#I don't know hat thief means

[wow-its-jester-hat]

DTJ

[the-froschamethyst4]

Wild Thing

𖤐Pairing: Con-artist! Ghost x Wife! Reader

𖤐Pronouns: She/Her

𖤐Warnings: smut, harsh language, jealously, flirting, smoking, P in V, kissing/making out, age gap couple, con-artists, dirty talking, Y/n is a smooth-talker,

𖤐Summary: Ghost and Y/n are con-artists, stealing from the rich, and Y/n is the secret weapon, she is a smooth talker and gets people talking while Ghost her husband steals from them or kills them

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The West End Train, one of the longest trains ever running, it run from Oklahoma to Oregon, a long train ride for sure, with of course stops in between. But what was interesting about it is the amount of rich people that use it, a thief's and con-artists dream!

This is where Ghost and Y/n are sitting in the first class train car, in the back, Ghost lowering his head so his hat covered his face as Y/n leans on him and looks around for their first victim.

She stands up and walks to an older man, Ghost looks up seeing her touch the guys shoulder and sitting next to him. The guy paid very, very close attention to Y/n, and her words.

"I like your tie," she starts off with something little, a compliment. The guy looks down at his tie and starts messing with it.

"T-Thank you," his eyes start to wonder around her body, she was in a small red dress that hugged her curves just right, and it stopped at her mid thigh. He then looks at her thighs and travel up to her breasts that were slightly exposed.

"Where are you heading?" She asks.

"I'm heading to Kane, Utah," he says, he seems like he was resisting the urge to touch Y/n.

"Oh really? I'm heading all the way to Douglas, Oregon," she says.

Ghost sits up and moves to the seat behind the man and Y/n, Y/n still sweet talking him, complimenting him, gently touching small things about him, his shirt, back to his tie, and messing with the strands of his white and black hair.

He leans forward and sees his wallet, he slowly starts moving it from his back pocket, picking it and pulling out $500 from his wallet, he then drops it and taps the man on his shoulder.

"Sir, you dropped your wallet," Ghost says.

"Oh thank you," he bends down to pick it up.

"Anyways, I should head back to my seat, sorry for bothering you-"

"Oh no, it's okay," he gives Y/n an awkward smile at her as she gets up and heads back to sit next to Ghost.

"How much did you get?" She asks, leaning closer to Ghost.

"$500," he sounds annoyed.

"Aww~ Ghost, are you jealous? It's okay, you know that I'm all yours," she says, her hand gliding up his thigh and landing on his belt.

"You're pushing your luck, sweetheart."

"Oh am I? I'm so scared," she says with sarcasm, slightly giggling at him and she leans back in her seat, crossing her legs and resting her hands on her lap.

She then sees someone else, Ghost watches as she gets up and heads to the guy that looks a bit younger then the first one, she crosses her legs and just nods at him, when he turned to look at her.

His jaw was on the floor when Y/n sat next to him.

"Hi," he says.

"Hi, sorry, someone is in my seat, I hope you don't mind if I stay here for a little bit do you?"

"N-Not at all," he stutters.

Since he was younger, he must have never met a woman before or something, all stuttering, messing with his fingers, his tense body language, and how he looks immediately sweaty when Y/n sat down.

"Oh good," she says, crossing her legs again. "Sorry, am I distracting?" She asks.

"I-I mean a little-but it's a good distraction."

"A good distraction? I've heard that before," she giggles at him.

Ghost gets up and heads down the aisle picking the guys pocket quickly opening it and pulling out $200. He had a bit less then the older guy, but it'll do, he heads back down the aisle, handing the guy his wallet.

"Are you Jacob?"

"Yeah?"

"I found your wallet in econ."

"Econ, why was it up there?"

"Beats me kid, you should be lucky I found it before someone else did," Ghost says, dropping the wallet in his lap now, and walked back to his seat.

"Oh looks like my seat is finally open, guess I should head back, sorry for being a...distraction."

"That's okay."

As she heads back and plops down next to Ghost.

"Was there more?"

"Less, but it'll do," he says, now counting the money. "We have $700, we need a bit more."

"How much more?"

"At least a few more wallets," Ghost teases now.

"Ghost," she groans.

"Come on, love, do your fucking magic," he says, grabbing her chin making her look at him.

"What do I get out of these, again?"

"You know what you get, I don't need to explain it to you."

"Oh, but I forgot...can you show me, instead?" She teases back with a smirk on her face.

"You are a dangerous woman, love."

"Good." She smirks.

Ghost stood up and shuts the door to their private booth, he also drawn the blinds down, he starts to remove his jacket, and starts unbuckling his pants, and walks towards her. He cups her face and starts kissing her, holding her wrists.

He then starts to pull down her dress to the ground. Ghost smirks at her and starts kissing between her breasts, earning a soft moan from her. Her hands going to his dirty blonde hair and slightly pulling at the strands.

Ghost removes his clothes now and pins Y/n on her back, he was so gentle with her, he kisses her neck, down to her neck to her thighs now. He sits up and lines himself up at her entrance, she smiles biting on the joint of her finger and moans when he slowly pushes into her.

"Ah! W-Wow," she moans. She touches his lower stomach wanting to feel his toned stomach up to his buff chest. Her hands holding his neck and pulling him down to start kissing him again.

"Damn, baby," he moans, holding her waist and moving a bit faster, her moans filled the cart, he then flips her on her stomach, holding her butt and gently squeezing her.

His left foot was on the ground to keep him balanced and the other on the plush cushion. He starts to talk dirty to Y/n close to her ear, she was moaning, and she would squeeze around his dick.

He would groan and moan every time she would squeeze around him. She was all sweaty and her knuckles turned white when she felt herself close to coming.

"G-Ghost, I-I'm..."

"I know, baby," he groans as he watches her go down into the pillow letting out a muffled moan as Ghost kept hitting her spot over and over till cum started to leak from Y/n. Ghost smirks seeing it spill from her.

He keeps going, balls slapping against her, his hands slapping her ass and squeezing her as well, he starts becoming a bit rough, he would go as far as feeling like he was going to pull out and before his tip was almost out slam back into her. The loud and lewd sound of wet smacking filled the small cart.

He was rough, she was moaning and could barely keep herself up on her hands, but every time he slammed into her she would fall on the cushions, she fell to where she just accept laying on the cushion.

"Fuck, fuck," he cusses. Ghost felt himself about to cum, he trusts into her a few more times before letting out a moan and pulls out, cum leaking from her clit and beads of cum spilling from his tip.

She fell flat on the cushions, her hair covered her face, and he leans down moving the hair from her face, he sees that she was asleep, he smirks leaning down and kissed her cheek.

-----------

Ghost leans on the doorframe of his private cart, watching people walk pass him, he had a cigar lit and watched as the lady pushing the cart came by, he bought a few snacks for once Y/n wakes up.

"Thanks," he says, tipping his hat.

He heads back into the cart shutting the door and looked at Y/n asleep. But it wasn't long and she starts to stir in her sleep, she sits up and Ghost gave her some roasted peanuts.

"Where are my clothes?" She asks.

"On the ground, I didn't put them on you because you were laying like a rock. I couldn't move you," he says.

Y/n grabs her dress, but put the peanuts into her hand and placed them into her mouth, she then stood up and starts getting it back on.

"We have a few more stops," he says.

"Great," she yawns. "Then we can get off this stupid train, my ass hurts from sitting so long." She grumbles.

"Aren't you a ball of sunshine," he says.

"I'm tired, I want to get off this stupid train," she says again.

----------

"Come on, love," Ghost says, taking her hand as they got off the train and headed to a hotel for a few nights.

"God, how much money do we have?"

"Well, after a few more wallets....$12,000."

"Shit."

"Let's go-"

"HEY THEIR THEY ARE!"

"THEY STOLE FROM ME!"

"THEY TOOK MY WALLET!!"

"GET THEM!"

"SHIT!" They both yelled and ran from the people they stole from laughing their asses off.

"Thought we were slick?" She says.

"NOT HELPING, Y/N!"

[arc-misadventures]

Holy crap Coco's never had a MFK. So Coco MFK: Illa, Emerald, Or Blake?

MFK: CO

Jaune: Coco!

Coco: Jaune!

Jaune: Are you up for playing a game?

Coco: Oh? What game shall we playing?

Jaune: Marry, Fuck, Kill! Are you ready, Coco?

Coco: Oh is it my turn? Okay, I'm game, hit me with your best shot~!

Jaune: MFK! Your choices are... The chameleon faunas from, Atlas: Ilia Amitola!

Ilia: H-Hi...!

Coco: Hmmm... a chameleon faunas? Open your mouth love.

Ilia: O-Okay...? Ahhh....

Coco: Now then, let's see...

Ilia: Ahck?!

Coco: Oh, so your faunas trait is your skin changing colours, not your tongue. That's a shame.

Ilia: A-A shame?!

Coco: Alright handsome, who's next?

Jaune: Next we have the thief, Emerald Sustrai!

Emerald: Hey.

Coco: Hmm...? Spin for me darling.

Emerald: Okay?

Coco: Ohhh~! Love your outfit dear. It really displays your body quite well. Especially that...

Emerald: EEP?!

Coco: That tight ass~1

Emerald: D-Did you just?!

Coco: So, who's the last... victim, Jaune?

Jaune: We have, Beacon's resident heart throb! But, not for the right reasons... Blake Belladonna!

Blake: What do you mean by that?! Hi, Coco.

Coco: Hi, Blake; spin for me.

Blake: Okay.

Coco: Hmm... Alright then, I'm made my choices!

Jaune: And, they are?

Coco: I shall fuck, Ilia~!

Ilia: What?! M-M-Me?! Why me?!

Coco: Because, I think it would be fun to make you my pet~!

Ilia: P-P-Pet?!

Blake: What?!

Emerald: Oh my...

Ilia: W-Why do you want to d-d-do that to me?!

Coco: Oh? Because you look like someone, with some good training would become a very good pet.

Ilia: What! I refuse to let you treat me this way because I am a faunas!

Coco: This has nothing to do with you being a faunas, it has everything to do with your lack of back bone, and how submissive you are, that if a strong woman came before you, you would drop to your knees at the drop of a hat if she said so.

Ilia: WHAT?! I will never do such a thing! I will not bow to anyone's demands like that! Especially not some nasty human perv...?!

Coco: Pet. Sit.

Ilia: Yes, Ma'am!

Emerald: Holy shit...

Blake: Ilia?!

Ilia: I'm sorry, Blake, but... Gods I feel so aroused right now...

Jaune: That happened faster than I thought.

Coco: Like I said, she lacks no back bone. Now then, I will marry, Emerald~!

Emerald: Me, why me?

Coco: Because, I want strip you naked, and dress you up like a pretty little doll~!

Emerald: Y-You want to what?!

Coco: But, don't worry; I won't force you to do it. I will ask you very nicely if you would do it, if you will that's fantastic, if not that's sad. But, don't worry, Emerald; Mommy will take care of you~!

Emerald: M-Mommy...? Oh... Well if, Mo... Coco! If, Coco puts it like that I wouldn't mind much...

Jaune: Ahh, so you pinned her for the mommy kink too.

Emerald: You know, how?!

Coco: It was quite obvious; if you know where to look~1

Emerald: Oh gods...

Blake: So I take it you're going to kill me then...?

Coco: Fraid so, Kitty.

Blake: Can I ask why?

Coco: Because, the emotional baggage, and trauma you carry around weighs more than your thic, fat ass, and I don't want to deal with that!

Blake: Ahck?!

Emerald: Ohhh!

Jaune: Ouch.

Ilia: It's a nice butt though...

Coco: Now, are we done?

Jaune: Yep, we're done.

Coco: Good. Emerald, Pet come with me; We're going shopping~!

Emerald: Yes, Mommy!

Ilia: Yes, Mistress!

Blake: ...

Jaune: ...

Blake: D-Did you know that would happen?

Jaune: Yeah, pretty much,

Blake: Oh...

Blake: Do I really have more emotional baggage than ass?

Jaune: Very much so.

Blake: Oh... shit...

[corvusphilia]

★ MOST LIKELY TO HAVE A CRUSH ON AN ALTERNATIVE PERSON

ok so my favorite haikyuu blog (which has been inactive for 3 years rip) had this "most (to least) likely" series going on and I loved it sooo here's me throwing my hat in the ring as well (and yes this is mainly because I'm goth LMAO)

ೃ⁀➷ KAGEYAMA: He has NO IDEA what alternative culture is and doesn't listen to the music, but for some reason the fashion really catches his eye. A total sucker for gigantic/extra eyeliner.

ೃ⁀➷ NISHINOYA: Look me in the eyes and tell me he doesn't drool at the mere mention of fishnets. The edgy music? Black clothes? Silver accessories? The whole ragged aesthetic? Sign him the fuck up.

ೃ⁀➷ KUROO: CEO of wanting a goth s/o. He finds it so hot it's not even funny. I'm already a zero-rizz-kuroo-truther but I feel like it's even worse if you dress like that. Deadass got this man on his knees going "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE-"

ೃ⁀➷ KYOUTANI: MY BOYFRIENDDD shit got him blushing fr. I mean just look at him. You're gonna tell me he wouldn't LOVE someone that can match his freak? Ugh just... sharing rings and spiked bracelets with him... guys I'm about to pass out

ೃ⁀➷ TENDOU: Let's get this outta the way: he likes interesting people. If you can catch his eye from the way you dress alone then yeah, he's interested. Also, absolute outfit thief. But it's okay because he lets you do his makeup to match the clothes he stole from you.

