[ he will just prop her up, kind of swaying them back and forth slowly. ]
I know, I saw. It's almost like being back to normal, right? [ reaching up to pet her hair, too. but he pauses when she says that...and he smiles a little. ]
[ yeah he's noticing, and he's doing his best to keep his own feelings calm to try and counter that, trying to tell her that she's safe with him and doesn't have to be nervous about whatever's on her mind. ]
...well. I'm listening. [ he turns his head slightly to look at her. ] What's up?
[ he doesn't seem to have any visible feelings on this. ]
He told me on Tuesday you were going with him. [ quietly said, because that was something ace had mentioned on his first day back and nico kind of always knew that if the option came up, that's where she'd be happiest. ] I always told you I want you to go where you want to go because you deserve that much.
[she knows this, and that's always what he's said, because she can remember now, but:]
... I still want to see you, though. [she's learning that she can try and ask for what she wants, at least.] Even if I do go with him. I don't want to go for the rest of forever without ever seeing you again. If I could bring you with me, I would.
[ ace actually had said that he asked nimona to come with him, and that's about when he knew what her answer was. he's had time to accept that. ]
I know. And it's not like this is the end, right? We still have to take Ace's ship and crash into Reigen's world so we can see him and meet Mob. And then we have to find the others, too. Whenever we can. I didn't forget that part. I still want that. [ there's a pause. ] You're still going to be my best friend even if I don't get to see you every day like we have been. You...you have to promise to text and stuff though. Send pictures if we get to keep our phones. All of that, so I can see everything before we meet up again.
[oh no the best friend word makes heat gather up behind her eyes and she gets all like, wobbly and weh about it. her emotions are literally just like i'm gonna cry but it's because i'm happy.
she wraps her arms around his shoulders and hugs him very, very tightly.]
Yeah. [oh NO her voice wobbles too.] I will, I'm gonna. I'll text all the time and I'll call even. And when we can, we can go do all the dumb tourist stuff we said we were gonna.
... You're my best friend too. [she says, muffled against his shirt.] I love you a lot.
[ nooooo. he's just leaning back into the hug and returns it the best that he can from their position. ]
Good. I think...this is probably the only phone we can actually have without attracting more trouble. I'm gonna take advantage of that no matter what. You have to come to New York and you have to see Camp and you have to meet my other friends because they'll think you're the coolest. [ there's a pause though, and he bonks his head into hers gently. ]
...I love you a lot. I'm going to miss you after tomorrow, but it's not like it's forever. Promise.
[she bonks her head against his, and closes her eyes.]
I'm gonna miss you too. [she mumbles, but she holds out her pinky in front of him.] Promise it won't be forever. And promise you won't even miss me that much because I'll send you messages all the time.
[she pauses, with a little sniff, and then:] ... I'm gonna take care of Ace, too. I promise that also.
[ he stares at the pinky for a few seconds before he locks his with hers. ]
On the Styx. [ he does not say exactly what that means, but it's basically a life-binding oath where he's from. ] About the first part. I don't know how to not miss you even if we talk every day. But it won't be as bad if we can still be in touch whenever we want.
[ ...here, his emotions do break a little and it unfortunately breaks to reflect that he is sad this is the last night together. but there's relief, too, knowing ace and nimona will be together. ]
You better. And let him take care of you, too. I need both o fyou to be okay.
[she doesn't know what it means, but - she mumbles it back. on the styx. it sounds important, and she wants this to be important. he's one of the most important things to ever happen to her.
she keeps hold of his pinky for a bit, letting her arm just flop down. and - the sad makes her sad, but. it's okay for him to be sad - in a stupid way it almost makes her feel okay? like... he's going to miss her. not that she wants him to feel negative stuff, just that it's nice to know he gives a shit for sure, with his emotions.
she refuses to let this be the last forever. she'll find her way to them again as fast as she can. ]
I will. [...] We will. We're gonna go find his crew, and Luffy. And - after that, he wants to train and get stronger to fight Blackbeard, but I'm gonna try to convince him to let all of us go along for that one. If you wanna fight a pirate, anyway.
[ he's holding onto her pinky and swinging their hands a little, keeping her closer and she's going to find she'll have a hard time pulling away from him. now that it's there, it's hard to ignore the melancholy feeling of someone who's going to feel incomplete once he's separated from the most important people he's met recently. ]
Sounds about right. Also yes? Obviously I wanna fight a pirate. I could put up a good fight. Maybe Will and I can come train with you guys for a little while then. When you convince him to let us. [ ... ] Is Saya still going with you?
[she won't find that she'll have a hard time pulling away because she refuses to be less than plastered on him. she's not letting go until she has to.]
Yeah, I figured - I guess this guy can like, take powers away? But I don't think he can take mine. I didn't eat a fruit, so I don't think it applies to me. [this may be her being overconfident but it's fine.] It'll take a lot.
[as for saya:] Yeah. I asked her to come with me a while ago, and I guess Ace already knew.
