#a side fic for lami lives

[purplehairedwonder]

I wish you would write a fic where… Law was trapped within his own mental space/mind and the only way out is an outsider baring witness to what basically amounts to his defining lifes moments.

Funny you say this, anon. I started a fic like this ages ago but never got past the first scene. The general plot was that Law gets hit by a devil fruit that traps him in a dream world, one where his family and Cora lived, and he starts forgetting his old life, but in the real world he's dying, so Luffy has to go into his dream to convince him to return to real life. Here's what's currently sitting in my WIP doc:

Law jolted awake to the sounds of banging at his door. He frowned. His crew only ever pounded on his door if it was an emergency. His muscles tensed, and he opened his mouth to reply, but the words died on his tongue as a female voice called from the other side of the door, “Law! Did you oversleep again? You’re going to be late for work!”

That wasn’t Ikkaku.

And when did Law oversleep?

Before Law could move, the door slammed open, revealing a young woman a couple of years younger than Law. She had brown hair and wore scrubs and an annoyed expression.

“Aha! You did oversleep again!” There was a mix of exasperation and fondness in her voice.

Law was certain he’d never seen her before. Except…

The young woman threw her arms up in the air. “I’m not going to cover for you with Dad today. You still owe me from the last time.”

Law’s breath caught in his throat. Dad?

“Lami?” he breathed out incredulously before his brain could remind him that Lami had died in a fire waiting for Law to save her from the closet he’d placed her in.

“What?” his little sister demanded. “Don’t give me that puppy dog look, Law. I’m not going to fall for it again. Just because you’re the top cardiothoracic surgeon in Flevance doesn’t mean you always get to keep people waiting.”

Flevance?

And that was when Law realized, glancing around the room illuminated by the light in the hallway, that this was not his room on the Polar Tang.

He had to be dreaming, Law realized as he stared at the grown-up version of his little sister. It wasn’t unusual that Law would dream of his family, though this was a new one. He more regularly dreamt of their deaths, or, when his brain was feeling particularly self-flagellating, his family discovering what he had done—who he had become—in the wake of their deaths, the disappointment driving him into wakefulness.

But this… this was something new.

Even if this was a dream, it still felt like a gift somehow.

“Lami,” he repeated wonderingly. He wasn’t sure he’d dreamt of her as an adult before; she was perpetually the little girl Law had loved and failed to protect in his dreams. Seeing his subconscious’s prediction of what she would have looked like had she grown up took his breath away; she was beautiful.

Something in her expression softened. “There’s coffee in the kitchen. Hurry your ass up, big brother,” she said before turning and leaving the room.

His chest aching, Law pulled the covers off and put his bare feet on the carpeted floor. With a sigh, he reached for the lamp on the bedside table and turned it on. He glanced around the room, noting the messy desk and overstuffed bookshelves that weren’t so different than his captain’s quarters on the Tang. The walls were sparsely decorated, but his eyes were immediately drawn to a framed picture on the bedside table.

Hands shaking, Law picked up the frame and looked down at a picture of the Trafalgar family; his parents, bookending the picture, smiled widely for the camera as Law’s father had an arm around Law’s (who looked to be in his early 20s) shoulders and his mother held onto Lami’s (who would’ve been in her late teens). There were no white spots on anyone’s skin.

He felt a pressure building behind his eyes, so put the frame down and rubbed his face through his hands. He wasn’t sure what had brought this dream on, and, if past was prologue, it was bound to turn into a nightmare sooner rather than later. These brief moments of reprieve were welcome, nonetheless.

Not knowing what else to do, Law pushed himself out of bed and into the hallway. He followed the bitter aroma of coffee to the kitchen, where an empty mug sat next to a coffee maker. He poured a cup and took a sip, looking out over the space. If Lami had woken him up, they must live together in this dream world. The kitchen was tidy—probably didn’t get much use if both occupants were doctors—and the living room had a couch, two chairs, and a coffee table with some books and flowers as decoration.

Law wasn’t sure where it came from, but he had the sudden sense that he and his sister had always gotten along well here. He shut his eyes and let his mind drift, subconscious filling in the details of his dream life.

