#afterdeck ace

[chromatic-lamina]

Heya! 💞 💝 🪄

Hello, lovely Lily!

I answered 💝 here!

💞what's the most important part of a story for you? the plot, the characters, the worldbuilding, the technical stuff (grammar etc), the figurative language

Story is king. Even in a character study, something has to happen. All the rest works towards making it happen. Many of my stories might actually start with a scene, though, or a piece of dialogue, and unfold from there, but there needs to be some kind of movement (even if it's mental) at some point.

🪄what is your post-writing/sharing aftercare? How do you take care of yourself or celebrate yourself when you've finished a fic?

Obsessively checking my stats. So not well at all. Hahah. Actually, if I'm too anxious, I know that there'll always be things I need to edit/didn't catch in a published piece, especially if I've published too early, so I'll work on that to take my mind off reception. If I'm writing a multi-chap, and I finished a chapter as opposed to a whole piece, I'll try to work on the next chapter (which is usually in progress), or some part of the story, to again wean me away from unhealthy habits. Sometimes I'll head out for a walk. It's a blessing if I have work, because then other things replace stats checking! Again, it's relying on extrinsic validation, so not that healthy, but the first comment really does a lot to let a fic settle with me. With stories that don't get comments, or much in the way of other feedback, I try to value what I have received and fight the urge to delete soon after publication until it passes (and the urge usually passes). Ahh. Sometimes I'm not successful. It's nothing at all against readers, and not a guilt trip, but for me it's hard to keep some work up if it seems that it's nobody's cup of tea. And I know that sometimes your readers come along well after publication, so it is an unhealthy outlook. I have a few fics I've taken down (still on FFN though!). So, my aftercare is maybe trying to keep my shit together 😉 and, like for long fics that get a comment or two on completion (or none), oof, just gotta roll with that and tell myself I was happy writing indulgent stuff without audiences for a very long time, so not to put too much weight into reception. But it's also a relief it's done, and I maybe write some one shots to keep the creative vibe going, and to celebrate having finished writing a whole lotta words. Haha. I don't know. I guess I should have a ceremony or something.

Thank you, Lily!

I’ve answered ✨ 💫 📡 , 🤲 , 🌈 , ☯️ , 🎈💥 🎀 🌻💌 💝 🌿🤍💞 🪄 And will soon answer 🕯️ 💎: The ask is here if anyone else wants to ask! Although I think that means only 8 icons are left, and I'm just as happy to leave it here. Thank you so much for the ask(s)!!!

[xiwi01]

Someday I'll understand how art works. For now, I'm enjoying the learning process. I want to leave some register of these because my PC might die soon and I'm a disaster at making back-ups. Here they are in chronological order:

Yes, I know, I didn't understand positions. Or colors. BUT this was the first serious attempt at drawing since I was 10 years old. And my first attempt at digital art too. So, idk, it could've been much worse.

And this was me trying to do lineart in paper for the first time.

I personally like this one. I made it after I read @afterdeck-ace's incredible fic in AO3 (sorry. I posted it like a year and a half late). @deateath made the original art and it's amazing. Go read the fic, you won't regret it!

A gory Demonio Fleur to try the watercolor markers. I still don't get them. But I had fun nonetheless.

This is my most recent attempt at drawing. Considering I didn't plan to draw this or color it, I think it turned out well enough.

[hergan416]

Writing Patterns

Rules: list the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there's a pattern!

I got tagged by @afterdeck-ace while I was at a work conference and so I'm only just getting to this now.

This should be interesting because I feel very strongly that my writing has changed since joining the yuumori fandom, and the last time I was tagged in this meme, I was still writing for the One Piece & Yugioh fandoms.

10. The Problem (Moriarty the Patriot, Allou, Rated M(ature), Underage)

It wasn't a problem that he could turn to his brother about.

9. Midnight Stroll (Moriarty the Patriot, Louiliam, Rated E(xplicit), Rape/Noncon, Somnophilia)

Louis wakes to a loud noise as the door to his room opens too quickly and slams against the wall. A muffled thud and a grunt follows, as the door ricochets off the wall and hits the intruder on the rebound.

