(Luffy can hear his stomach rumbling already, feeling as if he hasn't eaten for a week and yet it's an alcohol cake that has gotten him here in the first place. Such is the way of things and Luffy keeps a firm hold of Koby's hand as he starts walking again, noting how warm the other's hand feels in his.
Thankfully there are no volcanoes for either of them to jump into, though Luffy does stumble a little as he trips on some discarded fishing rope.)
( The arm at his waist is a good steadying presence, Luffy enjoying the feel immensely as he wraps his own around Koby's shoulders. There's no escape for the marine and the pirate gives Koby a mischievous look, eyebrows raised. )
Careful, don't fall over.
( Luffy ignores the fact it's him that staggered, instead keeping hold of Koby as he starts to look around. His nose usually is on point but his direction is skewed for once and it takes the young man a moment to get his bearings. )
Good, food is important. Everyone's gotta eat. It shouldn't be far, you feel up to walking?
[Koby makes a softly exasperated sound, because he is completely steady here, Luffy, don't be silly. Still, who is he to argue? There's something sort of charming about a slightly tipsy Luffy, anyways. And the weight of the pirate's arm around his shoulders is also nice.
So he just nods, hiding his smile ineffectively.] You got it. No falling over. I can walk, yeah. In a straight line, even.
( Though in this case it's probably going to be useful and Luffy taps his chin with a free hand, looking thoughtfully around them before nodding to himself. )
We want to go that way. ( Luffy points in the direction of the town where a littering of stalls can be seen not too far away, making sure to keep his other arm around Koby's shoulders, feeling too comfortable and warm to remove it. ) And when we get there we'll have to eat until we cant even move.
It...gets us there faster? [Fun and efficiency are the same things for Koby.
But it's still nice, walking with Luffy. More specifically, with Luffy's arm around his shoulders. He -- will just unpack that thought later. Much later. For now, he's too busy nodding along seriously to the plan.]
You mean you don't eat good food until you can't move?
(That's strange but then Luffy's normal is everyone else's mystery. But then he doesn't talk much about a time when food was not so easy to come across and as such Luffy is not only selfish but will treat each meal like it's his last for some time.)
There's not much better than feeling full of delicious things, or not that I can think of.
Not that I can remember. [Maybe he's missing out? But maybe it's just a Luffy thing. Koby's pretty sure he can get away with eating a normal amount, but if his friend insists on being unable to move, he'll try his best.
So, smiling:] Maybe I'll just try to keep up with you, to start.
( Seeing that smile makes everything worth it in the end; it's reward enough and Luffy grins in return. )
That's the spirit. Right, this way.
( It isn't going to take them long to get to the food stall now that Luffy has spotted it in the distance and he makes certain to keep his arm at Koby's shoulders until the other shrugs it off, or until Luffy needs both hands to eat whatever it is he buys from the stall. )
[Koby is...definitely not shrugging the arm off. In fact, he might actually give himself a shoulder strain from trying to hold still, trying to make sure Luffy doesn't move away. Though, of course, he'll (reluctantly) surrender that when there's actual food to eat. Food he can see now, and smell -- not that he ever doubted Luffy, of course. His ability to detect food is superhuman.
The question gets a nod, thoughtful and not a bit weary.] It's the hardest thing I've ever done in my whole life. But it's...a different kind of hard from anything else? If that makes sense? It's not a bad hard.
Good, good. If it was easy it wouldn't be the right thing to be doing.
( Luffy knows he's technically asked this before but he just can't help himself. Koby has done so well and it just blows Luffy's mind that the young man has gone from captive of the Alvida pirates to marine being trained by Monkey D. Garp. It's fantastically unreal in every way and Luffy's smile widens, eyes crinkling.
Koby the marine. )
And you said that other guy was with you too right? What's his deal? Didn't seem very friendly in Shells Town.
[The full force of that smile is something that should definitely count as one of Luffy's powers, because how is anyone supposed to do anything when faced with it? Gum Gum Believe in Yourself, maybe...
Face red, Koby sort of shrugs, pleased and shy and flattered all at once.] I wouldn't have done any of it without you, so. Thank you.
Helmeppo, yeah. I think he's just...lonely and bad at showing it? Really...really bad at it. He's gotten a lot friendlier, though.
( Luffy mouths the word as if committing it to memory. He'll do his best but there's no doubt that the name will be butchered in some format when the time comes. The comment about being lonely makes sense as something Koby would pick up on, some people just weren't fortunate enough to have people in their lives to help them get through things. Luffy isn't sure where he'd be without Makino, Shanks and the red-haired pirate crew. )
I don't think he'll forgive me for the last time we met, but in my defense I wasn't very well. ( Luffy pauses, head tilting as he peers at Koby. ) He's lucky to have you as a friend, I don't doubt he'll feel all the better for it.
[Luffy has a way of just -- looking at him that makes something flip-flop in Koby's chest. It's not an unpleasant feeling, but it's definitely enough to make him stumble a bit.
