sailedfirst | I. Video

[Hello, Luceti! Great day today, isn't it? The sky is blue and there's a good wind blowing... Perfect day to set sail and leave this weirdass island with its weirdass wings. Which is what this particular boy is planning to do today.

That is, once he figures out how exactly in hell this weird raft works.

Sabo had woken up in the shores of Luceti yesterday, in a state of panic and utter devastation. That's what happens when the last thing you remember is having a cannon ball that will kill you on impact flying straight towards you while you're trapped in a burning ship; that you're barely out of your prison, barely grasping your freedom, and you're going to die. Then he spent several long, long minutes agonizing whether he really did survive or this is some cruel, but real crazy dream he's having right before his death, before he finally shook his head and accepted the fact he'll get nowhere just by thinking about it.

That's when he began exploring this new island he landed in, starting by having a mild freak-out after discovering the wings on his back. His familiar blue coat was folded nearby, with a weird book on top of it. So next, he fiddled with his journal, read a bit of the guide, listened a bit to other people's broadcasts, and more or less gathered three important things:

1) he's in a different world (different island, he translated, or maybe the dream world?)
2) these Malnosso are assholes
3) there's no leaving this place

Fact number 3 is very much full of crap, Sabo decided. There's a whole ocean right in front of him, isn't there? He only needs a boat and then he's out of this weirdass place. But there's no port town in the map. This Luceti Village is too far inland, so they definitely won't have ships there. Maybe there's a dock? There has to be! Where else would they put their fishing boats and how else would the villagers travel to other islands? And so with the thought, Sabo begins walking along the empty beach in search for the docks. Luckily, he and his brothers spent so much time living outdoors that sleeping under a tree-root is no problem at all (he hasn't slept a wink though).

Early this morning, he finally reached the docks. But there's only a single vessel he could possibly use. He somehow managed to steal away the said vessel from the docks and navigate it farther down the beach. But that's the extent of the distance he can manage without using the raft's engines.]

[Video]
[The video opens with a stunning view of the sea and the clear blue sky. Almost immediately though, the screen is knocked sideways, and a blond boy in a blue coat and a New Feather pants appears in the screen, bending over the inside of the raft and the sound of tinkering and muted mutters can be heard.]

[Sabo pulls himself up, wiping sweat from his face, looking at the raft with a frown.] Looks like I won't be able to sail this thing far. Not without a power source, I guess. Dammit, why aren't there any normal fishing boats in this place?! [This complaint is followed by a few curse words no ten-year old should be using. Then he turns his sight on the "horizon", eyes narrowing. He heard something about a barrier, but Sabo's not ready to believe that yet. He's not ready to be told he's trapped again.

The next words are softly spoken, barely heard against the waves on the shore.] ...I can't stay here. I need to go out to the sea.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He knows he's lucky. He knows he's probably one of the luckiest people in the world right now. And Ace sure as hell doesn't want to fight with Sabo. He'd rather fight alongside him. But dammit, he's not listening. Sabo's death isn't the reason he wants to kill people. He wants to be able to fight and protect his family?

Why is that so hard to understand? At the touch, he just jerks his shoulder away and glares at the both of them.] How can I be glad when you still don't fucking get it!? When you still just think I'm insane or crazy or some shit like that!? HOW CAN I BE GLAD WHEN YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!?

And you. [He just turns to give Marco a cold, angry stare.] Maybe I don't want to live with you.

[Sabo lowers his hand slowly, his face going blank. He and Ace had argued and fought each other countless of times before, but neither of them ever doubted each other. Not after the first few times they met. So for Ace to start doubting him now hurts.

And it's enough to anger Sabo again. He's pulling back his arm and punching Ace right in the nose, completely forgetting they have a guest now.]

Oh, I was listening. You said you want to grow stronger and fight to protect the people you care for? FINE! But guess what?! I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU, YOU IDIOT! You've always got a death wish. I've lost count how many times I dragged you half-dead away from a fight. You never know when to stop! So can you blame me for being scared for you, huh?! CAN YOU BLAME ME FOR WANTING TO KEEP MY BROTHER ALIVE?!

[Marco (outwardly) calmly, grabs each of the boys by the back of the neck to forcefully tug them apart, giving little care to what blow he receives in return for this. (Because he doesn't realize it'll hurt a lot more in Luceti, but even if he did realize, he'll hold up without letting on it hurts.) His words are a little cold, deadpan, but so much more obviously sad than he meant them to be. Watching brothers die wasn't easy and now it seemed all three of them had been forced to do just that. No wonder emotions were running rampant.]