8. Courses (Moriarty the Patriot, Allou, Rated E(xplicit), Underage)

“It's such a waste of a pretty face. I have heard the only one he willingly serves is that orphan tramp he calls a brother.”

7. No Limits (Moriarty the Patriot, Sherlouis, Rated E(xplicit), Graphic Depictions of Violence, Dubious Consent, Under-Negotiated Kink)

The guilty conductor was carted off the train at Grantham. And Sherlock’s words still burned in Louis’ ears.

6. Date Night (Moriarty the Patriot, Bondson, Rated T(een), Canon-Typical Violence)

There was a flash of silver. One of the targets had a gun. One of the targets had a gun and it was trained on Fred.

5. Starvation (Moriarty the Patriot, Allou, Rated M(ature), Underage)

The problem has only grown exasperated.

4. The Depths of a Mountain (Moriarty the Patriot, Sherlouis, Rated T(een), No Archive Warnings Apply)

“Come with me.”

3. Day 1: Fashion (Moriarty the Patriot, Sherlock Holmes and many, willsherbert, Rated M(ature), No Archive Warnings Apply)

A young man sat cross-legged upon the matted gray carpet of the library. It appeared he had moved a perfectly usable coffee table from its position between several overstuffed cloth chairs– missing backs and arms, as was want for public areas on campus– to take its place. He had spread an array of papers before him: they curved around his body in a half-circle reminiscent of a pale rainbow, but he seemed to derive little pleasure from their existence.

2. Day 4: Indulgence (Moriarty the Patriot, Sherlouis, Rated M(ature), Dubious Consent, Drug Use) *this fic was co-written with @vitya-nikiforova & the first line is mostly her writing, although I think it echoes the structure I started out with.

The apartment felt oppressively still in that quiet summer evening.

The Affair of Unforeseen Consequences (Moriarty the Patriot, Mycal, Rated E(xplicit), Contains untagged content that some readers may find upsetting to avoid spoilers)

Mycroft entered his office to find the seat to his desk thoroughly occupied.

Patterns: Alright! so I find that I have returned to much shorter opening paragraphs! Except for my Sherlock studying paragraph, my fics seem to open with one or two lines... although one fic truly began in the author's notes where the tiktok edit that it was based on was transcribed.

There is a mixture of action, scene setting, and introspection, which seems to be more attuned with the story I'm telling. I have a mixture of tenses even (and I know my fics are starting to mix tenses as a result 😬).

Maybe in the morning I'll see something different - really the thing I was noticing the most as I typed all that up was that my archive warnings have gotten more varied 😂

Tagging @seeingteacupsindragons @user-needs-new-hyperfixation @touchmycoat @nenya85 @kaibacorpintern @bum-scum @cawcawkarasu @vitya-nikiforova @winxhelina and anyone else who would like to participate.

[chromatic-lamina]

Izou is stylish, elegant, amazing, funny, capable, and gorgeous and had his fans long before we even knew about O-Kiku. The rapport between him and Marco is hilarious and he’s a great fighter. Both Izou annd Kiku are gorgeous and they loved each other, so I think we can too. (Also, we were robbed, as @afterdeck-ace says. Wish we’d had more of him).

Also いぞう (Izou) is strictly correct, but non-Japanese often cannot hear the /う/, which tends to extend the vowel (like Yuuki), so that type of diphthong (if it could be called that) is sometimes transliterated Izō (which covers all bases), but many people choose to Romanise their names without the extra vowel, so it’s not incorrect.

Okay, One Piece fans. Please explain Izou. I know he has his fans, but I feel like, unfortunately, he is the ugly sibling overshadowed by his much more attractive sister. I mean, it's not his fault that his sister is a 10-ft tall trans goddess with a sword. At least he gets points for being the world's most supportive brother. But seriously, what do you guys see in him other than like a fashionista best friend

Defend your Blurbo #56

Please remember this post is about curiosity and genuine fandom discourse. Be kind with your answers because this is not a debate essay, this is a discussion between fans

Meet Izou or Izo. I'm still not sure which spelling is correct from One Piece. He is the Commander of the 16th division of the Whitebeard Pirates. And yes, he has a younger sister named Kikunojo, whom everyone seems to focus on more than him. But again, she is 9 and 1/2 feet tall, and he is only 6'3, and you should know how Tumblr gets about big ladies

Here's a picture of them together for those not in the one-piece fandom. So, One Piece fandom defend your blorbo

[belphegor1982]

afterdeck-ace replied to your post: Alors, vu que @garnetrena nous mijote un petit...

