#∘ ◦ 🍊 — 𝐍: threads.

[wishmcker]

She is surprised to see a new colour dust along his cheeks at her questions. Nami knows well that he can catch on easily when the situation permits it, but she had anticipated more back and forth or that she would have to be more direct in the way she spoke. But again, he manages to catch her off-guard. She almost melts at the feeling of his hand curled around her own and she is drawn forward so that she is closer.

There is his smile again, the one she sees everyday and will never grow tired of. He really is the sun and she cannot look away.

Nami mirrors his happiness easily, gazing at him with a particular sense of tenderness. Every day he made life worth living and the promise of being at side from today onwards only more determined to do so.

❝ Really? ❞ she breathes out. Her eyes have glassed over slightly now from the emotion that wells up in her chest. Her heart is practically beating out of her chest and she needs to be closer to him. She leans further towards him and rises their enclosed hands to brush against her lips. A small sign of affection, a kindly relief. It is a nice, few moments of such a touch.

Nami blinks for a moment and looks at him. ❝ Hang on, if you thought that way, why didn't you say something? ❞ she asks, expression incredulous.

more that we are now..luffy had to think about what nami had said, and instantly it clicked! there was a brush of pink that littered his face at how foolish he had been thinking that she was talking about the crew, no she was talking about THEM! his heart raced at the thought of them, after everything, the adventures that they had shared--there was a lot of the two of them in his mind when he thought back at the situations they've gotten into. sure not all of them were the best thoughts, but if those moments got them to where they were now?

luffy wouldn't change a thing.

seeing just how nervous she was right now, luffy's hand stretched out to take nami's own, that smile on his face was back in full force though not a childish one like it normally was--something more soft but the warmth was still there just for her.

"you're someone that i hold dear, nami," he started, sitting a bit more comfortably upon the head of the sunny. he was trying to get all his thoughts in order as his brain was running through his head. "i've always thought of you as the one i would end up with. there's nobody else i've ever wanted." and knowing now that nami had felt the same way? he was belated.

[wishmcker]

The absolute heat that rushes through her is almost too much compared to the warmth that had dawned upon her when she had been downing her drinks. Her forgotten glass of wine had dropped to the ground upon the contact, half-empty, as she is pulled flush against her captain's body. The rush is so different from anything else she had experienced from being beside him, though it left it just as breathless and bewildered. Her heart is positively echoing against her ribcage but she doesn't care. For this is just an impulsive act from her captain and who is she not to indulge him?

Everything is being drowned out for her, and all Nami is able to focus on is the feeling of Luffy between her hands, his mouth on hers. The way he is easily able to coax her to his will, how the slant of his neck feels beneath her fingers as they brush, his own hand tugging at her hair that allows another surprised noise to escape her though it is muffled by Luffy. She barely pulls away long enough to take in a surprised breath.

He has her locked in place, not that she is ready to move, drunk on the way that he kisses her. She had not expected this from him of all people, for his unpredictability had never occurred in such a way. But he seems positively famished, touch-starved for Nami and Nami only. Her lips begin to work faster, just as hungry for him, eager to show him how such a dance is to be performed. But again, he surprises her and this time, she cannot keep from opening her eyes as he lifts her, embrace tight around her waist.

He barely gives her any time to react before he has all but become part of her. He has always been a mystery, enigmatic, impossible to know to the depths of his heart, though she craved to swim. Those few moments were needed for the way that Nami's lungs were begging for oxygen. Her chest heaves at the break in concentration, brows furrowing in the middle. She pulls away for what feels like forever, and she cannot help but really look at him like she had the first time. Her most precious treasure, a thought that is scrawled in her mind as she drops her head to his.

She relaxes quickly back into his grip, allowing herself to give in to such a thought for once in her life, forearms over his shoulders as she balances upon him. Her lips crash against his easily like she had never lost their rhythm.

This tether between them had always been strong, one built on loyalty and trust. Her arms wrap against his neck, like their lines. This dive back in to reconnect felt a little more intimate to Nami, especially by the way she holds him in return. However, she has not let up, satisfied to be able to hold any sort of physicality with Luffy at all.

