ACE

[ballies]

(pirate noises)

Comments

[ballies]

Might as well lean into it, if you know the white picket fence life isn't going to be for you. [ she wanders through people's memories for a living, like. who's she to judge? ]

[selfimmolation]

White picket fence?

[ something about that metaphor makes him laugh a bit ]

[ballies]

[ give her a moment, she has to explain a very earth based concept to mister pirate man over here. ]

Like... you settle down, you work a set hours job and live in a house that looks like every other house on the straight, doing the same things day to day.

That's genuinely happiness to some people. But it's not for everyone.

[selfimmolation]

Wow. That sounds like a nightmare.

[ballies]

And that-- [ taps his nose ]-- is why you're a pirate and not a white-collar guy working a 9 to 5.

[selfimmolation]

[ leans back at the nose tap and blinks ]

Sure, that's probably part of it. [ working 9 to 5 is not common in one piece but surely it happens sometimes maybe ]

[ballies]

[ the reaction makes her laugh. ]

It'd bore you, I think. You don't seem like an office work guy.

[selfimmolation]

Nope. I think I'd go nuts in an office space. Besides, if I didn't become a pirate, I might've been made to join the marines, so it wasn't really an option.

[ballies]

Made to?

[selfimmolation]

[ oh, he hadn't meant that wording to be revealing but he just laughs it off ]

Yeah. Gramps is a marine, and he really wanted Luffy and I to join.

[ballies]

Oh-- wait, so you have family in the Marines and the Marines oppose pirates?

[ damn. ]

That must make family meet ups awkward.

[selfimmolation]

Yeah, he hasn't been too thrilled with us.

[ dismissive ]

[ballies]

I can imagine. Still, you're the ones sailing not him. Better you do it for something you're passionate about.

[selfimmolation]

Exactly. For us, the marines were never a real option.

[ballies]

… Do the marines have a uniform?

[selfimmolation]

... Yeah? Why?

[ballies]

[ ….




she’s now laughing at the idea of ace having to wear a uniform. i’m sorry for her but also i’m not. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ well he'd laugh at himself in a marine uniform (that he hadn't stolen) so he kind of grins ]

They're pretty dorky ones, too. White and blue.

[ballies]

[ stop he does look dorky. ]

Please tell me it has the little collar and a hat— [ she’s making the universal sailor fuku collar motions with her hands. “the collar” thanks tama, very helpful. ] Like the little cap with a ribbon. Really dorky looking.

[selfimmolation]

The hat's more like a cap, but the cadets do have a kind of... [ gestures sort of vaguely at the collar because they can both be vague ] Thing? It looks stupid.

[ballies]

Does it have two little lines on the collar? [ she’s assigning them sailor fuku and the marines can’t do shit about it. ] And the little — [ she mimes tying a tie. ]

[selfimmolation]

No... It looks sort of more like a loose bow or something?

[ you are both TERRIBLE at describing things ]

[ballies]

Yeah, like— [ she’s miming a tie but with the bow parts? this is the worst, both of them need to stop ]

Like this!

[selfimmolation]

No, it's like...

[ mimes tying a loose knot around his chest. this means nothing. 0 stars. ]

Y'know?

[ballies]

… Like—

[ she waggles her hands like they’re the two hanging parts of the bow. stop. ]