on muse's bounty being released

[hiken_ace]

Yep, you heard right, mun. 550 million. Pretty damn impressive, huh? I got quite a reputation back home. [ACE GODDAMN, I LOVE YOU. And he lauuuuughs.]

Glad you like it! It's pretty frickin' great!

Comments

[sailedfirst]

Tch! That doesn't mean you have to treat me like him! [Aiming a kick at Ace's shin one last time before huffing. But then there's a smile creeping on his face. The next moment, he's bursting out laughing too.]

Man, this is crazy! I can't believe I'm the youngest now!

[hiken_ace]

Heheheh. Yeah, but you know? [Leans in to whisper.] You're still more mature than him.

[Are we surprised? No.]

[sailedfirst]

[Sabo blinks as he listens. Then he snorts and shoves Ace playfully.] That's not surprising. Does he even know what that word means?!

[Speaking of maturity, this is when Sabo's logic kicks in.] Ah, but damn. I sure hope it wouldn't take me ten years to catch up with you two. This second chance's good, but I don't think any of us has that long in this place.

[hiken_ace]

[He chuckles, and shoves Sabo's because he can.] Doubt it. A lot.

[Aaaah, dammit bro, you gotta bring that up? He lets out a sigh.] Oi. Anytime you get is time with us, okay? I'd like to think that's enough. Besides, maybe something will happen to give you a few extra years.

[sailedfirst]

[... >[ shoves back.] Well yeah, he has you teaching him. No wonder.

That's true, I guess... But I don't want to be always this weak. Even you wouldn't if you're in my place. [Frowns.] What do you mean, something will happen?

[hiken_ace]

[....SHOBES BACK!] Oooooooi, cheap shot.

Aah, I get what you mean. We'll help you get stronger. There's a place to train there. [Here he gets... hesitant.] Well, uh... they can make people de-age. So I think aging people isn't too far off.

[sailedfirst]

[SHOVES.] What, it's true!

...That's possible? Huh, weird place. [Don't mind him trailing off, just picturing the possibilities. And liking it very much.] Hey, that's a good thing, right? Why're you looking like that for?

[hiken_ace]

You do remember where we grew up, right? You think maturity was high on the list then?

"Weird" is putting it lightly. [dnglng slightly flustered.] Nothing. Just crazy crap.

[sailedfirst]

W-Well, no... But at least tell me you taught him how to sail! He'd have taken a rowboat just because it floats, y'know!

Like we're not used to crazy crap. [Crosses arms.] Tell me.

[hiken_ace]

[CAN I HEADCANON AND SAY HE DID AT LEAST THAT MUCH okay...] Of course I did! He'd drown if I did.

[ghhhhhhhk--] Exactly. We're used to it, so it's fine.

[sailedfirst]

[Can you hear his sigh of relief? CAN YOU?] Maaan, I just hope he actually listened. Can't imagine a Devil Fruit user in a tiny rowboat in the middle of the sea...

... [He's waiting, bro. B[ ]

[hiken_ace]

[......cough.] It's fine if you're careful.

[SHUT UP.]

1/3

[sailedfirst]

Careful won't cut it, with that kind of boat. The weather alone's wild enou--

2/3

[sailedfirst]

[Wait..... cough?


...




oh hell no.]

3/3

[sailedfirst]

[Have a tiny bro shaking you silly with his tiny (loud) fussing.]

Y-YOU!!! You did just that, didn't you?! And when you're logia too, I bet! That's too reckless, you idiot!

[hiken_ace]

[DAMMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII--] I was careful, okay!?? Geez, and you say I'm mothering you!

[sailedfirst]

This is different, dumbass!! [Smacking Ace's head as a finale, before shaking his own dejectedly. He's not the one with suicidal tendencies, man. He's allowed this freakout.] Dammit, it's like your height's the only thing that improved about you.

[hiken_ace]

OI! I've gotten plenty strong! [Shoves your head.] Hell, I made it to the New World! And I've gotten smarter, too. And sure as hell matured.

[sailedfirst]

...Uh-huh. [Staring at that hole in your chest for the first time. Did you get that from being smart and mature too? ...But shit, you know what? He's not going to ask. He's sure there's a horrible story behind that and he has enough negativity for today. He'll know about it, someday.

Looking away now.] Fine then. Why not be a good, mature older brother and tell me what to expect from that crazy place I'm heading?

[hiken_ace]

[... Sabo please don't look at it, he doesn't want to tell you he was a reckless idiot again. When Sabo looks away, he winces and closes his eyes a few moments.

okay, he can talk about Luceti.] You get wings, for starters. [Turns around and points to his fiery wings. Red and orange.] And it's run by these "Malnosso" jerks who brought us there. Uuuuh, there's no money! Everything's free, which is pretty nice. It's basically a village, but kinda closed off since we're in a barrier. And the Malnosso kidnap up for experiments and crap, and sometimes ones that affect the whole village go around.

[sailedfirst]

[The wings are intriguing, but all his questions about it fades as he listens more.]

...Just one village and people's lives are basically controlled by these Malnosso people. [You can probably guess what he feels about this already.] ...So there's no escape at all? Nowhere else to go to?

[hiken_ace]

Not controlled. We can still do what we want. They don't tell us what to do, how to act, or where to go. We do what we want. [He will say this as many times as he needs to. He hesitates after a moment.]

There's an ocean. It's a small one, but I've got a boat. And so help me, I'll find a way to break that barrier.

[sailedfirst]

.....So it's like Gray Terminal all over again, huh. Free, but not really. [Spoken softly, as if to himself. It's hard to keep this new-found hope alive when he'll just end up trapped again.

He glances at Ace at that last line.] You've tried that before, haven't you.

[hiken_ace]

Shit, Sabo... [Sorry bro, but he's grabbing you and shaking you by the shoulders.] There's not a single damn noble there. When you come, you'll be coming as whoever the hell you want. Yeah, I'm not gonna lie. You'll be trapped. bit at least we'll still be there. Hell, this is one of the only places we can ever meet again. Doesn't that mean anything.

[He pauses and nods quickly.] Of course I have. You think I like being trapped? It sucks. But hell, I've got Luffy, my nakama, my friends... for a prison, it's one of the best.

[sailedfirst]

Oi, oi! I'm not complaining. Well, not yet anyways. Anything's better than being dead, you know. Just seeing similarities. [Looks at mun who's spazzing insanely just from reserving.] ...I'll even be excited to get there, if she's not too damn nervous about it.

Yeah, I know you have. And I bet you only pissed those Malnosso bastards, doing that. [Studying you hard, bro.] So if it's true that we can only meet in a world like that and it isn't bad as a prison, why'd you want to break that barrier again?