new_world_dr | [VIDEO] And he has absolutely no idea.

[For a moment - a long moment - there's no answer. Then, finally, there's one Trafalgar Law. He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it, and for yet another moment, he's silent. Finally, he speaks clipped:]

Fine. Go on. Name?

[Rosinante sends a video, to show that he's actually there, and not just a repeated clip of some version of himself. It's odd, talking to a Law that isn't his own. This feels foreign in a way that he can't really comprehend. Distressing perhaps too.]

Donquixote Rosinante. [His titles are left off, there's no point in bringing it up now.] I want to help you understand what's going on. This place is confusing. I'm not surprised that you're suspicious.

[He tells himself not to be a fool. That a person could obtain multiple recordings of Cora-san is possible. That Cora-san is alive is--- not---possible. He knows this, he knows this, he knows this, he's not a child, so, why--]

[And he's trying, but---]

[He's glaring now, openly, and what he hasn't yet noticed is that there will soon be tears in his eyes, soon, and that's apparent to anybody who looks.]

How dare you-

[Law trails off. Maybe he's realising he can't hide anything he might or might not be thinking, if he was to continue.]

[In the next video, Rosinante can't help but to slump a little. Oh, he's still weak against Law's moods, even if this isn't his Law and he can't predict what he's feeling or thinking as easily. He can wager a good guess why he's upset, if he came from a world like the one his counterpart came from. It'd be hard for most, to see a ghost.

That face, that expression, is distressing. Oh god, oh god, don't hurt like that. Don't be so sad, he'll take all the anger happily, but seeing how close Law is to tears kills him. If this was his Law, if he was close to him, he could do something. But all he can do is ache, and bite back his own tears at seeing how hurt Law is.]

I want to help. I do. I know I'm not who you know, I'm not your Corazón, but I think he's here. This place is a convergence of alternative realities. That's the most likely explanation, at least. I promise that this isn't a ploy, or a prank. I'll answer whatever questions you have, let me help you Law.

[Now the man's who's pretending is... is suddenly saying he's not Cora-san.... and then something strange... and then-- what is going on, what is possibly-- happening--]

Enough of this!!!

[There are tears in Trafalgar's eyes now, and he's now conscious of it, and past the point of caring.]

Enough!! I won't be tortured! Not by the likes of some imposter! Are you, or aren't you--- Cora-san--- just--- tell me that--?! Just tell me this much, nothing else matters!

[Then, Law suddenly chuckles darkly, then smirks, dangerously.] No, I'll just get the truth out of you, whoever you might be, liar. I have my ways.

Please, you're not letting me explain this. Don't you see that things have changed? [There's a long pause between that text and the next offering. He's scared, honestly. This side of Law isn't something he ever wanted to be on the receiving end of. And he knows that for his well being, he needs to stay away.

But this is Law, still. Law who he held, Law who he protected, Law who was worth throwing his Marine career away for and so much more than that.]

Do you want to speak with me in person? Will that help? [He knows he's asking for death at this rate. He'd avoid the hell of of his own Law in this mood, and their bond is so strong that they're magically linked. But he's not going to leave him there angry, hurting, and without support.

Maybe he can help him to understand, if he's there with him.]

[Suddenly, there are tears no longer held back, and as if something broke, there's no threat or darkness in the voice, just pure desperation, and he sounds a bit-- younger, almost, in a way, and it's also uttered very quickly, as if all of that had to be done fast or couldn't be done at all-]

Where?

I'm in Dressrosa now, one of them, but I'll come to you. Just tell me where you want me to meet you and I'll be there. [He'll be there as soon as his airship can take him, damn his responsibilities and rulings. Law is there, and that's where he's going to be.]

[Law turns the video feed off and sends the coordinates in text. Like a sane person.]

[And right now nobody's seeing him sobbing loudly, and sometimes smiling strangely. That's good.]

I'm on my way. [It takes him less time than probably either of them expect to find where Law set for them to meet. The Dressrosa Majesty, an enormous airship, drops Rosinante off near to the place intended. He wants to do this alone, he's not going to approach Law with guards. That's not what he meant when he said he wanted to help him.

He knows there's some risk involved now. But he's careful, determined, and ready to help Law understand. Or understand as much as anyone here can, at least.]

[However, when Rosinante finally heads to the place itself - when he gets there - Law is naturally there waiting, and he immediately utters]

Room.

[After making the sphere, he's making no other moves, now. Well. Welcome to his territory, now. Literally.]

I've heard of a Devil Fruit that lets one copy appearence. Is that what you're using, to pretend like this, you-

Is it? If you don't answer honestly, I just might tear you limb from limb. Why shouldn't I?

[No moves for now from him, though. Waiting. Anxiously. He's glad the man surely can't know how fast Law's heart's beating. Law himself barely knows, because. This is all overwhelming. So Trafalgar D. avoids looking at the man's face.]

[Law's powers in this context are terrifying. So far, Rosinante has only benefited from them, but now he's sure his heart is trying to force it's way up into his throat. He's scared, of someone he cares so much for a version of, of someone he cares about just because of the link to that precious child he once fought so hard for. And being scared of Law is one of the worst things he's ever experienced.

Rosinante is still, listening to those words while trying to stay calm and not take it to heart. Law is scared, he's got to be, there can't be anything happy in this false reunion, He's not his Rosinante, he's not the one that died for him. His Law was raised in Dressrosa, groomed to be a king among kings. He wanted for nothing. So seeing this difference, this defensiveness actually leaves him fighting back tears again.

