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[bigsmile]

@KINGOFTHEPIRATES

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text — un: q

[longitudinal]

you're made of rubber?

koby told me. he also told me you saved him.

text | un: KINGOFTHEPIRATES

[bigsmile]

i am yeah!

he did? only the once.

[longitudinal]

how? is that why you're hungry so often? so much room to fill?

also speaking of food koby gave me this jam, i stole a loaf of bread and left both on your bed. it's delicious.

but yes you saved him. funny thing for a pirate to do.

text - un: q

[longitudinal]

two things: we need to take a trip to the kitchens during breakfast instead of after. they made something for me when i visited them that you have to try.

[ it’s french toast. and he sends a picture of three fluffy slice with powdered sugar on them and syrup. he’s learned how to send pictures, it’s going to be a lot. ]

they showed me where the lettuce is for our smaller bunkmate. i have an entire head on my desk for him if you run out.

un: KINGOFTHEPIRATES

[bigsmile]

they make things different from the self serve???

is that toast with sugar?????

don't say that out loud or the snail will make his own way over. he might be slow but he's mighty determined.

[longitudinal]

i became friendly with one of the kitchen staff. strategies, see?

and yes - toast with sugar and butter and it's spicy, cinnamon, maybe? and syrup.
if you get up early enough, we'll go.

can your snail open doors????

text - un: stein

[missed]

Was it you I saw at the gates the other morning?
You ever make it out? You seemed determined.

[ don’t question how he knows just who luffy is. he might have peeked into a couple of minds. ]

un: KINGOFTHEPIRATES

[bigsmile]

( Luffy isn't going to question it, things just happen in this place! )

yeah that was me.
and i think so, but then it sent me back? don't worry i'll be trying again very soon!

[missed]

I did the same. I've tried three times, got about as far as the last time, and woke up back in this place.

It doesn't want us to leave - so be careful when you try. Not sure if there's a limit.

— action

[money]

( part, if not the most important part, of being a cat burglar is knowing how to break into places undetected. it’s a skill that has served nami well over time, but not something she’s needed lately for various reasons — the joy of the hunt is less enthusiastic when everything is begging to be stolen, when it doesn’t totally matter in the long run because that’s how rich these people are. in any case, she’s not actually robbing anyone right now, while she picks the lock into luffy’s bedroom and helps herself inside, quietly shutting the door behind herself and taking a breath. it’s.

well, it’s a room. if nami was normal, she’d come in like a normal person at a normal hour and have a normal conversation, normally. instead, she watches luffy’s deep, sleeping breaths at a distance, unconsciously matching him, gritting her teeth. the point of this mission: she has a letter in her hand that details exactly what needs to be considered when finding her replacement in the straw hats. a navigator, that’s obvious. maybe they can ask alina. but also someone who won’t forget that zoro can’t tell his right from his left, and someone who isn’t a doormat luffy can push his stupid ideas on. someone rooted in realism, someone pessimistic and angry. someone who doesn’t take usopp too seriously, but also doesn’t push him aside.

someone who won’t make sanji completely fucking miserable. someone, and this is the important part, else.

the letter is mangled in her grip, tightened more and more in the swell of her emotions. she doesn’t want to leave, obviously. she’s never wanted to leave, but it’s less about what she wants, and more about what’s good for the crew. still, it’s hard. she knows it’ll hurt luffy — they’ve done this dance. he won’t take no for an answer. he’ll make her be a part of the living, be a part of the crew. he —

huffing, she shoves the letter in her back pocket, annoyed at herself. ungently, she sits on his bed, and then flops on top of him, tucking her face into his shoulder, her arm snagged around his waist. stupid, lovable, unleavable luffy. )

[bigsmile]

(Somehow Luffy's room is about as basic as it had been upon his arrival, as if recognising that the young pirate captain would spend more time out of it than in it. There's the odd piece of clothing here and there, but nothing that would present a major issue to a skilled infiltrator like Nami.

He sleeps easily, deep breaths occasionally littered with a small snore here and there as if bragging that his rest is a good one. And usually it is; by some mercy of nature, Luffy is the kind to sleep flat out for five hours anywhere he needs to before starting the day again, as if all the chaotic and energetic dealings of the day take their hold. Tonight is no exception to that. He'd fallen asleep plotting his way over the gate again, debating if he should launch himself over it rather than climbing. To look into the kitchen to understand where the supplies come from. Something, anything to say he's working on getting them out of this place.

The alternative is to accept they're staying for as long as the family intends, and to Luffy that's a defeat he's not willing to concede. The idea that his crew, his friends, have been caught up in something like this before is abhorrent and every night before sleep Luffy promises himself he'll find a way out for them all. He has to.

