( VIDEO )

[pistolpunk]

( Sure, the instructions are called easy, but Luffy has always been a more hands on kind of guy, so he'll really only get it when he fiddles around with it himself. Leave the reading to Robin; he quickly disregards the information.


He manages to turn it on and then the video function after some fiddling, but the camera is zoomed in on his face a little too much. It's quite a sight. He's plainly walking ... To where, he doesn't know yet. But then he stops when he notices the thing recording. )

Okay, get off my face! Do something useful and tell me where my crew is!!

( He demands this, poking at the screen. Or ... )

Or where to eat ...

( He eventually turns the thing off after about thirty seconds of messing with it. )

Comments

[Video]

[burnt_offering]

[Ace had been lounging about when he'd heard the notification hit that someone else had posted to the network. And honestly, most of the time he doesn't care. There are so many people in Genessia, another notification isn't that big of a deal, and eventually he'll figure out how to set custom sounds for people he really likes...

But until then, he's stuck actually checking each time someone puts something out for the world to see. And when he does look, when he watches the short video, he's so overwhelmed and excited that it feels like his heart is trying to pound out of his chest. It's Luffy. It's really his brother, who he missed so much, and ASL is together once more. Ace grabs the phone, and sets it up on a stand so he can get a good video response set up for him. His hands are fumbling because he's that excited, and he's having trouble staying still.]

LUFFY! [Louder than he'd intended, but he's too excited to hold back.] Luffy you're here!!!!

[pistolpunk]

( After Luffy hears the notification of a reply, he messes around with his new device for some time again.

And then he sees Ace.

It all comes flooding back; Marineford, holding Ace as he died, thank you for loving me. He's confused and bewildered at once, eyebrows knit upwards as he looks over his brother, who looks well and alive. )

Ace ... ? Am I dreaming?

[burnt_offering]

[Oh, damn. Somehow it never really occurred to him to actually think about this happening. Here, timelines are so strange. It just never came to mind for him to consider that this might not be the easiest thing for Luffy to handle. Ace did die, after all.

Ace isn't surprised that Luffy is confused. Coming back to life was confusing for him too.]

No, I'm here, you're not dreaming. This place... [Ace sighs, and scratches through his hair with his fingers. He's not the best at figuring out how to explain things.] It doesn't matter if you're alive, or dead. You can get brought to Genessia all the same. But that's not important! What's important is that you're here, and I'm coming to find you. I'm not going to talk about stuff like this over the phone when I can actually be with you. You still in Genessia city?

[pistolpunk]

( Ace is alive and well enough to come find him; he must have been here for a while. With a nod to Ace on the video, he then plops himself down on the ground against a nearby building.

What else can he say, though? )

I'm staying right here 'til you're around.

[burnt_offering]

I'm on my way. I'll get you some food and we can talk this out. [Ace offers a smile that he hopes is reassuring before actually ending the video and getting on his way out. He needs to hurry, he doesn't know exactly where Luffy is, but he doesn't want to make him wait long regardless. So he searches Genessia city until he actually finds a building with a similar material and look. And when he sees Luffy, he waves excitedly and then hauls it over to him.] Luffy!

[pistolpunk]

Ace!

( Thankfully Luffy has Sabo and Jinbei to talk to while he waits for Ace ...

Luffy jumps to his feet when he comes into view, and promptly wraps himself around Ace in a giant hug. Now isn't the time for sad and horrifying memories. Now is a time to celebrate.

But he finds himself in tears anyway, clinging tighter. He's not sure what to say here, either, and for a couple moments he doesn't say anything.

Unwrapping himself from around Ace, he steps down and adjusts his hat. )

We need to find Sabo too! And Jinbei!

( But then he pauses. He missed Ace immensely and maybe they should be alone for now. )

After, though ...

[burnt_offering]

[Ace just holds onto Luffy for a moment, arms tight around him. He's tearing up too, he honestly thought that he'd never see Luffy again. And even though he'd been reassured by people that Luffy might show up, that he'd been here before in the past, it all seemed surreal and impossible somehow. And now his precious brother is here.

But not quite like how he remembers him. Luffy is a little taller. A little more mature, perhaps. He's older, Ace thinks. Like Sabo is.

Ace wipes his eyes while Luffy adjusts his hat, and then smiles. It's time for a proper reunion. And that means food.]

After. Yeah. Let's get you something to eat first, right?

[Video]

[sunny_pirate]

[Now there's a familiar face. Jinbei's glad to see that his captain has his priorities straight.]

Luffy! ...Er, I suppose this isn't Wano, but it will have to do.

[He's prepared for this day! Jinbei holds a map of Genessia City up to the camera, which he's drawn on with various markers to show routes from the cave where everyone shows up. He hasn't been around Luffy long enough to know that this still won't help, even if Luffy had stayed still.]

If you follow one of these red lines, you'll get to a restaurant where they serve meat. [Lines of various colours trace through the streets of the Genessia City map. Every time Jinbei thought he was done, he wondered "but what if they need this..."

Needless to say, he went a little overboard.]

[pistolpunk]

Jinbeeeeeiii!!

( He's positively beaming now; first Ace, now Jinbei. While he does have a lot on his mind, mostly regarding seeing Ace, he's incredibly happy to see Jinbei.

Squinting at the screen, he finds he can't really make much sense of it. )

Maps are for Nami! I'm waiting for Ace anyway, he said he's going to take me somewhere to eat ...

