toujoursfluer | Log 007 [video/Action]

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Log 007 [video/Action]

[The video appears on Robin, looking up at her as she is sitting on her windowsill, despite the chill in the air. The wind stirs in her hair before she speaks]

Living here is hard on everyone it seems. People are changed. People flow in, go home, die and are restored. The Malnosso have us forget one another, betray one another, even forget ourselves and yet we live on broken in our own way.

[She glances down at the journal]

But we are all united here. Wether or not we wish to go home or we call this our home. Whether we love or hate it. We all exist for the same reason. For our friends. To find something better. But whether dark or light, living in silence or in grief only divides us. [She remembers broken nakama too much. It is almost too hard to bear sometimes because there is no reason to be]

There should be a place to talk about this. The fears, the joys, the grief...who we miss. Who we are glad have gone. A place without judgement or worrying whether or not you will cause concern. In order to live. In order to survive we must understand one another and we must not be afraid of the truth--whatever that might be.

[She will stare at the journal more as if contemplating what to say, then kills the feed. Then she leaves the window to make her rounds about town and will ultimately end up in the library. She may seem a bit preoccupied but feel free to approach her, and never mind the cat tail, that will be gone soon enough]

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[That does send a chill up her back when he strokes her tail and she whips it away but it is still twitching as if unsure. She feels the tension knot once again in his shoulders and relaxes her hands, wondering what it was]

There is nothing safe about the New World. [But she says this almost fondly. It is not safe, but free, and that is what is most important. Still, she doesn't feel happy that Nami is gone either. As if everything is a single uninterrupted line.]

I suppose it can't be helped.

[It is something she will have to think about in any case. But speaking of nakama]

Is Firefist-san feeling better?

[Smirks evilly at her reaction to the tail, and her acknowledgement that the New World is as far from safe as possible, but he soon simmers back down to deapdan, though there's definitely a mischievous glint to his eyes.]

Aye. But it's free.

[Waves a hand and leans back.] Yes and no. It's Ace. [Draws a couple of loops in midair with a finger.] He goes through cycles. He needs something more than just burning things to cheer him up but... [Spreads hands with a shrug.] He needs more time, eh.

How's everyone else?

[More time? That, thanks to the Malnosso, he has in spades she supposes. Unless something happens. Still she wonders if there is ever enough time to be resigned to the fact that you are only alive in this world when so much can change in a heartbeat.

She glances at Marco briefly at his question and then stands and moves away to gather more books, her tail lashing slightly even though her voice remains calm]

Devastated? Upset? Mourning? Beyond that, I can't say. [She opens a book and glances through it] I'm not as adept at reading the emotions of my crew.

[Or knowing how to help them]

Robin....

[He gets up and moves to give her a hug whether she punches him for it or not.]

You are doing your best to be there for them and help. I do not think it goes unnoticed, and I am certain it helps. Just don't expect to change the world in a day, eh? Little steps at a time. You're getting there.

[Truth told... it reminds him starkly of when Luffy left and the conversation they had in the library back then. Back then he'd admired her strength and resilience, in being able to admit her fears and weaknesses and face them head on. And he... had he truly been unable to move any more forward from that? Even now, it was damned near impossible for him to admit how scared he was of losing Ace. Or of Ace leaving Luceti. Even when everyone knew it. Really, he just admires how strong Robin is, even just in admitting her fears or at least concerns.]

[She accepts the hug but doesn't move to return it and you might feel her tail bumping against your legs in continued irritation. He is right n a way but it doesn't make it any easier nor the future any clearer. Can anything be achieved by talking? Or does it bring painful memories to the surface? She wants to ask him if Ace leaves, will talking even begin to help? But that question costs too much. Ace left is gone from both worlds.]

You...would have moved on had I not returned, correct?

[It's as close as she can get to what she wants to ask]

[Hrm. Not the question he was expecting. He goes to grab a seat at the table instead.]

I went on a date before you returned. With ah... Chun-Li. She left so quickly after I took her home to visit Pops and our world that I wanted to give up. To say it was me, that it was proof I was cursed and maybe meant to fail, eh? [He shakes his head and grins quietly.] But I couldn't do it. I didn't regret any of it then, and I definitely don't now. Instead I promised myself I would try even harder. Be braver like Ace, and the next time a chance came, I definitely wouldn't let myself waste it.

[He looks up into her eyes, trying to search out what she means by all of it, her reaction to hearing this.] I cannot say I would have lost my crush on you -- [At least not without a lot of different things happening first.] But I wouldn't let myself give up on always moving forward. It's not "on," but it's forward, without regrets.

[Chun-Li, hmm?]

So you do like cute.