A deep sleep doesn't save him from consciousness as a figure suddenly flops on top of him and he stirs with an almost lazy, unconcerned motion as one eye cracks open to spy a shock of orange hair. Nami. It had to be serious if Nami is the one initiating a hug and for once in his life Luffy keeps his energy levels low, unaware of how close he had come to losing his navigator as he gently rests a hand at her back.)

...You ok?

after the werewolf deaths

[kobes]

I'm coming to stay in you and Quentin's suite for a while. Stay put.

Is the rest of the crew okay? I lost track of everyone after

[After everything.]

[bigsmile]

working on it. the others are normally near each other though. i think we need to group up and stay grouped up.

text; un: persephone

[semicharmed]

luffy can i ask you a weird question that will sound really forwarrd

it's for parisa

you can say no

un: KINGOFTHEPIRATES

[bigsmile]

hey! yeah you can ask anything you want.

what's up? everything ok?

@maeve

[costarring]

[ after the final vote, ]

You okay, kid? Your crew took a beating.

un: pirate

[bigsmile]

(So that's how the name is spelled. It does take Luffy a moment though, he's forgetful with names occasionally. The fact someone is checking in is immensely appreciated, a small smile in the midst of all the chaos.)

yeah, i think so! my crew is the best crew, nothing that can't be fixed.

(Or so Luffy hopes.)

you ok?

delivery.

[semicharmed]

[ At some point in the afternoon, just as Matt's last breath leaves his body, a small golden light appears in his room. It's about the size of a marble, and instantly, it flutters through the air as if on an errand it knows well. Walls and locked doors are no impediment to it, as it isn't strictly solid, and it leaves no trace behind it.

Eventually, the little bauble finds Luffy. It winds and dances around him, gentle as a summer breeze but insistent all the same. He may find its gleam familiar; after all, he's come to know Matt's magic more intimately than many.

If he follows it through the halls, the light will direct him to a folded slip of paper with his name on it. ]

Luffy,

Thank you for your help with the spell. It means more to me than I could probably ever explain. I wanted it to be you because you're so positive, even when things absolutely fucking suck; I knew your energy would make a good spell.

I'm sure you don't need to hear it from me, but just in case: keep your chin up. It's gonna be okay.

Matt

backdated to like 11/10ish

[kobes]

I'm sorry if I worried you. I'm okay now.

I mean, I'm getting there. I'm better than I was. I'm


Sorry. I really am sorry.

[bigsmile]

no need to apologize. only important thing is you're okay. which you are right? you're okay? do you need anything?

that haki stuff is no joke.

text — un: q

[longitudinal]

[ things have been busy and dramatic and complicated. he's been wandering when not in his rooms with koby, so he's missed out on his favorite pirate king for a little while outside of the crew dinners. ]

Did you compete in anything at the festival? I imagine you'd be a real pain to wrestle.

text | un: pirate

[bigsmile]

i missed the wrestling because i found a stall that was selling fried turkey legs and i had to check it out.

what about you? you had to have kicked some butts!

text » @shanks

[redforce]

( after this particularly scathing conversation with nami ... well, shanks knows he can't keep avoiding the inevitable, even if it had been easier and less painful to skirt around the whole truth in the wake of the game. and nami is right. shanks owes luffy that much. )

Luffy, have you got a moment?

[bigsmile]

( Ignorance is bliss, they say, and in this instance they'd be right. Luffy has no idea Nami has taken chunks out of Shanks over the werewolf ordeal... )

sure, what's up?

🎁 delivery, 12/24

[kobes]

[The gift comes wrapped meticulously in paper that, while not strictly holiday-themed is nevertheless very appropriate, considering who it’s from. The gift is inside, nestled in pale blue tissue paper:

An assortment of candied fruit, nuts and chocolates from the faire, for those of his friends who actually eat. For those who don’t, this portion of the gift is replaced with a simple calendar.

A jar of tea courtesy of Sol & Scroll, because everyone needs more relaxing sleep around here.

For Luffy, a mildly flamboyant scarf and a ship in a bottle.

The note, on thick, cream-colored card stock, is in a somewhat wobbly, but earnest hand:]

Luffy -

I know it's not YOUR ship, but it will be again someday. There's so much left for you to do, in our world, so many ways you're going to change it. I know that, and I'm excited for you and your crew.

But I wish, sometimes, that it had been different. That I'd gone with you. That I'd stayed on that ship, and gotten to see the ways you're changing the world firsthand. I know I have a job to do too, and that we'll meet again, in the real world. But I'll always wonder, what a different life would've been like. If it would've been anything like this place.

That'll be our secret, okay?

Merry Christmas.
- Koby