theflashyfool | IC inbox @ Golden Peacock

... Yeah.

[He does too, honestly. He gets why he didn't, but-- that doesn't make it any easier to handle, does it?

He doesn't pull away when Shanks leans in like that, just letting his eyes linger on the other's for a moment.]

Well, unless Rubber Boy's theory about all of us being the ghosts here is correct, I'm alive, Red. And I don't feel very dead. [He doubts the salt water and everything would have felt as traumatic as it did, if he were.]

Besides, you're the one who needs the worry. I've still got all my limbs last I checked, and no new scars on my face.

We are not ghosts. [ Shanks laughs to that. ] At least, we're not spirits. This place could still be draining our energy, perhaps.

[ Considering what he - whether he was in control or not isn't the point - put Buggy through, Shanks' lips tighten limbs remark, and his eyes flicker away. ]

[ When they look back to Buggy, his smile is sad and softer. ] If I tell you what happened with the arm, will it help anything? At all? [ For Buggy's sake. Shanks himself isn't big on talking about it, but he feels, at this point, maybe he can say this in a way Buggy won't blame Luffy. And maybe it's time he told someone. ]

Possibly.

[The laugh does have his own lips twitching up in a bit of amusement. The ghost theory is silly, even if it's also kind of unsettling how the little brat just comes up with the most outrageous stories like it's abso-fucking-lutely no big deal.

Whatever amusement dies down at the question, eyebrow arching. Well--

Sure, go ahead and tell me. [He's not sure what Shanks means by help. It won't change the fact that it happened, and it won't change the fact that Shanks could still do something dumb in the future, but.

Well, it feels fair in a way, doesn't it? He told Shanks about giving up on his own dream -- something that was personal, private.]

[ Shanks thinks Luffy's stories are fantastic. They help make the hotel livelier. ]

[ Even if it's only fair, then it's still something. ]

[ Shanks sighs and lifts his glass, drains it, then orders another round, not even paying attention to the fact if Buggy has glasses queued up. ]

Luffy was young, about seven. Not long before, he had eaten the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit. And a bandit - I don't understand what he thought he would accomplish by taking Luffy, or why he went to sea, but - took off with Luffy, on a boat on the ocean. They didn't get far.

By the time I caught up to them, the bandit was gone, likely eaten, and Luffy was in the water. I fished him out, but we didn't have much time before a great sea king rose out of the water.

It was either Luffy, or my arm. I shielded him.

[ Shanks shrugs. ] I wasn't going to let anything happen to Luffy. So.... [ He gives Buggy a sad lift of his lips, some sort attempt at a smile. Then he drinks once more. He says things like he "chose the future" but really, it will always boil down to saving Luffy was more important. ]

[Buggy listens without interrupting, letting the story sink in. Maybe a petty part of him is-- jealous, just a tiny bit. Shanks seems rather... enamored with the rubber boy after all.

And he gets nearly drowned in a tub.

But it isn't as if he can blame a child for bandits. Especially a kid with a particular weakness.

Maybe Luffy still has quite a bit of good will from him anyway.

He huffs out quietly.]

Well, that's quite a story. [He knows Shanks. He wouldn't want him fussing over it or worrying about the stump any more than any other time. He wouldn't want I'm sorrys. Those don't bring back arms.]

[ As if Shanks would have ever drowned Buggy willingly. Shanks is, indeed, very enamored with the rubber boy. He's not going to deny that, though he won't admit it, either. Not so directly, at least. ]

[ And yet - ]

That's the first time I've told anyone the whole story. Gave details. [ Shanks admits with a smile he gives Buggy. Buggy might not realize that is significant, and Shanks won't mind. But no, Shanks wouldn't care for condolences - he'll just end up making a tasteless joke - and fussing and worrying won't change anything, or help Shanks feel better. His crew understood. ]

But see? Big, hungry fish. I doubt that's going to happen here, so you need not worry so much. [ Shanks lifts his glass and grins for Buggy. ]

[ The scars over his left eye, though, he's not talking about anytime soon. He might need more alcohol for that story, and some truth telling serum dumped in it. ]

[No, he wouldn't have. But he also wouldn't have reached out for twenty-odd years -- and Buggy has no idea what's going to go on between them here. But he's already disgruntled and upset, so--

Buggy's just good at adding reasons to be miserable to the pile.

He does reach for the bottle of booze though, going to refill both their glasses.

He rolls his eyes.]

No, there aren't big, hungry fish. [He huffs.] Doesn't mean there aren't dangers lurking around. Don't be stupid.

[Or like there won't be dangers whenever they return home too, for that matter.

Still, Buggy can appreciate being let in on something no one else has been. Idly, he reaches up to scratch at his own neck pointedly.]

Hell, apparently, something can make us turn on each other.

[ Shanks might have reached out if he thought Buggy wanted to hear from him. But Shanks is a bit easy to distract. ]

I'm not typically so easy to injure. I promise.

Not something. [ Shanks softly corrects. His eyes flicker over to Buggy. ] When that tattoo I have starts getting a bit dark, I stop feeling like myself.

[ His eyes are more intent on Buggy's when he continues, voice firmer. ] I know that's not reassuring, and I'm still at fault for neglecting it. But that seems to be the cause of what led to [ he waves his hand and his eyes flicker back down to the bar ] what I did.

[He knows, and there's no undoing the past -- but it's not like Buggy to easily let go of hurt feelings either.]

It's still this place that caused it. [He wouldn't have had some weird-- tattoo. He brings up his drink to take a deep pull from it.]

Whatever. It's over with now. [And Buggy is-- remarkably resilient when he needs to be. Not like he can't take a little choking and drowning -- he's done it before.

Even if it was never Shanks spitting venom all the while before.]

[ Shanks is more than willing to take responsibility here, in more ways than one, Buggy's reaction gets at least a soft smile from a him and sincere: ] Thank you, Buggy.

[ He can't actually verbalize what that means to him. ]

I'm still responsible for the neglect. And I truly plan to make sure that doesn't happen again. [ But, you know, didn't ask Buggy then and there to help him with that. ]

[He could have asked Buggy right then or there... or later!

But nooo.

So Buggy is just going to top off their glasses again. No reason to waste a whole bottle of booze after all.]

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probably wrap?

Yes, probably!