Luffy was impulsive, that was certain, but he was careful in his affection. He knew that he could be suffocating, that sometime he was a lot. He saw that when he was younger, before Ace and Sabo were his brothers. He knew that people could be chased away if you gave too much of yourself too fast.

The young captain would not usually partake in alcohol, years of moonshine making him not desire it unless it was a special occasion. Most alcohol was not strong enough for him, but he would admit if any asked that enough would give him a nice buzz. And when he was a little buzzed, not enough to be considered drunk, he was not always as careful in showing his love for those around him.

Perhaps that was what finally tipped the scales, that extra courage and the passion of the celebrations around them, that pushed him to finally act on what he had been thinking for some time. He could not remember when he had first started to think about kissing Nami. Could not name when he had stopped thinking about her as 'my friend' and more as 'my heart.'

Adrenaline fills him as he kisses her, hoping that if she hit him he could just brush it off as something spur of the moment. When she had not responded right away, he had began to anticipate a fist, but then she melted into the kiss. His heart raced as she began to kiss him back, to pull him into a position that made the kiss more comfortable for her.

When Nami pushed her tongue against his own, he shifted his hands from their resting position on her waist. Luffy rested one arm around her back, the other slipping into her hair and holding her from pulling away. He shifted them to lift her into the air, so that her toes barely could reach the ground - if they indeed could reach at all.

He pressed into the kiss eagerly and flicked his tongue against hers, nothing around them mattering anymore, or even registering for him. No, all that he cared about was the feeling of his lips on his, the taste of her tongue and the warmth of her breath. The only thing that existed for him in this moment was Nami, and Nami alone.

[wishmcker]

Nami just sighs and rolls her eyes irritably. ❝ You won't if you get an infection, ❞ she replies, turning her hand over. ❝ For someone who is usually so concerned about getting hurt, you're awfully calm about this. ❞

At the confession about the hand saw, the redhead's eyes widen. ❝ Usopp! You know better than that... ❞ she says. It's not normal for the navigator to express this much concern, usually yelling at her crewmates for their stupidity. However, seeing her friends hurt has her worried. ❝ You should go to the medical bay. Chopper will want to make sure that you're okay too. ❞

"i'll have you know that i'll be using kabuto until the day i die," his hands weren't THAT bad, least not to him. "i've been working on the usual, though the hand saw i was using got a little difficult to work with since i forgot to sharpen it." his injuries could have been a lot worse than they were.

[wishmcker]

❝ He's still in his cage—he's safe, ❞ Nami answers. Style points.

"Don't you have a captain to keep from drowning?"

Benn Beckman, world winner of the hypocrite trophy, is tired of children (including his entire fucking crew) and just needs a drink.

[wishmcker]

She sighs and moves to undo her seatbelt. It slides back into place with a quick snap and Nami steps out the car. She should have known Luffy would have come to find her, expecting praise and cheerful smiles from her as they celebrated his magnum opus being picked up and made into a reality. Some part of her wants to be the friend he wants her to be right now, but her heart is cracked with betrayal and the promise he had snatched right from beneath her.

His dream may be becoming a reality, but hers isn't.

She slams the door shut and makes her way back over to the sidewalk and begins to collect her things that had toppled out. She piles them messily, purposefully ignoring who she is considering now a former friend.

❝ There has to be a casting process, Luffy, ❞ Nami answers, exasperated. How can he be so ignorant? They have participated in musicals together over the years, practiced routinely. He has supported her as she waited for phone calls from casting directors from local theatre companies and held her hand as she dared to look at a cast list. ❝ You can't just demand that I be placed in the role, especially now that you're not in control! ❞

❝ You should have told me! I could have negotiated for you. You knew I've been wanting this just as badly as you. But you left me behind... ❞

@wishmcker gets an alcohol exclusive dream!LuNa starter!

no more adventures

had he heard her right? no, that couldn't be the case! they had so much more to do together! the musical was just being produced! his heart sunk deeper inside his chest at nami's words as he looked at her with disbelief.

"is this about the lead actress? i told you nami, you're the only one i want to sing on the stage! you should know that there's nobody who i want more than you, nobody comes close to how talented you are!" he could have told her from the start of this evening that their musical had been picked up and was getting produced, but he wanted it to be a surprise for her. she had been working so hard with this--he thought it would be a welcoming night for her.