   Père Blaise prof doc ET animateur du club chorale ? (Parce que les deux idées sont trop bonnes et franchement je tuerais pour le voir aller réclamer du fric à Venec pour commander des bouquins). Le reste est aussi hilarant que génial ! Mention spéciale pour Guenièvre en COP/PsyEN.    

Oooh, ben voilà !! Autant j’aime toujours l’idée du Père Blaise prof de musique, autant je préfère pencher du côté archiviste, donc prof doc ET animateur du club chorale!? Parfait ! Manque plus qu’à décider qui est le prof de musique, parce que j’aimerais bien voir le Père Blaise super salty que ce.tte prof a une heure de chorale et que ça empiète sur son domaine à lui :D

[dandunn]

🤝 Share a line that introduces a character, for the WIP excerpts ask?

I rather like Marco’s introduction line in Marked for Death:

“Hey Marco! You gonna help out around here?” the second division commander bellowed at a man perched at the front of the ship. “You’re not pretty enough to be a figurehead!”

I think it’s funny and establishes Ace and Marco’s relationship pretty fast. Also this line that foreshadows what kind of relationship Marco and Assassin!Sanji are gonna have

For a brief moment Sanji locked eyes with the first division commander as he flew overhead. Marco’s hooded eyes narrowed in curiosity, his yellow tuft of hair fluttered, then he was swiftly diving, disappearing off to the mess hall.

[daonepiece]

MERMAY 2021 - 08 Hachi is for Hatchan Hatchan - Octopus Pappagu - Starfish Camie - Kissing Gourami Shakuyaku - Giant Manta Ray Funfact: Giant Manta Ray is a sociable species, they can travel alone or in huge group, they can even associate with other fish, sea birds or marine mammals. A group of ray is called a "fever". Funfact no2: 08/05 | Happy Birthday to Shakuyaku!

==================== A request from @lofi-coffee and @afterdeck-ace

I planned day 8 for Hatchan group but it's Shakky's birthday as well, so I decided to draw them together. Family time!! Ray's missing here but we still have a ray Thank you, I hope you will enjoy this piece! 😤💞

[deateath]

💫✏️🏴‍☠️ 2nd piece for One Piece Reverse Bang '22! 💫✏️🏴‍☠️

••• for the love of all things holy please click for better quality •••

She’d been barely conscious back then, bleeding out on the mausoleum’s stone. Here lies Nico Robin, buried under the stones of her own disillusion. What an epitaph it would have been. If it weren’t for the antidote she offered to the unconscious victor. If it weren’t for Luffy taking her out of that crumbling place by force, not listening to any of her protests. Just because he could and wanted to.

Letting out another deep breath, Robin faced the deck, giving the vast space a once-over…Her fingers still running over the wooden railing, she whispered. “Let’s take care of each other, Sunny.”

Once again going back to the idea that participating in this event has made me a better artist, because it has! I am really happy with how this turned out, I think my inspo was still flowing from my previous project. The line art on this is something new for me too, and I think it went quite well!

The companion fic for this piece was done by the beautiful, amazing Lily @afterdeck-ace!!! Robin instrospection is always so good, and Lily does a BEAUTIFUL job with it omg🤌🏻😘 Go check out her blog, all her writing and other info is linked there too!

And as always, go show some love to the other participants in this event, their work is being chronicled at @opreversebang !!!

[soultronica]

tagged by @cioelle to share three fun facts about myself!

1- most essential fact about me is that I have 3 brothers who I'm extremely close to! big part of both my childhood and my adulthood and they're my main social circle. I live with the youngest currently but I've lived with all of them in pretty much all permutations, at one point there were all four of us in that two bedroom apartment lol

2 - I'm one of those people who never stopped playing pokémon go ☆ my favourites are grass types, with most of the starters on top of my list. drives my bros crazy when we do raids together because I don't play the same way at all (I train my favourite/cute pokémons, not the strongest ones) so all my teams are shit, but hey that's what's fun about pkmn, all ways to play are valid and all that

3 - fav kpop group is nine muses but I've recently reached "collect albums and photocards" stage for loona..... F

bonus fact: I'm currently looking at the mediterranean! ☆

tagging @chokefriends @chromatic-lamina @afterdeck-ace @trash-b0at if you're interested!

