genessia | [action][open][everywhere]

[Smoker's eyes narrow on both Ace and the jitte.]

[Whatever Portgas did melt could be replaced, and he was working in a forge, he had really easy means to do just that.]

[He gets up, grabs it in a lightning crack smoke fist, and puts on his jacket, sliding it into the loop.]

[It'd weigh him down heavily if Portgas really went all out, but he wonders what it would take to make the kid feel better.]

[Luckily(??) he was already wearing his jeans so he just heads for the door, not speaking to Ace one way or another. If they were going to fight, it might as well be someplace with space, and he'd set his jacket and jitte aside then. If necessary.]

[He wonders if he should twist an emotional knife to Portgas' gut.]

[He could do it really easily.]

[But he'd hate himself for being that weak.]

["How attached was Whitebeard to the bisento? I hear it's his memorial now."]

[Tch.]

[No.]

[He keeps walking, ignoring heat, punches, and all forms of Portgas other than the mental weight at the corner of his mind.]

I had to replace it once already.

[And he could do it again. But it wasn't worth it. Not really. Ace just wanted to prove he could protect his brother. An idiot who didn't truly get what was going on yet.]

[Then again... Smoker felt the same could be said of himself.]

How attached are you to that hat?

Edited 2016-07-15 20:53 (UTC)

[Ace follows him with his gaze. Smoker is going out. Not leaving him behind, he doesn't think, but picking the battlefield.

Well fuck that. He's not going to let Smoker set out how this is going to be.

Instead he moves further into the room, lays on Smoker's bed with his arms behind his head and casually sets it on fire under him]

I could live without it.

[though it would piss him off]

[...]

[Glares.]

[He's tempted to leave him there anyway.]

[But a pirate in his bed is just...]

[He puts on his gloves and rubs a hand down his face, leaning by the doorway. Their roles are reversed somehow. Weird.]

[Portgas' words bother him. Eat at him.]

["You didn't." He wants to say.]

[As if the hat could somehow stop that, in a way that Portgas had wanted him to.]

[He wants a drink.]

[Again.]

[Ugh.]

[He'd been avoiding keeping alcohol in his room in case for when Portgas did come back like this, no sense having easy explosives available.]

[Then again, he's not sure what time it is, or what's open.]

Could you?

[It's not a real question, but it sounds like it.]

[Because he wonders...]

[goddamnit Smoker.

He hates that he can't hate you.

That he can't kick your ass like he needs to.

Fuck.

The fires bank and there is the smell of burned linen and things like that as the room is suddenly dark]

No.

[but you knew that didn't you.

He kind of wants to leave but that would be too much like running away so he goes to sit in a corner with his hands on his knees]

I hate this place.

[it's out of nowhere because it is. because he does. because he wishes he had never shown up]

[....]

[That sentiment goes fifty times more for him, stupid pirate brat.]

[Because he DOES hate you.]

[He just doesn't hate you nearly enough.]

[But most of all, he hates how helpless Ace looks like that. Hell. To. The. Fucking. Not. EVER. NO WAY.]

[No. Just a billion times. No.]

[Someone who Smoker couldn't extinguish, who was the bloodline of the ultimate taunter: Roger, who was the son of the strongest man in the world: Whitebeard, who commanded said second division, who stood down and fought Admirals eye to eye, was in no fucking way EVER allowed to look that weak. And ESPECIALLY not vulnerable in front of Smoker.]

[Just fuck you, NO.]

[So he tugs Ace up by one wrist and arm forcefully, yanking him to his feet --]

[And throws him out the god damn open window just like he'd said he'd do if Ace came near him.]

[WELL ACTUALLY, HE PROMISED TO KILL HIM.]

[But since Smoker barrels after him with the jitte ready to pin Portgas' throat, that might not be far behind.]

Quit being so weak!

[And indeed, he aims the jitte tip right for Portgas' throat.]

What happened to making sure you wouldn't get caught this time except by me? You're just going to turn yourself in now?

You don't even know what happened, fool!

You changed the whole damn world, and you're focused on a nothing drop in a nothing bucket out of the entire vast oceans of shit you riled up.

It's not because you're here idiot. It's because you finally have a chance to do something with it all, and you're ready to throw it all away?!

[brb, trying to figure out how to hold the jitte there AND get out the cuffs from his back pocket.]

[Give him a bit.]

[Or use that time wisely. Whichever.]

[screw you he'll look vulnerable in front of anyone he wants!

But seriously he doesn't expect to be thrown out a window and lands hard on the street outside, rolling a bit. The kairoseki at his throat is dangerous and draining and somehow it feels justified in a sick way. Like this is where he belongs.

Maybe that's why he's bizarrely amused at the situation just then. Even if he's still seething about what he did to Luffy; the rest of it-- he can't help but be a little proud of it, whatever it was. Even if he probably shouldn't be.]

I really messed your shit up, huh?

[glowing. with. pride.

Even if he can never forgive himself for fucking it up. That he fucked so much else up in the world is a pirate's way to go. Especially if he was the only casualty.]

[He wants to push that jitte in harder. HE REALLY REALLY REALLY DOES.]

[But it's driving him insane.]

[Like Roger.]

[Like Roger knew.]

[Roger had so many secrets. His final joke on everyone.]

[Ace was one of them.]

[He almost wants to bring it up, to piss Portgas off again. To try to taunt him right back with what he knew.]

[Damn them both.]

[He doesn't drop the jitte, just holds it with one hand, grabs the cuffs with the other but rather than put Ace into the cuffs...]

[He just presses the cold seastone to Ace's throat before moving the jitte aside.]

Moron.

[His stomach clenches at it. Portgas messed up everything. Far beyond what he'd ever know.]

