[Text]

[silent_king]

In times of darkness and chaos, Dressrosa's doors open for all of the lost and weary. If you are in need of medical care, food, protection or rescue, you need just ask. And one of our airships will come for you.

All are welcome. All are valuable.

Comments

IMMEDIATELY PRIVATE excuse you

[callada]

[But the reply comes a while after this is sent out on the network because what the fuck honestly

he's been glued to it looking for Law, not

this]

Hello.

I hope you know more about this situation than I do.

Private and secure-Excuse you bigger manly looking self

[silent_king]

[Aww, they have something in common. He's looking for Law too. His Law. Who's absent currently and without him it's harder for Rosinante to keep that mental armor up and his mental chaos down.]

Hello.

A little. It depends on what you know. We're in a shifted world, a blended reality. but you knew that, didn't you? We've discovered at least ten distinctive worlds that now are mixed into one.

[callada]

That matches with what I've seen also. No explanation yet though?

Who else is with you?

[silent_king]

No one has reliable information. We just know what we can see. Which doesn't do much for anyone. The government and Marines will place the blame on Vegapunk. I doubt he's to blame, though.

I'm not alone. But I'm looking for someone. Do you have him? He might have come looking for you, if you're me.

[callada]

Vegapunk was my first thought as well but I'm not one to leap to conclusions. This might be bigger than what even he can accomplish.

I've been looking. No luck yet. How will I know yours from the rest if I find him?

[silent_king]

It's too big for any one person playing god. Maybe with the right relics, or magic, perhaps. But those things are ancient and hard to come across. Even government power or celestial backing doesn't guarantee them.

I don't know. I don't know any of them but my Law. He likes piracy as a hobby, he has unique fashion sense, and I can't get him into anything suited to his position to save my life. He does what he pleases, he always has. He's not particularly friendly, but to you? If he sees me, he'll be good to you.

You should look like me, I think. Do you think we're identical?

[callada]

And what position does he have? In... your court, I take it?

We could meet and find out but I don't know where I am. When I find out, I'll let you know. I always wished to see Dressrosa myself one day.

Private af

[kumonoito]

[ I'm sorry, what. ]

[ Doffy stares at this post for a long time. ]

[ He's going through a lot of wine while reading the network and the news these days. ]

[ The first thing he does is call his reconnaissance division and make this their main priority effective immediately. ]

[ The second thing he does is down a third bottle of wine. ]

[ The third thing, about two hours after this goes up, is respond. ]

The realities that seem to be meeting in convergence here are certainly highly variable. This is the first I've heard of one where you have a seat of command in Dressrosa.

[ In between the lines: What the actual fuck. ]

[Private and secured FOREVER] BIG BROTHER~!!!!

[silent_king]

[When Rosinante sees who managed to respond, he takes about an hour and a half to respond back. Not because he doesn't want to, but because he can't. His mental health is on a razor's edge always, but when Law is there, he's safe enough. His mental armor stays up, his mental health stays stable, and he's safe and as docile a king as possible. Only killing for the most important of reasons, ruling justly.

But Law is gone, and his mind is spinning, and his precious brother who has been gone forever is texting him. Why had Doffy gone away?

Oh, that's right. He killed him. Turning his cells against him, leaving him to die miserably over several years of a cancer-like hell that even his best traits couldn't fix. He had to, he had to. Doflamingo was a monster, he never could be fixed, nothing Rosinante did ever made him right.

It wasn't murder, it was euthanasia. But that didn't make the choice any easier. Without his precious Law to stabilize him, he's out of control. The staff desperately trying to hold him down, the doctor that Law trained personally to see to Rosiante's needs when he was away unable to settle him with words or offers of comfort. After smashing a priceless vase, and injuring himself badly on it, they finally sedated him.

And once he woke up, he had a glass of wine, and decide that he had to reply.]

I missed you. It's been years! Are you the king, in your world?

works within 15 icons

[kumonoito]

[ I missed you. ]

[ Doffy has to take a breath. Has to have another drink. ]

[ This is a very different conversation already than he had days ago. ]

I am. Dressrosa required liberation.

[ It's a technically completely honest and absolutely a completely Doflamingo answer. ]

[ He pauses, considering just how secure this den den network could possibly be. ]

It's been years, hm? Did you pull the trigger first?

