew I could on you. [Serious and deadpan, but still sticking out his tongue and lightly mocking him.]

...Is Marco teasing me? [He's only just picking up on this]

Am I ever not? [Still deadpan.]

I am hoping there are times when not. [But he'll give him a kiss on the cheek.]

I think you can tell the difference. [Shivers and leans against him.]

[He actually slides his arm around Marco's so he can slip into holding his hand, and leans in a little more, as well. Silent, but... Of course he can tell.]

[Holds his hand happily.]

Hey Bushido?

Hm?

Love you. [Kisses him.]

[oh.....gldfkgjdfkgjkdsfg]

[Blush desu after that kiss]

...

Ah... l-love you too. [one day he'll do it without stutters. one day.]

[Grins happily like a little kid and gently nuzzles.]

Hah... I'm glad.

[For a moment, he's quiet, looking down at their hands. And then after a while, he raises his own, still holding Marco's.]

I wonder... If this is a red string. [He pulls Marco's hand closer and kisses it, still looking very thoughtful.] And I had thought I had cut all ties...

Red string? [Watches the kisses and then leans in to steal a kiss away from his hand with his lips.]

You can't cut everyone out of your life, people, countries, fishmen, they don't want it and won't let it stick. I'll always come get you, eh.

The red string of fate. [He smiles into that kiss and pulls his hand away to show his pinky.]

Has Marco heard of it? Ah... but I know, now.

[Shakes his head.] Is it a good thing? Or a story that goes with it?

It is said that each person has a red string tied to their pinky. It cannot be seen, but each string connects two people, and those people are destined lovers, regardless of time, place or circumstances. It may stretch and tangle, but the string will never break.

There are various stories involving the string, as well.

[Soft grin.] So I can use it to find you again no matter what, eh?

What kind of stories do you have about the string? [Oh look more dead bodies. Marco's just going to switch into phoenix mode and put his head in Japan's lap and listen to a story to block out the world right now.]

It is more that, no matter what, we will be brought together in the end...

[But oh, frowning... He'll pet Marco to be as comforting as possible and think.]

Hm... There is one story about a young boy.

While walking home one night, he spots an old man beneath the moonlight. The man explains that the boy is tied to his destined wife by a red thread, and shows who the girl is.

However, the boy is so young that he does not hold any interest in having a wife, so he throws a rock at the girl and flees.

Many years later, his parents arrange for him to be married, and on the night of his wedding, his wife waits for him with a traditional veil over her face. Raising it, the man is pleased to see that she is the most beautiful girl in the village. But she has a strange adornment on her eyebrow.

When he asks what it is for, she takes it off to reveal a scar and tells the story of how when she was a little girl, a boy threw a rock at her and scarred her before running away. It shows that the two were destined after all.

[...:| Blame China for this weird story okay]

[Leans up to give him a phoenix kiss quickly before switching back over. Seriously has to teach Japan phoenix.]

Is that the origin of tsundere?

[He chuckles at that.]

Tsundere is a timeless thing.

I see.

[Puts on his glasses and his best tsundere act.] It's not like I love you or anything, I just like being around you. It's for my sake. Really.

Ah, how forward...

[No Marco, don't uncover Japan's boner for tsundere LMFAO GDFJLGJDFL. AHEM I mean. He leans closer to that so he can speak into his ear. He just finds this cute...]

I am someone who is allowed to see the deredere, correct?

[Shivers softly and just barely refrains from leaning in to nibble Japan's earlobe.]

Oh... do you really think I have a side like that? [Nudges a foot along Japan's calf.] Che... just because you're cute don't read too much inot it.

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