justicereigns | Appointment Post / Voicemail / All That Jazz

Having a rough day?

[Previously he means, since it's night now.]

[Smoker also goes to shield himself from food spray, but luckily Ace is not even half as bad as Luffy.]

Kinda. [talks while chewing on the side of his mouth because of course he does. He doesn't know why he wants to tell Smoker instead of Marco-- except that he's not sure what Marco will do and doesn't want to stress him out. If Pops were here he'd ask]

I can't stand assholes but there's nothing I can do about it. [for all that he speaks pretty blandly]

[That food went quickly, and Smoker has the sudden urge to get more for some reason.]

What'd they do?

Were an asshole. [it's not his business to spread so Ace doesn't; instead sucking the grease and stuff from his fingers] And I helped. [frown.

Not that he regrets it but that's not the point]

Why do good people like assholes? Is it just because they're lonely?

[Stares.]

[Then gestures for Ace to come along so he can buy him breakfast instead of just a bait snack.]

Maybe they weren't an asshole to the other people, only sometimes.

[follows]

I wouldn't stick with someone like that. It'd piss me off.

It's fine if it's one or two things; but if it's the overall thing is bad... [he shakes his head. He's not explaining it very well]

Okay so some guys stay with asshole captains and risk their lives even just being near the captain-- but do it because they want power or treasure or are two scared shitless to do otherwise. ...and Marines I guess don't have a choice.

But if a normal person were like a terrible captain, why does someone else stay with them? Like if a guy beats his wife or something...

[Hands in his pockets, and looks off at the sky, trying to figure out where to get food.]

Some people want to give them a chance to be better. Sometimes people even can be better.

Marines have a choice... as much as pirates, anyway. Desertion is a death sentence, but Drake X left to be a pirate. And most crews don't let you leave that easily either. Branded for life, isn't it?

[Finally finds a ramen stall still open, and grabs a seat, laying out $100 worth so Ace can eat until the money runs out and/or the owner gets tired of feeding them.]

I have three bosses currently. One old friend, the one who took out his eyes because he couldn't stand seeing the injustices, and someone who killed a friend, and nearly killed another. The blind friend is why I stay. And two of the bosses aren't so bad. Sometimes there's a saying, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, Portgas.

Most women I've met who stay with abusive family usually don't think it's so bad so long as it's only affecting them. They think leaving will only make it worse, and they think so long as it's only hurting them then maybe they can protect others. [Sidelong glance.] They say Ro-- an old pirate was like that. He always wanted to put himself between his crew and his enemies. [Calmly sips his ramen broth.] That way his enemies couldn't chase down his friends.

[Head tilt.] You tell me Portgas. Why are you sitting here having soup with a marine?

[yeah no. He'll steal food set out for him but he's not interested if you're laying money down. He turns away from the stall, resting his elbows on the counter and looking out into the night.

He wonders what Marines Smoker is talking about and wants to ask if they are close or closer just to make fun of him and then tease him about practically sleeping in the same bed, but he's not in the mood for that.

He smirks a bit, though darkly, at the slip. He can't tell if Smoker did it on purpose just to fuck with him or actually didn't mean to. Anyway Ace doesn't want to think about that guy or what he did or didn't do. Knowing even that he did things like that pisses Ace off more than if he'd just been an absolute bastard.

He mulls over all that Smoker said. Wondering this and that. Not answering him right away but absently bouncing a foot as he thinks.]

Marines who want to keep being Marines don't have a choice. [side glances Smoker and smirks] Even if their superior is an asshole, they do what they're told. Even you right? Unless your justice is stronger than your position. [though he has a feeling it's part of it somehow. There's things Smoker can't do as a civilian or even a pirate]

A pirate might have problems leaving, but they can sneak out if they want. Maybe it's a death sentence but they don't stop being a pirate.

[he shrugged. Leaned his head back. Closed his eyes]

I think the real problem is, some people are too good hearted. Sometimes an asshole shouldn't get a second chance. Like shichibukai. You really think that's going to end well? [Ace knows it won't. He doesn't know the particulars but some of them... Moria... Crocodile... Ace didn't trust Doflamingo as far as he could throw him but that was just because in all his pictures he was laughing at a joke only he knew. Ace didn't trust a pirate with a punchline.

...Or hardly any pirate for that matter.]

And those good hearted people get stepped on one way or the other until they're ground up or harden up or learn that there's some things that aren't worth sacrificing.

[he opens his eye and tweaks Smoker's ear just to piss him off]

Right?

Shichibukai are all lying pirates hellbent on world domination or their own plans.

The closest to having a good sense of justice is your friend, Jinbe.

No, Portgas, I think you're wrong. Maybe your grandfather sacrificed a lot, but I know he doesn't regret it, and he didn't get harder -- not that there was much room for that to happen.

