piratejournal | [Written] And now for something completely different from the last time

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[Written] And now for something completely different from the last time

Marco here.

Sorry for my state in the last post, and thank you very much to those sweet enough to humor me, you're too kind.

Bepo, and Vyse, I have duplicates of my maps for you, assuming you both still want them.

For everyone else, I've made about twenty copies of various maps and directions to the Corsair Naval Masquerade Ball. Likewise, in the interest of furthering piracy rebelling against lawful order, I will teach the basics of ranks to anyone with enough brains to actually hold the knowledge. Remember, if you want to go, wear formal costume, and pretend to be part of the navy. Anyone in the Spades wishing to help infiltrate must be able to perform a correct salute and demonstrate ability to discern when it's appropriate. Those who cannot may help infiltrate as waiters.

Thank you.
- Marco

Edited Addendum: Dance lessons for Spades unfamiliar with waltz, samba, and tango will be held every night this week. Namur's breakdance competition comes with a reward, but this style of dance is not acceptable for naval officers, sorry Nam-chan.

[Locked to Nico Robin]

I am embarrassed to say I have about three favors to ask of you.

[Locked to Grell Sutcliff]

Hello Kitten. How do you feel about getting a little vengeance, eh?

[Locked to Sebastian]

My phoenix brother and I are in the mood to spread our wings. Think you can get a babysitter that night to come have fun?

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[...................]

[..........]

[Oh Ace.]

No, you're a terrible disguise artist. [But he loves you and your stupid cute mustaches anyway.]

Oi! I'm really good at it and you know it!

[Not at all. He was just charismatic and courteous when he wanted to be and that often made him very pleasant to talk to when he was infiltrating places. People liked those things, so they questioned his open shirted attire a little less.]

No you're not. You're adorable and good with people and that goes a very long way.

But nevermind that, let's talk in person, eh?

Ehhh. You make it sound so formal. What is this, an interview?

Are you really in this good a mood?

[BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND:]

[He doesn't want to wreck it. On the other hand, what the hell Ace. He thought you were at least as frustrated about the last island as him.]

'Course I am. We're outta that weird place and back to the sea, after all.

What, are you worried my bad mood was gonna follow from the island?

[Marco's did.]

[He's not sure if that's weak of him or not.]

[Expected? Yes.]

[Self induced? Maybe.]

[He knows what he wants to do with it though.]

[But he doesn't want to wreck Ace's good mood either.]

Then it can wait a day or two.

But I still need to talk to you, yoi.

I've spent the last week wonderin' what's gotten into you and now you're fine enough for me to ask and not feel guilty.

If you wanna talk to me, let's do it. I can feel your 'tension' all the way over here. You ought to know I can.

Can you? [That actually amuses him. He was just telling Logan he needed to work on Ace's perception haki, and then like always, Ace goes and proves himself smarter than he acts.]

All right, all right, Captain.

On my way.

[So he heads on over and lightly pokes Ace's cheek.]

No falling asleep while I talk, got it?

[Ace yawned pointedly as Marco arrived, rolling his eyes.]

You gotta keep me awake, Marco.

Hopefully what you've got to tell me does that job for me.

If not I could make you tea. [All the deadpan.]

[Where does he start?]

[Ikki and him want revenge for Kairi and to send a message to the ~~marines~~ Navy not to fuck with their crew or they'll fight back twenty times as hard and brutal. Selphie needs to move over to the Moon, and Marco worries that being a phoenix, being Marco might mean that if he dates Robin he'll wind up hurting her just as badly, if not worse, and then would the crew be politically? Can he really just tell his captain to "handle it" when that is supposed to be Marco's job?]

You and Selphie seemed to think my problem with asking out Robin was some sort of confidence thing.

It's not.

It's a phoenix thing.

[There's a lump in his throat he doesn't know how to deal with. This is Ace. His baby brother. If he could have favorites, Ace would unabashedly be near the top. It's things Marco shouldn't have to tell Ace, but he does have to tell, because he needs him. Argh.]

I won't forgive myself if I hurt her, and that kind of thing seems inevitable. After the last island, Ikki and I want to burn down an entire island.

[He grabs a chair, sets it backwards and indeed, sits in it backwards to lean on the back and face Ace. He does want to tell him about Selphie and Ikki and his plans to torture marines, but he's not sure where to begin. How much to shield Ace from. How much to hold back, and for whose sake?] I don't want to run away from anything though, eh. Especially not myself. [He wants a cigarette, but it'll have to wait. He just stays focused on Ace for now, but the more he thinks about it, the more he thinks himself into a corner and he winds up glancing away again.]