You declared it your father's era, Whitebeard's era, and then started a whole new one, more chaotic and insane than the last.

Someone... [Another idiot. Another D. Trafalgar Water D. Law.] said only the strongest can choose how they die. [SMACKS ACE WITH THE CUFFS HARD!] You did.

Whitebeard said One Piece was real, you made sure the whole world knew whose era it really was, and no one's been able to forget it ever since.

[that makes him even happier. Is Smoker doing this on purpose or what? He's filled with fierce pride.

Even the handcuffs banging on his throat make him giddy and want to laugh so he grins and closes his eyes and shifts]

Fuck yeah.

[he'll have to do something to make it up to Luffy. Something. He's not sure what. He'll figure out something good. Something so good Luffy might even come close to forgiving him.

But aside from that-- that the new era would belong to Pops. That he'd been able to give the greatest shining tribute to the strongest man on the seas. He reaches up to pat Smoker's cheek]

You're too good-hearted, stupid.

[and then a grin even as wet slides from his eyes]

But thank you.

I hate you.

I really really hate you, Portgas.

[Half-heartedly punches freckled cheeks with the cuffs again and it's too weak and pathetic, he just disgusts himself. So Smoker makes a noise of displeasured disgust before putting them in his back pocket.]

And stop avoiding your brother stupid. [Well. He's not sure if Ace is. But he doubts Ace would have been out and prowling and taking such a meandering route to come back to Smoker otherwise.]

He's too stupid to believe a word I say. Might as well hear it from the jackass's mouth personally.

[Holds out the cigars with one hand to flick Ace's forehead with the same hand. HE HOPES YOU GET ASH ON YOU D:<]

[SERIOUSLY.]

[HE.]

[HATES.]

[YOU.]

And if you ever thank me again, I'll choke whatever ghost life is left right out of you.

[AND HE WOULD ENJOY THAT A LOT D:<]

[FUCK.]

[YOU.]

[don't tell him how to work with Luffy. He'll do what he wants and that's none of your business anyway.

And he's not sure what Smoker wants Ace to tell Luffy to begin with.

But forget all that for now...

He sits up, bracing himself on his hands, looks Smoker dead in the eye and says]

Thank you for everything. A thousand times.

[he smooshes Smoker's cheeks between both hands]

You're so good to me, Taisa. I can never repay you.

[He.]

[Will.]

[KILL.]

[You.]

[Why wait for Akainu?]

[He can kill you right now, spare them ALL a LOT of trouble.]

[AND WILL.]

[HE WILL MURDER YOU.]

[He warned you, stupid.]

[SO HE JUST STARTS TRYING TO THROTTLE ACE.]

[DIE STUPID PIRATE!!!]

[laughs and just lets Smoker try to throttle fire if only because he's fairly sure Smoker will kill him.

But that's what makes it fun]

You're so easy.

[more of him is becoming fire now, catching on Smoker's legs, shoulders, over his chest, pulling and poking and running over, trying to draw the smoke out]

[Just tosses the jitte to the side and full on tackles Ace again, fully as smoke, trying to choke the life out of him still.]

[Fuck you. DIE.]

Knock it off!!

[ That yell is the only warning the two get before two wrenches come flying out the window of the top level of Sycamore Cycles. Both are aimed at the heads of both men, and both will likely find their targets.

There is a very very indignant and tired red head at the window, her arms still outstretched from having thrown both wrenches before she holds onto the window sill to get her balance back. ]

Some of us are trying to sleep! At least take it somewhere else, you two!

[ ... Apparently she's also too tired and grumpy to care about how or why they're fighting. She'll slam the window shut after that, huffing and trying to get back to bed. Honestly... ]

[wow she has good aim. He looks up at her, half fire and bows his head]

Ah-- sorry about that.

[ruffles Smoker's hair] Wanna go somewhere else?

[oitqiphRIOAHDASJHDAsLKJD]

[NO HE DOESN'T.]

[HE WANTED TO TAKE IT OUTSIDE IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND DID!]

[AND DON'T TOUCH HIM STUPID HE WILL KILL YOU!!!!!!!!!]

[And how the fuck did she hit his head while they were smoke and fire?]

[T_T]

[Stupid magic.]

Can't I just kill you and make it even?

[He's serious.]

[Just because he was here for you in your hour of choking needs doesn't mean he forgot his week-long grudge, which wow, has it only been a week? He need a life but seriously--]

[Fuck you.]

[But after slugging Ace hard using the seastone cuffs again, he gets to walking and growling to himself.]

[STAY AT AN ARM'S LENGTH OR HE WILL KILL YOU.]

[ow.

He'll have a bruise from that one but whatever. He'll keep it just to remind Smoker.

He follows along a few feet or so behind, matching Smoker's footsteps perfectly]

I said I couldn't repay you. [read the fine print]

And that's not how you use handcuffs.

[MENTALLY SCREAMING.]

Do you want me to show you how to use them properly?

[No, fuck you, have a press against a brick wall. WHY WON'T YOU DIE?!]

Sure. [holds up his hands]

Take me away, Taisa.

No. You want it too much.

[Screw you.]

[KEEPS WALKING.]

[hands in his pockets and watches him go for a bit. It sucks in a way because no matter what he does, he can get under Smoker's skin. He knows all the ways to do it.

But Smoker's done a lot and Ace really doesn't want to drive him over the edge. Especially since it's not so heavy anymore.

So he'll just stay where he is and watch him go for now]

[Portgas, if you don't follow along, he is going to be so much more pissed.]

[Just keep that in mind.]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action] 1/2

[Action] 2/2

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action] 1/2

[Action] 2/2

[Action]

[Action]

[Action] Whoops >.> Drive-by

[Action]

[Action] 1/2

[Action] 2/2

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]