Appointments

[sailedfirst]

This post is for one-on-one interaction with Sabo outside posts.

Please make sure to specify whether it's [Voice] || [Video] || [Written] || [Action] and include the date on the header. (e.g. [Video, March 20], [Action, March 20])

Thanks! o/

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[action, August 7] evening

[sailedfirst]

[Having always been a light sleeper, the knock was enough to wake Sabo. And having anyone knock on his door in the dead of the night is weird enough to get him moving at once. He gets up and wobbles sleepily towards the door, yawning and rubbing his eyes.]

Yep, m'here... What's up Aceeah--[Yawns.]

[action, August 7] evening

[hiken_ace]

[WELL.... shit, he didn't mean to wake him up like that. And now he has to tell him about Marco. Dammit. He takes in a deep breath, ready to get this over with.]

Marco was taken by the Malnosso.

[sailedfirst]

[That effectively drives all his sleepiness away. He slowly lowers the hand that's been rubbing his eyes and stare blankly at Ace.

First, Luffy's gone... and now Marco too?]

T-that... they can't, why-- [Biting down on his lower lip now, realizing how stupid the things he's saying are. Well of course the Malnosso can take people away whenever they want. And the why isn't something he'll ever understand.]

[hiken_ace]

[It pains him to see his brother like this. He still hasn't gotten used to this place. Why should he have to deal with so much? Ace leans down and hugs Sabo tightly. He's quiet for a time, but eventually speaks again.]

Can I sleep in your room tonight?

[sailedfirst]

[Clinging back when Ace hugs him, trembling from the effort to keep his composure. This must be way tougher for Ace to deal with, and Sabo's determined not to add more to his brother's worries.

The question is unexpected, though Sabo realizes what it means at once. He nods, not trusting his voice yet.

There's no way either of them are leaving each other's sides, not after something like this happened.]

[hiken_ace]

[He stands up, walking over to the bed but still holding his brother. Why did it always have to be so hard?

Ace flops on the bed tiredly, not letting go of his brother.] H... he'll be back.

[sailedfirst]

[Sabo usually protests at being treated like a small child, but this time, he quietly lets Ace carry him. If this gives his brother even the slightest comfort, he has no complaints to give. And besides, Sabo does feel like a little kid right now, helpless all over again to do anything. He hates that feeling the most.]

Y-yeah. Maybe it won't take long...?

[hiken_ace]

[That makes Ace cringe quite noticeably. He clenches a fist, and he knows now he can't avoid telling Sabo this.]

He was gone for a month once. [And I was alone, and that was really, really scary.]

[sailedfirst]

[A month...? That's almost as long as Luffy has been gone now. And it still aches.]

...B-but he didn't get sent home, right? I mean... it's sure that he'll be back, not like-- [And it's his turn to cringe. Yeah, no. That's not going to help at all.]

[hiken_ace]

[He shakes his head, though he knows what Sabo was going to say there.] He came back. He's... not gone like Luffy is. He'll be back, we just don't know when.

[sailedfirst]

[He nods stiffly.] Then... There's nothing else to do but wait, huh?

[hiken_ace]

[He gives a nod in return, not meeting Sabo's gaze.] Yeah... we can only wait and... and hope he'll come back okay.

[sailedfirst]

He will. We gotta believe that. [Never mind that his tone's almost pleading, because he needs that reassurance, too. He pats Ace's head and tries to smile, though it comes out weak.] F-for now, you just gotta make do with me as company, yeah?

[hiken_ace]

[At those words, Ace tightly hugs Sabo and refuses to let go.] Dammit, Sabo... I've been without your company for ten years. It's not making do with yours, it's making the most of it.

[sailedfirst]

[Ah... He didn't expect that reaction. So he tries to awkwardly laugh it off, though, his eyes are watering a bit too.] Oi, oi. Don't act like I'm leaving too! If you're that worried, I promise to stick 'round you until Marco arrives again. No going off by myself, unless it's a bathroom break. [Pls bro, stop that face. He's trying to cheer you up here.]

[hiken_ace]

[Marco said the same thing once, didn't he? Damn, he was supposed to comfort Sabo here, not the other way around. Ace barely manages a small laugh in return, trying to cheer up Sabo himself.]

I could say the same to you.

[sailedfirst]

[He's relieved, hearing that laugh. It's not a happy one, and Sabo's not expecting it to be, but at least that expression's gone now.]

That settles it, then! We're gonna wait this out together. [Pauses, then sighs an overly dejected sigh.] But maaaan, does this mean I'm stuck with your cooking?

[hiken_ace]

Oi oi. [You get a whack on the head for that. But a light one.]

My cooking isn't that bad. I picked up a few things on the ocean.

[sailedfirst]

[Nope, it's not that bad. But it's something to tease you with and that means distraction from the sad.]

Your pasta's overcooked and the sauce's all bland! [Rolling over his stomach.] Hey, you ever got a pirate chef in your crew?

[hiken_ace]

[Ace is guilty of the same, as well, don't worry, bro.] I got better! And yeah, I got a chef. He was pretty good. Not at Sanji's level, but still good.

[sailedfirst]

[Oh good, they've got the same idea. Let's hope they can keep this up.]

Aah, that's true. You remembered to put salt last time! [And he's just going to cover his head. Just in case there's another whack coming.] Was he the first nakama you got?

[hiken_ace]

[If it's these two? For a while, then.]

Oh, shut it. And he was the second nakama I got. The first was a fighter.

[sailedfirst]

So you didn't manage to get one as your first either. But maaan, Luffy got real lucky with Sanji, huh? Imagine eating the best food like that everyday while at sea... Ahhh, that's the dream!

[hiken_ace]

Haaah, I know! I've never tasted food as good as Sanji's before. We should drop by sometime for lunch. It'll be great, eating with everyone like that.

[sailedfirst]

Sounds good! [Chuckling sheepishly.] A-ah, you know, sometimes I still bolt out of my seat after a meal there. With all the eat 'n runs we did, it's almost instinct!