Sometimes, the most selfish thing you can do is try to hold back your brother from being his reckless self. It doesn't seem like it, because it's to keep them alive, but you'd be asking them to stop being themselves. And sometimes the hardest part of being a big brother is trying to look after reckless idiots even when you know they're doing something that will get them killed.

Break it up for now, you're not going to get your points across with punches.

[Ace stumbled back a good few feet at the punch, and managed to throw one last hit of his own at Sabo's jaw. Yeah. He'll feel that in the morning. Then again, both of them will, and they'll feel a lot more than the pain from the punches.] IF I RUN, WHAT IF I LOSE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO ME!? I HAVE TO STAND AND FIGHT TO PROTECT WHAT I CARE FOR!! If I lose it all running away like a coward, I can't even say I'm good enough to become a captain!

[He tries to land a kick on him, but he's suddenly tugged back by Marco. He shoves his hand away, fist trembling at his side.] WHY IS THAT SO HARD FOR YOU TO GET!?

[He pretty much ignores Marco and what he's saying, even if it sounds like he's on Ace's side. He's still getting in the way.]

[Good thing Marco's speech is directed to the more reasonable brother. Sabo's still very much upset, but his anger's dying out much quicker now, recognizing the sense in Marco's words.

With one last glare at Ace, he turns away, gingerly rubbing his aching jaw.] ...Let's just stop. Too many crazy things happened today, and I'm damn tired of everything right now. All I want is some food and a good long sleep, and you need it too, I bet... We can talk better after.

[He walks (wobbles) back towards the raft, pausing in front of Marco.] Hey, sorry we have to meet this way. He lives with you, right? Do you mind taking him home? I still need to return that raft...

[Marco holds Ace's head back with a fiery blue hand.] Why is it so hard for you to get that maybe all those people you want to protect are trying to protect you right back, Ace? Maybe that fear you feel about losing them, we all feel about losing you.

[An exasperated sigh and Marco shakes his head before turning to Sabo.]

Return it to where? You're both coming with me, eh. No offense, I'm sure you can take care of yourself, but otherwise it'll be harder for you to find the place and it's eight stories up besides.

[He stumbles back a bit from the flames. He stays quiet for a while, and eventually just stares at the ground. He's the older brother, though. He has to protect them more, it's what he's supposed to do.

At his brother's words, Ace feels kinda shitty for fighting with him like that. He wants to help him move around, but he's still to angry to just do anything. He should probably get better at controlling his anger. He turns away from both of them and crosses his arms. He'll just... kinda stay silent for a while and fume and let all of this fly around in his head.]

[Sabo frowns, then points at the docks.] I stole it from there, when I thought I could leave this place. Since I'm stuck here, and I kinda promised someone I'll take care of the boat, I gotta return it.

[He glances at Ace, and lowers his voice so that only Marco could hear him.] Besides, I don't think it's a good idea if I stay with you now. It's better to let him cool off by himself. And if I'm around, he's just going to be pissed all the time.

All right. We're CH3, Room 40. There's no elevator, but give me a call if you get stuck, eh?

[Taps the journal.] I can guide you through that.

All right Ace, come get food, you can talk on the way. Or be quiet, if you wish.

[Ace keeps his silence, for a couple of reasons. He doesn't want to open his big mouth and say more stupid shit. That, and he really just doesn't want to talk. He starts walking back on his own, completely silent and probably ignoring both of them.

Yeah, sorry, he's not happy at all.]

CH 3, Room 40. Got it. [He looks at Ace again, watching him walk away, with lips pressed together. Sabo doesn't like this; he's parting with a brother again, and it's almost as awful as the first time, even if the circumstances are different. More awful, maybe, since they brought this on themselves this time.

He shakes his head and looks up to Marco.] Thanks for looking after him. I'll get there by sundown. [And he's walking to the opposite direction.]

See you then. [A small sigh, no help for it, but he would like to get some sort of doctor to take a look at them at least.]

[He's going to just keep walking at a fast pace away from both of you. He doesn't want to talk or look at you, he's afraid he'll flip his shit again. But he is hurting himself by doing this.

Uh... physically and emotionally.]

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