toujoursfluer | Appointments Post

[Why does he always catch her half asleep? Her heart picks up, though, at the sound of his voice... And...even though she hasn't decided anything...]

[She pulls the journal onto her lap and says in a sleepy voice...]

Do you have stories to tell me, little bird?

So many stories to tell you tonight.

I would have told you while it was still raining, but I thought you might prefer more time.

They seem to bubbling over tonight though, eh?

[It's strange. She wonders if he's lonely. Though that can't be. Not with his brothers... and she wonders what he wants to say.]

I'm listening...

[She turns on the light so that he can see her better.]

[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.]

[She nods. It's an interesting story. Fascinating, really. And she can only guess at the mysterious player he hints at. She's not even entirely sure what he wants to say, but stories aren't always understood the first or second time...and perhaps he just wants to talk. Still...]

Nakama do that to you.

[She's learned more about herself just being with them then she's ever learned alone. ...or rather, more important things. She's learned what really matters and what is not worth worrying about.]

We're not nakama, but I don't see how it changes anything.

I can't even call myself a fool for that, because it'd be calling my own nakama fools since they're the ones who taught me.

Sabo's become my brother and a nakama here, Norma has as well, and while I'll never ask you to do that, because I respect your captain far too much, I don't see how it changes anything. If I couldn't love outside my crew, my Pops would be pretty disappointed in me, and the bravest man I ever knew would think me a coward for being scared and running from such a thing.

I'm not asking you to love me Robin, but don't get mad at me for loving you. At least not without a better reason than that, eh.

[Oh, so this where it was going. She had hoped it wouldn't--though perhaps should have expected it. It's not something that she can run away from, though. And running away is not something she likes to do any more. She sets the journal aside but leaves it open, staring at her room.]

[When she speaks, it's softly because it hurts a little. It's a little frightening-- but...]
You can ask me not to be mad but I am. It's not even something I understand. It's just inside of me. [She places a hand to her sternum]

It shouldn't be there and it isn't fair--but it is. I don't know what it is. I can't even define it. I'm sorry it's not an answer you want.

Ah, I suppose I shouldn't say, "Don't be mad", so much as, "Please allow me to still be as I am as well," eh.

[He can tell she's scared, and he hates it. He should be fighting off those fears, not causing them. Was his early assumption correct? She was scared of living to the fullest? But...]

And please talk to me still, eh. So that I can understand. And because I missed you. [And he's pretty sure she missed him or she wouldn't be so willing to talk to him this late at night, right? Anyone else would get the book shut on them... though he still might find himself in that position as well.]

Would you prefer another story?

I guess I never really expected you to change who you were. Or how you felt. [She rests her forehead on her knees. The truth is, she misses him, too. But she also misses the time where this didn't matter. Where it was just teasing and touching and heavy words weren't behind it.

and she can't just pretend they were never there...]

Marco...

[It's not going to help...or she doesn't think it does... but...maybe that's okay for now...]

My window is open, ne? Come see me.

Edited 2012-08-22 05:20 (UTC)

My pleasure.

[Just gets a running jump and takes off flying, his journal clipped to the belt so that she can get a good glimpse of how far away he is, as he zooms over there.]

[She's waiting by the open window. Her journal still on the bed. She feels faintly nervous for some reason. She doesn't want to give him the wrong impression...but what is the wrong impression really? She just wants to see him and for now that's all that matters]

[Carefully flies through the window, wondering idly if any of her housemates are watching or would even care. He grabs a seat on her bed as a phoenix for now and glances up at her.]

Hello.

[He came just how he left and is now back on her bed. She can't help but smile just a little. It's easier that he's a phoenix and she can't resist scratching just under his chin.]

Did you miss me that much? It hasn't even been a week. [She's teasing lightly.But serious,too]

[Shivers in delight and leans into it, flashing his tail back and forth.]

In the first three hours I missed you so much I drove Ace nuts, and it's been all I could do to wait this long. I was aiming for four days I hope you realize.

Poor Firefist-san. [She can't help but enjoy the way he leans into it]

What will you do when I'm not around, you silly thing? [But he probably knows that feeling all too well. That reality. She presses a kiss to his head in mute apology and sits next to him, stroking down his neck and under his chin, sliding her fingers through the feathers.]

It seems you'll be hurt no matter what I do...

[she sighs]

[He desperately wants to kiss her, but for now he stays a bird and just completely luxuriates in those touches.]

Robin, I already did lose you once, eh?

At least if I try to do everything I want to while you're here with me, I won't have any regrets. [Keeps swishing his tail happily, almost too happy about that gentle kiss.] Everyone I love, here or home, will leave me someday. That's just the nature of my fruit. All I can do is make the most of it.

[She's not sure what to say to that. Or maybe there's nothing to say. She's tired of thinking about it. Tired of being uncertain about it. It's not in her nature to be uncertain of anything. Even though she doesn't like this solution... She shakes her head slightly and then just smiles a little and whistles that it will take more than that to impress her. Just to see what he'll do]

[He lifts his phoenix head a little and shakes it ruefully. With that he just tells her back in a whistle that he doesn't care, he loves her anyway and he'll always keep trying.]

I wish I knew how to write songs. I've no doubt you'd inspire a thousand ballads and I'd never give up or run out of material.

You do know I'll never hurt you, right?