[chromatic-lamina]

They taught her the proper classification after that. It all ended in ashes regardless.

Robin rearranging books and taking care of people’s lives. This is gorgeous. Go read Lily’s tags.

word: protective I don’t have any ideas, but Robin and Chopper? Or Chopper with anyone, really. Marco/Ace? Marco protecting Ace from himself? If humour, maybe a protective gel that Marco needs to use on his feathers (flames) during the summer? Good luck!

About the prompts for Writer's Month

Hey HS! Thanks for the ideas, I've been racking my brain because Robin will definitely feature in Choices 2 & 3 and have interactions with both Marco and Law but they are really silent about it right now so I'll just wait until it falls into place. And I'm definitely not good enough at humour/crack even though that Marco's sunscreen idea sounds fun!

But... I wrote something last year, for another prompt, with Robin. And Chopper. (And Franky). She's on watch, so it fits the "protective" even though the whole story isn't about that. I'm not done yet but there you go!

Stories (set right after Fish-Man Island)

Up in the crow’s nest, everything was quiet. Robin was reading, lamp oil at her side, blanket around her shoulders. An old essay on Water Seven’s history she should have finished years ago, but things kept happening with this crew and her TBR kept growing too, taking more and more space on the library’s bookshelves.

So many books, so little time, or so people said. And they were right, she thought, turning a page to look at the engraving of the massive fountain irrigating all the canals. A part of her was constantly aching for something else to decipher. Getting answers. Finally filling a void.

The moon was shining high, reflection trembling on the waves. The Sunny rocked gently, creaks and sighs. She had spread her eyes all around the hull earlier and a couple of her hands were rearranging the library. A new eye bloomed there and she smiled at fingers moving in the candlelight, caressing the worn-out leather of the oldest volumes in passing. She had gone for authors rather than subjects this time and she swore she could hear the old scholars screaming. She had done so in Ohara too. Reordering the books by size and color. Oh, the fit they threw! But she only wanted to help…

They taught her the proper classification after that. It all ended in ashes regardless.

The length humans would go to to have some illusion of control and a semblance of safety... Blinders. Bullshit. As if it would make the slightest difference at the very end. And yet here she was, chasing a childhood dream, fulfilling a fire and laugh-sworn promise, quelling her thirst of knowledge one book, one poneglyph at a time. Deny someone the truth and they’ll look for it their entire life.

A sea king wailed in the distance and something caught her eye on starboard. Fins and scales grazing the water before disappearing. Nothing serious. But then, a door creaked open and someone walked out on deck, footsteps clinking. Eyes bloomed quietly on the railing. Chopper was heading for the sickbay, pink hat forsaken, hooves rubbing his sleepy eyes. She followed him, curious.

Ears bloomed on the walls he walked along, unsuspecting. “You idiots,” he was muttering and Robin smiled, opening eyes on the infirmary’s door as he was turning the door knob. He started with a curse. An arm bloomed on his back and patted his head in apology. She scratched the soft fur for good measure.

“Oh right, you’re on watch,” he said, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.

Two arms appeared on the door and signed a question. Chopper sighed, scratching at his cheek.

“Zoro and Sanji were bickering in their sleep. And then Luffy started asking for meat, so…” He opened the door and eyes and limbs disappeared in a flutter of cherry blossoms.

[hergan416]

Last Line Challenge

Rules: Post the last sentence you wrote (fanfic / original / anything) and tag as many people as there are words in the sentence.

I was tagged by @afterdeck-ace, thank you!

I suppose the last line I wrote would actually be from this post: "Do you worry about the hunger?"

Hmmm I'll tag @user-needs-new-hyperfixation @seeingteacupsindragons @straycrayoncrypt @leviathiane @nenya85 and @winxhelina but if anyone else sees this and wants to, consider yourself tagged.