ೃ⁀➷ SEMI: This guy is in a BAND be for real. All he wants in life is an alt baddie to impress with his guitar skills. Also dare I say he'd look real cute with black lipstick marks all over.

ೃ⁀➷ SUNA: Again. Do I have to say anything. Look at this motherfucker. Yk what I'm going to be quiet because everything I have to say would regress feminism several decades you guys can figure it out yourselves

ೃ⁀➷ ATSUMU & OSAMU: They canonically have/had/whatever a crush on Saeko (which honestly who doesn't). Like there's just something about people who look like they could beat their ass that they really like for some reason. the miyans are bottoms in this essay I will

honorary mentions i don't have an explanation for i just know it in my bones: kei tsukishima, taketora yamamoto, kozume kenma, morisuke yaku (might as well just say the entire nekoma team at this point fr), hajime iwaizumi, akinori konoha, kourai hoshiumi

[vivwritesfics]

Summer Lovin'

This came about because my friends and i were planning a vacation but then the two of them got together and changed the dates to a time when i couldn't go and wouldn't listen to compromise

y/n22

liked by yourbff, and 35,837 others

y/n22 these bitches be pretty

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yourbff this bitch be pretty

y/n22 you bitch be pretty

logansargeant

liked by username1, and 145,374 others

logansargeant five seconds after this my hat was stolen

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username1 WHO ARE YOU WITH WHO STOLE YOUR HAT?

username2 omg he's so pookie

username3 omg he's so babygirl

username4 who tf is stealing this mans hat?

y/n22

liked by yourbff, and 38,291 others

y/n22 this bitch be a THIEF

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yourbff did you steal the hat or the bike?

y/n22 the hat ofc

username4 omg

username5 logan sargeant girlies have we found her?

username6 the amount of people stealing hats this doesn't mean anything

username7 username6 look at the locations

username6 username7 delulu is the solulu

logansargeant

liked by y/n22, and 126,409 others

logansargeant got it back

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y/n22 that's called stealing

logansargeant you're called stealing

username7 OMG IT WAS HER?

username7 THE GIRL ON THE BIKE?

username8 logan really be wildin' this summer

y/n22

liked by yourbff, and 63,921 others

y/n22 i still don't know who this guy is

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logansargeant I bought you lunch and you still won't google me

logansargeant rude y/n22 thank you for the lunch, mystery man

username9 girl there's no way you haven't googled him now

yourbff does mystery man have an attractive brother

username10 yourbff take a look at his colleagues

logansargeant

liked by y/n22, and 183,023 others

logansargeant summer lovin, had me a blast

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username11 omg

username11 OMG

username12 Logan Sargeant having a summer romance was not on my 2024 bingo card

y/n22 summer lovin, happened so fast

username13 this is so cute

username14 i didn't realise this guy was an f1 driver im just invested in this story

y/n22

liked by logansargeant, and 98,236 others

y/n22 summer dreams ripped at the seams

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yourbff goodbye mystery man, it was fun while it lasted

username15 omg it was just a summer fling 😭😭

username16 not the both of them using the Grease lyrics

username17 LOGAN IN THE LIKES!!

[the-sprog]

Thinking about Hakuba just reaching his limit. He realizes that everyone involved in trying to catch KID has been a bad detective, because everyone (him included. ESPECIALLY him) seems to be obsessed with figuring out the "who?" that they've never stopped to question "why?"

When he confronts Inspector Nakamori he gets told that of course they've investigated his reasonings! That good for nothing thief is just greedy/an adrenaline junkie/does it for the thrill/to humiliate the police/etc.

But Hakuba knows this is not the same Kaito KID as when Inspector Nakamori was first assigned to the case.

He's missing something. And he doesn't know what.

It drives him up the wall. He tries figuring it out at the next few heists, but he comes up with nothing. There's no more clues/information to add to those he already had.

So he does the only logical thing.

Trap everyone involved in catching KID in a room that's ventilated as little as possible and release various pallets of truth serum in gas form. Y'know. Like a reasonable person.

Inspector Nakamori, Conan, Hakuba, and Ran (chaperoning) get caught alongside KID and get a lungful dose of truth serum.

Now, before anyone says anything, I know truth serum isn't an actual thing. The way that it's logicked to work is that it lowers inhibitions, loosens your lips basically, and makes you more susceptible to speaking before you can think about it. But of course, it doesn't actually mean people are forced to answer questions or to tell the truth.

But Hakuba is at the end of his wits.

Gonna write a snippet hold on (future Sprog speaking: this ended up being a full-on one shot. So here's the AO3 link if you want to read there)

"Taking a page out of my book, detective-san?" KID asks, the same cocksure smile ever present on his face. It annoys Hakuba. It always has. It's the same expression for every occasion, no matter what KID is saying or doing.

As long as he's not being someone else.

"It's not knockout gas," Hakuba says. He doesn't yet feel like the words are being ripped out of his mouth, but that's to be expected. He's been preparing for this confrontation. "It's truth serum."

From the corner of his vision he sees Edogawa-kun flinch. He would've given it more attention if he had any to spare.

Kaito KID tilts his head and hums. Hakuba can't see it due to the shadow from KID's hat, but he's sure KID is looking him straight in the eyes.

"Saguru-kun?" Inspector Nakamori is the first to break the silence. "If this is about-"

"Why?" It's as much of a response for the inspector as it is a question directed towards the thief himself. "I've never asked myself that question, when it comes to you. A gross oversight, a mistake unbecoming of someone calling himself a detective."

KID's smile doesn't falter, not that Hakuba expected it to. But the fact he hasn't up and left tells him he at least got the thief curious.

"I've been so caught up in trying to unmask you, that I didn't stop to think about why you do it."

"Saguru-kun-"

"I know what you said, Inspector. But your observations are at least 9 years too old. They don't hold up to the current Kaito KID."

Some silence. To his side, Hakuba can faintly hear Edogawa-kun hyperventilating while Mouri-san tries to calm him down to no success. Edogawa-kun wasn't listening to her, too intent on following the conversation.

And then Inspector Nakamori speaks. "You think this is a copycat? That all this time we've been following a fake?"

"I believe we've been following a legacy," Hakuba answers. "Either that, or something happened during his hiatus that made him change his Modus Operandi."

"My, my, detective-san. I'm flattered to know I spend so much time living in your head," KID gets up. "Well, it's been fun to hear your theories, but I think we should cut this visit short, don't you? I believe the curtain call has been way overdue," he says.

"If you leave you have no way of knowing how long the serum will stay in your system," Hakuba stops him. He can't lose Kaito KID's attention now. "And the rest of the gas that's been stagnating in this room will be released to the audience outside these doors."

That seems to do the trick. "Detective-san! I didn't expect you to be the first one to crack!"

"I want to know why you do it. No one else seems to want to focus on that question."

"I did," comes a voice from his right. Edogawa-kun slaps his hands over his mouth as soon as he registers that the words have left his brain faster than he could control.

"Conan-kun?" Mouri-san asks. She's crouched to be eye level with the kid, but Edogawa-kun's eyes are squeezed shut.

"My littlest critic has once again bested everyone else in this room, hasn't he?" KID chuckles. "Bravo, oh great detective!" He claps his hands. "Bravo!"

Hakuba gets his eyes to focus back on the thief. "So Edogawa-kun noticed something we didn't."

"And neglected to share with the class, it seems." KID shakes his head mockingly. "For shame, great detective. For shame. I thought you were all for truth and justice."

Edogawa-kun opens his eyes enough to glare at Kaito KID, which only succeedes in making the thief's smile sharper.

The mocking tone in KID's voice makes Mouri-san snap her attention on him, glare equally as present on her face. "He's just a child, you perverted thief." Her eyes widen in shock as she realizes what she said.

Kaito KID raises his hands in front of him. "I had to make sure you knew the truth!"

"There were a million other ways you could've done that!"

"Oh, but none would've bothered detective-kun as much as messing with you, now would they?" His smile doesn't falter even as Mouri-san's (and Edogawa-kun's) glare gets more intense.

"He's misdirecting us!" Edogawa-kun points out.

"But you know why he does it."

"The information you need is all there. What kind of two cents detective are you that you can't figure it out on your own?"

"Conan-kun!"

"Ah! Sorry, sorry, Hakuba-niisan! I didn't mean it- that's a lie. I did mean it." He groans when he finishes. "Stupid truth gas!"

"That's very rude, Conan-kun."

"If the child figured it out so easily, then he has a point in calling us out," Inspector Nakamori says.

"He's the highlight of my heists, that's for sure." KID looks caught off guard by his own admission.

He's lowering his guard. Or he's getting nervous.

"Answer the question, KID," Hakuba tries once more.

"You could ask the great detective. He seems to have a deduction ready."

"I want to hear it from you."

"I have a general idea of what could be going on based on observations of the heists I've attended." If anyone is surprised by Edogawa-kun's eloquence, no one says. "I lack a lot of background information, mainly on everything regarding before Kaito KID's hiatus -which my dad refuses to collaborate with me on because he says I have to figure it out myself. Fair, but rude. It's not like I have access to police records of the time." Everyone is staring at him, but Edogawa-kun seems to not have noticed. Or the drug is taking more effect than expected and he truly can't control himself. "And what I have isn't enough to account for all incognitas, and it would be unbecoming of a detective to offer up an incomplete explanation." He finally takes some time to breathe.

Which probably didn't help, considering their air was probably still extremely contaminated.

"And that's why Conan-kun is my favorite critic."

Inspector Nakamori shakes himself out of his stupor and addresses the room. "What's it matter?! He's a thief! A criminal! He should be behind bars, and that's all we need to know!"

Edogawa-kun frowns and answers the rhetorical question before Hakuba himself can. "Establishing a motive is an important step in investigating any criminal offence. It can help discern how and who. In homicide cases, it can make the difference between a premeditated murder and manslaughter."

Mouri-san's eyes haven't left Edogawa-kun's face since the little detective entered the conversation. Hakuba can't discern what she's thinking, but he can tell she's wearing the same face Edogawa-kun has when he's gathering and putting together the clues to a particularly complex trick.

"This is different, kid," inspector Nakamori says condescendingly (his tone isn't lost on Edogawa-kun, judging by how his face contorts). "This is just thievery."

"To neglect any piece during the investigation of a case, would mean to be willing to come to an incorrect or incomplete conclusion," Edogawa-kun answers. "It would mean not caring about the truth behind it."

At this point, Hakuba is just a witnessing, partially slack jawed, how Edogawa-kun goes toe to toe with the Inspector. Kaito KID looks to be enjoying the display, revelling in the chaos caused by it.

"Share it with us, then," he tells Edogawa-kun. "Let's combine our information."

Edogawa-kun takes a sharp breath and shakes his head, jaw and fists clenched tightly.

They were all so focused on Edogawa-kun that none of them notice Kaito KID making his way towards them.

"That's enough terrorizing my littlest critic." KID picks up Edogawa-kun and returns to his spot. Edogawa-kun glares at him alongside Mouri-san, but his looks to be more of an annoyed expression than anger.

"This is humiliating," he says. "I'll have my revenge."

"You still owe me a favor, detective-kun."

"I let you go that one time with the Junior Detectives."

"Pppff, you let me go all the time." KID waves the hand that's not holding Edogawa-kun to his side dismissively. "That doesn't count."

"YOU LET HIM GO?" Inspector Nakamori yells, reminding the two others of their audience. Edogawa-kun startles.

"He saved the Junior Detectives' lives," Edogawa-kun says.

"I don't need him to let me go. I'm perfectly capable of doing my own escapes, thank you very much. He's a child. It's not like he can do much to stop me."

"You don't seem to think so when I have you cornered with a soccer ball."

"Those things are weapons of mass destruction and you shouldn't be allowed to use them!" KID hisses.

Hakuba decides to end their little debate. "We've gotten off topic. My question has yet to be answered."

"It wouldn't be very fun if I just gave you the answer, wouldn't it?" KID says, with his smile still in place. "After all, Conan-kun has spent all this time working to figure it out. It wouldn't be very polite to let his efforts go to waste."

"So you admit it," Hakuba says. "Your motives are different from the previous Kaito KID."

"Or maybe," KID says. "Maybe you've been wrong all along."

Inspector Nakamori takes a step forward. "Saguru-kun was right, then? You're a different Kaito KID than the one from 8 years ago?"

It's the first time Hakuba has ever seen KID's smile falter, and for as fast as he fixed it back on his face, he doesn't think he would've noticed if he hadn't been paying close attention to it in the first place.

Inspector Nakamori curses under his breathe, rubbing at his eyes with his fingers.

"I don't want KID dead." Edogawa-kun's voice is marely a whisper. The phrase surprises everyone, Edogawa-kun included, who pales when all the attention turns to him.

"All efforts to apprehand Phantom thief 1412 have been non-lethal." Inspector Nakamori attempts to reassure Edogawa-kun. Hakuba frowns in thought. "You knows this, kid."

Hakuba checks his watch. He doesn't have much time to get the truth out of KID with this,and he doubts this method would work again.

"The police is using non-lethal action." Mouri-san's voice is barely audible. She's looking at KID and Edogawa-kun with an unreadable expression on her face. "But... Sonoko said there have been rumors of people hearing gunshots during some of Kaito KID's heists," she says, careful. Her eyes don't leave his face.

Hakuba turns sharply towards he thief. On his face, the same cocksure smile. The same can't be said for Edogawa-kun, who looks seconda away from passing out, his fingers clenching KID's vest tightly. "Someone else wants to get to you," he says. "But... why. I'm still missing something."

