ACE

[ballies]

(pirate noises)

Comments

[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. ]

[ballies]

[ labour laws!!!! ]

Maybe not. There’s pretty strict rules about it where I’m from, mostly to some kids from being exploited for cheap labour. [ … ] Not that it works all of the time.

[selfimmolation]

Well, at least they're trying, right?

[ just gonna... glide past... the backstory stuff and move on.... ]

[ballies]

[ jiiiiiii. ]

Yeah, which sounds like more than whatever was or wasn't happening where you're from.

[selfimmolation]

Mostly kids'll work if they're poor and need the money, I guess. Or just... beg and steal.

[ s h r u g s ]

[ballies]

Well, yeah. That's a given. It still happens where I'm from, in some places.

But that's why there's laws in place in the majority of countries -- to support families so the kids don't have to work. Or to protect kids that don't have a family until they find a replacement or are legally old enough to take care of themselves.

[ sigh ]

The system isn't perfect, but like you said: they're trying at least.