And the "hardest" marines are usually the most breakable. Because they're not really following their sense of justice, just trying to protect something even more fragile.

Your brother and my second in command have a few things in common. The world thinks they're too soft to make it to the top, and yet it winds up being one of their greatest strengths.

[Kicks Ace's shins.] Eat up brat. Your brother's crew fed my men in an untenable situation. This doesn't begin to pay it back, but don't insult my justice with pretending you can't receive anything tainted by a marine.

They're all pretty strong. [well he doesn't know about Smoker's subordinate but... actually he pictures her a little like a female Jozu for reasons he can't describe. He absently runs his finger over the fur at Smoker's collar.

Even though Luffy hadn't always been. He'd been durable at least. And known how to stand up for himself.]

I guess you just have to hope they're strong enough. [even though Ace felt like he would always worry about Luffy being strong enough. As for the other. It wasn't really that bad as far as he could see but that she wanted to be friends with notorious pirates and other dickheads told him that she was just as stupid as Luffy-- if not as ambitious.

He lightly toyed with the fringe of Smoker's hair at his neck to see if he'd get swatted away]

Don't tell me what to do. [but said jokingly.] Pay Luffy back for feeding your stupid ass. Not me.

[Twitches at the fingers to his neck, and then grabs Ace's ear.]

Eat your soup, dumbass.

I'm not trying to pay him back, I'm trying to stuff your mouth with something healthy for a change, instead of all the dumb shit that comes out of it.

[>:( !]

Tashigi and your pain in the ass brother aren't strong in the typical ways, mind you. They just get back up no matter what and never give up. It's god damn annoying.

But don't think I haven't learned stubbornness from them. The only way I can captain her, and catch your brother is to be five times as stubborn. So eat up, Portgas.

Who's the asshole pissing you off anyway? I assume not yourself, or your nakama. [But he wonders why mention it to him but not his nakama then.]

Oi!

[smacks the hand away from his ear. What is he twelve? He scowls at Smoker. He could be more stubborn than him but he doesn't want to fight so he just steals Smoker's bowl and it makes him feel better]

Some asshole. [slurpslurp] I didn't get his name but I'm going to bust his face open if he hurts her.

[and maybe more than that]

Of course she's friends with him so she might be pissed at me. [he would]

[Small smirk, but then a blink.]

Adela?

[You took his bowl stupid. Now you have extra marine cooties. He hopes they infect you with justice or something.]

[Also flicks Ace's ear for that.]

Yeah. [slurrps it up. Get another bowl B|] I'm kind of worried about her.

[Sighs and does >:|]

[HALF WONDERING HOW FAR HE WILL GET TOO >:|]

Who's the guy?

I told you I don't know his name. He's got stupid hair though. And ugly socks. [brings up the Ace sock puppet and shakes its head sadly]

She's staying with him.

She's staying with a boy?

[Ace you turned another man's socks into a puppet, did you expect him to thank you?]

[well he paid for them didn't he? sheesh]

Yeah. And he wants to get permission for all her visitors. [even saying that makes him cringe. He uses the sock puppet to slide the bowl over to him.] Because it's his apartment and his lease and apparently she doesn't get a say.
...Fuckhead.

[slurp]

I wonder why she's staying with him. Think it's sheer force of will and she didn't want to say no or worry him by staying on her own?

Who knows. [he doesn't know her very well] I told her I'd help her if she wanted to go somewhere else so look after her okay?

What?

Portgas, wait!

I don't even have an apartment yet! I had to put a downpayment just to get the garage space to do the motorcycles. And if she's not comfortable with a boy, I'm pretty damn sure a man twice her age is a lot worse.

Let's think this over more rationally, all right?

We don't even know why she moved in with him yet.

Yeah but you're you. You're practically sexless. [he doesn't see you putting any moves on her in other words.] And I think she'd like a garage. She's good with metal and can help you out.

[and order more ramen :x]

Portgas. I know more about sex than your tiny brain could handle without fizzling out entirely.

Just because she reminds me of Tashigi, doesn't mean she views me the same way. And we have two dates planned already. [SO SHOVE IT SHIRTLESS PIRATE BOY. Just like all the ramen you're shoveling away. Smoker gets some green tea, just to see if Ace will be traumatized by it or at least averse to it.]

Edited 2016-07-07 07:18 (UTC)

[Face palms.] I already told her I'd keep her place at the forge until she's back on her feet, but she has plans, and she doesn't know how long it will take.

I'll see what I can do about getting extra rooms around the garage and whether they can be converted, but I have yet to hear her declarations of what she wants to do. Don't accidentally be just like the other boy in your desire to protect her. For all you know, that's exactly how sees it.

And you don't exactly scream "sexless" wandering around without a shirt.

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