[Stuff like this is why Ace makes Smoker think too. In new ways. Different angles. And try things differently.]

[Maybe it's l-- that l word Namur used.]

[Maybe it's just that Portgas is a pain in the ass.]

[Either way, Smoker moves to actually give Ace a hug. In as much as Smoker hugs, which is not much, even for Adela -- though she HAS gotten hugs from him.]

Yeah, kid. I'm sorry. You died. [DOESN'T LET GO THE HUG THOUGH. But he hasn't lied to Ace yet, and he won't start now.] I don't know what this place is. There've been demons, gods, demigods, angels, whatever the fuck Frieza was -- I think someone told me and I forgot. A lot of dead revived. You can even die here and get revived. Adela lost her leg because an asshole thought it would be worse than just killing her here. Leave more impact. Even when it meant forgetting me, I'm pretty glad she forgot that. Hell, maybe just never lived it. There's some people here all one name, the Doctor, and they're all the same person just through different centuries. I don't know why I've been here so long. I don't know why people come or go. It doesn't make any sense to me.

But this is it. Here. Now. The future. Don't waste it.

And talk to Rip. She's died four times, and been to four worlds. And it took her a lot to get it right, she said.