"i didn't...i'm sorry, i should have told you this before the announcement."

[wishmcker]

She should be happy he doesn't continue to push further. She should be running off with a smile and trying to dodge the questions from everyone still waiting for them back in the dining hall, or had gone straight to the cabin she shared with Robin. And yet, here Nami remains in front of him, rigid as she contin"ues to glare at him. She doesn't know why, though, his reply to her leaves her a little disappointed.

It is a feeling Nami had not anticipated. To be disheartened by something she had thought she wanted, and her blood pumps her heart to the rhythm of the strange emotion. It calls into question why she had been avoiding him in the first place. Is it her own mind playing games with her? Maybe she is overthinking this and his reaction is how he feels.

She has to remind herself that the words that had made her spiral were a simple phrase to be uttered. Something he probably murmurs to other lovers it doesn't mean anything as it had in the moment they had been breathed out. Against her skin, sighing out so that she felt heat from his exhale as he worked her over the edge. She knows that affected her far more than it ever would him, especially with the intense eye contact they exchanged, Nami's eyes opening to meet his at the words to stare at him.

She does the same tonight.

But she doesn't allow it to conclude the same way, her focus pulled to continue their argument.

❝ You're a hypocrite, ❞ Nami decides, folding her arms across her chest hotly. She is indignant, her tolerance of such behaviour quickly fading. She feels as though she has given him enough grace, already providing an answer and then asking if their discussion before she ended it alone. But his sarcasm does nothing to quell her feelings, only further stoking the fire that is Nami.

❝ You dragged me all the way out here and when I return a question to you, you answer with sarcasm. ❞ Is it better than a lie?

She wishes he had left her alone. To let her calm herself from something she yearned for him to say again. She wishes it is under different circumstances that he had thrown her over his shoulder and confronted her quietly at a corner of the ship. She wishes that she could say such things back openly, honestly, and yet the world is not treating her in the way she deserves to be treated. This is a different kind of torture, an emotional tango she could only reject for half the time. At others, she wanted to embrace it, wanting to be guided by him.

Nami throws her hands up and folds her arms across her chest, turning half-away from him, but she makes no further effort to remove herself from the situation. As much as she wants to leave, he really is a magnet for her, pulling him to her without even trying. Maybe that is why he had tried seeking her out so much, it is the chemistry that brews between them on the physical level that they had acknowledged. It is a strong attraction, but it is one that has left Nami awake for hours at a time.

It is going to be another one of those evenings, the navigator predicts.

She wishes that there could be more beyond his desire for her. She had come to enjoy more than that, finding his presence to bring her a quiet comfort. She likes simply exisiting with him, being with him, watching as she gets her makeup on the day as the morning dawns, the gold of the sun bathing over his skin. She likes sitting there as he studies a new surgical journal, likes seeing his smile even if not directed at her, likes seeing his expression change when Shachi or Penguin tells them a story of what Law was like in his younger years.

She just misses him.

But she also can't take being in his presence.

She had not known what else to do but avoid him. If he had caught her off-guard, would she confess to everything that had plagued her mind? Would he know how she felt?

What is it exactly that she is running from again?

Nami glances back over at him, but he seems just as incensed as he had when they had passed through the door of the dining area into cool air. He seems unbothered by cold breeze that they had been met with, fixated on nothing but getting answers from her. The only difference is the demeanour she is being met with now.

❝ You're unbelievable. ❞

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ If looks could kill, the Surgeon of Death would have met his match in the way the redhead glared at him. Each sharp word that fell from Nami’s lips – every jab of the manicured nails he’d grown to relish her raking down his back in moments of passion now a visceral reminder of Nami’s unbridled rage toward him. Rage Law found more than a little unjustified.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ He hadn’t been looking for sex, he opened his mouth to point out between outbursts – and quickly snapped it shut again.  

