futurology | video; un; CAPTAIN

[The first image you'll get to see on this particular video feed is pretty much a scenic view of someone's nostrils. The individual responsible for such a sight is trying his damndest to figure out how the hell this thing works, how you can send messages or even videos on something that's very pointedly NOT shaped like a snail, and how you even know if it was working or not.

Eventually it seems like he's stopped caring, or decided that on sheer force of will alone that it's working. Because the feed pulls back and you can see this very 'good dog' expression on a very simple-looking man. A scar under his eye, and a rather ratty old straw hat perched atop his head.]

The food's really good here! And I wasn't even yelled at when I ate a lot, either, and I like that. [The feast at the festival hadn't been the most fun, but who needed fun when there was food involved.]

An' yanno what? I don't like being away from my crew an' home, but if there's an adventure--Nihihi, then I guess I don't mind stayin'! around! [And then that 'good dog' expression melts, as if exposed to heat very suddenly. A frown on his face.]

But I don't like this uniform! The arms are too long! I don't have any mobility at all, so I ended up tearin' the sleeves outta them, see? [Look at the mess he's made.] Ne... I guess if anyone's got a needle an' thread, I can try to fix them myself...

...Where's Nami...

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( ace'd thought the emotions were bad enough from the moment he'd first glanced at luffy, but it doesn't prepare him at all for the tidal wave that slams into him now with enough force to stun the words right out of his mouth for a good few seconds, that all he can do is smile until his face hurts. ) Y'could start with getting a proper look at me before dismissing it as some kinda practical joke. ( but how could anyone, that is the question. even ace is fully aware of how the impossible became reality when he realised he was, for all intents and purposes, completely alive. healed, as if everything in impel down and marineford never happened.

he gives the younger pirate a vicious noogie before letting go and just looking at him, leaning against the edge of the table. shit, he's got disbelief of his own to deal with at the sheer luck of it all. ) Don't know what ALASTAIR did, but -- I'm back. Somehow.

[His hand was already travelling up the others' back, one hand letting go of that arm that had been around him. The vicious noogie is what comes next, and maybe that's what drives the tears out of those big, doglike eyes of his when Ace finally separates himself from the rubberman.

His hand hadn't been able to reach where it wanted to--the centre of Ace's back--but as he stands in front of his precious older brother now, it's easy to see. The wound is gone. The gaping hole in the centre of Ace's chest, left by the magma marine--it's like it didn't happen. Unlike the 'x' shaped scar that currently sat in the middle of his own chest... it's like Ace was never touched.

And maybe that's what accelerates the tears that run down his face now, like someone had turned on a faucet, his lips quivering as his teeth try to bite them down, to stop the cascade he's trying--failing--to hold back.]

It's... [It's really you, it's Ace, it's my brother, it's--] You're--! You're here, you're-- [You didn't expect him to be able to be eloquent, did you? A choked wail escaping from his throat as he pretty well tackles the other, arms gripping around him in an iron vice as a loud, pained sob rips from his throat.

It's going to be a minute, Ace.]

( alive. the sentence completes itself, and perhaps it is the combination of the weight luffy's every word carries and the grip around his waist that crushes him in all possible ways. reality dawns on him properly, this time, and ace's shoulders are shaking from the effort of keeping himself from devolving into a sobbing mess, head positively spinning from this delirious sort of jubilation that threatens to utterly overwhelm him.

fiercely-falling tears are beyond all hope of staunching, now, and it seems that words fail them both - all ace can do is hold fast to the kid in his arms and remind himself that somehow this was made possible -- somehow, they've got a second chance. )

[Alive. He's alive, by some weird twist of fate, something he can't begin to explain or even be able to understand. It doesn't really matter, he decides for himself somewhere between making a gross, soaking mess against his brother's chest and actually looking up at that freckled face. It doesn't matter the details of how--all that mattered was that he was here.

He was here, and he hadn't broken his promise after all.

Oh, and just because he's looking up at Ace does not mean in any way that he's letting go.]

...It's real, right? [And despite the blubbering and crying:] You're not some sort of bad joke, right?

( if it was a bad joke on anyone's part, it'd be ALASTAIR. they were the ones responsible for this, plucked him somehow from the depths of nothingness after death and brought him here whole and unmarred. ) Yeah, it's - it's real. ( for how long, he doesn't know, but these are mysteries they can ponder, later. or never, really. not important. ) I'm here.

[He doesn't need proof, he doesn't even need any suggestions further than a 'yes' from his brother. Just being told it's real... that's enough for him. His head tipping down a little against the others' chest, against the spot where there used to be a gaping, burning hole...

...Ha, letting him go would be hard, wouldn't it.]

Don't go anywhere again.

( luckily for them both it seems to be a dilemma that plagues the two pirates equally -- one made far worse when luffy speaks; as if ace needed to be hit by yet another emotional sledgehammer today. ) It's a promise.

[It's all he needs to hear. It doesn't matter what happens, between this moment and the next hundred moments--that promise is all he needs to hear.

Even if Ace disappears from this place, for however long--he'd wait for him, and he'd always be happy knowing that at least somewhere his brother is alive. Safe, and happy.

Sabo had said it first, after all, didn't he? That somewhere, Ace's spirit was living on with him.]

...Heh.

Come on, let's get something to eat.

video; un; CAPTAIN

i cant get over your fuckin icon hdu u lil shit

im just here to ruin lives and cry about brother stuff

this is what i live for

i love dying

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