"There's plenty of people unhappy with me for stealing their precious gems, you know?" KID boasts, making a rose appear in his hand, making a show of examining it. "It's not so surreal to think people would want to take revenge." The rose turns into the Alexandrite that was that day's target. He holds it up to the sliver of moonlight coming from one of the room's windows.

Inspector Nakamori's eye twitches at the sight, but he holds himself and says, "There isn't any mention of gunshots in any of the official reports of any of Kaito KID's heists."

KID flicks the gemstone up in the air, letting it fall back into Edogawa-kun's hands.

When he sees Edogawa-kun with the gem in his hands, face unsurprised by the gesture, Hakuba feels like a lightbulb lit up. "You give everything back," he mutters. "You give everything back," he says, louder this time. "That's what I've been missing. The privious Kaito KID kept all that he stole, but you give everything back."

"I think that's common knowledge at this point, detective-san."

Hakuba shakes his head. He checks his watch. "Why go all the trouble of stealing the gems if you have no intention of keeping them?"

"The thrill?" Mouri-san and Inspector Nakamori say at the same time.

"That's what they said of the first KID, too. His criminal profile looked at the flashy white suit, the magic tricks, and the general showmenship and called it narcisistic behaviour. Attention seeking," he says. "And that can still apply to you."

"Hey-" the protest goes ignored.

"But that doesn't explain why you decided to give the gems back. Afterall, it's considerably more effort to return them without being seen that it would be to jsut keep them." He takes a step towards the thief. "You're looking for something." Another step. "And the people shooting at you are doing the same. And you don't want them to have it."

"That's an interesting theory, detective-san." KID tries to keep his voice stable, but the prolonged exposure to the serum, combined with the nervousness caused by Hakuba getting closer to the truth, is going its job, and KID's voice wavers.

[everythingblackblack]

Hakuba should propose to Kaito then the white imagery would fit his civilian identity too via giving him his surname. Plus Kaito keeping people in the dark and operating in the shadows (black) and Hakuba recognising the good in him and being determined to bring everything about Kid into the light (white), also the Kuroba or clover on the black hat accessory reference in Kaitou 1412's original costume as well as the black feathers (translation of Kaito's family name) being used by Corbeau while he traumatised Kaito with his father's appearance. It just has lots of satisfying symbolism of Kaito finally being able to part of with the weight of his family's tragedy and his father's legacy. Because Kuroba-kun and Kid are just means of getting to know Kaito, Hakuba has no investment in Kid or the Kurobas beyond Kaito himself. Kaito isn't a generic civilian identity that's just another fabrication to hide the criminal secrets or the punniest name for a Japanese phantom thief (because he was literally born and raised for this purpose even with his parents' absences they, including Jii, only enter Kaito's life to help him be Kid for his mother and father's mistakes or lie/escape into another life via Vegas or Poker Face) it's the name of the person Saguru loves and he's his and no matter what name he goes by or what he lies about and hides Saguru will love him, figure it out and find the truth. He'll always ask Kaito for his honest answers and give him Real options to be Himself in it's realest form.

A funny thing happened to me while I was reading your question, I happened to have my playlist on shuffle and "Good Luck, Babe!" started playing, so if you see me rambling a lot, attribute it to that funny coincidence.

You made me think of an arranged/convenient marriage. Not exactly though.

Kaito, who feels hurt and lost after finding out his father was alive and mom knew about it, doesn't want to talk to Jii at all because he can't stand the thought of him taking his father's side (he's not sure if he will or not, so he just chooses not to deal with it), can't ask Aoko or her father for help, doesn't feel worthy of their help.

So he desperately and insecurely chooses Hakuba. He wants something that feels close.

Hakuba is probably having a cup of tea while enjoying a book, hears knocking on the window in his room, and is surprised to meet Kaito.

"You still want to know my reason?" Kaito doesn't mention KID, he doesn't need to, Hakuba has a bad feeling, something very serious must have happened for someone like KID to even consider revealing his reasons for stealing, he rushes to let him in, offers him tea, but Kaito rejects it.

They both sit in silence.

"I don't know how to start, it's a mess, actually, my life is a mess."

After a couple of minutes, Kaito begins to tell Saguru about his love for magic and his father, the history of KID, and everything else.

The word that Saguru thinks fits well in this situation is “Sad,” and of course, he is so upset.

“Marry me.” The words are out of his mouth before he can process them, it’s not an unfounded request, but it was a proposal made by his emotions.

“What?”

“I’m sorry if I was so abrupt, still, I mean what I said, I definitely need to think it over better, but I can’t just leave you like this.”

"But how would getting married help?"

"First, because you could adopt a Western name if you wanted, and because it seems very cruel to me that they named you like that… as if your destiny was sealed from the day you were born and you couldn't change it."

"But we're not in love."

"I am."

"Oh."

"You can think about it, meditate on it if you want, I would never force you to do something you don't want, even if you don't accept me that way, I will watch over you, and I won't let you get hurt again. Take my name, my contacts, and whatever you need to get back on your feet."

Kaito thinks Hakuba is being kind, he doesn't want him to be a second choice or receive a half-hearted love. He has nothing to gain by accepting, instead, Kaito would be the only one to benefit.

[nightprompts]

&. 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 (𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

( dialogue prompts taken from episodes 1 & 2 ( "romance dawn" & "the man in the straw hat" ) of the netflix live action one piece series. feel free to edit and change as you seem fit. )

❛ do you have any last words? ❜

❛ the sea's been calling. well, not exactly calling, because i pretty much can't swim, but you get the idea. ❜

❛ so what do you say? are you with me? ❜

❛ liar! i know zoro must be after me. who else is worthy of his pursuit? ❜

❛ who's the most powerful pirate on the seas? ❜

❛ first things first. do you have any food here? ❜

❛ you don't look like a pirate. ❜

❛ i'm not afraid of getting hurt. and i'll prove it to you. ❜

❛ i don't get it. why would anyone want to be a pirate? ❜

❛ you have the wind on your back, the salty sea air, your loyal crew by your side. you never know what's on the horizon. it's all about being... free. ❜

❛ you should never let anyone tell you what you can't do. ❜

❛ well, remember the name, 'cause i'm gonna be king of the pirates. ❜

❛ people often visit shrines to light candles for those they've lost. who are yours for? ❜

❛ you've been following me for three days. what do you want? ❜

❛ look, i've been practicing what my face is gonna look like on my wanted poster.❜

❛ i've no doubt your mug will be on a wanted poster one day. ❜

❛ all he did was spill a drink on me. ❜

❛ you should've fought back! why didn't you kick his ass? ❜

❛ not everything can be solved with violence. a man needs to be strong, but he also needs to be good. ❜

❛ you're not a real man. you're nothing but a coward. ❜

❛ you ate a devil fruit? ❜

❛ ever since i was a kid, i wanted to protect people that can't protect themselves.❜

❛ if that's what you want, i think you should do it. i'll help you out. ❜

❛ my crew was attacked by pirates. i barely managed to make it out alive. ❜

❛ rice balls. for you. ❜

❛ you shouldn't draw your blade unless you're prepared to use it. ❜

❛ don't kill me, please. my father will give you anything you want. ❜

❛ i'd say you live up to your reputation. ❜

❛ what's up with the third sword? i mean, where does it even go? ❜

❛ what do you say, puppy? do you want to do a trick for me? sit up and beg. ❜

❛ i kill your kind for a living. ❜

❛ i mean it. i don't owe you anything. ❜

❛ you are going to get us both caught if you keep stomping around this place. ❜

❛ that was amazing. admit it. we do make a pretty good team. ❜

❛ so why did you decide to become a thief? ❜

❛ i needed to eat. you do what you have to, to survive. ❜

❛ you're right. nothing is more important than food. ❜

❛ all great fighters call out their finishing moves. ❜

❛ i don't work for you. ❜

❛ i'm sensing a little bit of tension amongst the crew. ❜

❛ before we met, every choice was made for me. but now i'm gonna do what i want to do. ❜

❛ next time we meet, we might be enemies. but for now... we're friends. ❜

❛ i'm feeling so... so piratey. ❜

❛ well, you're gonna end up feeling watery if i have to throw you overboard. i told you i need absolute silence. ❜

❛ don't mess with my hat. ❜

❛ oh, i'm sorry. were we interrupting your beauty sleep? ❜

❛ don't like what you see? look away. ❜

❛ you have a lot of names. i bet everyone in the east blue knows who you are. ❜

❛ are you making fun of my nose? ❜

❛ i know your type. if there's nothing to gain, you're out. ❜

❛ truthfully? i'm kind of hungry. ❜

❛ who are you trying to impress? a lost love? an absent parent? or was it someone that you worshipped? ❜

❛ i used to know a pirate that wore a hat just like this. ❜

❛ for a time, i even thought we were friends. until he betrayed me. just like all the others. ❜

❛ he wanted to keep me out of the spotlight! he wanted to keep my star from shining too brightly! ❜

❛ is that what he did to you? did he betray you, too? ❜

❛ you can slice me and you can dice me, but i'll always put myself back together again. ❜

❛ i've been thinking about you for years. ❜

❛ i know you're upset, but you should eat something. ❜

❛ you're never not hungry. what's going on? ❜

❛ you can spill a drink on me and i'll let it slide, but don't you ever threaten my friends. ❜

❛ you can't make people love you. just like you can't make them smile. ❜

❛ you really think anyone is coming for you? they don't care. and no one is gonna miss you when you're dead. ❜

❛ get lost. ❜

❛ i'm just glad that you're okay. ❜

❛ what was that? i couldn't hear you over all the drowning. ❜

❛ you really don't fear death, do you? ❜

❛ what's the plan? you do have a plan, right? that's your thing, plans. ❜

❛ you want out? you know the price you have to pay. ❜

❛ you want a piece of me? let's see what you got. ❜

❛ i think i'll miss you most of all. ❜

❛ we're gonna be the greatest pirates the world has ever seen. even greater than your crew. ❜

❛ this hat is the most precious thing i own. it means the world to me. and i want you to take it. ❜

❛ when we meet again, you can give it back to me. ❜

❛ is every day gonna be this crazy with you? ❜

❛ if the path to what you want seems too easy, then you're on the wrong path. ❜

[jar-of-maise]

"Um Lyney," Paimon began, in an uncharacteristically hesitant voice.

"Oh? It isn't like you to be so shy, please go on, what's on your mind?" Lyney asked, looking up at her curiously.

Paimon looked at Aether anxiously, then floated a little closer to him, shedding sparkles as she flew, "well, some of the kids were telling us about how you tell them about fairytales..." She begins.

"Ah!" Lyney snaps his fingers, "are you here to ask me to tell you some stories? Well why didn't you say so?" He hops up easily, gracefully revealing several embossed hardcover books which fall out of his hat.

"Take a pick! There are many here, don't be shy," Lyney says cheerfully, showing the books off happily, "this one is a personal favourite," he winks at Aether.

The cover is of a golden-haired prince, drawing a sword from his sheath, sparkles dance around his figure. White armour adorns his strong figure. "It's a pretty cover...but," Paimon begins, raising a finger.

Lyney raises his eyebrows, "oh? Not to your taste? That's alright," he twirls the book around on his fingers, then tosses it up in the air, where it disappears after a sharp snap of his fingers.

"How about this one? It's about a mermaid and her journey to the human world," Lyney offers, smiling at Paimon and Aether as he shows them the book.

"Well, they're all very nice but–" Paimon tries again.

"Goodness! Have you always driven such a hard bargain?" Lyney asks comically, shaking his head, the books tumble down from his hands as he sighs in defeat.

"Lyney." Lynette says with a deadpan look on her face, "they probably want you to tell them a specific story."

"Yeah!" Paimon exclaims, "thank you Lynette!"

"No worries," Lynette says, crossing her arms and nodding, "my brother does have a habit of talking too much," she says, tail swishing side to side.

"Hey! I'm still here you know!" Lyney cries.

Lynettte fixes him with a very exasperated glare, "I know."

"Oh Lynette, how could you be so cruel to your dear brother?" Lyney whines, slumping, a few cards slipping out from underneath his hat. They fall sadly onto the ground, like limp autumn leaves.

"Um..." Aether begins, "we were hoping to hear about the story you created for the kids here," he says hopefully.

"The story...I made?" Lyney asks, perking up, "you want to hear my stories?" He asks in a tone so innocent that Aether can't help but feel endeared by his excitement.

"Yeah! Of course we do, you're a great storyteller Lyney!" Paimon cheers, "yeah!" Aether agrees, nodding vigorously.

"Well then," Lyney gathers his cards in one sweeping motion, shoving them back into his hat, "I can't disappoint my audience then, can I? Please take a seat, the show will be put on momentarily." Lyney grins, gesturing at the table in front of them.

"Please help yourself," Lynette says in a monotone voice as Paimon and Aether slid into their seats. She places her hat onto the table, and once she removes it, trays and plates of snacks appear magically.

"Wow! Thank you! Paimon's digging in then!"

Lynette nods, satisfied, she pours herself a cup of tea and takes a long sip from her cup.

"So Lyney," Paimon says to the magician, who's mumbling to himself as they help themselves.

"Hm? What's up?" Lyney asks curiously.

"The children here said that this story was called, 'The Thief's Hope' but, they also said that it has a sad ending," Paimon comments, "is that true?"

"Ah, you want to hear that story," Lyney says, there's an unreadable expression on his face, "well I wouldn't say it's that sad, uh, it's just not your typical fairytale."

"Yet the kids still love this story," Aether says, watching as Lyney puffs out his cheeks in slight disagreement.

"Yeah I don't really know why," Lyney laughs, slumping onto a nearby couch with a poof!

"Hey, at least that means you're a good story teller!" Paimon says comfortingly, nibbling on a cupcake as she talks.