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ She was right, after all: they’d never agreed to anything more than that. Technically speaking, he had no reason to seek her company for anything beyond that – but she’d never seemed to mind his when he found himself gravitating toward her whenever their schedules allowed. Aside from the early days of turmoil, not once had Nami suggested she did not want to talk to him. At times he thought she’d enjoyed the quiet, curious company his presence had provided – just as he’d come to enjoy their playful banter and the way her eyes lit up when she explained something she was passionate about to someone who not only followed along, but sought to know more.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Not once had she turned him away from the library when she’d holed herself up inside to work on something, or waved away his attention the way she’d done a moment ago.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Until today.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ He couldn’t pretend to be surprised by the fact that he had missed her – but it bothered the surly captain in more ways than he cared to admit to see how quickly she dismissed that. Perhaps she hadn’t realized the extent to which Law had come to enjoy spending time with her beyond their little trysts, but somehow that didn’t seem to make matters any better.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ If anything, the possibility of Nami not noticing how often he’d been around her lately only irritated the surgeon further.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ No – not irritated. Embarrassed.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ He should never have let it come to this. Should never have uttered whispered words of adoration against her skin that night or rolled onto his side to watch the sunrise paint trails upon her bare skin beside him…

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ He never should have crawled into bed with her in the first place. And she…

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ It was embarrassment that colored tanned skin as Law glared back at her, but he’d die before he told Nami that. Instead, he simply shook his head and squared his shoulders, unwilling to meet that wrath-filled gaze, so different than the one he’d come to find himself thinking of in the most inopportune moments, further.   

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ If she expected to provoke him into a shouting match to justify her evasion of him further, she’d be disappointed. Good. Petty as it was, it seemed the only revenge appropriate for a slight she was either willfully ignoring or truly knew nothing about. Either way, she’d made her point clearly.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ …And continued to make it further, still.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Why does it matter to you so much anyway?

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Amber regard drifted over the Straw Hat’s shoulder, an impassivity sweeping over his features he hadn’t used with her in some time now: the impassivity reserved for those not to be trusted yet. For strangers. Like hell he was going to give her the satisfaction of sharing that he had missed her  throughout the day when she’d made it abundantly evident she’d harbored no such feelings herself. Like hell he’d let her get to him like this when he had messed up, but a single word would have been enough from her to assure it never happened again…

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Fuck. Why had he said that?

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ❝Forget it,❞ Law grumbled, waving the question away as nonchalantly as she had done his. “It doesn’t.”

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ She was right, his frosty demeanor channeled: they had nothing to talk about.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ❝You can go. Don’t worry, I’ll leave you to it.❞ And even though he wouldn’t look at her – knew he should let it go and let Nami go about her busy evening, he couldn’t stop himself: he’d never claimed to be the bigger person. ❝I’d hate to bother someone going through so much trouble to act busy on my account.❞

[wishmcker]

❝ Wait, L-Luffy! ❞

Nami is so surprised by the pull on her arm by her captain that it draws a gasp from her. But knowing how much she trusts Luffy, she allows herself to be pulled along and only begins to properly complain when he finally stops to direct her attention to some sort of object from beneath the sand. ❝ Did you have to— ❞ Nami is cut off as she glances down to see what he is referring to, immediately crouching so she can get a better look.

Whatever it is seems to glimpse through the sand, as though disturbed recently. She blinks and begins to slide away the sand to get a better look. ❝ Maybe it's treasure! ❞ she exclaims excitedly, indicating for him to help her. Whatever it is certainly is glinting in the afternoon sun and seemingly heavy.

@wishmcker liked for a starter from Luffy

Luffy is all smiles as he runs towards Nami, excitement is an emotion that comes easily for the young man. He takes her hand in his own, dragging her along with him as he headed towards his destination. He had lead her to a spot that he had seen from the crow's nest, a large mural was peeking from beneath the sand. He didn't know what it depicted but he wanted to share with her. "Look, it's all shiny, Nami!"

[wishmcker]

❝ Are you okay? What have you been doing down there? ❞ Nami asks, referring to the Usopp Factory. She carefully takes his hand into one of her own so she could observe his injuries. ❝ You're not going to be able to use Kabuto at this rate. ❞

"don't worry so much, they're just little cuts, i'll be fine." he said as he had bandages all over his hands from the day's work.

[wishmcker]

She had not expected to even get this far. She does not know what had come over her, why she had suddenly felt the surge of determination to confront him with her feelings and make them his burden. Her breath hitches and her face reddens when she realises exactly what had tumbled from her mouth, and she tries not to tremble when he regards her.

