PC: ACE 💀

[resumed]

Comments

[resumed]

Mostly? Why does hearing that actually fill me with mild regret and fear, Ace? Isn't it sort of all or nothing?

[selfimmolation]

[ JUST LAUGHS? ]

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[ he stops holding hands long enough to just kind of slap his arm. ]

Laughing isn't an explanation!

[selfimmolation]

[ that makes him wheeze laugh harder. the man is dying tomorrow he should stop ]

I mean... it's still rubber, you know? [ hehe ]

[resumed]

[ he hates this thanks. ]

The bounceback?

[selfimmolation]

Yep. These days he's definitely more of a danger to others than himself, though. I think he forgets people around him aren't rubber too.

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I can't decide if I would love or want to fight your brother if I ever actually met him. That's what I'm taking away from this.

[selfimmolation]

It's usually both. [ don't just say that!! ]

[resumed]

[ that gets a laugh, even if it's small and uncertain. ]

That's the worst possible endorsement.

[selfimmolation]

[ grins a little because he likes the laugh. despite. everything else. ]

He grows on you. Like mold. [ saying it fondly. horrible. ] That's probably worse, but it's true.

[resumed]

Pick something less gross to use as a simile, please. [ no he still thinks it's funny. ] But I get it. I know a few of those people myself. No matter how much you ignore them, they just...spread until everywhere you look, there they are.

[selfimmolation]

Yeah. Yeah, that's a great way to describe him. [ saying it with a soft laugh ]

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It's always weird to think people can just...be like that so easily. [ but it's not bad at all. ] But you're gonna tell me he's always been that way anyway.

[selfimmolation]

Sort of? He was such a crybaby. And so annoying and clingy. [ it's fond but like. incredibly rude. ] I guess he did grow on me like mold at that age already...

[resumed]

Didn't you tell me you met him when he was, like, seven? I think that's normal kid behavior. [ he doesn't entirely remember being a child. ]

[selfimmolation]

Is it? I wasn't like that when I was seven.

[ YOU WERE NOT A NORMAL CHILD ]

[resumed]

[ deadeyes. ]

Knowing what I know about your childhood I think there was a very specific reason for that, Ace.

[selfimmolation]

Sabo didn't cry that much either.

[ ALSO NOT NORMAL ]

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No matter what I say you're going to find a way to make fun of Luffy, aren't you.

[selfimmolation]

I've been calling him a crybaby for ten years, I can't unstick it now.

[resumed]

Well, who am I to disagree?

[ he's about to say something else, but he hears someone behind them and he frowns softly. ]

...we're not leaving. But I guess I should let one of the others have their time with you.

[selfimmolation]

... Right. [ he sort of grins at nico like it's easy, and because it's not emotionshare week, you can't know the truth!!!! (it's a little obvious) ] Then...

[ ah, he can't say bye or see you, so... he just kind of squeezes nico's hand. ]

[resumed]

[ he. does not let go immediately. just gripping his hand a little harder. ]

...I'll still be out there with the others. And we'll come back in later together. So...I'll be back. [ that's somehow better than goodbye. it's a little less painful, at least. ]

[selfimmolation]

... See you in a bit, then. [ and then he diiiiiied ]