[Roger was amazing. He could stir up a crowd, inspire men and women to spend their whole lives chasing the One Piece, and he hadn't been any different to his own crew. But he'd had people on his side. People who'd have died for him, gladly, killed for him.
Even with his armada, Buggy feels like-- it's a matter of time before they realize he's nothing like Roger, nothing like Shanks. They'll see through him and see just how dim he shines.
There's a pout as he lets himself dwell on it, and maybe just the tiniest shift to lean in closer to Crocodile.]
[Crocodile is mostly of the same opinion, that it's only a matter of time. How much time is the real question. Most men on the Grand Line are nothing but sheep with delusions of grandeur, an opinion he's held for a long time that's only been proven by the clown's rise to real stardom. Who knows what it will take to sever that loyalty? Buggy is compliant, and that's the important thing; Crocodile could waste time, energy, and resources trying to divert the flow of an entire river, but so far it still seems to be carrying him in the right direction.
Although the question irritates him, it's not actually the first time he's considered it. There are perks to being the power behind the throne, after all... and Buggy has many excellent qualities for a puppet.]
If you were king, it would be because I made you one. [He's not drinking much, for obvious reasons, but it is pirate king liquor. He takes another sip, cigar balanced between two fingers near the rim of the glass.] I invested in you once and left you to your own devices - look how that turned out.
[Buggy is smiling like Crocodile just offered him the world, or assured him he'd actually ever accomplish that dream of being king of the pirates. Maybe it's mostly the alcohol talking, but the smile on his face is genuine. Not the exaggerated ones he puts on for show.
He's just scooting in closer. Any closer and he might be going in for a hug, however suicidal that is. To be fair though, drinking with Crocodile in any capacity s probably that.]
Think about it... all the riches would be ours. We could do whatever we wanted! People would have to respect me, and love me...
[It's clear Crocodile doesn't think much of Buggy's motivations for pursuing the same goal as the entire pirate population to one degree or another. He still has negative interest in helping Buggy reach the One Piece first (the world may be a chaotic and unpredictable place, but it's fiscally irresponsible to bet against Luffy at this point) but there are other ways of achieving a goal worth having.
Not that it's his problem either way. Buggy is free to waste his life chasing ghosts; it makes it easier for Crocodile to siphon his resources toward more sustainable goals.]
Earn some respect here by not drinking yourself stupid every time word about Red Hair comes in.
[He'll believe in his dream enough for both of them then! Crocodile can judge him all he wants, like so many other people have. They'll eat their words if he manages to pull this off!
He finishes off his glass and then pulls a little bit of a face.]
Who says I'm drinking because of that stupid Red Hair?! If he wants to go off being a flashy idiot, that's his business! And not my problem.
[He... might have definitely been drinking because of that red haired idiot. But he's trying to save some dignity here!]
[Crocodile decides to treat that like a rhetorical question. There's only been one element so far that's been able to rouse Buggy to any degree of resistance against Crocodile and Mihawk, and that was Red-Haired Shanks. Best not to let that crack spread any further.]
You've made it our problem. Did he pull your pigtails one too many times on Roger's ship?
I told you what that bastard did! How he betrayed me... and let down Captain Roger!
[There's a huff, frustration settling in all over again.]
He was happy to let me live in his shadow... thought I would dare serve under him. Well, I don't care! I'm going to show him how bright I can shine, then he'll regret all the little betrayals.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sandsand; tfln
Of course not. You don't do it alone...
[Roger was amazing. He could stir up a crowd, inspire men and women to spend their whole lives chasing the One Piece, and he hadn't been any different to his own crew. But he'd had people on his side. People who'd have died for him, gladly, killed for him.
Even with his armada, Buggy feels like-- it's a matter of time before they realize he's nothing like Roger, nothing like Shanks. They'll see through him and see just how dim he shines.
There's a pout as he lets himself dwell on it, and maybe just the tiniest shift to lean in closer to Crocodile.]
Would you stay with me? If I were king?
thanks for relocating!
Although the question irritates him, it's not actually the first time he's considered it. There are perks to being the power behind the throne, after all... and Buggy has many excellent qualities for a puppet.]
If you were king, it would be because I made you one. [He's not drinking much, for obvious reasons, but it is pirate king liquor. He takes another sip, cigar balanced between two fingers near the rim of the glass.] I invested in you once and left you to your own devices - look how that turned out.
No problem!
He's just scooting in closer. Any closer and he might be going in for a hug, however suicidal that is. To be fair though, drinking with Crocodile in any capacity s probably that.]
Think about it... all the riches would be ours. We could do whatever we wanted! People would have to respect me, and love me...
[What a dream...]
no subject
[It's clear Crocodile doesn't think much of Buggy's motivations for pursuing the same goal as the entire pirate population to one degree or another. He still has negative interest in helping Buggy reach the One Piece first (the world may be a chaotic and unpredictable place, but it's fiscally irresponsible to bet against Luffy at this point) but there are other ways of achieving a goal worth having.
Not that it's his problem either way. Buggy is free to waste his life chasing ghosts; it makes it easier for Crocodile to siphon his resources toward more sustainable goals.]
Earn some respect here by not drinking yourself stupid every time word about Red Hair comes in.
no subject
He finishes off his glass and then pulls a little bit of a face.]
Who says I'm drinking because of that stupid Red Hair?! If he wants to go off being a flashy idiot, that's his business! And not my problem.
[He... might have definitely been drinking because of that red haired idiot. But he's trying to save some dignity here!]
no subject
You've made it our problem. Did he pull your pigtails one too many times on Roger's ship?
no subject
[There's a huff, frustration settling in all over again.]
He was happy to let me live in his shadow... thought I would dare serve under him. Well, I don't care! I'm going to show him how bright I can shine, then he'll regret all the little betrayals.