"Perhaps," Lyney looks at Aether, then at Lynette. His eyes are wistful as he gazes at his hands silently. Outside, the rain was pouring ceaselessly. A cold wind brushed by and the water rapped on the windows. Lyney thought for a long time, then he just sighed fondly, fingers tracing a seam on his shorts before smiling brightly at Aether and Paimon. 

“Alright! Let me tell you the story!” He jumps up from the chair and bows deeply, “Lynette, if you would please,” he bows towards his sister who sighs, “fine," she says.

Lynette snaps her fingers and just like magic, a large backdrop appears behind Lyney, Paimon gasps in surprise and Aether leans forward curiously. It’s a depiction of the Fontaine streets, and the desolate piece of artwork is crafted with life-like accuracy. 

“Allow me to take you back in time,” Lyney steps forth, a hand tucked behind his back as he twirls his hat on his fingers. 

“There once lived a young boy, he was very poor and often worried about when his next meal would come by,” Lyney snapped his fingers and a little doll fell down from somewhere above his head, it was neatly stitched together, yet dirty and battered as though it had been abused and never loved. 

Lyney smiled and nodded at Lynette who waved her hand. A spotlight shone onto the makeshift “stage” focusing on the tiny doll who picked himself up and began to walk around. 

“He was often bullied, looked down upon and slowly, he found himself pushed to the darkest streets, where the light did not fall,” as he spoke, Lyney flicked his fingers, they appeared as dark, long shadows on the harsh light of the backdrop and the doll was flung away.

“But he never forgot what being in the light felt like,” Lyney’s voice echoed from somewhere, like a omnipresent narrator. As he spoke, the little doll picked itself up and began to stumble slowly towards the audience, “he longed to go back, there was a hole in his heart that he wanted to fill. A void that was as dark as the night sky.”

The inky blackness that suddenly filled the stage was so desperate and suffocating that Paimon audibly gasped. No light shone, indeed, it seemed as though even the oxygen was being removed from their lungs. Aether wondered if this too, was a part of the magic.

"He tried to fill his heart with the scraps that littered the streets," Lyney's voice began to speak again, "he hoarded those little things zealously, even they had no love for him and he had no love for them."

A small pinprick of light appeared on the stage and focused on Lyney's figure, he stood in the centre, with a grave expression on his face.

"His fingers were nimble and his feet too, were agile," Lyney smiled, a small doll appearing on his hand.

"He took the memories and love of others, he tried to light up the darkness in his heart with the light and warmth of others." Lyney procured a candle, "but he could not chase away the cold in his heart, nor could he brighten any corner of that room, for it was locked!"

Lynette grimanced into her cup, but begrudgingly waved her hand. The flame of the candle died out as she waved her hand and Lyney smiled widely.

"How should I light up this dark heart?" Lyney walked across the stage, making a thoughtful expression, "Ah! The boy realised something, when he was wandering the streets one day!"

Lyney smiles, carefully placing the doll down, "people crave the unknown, they are fascinated by fantasy…and what better way to achieve that than–” a sudden burst of streamers erupted from behind his back, “magic?”

The backdrop changed, it was a light and happy scene, where the doll reappeared, looking much cleaner and put together, the doll was surrounded by other dolls, they were smiling at him. 

 "If I can't love myself...and I can't take it from others, what if I made them give it to me? That was what the thief thought," Lyney grinned, blowing a shower of confetti hearts at his audience.

Aether smiled slightly when some of the paper brushed his cheek.

"So he began to try and perform, with the few skills he had learned from stealing. No matter how he tried to mask his true self, this boy was a thief," Lyney pointed at the heinous doll with an accusatory finger.

"The truth was that he was a thief, and that all his story-truths were lies." Lyney declared.

Aether and Paimon smiled knowingly, Lynette helped herself to a muffin. She was enjoying the chance to enjoy as many treats as she could.  

“So the thief had finally found something that could fill up his empty heart," Lyney kept talking, "but still, the feeling of emptiness persisted. So he kept performing, kept going, just to chase that feeing," butterflies flew out from Lyney's finger tips as he spoke.

“The treacherous thief lied his way to the top. He tricked people ceaselessly, putting on a show that the masses would love. Lies were piled up on falsehoods. The thief could no longer return to the shadows of his past."

Lyney made a shape with him fingers where the light reflected it's shadow onto the backdrop, "The Thief looked down at the world from on top of the tower he’d built. It was exquisitely crafted, held together by fabricated illusions. He was a sinner, a devil who’d escaped from hell who was undeserving of the light he had gained."

Aether's eyes narrowed slightly, he sipped some tea but listened attentively, Lyney noticed this change, smiling to himself he thought, 'ah he gets it.'

Lyney kept talking, "Like a famous actor, the parts that he had to play continued to increase. People’s lives were entrusted to his hands at night, and in the daytime, he stole people’s hearts. He had never been bested and life itself, was the stage for his craft. 

He sat under the night sky one lonely evening, gazing out into the inky darkness. The thief looked at the stars, they had always sparkled so beautifully, untouched by pain or sorrow. He wanted that light, even though he knew he could never emulate that gentle radiance. 

That was when he met her,” Lyney’s voice took on a reminiscing tone and suddenly Aether was seized by a strange thought, was this just a mere story? He had no time to ponder this question, because Lyney was moving onto the next part of the story.

”Who was she?" Lyney wondered aloud, "well, perhaps she could be described like a burst of sunlight in a cold, frosty winter, or a wonderful flower blossoming in a wasteland...but no," he paused, "she was more than just those."

"She was the steady roll of waves on the ocean, she was the star that never left the night sky," it seemed like Lyney had forgotten his magic in that moment. He stood before them, as a performer still, but Aether realised that this was not only a story, but a reflection of Lyney himself.

"She was not words, she was a feeling," Lyney almost whispered to himself. Yet in the breathless silence that beheld the room, he may as well have shouted those words. Upon beholding this vulnerable side of Lyney, Aether couldn't help but smile sadly.

"The Thief was a certain kind of summertime sadness, one that spring couldn't cure," Lyney said slowly, withered petals falling with every step he took backward, away from the audience.

"He had no words that could describe her, for all the stories The Thief had spun, all the lies he'd said, there was no word he knew that could speak about the truth in her. But The Thief liked to call her mon armour," Lyney smiled bitterly, there was a hatred in the way he uttered those words.

Aether was taken back, but he didn't know why Lyney seemed to dislike those last few words so much.

"Her presence was gentle, yet searing. To The Thief who couldn't remember hugs or caresses, her touches was an uncomfortable, addicting burn."

Sitting in the audience, Lynette looked at her reflection in her cup sadly. This, was his way of atoning for lies, by weaving truths into his stories so that he might not spin falsehoods. She knew Lyney better than anyone else, to most this was obvious, but they didn't know about the hopes of her older brother. Past his light, and his shadow, was a young boy who loved to love and be loved.

That, was also a kind of truth.

"This Thief," Lyney murmured, "he was a haunted house, hollow from inside to out, plagued by a restless soul that was more focused on destroying the construct that kept it existing than anything else. Every now and then, a wind would rush through and open half-closed, weeping wounds.

The people who sojourned in this house did not help the soul, they loved only the mystery, the romance, the unattainable nature of his performance. And often left the house shabbier than when they first entered.

But not mon armour, she came in, like a little ghost. Planting purple wisteria in his mind, with wonderful trees that entwined their roots around the house and bound him to the earth. Camomile grew from his scars, moss and dewdrops patched his wounds.

She planted gardens of lavender in his mind, so that his anxiety might be soothed.

If there was anyone that might make him feel like life was worth living on, it would be her. A gentle love, that didn't demand. How funny, The Thief had never once known how to care, he did not think about the emotion itself. Never committed." Lyney nodded, though Aether didn't know if he was talking to himself or his audience.

"Yet he tried, loving was clumsy. He couldn't make sense of the lines he was meant to colour inside and often scribbled outside of those boundaries. But at least, he was less transient, and more of a home now." Lyney drifted off into his own thoughts, "my love, what a wonderful name, if only..."

Aether lets him mumble to himself, Paimon also floats over to him with a soft, melancholic smile. "Poor Lyney..." she says quietly, "the story must mean a lot to him."

"I think there was a bit more than just that," Aether comments, but refrains from saying some of his other thoughts, knowing Paimon would just freak out.

"My brother finds it hard to express himself," Lynette chips in, "thank you for listening to him," she bows her head.

"It's okay, please tell him that we'd listen to him anytime!" Paimon exclaims waving her hands.

"Thank you, I will."

"I know you're not much of a talker, but we'll also listen to you, if you need it," Aether says, smiling brightly at Lynette, who gives him a little smile in response.

"I will cherish that offer." She says, "honestly," she adds, looking at Lyney with a half-endearing, half-fond and equal parts exasperated expression, "for someone who insists he's unlovable, loving sure comes easily to him."

"He has a lot to give," Aether says kindly, Lyney is quiet, a broken piece of cermanic-ware, so fractured yet so well patched up he looks new. Aether is glad he has something to hope for.

"Lyney loves like he breathes but treats it like it's cancer," Lynette replies, "when he first realised he was infatuated he said he got a heart stroke. Yet if loving really was a disease, he'd hope he'd never recover from his illness" Lynette takes a sip of tea and rolls her eyes gracefully. "In that sense, he's utterly hopeless,"

[theflagscene]

My Top 10 Fave QL Characters of 2024 🤩

More end of the years lists from me, because clearly I have nothing to do for the rest of the week... I wish I was joking. Much like my pervious lists, my only rule for this is that at least some of the series needed to air this year. It can have started in 2023 or will be ending in 2025, as long as some—or all—of the series aired this year, then it's fair game.

1 ) God - Monster Next Door

What can I say about God that hasn't already been screamed from the rooftops by literally everyone who watched the series? He was aptly nicknamed, because this gentle giant was a gift from heaven. The greenest green flag, even when mad or upset, he was still as green as a damn emerald! The sweetest golden retriever character to have graced my screen this year, I will always love this character and this series, it's become a comfort watch for me, that's for sure.

2 ) Yai - The Sign

There aren't enough sweet himbos in QLs imo, typically whilst cute but dumb, they're also mean or bigoted or just not very likable. Yai broke all of those stereotypes, he was cutest himbo around, a perfect brother, friend, bro and husband. I knew I would adore him from the very first episode and I was not wrong, he did not disappoint. Every scene Yai was in wasn't enough, I wanted so much more of Yai (and his scary beautiful wife, Sand).

3 ) Joker - Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart

Joker and his emotional support idiots might have fumbled the ball at damn near every turn, but he was absolutely adorable whilst doing it. I think it's physically impossible for me to dislike a character War plays, so me adoring Joke was not a surprise to me. A master thief who really wasn't that great at not getting caught, a hopeless romantic, mama bear and perfect grandson-in-law? What more could I have asked for?... Possibly better fake tattoos, but we can't have it all lol.

4 ) Jeff - Pit Babe

I admit with no shame whatsoever that I found Jeff to be one of the most interesting characters on the show. His powers were the ones with the farthest reaching consequences and the most difficult to live with, he was tragic in all the ways I love a character to be tragic. I really wished I could've watched a version of the series from his pov, because I feel like I would’ve fast forwarded way less lol!

5 ) Tae Myungha - Love For Love's Sake

His depressive aura bewitched me body and soul, what can I say? The fact that he tried so hard to make everyone around him feel loved, wanted and important whilst he spent his entire life feeling none of that just broke my damn heart. He was the perfectly example of: the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it's like to feel absolutely worthless and they don't want anybody to feel like that.

6 ) JJ - This Love Doesn't Have Long Beans

Poor JJ has an idiot for a bestie and a douchebag (affection) for a love interest, this dude did not have an easy time of it lol. His forever exasperated resting bitch face and constant annoyance at literally everything that came out of both Plawan and Methas's mouths made me laugh so much, JJ had absolutely no time for any of their shit and yet he was constantly dealing with their shit. The poor guy needed a vacation away from the people in his life even though he loved them, which I totally understand lol!

7 ) Aylin - 23.5

While this wasn't my favourite series, Aylin was definitely one of my favourite characters. Her autistic coded self just spoke to me, I too dislike humans to a level that I would easily take the first alien spaceship off the planet lol. Aylin was so sweet and funny, I loved the way she spoke and her lil hats! I just wanted to squish her!

8 ) Fadel - The Heart Killers

Was I expecting to go into this series loving Fadel? No. Should I have? Absolutely. I have always loved the shrew characters when it came to adaptations of The Taming of the Shrew, which is the point of the character so ya know, duh! Lol. Any series with FirstKhao in it I always assume one of them will end up being my fave because well, it's them! But Fadel is the realest of the real when it comes to the slog of daily life, his routines, his annoyance with the general population, his need to remind himself that killing people whilst working in customer service is not worth the clean up nor the prison time. Sure, he's an assassin on the weekends, but hell, who isn't working two jobs in our current economy?

9 ) Rock - Cherry Magic TH

Rock was the perfect sunshine dope of a sidekick and I loved him for it, completely oblivious yet extremely caring at the same time. A man smitten with the idea of a woman who wants to eat fatty foods, will kidnap his Phi for a super secret mission no questions asked and respects a woman's right to say no without becoming an incel about it, he really was a joy to watch. It also helped that Sing played him, because Sing is an adorable ball of sunshine and I luff him.

10 ) Tan - We Are

The first person to get his man, and so easily. It made perfect sense why Fang fell for Tan, his hyperactive sunshine energy was like an instant 'smile' button. He was so genuine with his emotions and interests, he was a simp and made no apologies for it. He loved Fang so completely and unconditionally, he did whatever he needed to make sure that Fang felt safe and cared for. Tan really raised the bar when it came to clingy boyfriends that aren’t cringy, which is a hard thing to do.