[glooumnastas]

That pink dress for @afterdeck-ace 👗👠

I don't know why they both so stressed by all this situation

Trying find new way of sketching

[chromatic-lamina]

Hey, Lily! I see from the One Piece wiki that apparently Shanks stated in the Ace Novel that he wasn't interested in the One Piece, so that also gives his words extra depth (and Buggy's reaction to them), and I'm not a close reader of early canon, but personally, not going for the One Piece straight away doesn't strike me as a weakness, especially as it's stated throughout the series that the right time had to arise. However, whether Shanks knew that, as you said, is another matter.

Also, I always really liked this about Shanks from chapter 590:

I know the focus is on allowing Luffy to grieve the loss of Ace, but I also really focused on the line of "I wish that the Captain would run away [...] sometimes". To me, it's such a sign of commonsense and strategic pragmatism, and we do see Luffy run away when it's wiser too throughout the series.

But, maybe my point is that Shanks didn't have such stars in his eyes about Roger as Buggy did. Obviously he respected him, but he wasn't as cut up as not going to Laugh Tale. Maybe, yeah, he was able to see the big picture (does he hear the Voice of All Things?), or maybe he did lose sight of it, like Buggy says.

Maybe, also, he recognised that Ace was the rightful heir of Roger's true nature? And chillingly he fulfilled that role? [I was surprised to hear what Ace did for you. It's exactly like what Captain Roger would do.]

That regaining of agency is so important though. And all the personification you've given Buggy. That very human reliance on someone else's strengths and what you believe to be their purpose, and that that purpose should not be swayed from.

Every arc, Usopp is such an important player. I wonder if Buggy is his older generation counterpoint. A comparison meta between those two would be a fine thing!

I'm sure I haven't touched upon the subtleties in your piece above. Loved it.

knee jerk reaction (shanks and buggy)?—One Piece 1082 Spoilers

***

So Buggy wants to and wanted to go after the One Piece:

Much to the consternation of Crocodile and Mihawak but with the full support of

Buggy's men. And I had to include Croc and Mihawk's reactions there. You can imagine Mihawk saying, "You dastardly rat, you" (or cockroach or clown).

And why? Because he seemed to have thought that Shanks wasn't going to go for the One Piece at all, despite Shanks saying that he just wasn't ready for it yet.

And Shanks had said that he and Buggy were gonna get to Laugh Tale together.

He uses 'our' in the English. There's no exclusion, and Buggy sees that Shanks shines brightly, but I don't see Shanks

saying that he'll be the one, nor that he needs to exclude Buggy, just that he needs to

wait. Maybe for Buggy to power up or come into a realisation of his own power / worth, which is a wily beast indeed? Anyway, Red is on the move as Buggy says:

Maybe with a different right hand man (I love Beck too). But maybe that's the point, he and Buggy might meet as equals

[caption: Shanks prior to getting the road poneglyph and others from the Kid Pirates]

And they're not gonna claim the One PIece together, cos' that's Luffy's job, but maybe they will try together (competition is fine too, though).

As an aside, this frame about Luffy and Bartolomeo and Bartolomeo replacing the Red Haired Flags with Luffy's own from chapter 1054:

I don't know if I'm reading this right, but Shanks doesn't go after Bartolomeo because he replaced Shanks' flags with Luffy's, and because they were Luffy's flags he's letting it slip, OR that seeing Luffy now without dealing with Bartolomeo first might imply that Shanks agrees with the actions (and maybe he does), OR that they're going to hurt an ally of Luffy's, or that they need to hurt him so that Luffy doesn't think that Shanks is humouring Luffy.... I'm not 100% sure, but anyway I'm leaning towards the idea that the One Piece might be found by both Shanks and Buggy, but its truth worth lies beyond that, and that is what Luffy will gain.

Messy analysis, sorry. BUT, if Buggy had been patient, would things have gone differently? Would he have joined Shanks' crew if he'd gone straight for the One Piece, or did he imagine they'd sail as comrades of an equal standing (maybe not, due to his description of Shanks' potential, but that might've been Buggy-generated). A friend has said Buggy's a candidate for Conqueror's Haki and he's probably right.

This meta meandered. Sorry.