Robin isn't just smart, she's your little brother's nakama, and she's got a lot of ties that make it bad for the rest of the crew. [He holds up a hand and looks back at Ace. At least this is the easiest of the topics to approach.] Say what you want, but we both know I'm a package deal, and so is she. If she wasn't I wouldn't like her, eh?

[He runs a hand through his hair in thought, a little exasperated.] I need to move Selphie to Thatch's care, without explaining it to the rest of the crew, eh? And... [His eyes soften, practically pleading with Ace.] I need you to promise me that that kind of precaution won't become necessary with Robin. That you understand I can mess up big, but no matter how big I fuck up, you'll take care of it so it won't... [He spread his hands helplessly, at a loss for words.] Bring everyone else down I guess. Not a safety net, but a firewall. If I can't completely separate my personal and professional life, at the minimum I just don't want everyone else hurt by my own stupidity when it comes to romance.

And.... there's more.

[Before you can tease him about that, he reaches into the shirt pocket and hands over his precious list of men to brutally murder.] Those are the marines involved in killing Kairi. Ikki and I didn't know how to get revenge on the ghosts that killed Sora, but we need to send a message. Grell's crew got hit hard too so I invited her to come hunting them with me, it seems she's got some way of identifying them even if they're disguised, so the masquerade seems like a perfect time to isolate them. [He pinches the bridge between his eyes.] And fuck knows Ikki and I need to burn off some of the anger. [The hand drops and he gives Ace a head tilt.] You too I assume?

[Ace's mouth hung open. Though his eyes were wide open and he was listening to Marco intently, his body couldn't help but react to such an immense amount of concentrated boring. So much talking. When were they going to go hunt whales for dinner?]

Eh, y'know--[He wiped his chin, because he was dripping drool.]

I keep sayin' you think too much, so I won't. You're a pretty scary guy when it comes to planning battles, but this is weird. [He sighed and touched his chin, shrugging.]

Regarding Robin, I think you're overthinking it, but I'll allow that. Just keep being considerate. Just like how it's tough being brothers sometimes, I think a relationship with a woman should also be tough. It'd be disgusting if you acted all lovey-dovey and had a perfect relationship! That'd be a real drag for me.

[He huffed and crossed his arms.]

As for the Marines... It's my fault as much as theirs that Kairi was killed. That aside, Marco, I have one question to ask you: If you didn't have to ask me about Robin, would you have been comfortable talking to me about the Marines outside of a private talk?

[He tilts his head, relieved that Ace is using his smarter commander side when he needs it.]

It's not your fault, idiot. You're protecting a whole crew as much as I am. And it's not about fault anyway, it's about doing our best to make sure it never happens again.

I'm not sure what you mean though. You want to go talk about the navy out on deck? I will if you want. [But he's not sure why bother. Wouldn't it just upset the new guys?] I don't want to upset the kids though, eh. They've seen enough already. [And his eyes do dim at that.]

[Ace didn't give Marco a withering look like he wanted to--rather, he stood up a bit more straight and focused a bit more. The topic wasn't making him as sleepy as he thought it would, but it was definitely making him feel a bit impatient and frustrated.]

That's the point, Marco. Among crew, these things don't stay secrets for long.

[He added immediately--] But, if you do dangerous things and don't let them know? They won't know to disagree with you if they don't even know what you're up to.

I don't mind if you drive screws in their palms or peel off their fingernails or boil them in oil, but Marco-- if you want to do things like those, you ought to be brave enough to let your crewmates know about it. Don't protect them from one thing and hurt them another way so readily.

Either way. If you're willing to talk about your plans to the lot of them, let's go ahead. Either watch them leave or keep it to yourself.

They're your crew, Fire-Freckles. You're captain, your decision.

[Ace gave Marco the withered look for just a moment before he grinned from cheek to cheek. Marco had been Whitebeard's strategist, through and through. Discussing every battle with Pops had never been a necessity and it was always implicit that his own commands were law with the other commanders.

If Marco had to ask a question, it was because he wasn't absolutely certain of something. There was always some small factor that could evade even him, after all.]

We'll see if it thins the crew out, then. If you're so sure about your decision to get revenge that way, make sure everyone knows--and, present it as if it were my idea.

[Marco just grins right back. He loves you mostest Ace.]

[And gives Ace a one-armed hug around the shoulders, playfully chuffing his chin.]

Aye, Captain.

When do you want to present it to them?

[Ace had sparkles of his own.]

Five minutes before the ball.

Have I told you that I'm glad you conned me into this crew?

Conned you? I forced you to join, fair and square!

[Tugs one of Ace's freckled cheeks.] You're a hundred years too young to force me, yoi.

It was a perfect manipulation by a baby brother being a selfish brat.

And I'm still glad.

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[Written] And now for something completely different from the last time

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