[wizardfrog69]

'•.¸♡Switching clothes.♡¸.•'

I got this idea by watching Jarvis Johnson do a review of high school musical two.

Basically how would they react to their s/o wearing their clothes after they have a quicky round a public area, e.g. if you have a quicky in the bathroom at work and come out wearing each others clothes. It's hard to explain.

Gn!reader

Fluff

Masterlist

Enjoy! Feat. Kunikida, Dazai, Ranpo, Mori, Akutagawa, Ango, Fyodor, Nikolai.

Doppo Kunikida:

He would think that having sex at work is highly inappropriate and would never do it, but, if you do some how exchange clothing he will absolutely love it.

It shows that he's a part of you and you are a part of him in a way.

He isn't the possessive kind and wouldn't see wearing each others clothes as a way to show that you belong to each other but are a part of each other or being in a relationship.

He wouldn't wear your whole outfit but if you "accidentally" wear his shirt he wouldn't mind.

Obviously the item of clothing has to atleast resemble things he wears.

Osamu Dazai:

Man, he fucking love's when you wear each others clothes.

He would pick up something of yours pitting it on and when you ask him to give it back he'll just make up an excuse and you have to wear his clothes.

He is more on the possessive type and probably does it for others to know that he's with you but he also does it because he thinks you look cute in his clothes.

He's also a little thief of your stuff and your wardrobes would mix together until no one knew who owns what.

Ranpo Edogawa:

He thinks you look cute with his hat or coat thing but he isn't necessarily one to give you his whole outfit.

He also wouldn't want to randomly wear something different in the middle of the day.

Ogai Mori:

Yet another way to show off how you are his and another way to scare anyone away from you.

He wants you all to himself and for everyone to know that so what better way than to randomly leave and come back wearing each other's clothes? People will know you boned and if they don't then they definitely know not to hit on you if they want to keep all their limbs.

He also thinks you look hot in his clothes.

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa:

He doesn't fuck at work... usually.

There are times when the two of you just cannot wait and end up doing it somewhere away from the others or while away on a mission.

During those moments you could try and swipe his clothes away and hope he doesn't notice but he does, maybe he pretends he doesn't from time to time to see you walking around with his jabot tie or his shirt.

He wouldn't let you have his coat, his coat is a way he can protect you both.

Ango Sakaguchi:

He is way too busy to do such things but if you do, he wouldn't realize you switched his clothes out for yours, he is too sleep-deprived to pay attention to his clothes.

Once he comes to the realisation (or someone points it out to him) he will quickly as you to change back into his own clothes.

He doesn't see any meaning behind wearing each others clothes, he just wants to wear his own clothes and get back to work (and also sleep).

Fyodor Dostoevsky:

He doesn't see people often so changing clothes would only mean you seeing people while wearing Fyodor's clothes.

He would only agree on wearing your clothes if they were warmer than his.

It wouldn't bother him if people assumed you two just slept together while at work or that you were his and he was yours and no one could take you away from him, he would enjoy those thoughts roaming other people's minds actually.

He isn't one to fuck at work though so good luck getting killed after stealing his ushanka or Cape.

God forbid you do a poor impression with the worst Russian accent in the world of Fyodor while wearing his clothes, he will literally kill you, no second thoughts.

Nikolai Gogol:

He would fucking love it when you switched clothes.

He finds it hilarious but he loves it. You will get laughed at by him (and possibly others) when wearing his clothes because of how silly they are, especially the silly little hat, he is so silly.

He will probably keep his cape thing because it is very important to have on hand if anything happens.

Over all fucking loves it when you wear his clothes and also loves fucking at work.

༺♡༻ 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧 ⋆ 𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 ༺♡༻

I was going to add more characters but it's too late for that.

Have a wonderful day/night as I inhale expired essential oils.

-love, Az

[nalyra-dreaming]

Hello! Considering Armand went out in Dubai in June in the middle of the day dressed like THAT, I have two vamp lore questions.

1) do vampires feel outside temperatures? Like if it's cold/hot outside do they have to dress accordingly?

2) when Armand becomes a sun walker (I don't want to know how and why and when, so pls don't spoil) how high is his resistance to the sun? Like it's one thing to pass in front of a window for a few moments and another thing to walk in broad daylight for two hours. Does it still exhaust him on some level? Also - does the sun hurt them only when it touches the skin? So do clothes help? She show makes it seem like they do but I'm not sure.

Hey!

Yes, these vampires do not quite feel the temperatures as mortals do.

From "The tale of the Body Thief":

Picking from the usual wilderness of freshly opened cardboard boxes, suitcases, and trunks, I chose a suit of gray velvet, an old favorite, especially when the fabric is thick, with only a subtle luster. Not very likely for these warm nights, I had to admit, but then I don't feel hot and cold the way humans do.

It's more about style than warmth^^.

As per Armand... no not spoiling the specific event, but I do need to explain around it^^ So, the term "sun walker" is not used in the books iirc. The older a vampire, or the more powerful, the more resistance they have to the sun.

Clothes would only help so far, maybe a bit, but not for long. The visualization the show chose is very cool but the effect is a bit misleading from the canon burning all over, imho. (Still a cool effect, I'm not complaining!)

Armand... finds out he is sunproof enough through a certain event. That would NOT mean he is sun proof or a "sun walker" - book canonically.

The show has changed it so that the vampires are also awake during the day, or at least can be. That is different in the books... for the most part. In the later books Lestat often "pushes the envelope" already, and Fareed(!) dreams about freeing the vampires from the "death sleep" and sun sensitivity.

Given Fareed is already there... it might be that the "day walking", "sun walking" or simply general sun resistance for certain powerful vampires might be a fairly recent thing. We'll see how the show will spin it. But it surely is no coincidence that Fareed is there already^^ (he is from the last three books!)

Book canonically the sun still burns them, but the more powerful the vampire, the less the damage. Some older vampires sleep in the light during the day to retain a tan, for example.

So Armand going out there? He might have still felt the sting. Maybe that is why he wore the coat, too. And the glasses. And maybe we didn't get to see a hat^^.

[raonwashere]

Lyney x reader headcanons / imagines !

★Okay so , imagine the reader being smt similar to kaitou joker , then the readers magic skills r better AND more mysterious then Lyney's tricks.

He's just sitting there confused while Lynette is impressed.

- you both are like frenimes , though he means no harm , he finds you slightly annoying

- he still needs you to explain how you walked on air with ease . Even he can't pull that off without practice.

- your cheeky smile and attitude always makes his heart flutter

- but he remembers that a phantom thief , so mixed feelings.

-though you don't really 'steal' things- but you do steal things , but return them , you call it borrowing hehe <3-example , 'borrowing' Lyney's cards ,his cato along with the hat , and maybe even his sister <3 or you could always steal his heart .. ;D

- you'll give it back though , just , he needs to work for it..

“ hmm , I want a kiss right here!” you tap your own lips. hes embarrassed and flustered.“[ nameeeee ]!! “

- your tricks make his head spin. When he thinks he finally cracks it , he finds himself more confused when he asks you and you say it's wrong.

- When you actually explain it to him , he feels stupid and dumb. He himself, a magician , couldn't figure out the phantom thief's tricks.- you only say you're learning , but he thinks you're amazing!

- Bonus; you know the gum kaitou joker uses to disguise himself as other people ?Okay , imagine.

You use the gum to disguise yourself as Lynette. Or Charlotte.

If you pick Lynette: listening to him ramble about you

If you pick Charlotte: Ask him questions. Non . Stop.

[countrymusiclover]

9 - A Man Named Jefferson

Princess Red Thief

Part 10

Tag list - just ask to be added @mystrey101 @melvia-ito @kmc1989 @tallrock35

Blinking my eyes a couple of times I groaned trying to wake up. Slowly glancing around the room I saw I was in the back room of the pawnshop. Shifting my body up further on the old cot I heard the wooden floor creak under someone's feet. "Eve! You're awake."

"Henry. What are you doing here?" Rubbing my eyes to wake myself up more I saw the ten year old boy enter the room.

He answered me. "I heard you being locked up in the hospital until Mr. Gold bailed you out."

"Yeah. Where is Mr. Gold exactly?" I questioned the kid.

Henry came over to my bedside reaching inside his backpack. "He's out with Regina for some reason. So we don't have much time to talk with somebody you need to meet."

"Henrh, I just woke up. I am not really in the mood to meet someone right now." I sat upright holding a hand to my forehead struggling to push away some pain that must have been caused from all the drugs they pushed into my system.

He held open his storybook to a certain page. "But what if I told you there's someone else in this town that has been seeing things just like you."

"And that person in your book would be?" I trailed off scanning my eyes over the book pages seeing a man surrounded with over a dozen hats.

Henry taped a finger on the image. "The Mad Hatter. He goes by Jefferson here."

"Henry...I. You need to leave before he gets back. He doesn't care for unwanted visitors inside his shop." I warned the ten year old.

He didn't back down, shoving his book back inside the bag. He holds out his hands waiting for me to put my hand in his and follow him willingly like I normally did before I was locked away. "Please Eve. You'll start to believe me once you talk with him. I swear."

"Fine, kid. But this doesn't mean I believe you." I put my hands in his getting to my feet and together we slipped outside of the pawnshop in search of where this Jefferson man lived. "Henry, why do you think I will believe before Emma?"

He kept walking, sending me a half smile. "Because you follow your heart more than what your mind tells you." I parted my lips considering what he was saying to me in the moment.

The double doors shut behind me with two guards shutting them. I had decided to keep living in my parents castle which wasn't too far from the Charming castle. My short brown boots clicked against the stone floor until I stood at the edge of the round table to meet Snow. "Everly. I was hoping I'd see you."

"My parents aren't worried about me. Honestly they trust me when it comes to helping y'all with your kingdom. You're glowing by the way." I sent her a smile pulling out one of the chairs near hers.

She was sitting down in one of the head chairs, leaning her elbows on the table. "Thank you, Eve. Your letter said that you wanted to talk with me about something."

"Indeed I do wish to. I've been having certain feelings lately and since we are friends I was hoping we could talk about them." I twiddled my thumbs together on the table.

Snow asked sweetly. "Of course. Is this about a guy?"

"Is it that obvious?"

She nods, chuckling. "I'm sorry to say yes. Besides it's not like I don't remember you saying you always had teaching lessons to return to."

"Oh geeesss." Covering my face with my hands I was blushing like a red tomato.

Snow clasped her hands together. "So who is the stranger you are getting lessons from?"

"It's magic lessons. The man I'm getting taught by is named Rumplestilskin." Heavy silence fell across the large room with an intense feeling falling between the two of us. Everyone in the land generally knew his name and what kind of magic he dabbled in.

"Everly, he...he uses dark magic."

"I know that." I said back. "But I am needing his help to teach me how to control the power that I was born with. Neither of my parents have magic, yet I somehow got it."

"You have feelings for him, don't you. Why else would you be defending the teachings he is showing you." Snow put the pieces together with a smirk on her lips.

"Maybe I do. What do I do about it?" I asked the other princess in the room.

The former bandit princess got up from her chair and I rose to my feet standing up in front of her. "In my experience you just have to follow whatever your heart tells you."

"Even when the person you care about might not feel the same." I knitted my brows at her, wrapping my father’s red cloak tightly around my body.

Snow takes my hands in hers showing me the wedding ring from her Prince Charming. "That's a risk that we each have to take when we love someone. Never stop following your heart, Everly."

"Henry, are you sure we're not breaking and entering? It doesn't even look like he's here. Emma is the sheriff now and I wish to not be placed inside a prison cell anytime soon." Looking around at the area outside the mansion front door. He had pulled out some set of keys he had taken from his mother's office that could open any door.

He pushed one of the keys in the hole and it unlocked with the door swinging open. "We'll be fine. He believes everything about my book. Now come on. Jefferson!" Henrik walks into the house and I follow after him seeing that it was almost pitch black inside giving the creepy loner type guy vibes to me.

"Henry. Henry, wait we can't just - mmm!" I grunted my fighting instincts kicking in when one hand wrapped around my waist and the other hand clasped over my mouth before the front door slammed shut behind me.

A man's voice growled in my ear. "Did anyone follow you?"

"No." I mumbled the best reply I could trying to remove the stranger's hand.

The man removed his hands from my body, spinning me around to face him. "So you're the famous Red Thief who falls in love with the Dark One."

"You've read the story too." I made a confused expression.

The guy named Jefferson responded. "It's more than just a story and his storybook is more than just a book."

"It can't be more than a book. None of those stores are real. I know they are simply just stories." I shake my head thinking back on why I got put in the mental hospital in the first place.

Henry spoke up behind me heading down the hallway. "She's a little slow, Jefferson. That's why I brought her to you. So she'll wake up like you have." Jefferson grabs a hold of my arm dragging me after the young boy until we entered a room filled with hats that all matched the familiar hat the Mad Hatter would have worn.

"You've obviously got an obsession with Alice in Wonderland."

"He's the Mad Hatter, Eve." Henry declares sitting the book on the table, opening it to the page he had shown me back in the shop.

Jefferson pushed me down in the chair with the book laying in front of my face. He flipped through some pages stopping at one photo that showed Rumplestilskin holding up a ring. The woman who wore a red cloak that looked like the one I owned stood in front of him. "Look at the picture and tell me if you recognize anything."

"Jefferson, Henry has already tried this with me once before. It didn't work then, it won't work now." Shifting around in the chair I eyed the man.