[ No. There's no medium safe enough for I miss you. ]

[silent_king]

I'm glad for you, Doffy. That's what I'd hoped for, what you wanted, liberation and strength. You were born to be a king.

[He doesn't quite know what to think of his comment, though. What trigger? Why would he say such a thing? He feels like he's missing something important, so he pushes forward. And after a moment sends a second text.] I don't know what you're talking about. Did someone try to harm you? [It's funny how that makes his stomach turn, despite being the one that killed his brother.] Did your Rosinante?

[kumonoito]

[ This isn't fair. ]

[ This isn't fair. ]

[ Doflamingo would laugh to hear himself, to hear anyone else, anyone lower, lamenting in this way. But all he can do is pour as much sangria onto the tablecloth as he does into his glass and swallow the alcohol and the ice and the saturated fruits all the same when he pounds the glass down. ]

[ Rosinante, glad for him. ]

[ It could be, must be, as much bullshit as he usually doles out, but that doesn't stop the words from appearing on his screen. ]

[ He needs to kill something. ]

It's not important.

[ He needs this Rosinante to not try to kill his. ]

[ ... ]

[ He absolutely needs not to examine that line of thinking. ]

Why has it been years for you?

[silent_king]

[To him, it is important. Very. But he drops it for now, when Doffy is unwilling to talk he's unwilling to talk. And this isn't even his Doffy. So he sighs, and wishes that he didn't have to chat about this. But he's never liked lying to his brother. Even if it's another Doflamingo. That's why he mourned him, cared for him, suffered with him during the last of his illness. And he never had to lie, because he never told anyone who was responsible.

It's silly to him though. Any time someone gets dangerous or in the way of what's good for the world, a random disease hits. He would have suspected himself long ago, honestly.]

Dressrosa was easy for him to take. But disease ran rampant. And even my precious brother was not immune from it's destruction. All of the royals of Dressrosa fell to the same miserable sickness. Doffy, my Doffy, just had it worse. And survived and suffered far longer than the rest.

Have a bunny

[energizer_bunny]

[Carrot would love to see Dressrosa. Luffy had such exciting stories about it!

Never mind all the craziness that's happening and that she should probably be way more worried about finding her friends, this sounds fun.]

Really? That's so nice of you! I'd love to visit Dressrosa!

I love her so much

[silent_king]

[She seems more like a tourist type, from her response. But he doesn't have the heart to turn someone away after he's already offered. If she's useful or kind or good, she can do what she pleases once she arrives. If she's cruel or dangerous, surely Sugar will deal with her.

If he can find her at all, that is.] You're too kind. I have a responsibility, that's all. And Dressrosa is prepared to take in all in need.

[energizer_bunny]

It's still really great that you're doing this. A lot of people are just confused and not doing anything.

[Not that she's been much help either.]

I'm Carrot. What's your name?

[silent_king]

It's understandable. It's a large task to take on. But since I have the means, I have the weight on my own shoulders to act. It's like that.

Rosinante.

[energizer_bunny]

It sounds like a whole lot to do! Is there anything I can do to help out?

[silent_king]

You don't have to help me at all. But if you find people who need assistance, do what you can for them. No matter where you are, someone will need help. The worlds are cruel, so we have to do our best to make things right for the lost and broken.

Now, do you want me to send an airship out?

[callada]

[After bouncing his way across multiple islands, none of them being places he really wanted to be, Rosinante has been left blissfully alone. Several days stuck on some festive summer beach island would have been extremely unwanted initially, but he's tired and in need of a break. He's still trying to find Law or any of the other Heart Pirates, still trying to make his way back to Crocodile as an alternative, but less intently for a little bit. Just let him sit here in the shade of some tropical trees while eating sliced mango and drinking a cold beer. It's simple. Sometimes all he wants is simple.

At least with the bit of funds he's been able to put together since arriving back in his world, he's outfitted himself reasonably well again. A t-shirt, shades, clean khakis and most importantly, makeup, have helped him finally feel like less of a bum.

So all in all he's having a good day when he sees a very fancy version of himself walking along the beach, and sprays a mouthful of beer across the sand. He lifts his sunglasses up onto his forehead to confirm he's not making things up. What the fuck? Oh god, is that...]

