PC: ACE 💀

[resumed]

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[resumed]

Fair enough. [ shame rises up a little into ace's hand, and given how nico pauses again it is maybe a little clear that's not the entire story. but it's the entire story he feels like telling right at this moment. ]

Maybe that's it. I don't know. I'm glad, too, though. The thought of leaving them there didn't sit right with me once we realized they didn't want to stay. But I do feel sort of bad this one came with me to Oceanside.

[selfimmolation]

Maybe it just wanted to keep an eye on you to make sure you stayed safe! [ he has no idea what it means that shame rose up but he's still like. attempting to pet smoke, so. he'll keep going on that. ] Snuck in with you on purpose.

[ it's a joke ]

[resumed]

[ the cacodemons are weird they're like petting smoke but they're solid enough for, like, cuddles or attacks so it's some weird half-tangible half-not thing. anyway shame is pleased. ]

Somehow that wouldn't surprise me. It had made a nest in my clothes before I even woke up our first day here.

[ so he had to embarrass himself by running around as pikachu. ]

[selfimmolation]

Is that why you didn't change for a while? [ he cannot talk. but he is. he's laughing as he keeps petting shame. who's a good cocoa puff. yes. ] You didn't want to move it?

[resumed]

[ chirp chirp. nico just lets this happen. ]

It didn't want to when I asked. [ dry. but there's also...a hint of fondness. ] And then I figured it was probably scared it was by itself so I left it alone while I went to see what was happening around the hotel. It made itself too comfortable in the time I was gone though.

[selfimmolation]

I wonder if it's like with animals. They like stuff smelling a certain way, you know?

[ pet pet ]

Your clothes must've been the only thing familiar for the little guy.

[resumed]

I suppose so. [ he says, not really being that familiar with animals. ]

It eventually found Will, too, but it seems to prefer my things over his. So I think it's a losing battle more than anything.

[selfimmolation]

I get it, you're the favorite. Poor Will's been abandoned.

[ has he ]

[resumed]

Like that matters because Will's my favorite. [ it's said more reflexively than anything and he, like, pauses. that was bad. even for him. why did he say it like that. ]

But I think I'm the favorite because I also let it eat whatever it wants, so what can it complain about?

[selfimmolation]

[ he's. yeah he's laughing. gay. ]

Uh-huh. Is Will harder on the diet?

[resumed]

Will's a doctor. [ tiredly. ] It's hit or miss depending on if he feels like contradicting me that day or not.

[selfimmolation]

[ laughing at nico's pain ]

Oh, so it's like that? Abusing his doctor knowledge?

[resumed]

Yeah, he's a menace. [ completely deadpan and ignoring that he is also a gremlin child. ] Whenever he wants me to do something I don't agree with he tacks on that it's "doctor's orders" so I don't even get to say no.

[selfimmolation]

That's your own fault for letting it work on you. I'm great at ignoring doctor's orders.

[ he's faux bragging. but also. yea. he is. ]

[resumed]

I kind of get the feeling you're great at ignoring orders in general, Ace.

[ you know. pirate. ]

[selfimmolation]

Hey, I listen to my captain.

[ most of the time. ]

[resumed]

Until he says something you don't agree with? [ he senses the chaos, dude. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ this laugh is a little more wry as he scratches the back of his head, ducking to look away ]

Ah, well. [ well. ] It's rare he can't convince me even when I'm being stubborn.

[resumed]

[ hm... ]

Just the sign of loyalty, isn't it?

[selfimmolation]

Of course. [ that comes faster, a little fierce. ] I wouldn't have joined his crew and put his mark on my back if I wasn't.

[resumed]

[



i'm assuming he's shirtless so he's just. leaning to look at the mark a little closer. squinting. studying it. ]

Did it have to be that big...?

[selfimmolation]

[ if he's not shirtless i'll mention it. it's worth noting when it happens. ]

Nah. A lot of the crew have it smaller, or elsewhere. I'm the one who wanted it like this.

[resumed]

[ that's fair. ace you whore. ]

Oh. Can I ask why? [ he's mostly curious if there's an actual reason or if ace just went "why not." ]

[selfimmolation]

Ah...

[ he's not hesitating because he doesn't want to say, but because there's a lot of context that's hard to explain. ]

I didn't set out to join Whitebeard. In fact, I tried to take his head-- about a hundred times. It's a bit hard to explain, but despite all that, he offered me a place on his crew. As his son. So when I accepted it, I didn't take that oath to him lightly, and I wanted to make sure the world knew it. Now, I'm always carrying Pops' will and pride with me. [ it's very sentimental and symbolic, is the point. he grins lightly ]

[resumed]

[ first of all, he kind of respects the idea of ace trying to murder his captain. listen. you establish yourself first and then figure stuff out later, it's normal. but the rest...makes sense to him in a different way. he can understand the idea of taking an oath and wanting to abide by it. he can understand the idea of intense loyalty. he can understand what it means to be accepted somewhere and want everyone to know how it shaped you.

so yeah. he sort of grins in thought. ]

...the tattoo Will's got is because of his dad. Similar reasons, like...a symbol to honor him. A lot of the time people like us don't have the best relationships with our parents or...you know, authority. So when it happens it's kind of a big deal.

[ which is to say he gets it. ]