[dandunn]

Ask a reader: A9, B8 and/or C1?

A9: Who was your first ship?

It took me a LONG time to start caring about shipping so probably gordon and alyx from half like 2. they’re lovely.

B8: Is there a show or a book that you gave up on that you went back to later? Why did you come back to it?

this happens to me with like. everything i watch lmao it takes me a while to form an interest

C1: What trope are you tired of reading? Why?

the person way too interested/pushy about details about the main couple’s relationship, usually an author insert who has no boundaries. it’s not that common in fics but once or twice was enough. i usually end up wanting to punt this character out of a window.

[touchmycoat]

Hey I saw you were taking prompts for your Marco/ace/Sabo fics, could pretty please do one with omega/beta/alpha dynamics? Thank you I love you

Hello~! Thanks for the prompt love, but a/b/o is not my preference in writing :’) SO here, have a fucking RIDICULOUS, but actually-I’m-perfect-serious-about-this-I-did-Research-and-I-love-evolutionary-biology fic on one particular a/b/o trope.

MAS, Second Chances ‘verse, rated T for general allusions to sex & violence (but nothing explicit)

“Marco I’m about to ask you something awkward and maybe even a little offensive, and I need you to not get mad.”

“And by mad,” Sabo piped up, “he means embarrassed, because you’re about to be so embarrass— Ow.”

The scariest thing about this whole affair, Marco thought, was that Ace was clearly holding back laughter of his own, even as he elbowed Sabo in the stomach to shut Sabo up. And Sabo, when he unfolded from nursing the blow, was still grinning.

“Can I ask?” Ace said, kind of muffled as his mouth twisted into awkward I’m-totally-not-smiling shapes and his eyes danced. “I swear I won’t judge your an—”

Nobody elbowed anybody this time; Ace had cut off himself because, probably, he would’ve burst out laughing if he’d continued. Degrees of dread increased by tenfold, and Marco, because he was an experienced adult who practiced things like mental health, turned on his heel and walked away toward the afterdeck.

“—aw, c’mon Marco!”

“You really don’t wanna walk any further than that,” Sabo called, “if you don’t want your crewmates hearing us ask about your self-lubricating asshole—”

Marco has never truly regretted resuscitating Sabo in Ace’s life until now. Such a pity that Ace loved a guy that was about to die in 0.3 seconds when Marco’s talons snapped his fucking neck.

Sabo danced out of the way of Marco’s sudden charge, and then Ace got in the way. Marco never knew fire could burn in a way that so closely approximated a shit-eating grin. Haki flashed, because Marco was out for blood dammit, but the trouble twins were hardly an easy force to contend with. They have Marco bracketed in a second, each one ready to launch an offense the second the other needed to fly into a defense.

And they were both still fucking smiling—

“Marco don’t get mad!” Ace yelped as he tried to tackle Marco around the waist and Marco flipped them both into the sky. Ace would’ve been unceremoniously kicked into the ocean, had Sabo not taken the moment to hop up as well, wrapping himself in a very koala-like fashion around Marco’s torso to prevent any pivoting momentum.

“Yeah Marco don’t get mad,” Sabo repeated, and got a wing smack to the side of his head for his cheek. Also, for his fingers dipping under the back of Marco’s pants, as if aiming to touch—

Marco went full phoenix (which did not help his biological situation but that couldn’t be helped right now) and promptly dumped the two demon brothers onto the deck. Crew mates were vaguely looking on, but fights at this scale were hardly worth the effort of rubbernecking, especially when they’ve all learned one-too-many times that playing peanut gallery to a Marco-Ace-and-Sabo fight could quickly descend into something else they’d never come to see.

In the middle of choosing between permanent migration and permanent self-immolation, Marco was bombarded with a wrap of flame a lot like a hug around his whole body. Ace attacked with enough force to also bring Marco down, and keep him down, pinned to the deck by the joint perseverance of two boys who obviously grew up in the jungle hunting wild beasts for survival.

“Look,” Ace panted into Marco’s beaked face, because they couldn’t make him talk if he stubbornly remained a bird. “You obviously don’t have to tell us, if you don’t want.”

