theflashyfool | IC inbox @ Golden Peacock

Um. Sure? I guess.

Are you in trouble or something? [It's weird. Shanks sounds really weird. But he's slipping out of bed either way.]

I'm in my room. Where are you?

[ Shanks is staring to wonder if something is wrong, but: ]

No. Nothing like that.

The bar. [ He knows that doesn't help, so he sends a picture of the actual bar he's at. ]

I can go to you, if you prefer.

[Is he too drunk to make it to his room, Buggy wonders. But honestly, he probably does need to just lie don and sleep it off, so--]

If you can make it, sure. Come down, Red. I'm not exactly dressed for bar hopping tonight.

Yeah. I'll go there, then.

[ Surprisingly, Shanks isn't drunk, yet. He got to the bar, and just stared at his first order. He leaves it there, untouched. ]

[ He stops the call, and knocks on Buggy's door not long after. ]

[Shanks has an odd tendency to see him when he's without makeup, when he's got his hair hastily tied back, when he's in his sleep clothes. It would be annoying, if it wasn't really--

Well, weird tonight.

Didn't sound like a call for a quick midnight fuck, or to go explore somewhere, or any other number of things Buggy might have expected. He opens the door at the knock, stepping back to let Shanks in.]

Okay, Red Hair. What's going on?

[ It's not like Shanks didn't know he felt sad, or things were off prior to Buggy opening the door, but when he does, and Buggy asks what's wrong - he cares to ask - Shanks just reaches to lean in and hug Buggy with his arm. If Buggy lets him, he'll bury his head in Buggy's shoulder, instead of answer, of course. ]

[ But yes, this night is very weird. ]

[Buggy doesn't stop him, but he does freeze for a moment, arms caught mid-way up, not quite returning the hug for a moment. He's a little too caught off guard, honestly.

When he snaps out of it though? He does, gingerly, rest his hands against Shanks' back.]

... You sure nothing happened?

[ Shanks shakes his head, but doesn't speak, still. He sniffs and holds on a little tighter when he feels Buggy's hands. ]

[ While Shanks typically just doesn't do, well, any of this, he lacks a certain sense of shame, and that seems to still translate as he doesn't suggest they get inside. Right there, in the hall, he just stays like that, eyes burning against Buggy's shoulder. ]

[Okay, this is weird. Really weird. He does at least try to back up and guide Shanks with him.]

Come on, idiot. Get inside at least!

[ Shanks sniffs as Buggy guides him, and nods his head. His eyes are obviously red when he's forced to pull away like that, but Shanks still doesn't actually talk about it. Then again, he never did that before, anyway. But he didn't do the crying thing. This hotel is sure causing a lot of firsts. ]

Now, why are you crying?

[He shuts the door and-- awkwardly puts an arm back around Shanks. He's not-- good at this sort of thing. Comforting isn't something he's done a lot of, least of all with Shanks.]

[ Shanks opens his mouth to answer, shakes his head when he realizes the answer isn't that simple, then closes it and breathes out. ]

[ He turns to hug Buggy again. At least, it doesn't seem like Buggy needs to do any real comfort, just let Shanks hug him, so far. ]

[ After a bit more of silence, he finally says - voice watery and thick. ]

I missed you.

You-- what?

[There's an uncomfortable huff.]

I've been right here in my room, Red...

[No, he probably doesn't mean that? But Buggy isn't certain what to do with 'I missed you'.]

You're just a little too drunk.

No. [ He doesn't mean now. Shanks sniffs. ] When you walked away.

[ Shanks shakes his head to the drunk accusation. ] I...have not, actually, had anything to drink. [ Granted, with Shanks, that might just mean in the past ten hours, but still, it's true, for tonight. ]

[He pauses again, lips pursed as he narrows his eyes on Shanks. Really. They're gonna do this? He shifts a little.

And he's sober? Even weirder, honestly.]

You got a new crew.

Doesn't mean I replaced you. [ There's almost a bite to that response. And yes, they're really going to do this. ]

[ Shanks looks up from Buggy's shoulder to stare at him. ] Besides, here, trapped like this. Don't you miss yours?

[ It's an ache Shanks hasn't been able to chase off the past day, or so. ]

Of course I do. They need me. But all I can do is figure out a way to get back to them right now.

[He shifts awkwardly, not sure what to say to any of that.]

So, what. You miss me and you miss your crew?

[ Shanks shakes his head. Voice muffled by Buggy's shoulder he starts listening, soft and slow, then it gets faster. ] I failed you. I'm failing our Captain. I'm failing Luffy. I'm failing my crew if I can't get out of here. I failed Mihawk.

