voice: un; CAPTAIN

[nishishi]

[The feed is going to start up easier than it did last time. Looks like someone's actually learning how to use his communicator--how about that.

Either way, the face that Luffy's making this time around is a little bit unreadable. A smile is on his face, but somehow, if you're someone used to the sort of expression this man usually makes--it's clear that there's something not quite right with it.

Even if the tone that lights up the speakers is a bright one.]

Everyone been having fun yet? It's been messy, right? I hope no-one got too hurt when it came to the big ugly swamp monster. [After all, he'd gotten quite beaten up by it. Look at the bandages and scrapes on his hands and face.]

Even if you did, there's lots'a people here to fix you up, Like Torao. But anyway.

Have any of you seen Ace? My brother. He's always flying ahead of me when we go on adventures together, and he did it again this time around. So I think he got lost.

I'm sure we'll find him when the mission's over, but you know!!
It's not fair, I wanted to be the one who got ahead this time.

[He's so steeped in denial, it might hurt to hear. Sorry.]

Comments

[nishishi]

[There's definitely a part of him that would want to thank Olivia later for indulging in his denial--even if it's likely a bad idea for her to do so.

Her 'oh gosh' response only gets him laughing, a hand moving up to grip the back of his straw hat.]

Well, it was hard, at first! He'd always run off into the woods and leave me behind! He was really tough when he was younger--even with my Devil Fruit ability, he always beat me. [It was so unfair.]

But eventually I caught up to him and found out he had another friend named Sabo. They were stealing money from some real bad guys and were gonna' get rid of me 'cause I found out their secret.

[Haha.]

But when the pirates found me and tried to get me to tell them where Ace and Sabo were, I refused. Even when they beat me up with spiked gloves. [Proudly.]

So Ace and Sabo came to save me. Then we drank and made a pact of brotherhood right after. [...Yeah, surprise: they're not brothers related by blood.]

[winces]

[ she had had a feeling no real blood relation was involved, but givne her own background (where everyone in the caravan had been a brother, a sister, a father, a mother, regardless of any actual shared genes), who is she to think less of that bond for it? ]

You've led a wild life from the beginning, haven't you...?

[ she smiles warmly. ]

I can see why you're such a great captain.

[nishishi]

[He gives Olivia a wide grin, and he pulls his hat down over his eyes, as if embarrassed by her words.
Though, quite the opposite. Being called a great captain gives him unbelievable strength. He feels better now, at least.]

Nihihi. You bet I have. And it only gets better every day I wake up.

[At least... when he's not reminded that his family are less 'around' than they used to be.]

I'm the man who's gonna' be king--so I'm glad ya think I'm a great captain already.

[winces]

King?

[ olivia may not know much of pirates, but she knows well enough of kings. both great and terrible, kind and menacing. she's certain she knows which luffy will be, but the declaration itself is one she finds curious. ]

[nishishi]

Yeah!!

I'm going after One Piece, the greatest treasure on the sea. When I get it, I'll be the Pirate King.
Which means I'll be the freest man on the ocean, and I can go wherever I want, and see everything there is to see!

[To him, the word 'King' means something far from the conventional--he doesn't want to be someone important, he doesn't even care about fame.

Freedom--that's what matters.]

[winces]

[ ah, the disparity sure is great. for olivia, king means nothing but responsibilities and power. and sometimes an abuse of either or both.

she thinks she likes luffy's definitely of it far better, though, and can't help but smile in return. he has such an infectious grin, it's almost unfair. ]

With all that freedom... where would you go first?

[nishishi]

[Where would he like to go first....

When she asks that, he looks away, his head tipping up, a hand on the top of his straw hat.

Where would he go? Well...]

Iunno. That's the thing about being free.

You can go wherever the wind turns you. No matter what direction it is, you'll find something good.

[winces]

[ her smile is soft, but hopeful. ]

Perhaps it's less about the destination and more about the journey, anyway.