The question he asks in response is a loaded one, and Nami realises she may have made a mistake. To yearn for such a man... She really is in deep.

She doesn't know exactly when it had happened. Maybe it was from the first look prior to really knowing him, but it had started gradually. The sweeping looks, how much she craved to see his smile. Placing herself at his side during meals despite the mess that ensued, trusting him with her life. He had become a lifeline and she couldn't let go. And it had become overwhelming.

Nami purses her lips as she tries to think of the words to say. She makes eye contact with him and her stomach flutters. Stupid captain.

❝ Me and you, ❞ she clarifies after a moment, still looking at him. She chews the inside of her lip and she glances away only for her gaze to be pulled back to him. Is she fidgeting? She had announced herself so loudly, there was no way she could back down now! ❝ Do you ever think about me? In a way that's... more than we are now? I-I have. ❞

@wishmcker asked:

❛  i've been thinking about us a lot lately.  ❜

with the other's out on the island, and luffy having thought that nami would be in one of three places, working on her maps--in the library--or tending to her tangerines, the captain had time to enjoy the sea breeze ruffling up his hair(taking his hat into consideration, he made sure to tie it down around his chin rather tightly so it didn't get swept away). that was until he heard the click clacking of shoes coming towards him.

an eye opened when he heard what nami had to say, body started turning around to face his navigator, head tilting slightly as to her words.

"what about us?" the crew hadn't had to fight the marines or other pirates in about a week, for now he thought they were all doing rather well, so what could be on nami's mind?

[wishmcker]

❝ Your booty or booty? I'm perfectly fine with both. ❞ She stole his underwear. She thought that maybe he'd have gold or treasure hidden in them.

"First rule of piracy."

"Always protect your booty."

[wishmcker]

❝ The expensive kind, ❞ Nami replies, tilting the bottle to check how much of the liquid remains inside. She frowns at the result. Maybe she should begin to hold her own stash. ❝ We always get you the cheap shit because you go through it so quickly. ❞

She sighs and uncorks it. It's not like it's going to reappear now, she thinks as she docks her head back to take a sip of her own. She places it back down on the table and moves to a seat beside him. ❝ I'm adding the cost of the bottle plus interest to your debt, ❞ Nami says decidedly, placing the drink in the middle of them. ❝ The least you can do now is share the rest. ❞

the booze bottle was put near the other stuff bought back from their usual supply run . zoro jusr assumed it was for him given that was the one thing he'd only ever ask for . Though nami had stopped ... when could a man drink peacefully on this ship ?

" eh .. what kind of booze can't i drink ? " last time he checked, booze was something you did drink ... he drunk almost every day . what was nami expecting ... ?

[wishmcker]

She simply affirms her earlier words by taunting him. ❝ Just say you need someone to blame. ❞ That would be simpler.

She doesn't need to say anything further and while she supposes she can understand why his immediate thought is to accuse those he doesn't specifically have any reason to trust, for this alliance of theirs is matter of convenience until they reach their shared goal, she refuses to. Nami knows well what it means to keep her cards close to her chest and how Law's extension of vulnerability to her had been a choice. But so, this outright deigning that she would betray him at the drop of a hat leaves a bad taste in her mouth.

Her wine-coloured eyes are dark with irritation, sparked and ready to continue glaring. He has awoken a fire within her. It has been implied that betrayal is a natural part of Nami's nature, that she is as vindictive as she is manipulative but in reality, this couldn't be further from the truth. Her tortured heart nursed every single knife wound she had been forced to inflict on those unsuspecting during her youth and formative years. The accusation is something personal and she hates him for it.

She slams her hands down on the table she had been seated against, and the pain rings up through her arms but it serves as a reminder of the rage that bubbles with her. Such a little thing and he already assumes the worst.

❝ Aren't you the one with Observation Haki? ❞ Nami accuses and she juts her chin out towards the Supernova. ❝ You didn't sense him? Maybe he overheard! Usopp would never had said anything out of malice! I certainly didn't tell him! You know nothing about us if you really think that I can't remain quiet. ❞

Her tone drops as she continues, but her voice is as sharp as a fresh dagger. Cool with metal and ready to slice with only a quick flick of the wrist.