Law had moved out of the Trafalgar home once he’d graduated med school and had started practicing. Once Lami had started her residency in pediatrics, Law had suggested she move in with him, as his place was close by. Both Trafalgar siblings were younger than their peers in med school and during their residencies, having the advantage of their parents being two of the top doctors in the country and the training that came with it. Any talk of nepotism was quickly dispelled as they displayed their exceptional skills.

Law opened his eyes. It was a nice dream, and Law couldn’t remember the last time he’d had one. He really shouldn’t be complaining, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

After finishing his cup of coffee, Law went back to his dream self’s bedroom and let his dream self’s muscle memory take him through his morning routine. He and Lami were out the door only a couple of minutes later than they should have been. Somehow Law knew they were walking toward Flevance General Hospital, and Lami—more of a morning person than Law would ever be—oohed and aahed at the way the pinks and oranges of the sunrise reflected off the white buildings and roads, as though she didn’t see the same thing every morning. (Of course she didn’t. Flevance had burned years ago, taking the Trafalgar family with it.) Her zest for life was what made her such a good doctor and helped her connect with the kids she worked with.

They entered the hospital, waving to the receptionist at the front and greeting fellow doctors and nurses as they made their way to the break room. Law’s mind filled in the names and faces of each person, some he remembered from his childhood and others he must be imagining.

“There you are!”

Law looked up from the locker he was putting his jacket in and exchanging for his white coat. His breath caught in his throat as his father walked through the doors. He had more gray hair and lines on his face than when Law had last seen him, but he looked happy.

And alive.

“Dad,” Law breathed.

Law started as his father threw an arm around his shoulders. “I hope you didn’t oversleep again, Law. You know you don’t need to stay up until all hours reading case studies. A good doctor—”

“Is a well-rested doctor,” Law found himself finishing, though he didn’t know where that had come from.

His father chuckled. “Exactly.” He let Law go and turned to look at both his children. “Your mother expects you both for a late dinner tonight, so don’t forget.”

Lami elbowed Law in the side. “He means you.”

Law rolled his eyes. “Thanks, Lams. I hadn’t figured that one out.”

“You’re always working so hard, son. We don’t see you enough at home.”

“Sorry,” Law said, finding it surprisingly easy to fall into this character. He’d spent more than a decade imagining what it would be like, after all.

“Never apologize for helping people, Law. But don’t forget to help yourself, okay?” his father said.

“I’ll be there tonight,” Law groused good-naturedly.

His father chuckled and headed out of the door. “Lami will make sure of it.”

Lami saluted her father as he left then turned to Law. “Don’t forget to eat something between patients today, yeah?”

“Stop fussing,” he muttered, mussing Lami’s hair.

She stuck her tongue out at him and then headed out of the room. Law shut the locker and leaned back against it, crossing his arms. This was the life he’d dreamed of having as a child, the one that had been torn from him. And it was kind of perfect.

Send me an anymous (or not) summary of the fic you wish I would write. (maybe I will write a tidbit)

[chromatic-lamina]

Any number you haven't yet answered but want to for the writer ask meme!

Heh-heh! Great ask ❤️

26. Would you rather write a fic that had no dialogue or one that was only dialogue? One with no dialogue, because I can always throw in reported speech and thought processes. Takes a particular skill to make a fic that is all dialogue authentic and interesting.

28. Does anyone read your fics before you post them? If so, who? Sometimes. I won't name 'em cos' I don't want to clutter up their notifications, but especially for exchanges, or if I've used someone's art (with permission) as inspiration, or for zines, etc.

37. Promote one of your own “deep cut” fics (an underrated one, or one that never got as much traction as you think it deserves!). What do you like about it? Okay, I guess the most recent is valuta from the Corazine (aftersales almost finished, but that's just an aside). I thought I did a pretty good job on portraying what the Donquixote brothers went through, also Cora's relationship with Sengoku and Law, and then Law with Sengoku, but maybe it was too much for the word count. It got very little interaction in the way of comments, at least. I like the KidLaw fics I did for the 2022 exchange and for the OP secret santa that year, but they remain two of my least popular fics (in terms of hits).

I like valuta for story parallels (Cora and Doffy, Law and Lami, etc.). I like the KidLaw fics because they make me laugh.

