piratejournal | Audio; Written

That's what I've heard happens. I know he wasn't killed or kidnapped, because he was here one moment and gone the next.

There would have been a trail or something and the likelihood he jumped off the boat was low. [Ace would have really noticed and he would have flown into a rage, so he knows it was the gentler endgame.]

I didn't know that could happen. It's... A bit unsettling if we're not given even the chance to say goodbye... Or decide if we want to stay.

[And she was only worried about what would happen once the magic gem was completed. She's such a fool.]

The world isn't that kind, y'know. Closure ain't exactly common and even then, it's not exactly the thing we need.

[He's had brothers and sisters killed in combat and he's avenged them, just the same--but, none of it made him feel better.

He wanted them back, more than much else.]

Just be happy with the moments you've got and don't make the 'end' the most important thing.

I know that the world isn't kind at all, and that a satisfying closure is pretty much a myth. But... I guess I was just being naive and not wanting to think much about it, since I've no wish for this to end.

[A heavy sigh.]

Of course I know that that's a foolish idea, as much as I want to keep sailing and following Luffy, he has to return to his world to become the Pirate King. But as selfish as it is, I personally won't complain if it takes him a bit longer to do so.

Don't worry too much about it. You're sailing with him, after all--and there isn't anyone in the world who lives in the moment more than Luffy.

[She smiles slightly, and though it's not visible it can be noticed in her tone as she answers.]

That's true... Though living in the moment doesn't always mean that he's the most conscious about the situations he's in. At least not the way most people would.

He and I are brothers until the end and we have the same promise in mind: to live freely and without regret.

So, you're lucky, Miss. Regardless of his weird personality, his finer qualities are never gonna go away.

"To live freely and without regrets"... That's a very impressive and ambitious promise. It may be very hard to keep it, though I have the feeling that you both know that already and that it does nothing to change your mind.

Oh, I know that I'm very lucky to have met him and have him as my captain, even without this new hindsight. It is a relief though, to know that those things won't go away.

We've lived that way so far. If anything, my brother's been catching up to me pretty well, given the last bounty I've seen for him.

'300,000,000' beri! It's impressive, for a kid that's been sailin' for just a year!

I wish I could know how much that would be in krones, but 300,000,00 of anything is very impressive. I take that he must have been bothering the "right" people to get it that high in such a short time.

If it's okay for me to ask, how much was your bounty back home?

550,000,000. It kinda slowed down when my temper slowed down, but it coulda been higher if I kept being really immature.

[And if he hadn't joined the Whitebeard pirates. It was easier for him to get into trouble and have that trouble put on his own name alone when he was the Captain.]

Luffy did even crazier things than I did, though. He's an impressive kid brother to have.

I still find it a very impressive bounty. I think the highest bounty Arendelle ever offered for a pirate was 5,000 krones. If a country in the world I'm from had to pay the amount of your bounty... Let's just say that they could declare the man that caught you king and it would still not cover half of the reward.

[Luffy's world sounds more and more complex and different the more she hears of it. How does it even work?]

You're very proud of him, aren't you?

Hah! Fortunately, the World Government pays that money, themselves. I dunno if they could afford every pirate being turned in at once, but they'd definitely try.

As for Luffy--I'm proud, but a brother's got to be worried. Even luckier, Luffy's got a good crew.

Hmmm, I wonder if that means they don't really expect anyone to be able to cash those bounties. Or if it means that they are desperate enough to put in jeopardy the whole economy of the world just for pirates.

[It also brings up the question of why pirates would be such a big trouble. Of course piracy is something that will always exist, Elsa is sure of that, but usually people have a reason, no matter how poor, to end leading a criminal life. Besides, in her world the biggest problem aren't pirates themselves, but the kingdoms and countries supporting some of them in exchange of getting part of their loots which ruins trade deals between other countries.]

Either piracy in your world is very different from mine... Or- well, it's not really my place to judge but I can't really fathom a world with a united World Government where piracy is such a big problem. Unless there's a reason for it.

[There's a soft giggle at his next words, though.]

Any older sibling ought to be worried about the younger, no matter what. He could be in the safest place in the world and I'm sure you would still worry about if he's really safe or if he's happy and fulfilling your promise.

Well, there's that and plenty of kingdoms have already been bought out by pirates or other criminals and nobody's said anything out loud about it, yet. [He could think of quite a few kingdoms that were being manipulated by outside sources that weren't the world government.]

But, politics are boring enough and I've gotta get back to sailin'. I'll probably see you later when I get to your ship, right?

[She giggles at that, understanding well what Ace means when he says that politics are boring. Personally she finds them both interesting and boring, probably due the role she would have had if her powers hadn't been discovered.]

Of course, I apologize for distracting you for so long, Ace. And yes, I'll see you once you arrive here. I look forward to it. Have a safe trip.