sailedfirst | III. [Action: July 15th--19th]

[It's been a week since Luffy was brought back home. The first few days were hard; the fact Sabo might never see him again and he's helpless to do anything about it still cuts deep. But he and Ace promised to keep living, keep moving forward. It's what they've always done, and Sabo's not about to stop now. And so to avoid moping so much, he decides to get busy.]

[July 15-19 -- Mornings, the Library]
[He'll be seen occupying a table in the library, with large sheets of paper spread out and books lying open all around him. The books are noticeably all about ships and how to build them. He's busy sketching out blueprints of a small sea-faring vessel. he's obviously not an expert, so the blueprint's almost cartoony and not accurate with regards to the finer details, like measurements and stuff, but he's got most of the main parts down.

On the 19th, he'll open his journal to ask something.]

[Voice]

Hey, are there any shipwrights around here? Or anyone who knows anything about making boats or ships?

[Afternoons (except the 17th), the beach/the mountain]
[Afternoons are spent out in the beach, just looking out to the sea, and/or exploring the nearby mountain in the hopes of meeting the Wind spirit Kipinn.]

[Evenings, the Battledome]
[Sabo can be found in the Battledome. The simulation shows a wide forest, with towering trees and a huge mountain looming behind. Sabo's armed with his usual pipe staff, and his chosen opponent is an old acquaintance to the ASL brothers: the Great Tiger of Mt. Corvo.

Even knowing he's no match by himself, he'll fight on determinedly. Of course, he's just going to get smacked around by the giant paws or batted away by that bludgeon-like tail. But he'll get up, again and again, until the auto-abort kicks in due to the boy's over-exhaustion. At one point, his journal will get knocked aside and start recording one of these fights on video.

Once he catches his breath, he'll rest a bit within a peaceful simulation of a cliff overlooking a wide blue sea, before making his way home.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Norma raises her eyebrows in mild shock, surprised by the boy's wisdom at such a young age. He's pretty smart, and really insightful - it's a good thing to see in youth, and makes Norma grin and pat him right on the head. Sabo, you are too cute, and such a sweetiepie. Norma is so glad her first impression of you was dead wrong. She carefully tugs him closer for a hug snuggling against the top of his hat.]

Hey, don't sweat it, okay? I'm not opposed to anything, and you definitely weren't pushing anything on me, so don't you start. If anything, you and those other two are giving me a whole bunch of reasons to consider it. I mean, the way you guys speak about something that's totally taboo back on my planet's like...I dunno. But I feel the same rush I get when I talk about my adventures hunting for treasure. Getting to see the world - mountain ranges, plains, crystal caverns, and old ruins...!

I've never really had much of an interest in the ocean until just recently back home, ever since I got a wicked power boost from Nes--uh, I mean... a kind of ocean god back home. And then when I came here and met your friends, I kinda got reconnected with the ocean in a way, I guess? I've been thinking about home a lot more, and the sea, and Nessy, and maybe even trying to learn to sail myself or something. The way you guys talk about it makes me feel invigorated, y'know?

So don't apologize.

[Oh. Is this... a hug? She's hugging him?! The first and only hug he got from a woman was from Makino, months ago. And while his brothers' hugs are great too, they'll never have the same gentleness. And being the affection-starved kid that he is, being hugged like this is like a gift. So please excuse him, Norma. He's going to flail as he's tugged closer before cautiously melting against you, his face bright red.]

I, um. Actually, I... I talk big about going out to the sea and having adventures, but I've only sailed once. It-- well, it didn't go so great. [And he'll never not wince, however subtle, when mentioning that.] All I know of our world's what I've heard from my brothers. So I realized, I'm being horrible for assuming you'd want the same things I do.

But I'm really glad to hear we're kinda helping you along! It'll be good if you can join us sailing the sea one day, but adventures on land are really great too. Just being free to explore and travel and meet different people is already a big deal to me, so hey. If you want someone you can drag along in your adventures here, count me in!

[Well, that's good that Sabo's enjoying the hug, because Norma's not exactly letting him go very soon. He's adorable, a great kid, and she doesn't get much of a chance to baby people other than Sophie, and the young girl tends to get sick of it after a while and complains, or wanders off to do her own thing. She keeps him close and smiles. Honestly, if he keeps being this adorable and sweet, she may take a leaf out of Marco's book and kidnap the kid for a day.]

I said don't start. [She pinches his nose, gently.] And you weren't. What more explanation do you need, jeez! [A pause, as she takes a minute to soak that in. What could she even explore in Luceti? There isn't caves, ruins, old castles or anything like that here, is there? Still...] Y'know what, I accept. I could use a side-kick explorer, adventurer, and treasure hunter, and you're pretty quick, smart, and got a real eye for what's good in life, Chip. I'll teach you my tricks if you teach me yours - deal?

[She extends a hand.]

III. [Action: July 15th--19th]

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