38. Did any of your fics get surprisingly popular (whatever that means to you)? Which ones? Why do you think they were so successful? Yeah. I think I've answered this before, and it's not massively popular compared to some fandom behemoths, but the Usopp vs the Heart Pirates fic: Dark like the North Blue Sea (aka The Sea-Hill you Die On) . I think it grew in popularity because it's canon compliant (also, maybe funny). Once a fic gets a certain number of kudos or hits too, it feeds its popularity growth, because people sort by kudos and hits, so all those hidden gems remain hidden! I'm happy that people enjoy it though!

43. If you take/write prompts: what’s your favorite prompt fic that you’ve written? Probably the one that @afterdeck-ace gave me of: Chopper and Law talking about courage or Jolly Rogers. They're talking about both in softening the fall of snow. That's followed or on par with screen / shiki-e, which was inspired by a tsute doodle. You can see the doodle and links to tsute's art on the AO3 page.

47. If [taxi] was a pair of shoes, what kind would it be? Describe the shoes.

Her jeans cost more than his weekly pay, hell — monthly— and her sneakers were scuffed and used in a way that hid or emphasised their one-of-a-kind design. Pretty cool. A red tonbo — dragonfly — from what he could see, stretched from the toe, its thorax and segmented body running along one side of the shoe, a blue chrysanthemum and pond reeds rising from the heel and undulating in the air below the insect.

I used a ref for that, but can't remember where I sourced it from.

I changed a few things, and the maker's name is on the jpg, fortunately!

48. What’s the last fic you read? Do you recommend it?

Yes! I recommend it: Ours lives like sand in the gears of the world by @afterdeck-ace (Lily_Amazon). A platonic Law & Robin ficlet that explores the parallels and differences between them so well.

Also, a quick but satisfying read (sounds like Borsalino's possible reflection on Akainu) with this fic, In The Dappled Sun. Lemon mentioned (tumblr's being silly with throwing out community settings left, right and centre, so sorry for the return to FFN vocab). Fic author @kookoofufu

Am continuing to read saltyrock's It Takes a Lot to Know a Man but haven't read the latest chapter yet. LawBin and CrocoBin. Endgame LawBin.

There's a lot of good stuff out there, and so little time!

[wordsdrippinginink]

Sooooo what’s ace &or the rest of The WBP up to at this point in time of the Lami lives au?

“You’re playing this close to the chest,” Marco states when the rest of the commanders have left them. He doesn’t move closer, adjusting his seat as he watches Pops. “And you involving Shanks in something as simple as raiding Impel Down for Ace seems like overkill.”

Pops looks tired as he leans back in his chair, “Son, there’s some answers that I can’t give you. That Ace wouldn’t like me to give you.”

“So it is about his family,” Marco snorts at the look that Pops directs at him. “I might not know about who his family is, but I know enough. I know that Ace hates his father and you knew him. I know that Ace worries that his mother would hate him for going to sea. That he wishes that he knew more about her.”

“I can’t give you anything, son. If Ace hasn’t told you-”

“Then the marines will. You aren’t planning a raid, are you?”

Pops doesn’t flinch, but Marco knows it’s close, he knows his father well, “We won’t arrive in time.”

“You think they’ll try to execute him that quickly? I don’t think they would risk your wrath. Our armada isn’t weak, why would you need Shanks to fight off something like this?”

“Ace told me his father’s name once,” Pops says after a moment. Marco can see the way the knowledge settles over his shoulders. “I knew him and he was a good man, you liked him as much as you like anyone, but I also know that the marines would have killed Ace for his father even if he had wanted to be a marine. I know that Shanks would never let him die. I know that this will be a declaration of war that we haven never even considered before.”

“Pops?”

Pops takes a moment before his eyes close and he asks something that isn’t tangentially related, “Do you remember, the last time we saw Roger?”

How can Marco forget? They had been lingering in Paradise because Roger had asked a favor of a meeting, even with his crew disbanded Pops hadn’t hesitated to meet him. The last time that Marco would see the Pirate King until his execution pictures had circled in the papers.

“He said that his future was secured, I think you assumed that he planned to be killed. But Roger would never have said that, not the way that you believed, not that I thought differently for a long time.”

“Pops?”

“My children secure my future. I told him that, once a very long time ago.”

“Roger had, he had a kid?”

“If one doesn’t count Shanks, but who remembers the brat who would sneak into battles. Buggy doesn’t count, he was more Rayleigh’s protege then Roger’s,” Pops taps his sake jug. “Roger had a child.”

