[He shakes his head, and folds his arms.] I can't stop you, of course, but hear me out first, eh?
In my own world, in our world, I've already lost Ace, Thatch, and my father to death. The three most important people in the world to me. And yet, Ace and Thatch are alive here.
I thought that was strange, but I'm not about to start questioning that kind of good fortune as rare as it is. And it's a time thing, eh? Ace remembers almost dying, but it doesn't work quite right here, eh?
I said before we have the ghost thing in Davy Jones, and that is not an exaggeration. We've lost some of our younger kids before to what should have been death by all rights, and Davy Jones just sent 'em back here. Shook up, scarred in the head for life, but back alive all the same.
If your Apocalypse friend isn't around yet, finding him might be all he needs to wake back up. Maybe with that gem, maybe with powers, maybe with Leanne or Nami's healing, maybe to force you to borrow those too and restore him back to full strength. Maybe not, maybe he'll get restored no matter what we do about it. But don't throw your life away until you exhaust all other options.
[A sigh again and he looks away.] You have no idea what it does to the ones left behind. But if you know Logan even a little, it should give you a good idea of it. He's shook up just from-- [Marco pauses and shakes his head again. It's not really his place to say, and he's not sure how much Rogue knows, but if she already does know it, she'll be able to figure it out herself. He chooses the rest of his words carefully.]
For those of us who out-survive others, it's a constant trial of endless separation. One after another, after another, and giving up is never an option either.
On the topic of things I haven't told Ace, the only thing I can't tell him is that I'm stuck in a half-life now. [He taps the stairs with the toe of his sandal.] He's alive here, but it's not our world. In our world he was supposed to take our Pops' place, so I wouldn't have to. So I wouldn't get stuck in the endless war consuming our world. [Finally he turns his head to look at her, though quite solemnly.] If I had my way, I'd only go back when I can change all of that. That's why Chandra promised to take me with her. So I don't have to go back until I want to.
Ace is alive here, but part of me still can't shake the fact that it's only here. And here means a lot, eh? [His eyes narrow.] But that is just all that much more reason not to waste it.
I won't stop you, I can't. It's not my place to say, and we're pirates. We prize freedom above all else. [Which was why Ace's decisions ate Marco up from the inside out every day.] But try to make sure you really exhaust all other options. Including letting him sleep instead of seeking him out to kill him, eh? [His jaw clenches, and he looks back out at the ocean.] My Pops' final order to me was not to get revenge for him, for Thatch, for Ace, on our old betrayer. He ordered me to live and protect my brothers instead. I'd love nothing more than to die and take Blackbeard with me, because that would protect my family from him... but we have more than just one enemy.
So you see, for all that I'd love nothing more than to risk myself as you seem willing to do yourself, unfortunately, I'm the obedient son. [He tosses the cigarette over towards the spade ashes, and looks up at the sky.] Maybe that's why I envy Ace. [He laughs a little bitterly and rests a hand over his eyes.] Envy, is that really the word for it? [He leans an elbow on the railing and his head into his hand, looking back at Rogue once again.] I failed him, eh? I wanted to be the one trying to avenge Thatch, but I was worried about losing Pops. Even now, Blackbeard has enough power and stupidity to destroy our world, and he wouldn't even do it on purpose, just because he's careless, but all the same, I can't bring myself to disobey the final words of a dying man out of what... respect? Fear? Because in my heart, following my Pops was the only thing I've ever done right.
[He taps his own temple.] Intellectually, I know it was his own selfishness. That he just wanted me and my brothers to live and be free and happy, and that it ignores all the realities of what we have to deal with. But all the same...
One more day... All I ever want is one more day with them, and pretty soon, it's a lifetime, and it's never enough. How can I leave them? Without me they'd fall apart. And that's not just my selfishness, they're all like little baby chicks, pretty hopeless sometimes.
[He hovers a hand over her head, before switching it to a furled wing and gives her the slightest inclination to brace herself before he rests the wing tip on the top of her head.] Never doubt your importance to others, eh? I love a lot of idiots and martyrs, but I hate that side of them too. If you ask me, that's the most selfish part of them. Maybe I can only say that because I'm not allowed to die to protect them all, and maybe it's just bitter jealousy. I don't even know anymore. But all the same, don't be so ready to risk yourself. Because it's not just yourself you risk, it's the future with your friends that they wouldn't get to have.
You can only die to save your friends once. At least make sure it's at the end of a long happy adventure, yoi.