[No she's not going to tell you what she means by this. Though n this case it's honestly not much as evidenced by her sitting on your lap, twitching her tail out of the way. She says nothing more for the moment as she thinks about this, though does brush your ankle with the tip of her tail.]

I wish I could have others understand that. To just let things go and to keep looking forward. People gets so upset at what happens here but I wonder if it really matters. I don't know.

[He just... blinks in surprise a little. Deadpan as always, but he's a little confused and taken off guard. He definitely wasn't expecting Robin to climb into his lap, but it's a pleasant surprise certainly. So he wraps his arms around her waist and leans over her shoulder, affectionately holding her close and careful of the Luceti wings.] You are cute, Robin.

[Seriously, he has no idea what she means by that, but okay.]

Mah, I completely agree with you though. I think it's easier for me, because of my Pops. He taught me to live like that at home, so I live like that here. But it's even easier here, because everything is icing. It's all surplus. An impossible vacation I could never have dreamed would exist or happen, and thus utterly mine to do what I want with it. [Limits on that to be sure, but still, if the only thing Marco could control was his own reaction to events, then control that reaction he certainly would.]

Awhile back someone asked why people act differently here. Or at least... let this place change them so that they're afraid to do things they would normally do back in their own worlds, eh? Get married, have kids, the works. And that's how I am about it. I don't get it either. I mean Sophie's parents are gone, but she still has family looking after her. We live. Why not truly live by making the most of it, eh?

[He has passion about this, does it show? Because even through the deadpan, even with the quiet library whisper, his voice hums with the passion and drive.]

Let's say you and I meet in the New World. We still won't get to have this much... time together because I've got a war to fight against Blackbeard, and you've got a captain to make King of the Pirates. Even if I can convince you to settle down with me after everything's said and done with those two things, it'll be years from now, eh? So this... [Squeezes his arms around her and affectionately hugs.] This is all extra. I don't want to waste a second of it.

I suppose it's also easier if you have something to hold on to. [She slides her hand over his and leans back against him, closing her eyes and listening to his voice. She likes it when he speaks of these things. There is always so much conviction. So much passion. She wants to live his way. More importantly, she wishes others could. Maybe then it wouldn't be so hard. Maybe then they wouldn't end up so empty. She smiles faintly at his final words and tilts his face toward her with her fingertips]

I will follow Luffy until the day he dies. But afterwards [She slides the backs of her fingers along his jaw] perhaps, ne? If you don't find Chun-li first.

[But she's only teasing and tries to show this by kissing him lightly. And then again, lingering because it's been a while]

[Closes his eyes and returns the kiss hard for a bit before remembering slowly that they're in the library. Mm-hm. And then he only kind of pulls back with a slight flush. He's a pirate. He'll do what he wants. Besides it's not like Ace is around.]

All due respect to Chun-Li, but she doesn't have the capacity to wrap several arms and legs around me to hold me down. [Lewd grin. Robin might be good at teasing him, but he's a master of teasing back. Until it backfires anyway. He leans forward and gently rubs his nose against Robin's affectionately.] Besides, I never even took her flying.

[Hmm. Marco looks so good in red. Robin slips both arms around his neck. Her tail curls around his ankle absently and she rubs his nose back and nips at it. She refuses to rise to the bait of the arms comment, but keeps it in mind so she can retaliate later.]

She hasn't been flying? [And while Robin isn't sure why not. She also knows something else]

And Brook has. [She gives him a mock concerned look]

Should I be worried?

Highly.

[He's too happy. His hot cat girlfriend is now a hot catgirl girlfriend and really, any amount of affection tends to make him a bit giddy.]

But not because of a sudden skeleton fetish.

Remember when I said Ace had to put up with me when you were gone? Brook wants to hear all about our relationship. In detail. [Sparkles. He's seriously trolling her here, because as she already knows, Marco himself has limits on what he can bring himself to tell Brook. BUT STILL! It's reason for a little alarm at least.]

And now I'm in good with at least one of your nakama, eh?

One of them. [And probably most of them though she wonders how he will manage to get past Sanji and survive. Speaking of Brook though makes her wonder other things]

What do you tell people about me?

[Though her tone is serious she can't resist reaching behind and pushing her fingers through his hair.]

Hm. [Lightly plays fingers under her chin.]

To Ace I've told him... the most. [Wry grin.] Seriously, take pity on the kid. He's done well about putting up with me.

But Norma I told her you're the most brilliant woman I've ever known and that you have cracking old dead languages in common. Really, I hope you two get along because I can't imagine you wouldn't.

Chun-Li I told that her that you're brilliant, the last archaeologist of your kind and used to be allied with an enemy so I never expected us to get along so well.