“What does this have to do with-,” Marco cuts himself off, heart shuddering to a halt in his chest. Because he remembers Roger, he remembers the man and the way he had acted, his looks. “That’s, that’s why you’re calling in Shanks?”

“Even if Roger’s child refused to acknowledge their father because of what they grew up knowing of him, I don’t think that Roger’s allies would allow the child to die, do you?”

Marco nods slowly, “That’s why we’re going to Marineford, isn’t it? Because where else would they risk his execution? It’s a triumph and they will want to share it,” he doesn’t need confirmation. “We have to decide what will be done with Squard, as much as he cares for Ace, he would never forgive you for hiding this.”

“Mhm, I had hoped that he would understand that all are children of the sea,” he sighs. “What will you do with this knowledge, son?”

“I’m going to tell the commanders. They won’t care and it’s better if the shock of the announcement doesn’t put them out of commission. Do you think that Shanks will help us?”

Pops hums thoughtfully, “I think that he isn’t the man I thought he was if he decided not to. May I have the denden now?”

The snail feels like lead as Marco takes it from his pocket and sets it on the table, “I’ll take my leave now.”

“Good night son.”

Marco closes the door behind him and leans heavily against it for a long moment before shoving himself upright. Pops wasn’t as strong as he use to be, Marco didn’t think it was far fetched to think that he wouldn’t survive the battle or not make it long after, he needed to plan for that. He had to tell the others, he-

He wanted to go back. He wanted to stop Ace, save Thatch, to change what had happened, but most of all, Marco wanted to go back to that day that they had last seen Roger and get more from him. To make sure that Ace didn’t grow up thinking he was better of dead, because that was impossible to miss when the kid didn’t have an ounce of self preservation.

“We thought that would take less time,” Vista states lifting himself off the crate he had been on, in the hidden room deep in the ship that the commanders used for times like this. “Pops must have told you something.”

Marco glances at his siblings and hopes that he isn’t wrong to trust them, “he had to be less direct than he wanted, he had a promise to keep.”

“Why wouldn’t we go to Impel Down,” Haruta demands. “I can get us the building plans-”

“Ace won’t be kept there for long. Pops is certain he’s going to be executed in the next three days,” Marco sighs. “It seems that Ace’s parentage was more important than we assumed.”

It was a running joke in the lead up to Ace’s announcement that he would join them. Guess who put Ace up to killing Pops because that’s all he ever said on the subject, ‘that man couldn’t take him’. 

“A marine?” Izo asks, because there’s been a number of marines that had their pirate relations quickly and quietly executed.

“A noble?”

Marco takes a breath, a moment because he knows what Vista and Jozu will say, “A Pirate,” he wonders if they can tell it’s more title than normal. “King.”

“You’re joking,” Kingdew whispers almost falling from his seat. “You’re not, you can’t be-”

“Pops says that Ace told him his father’s name once and then spoke of the last time we saw Roger and how he said-”

“his future was secured,” Jozu finishes. “I see. This changes nothing, except my understanding of where he got his monstrous strength.”

“He’s still our brother,” Jiro agrees. “But it makes sense. Why he would want to take Pops. Roger never actually defeated, defeated him.”

Marco knows this is going to take hours, because they’re his siblings but they’re going to need time before they can go back to their divisions and pretend that they haven’t learned something like this. He wishes that it wouldn’t.

Marco closes his eyes for a fraction of a second, because he wants to go back to his room and hide himself away. He wants to make sure that he’s planned for everything, because he wants Ace to come home.

“Wasn’t expecting a call from you,” Shanks says and the denden mushi never does as good a job relaying the narrowed eyed look. “Not after how you reacted the last time we spoke.”

“Things have changed,” Whitebeard feels his age, feels the way his medication makes him tired and knows he’s not going to live through this fight. Either his body will give out or he will die for his family. “Tell me something Shanks, would would you do to protect Roger’s legacy?”

