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Entry tags:
- akira inugami,
- alpha dave strider,
- bepo,
- chandra nalaar,
- dakota perkins,
- draco malfoy,
- elissa cousland,
- faye valentine,
- fuu hououji,
- grell sutcliff,
- haytham kenway,
- kairi,
- kodachi kuno,
- lenalee lee,
- logan / wolverine,
- marco,
- mononobe no futo,
- naesala,
- phoenix ikki,
- portgas d. ace,
- ragna the bloodedge,
- ran 'aya' fujimiya,
- riku,
- selphie tilmitt,
- soga no tojiko,
- thash,
- thatch
Masquerade Ball - Totally not an ambush
Who: Anyone going to the Corsair Island Masquerade Ball!
Where: ...IDK?
When: April 26th - 27th (Early AM)
What: The Masquerade Ball + Ambush (12am)
Warnings: D for dancing, V for violence, A for Ace, L for Luffy
Style: Action or prose.
Status: Open to anyone attending!
There are going to be two main threads. One for the ball itself and the other for the Ambush! There will be an obligatory third thread for FASHION. Just remember to tag your muse in the subject header and OTA or 'Closed to ???' as you comment.
Where: ...IDK?
When: April 26th - 27th (Early AM)
What: The Masquerade Ball + Ambush (12am)
Warnings: D for dancing, V for violence, A for Ace, L for Luffy
Style: Action or prose.
Status: Open to anyone attending!
There are going to be two main threads. One for the ball itself and the other for the Ambush! There will be an obligatory third thread for FASHION. Just remember to tag your muse in the subject header and OTA or 'Closed to ???' as you comment.
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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.]
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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...]
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[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.
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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.
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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.
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But... He would just have to accept it. Or at least, accept that he would have to accept it. Eventually. He sucked in a deep breath and let it out, smiling a little]
Aye... I'll keep it in mind. [he pulled back a little and combed his hair back into place, not really having to see it it to get it in order. Plenty of battlefield practice with that one.]
In the meantime I'll try to enjoy myself. You, too, pretty bird. Sweep that chickadee of yours off her feet.
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I'll try. But I won't kill myself over it, eh. What happens happens, aye? [Tugs Thatch's cheeks.] Cheer up big guy. It's a party, yoi.
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I'll do my best. [and then just to be contrary, rubs a knuckle down his cheek] The closet was more fun though.
[and he makes a teasing longing whistle]
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[Whistles right back.] Maybe you'll be able to earn a repeat performance.
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This one will be bet-- better.
[if it sounded lame it's only because he wasn't prepared damnit]
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[He wants to mess up his hair again, but he resists, sticking his hands in both of Thatch's coat pockets instead.]
Missed me, eh?
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[slides his fingers against Marco's throat]
But we have a job to do.
[and Marco has other better prospects]
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[Still, he sighs, withdraws, and nods.]
Aye.
[Habit, the still whistling.]
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