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?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It depends. And the idea of parents... it's very different for us. Germany may be Germania's grandchild, but Prussia raised her... and. Well...

It's complicated.

[And Romana is distrustful]

Trust me, for my circumstances and my family, it's not that different.

Belgium said my Pops sounded a lot like Rome. A child shouldn't be held responsible for the actions of a parent.

What's your definition?

... I can't say. Unless the Belgium you met was a man... My Nonna could differ to him, I can't be sure. And while that shouldn't happen, it... can.

My father adopted me. His dream was to have a big family. He always said it didn't matter that around the world we were hated because at least we'd have each other.

One of my brothers had an infamous father by blood; but it doesn't mean anything. He's nothing like that person, he doesn't want to be, and he chose to be Pops' son instead. That means a lot more I think, Chiara.

Then... si, he sounds similar to Nonna... Venezia and I, we're the ones with the closest ties to her but in ways... Francia, Spagna, Portogallo and... even Inghillterra could have called her a... parental figure. But that was more the spoils of creating an Empire...

It's different... this girl, Germany... she looks similar to a girl who already broke my sister's heart. And this war... [Sighs, shaking her head] I don't trust her and I don't think I ever will. She hasn't earned it.

Aye. My Pops had the strongest and biggest crew in the world. I suppose the part that reminded Belgium most is that his Empire is falling to pieces now that he's gone. On the one hand, I'd like to protect his islands; the ones he protected, but I have to protect my family first. And because he was so famous, everyone wants a piece of it, hoping to become famous themselves.

Eh? Hm... Perhaps she will earn it Chiara.

We didn't fall apart. We seperated yes, but we... were able to become our own countries after Nonna's fall. We grew up.

...But I know what you mean by people trying to claim your famiglia's name. ... Famiglia does come first.

...Maybe. Maybe not.

Aye. I could try to become my own captain, and hopefully my crew will stay together, but eh... we'll see.

I hope it works out well for you either way, eh.

...Good luck then.

And it will. Either way, I'll make sure.

You too.

Somehow that doesn't surprise me about you Chiara.

Good. Because I'll do whatever I have to, to make sure we come out on top.

Tenacious, eh?

I have to be. If I was any less I would get walked all over.

Aye. Nothing wrong with being strong. It's admirable.

Mm. Grazie. I'd like to think so too...

I'm sure of it.

Well if you say so it must be true, hmm? [There is a slight bit of sarcasm there yes]

[A quiet pause at that.]

My father was considered the strongest in the world. I admire everything about him, but that too.

[Pauses herself]

...My Nonna, in her prime was very much like that too... No one thought she would fall, she only seemed to get stronger. And yet that's what caused it all, she stretched herself too thin. Strength is troublesome like that. Difficult to keep the right balance.

Pops wasn't stretched too thin, but larger than life or not, he was still only human.

Everyone has to go sometime, eh? At least for mortals.

Yes. And your lives are so much more shorter... Gone in a flash really.

... Nations fade too. If our people forget, if they all start identifying as part of another nation we can die, in a way.

I'm not human, so it's a little... stranger for me.

Aye. I've seen nations die before.

Oh? The... phoenix thing? Does it mean you'll live forever?

... here? With that... thing inside us? Or was it to someone who had taken it out?

I certainly haven't died yet.

No, in my world. It's not pretty. Obviously.

Well that's something then, I suppose.

... How. Do we exist in your world?

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