[sashi-ya]

~💟 Sashi's Valentine's Corner 💟~

🧩 Mini Story Sfw ~ Donquixote Rosinante x F! Reader ft. little Law~ A Feverish Date

a/n: So as promised this is the little side story from Law's interactive one: Locked Love! You can read this one if you haven't read the interactive one, though! (I swear it is even sweeter if you read both).

a/n2: So, this is as always the same family I've created with Cora, little Law (7 -10 y/o), Reader & their baby Lammy. There is a whole series of fics where there are featured, you can find them here.

tw: Only love and fluffiness.

wc: 1,7K

“Help me, Law!! You call me Corazón and I can’t think of something romantic enough for mamma” Rosinante begs, rolling on the ground, throwing a tantrum so his son can help him. “I’m just a kid, Cora-san. How the hell am I supposed to know what the fuck buy to her for valentine’s?” a little bean of grey eyes and caramel skin protests.

“Law! Language!” Rosi scolds him but keeps looking at the kid with puppy eyes.

“Fine… fine… I’ll think about something”

Law is no older than 10, yet he has a mature way of thinking already. He has overcome his illness three years ago and now lives a happy life with “Cora-san” and (Name), his adoptive parents. The little bean, despite being intelligent and mature, is still a child and enjoys dearly his mom and dad’s cuddles and smooches. Law got a new chance in life, and he will live it as long as his body allows him to do so…

“I know, you can take her on a cliché date, like the ones she sees when watching dramas” the bean tells his dad, who has tried to stand up and fall back as he has stepped on Lami’s Legos. Lami, Law’s little sister is already two years old and is now with her mom spending the afternoon at the shopping mall.

Rosinante runs to his phone, hitting his pinkie with the table but still manages to open the explorer to search for some romantic restaurants. “What about this one?” he asks, showing his child a romantic Thai restaurant on the screen.

Law frowns and narrows his eyes. “You know Thai food is mostly spicy, don’t you?” He questions his dad. “So?” Cora asks, genuinely confused. “MUM HATES SPICY FOOD!!”

“FUCK!” Rosi swears, feeling guilty for forgetting such an important detail about his wife. “LANGUAGE….” Law says, trying to outsmart his daddy with a rogue smirk. Soon the kiddo runs from his sister's room towards him as Rosinante runs behind him to trap his sneaky smarty boy.

Since Cora had more than a week since Valentine’s Day, they quickly forgot and went downstairs to prepare dinner for the princesses of that house that night…

Some days after…

Little Law waited for his mum to go to sleep and soon snatched her phone to text Cora. He was serving duty during that night at the Marine base, so Law expected for his dad to be up at the office.

▶ Law: Cora-san, I was thinking about the perfect date for mum and you. And I made an itinerary for you to follow. 📎 1 file attached:

▶ Cora: Son, you are amazing. I didn’t know you were such a romantic “man”… ▶ Law: take it or leave it. I studied mum’s k-dramas to the fullest for research. ▶ Cora: son, you actually shouldn’t be watching those… and about not having any more sisters… Law we should speak about it… ▶ Law: I know how babies are made, I’ve studied that already… and ew… you and mum… just EW! ▶ Cora: Law!!!!

After the messaging session in which Cora realized his son was still awake at 2 in the morning and sent him to sleep right away, he started searching the web in order to find the best gift for her lover…

“Should I buy her something she needs? or maybe something to eat?” he asks himself, scrolling endlessly through every single web page advertising the perfect surprises for wives. “Maybe something spicy… we haven’t had any good interaction since the kids want to sleep with us every night”

He felt absolutely naughty for surfing such websites, as innocent as Cora can be, the simple thought of ordering some “vibrating panties” and “chocolate flavoured lube” made him blush in embarrassment. Yet he still placed the order that was supposed to be there the next day, perfect timing for a steamy valentine’s date… maybe Law didn’t want a sister, but surely Cora wouldn’t mind trying for another one…

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ…

“Happy Valentine’s Day, my beautiful wife” the soft, sweet voice of your husband wakes you up. Cora kisses your cheek, while the beautiful sun rays filter through the window. A cold morning in February with him always feels like an eternal spring day. “Morning, sweetheart. Happy Valentine’s” you mumble, snuggling against his chest. Cora has arrived from his night shift some hours ago and sneaked into your bed softly enough not to wake you up (frankly, that’s incredible. Rosinante always stabs his pinkie with the bed and wakes you up).

“What time is it? Have you slept for a few hours, baby?” you ask, getting drunk with the scent of his skin. Your fingertips trace the little remains of old scars all over his skin and thank God for him being next to you every morning.