Nope. Your powers are your own. Just turn into a giant whale and eat him or something. That should take care of it, right? [ they are both overconfident, apparently. ] And we'll be there to back you up when you do.
[ there's a faint, happy blip though. ] I know you'd asked her to come, but I was hoping she'd still agree. She deserves the chance to stay with someone who cares about her, too. I'm glad you'll be together.
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Hey. [ lightly. patiently. ] Crazy day, huh?
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[just massive relief at that, honestly.] ... I remembered, also. About - you asking me to go to your world.
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I know, I saw. It's almost like being back to normal, right? [ reaching up to pet her hair, too. but he pauses when she says that...and he smiles a little. ]
...so you believe me now?
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she lets him pet her, and the nerves ease a little. just a little, though, because there's like an almost anxious energy to her.]
Yeah, I do believe you. [... embarrassed.......] I wanted to talk to you about it.
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...well. I'm listening. [ he turns his head slightly to look at her. ] What's up?
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He told me on Tuesday you were going with him. [ quietly said, because that was something ace had mentioned on his first day back and nico kind of always knew that if the option came up, that's where she'd be happiest. ] I always told you I want you to go where you want to go because you deserve that much.
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[she knows this, and that's always what he's said, because she can remember now, but:]
... I still want to see you, though. [she's learning that she can try and ask for what she wants, at least.] Even if I do go with him. I don't want to go for the rest of forever without ever seeing you again. If I could bring you with me, I would.
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I know. And it's not like this is the end, right? We still have to take Ace's ship and crash into Reigen's world so we can see him and meet Mob. And then we have to find the others, too. Whenever we can. I didn't forget that part. I still want that. [ there's a pause. ] You're still going to be my best friend even if I don't get to see you every day like we have been. You...you have to promise to text and stuff though. Send pictures if we get to keep our phones. All of that, so I can see everything before we meet up again.
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she wraps her arms around his shoulders and hugs him very, very tightly.]
Yeah. [oh NO her voice wobbles too.] I will, I'm gonna. I'll text all the time and I'll call even. And when we can, we can go do all the dumb tourist stuff we said we were gonna.
... You're my best friend too. [she says, muffled against his shirt.] I love you a lot.
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Good. I think...this is probably the only phone we can actually have without attracting more trouble. I'm gonna take advantage of that no matter what. You have to come to New York and you have to see Camp and you have to meet my other friends because they'll think you're the coolest. [ there's a pause though, and he bonks his head into hers gently. ]
...I love you a lot. I'm going to miss you after tomorrow, but it's not like it's forever. Promise.
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I'm gonna miss you too. [she mumbles, but she holds out her pinky in front of him.] Promise it won't be forever. And promise you won't even miss me that much because I'll send you messages all the time.
[she pauses, with a little sniff, and then:] ... I'm gonna take care of Ace, too. I promise that also.
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On the Styx. [ he does not say exactly what that means, but it's basically a life-binding oath where he's from. ] About the first part. I don't know how to not miss you even if we talk every day. But it won't be as bad if we can still be in touch whenever we want.
[ ...here, his emotions do break a little and it unfortunately breaks to reflect that he is sad this is the last night together. but there's relief, too, knowing ace and nimona will be together. ]
You better. And let him take care of you, too. I need both o fyou to be okay.
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she keeps hold of his pinky for a bit, letting her arm just flop down. and - the sad makes her sad, but. it's okay for him to be sad - in a stupid way it almost makes her feel okay? like... he's going to miss her. not that she wants him to feel negative stuff, just that it's nice to know he gives a shit for sure, with his emotions.
she refuses to let this be the last forever. she'll find her way to them again as fast as she can. ]
I will. [...] We will. We're gonna go find his crew, and Luffy. And - after that, he wants to train and get stronger to fight Blackbeard, but I'm gonna try to convince him to let all of us go along for that one. If you wanna fight a pirate, anyway.
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Sounds about right. Also yes? Obviously I wanna fight a pirate. I could put up a good fight. Maybe Will and I can come train with you guys for a little while then. When you convince him to let us. [ ... ] Is Saya still going with you?
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Yeah, I figured - I guess this guy can like, take powers away? But I don't think he can take mine. I didn't eat a fruit, so I don't think it applies to me. [this may be her being overconfident but it's fine.] It'll take a lot.
[as for saya:] Yeah. I asked her to come with me a while ago, and I guess Ace already knew.
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[ there's a faint, happy blip though. ] I know you'd asked her to come, but I was hoping she'd still agree. She deserves the chance to stay with someone who cares about her, too. I'm glad you'll be together.
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... I'm glad, too. [a beat.] I didn't want her to be alone.
But I told her she can go other places, too. She doesn't have to always be with me.
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but he just kind of goes ? to that. ]
Maybe she doesn't always have to be, but why wouldn't she? [ just. very simple to him. you stick with the people you love most, no question. ]