Deflecting, blushing:] W-Well, he forgave me for punching him in the face. I think you have a chance.
(Luffy's glad Helmeppo isn't holding that against Koby; there'd be nothing worse than chasing a dream only to have someone holding a grudge right next to them. He gives a friendly nudge with his elbow, almost vibrating in excitement as they approach the food stall.)
That was a really good punch too, knocked him right out in one go. Maybe I do have a chance. (And maybe the trauma of "blue" is too much for some people and Luffy gives a small shrug. He'll try, if only because the guy is Koby's friend. The full force of his attention leaves Koby only to be turned on the person taking orders.)
Two kebab platters, three ground beef spiced sandwiches, two skewers of the beef, a box of shredded ends and a rice pudding please! What you having, Koby?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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(Luffy can hear his stomach rumbling already, feeling as if he hasn't eaten for a week and yet it's an alcohol cake that has gotten him here in the first place. Such is the way of things and Luffy keeps a firm hold of Koby's hand as he starts walking again, noting how warm the other's hand feels in his.
Thankfully there are no volcanoes for either of them to jump into, though Luffy does stumble a little as he trips on some discarded fishing rope.)
Ooops. You're hungry right?
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Clearing his throat, reddening, he finishes:] Um. Yeah. I could eat.
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Careful, don't fall over.
( Luffy ignores the fact it's him that staggered, instead keeping hold of Koby as he starts to look around. His nose usually is on point but his direction is skewed for once and it takes the young man a moment to get his bearings. )
Good, food is important. Everyone's gotta eat. It shouldn't be far, you feel up to walking?
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So he just nods, hiding his smile ineffectively.] You got it. No falling over. I can walk, yeah. In a straight line, even.
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( Though in this case it's probably going to be useful and Luffy taps his chin with a free hand, looking thoughtfully around them before nodding to himself. )
We want to go that way. ( Luffy points in the direction of the town where a littering of stalls can be seen not too far away, making sure to keep his other arm around Koby's shoulders, feeling too comfortable and warm to remove it. ) And when we get there we'll have to eat until we cant even move.
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But it's still nice, walking with Luffy. More specifically, with Luffy's arm around his shoulders. He -- will just unpack that thought later. Much later. For now, he's too busy nodding along seriously to the plan.]
We have to? Is this a requirement?
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(That's strange but then Luffy's normal is everyone else's mystery. But then he doesn't talk much about a time when food was not so easy to come across and as such Luffy is not only selfish but will treat each meal like it's his last for some time.)
There's not much better than feeling full of delicious things, or not that I can think of.
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So, smiling:] Maybe I'll just try to keep up with you, to start.
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That's the spirit. Right, this way.
( It isn't going to take them long to get to the food stall now that Luffy has spotted it in the distance and he makes certain to keep his arm at Koby's shoulders until the other shrugs it off, or until Luffy needs both hands to eat whatever it is he buys from the stall. )
Are they treating you alright in the marines?
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The question gets a nod, thoughtful and not a bit weary.] It's the hardest thing I've ever done in my whole life. But it's...a different kind of hard from anything else? If that makes sense? It's not a bad hard.
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( Luffy knows he's technically asked this before but he just can't help himself. Koby has done so well and it just blows Luffy's mind that the young man has gone from captive of the Alvida pirates to marine being trained by Monkey D. Garp. It's fantastically unreal in every way and Luffy's smile widens, eyes crinkling.
Koby the marine. )
And you said that other guy was with you too right? What's his deal? Didn't seem very friendly in Shells Town.
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Face red, Koby sort of shrugs, pleased and shy and flattered all at once.] I wouldn't have done any of it without you, so. Thank you.
Helmeppo, yeah. I think he's just...lonely and bad at showing it? Really...really bad at it. He's gotten a lot friendlier, though.
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( Luffy mouths the word as if committing it to memory. He'll do his best but there's no doubt that the name will be butchered in some format when the time comes. The comment about being lonely makes sense as something Koby would pick up on, some people just weren't fortunate enough to have people in their lives to help them get through things. Luffy isn't sure where he'd be without Makino, Shanks and the red-haired pirate crew. )
I don't think he'll forgive me for the last time we met, but in my defense I wasn't very well. ( Luffy pauses, head tilting as he peers at Koby. ) He's lucky to have you as a friend, I don't doubt he'll feel all the better for it.
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Deflecting, blushing:] W-Well, he forgave me for punching him in the face. I think you have a chance.
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That was a really good punch too, knocked him right out in one go. Maybe I do have a chance. (And maybe the trauma of "blue" is too much for some people and Luffy gives a small shrug. He'll try, if only because the guy is Koby's friend. The full force of his attention leaves Koby only to be turned on the person taking orders.)
Two kebab platters, three ground beef spiced sandwiches, two skewers of the beef, a box of shredded ends and a rice pudding please! What you having, Koby?