ACE

[ballies]

(pirate noises)

Comments

[selfimmolation]

... I guess they don't. Death's death. [ and depressing. anyway; ] So let's get this shopping done.

[ballies]

[ lmao, right they were shopping and then went off on that tangent. ]

That sounds like a good idea. I think the electronics store's further in, so we'll probably pass all the clothing options along the way.

[selfimmolation]

Can I get a snack first?

[ he's saying that like he won't walk off to food the first chance he gets ]

[ballies]

[ imagine if she was like no, llama print shorts first or bust. ]

You can get a snack first. It’s not like we’re lacking in food options.

[selfimmolation]

Great! [ veering them off to go get food. and if she'd said no he'd have just escaped to get food at some point and reappeared later he is that kind of person ] I'm starving.

[ he is always hungry. ]

[ballies]

[ she probably would’ve just accepted this at this point. set the ace free so he may return with Snacks. ]

There’s a surprise.

[ not said meanly, but she did find him passed out literally in food the other day. ] Does this fire thing burn through your metabolism like no one’s business or something?

[selfimmolation]

Hmmm... Nope, I've always eaten a lot! [ getting snaccies owo he looks happy about it ] Well, once I started to hunt for myself anyway.

[ballies]

Hunting.

[ everyday she learns something more wild about one piece world. ]

… Well, if food’s abundant you might as well eat it. Better than wasting it.

[selfimmolation]

Don't make that face. I lived in a forest.

[ hunting for your food is not, actually, entirely normal for children, ]

I don't waste food! [ he has a snaccie and he is already eating it ] So, we're good for now. Clothes can happen.

[ballies]

Of course you did.

[ ace what the fuck ] Just you? Please tell me you had someone with you.

I didn’t say you did! [ anyway yeah. clothing time. let’s go. ] Might as well stock up now we have a dedicated store for it. I don’t want to have to do laundry every day. [ she doesn’t actually know how to do laundry, she just throws clothes in and leaves it up to fate. ]

[selfimmolation]

When I started? No, why would I have?

[ this is only going to get more tragic don't ask questions you don't want the answer to. anyway clothes!! wow!! ]

Every day's a little much. You can wear them longer than that before it's a problem.

[ballies]

[ gets a pickaxe and smacks the topic. ] How old were you…?

[ she has a feeling she’s not going to like the answer. ]

Well, yeah but having a new outfit everyday is fun. Especially seeing as we’ve only had a few things to wear so far.

[selfimmolation]

Like... [ pauses, thinking, calculate ] Four? Don't remember if I really hunted before that.

[ she is not going to like the answer. ]

I feel like you've found plenty to wear already, but if it's a task, it's a task. Might as well go with it I guess.

[ballies]

[ well she stops walking. ]

Four?!

[selfimmolation]

[ stops as well and turns back to her like yea? what? ]

Yeah...?

[ballies]

[ y’know when you know someone’s world is super different to yours and stuff is weird, but then you hear something and you Know? there’s a difference. ]

Why were you alone in a forest when you were four?!

[selfimmolation]

The bandits liked me better out of the house.

[ this is also abnormal for one piece. ]

It's alright, I could handle myself. [ that actually does not make it ok ]

[ballies]

I don’t doubt you could handle yourself, but I also don’t care?! You don’t just boot a kid out because you feel like it — that’s bullshit!

[ :o a swear ]

[selfimmolation]

[ :o a swear... ]

... It probably won't make you feel better if I say I also liked it better out of the house, huh? [ a measure of self-awareness, here ] I was the one running off, they didn't kick me out or anything.

[ballies]

Not really when you just told me you had to hunt for your food. They couldn't throw a sandwich after you or something?

[selfimmolation]

I just had to earn my keep, that's all. Once I was old enough they'd only do a bowl of rice a day unless I helped out around the house, so I went and hunted and shared the meat instead.

[ there is no part of this backstory Tama is going to enjoy ]

[ballies]

[ yeah no kidding. she just looks Tired. ]

No such thing as child labour laws where you're from then, huh?

[selfimmolation]

Even if there were laws, I don't think the bandits would've cared much.

[ on account of being criminals. ]

[ballies]

"Even if there were"--? Geez.

[selfimmolation]

I was kind of in the lawless area of the island, so maybe I'm not a good example.

[ lightly because she is clearly Offended on his behalf but also yeah kids work. why wouldn't they. ]