high_seas | Masquerade Ball - Totally not an ambush

Oh do enlighten me on those things. [She has a couple of guesses but probably not the same as he is thinking.] I hope to be popular with the right people but hopefully be most popular with you.

[Oh yes, of some of the other party goers, Naesala is getting the looks of envy for this.]

[accepts the light] What do you have to think of me to think that I'd let anything slip by when it's this important.

[he smokes with a hand in his pocket, looking out at the stars]

Do you know how much I could do out on my own? Can't die here permanently. That's an asset I can use. I could crush the navy from within.

[maybe not destroy it but make them so afraid of the Whiteb-- Spade name that it would take something drastic for the Navy to move against them]

What good am I the commander of the Moon? All I have are kids. Kids who don't even have a toehold in this world. Who don't understand what it's like.

[and they would break up sooner than not if ideologies kept clashing. Or if Ace smoothed his own edges and then what place would there be for Thatch? Anyway a commander should care for his crew. Respect them. He barely even knew most of them and those he thought he knew... well that was water under the bridge now]

[Smoker shares a quick look with Kuzan when Coby takes off. At first he debates chasing the kid down to save him from himself, this is the kid who stood up to Akainu for fuck's sake, but firefighting?]

[All right, Smoker can get behind that.]

[With a small sigh, because he really hopes they don't get bounties for this.]

[Smoker is as discreetly as possible putting out fires, but when he sees Coby heading for the navy base?]

[FUCK NO!]

[Consider yourself grabbed by smoke around the middle kiddo.]

Don't be stupid, kid. Even Garp would be hard pressed to handle two commanders at once, much less four. The navy in this world can use some help, but you can't do it all for them.

[Then he's playing the role perfectly. Ikki accepts the drink, taking a ship and looking around before talking in a very low tone to him.]

Remind me why coming to the ball part was better than waiting outside.

[Coby took one more step before a knot of smoke wrapped around his upper body and stomach. He turned to look back at Smoker, shocked. The radical nature of his own action didn't quite register with him--as his decisions made out of desperation never really did. He grounded his feet, ripping at the planks of wood beneath his heels.]

Let me go, Sir! They're dying in there!

[One behemoth. Four behemoths. A dozen. After the War of the Greats, he couldn't even see the difference between one disaster and the other. What mattered to him was--]

They're trying to protect their seas! Even if they see us as enemies, we can't let them die!!

[With his current mood, she's indeed low on the list of people he would like to be with, not because of her but because of himself. Too many dark thoughts, too much anger and he's not sure if the barriers he usually uses will be enough to protect her from them. Still, she's a far better option than others and if he has brought himself to dance with some marine wives or girlfriends or sisters or whatever... He can dance with Leanne.]

You make weird choices regarding how to spend your fun time here, princess.

[Still he takes her hand reluctantly and speaks in a way casual enough to pass the title as an affectionate nickname of sorts.]

But I suppose we can give your theory a little try.

[Ah, no. Not this. This kind of thing is the most stupid piece of shit that has ever existed related to parties.]

What the hell do you think you're doing?

Nothing that can be mentioned in company like this, I'm afraid. [shrugs nonchalantly]

[and then, as she says the latter, he leans in a little closer to her with a smile] Already done.

[Naesala relishes those looks like the smug bastard he is.]

[Marco feels like he's trying to see undercurrents by watching a leaf vaguely float on the surface. He knows there's a whirlpool there and yet...]

I know you could. But do you want to really go do that instead of having fun? [That would be... exhausting. It could be done, of course. But would it be worth it?]

[As for the Moon... Marco's expression doesn't change. It's as deadpan as ever, but his mind is racing in thought.]

[Granted, they all hate rookies, and to a degree kids too but...]

[No, he's looking at the ripples and trying to see the currents. This is a ripple, and it's distracting him. He needs to find where it's coming from, not follow it.]

[Marco leans back against the wall next to Thatch and looks up at the stars.]

[He can't ever remember being so clueless. Even as a teenager, he knew he was painfully uninformed on things, and always tried to learn more. And wasn't that why his Pops took him in? What about the others though? Pops looked after some really obnoxious punks sometimes.]

Do you ever wish you could see yourself the way they see us?

I guess that's why I still haven't told Roxas that I'm not just Xifer yet. Because I already know he doesn't see 'Mr. Marco' as anything like his phoenix friend, even though he likes Ikki.

You'll have to tell me which kids are being trouble, but I think they aren't used to seeing us as us yet, eh? Remember how FireFreckles couldn't believe that we wouldn't lock him up when we first dragged him on board? They're still finding themselves, they don't even know how to figure out who we are, especially since they're not sure who they are yet, eh?

[Marco casually loops his leg around both of Thatch's braced against the wall, trapping the man there before he turns his head to give him a curious look.]

You used to enjoy that. Do you still?

[Maybe it's nothing major, maybe it's small, maybe Thatch just needs a break, or like Ikki & Marco: some kind of release.]

Conga!!

[You cannot dampen his enthusiasm.]