So he smiles. All he can do for a moment is smile, he always used to smile for Law when he was little, to let him know that things would be alright. He wants this to go well, he wants to be okay, he doesn't even know if he has it in him to fight back if it comes down to it. Even if this isn't his Law, this is still the child that he sacrificed so much for.

This is killing him. But after a moment, he pulls his phone out, the SmartSnail device shown to Law slowly and carefully. He's literally, truly mute. And without it he can't respond.

"That's not what my power is. I can't make you believe me, but I can offer you some evidence of what I'm talking about."]

[He can't look at this imposter, or he'll be fooled! He scoffs inwardly at himself, but it's sadly true that he'd fall for it, isn't? Even now, he can barely hear his own thoughts, and they're not what Law wants---needs---to hear.

But Cora-san is dead.

Unless he isn't.

But he is. Isn't he?

Because Do flamingo killed him. So, he's not standing here right now, absolutely, because-because---because Cora-san isn't----because. Cora-san. Isn't-----cannot---

Because of me.]

[The man, whoever he is, does he have a death wish? How can Law look at the message when he's pointedly not looking at the man?]

[That's a conundrum.]

[So, after a moment, he finally reads. Because. He's realised he needn't look at the other for that. What's he even thinking?!]

[Angrily and pleadingly, somehow.]

Prove it to me! Now? Co--

Prove.

[He's quick to start sending text after text, most with pictures attached that show duplicates of people, that show instability in the world around them, all of the evidence and explanations about what's happened. Proof of the world within worlds, the distributed announcement, even a picture taken quietly of another Rosinante.

Then all he can do is wait. And hope that Law doesn't hurt him.]

[Law reads all that, looks, trying to absorb all this strange new information ~~from Cora-san~~ and make sense of it, as it no longer seems to be a lie. ~~Cora-san--~~ the man seems very eager to send it all to Law quickly, but no wonder, with his heart at stake. No doubt the man knows a lot about the Surgeon of Death.]

[After reading, Trafalgar Law nods. And slowly sits down, because he'd rather do so in a dignified way, as his legs are, for no reason at all, threatening to give out.. It's just emotions, just a sudden childish fantasy that cannot come true.]

You weren't lying about the world, or rather, about this strange place. Alright.

NOW, why don't you introduce yourself to me? Really.

[Rosinante wants to approach him, to be comforting, but he's honestly nervous. So he sits down too, refusing to be above him in stance when Law is this stressed.

Another text comes, and Rosinante looks confused.

"I did earlier. But it's alright! I'm Donquixote Rosinante."

He doesn't quite know what Law wants, and he refuses to use that magic linking on any Law that isn't his. So he has to wait for a sign, for something more concrete, more obvious.]

[Yes, but- no- but-]

[In a small voice]

...Cora-san--really--??

[Is he... shaking...? He might be trembling.]

[Damn the consequences, he's going to go to Law. He's not going to leave him trembling, and he stands to move to him. This is still Law, precious Law that was worth fighting for and to someone worth dying for. And he starts off strong, heading over with a warm smile and a supportive energy about him, something comforting that can literally be felt.

He sends a quick text. "It's alright, it's going to be okay Law. I'm here."

And then he trips, and falls flat on his face. Oh well, no harm no foul. Good going, not!Cora-San, have a lesson in the dangers of texting and walking. He scrambles back up, and over, and sits close to him. Reaching out, he doesn't know what this Law wants, he knows how his Law would respond right now but this situation is foreign.]

[When the man--

No--

When Cora-san fall down like that, Trafalgar D. Water Law chuckles.]

[And then runs up to him, so, well, it's not hard to sit down right next to him when he's already moved close.]

Cora-san!!!

Cora-san. Cora-san, it's- it's you. It's you--! It's actually you... I'm sorry... Forgive me, I- Cora-san--!

[There are times when he really curses his lack of proper vocalization. He can make some sounds, sure, but he doubts that any raspy, barking wheezes would benefit Law now. So he smiles, he swears he'll smile until his face breaks, because it's alright. Law is going to be okay, he'll actually be able to help him now.

"It's okay, it's okay! I'm here, we'll work this out. Law, you're alright. I'm not mad at all."

He's tearing up a little, and he's not sure why. Oh well, it's easy enough to wipe any errant tears off of his own face and get back to pouring attention onto Law.]

Y-you should be mad, what sort of greeting did I--

[Wait. There's one other matter.]

Cora-san, you're mute.

[It's a statement of a fact. An unexpected, quite awful fact.]

["I'm not, I couldn't be. How were you to know this was real, or safe? I would have been upset too. It's better to be careful."

He nods, there's really nothing else to say about it. He's not even sure why he's mute. He doesn't remember ever having an injury specific to the throat, he has no scars there. But he's been mute since childhood, and it's just something that he's had to deal with.

"It's alright. I manage well enough. "]

Since- since when are you really mute? What happened?

[Law blinks away his tears, and now looks at Rosinante seriously.]

Let me check if there's anything I can do?

[Rosinante bites his lower lip for a moment, really craving a cigarette suddenly so he can have something to focus on besides how much he doesn't want to focus on this part of things.

When I was a child, I lost the ability to speak. And I never regained it. I don't know why I can't speak, there's no sign of injury and I've had specialists look me over. His own Law has said things about brain injury, and trauma, but in the end it's all the same. As long as he can communicate, he's happy.

Feel free to, if it makes you happy. Maybe you'll find something that was missed. But it's okay. I really do well, regardless.]

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