[Now that he's on the spot, he's freezing up. He's sitting on the CH3 rooftop, right on the ledge, feet dangling over the side.] It's a long one, are you ready?
The bravest man I ever knew was also the most reckless. It wasn't that he was never afraid, of course. He often was. Sure, not much could hurt him, but no matter how strong you get, it never means much unless you can protect those you care about with it, eh? His goals meant so much to his friends, his nakama, that they were willing to risk their lives for his goals, but while he always thought that what he wanted most was to be the best, he knew he would rather protect his friends than anything else. Even if meant failing.
He shared a dream with my Pops, but it actually took him a little while to realize it. He always thought he knew what he wanted, so it took him a long time to realize that such a thing wouldn't make him happy, that what he really wanted, that his true happiness, was with him there all along.
I take it for granted how easy it is for me to know what makes me happy and how to pursue that. My Pops found me when I was all alone so by the time I realized what happiness was, I already knew how I'd found it.
We aren't nakama, but my father's family wasn't just his crew. He loved Squardo, Whitey Bay, Doma, the Delcalvan Brothers, Little Oars Jr. and all of them as his own family. Sons and daughters, every last one, even if they weren't in his crew. Even Fishman Island, all 5 million of them, he usually looked at like his sons. I've always worried when the time came I'd be too selfish for that. I prioritize the immediate crew first, allies second, and islanders third. [And the rest of the world could burn.] But Thatch, Ace, and my Pops all had a bigger heart than me. And they taught me a lot. How to love, how to smile, and bravery.
[He tilts his head to listen, to see if she'll call him a fool and hang up again, or if she has something to say in return to it all. Perhaps she can already see where he's going and should shut up, or maybe he should continue. Really, he doesn't know.]
[August 21 / Video]
The bravest man I ever knew was also the most reckless. It wasn't that he was never afraid, of course. He often was. Sure, not much could hurt him, but no matter how strong you get, it never means much unless you can protect those you care about with it, eh? His goals meant so much to his friends, his nakama, that they were willing to risk their lives for his goals, but while he always thought that what he wanted most was to be the best, he knew he would rather protect his friends than anything else. Even if meant failing.
He shared a dream with my Pops, but it actually took him a little while to realize it. He always thought he knew what he wanted, so it took him a long time to realize that such a thing wouldn't make him happy, that what he really wanted, that his true happiness, was with him there all along.
I take it for granted how easy it is for me to know what makes me happy and how to pursue that. My Pops found me when I was all alone so by the time I realized what happiness was, I already knew how I'd found it.
We aren't nakama, but my father's family wasn't just his crew. He loved Squardo, Whitey Bay, Doma, the Delcalvan Brothers, Little Oars Jr. and all of them as his own family. Sons and daughters, every last one, even if they weren't in his crew. Even Fishman Island, all 5 million of them, he usually looked at like his sons. I've always worried when the time came I'd be too selfish for that. I prioritize the immediate crew first, allies second, and islanders third. [And the rest of the world could burn.] But Thatch, Ace, and my Pops all had a bigger heart than me. And they taught me a lot. How to love, how to smile, and bravery.
[He tilts his head to listen, to see if she'll call him a fool and hang up again, or if she has something to say in return to it all. Perhaps she can already see where he's going and should shut up, or maybe he should continue. Really, he doesn't know.]