3/3
In my own world, in our world, I've already lost Ace, Thatch, and my father to death. The three most important people in the world to me. And yet, Ace and Thatch are alive here.
I thought that was strange, but I'm not about to start questioning that kind of good fortune as rare as it is. And it's a time thing, eh? Ace remembers almost dying, but it doesn't work quite right here, eh?
I said before we have the ghost thing in Davy Jones, and that is not an exaggeration. We've lost some of our younger kids before to what should have been death by all rights, and Davy Jones just sent 'em back here. Shook up, scarred in the head for life, but back alive all the same.
If your Apocalypse friend isn't around yet, finding him might be all he needs to wake back up. Maybe with that gem, maybe with powers, maybe with Leanne or Nami's healing, maybe to force you to borrow those too and restore him back to full strength. Maybe not, maybe he'll get restored no matter what we do about it. But don't throw your life away until you exhaust all other options.
[A sigh again and he looks away.] You have no idea what it does to the ones left behind. But if you know Logan even a little, it should give you a good idea of it. He's shook up just from-- [Marco pauses and shakes his head again. It's not really his place to say, and he's not sure how much Rogue knows, but if she already does know it, she'll be able to figure it out herself. He chooses the rest of his words carefully.]
For those of us who out-survive others, it's a constant trial of endless separation. One after another, after another, and giving up is never an option either.
On the topic of things I haven't told Ace, the only thing I can't tell him is that I'm stuck in a half-life now. [He taps the stairs with the toe of his sandal.] He's alive here, but it's not our world. In our world he was supposed to take our Pops' place, so I wouldn't have to. So I wouldn't get stuck in the endless war consuming our world. [Finally he turns his head to look at her, though quite solemnly.] If I had my way, I'd only go back when I can change all of that. That's why Chandra promised to take me with her. So I don't have to go back until I want to.
Ace is alive here, but part of me still can't shake the fact that it's only here. And here means a lot, eh? [His eyes narrow.] But that is just all that much more reason not to waste it.
I won't stop you, I can't. It's not my place to say, and we're pirates. We prize freedom above all else. [Which was why Ace's decisions ate Marco up from the inside out every day.] But try to make sure you really exhaust all other options. Including letting him sleep instead of seeking him out to kill him, eh? [His jaw clenches, and he looks back out at the ocean.] My Pops' final order to me was not to get revenge for him, for Thatch, for Ace, on our old betrayer. He ordered me to live and protect my brothers instead. I'd love nothing more than to die and take Blackbeard with me, because that would protect my family from him... but we have more than just one enemy.
So you see, for all that I'd love nothing more than to risk myself as you seem willing to do yourself, unfortunately, I'm the obedient son. [He tosses the cigarette over towards the spade ashes, and looks up at the sky.] Maybe that's why I envy Ace. [He laughs a little bitterly and rests a hand over his eyes.] Envy, is that really the word for it? [He leans an elbow on the railing and his head into his hand, looking back at Rogue once again.] I failed him, eh? I wanted to be the one trying to avenge Thatch, but I was worried about losing Pops. Even now, Blackbeard has enough power and stupidity to destroy our world, and he wouldn't even do it on purpose, just because he's careless, but all the same, I can't bring myself to disobey the final words of a dying man out of what... respect? Fear? Because in my heart, following my Pops was the only thing I've ever done right.
[He taps his own temple.] Intellectually, I know it was his own selfishness. That he just wanted me and my brothers to live and be free and happy, and that it ignores all the realities of what we have to deal with. But all the same...
One more day... All I ever want is one more day with them, and pretty soon, it's a lifetime, and it's never enough. How can I leave them? Without me they'd fall apart. And that's not just my selfishness, they're all like little baby chicks, pretty hopeless sometimes.
[He hovers a hand over her head, before switching it to a furled wing and gives her the slightest inclination to brace herself before he rests the wing tip on the top of her head.] Never doubt your importance to others, eh? I love a lot of idiots and martyrs, but I hate that side of them too. If you ask me, that's the most selfish part of them. Maybe I can only say that because I'm not allowed to die to protect them all, and maybe it's just bitter jealousy. I don't even know anymore. But all the same, don't be so ready to risk yourself. Because it's not just yourself you risk, it's the future with your friends that they wouldn't get to have.
You can only die to save your friends once. At least make sure it's at the end of a long happy adventure, yoi.