new_world_dr | [Text]

Just because we did what we had to do doesn't mean I can live without regrets. But no amount of my presence would have battled what was killing him.

It was not a time of my life I'd willingly repeat. It took a lot of work to get the family anything near safe for the world. I had to gain enough power to weed out those who saw my brother's vision as a good thing. It would have been safer, easier to just take Law and flee.

But if I left, they would have been monstrous on their own.

They would have. Trebol would have and the rest would have followed. But it sounds like you didn't involve the Marines at all? Or was Sengoku able to help? Plenty of space in Impel Down for scum like them, I've heard.

They weren't involved. I got no assistance. And Sengoku and I are not as close as we once were. He did come to my wedding, but we hadn't seen each other in years at that point.

I'm sure there is a good deal of room for them there. But there's also room for the inconvenient. For whoever would challenge their power, even if it's not directly. While I will never forget what Sengoku did for me, I can't turn a blind eye to sins of the Marines either.

It's complicated.

You took everything on yourself. I can't imagine how difficult that must have been.

I don't mean for this to be an interrogation. I'm simply surprised at the differences and just as surprised by the similarities. I don't think I'll ever run out of questions.

How did you end up ruling Dressrosa? I can't imagine becoming king of anything.

I wasn't alone. I had Law there. And although he couldn't do much to assist at first, he gave me strength. And that kept me going.

It's not like that. I understand, and I have questions for you too. How about you tell me about your Doffy's fate, and then I'll tell you about how I ended up with an unwanted kingdom?

I'm glad you had each other. I've never missed someone like I miss him and it's only been a few days. At this point I don't know what to do with myself. I just keep checking the network and hoping we'll find each other.

In my world Doffy is alive. I stole the fruit and gave it to Law so he could heal himself. I hid him. Doffy killed me.

I know that's confusing. It's been a hell of a week. I woke up in some strange city where some creatures that called themselves gods evidently revived me. Law was there, only an adult now. He filled me in on the rest the best he could. So I know what happens for him. But I missed thirteen years of it and he had to go on without me.

I hope you find each other soon. I really do. I've sent so many messages out but he's not responding. So that means he's not here.

I'd like to say that I'm surprised, or even shocked to hear that. But no amount of love for my brother erases who he was. His cruelty knew no end. And the only kindness his illness offered was chaining him. He'd still bite at the hand that fed him, but his ambitions died long before he did.

It's confusing. But so is everything that's happened. This place doesn't make sense, and nothing makes sense and I'm so sorry that you had to miss seeing him grow. I could send you some pictures, if you like. I know it's not the same, nothing can give that back to you, but I think you deserve to see his more awkward phases.

Doffy's had already taken Dressrosa at the time of his death. That's how I became king. Simply by process of succession. The Riku family is almost entirely dead now. There's no one capable to return the lands to. So I do my best, to protect Dressrosa and make it a prosperous, peaceful place.

Please?

At least I got to see him healthy and strong, though. It still makes me speechless to think about. I think of him first as a child still, every time, and then I remember. He's a pirate captain, now, and he named his crew after me. Designed his flag as a tribute to me. In that other world where I met him, he had a ship built that he named for me too. He remembers me and carries that memory with him in everything he does. It's more than I could have ever hoped for.

Thank you for taking care of Dressrosa. I'm sure the people there are very grateful. I was told in my world, King Riku did survive and he rules well after Doffy was imprisoned for his crimes against the world.

Of course. Let me scan a couple for you. [A text arrives with several attachments. A young Law not long after when Rosinante would have died looking fierce and healthy, first experimenting with shirtlessness in front of a mirror. A video of that also comes quickly, he's posing to look impressive. It's not very effective, unfortunately. The video ends with Law screaming "Rosi-chan don't just come in! Stupid!" A picture comes next of him a little older than that, wearing makeup much like Rosinante's own. It's also a bit of an unfortunate look. Then a teen Law posing in matching open jacket jumpsuit sets with Bepo, no shirts and no dignity. He's looking at lot harder at that point, but there's still something young and silly about him. And a little older after that in the next picture, he's wearing all leather and obviously posturing. Something about him is changing though, he's harder than before. The next picture he's wearing a three piece suit that matches his infamous hat, visibly rolling his eyes. The final pictures Rosinante balks at sending, but finally does. Law's in his late teens, looking powerful, a massive crown on his head and robes that reflect royalty and power. It's a beautiful picture. And the next picture he's flipping off the camera. Some things never change.] His tastes have always been eclectic. And he was adorable when he was little!