Jefferson rounded the table to be on the other side grabbing my chin in between his thumb and index finger so I'd look him in the eye. "Use your power and look into my mind. Then you'll see what I'm saying is the only truth you need to believe."

"Look into your mind. That's not possible."

Jefferson declared not backing down. "You have to open your mind, Red Thief."

"You're losing your mind, Jefferson." Pushing myself away from him he let go of my chin. Stomping towards the doorway about to leave I halted in my tracks grabbing a hold of the doorway when he spoke up about my past.

"You couldn't pay your rent when you first came here. So you made a deal with Mr. Gold. Take my ring and I'll work for you, you said."

Glancing out the corner of my eye I asked. "How do you know about that? He swore he'd never say anything."

"Because it's almost the exact same deal you made with Rumplestilskin after he agreed to teach you magic. You are Princess Everly, daughter of Abigail and Fredrick." Henry stands by the edge of the table.

Shutting my eyes I pushed back the desire to believe them. I couldn't be a princess. I couldn't have magic and the town couldn't all be cursed. Otherwise I belonged back in the mental hospital. "Henry, I'm sorry but all your saying is nonsense."

"It won't all be nonsense once you look for the necklace inside his suit jacket and...." Jefferson trailed off in thought.

Turning around in my boots I dared to ask the question. "And what Jefferson?"

"And you'll believe us when you find the ring in his possession." The man who truly thought he was the Mad Hatter answered my question, sitting one of his hats on top of his head smiling wickedly at me. Henry remained silent and simply nodded in agreement. "As close to his heart as it could possibly be."

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[the-real-treasure]

Treasure Treasure!

An OPLA Sanji x Reader

Master List Here

Previous Chapter: Shipwrecks and Hopeless Dreams

Chapter Two: Straw Hats and Treasure Maps

Summary: There's a boy looking for a map, and his dream echoes through you like his ringing laughter. His orange haired thief and green haired swordsman look less then infused.

Trigger Warnings: Threats and descriptions of violence, swearing, torture, threatening language and behaviour, Reader's Devil Fruit power is overwhelming and overstimulating, blood, Reader becomes animalistic and violent Word Count: 7,042 **Edited 12/09/24**

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

The music and the sounds of the bar around you rattled through your brain. The dull light cascading through the smoke addled air along with the pungent tang of beer made you grit your teeth hard enough to grind fine powder, and the man across from you drawled with such a lack of enthusiasm he may as well have been dead. Your canines, unnaturally sharp in your mouth, nicked the inside of your lips and the metallic taste filled your mouth.

"I tolds your boss, I wouldn't be negotiating no more when yous got here. I said 700 berry per lot, he said no, I said yes, I gots no response so that means yes. Now it's 700 per lot or you don't get nufink."

(Anotherbeerplease)(Letmetryletmetry!)

You want to rip your face off. You instead drop your head into your hands and started to knead at your scalp with your fingertips. The scratch of the clean dry bandages on your face was a soothing balm to pounding of your skull as everything around wished for something else.

"You got your response. It just so happened, I'm the one delivering it, not the mail coo. If you would take the damn letter you could read it yourself, and take the order while you're at it."

(Mostfamousmarine,that'llbeme)(Moneymoneymoneymoney)(Prettyladyatthebarwon'tyoulookatmeagain)(Moneymoneymoney)

You whack your hand down to the letter resting on the table and once again, push it over to his side, nudging it against his pint of lukewarm beer and cooling curry buns. Reeling back away from the table, you let your back arch over the back of the chair, face up towards the ceiling, listening to his scuffs and snuffles as he finally, finally rips open and reads Zeff's letter.

Why does he always send me?

You lean back further.

I am no negotiator.

Further still.

Maybe because he wants me to stop hovering at the kitchens. Says Sanji doesn't need me watching him like a hawk.

Further. Skin scraps over paper as the letter is flipped.

Could be right. Could be wrong. I made the promise, he doesn't know that.

You pushed away from the table fully, stretching your back out as far as possible, the tips of your toes just barely grazing the floor beneath you still. The very top of your head awkwardly grazes a red clothed back of the person sat behind you, straw hat perched on a nest of curly dark hair, head buried in a bowl. The dream, the wish, hits you so hard it's like a lightning strike, pure intense white hot energy coursing through you, sending you toppling fully into the boy in a shock.

(I WILL SAIL TO THE GRAND LINE)

(Your head throbs as energy cascades through you, the line ringing the centre of the world screaming with power and energy)

(I WILL FIND THE ONE PIECE)

(Something, something, pulses through the world's energy, a ringing echo cascading through mountains and islands and beasts and boats as something on the Grand Line wakes up)

(AND I WILL BECOME)

(Oh)

(KING OF THE PIRATES)

(Oh.)

You land on the floor with a thump. The boy flailed in his chair, knocking a plate over his pink-haired friend as he whirled around to look at you. You lay on the floor, eyes wide and arm outstretched and pointing to the south, heartbeat echoing in your ears.

He stared at you. You stared back. The liquor merchant sat across the table from you quietly dropped the letter on the table and shuffled out of his seat to the door.

"How do you plan on finding the One Piece?"

You sounded breathless even to your own ears, voice barely even a whisper, and as your blood finally started to move again, you watched his and his companions eyes widen.

"How do you know that?!" The frantic whisper poured out of the pinkette as he began to shake in his seat.

"I heard it." The straw hat boy cocked his head like a pup.

"Where?"

"In you." His eyebrows furrowed and he offered you his hand to help you up. You take it. "I ate the Treasure Treasure fruit. If someone has a dream, a really true wish I can hear it and guide them to it." You grimaced and rolled your shoulders in an awkward shrug, "In a roundabout sort of way."

His eyes gleamed as a smile erupted over his face. He hadn't released your arm and started pumping it up and down enthusiastically and talking quickly and what you assumed was quietly for him.

"I'm Monkey D. Luffy!" He gestures behind him, "This is Koby! We're going to steal a map of the Grand Line, get a ship and find the One Piece!" He released your arm and pointed a finger directly into your face. "JOIN MY CREW!"

You blink. The sounds of the bar around you dull as you roll the offer around in your head.

"No." His face falls. "Well," It brightens again immediately, "No." It falls again. "I, uh-I have important people, that I need to stay with." A beat. "I owe them a lot, I can't just leave them."

"They can't come with us?"

The pink haired boy waffled for a second and you blinked.

"N-no, he, they'd never leave the restaurant. Now, excuse me, I have to do my job here...?" You eye him as he shuffles the chair back in place.

"Hey."

"Yeah?"

"Your people, who are they, what do they do?"

"A cook, he's a chef!" You smile, but grab it in between your teeth to gnaw on your lip for a second. "He's the best in the East Blue. He has a dream and I'm gonna help him find it one day. I can't leave him to join some pirate crew. Not forever." You looked back up, eyes meeting Luffy's and you pause. His beaming grin had diminished, shrinking into a softer more thoughtful smile, crooked at the edge.

"Ok, you sit, we eat, we steal the map, we go get your friend and we set sail to find the One Piece." He nodded in decisiveness.

"That's-? What? No, I said no!" He pulls you to the table to sit with them.

"Come on, sit!" You fumble for a minute, he had completely dismissed your argument, but your heart and head thrummed with his energy and your feet wouldn't carry you away.

You sit.

The lady, the owner of the bar sets another plate down at your hand and you pull it away sheepishly.

"W-we already have our food.." Koby mumbles and Luffy shakes his head, lowering the plate he was licking clean.

"No, more is better, more is better, and our new friend hasn't eaten!"

"Y/n."

"Hah?"

"My name, it's Nakayoshi Y/n."

"Ah." Again, the smile stretches across his face. "It's good to meet you! Eat, you gotta feed the brain!" He leant forward and took one of the rice balls of the plate and looked down at the table contemplatively. "I can't get inside the base through the gate, but maybe... maybe... maybe what if I get inside flying? I can grab on to a bird or something."

Oh no.

"That's a terrible idea."

Koby looked around nervously at the marines at the surrounding tables. "Keep your voice down."

Hearing a thunk, you look over Luffy's shoulder to the door as a green haired man with three swords walked in, pulling a bloody sack behind him. You keep eyes on him as he approaches the bar, leaning back in your chair to keep him in eyeline.

"A bottle for me and one for my friend." His voice is completely monotone. He sounds exhausted, or maybe bored. "He's had a rough day."

You smile as she leaves to bottles on countertop, her daughter rounding the corner away from him giggling. Your eyes trail her as she comes back around carrying a plate of oddly coloured rice balls.

"What's this?"

She smiles up at him. "Rice balls! For you."

"You made them yourself?"

"Mm-hmm!" She pushed the plate closer to him.

"What's the brown stuff?"

"Chocolate! Makes everything taste better." You cringe internally, but perhaps that was the 'growing up surrounded by hoity toity customers in a fancy floating restaurant'.

Her mother calls her away, but as she turns she collides fully with a tall lean man with long blonde hair, knocking the plate out of her hands and on to the floor.

"You stupid stupid girl!" He snarls, and mushes one of the rice balls under his shoe. You pulled yourself up straight and saw Luffy watching as well. You knew Helmeppo. Most everyone who deals through Shells Town knew the spoilt bratty son of the Marine's captain. Most everyone also dislikes Helmeppo, the boy leaving a sour taste in the mouths of basically all who make contact with him. "Why don't you watch where you're going?"

"Rika, apologise to our guest!" The little girl shrinks into herself and does so.

"I'm s-so sorry."

Helmeppo mumbles and mocks the girl's apology, lip quivering fakely. "Next time, I won't be so nice."

"You dropped my food." The green haired man stands from the bar and crouches down beside the spilled plate and smashed rice ball. He pulls a mangled morsel off the ground and eats it slowly. Your stomach twists for a moment, memories of eating far worse driving to the forefront of your mind. "Mm. Delicious." The little girl smiles at his compliment. He puts the remaining rice ball back on the plate and leaves it on the counter top between himself and Helmeppo. "Now you eat one. And apologise to the girl."

Helmeppo is laughing his dimwitted, open mouth laugh at the audacity of the situation. "Do you know who I am?" Your eyes nearly roll into the back of your head as everyone's attention drops. No one wants to listen to his 'my father is important and that makes me important' schlick. The man's response has you whipping round to attention though.

"A shithead Marine with a bad haircut." Helmeppo snarls and pulls his sword from its scabbard as the man rests back on the bar counter. "I wouldn't do that."

"Oh come on, tough guy. Three swords?" He calls mockingly, cackling at his own humour. "I only need one."

"Okay. But its gonna hurt."

Helmeppo swings his sword down at the man's back, but he's easily blocked by the man's sheath. He pushes the sword back and knocks Helmeppo once in the side, pulling back and striking him across the face, all without drawing a blade. The hit easily knocks Helmeppo to the floor and he scrambles away whimpering. More Marines begin to circle as he easily knocks over a bar stool, kicking it into the legs of one and knocking him down as the other tries to advance on him. Using the Marine's own momentum, he sends him face first into the lip of the bar counter knocking him cold to the floor.

Koby had scrambled under the table you were all sitting at as the fight broke out, yourself and Luffy standing watching as the man launches a tankard into the gut of another oncoming Marine. Helmeppo attempts another strike from the side, but he dodges and sends him careening to the bar, lodging his sword in the wood. He disarms yet another Marine knocking him down and using another to block Helmeppo's third strike before kicking both in the gut and dropping them to the floor.

Jumping on to a table nearer the door, he drops two more with no effort. Stamping down on a sword, he leaps over the Marine's back and somersaults him over the bar. Luffy breathes out a "Wow" beside you.

"Good fighter."

"Yeah!"

Helmeppo whimpers pathetically as the man advances on him, yanking him off the ground and pushing him up against the bar.

"You shouldn't draw your blade unless you're prepared to use it." Sweat was already beading on the blonde's forehead.

"Don't kill me, please. My father will give you anything you want."

"Who's your father?" He really didn't know?

"Captain Morgan. He's in charge of the Marine base."

"Then he owes me money." He yanks Helmeppo up and leaves the bar, dragging the sack with him, leaving a thick layer of silence coating every person as the Marines begin to awkwardly lift themselves up and sort themselves out.

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Luffy and Koby lie side by side in the smaller sail boat you brought from the Baratie. You were only meant to place ingredient orders and confirmed the delivery periods, then head to final port of call but now you're sitting in the dark wondering when you'll arrive back if this loon is going to loop you into shenanigans without your say-so.

"I can't stop think about that fight." You weren't the only one laying awake thinking. The lights of Shells Town glowed behind you and the moon cast long shadows across the harbour water.

"That guy was amazing." Still Luffy's optimism persisted, a trait you were beginning to enjoy despite yourself. "And what's with the third sword?" You let out a snort.

"Yeah. Where does it even go?"

"Right?!"

"No!" Koby cut you both off. "He had to protect that little girl from the Marines, who were supposed to be protecting her." Your mouth drew into a thin line. You knew they were both younger than you, so you supposed this might be his first time meeting the reality of how the world worked sometimes. You don't blame him for his shell-shock, it must've been hard to consider.

"If there are good pirates and bad pirates, then... there are gonna be good Marines and bad Marines too." Luffy turned to smile at his friend. "You'll be one of the good ones."

"Maybe Alvida was right. I don't know anything about the world."

"But you were her prisoner."

"Yeah, but I knew who I was. Now I have no idea."

You stretched out and nudged the top of his head with your shoe, gently pulling his eyes away from the inky darkness of the sky.