[A ballad? She's not sure what to say about that. She doesn't think there's anything particularly ballad worthy about her, though she senses he's sincere even though she doesn't understand. As for trusting him]

I know. I've never been worried about that. [she strokes him thoughtfully for a moment]

I...missed you when you went.I worried. But there was nothing I could do... It feels like whatever we do, whatever we decide, we're helpless here. They can manipulate us however they like.

[He can tell his being a phoenix is easier on her right now, but he can't take anymore, just switches back to human so he can kiss her as soothingly as he can.]

I am never helpless. [Even when Blackbeard killed Whitebeard, he still had to save his family and he protected Luffy. He got him out alive, and that counts for a lot.] And you aren't either. If I'd known you'd feel like this about it, I would have let you help me so you could see you're not but...

Robin, you're much too strong to think you're helpless to anyone's manipulations.

The first rule of con jobs, always let them think they're in control. Isn't that what you did with Crocodile? [A little testing, half curious, because he's not 100% sure, but he's certainly curious and clearly suspects it or thinks so.]

[She's a little startled at the abrupt change and the kiss. It's been a while and--it's never quite been like this. She takes in his words, thinking about them but not quite looking him in the eye even as she slides her arms around his neck.

Though at the mention of Crocodile she smirks and does look into his eyes, moving one hand to stroke his cheek]

I was in control. I had something that he wanted which gave me a certain amount of freedom [she traces her fingers along his jaw] but I had my own gambit to run and he still played right into my hands.

[Luffy had upset the balance considerably and things had happened much quicker than she'd intended and--in quite a different way, she had to admit but in the end it was better for all concerned]

It was even a little thrilling sometimes to see just what I could get away with. [Though she'd never tried to tip the boat too far]

[It's extremely difficult to restrain this much, to not kiss her so much more and lean her back and try to convey all his intentions to reassure her into physical actions.]

And what makes you think you can't get away with so much more here?

They do things like bring Blackbeard here, send Straw-Hat and Ace back and forth, but there are some things they can't do Robin.

However much they change us for a week or two, it doesn't last. Up here, [He touches her head, leaning in more and grinning quite a bit.] and in your heart [a light brush with his fingertips over her chest] These things are yours.

Whatever they do is temporary. Even the New World is prone to some haphazard toying like them only back there it's even more difficult to fix. It doesn't bounce back.

It's very thrilling to see what one can get away with here, right under their noses. I helped Law and Daisy dissect one of their droids, eh? I'm pretty sure that's why I was gone for a month and a half in January. As punishment. But even that was a gift. They taught me my limits. How much I can regenerate despite their silly barrier or not.

You and Ace both want more freedom here. More ocean. And I want more sky. The curse of being pirates. [He takes her hand and starts kissing over the top of it, because if he doesn't he's going to go mad, he's quite sure.] But we can still have it. We can keep playing their game for now, but there are people in this village even stronger than I am, and there is only so much their barrier and experiments can do. This place offers a lot already, don't miss out on it just because of what it doesn't have yet.

You dissected one of them? [She has to admit she enjoys that idea immensely.

And what he says is true. She's always known it herself. And he dissected one. They caught a droid and took it apart. It satisfies her both intellectually and primally in her gut, the same way it felt when she felt Spandam's spine break under her hands. Revenge. Could she do more? Was there more to do? Was there something they all could do? She wants to try. She wants to test her own limits against them. Get stronger...and...

She watches him kissing her hand. He's completely pathetic in so many ways. And he loves her for whatever reason. And whatever the feeling she has for him, she enjoys it. But as for him...it would be horrible to use that against him. To tease him. But for some reason it makes it all the more delicious a prospect]

Tell me how you did it. [She slips her hand away from his just because he wants it so badly and uses it to push her hair over her shoulder.] I want to know every detail.

[God damn it. He misses that hand already. His eyes are glowing with inner blue flames as he regards her, already enjoying watching her start to spark with intellectual curiosity and maybe a little excitement.]

I was mostly the get away transportation. I don't know the first thing about electronics other than they're like the pacifista. They came to get Bepo and they weren't expecting Law so he knocked it unconscious before they could and sent out a distress call to anyone who could help.

That's how I met Daisy, eh? Before she was even dating Keimi. She's from a world where technology like that is more common so Law asked me to take her and as much of the droid as I could carry.

[Grins.] It was fun. We had an entire swarm looking for us and at first they didn't know what had happened, I think,, so Daisy was able to get a pretty good look inside until she had to toss it so I didn't crash. It took them months to even figure out it was me who carried her in the sky. And I'm pretty sure they updated the droids heavily since then, but it means something, eh. And I think there's another guy here who did something similar.

Hell, did you know there didn't even used to be an ocean here? It was desert a long time ago. The pirates here got them to flood it. And the Malnosso still think it was teaching us a lesson or just somehow mocking us with their power. If only Kaidou was willing to do things like that to mock us with his "power," eh?

Next time take me, ne?

[That sounds like a lot of fun. And if they were updated that's all the more reason to take another one down. And a desert, was there? Hard to get at now. So much buried under the water but she thinks she prefers the water to anything.]

I want to find a way to tear them apart, Marcchan. Piece by piece. [If she sounds mildly excited when she says this it's only because she's very good at hiding how much she anticipates it. Even trying.

In the meantime there are other games to play. She lets her arm trail from his shoulder and leans back a bit to widen the distance between them but she maintains a smile, seeing how far he'll let her go]

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