he rubs at his face a little, looking like there's something else he wants to say, but in the end he settles for something simple; ]
You're not. [ we are all children of the sea, and it'd meant so much to him to hear that. he doesn't know if he can come close to helping her like that helped him back then. ] Even if you were--who cares? So'm I.
she said it earlier - give it time, and that'll change. but she doesn't argue, for right now, because before she got here she was going to give up entirely, and... it's nice to have a reason not to.]
... Monsters stick together. [even if they're not. she's not built to be alone, really.] So. I'll be here.
[ ace doesn't do comfort for himself, feels weird and off with it without fighting it at least a little, but luffy was a needy thing growing up so he's a lot better at offering it to others. that's why he moves over and wraps an arm loosely around her. quick side hug if she wants it to be just that, sort of holding onto her if she wants to stay close. ]
[she'll take it - she's already wildly embarrassed from feeling... well, seen, in a sense. it makes her want to jitter away and hide. but she's a touchy creature, maybe more than people might expect with the way she acts.
so she settles against his side and stays.]
You don't gotta. [thank her. but.] You're welcome, though.
[ he'll hold her a little tighter when she settles ]
Yeah, I gotta. [ it's light in tone. they have been emotional enough, he doesn't feel like explaining that he'll always be grateful for anyone wanting someone like him around. ] For the bandages if nothing else.
[ he already said thanks for that earlier, he is fooling no one ]
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branchandroot
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Date: 2023-09-30 06:22 am (UTC)...By me? [ WHO THE FUCK ELSE IS IN THIS PARK, THE SHARK? ]
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Date: 2023-09-30 06:25 am (UTC)she gives him a Look, ears still red.]
Ew, don't make a big deal out of it. [yes, by you]
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Date: 2023-09-30 06:31 am (UTC)[ no sorry he is going to make a big deal out of it, even if he hesitates like he doesn't really want to ask: ]
Why?
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Date: 2023-09-30 06:35 am (UTC)he is very serious, and she just kind of flounders for a second.]
I don't know. [no, give him a real answer. another second of struggling, then:] ... You don't look at me like I'm a monster.
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Date: 2023-09-30 06:40 am (UTC)he rubs at his face a little, looking like there's something else he wants to say, but in the end he settles for something simple; ]
You're not. [ we are all children of the sea, and it'd meant so much to him to hear that. he doesn't know if he can come close to helping her like that helped him back then. ] Even if you were--who cares? So'm I.
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Date: 2023-09-30 07:09 am (UTC)she said it earlier - give it time, and that'll change. but she doesn't argue, for right now, because before she got here she was going to give up entirely, and... it's nice to have a reason not to.]
... Monsters stick together. [even if they're not. she's not built to be alone, really.] So. I'll be here.
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Date: 2023-09-30 07:15 am (UTC)Thank you. [ it's a little quiet. ]
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Date: 2023-09-30 07:28 am (UTC)so she settles against his side and stays.]
You don't gotta. [thank her. but.] You're welcome, though.
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Date: 2023-09-30 07:44 am (UTC)Yeah, I gotta. [ it's light in tone. they have been emotional enough, he doesn't feel like explaining that he'll always be grateful for anyone wanting someone like him around. ] For the bandages if nothing else.
[ he already said thanks for that earlier, he is fooling no one ]