“Listen, I don’t know what you’ve gone through, especially if you’ve under the command of that Iron Mace Alvida, the weirdo she it, but I do know people like her. Trust me, they don’t do much else but talk themselves up and not prove it when given the chance. It probably won’t mean much to you, but don't ever take someone's word as the only truth there is. Nothing out there is just black and white. Not Marines, not pirates. Not the sky or the sea or any of the people you’ll meet. You'll never know nothing about the world, same as you'll never know everything. Make some piece with that. People who think they know everything will try and take advantage of you for it, because they’re the worst. Don’t give them the chance.”

His lips wobbled in the darkness and Luffy began poking at his shoulder.

"Hey. Hey! I need to get into the base and find that map, and I could use some help." Koby sat up, looking appalled.

"You want me to help you steal from the Marines?"

"No." Luffy claps a hand on to his shoulder. "Of course not. How about you help me..." He looks up to you, perched at the sail rigging and you shrug, "Get the boat ready. You can handle that, right?"

"I guess so?" He looks round at you as well, wide eyed. "What are you gonna do?"

You follow Luffy's eyeline to the wall of the harbour, a small pipe empty out into the sea.

"I'm working on that."

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Lifting Luffy up on your shoulders, you let him push up the grate in the middle of the yard of the Marine base, wincing as it clatters while he climbs out. Following behind him, you spot the green-haired man tied to stake in the sun.

"Oh hey. You're that guy from the bar."

"Get lost."

"I am lost. I'm trying to get inside the base." You look around the confines of the courtyard.

"There are doors all over. We may just have to start looking, try to stay lowkey." Luffy spins to face you.

"Can't you just magic point me in the direction of the map?" Both you and the (still unnamed) man looked at him in confusion.

"Huh?" "What."

"With your compass, the-uh, the Treasure Treasure fruit?" You blink and look up to the sky, sighing.

"That doesn't, that's not how it works, it can't do steps, it's like, the main focus of your dream, and that's it. It's that way by the way."

"How far?"

"I have no idea." Luffy looks down, pouting.

"Oh. That sucks." He looks around him. "Hey," He approaches the tied up man, "I saw the way you fight. How did they even arrest you?"

"They didn't. I gave myself up." Luffy looked at him gobsmacked for a moment before turning to look around the courtyard again.

"Interesting choice. I'm sure you had your reasons." The bound man glared up at him.

"You don't know anything about me."

"I know that you protected that little girl from those Marines last night. You're a good guy." You could hear more than see the smile on his face as he spoke.

"I'm Roronoa Zoro, the pirate hunter."

"Well I'm Monkey D. Luffy and I will be the King of the Pirates." Zoro's eyes flicked over to where you stood, bemused and watching the pair.

"And who's that." Luffy looked back at you and gestured for you to introduce yourself. You sighed but obliged.

"I'm Nakayoshi Y/n. I kind of just got roped into this, so I'm helping him now and then going home."

"They're my crew!" Luffy chimed helpfully,

"I'm not."

"And I think you should join it as well." Zoro laughed to himself.

"What makes you think I'd wanna play pirates with you?"

"You're a great fighter!" Luffy's reply was immediate. "I'd say that together, we'd make a pretty good team."

"I kill your kind for a living. Pirate. Hunter."

"We heard you the first time."

"Yea, you keep saying that, but is that all that you are? Is that all you want? What do you think Y/n?" A smile grew across your face. 

Maybe he isn't as silly as he seems. You walk leisurely across the yard and stop, crouching down to make eye contact with Zoro.

"I think," you said, leaning forward, "that I want to know..."

(A forest made up of tall thin trees, dappled sunlight and a sticky wet heat clinging to your skin)

"...Why you dream of becoming the greatest swordsman in the world?" His face whips up to glare at you, through the sweat and the sun.

(A bright eyed girl with a white-hilted sword standing in a leafy clearing)

His eyes slid shut and he turned his face away. "I made a promise to someone a long time ago..."

(A memorial ceremony. A shrine)

"...To become the worlds' greatest swordsman."

(A tall man in a long black coat, an ornate cross mounted on his back, with yellow eyes like ring targets)

"Impressive." Luffy was stood behind you, a grin on his face as he looked at your arm, raised and putted, again, to the south. He moved around you both to begin untying Zoro's arms. You rose from your crouch to help him.

"You can untie me, but I'm still not gonna join your crew."

"Okay." Luffy answered plainly.

"I mean it. I don't owe you anything."

Luffy shrugged his response. "I just think it's a waste of time for you to be hanging out here when there's something you want," he pushed his finger up beside Zoro's face, pointing it in the same direction you had gestured to earlier, "out there. Good luck on the sword thing!"

"Hey, can you close this thing behind us?" You and Luffy began to drop back down into the drain. 

"Thanks!"

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"WOAHHH!"

"LUFFY!"

With a great smash, he tumbled through the grate, landing on and destroying a table directly below. You stuck your head through, peeking around for anyone who might have heard.

"You're awful at this whole sneaking around thing!"

"How was I supposed to know it wasn't safe to climb over?!" As you swung yourself down a tad more gracefully than him, he looked round and made eye contact with a girl in a Marine's uniform a few rows over. He ducked, pulling you with him and saw she had as well. Standing back up right, and nearly knocking you over, he hummed to himself and rounded the corner to find her, only for her to lift a staff and swing it around towards his head.

"Woah! Hey, hey, hey! No! Don't do that."

You both stared at him wide eyed as he tried to wave her staff down.

"I'm taking you both into custody for trespassing on a Marine base."

"I knew this was going too well." You began to remove your aqua coloured jacket, but Luffy raised a hand to stop you.

"Better take yourself into custody too, 'cause you're not a Marine."

"Am too." Oh she's definitely not.

"No, you're not. We heard everything. You stole that guy's uniform. And now you're looking for my map." You look at him incredulously over his shoulder.

"You heard that while falling through that grate in the ceiling?"

"Yes."

"Fair enough."

"Your map?"

"Yep! Our map to the Grand Line. Y/n can only point us so far, literally." You wrinkled your nose at him and knocked him on the top of the head with your fist. "AYE! It was a joke!"

"I'm still not part of your crew, remember?"

"It's my map, and I'm not leaving here without it." Luffy pushed passed her, heading for the stairs, you following closely behind.

"Suit yourself."

"Hey." She called after yous, but Luffy wasn't stopping, so you weren't either. "Hey! Get back here!"

Walking through a corridor decorated in blue and cream with shields and weapons across the walls, the orange haired girl finally caught up with the both of yous.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" She clung to both of your arms as you walked on.

"Looking for that Morgan guy's office."

"That's where the map is, so if you want it, that's where you need to be." You nodded along to Luffy's reasoning. You didn't notice, what with the girl clinging to your arm and your eyes on the windows, that Luffy had stopped and pushed open a random door. She pulled you back and pushed you both in through it.

All three of you attempted to peek out the small square window at the passing marines. Sneaking back out into the hall, you moved on.

"That's your plan?" She hissed at yous. "Just walk into Axe-Hand Morgan's office and ask him for the map?"

"We may have to fight him for it." Luffy walk sideways beside you. "Why do they call him Axe-Hand anyways?"

"Because-" She shushed you so aggressively you flinched away.

"You are going to get us all caught if you keep stomping around this place."

"He doesn't understand the meaning of stealth." You hushed to her, "Or subtlety." 

"You're one to talk. Shush, we need a plan." Just as she finished speaking, you ran slap bang into the chest of the man himself.

Captain Morgan was tall (a trait he gifted his son), well built (one he did not) and generally intimidating demeanour. (Helmeppo wishes.) With the open tunic vest showing off his broad chest, his size alone would make most people hesitate to cross him. Add to that the metal lower jaw, the epithetical axe for a hand and the fact he was the marine to take down Captain Kuro of a Thousand Plans, and he was beyond a trifle terrifying. For you however, it was the cloying reek of 

(famepowergloryfamepowerglory)

that turned your stomach, so overcome with his egotism that you nearly blacked out.

He glared down at all three of you, gaze shifting to the girl between and behind you, you and Luffy, whose quiet revelation of the name's meaning wasn't lost on you from your position beside him.

"C-Captain Morgan, sir, I was just escorting these prisoners to the brig." You squinted gently at her stutter. Big as he may be, between yourself and Luffy you were half sure he would be no problem to beat. "They were arrested for causing a disturbance in the square."

"Yeah, prisoners." The sigh that you caught in your throat was large at Luffy's addition. Once again, no subtlety.

"You're that one from Baratie. The dishwasher who does the orders. I better not have any of those cooks come and start something for putting you away for causing nonsense, you understand?" You give a quick nod as he leaned over the pair of you to peer down at Nami. "I've never seen you before." Her nerve held.

"I'm a transfer from the 77th, sir." He lifted her chin with his axe.

"What's your name, Private?"

"Nami, sir. I put in a request to serve under your command." Appealing to his ego, very clever. Morgan pulled away.

(FAMEpowerGLORY)

"Wise choice. I expect great things from you."

"Yeahhh. She's the best!" As Luffy whacks Nami's shoulder good naturedly, you grind your teeth and blow your breath out through your nose. You could pummel him. "I-I mean, she's the best of the worst. I hate Marines."

Morgan looked between yourself and Nami disbelievingly, and you hope the snarl on your face was convincingly directed at him and not your idiot idiot captain-to-be. He straightened and nodded to the orange haired girl. "Carry on."

He pushed down the centre of your trio, knocking you all out of the way as he passed. Luffy sighed with relief.

"That was amazing. Admit it, we do make a pretty good team!"

"We are not a team." Nami set off at a brisk pace, and you and Luffy followed.

"Whatever you say- Ah!" Moving past him, you gave him a firm whack on the back of the head. "Now all we have to do is figure out a way to get to Axe-Man's office." Nami pulled you all to a dead stop and took something from her pocket. You both stared at what was in her hand.

"Are those... his keys?"

"How'd you do that?!" He asked excitedly. Nami smiled at him shortly.

"I'm a thief."

"Ahhh. You know!" And off you set again, "You're really good at thieving... and a good talker too. You should think about joining my pirate crew."

In a flash, she had grabbed him and pushed him against a wall. You lunge forward and grab the shoulder of her uniform but stop as she does.

"Let's get one thing straight. I am never joining anything with you. I hate pirates. HATE them!" Luffy smiled after her as she stomps away down the corridor.

"That's because you don't know me yet!"

Finally reaching the giant wooden doors, Nami unlocked them and you all quietly pushed inside.

"This guy really likes himself." And that was an understatement. On both walls were giant, nearly floor to ceiling, portraits of the man and in the corner stood a giant statue depicting his likeness.

"I'm going to find the map. Pretend neither of you are here." Luffy answered as he spun about the room and you moved to look out the two large windows.

"But we are here."

"Why do you want the map so badly anyway?" He turned away from inspecting the paintings and came up behind her.

"I'm gonna use it to find the One Piece and become King of the Pirates." She scoffed.

"Figures."

"What?"

"Every idiot dreams of finding the One Piece. People like you believe in something and you don't even know what it is." Luffy spun the telescope at the window round and looked through it.

"Well yeah! Don't you?" Turning to direct the telescope at her continued searching, he asked "So why did you decided to become a thief?"

"I didn't decide. I needed to eat. You do what you have to, to survive."

You hummed in agreement and advanced on to the desk with her. "You're right. Nothing more important than food." Luffy grinned at you as she sighed.

"Just find the map." Luffy moved away from the window and inspected the collection of axe-hand-attachments mounted on the wall behind the desk. Twisting and pulling one, a loud clunk sounded and the entire desk rolled to the side to reveal a safe encased in the floor. You hummed.

"Clever. I thought safes were normally hidden in walls."

Nami lay on the floor ear pressed to the safe as she tried to crack it when the alarm claxon started blaring.

"Uh... Do you think they know we're here?"

"No, I think they're after the other thief and two idiot pirates trying to steal a map."

Luffy sniggered. "What are the odds of that?" He stopped as Nami glared at him. "Kidding! But you might wanna work a little faster."

"And I'm not a pirate!"

"No," she agrees pointedly, "You're a dishwasher. Which is so much more helpful."

A loud banging started echoing from the door.

"OPEN UP!" Morgan roared from the other side. "BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE 153RD MARINES!"

Luffy dropped to the floor beside Nami. "You need to hurry!"

"I can't rush this!"

"Please hurry!" A crack sounded as Morgan struck the door with his axe. "I have an idea." Luffy took hold of both handles and began pulling straight up.

"That's your idea."

"Genius. Absolute genius." Your flat face said otherwise.

"Yeah." As he pulled he began to step back and his arms...

Began to stretch.

You and Nami stare in shock horror for a second before moving to wrap your arms around him, helping to pull.

The rivets wedging the safe to floor finally gave way and all three of you were launched out of the window, down into the courtyard below.

Dust blew up around you as you all rolled away from the safe and tried to stand.

"How-how did you do that?" She turned on you as she threw her Marine jacket off, "Did you know he could do that?"

You shook your head, eyes still swimming from the fall as Marines swarmed the yard.

You all three began to attack any Marine around you, Nami knocking them back forth and down with her staff as Luffy launched his body around like a high powered slingshot. You, as always went for the 'claw nails across face and kick in the chest' method and, if that didn't do the trick, you lunged your teeth into arms and wrists and shoulders as Marines tried desperately to throw you off, shrieking about the 'rabid manic' scratching or biting them. There was blood under your nails, blood staining your bandaged hands, blood in your mouth and blood dripping down the outside of your newest aqua jacket with the glorious gold three detailing you had received only a few months prior from the whole staff of Baratie for your birthday. If it didn't come out, this place would burn.

Glancing up, you watch the sprinting figure of Zoro running past the chaos in the yard towards the wide open front gates. With a snarl, you race after him.