[DANCE MAN DANCE.]

[Information.]

[Marco has to think on a code word for that though.]

So you can learn something.

[Like Tashigi. A heart too big for their own good.]

I can't let you do that.

[They're still soldiers. They're still...]

Help me get out all the civilians and nobles to safety first. The Spades aren't the only pirates here, and the rich make for easy targets in this chaos.

Put out fires on the ships. They weren't expecting the fire from the sky and they're even more defenseless than inside. Come on.

[he's not going to answer the first part because it's something he doesn't know yet. It isn't going to make him feel better leaving. At least not in any way that isn't dark. Turning into someone like Marshall is tempting. Not killing...nakama no but others. Making them trust you and then-- He could do that. He could lose himself in that. He had before. He almost wanted it now. But not enough... Don't flatter himself. Tch. Damn brat.

He steadfastly kept his gaze pinned to the stars]

The kids here and the rookies back home are two different things. These kids know what they want and what they stand for and what they don't. It's not as if they're loyal to Ace as we were to Pops. If they saw [him] us how many of them would stick around? [the debate today was proof enough of that.

He didn't answer the last either. The man who enjoyed that not only was dead, but had trusted Pops and trusted his faith in people. It was easy to like someone Pops had faith in. Hell, he'd even trust Marshall again if Pops said to. He'd welcome the man with open arms.

But Ace? It was a hell of a lot harder. He didn't seem to know what he wanted in a crew. Just picked up any strays that blundered into his path and strays of the strays. He was only marginally a captain and they were only marginally a crew--but to say anything like that sounded traitorous somehow...]

[The proclamation got Bonnie's attention, though she couldn't pay much of it due to her contributing to the ruckus. Through the blood and injured bodies strewn everywhere as a result of pirates' attack, every so often, she caught a glimpse of what her fellow crewmate was doing.

It was sick. Something that she had seen before, with those who were more beastly in appearance. Truthfully, someone that somebody with a weaker composition would empty their stomach's contents out with. Instead, with a wine bottle from her collection in hand, she only had a snarky comment to make:]

Hey! Like your food flame-roasted?

[To add to the already present blaze from the other firestarters, the bottle spread fire towards quite a few Naval Officers that may happen to be in Conchita's path. Hey, it was an experiment if anything.]

Well-done, rare, it matters not!

[But she will nod in thanks while wiping the blood from her face with a sleeve. And then, she will move on toward some of those already burning to death--ones who can't put up much fight.]

[Marco's quiet thinking it all over for a bit, before he drops his foot and turns in a dance move to face Thatch.]

[Then he just grins, grabs his face in both hands and kisses him hard.]

[Maybe it'll snap Thatch out of it, maybe it'll put him in a darker mood, but Marco doesn't care.]

[He is also a terrible boyfriend jeez.]

You're so spoiled. [But he's grinning happily as he puts both their cigarettes back.]

Trust is built, Thatch. You weren't around when I first had to get used to Pops and vice versa. You know how I'll kick most people who wake me up, but you're an exception. You didn't become that way overnight. Pops and I couldn't share the same space as each other for a long time. Hell, how long did it take Ace to go from wanting to kill him to adoring him? Did you know that before we adopted Haruta she had a different father? She doesn't talk much of him now, of course, but she was like an abused animal at first. She hated pirates, she wouldn't talk to anyone and she lashed out a lot, eh.

[He leans back next to Thatch again and wraps an arm around his shoulders tugging the other man close.] You and Ace... why do you always think you're some big horrible dark thing no one can love deep inside? [Marco is still a little high on Ace's realization & recognition that Marco does indeed love Ace for Ace.] I love you for you, mate. Inside out. [He pokes Thatch's sternum.] The parts you think you hide well, most of all.

[He leans his head against Thatch's shoulder in thought.]

[Maybe that's why Thatch is hurt? Is he hurt or just angry? Or no... bitter. Yes, bitter is the word.]

[Was there someone he tried to show his dark side to, only to have it summarily rejected? Especially since Thatch seemed to be thinking he had to go do things alone.]

Do you think...

Do you think it was a mistake? Pops and us giving all that love and trust to Teach? Even when we saw his bad shit, we didn't stop and think, "Gee this is really unacceptable." Someone asked me why I have to be so all or nothing. I don't know if I am. I think it's built up. It's just that once I have to close a door on it, it doesn't matter what was built, I close that door for good. I think Ikki's that way too, but I'm not sure. [He shakes his head. Too many thoughts and he needs to narrow them down.] My point is, they think they know what they want. Some of them know some things about themselves, but they're still too young Beehive-hair. They have a lot of misconceptions about the world and they don't know how to reconcile it yet. They don't prioritize people over ideals yet. Because they've never had to before. Fuck that, they've never even had a chance to before. They're hardened because they think they'll be betrayed so they try to put their trust in something that can't betray them, thinking that won't hurt as much.