Brook asked if you ever used your devil fruit on me and I said of course. [That is missing context, but whatever.]

Is all that okay? I know Ace was getting frustrated that he seems to keep letting it slip to everyone else, but if you want me to keep it all secret, let me know, eh?

[Ace she doesn't mind. Nor Norma since she is Marco's family. Though that Chun-li knows that much-- and the last archaeologist of her kind...while Robin knows so little about her.]

Enemy? You mean Crocodile? [She had heard there was some kind of connection between Crocodile and Whitebeard, though she'd never been able to confirm anything. Crocodile had always been notoriously close about his secrets and it would have been unwise to look too closely for them.

Still, it's been a long time since she thought of him. The constant tension of staying a few steps ahead, making sure everything went just well enough. They had been challenging days but lonely ones]

Crocodile was only an ally in the sense that he was useful at the time. I would have done my best to kill him by the end of it. [And she had--and had been stupidly unprepared. Or perhaps in a sense she'd always wanted to die. Stubborn Luffy not letting her. She smiles a little at this though and anbsently rests her forehead against Marco's temple, letting a third hand trail absently down his neck and slide over his chest-

I don't mind what nakama know. I don't mind if anyone knows what we are but I don't want them to know me.

[She wonders if he'll understand. If she's even being clear enough. Back at home that was inevitable but here she has a clear advantage and she'd like to keep it]

Aye. He and I have an old history. Your captain stopped him from making yet another attempt on Pops' head at Marineford -- for which I'm still grateful.

[He actually wishes she had killed Crocodile and saved him a lot of future headaches, but c'est la vie. He keeps his thoughts on that to himself, and just nods at the last part and kisses her cheek.]

Understood Robin love. [And he does get it, a little, he thinks. He keeps his devil fruit pretty secret, and always keeps Robin's secret, but he's used to wanting the whole world to know that he's Marco the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Robin, on the other hand has been on the run from the government since she was eight and had to hide things like that.] Chun-Li I'd trust like one of my own nakama though, eh? Cop or not. But you can meet her for yourself and decide how much to reveal. In her world, the truth isn't illegal and you might find yourself having more in common with her than you'd expect.

[He thinks about it for a moment and holds her close, mumbling softly in her ear.] Would you feel better if you knew more? Even footing and all that?

[A chill goes down her back at that whisper and she shifts just a little closer, tilting her head toward the sound of his voice. He would tell her? She wants to know. She wants to know everything.]

The truth is always illegal, Marcchan. There is always something any government will do anything to hide.

[She strokes a hand down your neck, feeling the strength of it. She can't seem to stop touching you for some reason. Perhaps it is because being a cat is just not enough]

I've met Chun-Li and I don't like her. [Since it's only fair that he knows before he tells her anything about someone he considers nakama]

But I'll listen to whatever you have to say.

She fights those in power, Robin. And the government in her world is not so powerful. It's all broken up. Interpol is nothing like the marines. So don't think it is, eh? It's a pet peeve of hers, for good reason. [And you wouldn't want to be like Lupin now would you?]

[He leans into the hand and gives Robin a small squeeze. He's glad Robin told him the truth, because he is indeed trying to take care in his words, but sifting through memories just reminds him why he trusts Chun Li as strongly as he does. He's a little hesitant. He's put a lot of trust in Chun-Li and she's done the same back to him so he really doesn't want to abuse it. Especially if Robin might be an enemy of her. Still, he has to try to explain some of it at least.]

In her world, her father was a cop who got murdered by a gang called the "Shadaloo," run by Bison, who wants to enslave everyone and take over the world. [OF COURSE!] And he's already been killed more than once and come back to life, so arresting him and putting him behind bars is the only way she even could get revenge, or stop him once and for all, eh?

[Gently tickles under Robin's chin.] She might not believe in killing the way I do, but... [He drifts off momentarily, thinking of Chameleone and why he let him go.] even I have occasions I won't kill, Robin. And her teacher was an assassin. She doesn't have a problem with me being a pirate. Especially here. As she put it, why should she arrest pirates from different worlds in a place with no laws?

And I trusted her enough to tell her about seastone, even the first day we met all those months ago, so if you're going to pick a fight, [Playfully taps Robin's nose] I suggest you don't. [And not just because he loves you Robin.]

All right, tell me why you don't like her. If you don't mind. Maybe at least then I can settle your fears. Or narrow down what to hide from either of you. [Women. You're all going to be the death of him.]

[She could have done without the chin tickle and nose tap. She's not a cat any more, nor does she like being advised not to fight someone because they know about seastone. If she is driven to fight Chun-Li she will do so regardless. Though she knows that is not what Marco meant it annoys her regardless and she stands and moves away from him, moving to look at the books again.]