Rocketing down the narrow archway after him, you fail to spot he had stopped just before leaving and end up barrelling straight on and into the street outside. Stumbling to a dead stop, every person turns to look at you.

You strike a menacing figure. Your brown work pants and darker brown boats are coated in dust and dotted with the blood dripping from your nails, your hair whipping around you wildly in the long ponytail, pulled back with a winding strip of gold fabric. Nails unusually sharp, but able to scale and gut a fish with no knife. The shirt and belt you wore were dark already anyway, so nothing but a layer of dust showed on them. It was the gleaming of light of the aqua jacket on to your blood splattered face that really caused pause. Your lips, dry and cracked at this point from heat, were stained wet and red, with smears across the coat dripping on to the ground below. But it was your eyes.

Misty pale eyes with gold specks for pupils, swirling rings of glowing aquamarine surrounding them as the energy of Shell Town’s wishes echoed through you, and one oh-so-familiar whistled past you.

You glare around as whispers started and the crowd closed ranks. And out of the throng stumbles…

(MoneyMoneyMoney)

Zeff’s fucking liquor merchant.

You lunge forward, fighting inside the Marine base forgotten as you grab a hold of the skulking man and lift him square off his feet.

”You coward. You don’t ever run off on the crew of Baratie, do you understand?!” He gave a quivering nod, sweat beading on his forehead. “Listen to me now, and you listen good.” You pull him close to your face, blood and spit flicking on to his face. “You will get five. Hundred. Berry. Per lot. And not a coin more. If I get back, and those shipments haven’t been delivered, I will come and I will find you. No matter where you run, no matter where you hide. I will find your miserable excuse for a salesman arse, and I will skin you alive, pulverise your body into mulch and feed you to every Mail Coo across the entire ocean so that your remains will be shit from here to the furthest reaches of the West Blue. Do I make myself clear to you little man?!”

His head had been nodding almost the entire time, only speeding up when you had finished. You dropped him back on his feet and turned back to the base. Zoro was still standing at the door.

”That was a bit intense.”

”Zeff always says, 'be thorough with merchants if they try to back out of deals.'" You give a rough, raspy imitation of his voice, "I would have done that in a quiet dark alley last night normally, but you know.” You gestured into the yard and he nods in understanding as you speak as one.

”Luffy.” You shrug helplessly.

”What can you do. Don’t think I'll get the chance to come back here for a bit if Mr Straw Hat intends to lug me about like he's been doing, so thought I’d at least get my job done before accidentally abandoning them for who knows how long.”

”You sound hopeful.”

”And you sound like someone ready to mess up some Marines. You coming, or are you gonna stand there like a sorry sack of shit with a dumb outfit and an even dumber look on your face?” And you start to walk back in.

”You’re wearing an aqua jacket with gold accents, you don’t get to judge outfits.” He follows anyway.

”No comment about the face though, interesting.” 

“Sorry I was too busy being blinded by the awful tack wafting off you.”

”This was a birthday present from my family!” You sprint back in to rip a Marine off of Nami, but you hear him yell over the din of battle.

”I’m so sorry they hate you!” You snort. Nami spins round to you and jabs a Marine in the face over your shoulder.

”Have a nice chat?” She grunted twirling her staff and knocking one to the ground.

”Oh yeah!” You duck under her swing and claw at a mans chest as he sprints past, only for him to be knocked forward by an elasticated arm. “Just tying up some loose ends.”

”LESS TALKING, MORE FIGHTING PLEASE!” She screams over the yelling. And you do, taking down Marine after Marine until you stumble back into your group just as Nami asks “Aren’t you that drunk from the bar?”

”Glad I made an impression.”

Morgan walks forward into the yard, most of his men back away as their leader finally appears.

”The imposter, the pirate hunter, the dishwasher and the prisoner. Fancy that, the four of you working together.” You, Nami, Luffy and Zoro straighten and glare at the oncoming captain.

”Yeah!” Luffy calls. “We’re a crew.”

“I didn't mean to get roped into this.” “We're not together.” “Nope, not a crew.”

Luffy looks back at you all disappointed.

”No enemy has ever escaped my wrath. I alone defeated the Black Cat Pirates. I alone captured Kuro of the Thousand Plans. And I alone keep Shells Town safe from the scum of the East Blue.” You scoff as he pulls his waistcoat off revealing the dark blue no sleeve shirt underneath.

Dropping it in the dirt, he raises his fist and axe. Zoro and Nami twirl their staff and sword through the air, and you and Luffy crack your knuckles. You were ready.

Zoro strikes first as he and Morgan move towards each other. Metal twangs of metal as his blows are blocked by Morgan’s axe. As Luffy swung at him from behind, Morgan catches his fist and attempts to chop of his arm, Luffy pulling away just in time from each of his swings.

You move with Nami back to the unguarded safe, leaping from advancing Marine to advancing Marine, bounding across the court yard the air electrifies with want to

(WIN WIN WIN)

The Marines scatter once more as you and Nami finally slow your assault, turning to watch as Zoro wields all three of his swords, one in each hand and the third in his mouth (so that’s where it goes.) and Luffy with his rubber gumminess, send Axe-Hand Morgan flying with a shout of “Gum Gum WHIP!”

Luffy lets out a whooping cheer and Nami and Zoro retract and sheath their weapons.

”Gum Gum Whip?” Zoro asks incredulously.

”Yeah!” Luffy replies with breathless cheer. You shrug and agree.

”All great fighters call out finishing moves.” Zoro and Nami turn their frowns on you as Luffy cackles and twists his rubber arms around your chest once, twice, three times in a hug that leaves you gasping but laughing along. Zoro sighs as you’re released.

”No they don’t.”

“Hate to break up this beautiful moment, but we need to get this safe out of here. Maybe if we find some rope or something.” You give the metal a gentle kick, and she raises her eyebrows at you as you shrug.

“Or we can do that…” as Zoro lifts the incredibly heavy safe on to his back and starts walking out of the yard.

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“Why are we using your boat and not mine?” Nami frowns at you from the mast.

”Because I don’t like your boat, now get over here.”

”You haven’t even seen it!”

”It looks like a sardine!” Luffy supplies cheerfully as Zoro drops the safe on the deck.

”Careful with that! And yeah, that confirms that I don’t like your boat Y/n, come on.” You growl but make your way on board.

At least the Harbour Master was a regular of the restaurant and would hopefully get word to the crew of the Guppy’s current location. You’re sure Patty would come and collect it, he was always good for putting things back on track. Or making an even bigger mess. It's a toss up.

”Whatever you say,” growled Zoro, “Oh wait, I don’t work for you.”

”I’m sensing a little bit of tension amongst the crew!”

”Not a crew,” Nami and Zoro called back to him, but you stayed balanced between the dock and the boat as Luffy looks up and down the wharf.

”I can’t leave without my friend.” He calls back absentmindedly.

”Can’t wait. The Marines will be here before you know it.” Speaking of the devil, Helmeppo, with the worst haircut you had seen in a while rounds the corner wielding two pistols.

”The Marines are here already. You’re under arrest.” You both begin to laugh as Luffy turns to Zoro.

”What’s wrong with his hair?” Zoro smiled smugly.

”Yeah, I might’ve done that.” In anger, Helmeppo fires off a round into the pillar beside Zoro.

”I won’t let you make a joke of me.” You snigger.

”It’s a bit late for that, genius.” He turns his nose up at you.

”Laugh while you can, dishwasher. I’m taking you in and handing you over to my father. I’ll be the hero. I might even get a medal, or something.”

That something ended up being a punch to the face as Koby launched himself around the corner at him.

"Koby?!”

”Well done! That was good!”

”God that hurt.  It also felt really really good too.” Luffy grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him along the dock.

”No time to explain, but we gotta go. This whole island is trying to kill us.”

”I’m not coming with you.” You peered around Luffy as he stopped and turned.

”You sure?”

”Before we met, every choice was made for me. But now I’m gonna do what I want to do. I’m gonna be a Marine. I want to help people that can’t help themselves.” You stepped down on to the dock beside Luffy. “Next time we all meet, we might be enemies.” Luffy smiled.

”But for now, we’re friends!” Luffy clapped him on the shoulder and leaped on to Nami’s boat. Koby looked up at you shyly and gave you an awkward smile. You returned it and made a great show of pulling him in for hug before releasing him with a tight squeeze.

”Don’t let them get to you like they got to the likes of him.” You nodded your head towards the strewn body of Helmeppo. “Look for your own truth in that place, and I’m sure you’ll be fine. Take care Koby.” You follow Luffy on board and, after helping Koby push you away from the dock, you look back at Shell Town, skimming your eyes across the boats until you spot the Guppy and you smile. You doubt you’ll be coming back here. But that’s fine.

It’s not the first time you’d left a familiar sight like this one to the horizon behind you.

Next Chapter: Whispered Wishes and Demanded Dishes

[chaosfairy18]

perchance some binch (buttons + finch) drabble??? they're my sillies and i love them so dearly /nfta

@finchesslingshott

First of all Hello!

I do have to say I don't really do much livesies/stage musical stuff (sorry) nor have I ever really done much thinking on Finch or Buttons even as individual characters nor as a ship (I prefer Redfinch) but since you've been so kind to send me an ask I tried my best. I really only have Hotshot as a recurring character in my writing and even then she is very different from canon Hotshot.

Buttons is Tadhg McCarthy (his canon name in UKsies) and he got the name because he 'has his buttons' (being smart) but I still made him sew. (Thanks to Nox for the UKsies infos <3)

Finch isn't even here that much but I write him mostly like my dear friend @clevereverest makes me think of him, I love her Redfinch writing

Mostly this is actually Buttons character study a bit and his friendship with another pickpocket who sews: Swifty. Because I am 99% 92sies focused and I needed to at least have one character I already know how to write.

Now enjoy: (750 words)

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Buttons wasn’t sure what to do with Finch always having some rip in his clothes. Naturally he’d help him, but he wouldn’t be happy about it. For most people he’d ask for a fee for patching their things up – if they didn’t want that they could go to someone else – but with Finch he regrettably couldn’t do that as they were close.

Didn’t mean he had to be happy about not getting a bit more money.

Admittedly he had gotten more than enough today by relieving some people of their change.

In the bunkroom – where his sewing kit was – there was only one other newsie, Swifty, apparently doing the same thing. They got along well – thief’s codex and all that – so he sat on the bunk across from him to do his own stitching. “Hey Swifts.”

“Buttons.” Swifty grinned his usual lopsided grin. “Finch again?”

Buttons groaned, looking at the ceiling. “Idiot tears his thin’s every day. Shirts, pants, hat. Last week t’was his socks.” Of course he knew partly how it happened, Finch climbed up some tree and the branches nicked his clothes, he fell down and scraped his knees, he got in fights and teared something else.

“You’d earn a fortune if ya actually took his money.” As much as his tone was teasing, Buttons had a feeling Swifty was thinking something more than what should be going on.

“Can’t rob ‘im blind like that.”, he just said dismissively, getting out his scissors and thread.

“Mhm.”

“What’re you doin’ anyways? One of the littles ripped somethin’?” The kids always tumbled around and Swifty was close to both Flipper and Tumbler – mostly through them being close to Skittery and Bumlets, who were his best friends – and he’d also do a lot for Boots or Snipeshooter, not to mention Splasher. Though Splasher would have come to Buttons for sure.

Swifty held the shirt he was doing something on closer to Buttons, showing a little cat on the hem of it, embroidered in black. “I’m puttin’ little cats on all of Skittery’s clothes to see when he notices. I’m runnin’ out of clothes actually.”

“Bold of you to assume he’s lookin’ at his clothes when he puts them on.”

“It’s still fun. Tumbler loves it, says Skitts is like a cat anyways.”

They talked a bit more, also about what they had stolen the last few days, laughing about some of the close escapes they’d had or reactions they got after stealing various things. Swifty even managed to get a whole dollar, not even wanting to show it, already having it stocked away somewhere. Not that Buttons would have stolen it from him… probably. It would have gotten him such good clothes and sewing equipment though.

It was tempting, but thief’s honour kept him from actually doing it.

A bit later Finch came in, just as Buttons was almost finished, looking eager to get his vest back. “You done yet?”

“Almost.”, he just said dismissively, Swifty snickering from his bunk.

“Let the man work. With how much you’re givin’ him one could think you’re doin’ it on purpose.” Before Finch could reply to that, Swifty had jumped up, shoved the newly embroidered shirt in Skittery’s drawer and quietly disappeared down the stairs, steps light as always.

Finch’s eyes widened a bit, and he looked apologetic. “I promise I ain’t doin’ it on purpose, Tadhg. Just happens.”

“Yeah yeah. You’re just a clumsy bird.” Jumping up, cutting off the last thread, he held out the vest, newly patched, almost looking like new. Or at least the same as before. “There you go. Don’t go and rip it open again, if you keep givin’ me that much business I will have you pay for it. Runnin’ out of thread with all this.”

“I’m sure you won’t lose your buttons though.”, Finch laughed, referring to how Buttons got his nickname, from having all his wits with him. Having his buttons in order, so to speak. It was one of the better nicknames anyhow, as it also fit with sewing.

Finch slipped into the vest and grinned, leaning forward and kissing Buttons’ cheek. “Thanks again, really. I’ll get you some thread or cloth or somethin’. Promise.”

He rolled his eyes. “Sure. Just don’t keep making people suspicious with all this. They’s bound to notice I treat you special.”

“Not that they’re wrong.”

“Finch.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He pecked his lips. “See you later.”

Buttons got to sew up two more of his clothes just this week.