justicereigns | Appointment Post / Voicemail / All That Jazz

[Bonks Ace on the head.]

Fine. Get a job as a dogwalker, go check out the ruins and clean out monsters, or do some legal fight club boxing or MMA.

But then I'm giving you your own key, and you have to accept being part of the place. Can you handle having that much responsibility brat? And Adela still gets her own room you have to have her permission to go in and she can kick you out whenever she wants. If you even once pull the "I paid for this" card --

[Frowns, knocks Ace's hat back on the string...]

[And messes up Ace's hair with a giant head ruffle that also includes Ace's face.] Well, you won't, because that's why you wanted her away from Angelo right?

Hn.

And we'll make you a ... engine bike skateboard thing. After her leg is done. So whatever money you get is just... [Waves a hand.] Fees for that, all right?

Don't give me a key, you bastard! I won't accept it!

[what do you think he is?] I won't be part of the place either. [because screw you, that's why]

Everything else is fine.

[he sees you trying to make a normal citizen out of him but he won't have it]

But thanks, na. [he can't help but grin] You guys will get along great.

[and it makes him happy that she'll be in a place where she can be happy and free and looked after]

I owe you one.

[He wants to punch him, but he GRABS HIS CHEEK REALLY HARD INSTEAD.]

Don't play dumb, stupid. If you're going to sneak in and out of my place, I'd rather not have to buy new locks all the time, and it's where I'm keeping other people's valuables, I have to be able to say you have a good reason to be there. Keep your god damn key in your shoe for all I care. I'm not giving you a curfew or your own room, even if you want it.

But if you ever sneak into my room without permission again I'll kill you. At least pretend you're just pushing my boundaries.

[Ace is surprised by the vehemence of Smoker's attitude. He doesn't get it. He hadn't thought it was a big deal other than annoying him but maybe it was]

Then I won't. [pulls away. It's not fun if he's going to be that way and Ace isn't interested in it.]

I'll just visit Adela. [he doesn't mind being relegated to that one room anyway or wherever she wants to go and he trusts Smoker with her anyway so there's no worries there.]

So forget it. [he'll just stuff money under your door or something.]

Edited 2016-07-10 10:15 (UTC)

That's not...

[Ugh. This is why he likes Maribelle. And girls. He just... can't ever say what he means.]

[Drags palm down face.]

What I mean is--

[You're going to make him say it.]

[You're REALLY going to make him say it, aren't you?]

[He hates you so much.]

[Your brother even more.]

[AND THAT BOTHERS HIM BECAUSE HE WANTS TO HATE YOU BOTH EQUALLY OR YOU MORE THAN HIM OR SOMETHING OR JUST AS MUCH AS HE HATES ALL PIRATES. THAT WOULD BE BEST.]

You'rewelcomeanytimePortgas.

[DON'T LOOK AT HIM.]

[HE'S NOT RED.]

[YOU ARE.]

Notjustwithher.

Ijustdon'tliketheidea of... [DEEP BREATH because the rest was kind of intelligible.] Idon'twant pirates... sneakingintomyroomwithoutwarning.

It freaks me out.

[STARE.]

[TSUN GLANCE AWAY.]

At least if you have a key... it's fine then. [Twitch.]

Because I know you'll come back. [>:T]

[DOUBLE FACEPALM.]

If you need to wake me up... it's fine. You can.

Just don't act like you won't. I can't take that. Either in or out. Don't...

[Nah, Smoker's reached his limit.]

[He just walks off completely red faced.]

[Figure it the fuck out.]

[Or Don't.]

[If you don't get it, he doesn't even care anymore.]

[He's probably better off if Ace doesn't get it.]

[Just leave him alone like you keep saying he should push you to do.]

[What he hell is wrong with him?]

[He needs an ice bucket to dunk his head in.]

[And that coffee.]

[He doesn't even know if Ace followed him, or if he's just mumbling to himself but...]

If you have a key and then you're in my room, it's less disturbing than if you just are. I mean if you want out rather than that, then sure whatever, forget I even brought it up. Jeez this is so fucking stupid.

Maybe I should get an Irish coffee instead. Fuck.

[what the hell...?

No really what the hell?

He's welcome at any time but Smoker wants him to have a key so he'll come back?

What?

But he didn't want pirates sneaking into his room... because it freaks him out...though that only makes it kind of a temptation except he likes Smoker now... Or likes him more or something and would kick anyone's ass who freaked him out enough to kill them...

Except...what does having a key have to do with it. Ace doesn't get it. He doesn't get it at all.

Only when he does catch up Smoker is muttering to himself and he doesn't seem like himself at all. Oh god, did he break him? Ace grabs his arm lightly]

Hey... maybe you should get some sleep instead. You're acting really weird. [he rests his hand against Smoker's forehead only to realize that trying to take a temperature was pointless]

I'm not.. I'm not going to stay around... I just want to help out. I won't sneak in your room or your place... but if I had a key... it's too weird. It's not where I belong.

[he can't really explain himself either.]

Look, just forget it... [maybe it's something something pride of a man that Smoker and Adela have to do it themselves] Aren't you tired? You should sleep.

Shut up.

[He wants coffee.]

The last thing I need is a man half my age telling me what to do.

[He knows what he wants. He just never knows how to say it. And that isn't going to change with sleep. If anything, he'll just be a thousand times more stubborn and obnoxious then.]

[Which is probably why he sounds weird.]

[COFFEE GET!]

[And from the first few BURNING HOT sips, but he doesn't care -- he feels a little better.]

It's less creepy if you have a key because like it or not, [Flicks Ace's forehead. HARD.] you belong there. And it's too late. You want to be friends with Adela? Then part of you belongs there. Period. Accept it and man the fuck up, bratling.

[MOCKING FACE AND TONE.] "Oh but I'm a pirate, I have to be as wild and free as the wind!" [Literally gives no fucks that he's getting stares either.] No one said that had to change, idiot. But I don't like others deciding when I should feel a draft or not. If I leave the window open, that's my choice, got it?

You can have a key, or you don't get to help with rent or sneak into my room or traipse around the rest doing all the stupid things I know you want to do. [JABS A SINGLE FINGER BETWEEN ACE'S EYES.] If you can't handle that responsibility, you don't get the perks either.

In or out. Don't play chicken with me, I punch first, and always.

[aww he was going to make him coffee too. So much for that. But he hates it that there are conditions. He hates that there is responsibility. If there was one there would be another and he doesn't belong there. Just because he likes Shanks doesn't mean he belongs with the Redhair pirates.]

Out.

[still disappointed about the coffee. he'd been looking forward to that. But well he'd made his decision and he wouldn't turn back from it. Maybe he'd just leave them be and meet Adela out somewhere? He couldn't really figure it all out but that seemed the safest

And then...somewhat awkwardly]

Don't stay out too late, stupid. [pats his arm]

[He wanted to be the one to leave. Now he has to stay out because Ace told him not to.]

[No wait.]

[Hands him the coffee, and waves goodbye over his shoulder, already out the door.]

[Don't talk to him.]

[He doesn't want to hear it.]

[And right now? Won't.]

[watches him go and the Justice on his back like a sign.

It was inevitable but he was still grateful for what Smoker had done. Maybe he could figure out how to repay him somehow but maybe the best way was by leaving him alone?

Well-- so be it.

Ace leaves the coffee on the table and wanders off in the opposite direction going nowhere in particular. He's suddenly not very tired]

[at some point in the morning or whenever he checks his mail at the front desk there will be a note that says:

It was me who sent the stickers
Don't worry about it
A

[Burns it.]

[He already knew that.]

[Stupid.]

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