It's touching to know that you made such an impression on him. Mine follows a similar line of thinking, when it comes to his crew and theme. I'm not sure I deserve it in the same way though, I didn't die for him. Thank you, for doing it. For giving him a chance.

Edited 2019-02-17 06:33 (UTC)

[It's a good thing he had already retreated to a quiet spot away from the people around him when he began this entire conversation, but a Calm bestowed on himself becomes necessary as he sits there absorbing every little detail of the images, laughing with delight and leaking tears at the corner of his eyes. This might not be his Law but some things truly do stay the same across all worlds. He ends up sitting with a fist to his mouth just paging back and forth through the pictures for a while like he just can't get enough.]

Thank you! Oh, Law. He makes the same faces as the one I know. And he calls you by your actual name! That's different from mine. He started calling me Cora-san a few months ago and it's the cutest thing!

I just did what I could for him. Nothing else mattered. One of those decisions that wasn't as hard as it probably should have been and one I'll never regret.

[He's so glad that he could have done this for him. If it was his place, that had ended in death, he would have been desperate to see him. To experience, even second-hand what he was like as life progressed.]

Think nothing of it. I love these pictures, they're among my favorites. And his least favorites. I have them all framed in a large arrangement in my main sitting room, and it's so irritating to him. But I can't help it, they're precious memories and they should be seen! I'm so glad he started calling you that, though! Mine started the chan nonsense disrespectfully, and never left it alone.

We did the right thing. Both of us.

Is there anything else you want to know? It's better talking to myself than expected.

So much more! How old is he now, your Law? I never did ask which year was the most recent for you.

And I hope you don't mind me asking, but after raising him, how did you two end up marrying each other? I admit I wasn't expecting that.

26! He's come so far! He really has grown into a fine young man.

...It's embarrassing. I wasn't expecting that either. But he just wouldn't give up! He first proposed at twelve, in the middle of dinner without a bit of warning. I fell through the table, literally through it when I heard him say he was serious. It was adorable in a sense, but he told me he was ready, he was a man already.

I told him he was too young for that. I told him talk to me about it later, thinking he'd give up.

So he kept asking me. And asking me. Until I finally gave up. The last pictures were from the wedding.

Edited 2019-02-17 21:33 (UTC)

Through that strange quirk of time and resurrection, mine is 28 now. Older than me! Couldn't believe it when I heard that.

I suppose he knew what he wanted. He - maybe all of them - can certainly be stubborn. And intense.

They're striking photos. It must have been a beautiful wedding.

28! I'm so old compared to all of you. That really must have been strange to experience.

He's always known what he's wanted. But that power, that intensity and determination are appealing traits, when tempered. The problem is that Law does what he pleases, for the most part. He's given himself a role, and he's hard to keep from it. And his worst traits can lead him to dark places. But I guess that's just human nature.

It was. [He looks at his own pictures from it, and he decides it's probably hard enough to see Law in groom's garb. Much less himself in gold and white and red, looking all but bridal. Some things just aren't comfortable to think about. Especially with the parental role that this Rosinante still seems to hold in his heart.] It probably sounds disgusting to you. I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable with talk of my life.

It's hard for me to picture him as anything but a little boy, even though I know he isn't anymore. If you two are happy together then that's what counts.

I understand.

You had other questions, though? I had one too. [More than one, but he's a patient enough man.]

Go ahead. It's only fair after everything I asked.

My muteness becomes a struggle often. How do you manage?

It passed when I was young. Only lasted about a month.

I wrote if I wanted to say something. Mostly I tried not to be noticed.

It never passed for me.

Notes work well enough. But a king is meant to be heard, and paper rarely achieves what I desire. Even if it becomes enchanted.

I'm sorry. It must be an immense challenge in your position.

What do you mean by enchanted?

It's more of a challenge without Law here. He's able to feel what I need, and get the information out. Without him, it's a little more complicated to communicate officially. Especially with the chaos that's going on.

Magic of course. It's not common to use it on something so trivial, but it helps to get the point across.

I hope he turns up soon.

It doesn't seem as though you mean devil fruit. In my world some call that magic, but it isn't really. You have something else?

We have those. But you have Haki, that's what it's called. Right? We have magic instead. It works a little differently, from what I've seen.

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