#//Buggy is just so happy to feel that he has caught up to his grandiose. That altar he put him on so many years ago

[circus-and-shenanigans]

Reply to: @gloryredwrites

Slowly his blue eyes return over the shape of the other man, tentatively as if he didn't want to get caught staring back-- even if that would be the normal thing to do. Just then is when he catches onto that kind smile of his, one he had known so well and seen so many many times, yet there was a difference there he wished he could just ignore. It's been so long.

"Hmn? Whatcha got there?" Curious as ever at the prospect of a gift he is stepping closer, internally happy that he had been thoughtful like that, expecting gold or pretty and expensive jewellery, maybe some interesting treasure maps to follow, but what he gets shown instead is something far less frivolous.

Now. It does take him a few seconds to process it, it attacks directly to his excitable heart and it almost, almost makes him fall into a pathetic display in front of Shanks. THANK LORD He didn't, else he wouldn't be able to outlive the shame that would follow.

"That's ---" even though years have passed the label and bottle shape remained the same, just like back then, he could almost taste it on his tongue already, the strong flavours accompanied by the salty breeze and laughs left and right. Even when he missed it, he had made his best to move on from all of that by now, yet a small indulgence like the one they might be about to have now wasn't so bad. Or maybe he was still trying to lie to himself about that moving on thing.

"Heh, you truly are--" his mumble moves to silence as Shanks' voice rings back up, listening as his hands rest over his hips, head tilted to look back at him again with an amused smirk that he tries his best to make look as genuinely confident as he can, body tensing up at the mention of Mihawk remembering his-- co-partners. Co-stars. EvEn THoUgh It's HIS SHOW, DAMN IT. His show, his protagonism, his group!

"Of course you have seen them!! As you said they are all over the place! As they must!! Hehehe..... yeaaahh, they came to me asking for a place there, how could I say no? It would be stupid if I did! They are great a-" he coughs a bit, already feeling their heavy glares over the back of his head, trying not to let his voice break. "Assets!! Very strong, very useful, doing great work under good ol me-- because I'm at the top! I am. Mn-hmn! I am the strongest of them anyways!" He speaks rather quickly there, his eyes shifting around a little even when he is trying to sell out the concept of the Cross Guild being different than what reality hides underneath and trying his hardest to just brush over any mentions of power levels. If they could hear him right now........ a shiver.

Quickly his floating hands take a hold of the crate, lifting it close to himself as he smiles wide, laughing some too as he changes the topic. "I'm surprised you even remembered these!! Who would have thought you appreciated a drink as fine as this one, huh?! Come ooooon!! Let's go get that celebration going!! We aren't here to just talk about.... no, actually, yeah, we are here to talk!" AboUt ME!! Me me! At last! My time! Is what he wished to yell about, but the idea of making Shanks leave because of that old behaviour was a bit.... no, he didn't want him to go just yet, it was the perfect time to finally talk together, right here and now where they could finally see eye to eye, when he finally felt worthy enough to face him as both successful pirates.