“I have slept enough, it’s 10 am. The kids are still asleep…” he mumbles, in a weird but suggestive tone. “Rosinante Donquixote… are we celebrating from this early? I love it” you giggle, so ready for a little couple time.

He covers you both with the blankets, creating a perfect refuge of love and passion. Sloppy kisses, full of love, cuddling romantically… “Wanna try for a new baby, mommy?” he asks, whispering, all naughty and hyped. “Bet!” you mumble, excited, so ready for it… “HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY MOMMY AND CORAAA!!!” you hear, two bouncing weights, no more than 30 kilograms in total over your and your husband’s legs. “I definitely don’t want any more babies…” you think, while your son and daughter jump over you.

“GUYS, GUYS! STOP IT” you tell little Law and baby Lammy, because when they are together, they are absolutely unstoppable.

Lammy jumps over Cora, smearing boogers over his dadda’s cheeks. Law, grimacing at that image and while clenching over you informs you about your daughter's diagnosis (because he acts tough, but whenever he needs cuddles, he turns into full kid mode)

“Mum, Lammy seems to have a cold” he tells you. “Uhh… apparently. What about you? Are you feeling sick? You look a little blushed” you ask him, because a mother’s eye (and a paediatrician’s) never fails to identify a fever.

He instantly jumps off bed. “I’m ok, mum!” he assures and runs out of the room. You hear him sneeze over the hall, and Cora and you look at each other, with suspicious looks.

The thing is Law hates to be sick. He doesn't want to put a single foot on a hospital if it’s not for learning or working -thank God he is still in third grade-. Ever since his saturnism was gone, he hated to be medically treated. He despises needles on his body (we will see when he turns 18 and the tattoo craze hits him) and he denies every pain or slight cold not to worry you…

The day went by with Law getting out of his room only for lunch and the bathroom. You checked on him several times, but as long as he didn’t show any sign of fever you wouldn’t intervene. Law needs his space, he is not a normal child.

After Cora surprised you with the dinner invitation it was time to get the kids ready for their little trip to Sengoku’s house…

“Lammy, come here, let me blow your nose” you tell your younger baby, while checking on her to see if she was running a fever or not. Luckily, she isn’t. But there is another child to check up on.

Cora and you have decided that if any of the babies felt a little bit bad you will go have dinner another day, and Law wasn’t very fond of the idea… “I CREATED THIS ITINEDADY BY MYDSELFD! I DOND’T WANTD TO RDUIN THE DATE, CODA-SAN! IT’S JUSTD A DITTLE FEVED��� you hear Law shouting from the other room. Lammy looks at you scared, sure his Law-ni was throwing the biggest tantrum.

You finish cleaning your daughter’s nose and take her hand to walk to the other room.

“What’s going on?” you ask, seeing Law absolutely annoyed with his dad, and Cora trying to act like a strict parent -failing miserably, because he is just too sweet to scold his son-. “SON, YOUR BRAIN WILL MELT! YOU ARE RUNNING A HIGH FEVER!”

And indeed, the poor kiddo has his eyes glossy and his cheeks red. He is of course running a fever, and his stuffed nose makes him talk in a funny way. “Law-ni? ade u feeling okeid?” his little sister asks, making Law realize you are watching him shout from the door.

You walk lovingly towards him, placing your palm on his burning forehead. “A future doctor denying the dangerous side effects of having a high fever?” you question him, using the best vocabulary that Law could understand; a doctor’s one. “I am dot… but… I dond’t wadda ruin dyour date… you ad in dlove and I’m duining this” he confesses, with sad eyes.

Cora smiles sweetly, your child is amazing…

“Law… It doesn’t matter where you go and what you do when you are in love, it only matters to be together with the person you love the most…” Cora says, hugging his son.

“That’s right, son. This house, you and your sister, are the people we love the most…” you tell him, kissing his forehead.