That's why we'll never ever ever forgive Teach. He hurt you most of all... [And Marco. And Pops. And Ace. Ugh.] But we gave him complete faith and trust no matter what, and he just used it. I will never have a punishment enough for him. An eternity of loneliness and being stabbed. Che....

[He drops the arm around Thatch's shoulder to hold Thatch's hand instead and takes a deep breath, which was probably dumb with all the smoke in the air but he's a phoenix and flames have their own kind of addiction for him.] The only difference in the kids here and back home is that they're even younger, even wilder, and come from even stranger backgrounds than we're used to. And yet they're still somehow just as jaded, just as cautious, and just as scared as men twice their age. So we have to give them that safe space for them to get comfortable in.

[Swings the hand a little and grins.] Are you up to it? Don't go getting old on me yet, eh.

Heh heh, hope you don't get filled up!

[If she could. No, B.B. wasn't sure if Conchita had a bottomless stomach or not, but the Navy would sure find out soon enough.]

Impossible!

[...She says between bloody mouthfuls. She doesn't even wait until they're fully dead, either.]

"May I have the honor of this next dance, Princess?" Marco gave her a formal bow and he looked damned amused behind the sunglasses and fedora covering the pineapple hair.

[blinks at the kiss, knows what's coming but doesn't want to hear it. Doesn't want to listen to it. It's so much easier not to care. To give into the darkness and to just screw off to anywhere. To not have to worry about kids or Ace or anyone but...]

No it wasn't a mistake. [he blurted it out, feeling it more than he expected and it surprised him.] Caring...for someone is never a mistake.

[because they had cared for Ace, too. Pops had. Despite everything. And all of them had to be worked through. Like Haruta. Like himself, too. He'd all but left the crew that day he'd gone to kill Stede. Only Pops had known. He'd told him as such. Because he wasn't sure he'd be coming back. He wasn't sure he'd be welcomed. He remembered the feeling of it suddenly. Being lonely. Adrift.

He had thought they would leave him to his fate. But Pops had come after him. Saved him. Welcomed him back. Once a son always a son. But... he sighs

He shifts so that he's facing Marco, burying his free hand in Marco's back pockets to keep him close, resting his chin on his head.]

Aye, I can do all you say. I will for you and Ace. Anything. Everything but...I can't care about them. I can't-- I can't be like Pops and love them. I loved our crew. All of them. [and while he liked Logan and wanted to protect Leanne... it was just... He sighed and murmured]

I'm broken somehow.

[Marco just hugs Thatch hard, refusing to let go.]

Then I'll fix you.

[Glue back the pieces of his Thatch and make him stronger and better than ever because he said so.]

It'll never be the same. It's new, it's different, and that's exciting, but bad too. Just don't close yourself off. I've been there. I want to go there again, every day, just a little. But I won't. [He ruffles Thatch's hair even though it'll take him forever to fix and they're at a party no less.] I won't because you taught me better. Along with Pops, eh? And if I have to stay that strong, don't think I won't kick your ass if you even think of wimping out on me, yoi.

You're not broken, you're wounded. [He wants to pick Thatch up and spin him around but it'll have to wait because as much as they're already pushing the limit of social boundaries, that would be so far beyond it couldn't be excused.] But I know how to heal it. Twice daily a dose of Marco love, yoi.

[Smooshes Thatch's cheeks.]

And just remember, eh? They'll never be Pops' crew. Ever. Some of them are Ace's crew, and some of them aren't yet, but we just have to watch over them so they can figure out who they are and who they want to be first. Then they can decide.

Haytham entered the party a touch later than most others. With so many of the Naval crews attending the Ball the streets were largely free of them. It made for an excellent opportunity to catch up with old contacts, inquire about the state of the islands, and even sow a few seeds that might in time further the cause of his Order.
To that end could he be blamed for helping himself to the contents of the Naval Officer’s pocket when the hapless gentleman bumped against his shoulder? It was a man he had seen before, one of the lot who had attempted to apprehend Ban and he when they had... been engaged in a little necessary smuggling. The mask Haytham wore prevented ready identification, so he could bow and ever so politely offer his apologies.

“A thousand pardons, ever so careless of me.”

The soldier grunted, hurrying on past Haytham to the packed entryway as the Templar smirked and pocketed the stolen wallet. Only after securing the ‘treasure’ did Haytham speak to those in the crowd around him.

“Lively party so far, have I missed anything interesting?”

Why would I put my foot under your sharp heels? [Aya takes the champagne with a nod, allowing his look of indignation to turn into a lesser look of indignation.]

How about we get through the first dance and see where it goes?

[While she still doesn't spot him, Grell does feel that he's closer, at least. Perhaps towards her right...

There are a few officers she spots, waving her fingers at them in passing. Yes, Marco is definitely in this area.]

Finding Elissa in the crowd was a simple enough task, few glowed quite as brightly blue when his special skill was employed. He singled her out, weaving his way through the sea of red tinged Navy until he was at her side.

"You seem to have a flair for dance, it's a pity none of your partners thus far have shared your skill."

Masquerade Ball - Totally not an ambush

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