      If he'd expected a quiet retreat, the surgeon was unpleasantly surprised. Men twice Nami's size had quailed beneath the look he fixed her with now, but the navigator held her ground, levelling Law with a reproachful stare as she drew herself to full height and laid into him in return. At another time, he might even have been impressed. But the captain was in no mood to admire the orange-haired woman now. Not with Nose-ya's question still ringing in his ears -the allusion to a mistake that needed fixing Law had confided to only one member of the allied crew in his time aboard the ship.

         The same one demanding he watch his mouth now. ❝ Yeah, looks like I fucking should have, ❞ Law retorted just as frostily. He knew he should keep it down - knew as he had the last time he'd snapped at her that this was not conducive behavior to a functional alliance. That it was only a matter of time before raised voices brought the rest of her crew running to see what was wrong - but damn it, did this get under his skin. He hadn't even given her specific information, but the thought that she might have passed on anything he'd told her in confidentiality....

        He should have just kept his mouth shut in the first place. It was his own damn fault for not sticking to the original plan of ignoring the allied pirates beyond any contact strictly necessary for the successful fruition of his schemes. He'd practically asked for this the moment he'd sought her out to apologize among her mikan trees a few days earlier, hadn't he?

        But knowing he only had himself to blame wasn't enough to stop the venom dripping from his voice as he shouted back at her. ❝ If you're so good at keeping secrets, then why is your sniper asking about things I've only told to one member of this crew? ❞

[wishmcker]

His immediate dismissal of her does nothing to deter her. Nami remains in her seat, taking careful sips of the warm liquid. It burns down her throat comfortingly considering they are passing through a cooler climate. His attempt at brushing her off only has her raising her eyes at him, gaze meeting his. She doesn't need to say much else, really, but she does.

❝ The best chances of pulling this off requires time and planning, ❞ Nami counters, placing her own mug down. Her stare bores into his, as though reading right through him. ❝ I trust my captain, and I will do whatever Luffy says. But this is more than following orders. I don't know you, but I can empathise with the emotions you think you're hiding from us. ❞

Her fingers remain curled around the handle of her mug. He is so untrusting and aloof most of the time, and it only makes sense considering they are supposed to be enemies on the same journey for glory. But she has seen sides of Law that shows he's just as human as she, and if she's expected to look at him as a leader almost as she does her own captain, then she needs to build that foundation of trust he seems to presume.

❝ Doflamingo is more than well-acquainted for a pirate. ❞ Nami chooses her words carefully, and pushes her cascading hair back behind her shoulder as she thinks absently. She needs a surface to balance on, but he hasn't offered much more than barely a sliver of information. But she is observant.

Soundless as her footfalls are, Law is not surprised to find the navigator here. Hyperaware in unfamiliar surroundings and restless as they sail ever-closer to the culmination of a plot so many years in the making, he'd felt her silent approach long before the galley door swung open on its hinges.

He's not even surprised by the nature of her visit. Though each of the allied pirates had eventually come around to their captain's agreement - or at least accepted that further dispute would be lost on the headstrong rubber man, Nami had been by far the most outwardly opposed to his proposition. He'd had a feeling their brief encounter on Punk Hazard wouldn't be the end of it.

If anything, the woman's reservations come as a relief to the Surgeon of Death. Scrutiny, misgivings, distrust - even aimed at him, these are things Law can at least relate to, and it's strangely reassuring to know there's at least one person on the allied crew with the common sense to question his motives.

Not that it keeps him from bristling when Nami sinks down beside him and jumps straight to the point, happening so quickly upon the hidden heart of the matter he barely has time to glance down at the steaming mug she's placed before him. It takes several moments staring into its ink-black contents for Law to will his features back into their usual mask of impassivity.

❝Knowing why I'm doing this isn't going to change anything about our objective here, Nami-ya,❞ he points out, far more calmly than he feels in light of her unsettling perception. ❝Or how long I've been working on this to ensure the best chances of pulling it off. I'll give you and your crew everything you need to know as we get closer to Dressrosa, alright? Thanks for the coffee,❞ he adds brusquely, hoping that will be the end of this particular line of questioning.