And you are obviously as big of a liar as your brother, Marco wanted to howl, but that would require turning human, which would be playing right into their devious little hands, and Sabo had been tasked with pinning down Marco’s talons but now he’s got an odd little glint in his eyes as he contemplated the limbs that he was gripping and what those limbs were connected to and—

Marco transformed back to full-human in a flash of bright blue, and then promptly kneed Sabo in the face.

“Ow,” Sabo said once more, plaintively gripping his nose.

“It is an evolutionary biological trait,” Marco hissed, hopelessly red from the entire neck up. Hell, he didn’t know which was hotter, his skin or Ace’s hand, still half-flames, gripping his arms (which definitely was not helping with the situation down under). “And I despise both of you yoi.”

“That’s—”

“—fine,” Sabo interrupted Ace nasally, eyes way too shiny for the pathological mind underneath. “But just fucking tell us why you get wet, Marco. Y’know, evolutionarily speaking.”

“I would really,” Marco said, the picture of abject misery, “rather die.”

“Not like that’s ever stopped—Oh.” Fucking Ace. He was almost always the spanner in the works for moments like this, because Sabo’s fanged curiosity could be batted off with a careful defense but Ace’s intuition was merciless as no other. And he wasn’t even nasty about it like Sabo, just open and friendly enough to lull Marco into a false sense of security until Marco’s divulged everything.

“Is this like,” Ace asked, “a bird thing?”

It would be so undignified to try to thrash away like a fish caught on land. Marco seriously contemplated it though, as Sabo’s grin gained teeth.

“Oh Marco,” Sabo sighed breathlessly, “do you have anal gland secretions—”

Marco thrashed. Fuck dignity; it’s not like he’d have any left if he just lied there anyways. He went for Ace first this time, headbutting the guy (of course with haki) and then going for Sabo’s throat. He had windpipe in hand ready to wring when a familiar burst of heat hit his very human back, igniting the blue feather-flames and shooting in a by-now-predictable path down to Marco’s—

“Will you stop that,” Marco snapped, twisting to toss Ace off (not fucking like that) once more. The way he instinctively kept his hip from impacting the ground though, as he rolled uncomfortable into another defensive position, had the unfortunate side effect of tipping Sabo off.

“Oh, so this isn’t just a bird thing, it’s a fire thing. It’s an Ace thing.”

Ace had already hopped back to his feet, no worse for the wear. He wore a confused frown.

“What’s an Ace thing? Marco? Wait, I make you wet?”

Giving up on his pride and his life entirely, Marco slammed his head back into the deck, starfishing onto the ground.

“I don’t get wet,” he answered hollowly, because of all the ways they told him being a pirate on the Grand Line would kill him, nobody’s ever warned him about the twin devils and their persistent fucking questions. “It’s oil, yoi. Phoenixes secret flammable oil that then needs to be preened onto feathers.”

“And you produce those oils…” Ace said.

“Anally,” Sabo finished. Marco nodded, and felt himself die right then and there. Death by humiliation was worse than death by exsanguination, but still somehow better than disembowelment. “Well. That’s convenient.”

“It happens all the time,” because Marco might as well make this death as total as posible, “but the presence of fire encourages more secretions, yes.”

Ace’s face appeared in Marco’s vision, coming over to hove above Marco’s prone body. He wasn’t smiling anymore, really.

“Listen,” he said quite solemnly, “I’m not not-turned on.”

“Yup,” Sabo said, popping the P as he joined Ace’s side, eyeing Marco’s crotchal region. “I’m a total romantic; I can definitely still get it up for your flammable ass grease.”

…Forget death. Phoenixes rose from the ashes anyways. He’d kill Sabo with extreme prejudice, then Ace, then himself, and then murder the blond mouthy bastard all over again in hell, where they’d surely all end up for having this conversation in the first place. He’d show them romantic.

[opopnomi]

̶A̶l̶l̶u̶m̶e̶r̶ ̶l̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶u̶ ahem Arsonist's Lullabye by Hozier, for Ace. Sending you love hon <3

A que coucou Okay I laughed XDDD The spirit of Johnny lives in Ace !

For Hozier's song, I need to listen to it, sounds good !

.... Now I can't get Ace with sunglasses and fringed leather jacket out of my mind

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