Are you... lost?

[silent_king]

[Rosinante isn't really sure how he got here. He keeps tripping over places in reality that just drag him away, keeping him from where he wants to go. And this time, at least he found somewhere beautiful and relaxing. And as far as he knew, he was all alone.

He found himself walking along the beach quietly, dressed in his usual level of excess, using a parasol to protect his skin from the sun. If he wasn't lost here, this would be an entirely pleasant experience...

But then he hears the voice, and stares in confusion. What the hell, who is this? Is this his counterpart? There's no way, is there?

He can tell who it is, but he looks so different than he expected. This is really wild to think about, and after his brain finishes it's buffering from just seeing him, he pulls out his stationary and pen and approaches.

"Rosinante? Are you the one I spoke to before?"]

[callada]

[It's hard to imagine any version of himself that would willingly dress like that, but apparently what does he know? Even for a formal occasion it just seems... gaudy. Excessive. And he's never been prone to excess. Leaves a bad taste in his mouth.

The makeup is in the style he used to wear when staying with his brother. Interesting that this version of himself kept it while king - or maybe, if his Doflamingo died, maybe it's a tribute. He'll have to ask. For now he stands, wedges his bottle into the sand beside the rock, and takes a few hesitant steps forward. Should he bow? Salute? This is a king, after all, even if it's himself. Kind of. But he ends up doing neither as instead he's distracted by the writing. Is he really mute or is this part of an act? It's funny, seeing himself as probably the least trustworthy person he could run across.]

Yes. Nice to meet you in person, your majesty.

[He looks so... slender. Delicate. Do they even share the same build? Is it just an illusion created by the clothing? God this is weird.]

[silent_king]

[Rosinante is still struggling with how large, how masculine this man looks compared to him. His own body has been shaped for a purpose, his looks altered for a goal. But he's looking at a mirror of what he'd look like most likely if he couldn't manipulate cells. Did he really ever look like this? He can't remember at all. And he's dressed so simply too.

Is he really him, from another world?

He doesn't trust him one bit at this point. How can he, when he's so different? But he's still pleased enough to meet him, someone who at least shares some of his goals and traits.

"Just Rosinante. It's good to meet you too."

He stares again, fragile long fingers fumbling a little with the notepad and the parasol. He finally settles with using magic to hold the parasol up and over him, he really isn't able to focus on holding both.

"Can I join you?"]

[callada]

[Whoa. His eyes are drawn like magnets to the floating parasol. Very cool! He smiles at that, and it brightens at the request as he looks over the note.]

Yeah, please. Come on over.

[Sand is extremely difficult to walk in and the first thing he does as he takes a step back toward his seat is misjudge how his foot will slide in it. He's fortunate he didn't stumble right into his double when going to greet him. This particular misstep flings him right onto his back, dumping him in the sand with a surprising thud. Why is it that the stuff is so soft underfoot and so hard on his back? Ugh. He sits up and shakes sand out of his hair, then springs back up onto his feet and sits on the big porous black rock that's so nicely shaded. Room for two, though there are others around as well.

He'd offer the guy a drink if he had a second, but he doesn't. What he does have is this mango, which he picks back up from where he left it on the rock, and his scavenged knife he ripped off one of the pirates on Sabaody. He lifts them both in his doppelganger's direction.]

Want some mango?

[silent_king]

[That little bit of brightness, the smile makes Rosinante smile in response. He's relaxing a little now, and the fact that he's been allowed to join him makes it all the better. So he follows, happily, until his counterpart finds himself on his back. Oh, he's like that. If they're both clumsy, this could be disastrous. So he takes special care to settle down safely, using his magic to sort of stabilize him as he sits down. It kept his feet safe in the sand, but he really is using it too much today.

Oh, mango. That sounds great.

He looks excited at the offer of the mango, and holds up the note.

"Please."

He hasn't eaten in a while, honestly. It's probably been too long, but when his mind wanders basic needs usually go unmet. So he's not going to turn down a piece of fresh fruit. He works to close the parasol, and manages to smack himself in the face with it hard. All of his magic focus was about keeping him from falling in the sand, or slipping on something, and he'd forgotten to watch out for the umbrella at all.

He just sighs, and tosses it to the side. He'll deal with it later.]