Yeah, but that's just cheating. You already did once. Fuck if it wasn't for you, I don't think I would have slept with Augustine at all. [Carefully gauges Ace's reaction.] It's different here. For me. As a marine, commitment's all but impossible. My brother, Daddy, eventually chose his daughter over the marines, because that's how it goes. All but impossible to have both. Until Adela I wasn't sure, no, I would have said, I could only ever choose the marines.
But that's former Portgas stuff. I wanted to give you something easier. Just you.
[Rubs the back of his neck.] Although, it's kind of fucked up, now that I think of it, so just go easy on me and remember the intent, all right?
Before you died, the reason you turned back to fight Akainu, was to tell the whole world that Whitebeard was the best, because he took in useless punks and the rejects of the world with no place else to go.
That's why I joined the marines. Not to murder without trial, and not even solely for justice. It gave me a chance to be something other than a useless worthless punk, that no one gave a damn about but a dog -- first dog I ever had, actually. A white little tiny one named Chaser when I was a kid. Useless assholes used to think it was funny to best up until I beat them up too. Hm... never told any other version of you that either. [Shrug. And catches one of the balls again to show off devil fruit control, quietly returning it to Portgas' lap.] Point is...
Your death never sat right with me. None of it.
I didn't do it as a tribute to you... I kind of tried to do it to spite you, in all honesty. It's hard to best a dead man, right?
[Snorts... because, well.... Roger.]
So I specifically asked for G5. Not just to be closest to picking up Straw Hat, but so I could do what Whitebeard did for you.
[Rubs the back of his neck again.]
Anyway.
That's... you all over. No matter what version, or what you remember or not. It wasn't your death that changed the era. It was your life. And not in a bad way.
I still wish I hated you more. But that's just me being weak.
Even though you're like half my age now... you taught me more about living than anyone else ever did....
[Another snort and shakes his head.] Completely unforgivable. When I figure out what to do about it to you, you should get terrified. Payback.
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But that's former Portgas stuff. I wanted to give you something easier. Just you.
[Rubs the back of his neck.] Although, it's kind of fucked up, now that I think of it, so just go easy on me and remember the intent, all right?
Before you died, the reason you turned back to fight Akainu, was to tell the whole world that Whitebeard was the best, because he took in useless punks and the rejects of the world with no place else to go.
That's why I joined the marines. Not to murder without trial, and not even solely for justice. It gave me a chance to be something other than a useless worthless punk, that no one gave a damn about but a dog -- first dog I ever had, actually. A white little tiny one named Chaser when I was a kid. Useless assholes used to think it was funny to best up until I beat them up too. Hm... never told any other version of you that either. [Shrug. And catches one of the balls again to show off devil fruit control, quietly returning it to Portgas' lap.] Point is...
Your death never sat right with me. None of it.
I didn't do it as a tribute to you... I kind of tried to do it to spite you, in all honesty. It's hard to best a dead man, right?
[Snorts... because, well.... Roger.]
So I specifically asked for G5. Not just to be closest to picking up Straw Hat, but so I could do what Whitebeard did for you.
[Rubs the back of his neck again.]
Anyway.
That's... you all over. No matter what version, or what you remember or not. It wasn't your death that changed the era. It was your life. And not in a bad way.
I still wish I hated you more. But that's just me being weak.
Even though you're like half my age now... you taught me more about living than anyone else ever did....
[Another snort and shakes his head.] Completely unforgivable. When I figure out what to do about it to you, you should get terrified. Payback.