PC: ACE 💀

[resumed]

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[selfimmolation]

Even if that's true, she probably thought it was better for both of you.

[ it's said hesitantly because he's aware he's projecting, a little, the way he looked at the strawhats with luffy back then and thought oh, good. he's got other people now, and felt nothing but relief.

the sabo question, though. it draws him short. ]

I don't think he ever considered it like that. [ comparing themselves, ace means. ] But that's how it was. When Sabo was gone, I had to learn to be better so I could take care of Luffy, since I was the only one left. He wasn't around to pick up my slack anymore.

[resumed]

[ ace is projecting a little but nico doesn't say anything because...knowing bianca and the things she's said to him, that's a distinct possibility. he doesn't argue, giving him a faint smile of acknowledgment but moving on. ]

...from what you've said, it sounds like you did a pretty decent job. [ luffy's alive and has a crew and he's going to be the pirate king. ] Maybe be proud of that.

[ the implication is that he thinks, from the sound of things, sabo would be. ]

[selfimmolation]

...Well, I guess I can't argue with decent. [ especially since no regrets means not lingering on whether he did what he should've at every turn or not, so in the end he sounds amused. ]

[resumed]

Good. It'd be a losing argument. [ mostly because nico's stubborn. but with that he...kind of looks a little sheepish and glances away. ]

Sorry about...all of that. [ is he apologizing for sharing. it's more likely than you think. ]

[selfimmolation]

About what? Talking?

[ there's a smirk but it's light, like it's nbd ]

I've talked your ear off a bunch already, you can't start apologizing for that.

[resumed]

Yeah but that's totally different. [ he does not elaborate on that either. ] I obviously don't mind that you have, or I would've walked away like twenty minutes ago.

[selfimmolation]

[ he laughs like the idea of nico just leaving is delightful ]

I'm glad you're not that fed up with me yet, then.

[resumed]

Believe me, I have met people far more obnoxious than you. [ THANKS? ] And anyway I've been told more than once I should work on my people skills, so I may as well start with a person I don't mind being around.

[selfimmolation]

[ he laughs a little not bothered by sort of being called just The Least Obnoxious Option ]

I don't mind being your go-to for practice, then! I sorta did something similar as a kid.

[resumed]

[ the secret is that he likes ace a lot but he doesn't want to tell him that. ]

How'd that work out for you? What'd you do?

[selfimmolation]

[ his grin's a little sheepish ]

I asked a barmaid who used to watch over Luffy to teach me how to be polite. I don't think I'd even heard the words "please" and "thank you" before that.

[ he's like hehe ]

[resumed]

[ why is that so funny to him. ]

Yeah, I doubt they'd come up in pirate vocabulary that much. [ ...huh. ] I guess it never occurred to me how fundamental something like that can actually be.

[selfimmolation]

Well, I wasn't a pirate yet then! Just a brat who wanted to be one. Not that you're not wrong about it being uncommon out on the seas, but there's someone I had to thank, so.

[resumed]

Can't relate. I was a perfect child. [ deadpan. but he relaxes again to listen. ] Were you ever able to do that?

[selfimmolation]

Yeah! [ beaming ] It took a while, but I managed to find him and do it properly after I set out to sea.

[resumed]

[ he actually expected a no but somehow that's. kind of sweet? is that the word. sure. he seems thoughtful for a moment before he laughs softly under his breath. ]

And let me guess. You completely surprised him by doing it?

[selfimmolation]

A little! [ laughing. this is an underestimation ] The guy totally thought I was there to pick a fight at first. But after I thanked him and everything we partied together, so it was fine.

[resumed]

[ it makes sense for ace. to him, ace seems like the kind of person who even with his struggles and the things he's faced in the past, he's still trying to move forward. he still finds the good in things. he still deeply cares about other people and making sure dues are paid where they're meant to be.

these are all fairly admirable traits for nico, even if they may not be entirely accurate. so don't mind if he stares for a few moments. ]

It worked out then. [ hum. ] What'd you have to thank him for anyway?

[selfimmolation]

[ this is a fairly accurate read but he'd never think any of this of himself so he's just ? at nico's staring. and then rubs the back of his head ]

Oh! Should've said it earlier. The guy saved Luffy's life when he was a kid, and it cost him his arm in the process. I wanted to thank him properly for that. So I sought him out on the seas.

[resumed]

[ of course it was shanks. me and my limited knowledge. but he looks appropriately surprised by this. ]

That...is something worth thanking someone for, I suppose. Kind of a big sacrifice.

[selfimmolation]

Yeah. Though he told Luffy it wasn't a big deal. [ and considering shanks rose to be one of the most powerful pirates in the sea even with one arm, maybe it wasn't to him. it's weird to think about. ] If it wasn't for him, I never even would've met Luffy. So I wanted to think him, for both Sabo and me.

[resumed]

I feel like losing an arm is sort of a big deal? [ HELLO? ] But pirates are different, I guess. How'd you even find the guy? The oceans are huge.

[selfimmolation]

He's pretty famous, but it did take me a while to narrow it down to where he was staying.

[resumed]

Didn't think you guys would stay in one place. [ ...but still. ] I'm glad. That you were able to accomplish that much. Kind of feels like it'd be a waste otherwise.

[selfimmolation]

There's a specific sea he can be found in, but tracking him down was still kind of a pain.

[ he's not going to go into territories and stuff though, he just grins at nico ]

I knew from the start I was going after him. If I didn't get at least that, it'd definitely be a waste.