[voice]

[fierybluebird]

[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?]

Comments

[voice]

[bauhinia]

Well, yeah, no matter how "shocking" I find it, I still wasn't expecting maid outfits.

[ It's like the Spanish Inquisition. NO ONE EXPECTS MAID OUTFITS. Oh, Clara, that was so lame.... ]

Finding it attractive isn't shocking. And it's definitely not shocking he was wearing it.

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

So just Japan and me in general then?

[voice]

[bauhinia]

Yeah, a little. But it's more than that. I mean, unless I'm wrong, you didn't go outta your way to like him, did you?

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

No, I find him very likable. If anything I think it was a little harder for me not to fall for him, eh.

[voice]

[bauhinia]

How about for him? [ Technically he's asking for more information, but it is kinda to prove his point? ]

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

You'd have to ask him. For all he said "such things are not meant for" him though, when I pressed him on it, he said it wasn't that he wanted to be alone just believed it was in his fate or something. So I promised to prove him wrong. I just hadn't meant it to be using myself, but I'm much happier like this.

[voice]

[bauhinia]

Anyone who's happy with him and who he's happy with... has to be a pretty surprising person.

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

You think he's happy?

[voice]

[bauhinia]

Kinda hard to tell, with him. What do you think?

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

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

[voice]

[bauhinia]

In what way?

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

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

[voice]

[bauhinia]

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. ]

[voice] 1/2

[fierybluebird]

[Laughs.] Tell me about it.

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

I still like making him blush the best.

[voice]

[bauhinia]

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

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

The best I hope.

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

[voice]

[bauhinia]

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.

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

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

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

[voice]

[bauhinia]

[ This is getting a little bit evil. ]

Did I say that?

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

[He is a pirate after all.]

I chose my own interpretation.

[voice]

[bauhinia]

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

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

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

[voice]

[bauhinia]

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

[voice]

[fierybluebird]

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.]