[wishmcker]

❝ Oh, so you noticed? Three months. ❞

“ ... witch . “

[wishmcker]

She has seen the way the World Economic Journal could manipulate the facts of things. It had been the newspaper reported to the world that Smoker of the Marines had been the one to defeat Crocodile and prevent a civil war in Alabasta. The newspaper had been the ones that reported that Doflamingo had relinquished his title as one of the Warlords to manipulate her crew and Law, though this had been a lie. But these articles had also been built on at least some fact.

And there were three that Nami is sure of: Nefertari Cobra is dead, his daughter Vivi is missing and Sabo was at Mary Geoise when it happened. She had been so angry when she found out, terrified for her friend, especially since it had been weeks since this years Levely.

His answer only vexes her more and she leans towards the blonde with furrowed brows and concerned eyes. ❝ You can't or won't? ❞ she asks.

His rebuttal has her frown deepening. ❝ Luffy hasn't told you? ❞ She knows that they're not supposed to reveal their connection to the public, but maybe he already knew because of Luffy and Robin? Her two nakama trusted him. That should be enough for Nami, right?

❝ She's a Straw Hat, ❞ Nami reveals after a moment of silence. She offers her arm to show the X she had gotten tattooed after leaving Alabasta. His eyes are kind like Luffy's, and it's one of the only reasons she hesitates. ❝You may be his brother, but if we find out that you did anything to her... ❞

She is worried. Maybe she's taking out her anger out on the wrong person, but he was the last person to see their friend.

Nami needed no introduction as Sabo was quick to recognize her face from the wanted posters of the Straw Hat Pirates, and a bit of additional context back when Robin had stayed with them for a while.

"I wish I could tell you," he finally says, knowing next to nothing about the fate of Alabasta's princess. When the false word of his actions at Mary Geoise were spread across the world, it was no surprise that people would ask. He knows little of how close Nami was to the princess (or perhaps merely a fan of her), but the way she asked... it's clear that she cared for her.

"I don't mean to be nosy, but can I ask how you know her? Just like you, I do hope that she's alright. She seemed like a kind woman."

[wishmcker]

The navigator rests her her chin upon one of her hands, watching the other pirate. His eyes gleam over with readiness as though, and Nami grins at the stoking of his flame. She had presented this challenge, but when he had walked into her line of sight with supposed riches that ought to be hers, the redhead would never resist. She smirks, always enjoying a way to manipulate someone like this.

In her days, Nami had developed expertise for allowing swiping the rug beneath her victims. She was never one to give up on an endeavour that could end up with her practically bathing in gold.

❝ You're not going to go easy on me? ❞ she asks, pouting slightly but unable to hide the hint of a smirk that curls at the corners of her mouth. She can play innocent all she wants - she knows well that Ace is like his brother: never to back down from a challenge. But she doesn't care. She is ready to play with fire, let it roar and threaten to burn everything in sight. Her eyes flicker to the cards and swipes her hand across to grab one between her fingers when he pauses with barely movement in sight. An Ace card.

❝ I think you've forgotten who you're speaking to? ❞ Nami replies, quirking her brow upwards. "Fine, you set the bar, and I'll match it."

his  lips  turned  up  in  a  little  smile.  nami's  attempt  to  con  one  of  the  world's  most  famous  gamblers  had  her  looking  as  bright  as  a  bonfire,  and  ace  was  unable  to  accept  more  of  it.  his  sibling  considered  her  a  member  of  the  family.  ace  lacked  the  moral  fiber  to  intentionally  harm  her  in  this  way. 

❝  no  nami,  you  want  to.  i  already  said  no  twice.  i  won't  change  my  decision.  girlie,  just  give  up.  it's  useless.  ❞  he  came  across  as  exceedingly  courteous  when  he  declined  to  let  her  play  the  same  game  over  and  over  again.  it  wasn't  merely  a  game  of  chance;  it  had  deeper  roots.  ace  was  known  for  pushing  games  well  beyond  their  norms.  

he  shuffled  the  cards  expertly,  making  sure  they  all  ended  up  in  the  right  spots.  the  sight  was  almost  hypnotic  before  the  deck  was  consumed  by  the  fire.  ace  reclined  back  in  his  chair,  the  corners  of  his  freckled  face  lifting  into  a  smirk.  ❝  my  wager  is  more  than  y'can  imagine  and  if  someone  can't  up  the  ante,  I'm  not  interested.  ❞