Lammy, as little as she is, after his brother taught her how to use it, comes running with your Polaroid camera and takes the sweetest photo that Law brings on his wallet up until today… ❤ ~

Happy Valentine’s Day! ~

[chromatic-lamina]

Some parts of Japan start obon a month earlier than others, keeping in line with the lunar solar calendar adopted in the Meiji era, rather than the solar lunar calendar. My part of the country is one of them, and it’s a rainy day today (rainy season has extended itself this year). But it eased up a bit and the mostly older generation with their grandkids light small fires (迎え火, mukaebi) on the pavement outside their houses or businesses to welcome ancestors home. Candles will be set on the river in four days or so to wish ancestors safe journeys back to the afterlife, but I don’t know if that will happen this year with the shut down of festivals due to covid 19. The Tanabata festival was cancelled this year. Anyway, I wrote about it in an op fic, and I still love the images it evokes as much as I love seeing those flames flicker in kitchen pots and pans and sometimes the correct utensil for the job; folks squatting over them, guarding and stoking them, guiding loved ones into their urban homes.

Law and Marco also have a lot of ancestors to welcome of course. When it’s time to farewell them I hope I remember to post that section too. I’ve posted an excerpt from a fic below, and I’ll post a link to the chapter, because it’s safe, but it’s from a dark work, so if you decide to proceed with it, make sure you read all warnings and tags. The following is fine, but the fic is rated E.

Marco and Law squatted outside their house. The air thick, the sky blue, as usual. Both wore flip-flops and cotton to beat the humidity. A towel hung around the Phoenix's neck. He lifted its edges and wiped sweat from his brow.

Torn up papers, sticks of incense, a few twigs, bits of wood, a pine cone or two, all rested in an old frying pan they used once a year. They lit the bundle inside it to guide their ancestors home. There were traditional bowls for this purpose, but they'd never got around to buying one, and using the old, beaten up pan had become part of their ritual. Many fires were lit directly onto the earth below.

There were no nearby neighbours, having bought the house for its space and view, but in the town below, outside the beach shack, and all around the island, in the small houses that surrounded Law's surgery, and in the coastal fishing huts, inhabitants were likewise lighting small evening fires, or switching on electrical lanterns to mark the way home for their loved ones.

Law leaned over to the charcoal-fired, portable grill resting on the asphalt, and turned two skewered fish; Aji marinated with soy and sesame. He pulled two beers from the icebox, stood and passed one to Marco.

He took it with thanks, and ran a fan back and forth across the smouldering pile, trying to get it to flare up. Law sat on their stoop, and popped his beer. Mercury, dog number three, moseyed over, and Law nuzzled her, then pulled two pieces of jerky for her from his pocket.

Once the wee beacon was ablaze, Marco joined him, having plated the fish, and thrown a few thick-sliced erengi mushrooms onto the grill. Law stretched to the ice box again for lemon, which he put on the side of the plate.

The dog devoured her jerky in a couple of bites, and stared at the men intently, her tail moving slowly, matching her instincts, ready to pounce if one of them dropped a scrap of meat. Once she realised that neither was going to be clumsy or feed her, she stretched out, nearest Law, head on paws.

Lamie's favourite soft drink and Whitebeard's favourite sake sat by the altar, as did small samples of all the drinks and food favoured by the others. 

Law didn't always know or remember, so he took a guess based on the scant knowledge he had. Tea for his father, and he liked to think his mother had a spot of Kureha in her, so he'd put out a thimbleful of whiskey.

All prepared, the two pirate lovers waited for their rough and tumble makeshift family to once more cross their threshold. Ace had a few people to visit, but Marco knew some time would be spent with Law and himself, or more precisely, with him. Sabo and Garp were visiting Luffy, so Freckles wouldn't have to cover too much distance to catch up with everyone else once he left their own tea-towel strewn abode. If Luffy had eaten all the offerings, Ace might be back sooner than expected.

Cora, too, needed to visit Sengoku, but Law's small nuclear family stayed for the whole four days. He felt that Cora probably spent more time with him than the ex-admiral, but who really knew? Young Law had only known Rocinante (and never to address him by his true name) for such a short period of time, and had been without him for so long. Sengoku had raised him, and Law couldn't begrudge him that.

Of course the Heart and Whitebeard two didn't see them, they weren't even sure if they could feel them. Whatever breeze might blow caught the furin bells, but the days were usually still. The spirits also languorous in the heat.

Law and Marco remembered them though, and all they had done for them, and all the two living men had been unable to do for them. They hoped their decisions made them proud, for, in so many ways, Marco and Law had their lives, because their loved ones had given up theirs, had them taken away from them.

This is a link to the last chapter of that fic which features this section, but it is a very dark fic (though ends with hope). So if you decide to read the whole, please heed the tags and warnings. That chapter is safe.