[ It's almost like every time Shanks says something, another thing topples into his mind right on top of the new one. ]

What the hell are you talking about?

[He-- maybe needs to be more drunk, if this is him sober.]

No one is expecting you to play hero here and save the day! Stop talking like an idiot, Red.

[He rolls his eyes.]

We're all working together, right? Trying to piece together whatever the hell we can.

[Well, he hopes, anyway. Buggy is always going to assume he's being left out of something potentially vital, that he'll be left behind at the drop of a hat. But this isn't about his own doubts right now.]

-- You really mean to tell me you've missed me for twenty years, haven't replaced me...

[And now he's having a breakdown over failure. This is just bizarre.]

You haven't eaten anything strange, have you?

[ Buggy can try giving him alcohol, but Shanks doesn't even want it. Drinking it isn't actually going to help, either. ]

[ Most of the stuff doesn't seem to get a reaction from Shanks, but the replacement comment. He pulls back to look at Buggy, both tone and expression wounded and incredulous. ]

Of course not. You replace parts and sails.

You don't replace people. You were crew. You were - are - my best friend. [ Shanks shakes his head at him, confused. ] Is that what you did? You replaced me, then?

[ He shakes his head again. ] No. I haven't...eaten anything in a while.

Of course not. [There's an irritable sigh, but it's mostly because he might be genuinely concerned here. This is all kinds of fucked up and not Shanks. He also doesn't think he's-- possessed or anything either.

Ghosts wouldn't know about them personally, right?]

I didn't replace you, you idiot. How could I? You're-- You don't even know frustratingly bright you are! [And how Buggy can't even be like that, no matter how many theatrics he employs.] You're just like our captain.

[Unforgettable, not replaceable.] But that doesn't mean-- [He's not replaceable. But whatever. He doesn't want to go there. Then they'll both be miserable. Easier to move on to the rest.]

You what? Ugh-- you need food, dumbass! Why aren't you taking care of yourself?

[ It's not possession, to Shanks, who is somewhat aware this doesn't feel right, it might as well be. He doesn't care for it, but he can't seem to stop what's happening, either. Not the thoughts, not the tears, not the words tumbling out of his mouth. ]

[ And then Buggy says he's like their captain, frustratingly bright, and Shanks can't quite respond to that. ] What? What are you on about?

[ Shanks looks away when Buggy doesn't continue and shrugs to the questions. Not like he eats as much as a Devil Fruit User, but being a pirate, he knows to eat when he can (because you never do know when things might go wrong and you'll be without), and he's active enough, Shanks eats plenty. But right now...food is so unappealing. ] I just wasn't hungry. It's only been a day.

You're-- how can you not see it? Everybody loves you, Shanks. [Which isn't to say he loves Shanks!! No, he hates him. Obviously. But people in general obviously love him very easily.

Not something they all experience. Most people don't love him at all.

But he lets out a worried noise when Shanks says that. He wants to insist he eats something -- maybe he'll feel better! But instead, he just nudges him towards his bed.]

Fine, but come on. Sit down, will you? It's late. You-- might as well stay with me.

[He's not letting Shanks leave tonight anyway.]

Wha-? [ Yeah, what? No, Shanks doesn't see it. He doesn't measure his life and connections like that. It's not even a matter of insecurity, though at the moment, that pesky little tattoo might be whispering tendrils of it in his mind. ]

[ Instead of even gracing the first part with a proper sentence, he skips to something far more somber and remarks, in a hurt tone: ] Everyone, but not you.

[ Also something Buggy wouldn't normally get thrown at him. Especially, because Shanks would just roll with Buggy's concern, the offer to stay, and note those silently as facts Buggy is contradicting himself. But not tonight. ]

[ He takes a step back, shakes his head, hurt still in his eyes. ] Why should I stay? [ Never mind Shanks is the one that called Buggy, the one that came here crying, sobbed out his fears and insecurities, and now he wants to pull that? Yeah. Shanks might need some serious help in a different way. ]

What? [He's confused. Shanks came to him, and he's not... perfect, no. But he's trying to take care of him. It was easier when they were kids and could just go hide in their room for a bit, rant to each other before they were off to do the next dumbest thing to get punished for.

Those days were easier.

Not it looks like Shanks is angry and throwing barbs at him when-- what? He invited him into his room? Let him cry on his shoulder?]

No, actually. That's not true. I loved you enough that I was willing to give up everything I dreamed about to follow you. [Everything he wanted. As far as that goes -- he's a pirate in East Blue. He's still not exactly living up to those dreams he had, in the weakest seas. But whatever.]

You're the one who asked if you could come over, dumbass! Why are you asking that? I'm trying to help you.

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