( Then he pauses as he remembers Sabaody. )

Is anyone else here ... ?

[sunny_pirate]

...All right, I suppose that will work too. [He'll just have to save his maps for Luffy's other crewmembers. Hopefully for his sake, Zoro isn't the next one to show up.] Want me to meet you there?

[He sighs at Luffy's question; given everything that he's been through over the past few years, he figures that Luffy probably won't want to hear this answer.]
None of our crew, unfortunately. However, some of Pops' crew is here!

...There are some Marines as well, but thankfully, they seem willing to tolerate us for the time being.

[video]

[chief_of_staff]

[Sabo -- actually finds himself staring into his phone for a good ten seconds or so before saying a word. He's just completely blown away by the fact that BOTH of his brothers are here with him now!]

Luffy?

You're here? You're here! Ace is here too! We're -- we're together again!

[His phone is far too close to his face, but he doesn't care. He's beaming; he's just so happy right now!]

[pistolpunk]

( Sabo!! Sabo, of all people! Luffy finds himself laughing on the screen, how did he get lucky enough to land in this strange place with both of his brothers and one of his nakama ... ? )

I wanna see you too, Sabo!! We can all leave together!

[chief_of_staff]

[He's still riding the high from seeing his brother here, as evidenced by the giant, goofy grin on his face.]

Let's all go out to eat!

[Even though he still doesn't have a lot in the way of funds, he's very interested in spending quality time with both of his brothers. Plus, he could go for some food.]

Video

[justicereigns]

There'll be plenty of food for you behind bars.

[Which is a lie and Luffy knows it having seen starvation hell. But yanno, it's Smoker's way of saying hello.]

[pistolpunk]

( Hey, what the fuck? )

I haven't done anything yet!

[justicereigns]

Yet?

So you admit you're going to?

[pistolpunk]

I'll do what I want!! If you don't like it that's your problem!

[justicereigns]

If I arrest you, it'll be both our problems. And your brothers'. And the poor jailers who try to feed you.

[pistolpunk]

It's not gonna happen!!

( I ALREADY SERVED MY NICKEL, YOU COME N TAKE ME )

[justicereigns]

That aside...

[Because. No. He's not getting into a "Yes" vs. "No." eternal loop with Straw Hat, he values his sanity more than Law does, thanks.]

What are your plans here? None of your crew is here, but Portgas and Dragon's second in command, Sabo, are. I assume you'll take up with them? Or the remaining Whitebeards?

[In which Smoker mistakenly classifies Jinbe as a Whitebeard.]

[pistolpunk]

Plans? I just got here ...

( Ah, Smoker. You should know better. )

I'll figure it out when I get there.

( Nevermind the fact he's already sort of ... there. )

[justicereigns]

[He should, he really should. His head hurts, and he regrets asking.]

You are here, idiot.

[pistolpunk]

I mean I'll figure out stuff when it happens! Y'know, if I wanna get in trouble or not!

video;

[mynameisallen]

I see people you know o... you crew have spoken to you already. So I can help by suggesting good places, or at least all you can eat if you have a big appetite.

[video]

[fierybluebird]

Ah... Luffy, yoi.

I see your brothers and Jinbei already found you, eh? Sorry, the rest of your crew isn't here yet, but it's often a captain's duty to scope out potential threats before the others arrive.

[Fingers together. How to phrase this? Or segue at all hahahah.] Has Nekomamushi found you yet? Not here, yoi. I mean in Wano. [Since from Jinbe and the scar he can place Luffy... at least as being in the New World after Fishman Island. Though he wonders what the brat will do about Big Mom. And going after Kaidou to boot? He really WAS more reckless than Ace!!]

[pistolpunk]

( He doesn't address the first remark. Marco is right, and Luffy knows this, but it's bringing up ... bad memories to be apart from them.

The second statement puzzles him, however. He hasn't stepped foot on Wano yet. )

No, not Wano. Zou!

[fierybluebird]

Oh... [Oops! Too soon!]

How do you like it so far, eh?

[pistolpunk]

This place is huge.

( He shakes his head as if to dislodge the thought, changing track to a far more important question. )

Can you see the future or something??

( Oops indeed, Marco. )

[fierybluebird]

More than you know. There's six cities now. And multiple gates to other worlds. Don't lose your pendant, yoi. That's the only way the gates stay stabilized enough to travel them, yoi. And you can come see Sphinx Island if you ever want, eh? Although the main attraction is alive and with you, so I guess you could just come play with the sphinxes with my son.

[And to question about the future: Marco just nods. Because it's Marco. And he loves the idea of Luffy thinking Marco can see beyond a few seconds. :|] Yes.

Right now I can tell you're going to eat with your brothers, and Jinbei. But I can't see the food. You're grabbing it too quickly. Slow down so you don't choke on the bones and scare the waitress, eh? [Making shit up, because one only has to have eaten with Ace a couple dozen times to know exactly how it'll play out, lbr.]

[pistolpunk]

( He's never been in a place that big; it's hard to consider.

But that doesn't matter right now. )

Hey! What kinda devil fruit did you really eat ... ?

( Or maybe its Kenbunshoku ... Either way ... )

[fierybluebird]

Phoenix?

[Luffy, please.]

[pistolpunk]

Are you sure?

( LUFFY PLEASE )