I refuse. I can resolve my own conflicts, thank you.

[But since she knows he is trying to help and he did offer. She sighs and turns to look at him]

But I will say I have to give it some thought. [Her tail bristles as she speaks] I appreciate you trusting her but--

[She shakes her head]

I won't go against her unless she goes against you. She is your nakama and not my enemy. But I can't--

[She shakes her head again and looks away. She can't trust her. She can't like her. Not yet. Anyone else but-- and even if it isn't the marines--]

And I'm not a cat any more so don't treat me like one.

[Even if she still can't say what she means]

[He drops the grin, for a small frown, quickly back to the same deadpan as ever.]

I wasn't trying to treat you like a cat, love. I've done this when you're human before. And I'm always teasing.

[His frown deepens.]

Chun Li...

[Grits his teeth.] I do not trust easily Robin. I'd like to say Blackbeard hasn't changed me, that I won't let him, but rest assured: I do not trust easily.

Chun Li's earned my trust, but that doesn't mean she's earned yours. Nor that you have to like her. I just want to know why.

[He rubs the back of his neck and goes back down to the floor, leans his back against a bookshelf, and grabs a book. Was it the way he worded it? Was he being condescending without meaning to? Even Chun-Li thought he was underestimating her, but at least Chun-Li gave him the credit that he was playing around. Then again, Robin was always quick to go cold. What could he say when he wasn't even completely sure what the problem was? She wanted more information but the information just made her mad? Or was it the way he said it?]

I trust you too, Robin. Or I wouldn't have said what I did. [Sighs.] I trust you to handle dealing with her however you want, and I don't think she even would use seastone. She said she wouldn't on me, and she knows me enough not to use it on someone I care about. [Waves a hand.]

Trust me enough to tell me what it is you dislike? [Glances up at her coyly.]

[She takes his points. And she knows what he was trying to do. She knows what he is saying. Intellectually she understands but she's still so irritated. Especially when he says he trusts her. She knows he does. She doesn't need to be told things like she doesn't understand. But maybe he doesn't understand. And maybe she doesn't either.]

I don't know. [It's probably an unsatisfying answer but it's the truth] It's not instinct. I just don't know.

[She's not looking at him at all while she speaks because she feels embarrassed somehow. Weak. To be this worked up over--something so insignificant]

Perhaps it was surprise. Perhaps because who she works for. [Those are paltry excuses and there is more too it than that. It isn't just that woman but it's everything it seems. Digging at her until she just wants to say something she'll regret to release the tension. But she won't. She has more control then that. She shakes her head and takes a deep breath]

Forget it, ne? It's not important.

[He closes his eyes. He's spoiled isn't he? Getting along so easily with those she likes, but she's more particular than him. More guarded. And even those she works with, she's not used to trusting, not used to liking. Just like how she was ready to kill Crocodile. Trust... is there a harder word for someone like her? He doubts it.]

It's important.

You don't have to like someone just because I do. That would be... impossible. I didn't always like everyone my Pops loved. [He suppresses a small surge of emotion at just remembering how he felt about Squardo. He wasn't trying to be distrustful when Squardo was out of place, but it was also his job to notice things like that.]

You protect your nakama by knowing about dangers. With a captain like Luffy or my Pops, it's our job to be careful, or how else can we protect our crews, eh? I get that.

But she works for herself. Not for justice, just to bring down an enemy organization that wants to do to her world what the world government does to ours. I don't trust cops either, but she's Chun Li first, and she doesn't follow any laws. You don't have to trust her, you don't have to like her, and I won't tell her anything else about you, but you should know that she's not a threat to us for being pirates, and she doesn't have any bosses to answer to for it. Any marine here would have to deal with bosses if they came, she wouldn't have to care. Understood? [Bird-like head tilt.]

[Understood. She smiles faintly and feels like she's being lectured somehow by a superior officer. She's never really felt his position as a Whitbeard Commander until now. Ultimately, though, he is defending his friend. Explaining her. How she is. Why she is. Defending her honor as his nakama.]

Understood, sir. [She's mocking him but gently and still doesn't face him, instead running her fingertips along the shelf]

She seems a very honorable woman...and she likes you very much.

[This conversation is getting to her, though. Everything feels as if it's pressing down and she wants to go home... Home where they are still missing Nami while she can't. She closes her eyes briefly]

I need time, Marco. [Always time. To process. To reorganize. She can't know how she feels about anything like this]

[He freezes. And by the time he moves, it's just to tuck his legs a little closer to his chest.]

Time from me?

[The words are out before he wants them to be. After their last fight he was scared, terrified of doing it all over again. Fuck, just once he wishes he could say the right thing with the right timing.]

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