Video;

[raiseyou]

[ While he's not who appears onscreen, the SmartSnail signature on the phone is Portgas D. Ace. The location behind Marco is carefully chosen to be generic as possible: a wooden plank wall, the outside of some building or the side of some ship or who knows, really. The coded location of the transmission itself is scrambled. ]

Portgas D. Ace is currently alive and under the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates, the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, and certain sections of the Revolutionary Army.

[ Marco's trying for deadpan, really, but the smirk on his face is goddamn shit-eating. ]

As First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates I am hereby proclaiming his right to live as equal to that of any other man.

Boys. Be on notice.

To the Navy, the World Goverment, and the Yonko Marshall D. Teach: Just you fucking try and touch him.

[ Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free. ]

Comments

[Action] Until I can figure out what damn marine to bring in, sob

[burnt_offering]

[Wow, that was a hell of a lot cooler than expected. Marco's expression was the best. And while a part of him worries that there's already enough trouble made in his name, he can't help but get excited about this. They're not going to take things sitting down, and he's not going to die again. And since it's a lot harder for the people at the top to keep their grasp and control since the shift, this might have ruffled more than a few feathers.

Good. They deserve to be aware of what they've made. What path they put people on.] Did you really need to use my SmartSnail though? Or was that part of the impact.

[raiseyou]

[ That shit-eating grin is still definitely in place, maybe even more pleased with himself at Ace's response. ]

Part of the impact. [ The grin gets just a little sheepish. ] And also I may have just flown straight here and left my damn snail behind.

[burnt_offering]

Hey, if it works it works. [He's addicted to those smiles, the more troublesome ones really are the best. But seeing Marco a little sheepish is good too, usually it's Ace who ends up making those faces.] So I guess we're back in business? It's not the same without Pops, but I'm not gonna just sit around forever.

[raiseyou]

As back as we can be. With this convergence, even if a lot of worlds' fleets are as battered as ours, put them all together and it's a force again.

[ A pause. It's dangerous to hope, but. ] You never know... You're back. Maybe we'll get to meet some version of Pops again.

[burnt_offering]

Hey, we'll pull together to be one hell of a force. We can't be like we were before, but we'll be amazing in a different way.

[He really shouldn't be so excited over something that's not a promise, but his eyes widen and he's thrilled, why didn't this occur to him?] Shit. It could happen. I'll keep a look out, listen in case there's news of him.

[raiseyou]

Definitely. Can you imagine two or three of Jozu? [ Hell, just as an example. ]

I'll message all the old numbers too, if they don't contact me first, see if any of the other commanders are still on the old lines. Maybe some of them have heard from others from outside our world, too. Tell them to keep a look out for Pops. For anybody.

[burnt_offering]

That's... Wow. More than one of any of us is trouble that they don't wanna deal with. [That really has Ace's attention, and his mind is cranking. He's going to do so much research, track down everyone he can. They've got to be prepared for anything at this point, but if they're all together, then they're going to be all but unstoppable.

And that brings that brightness back up further, that warmth and determination.] If there's anyone here? We'll find them.

[raiseyou]

[ That fucking determination, the excitement, the absolute faith in their entire fleet... Marco takes approximately half a second to make sure the SmartSnail is asleep before leaning right in to press a kiss to Ace's cheek. ]

This is another reason I'm glad you're back.

[burnt_offering]

[Ace flushes at the kiss and smiles, he thrives on attention and acknowledgement, and everything Marco gives him is eaten up and used to push himself further.] Yeah? Well, you can't do everything by yourself. No one can. [He had one hell of a lesson on going out on his own, doing things on his own, and he's going to be careful and precise this time around with his actions.

Or just more careful, honestly. He's still an impulsive 20 year old.]

[raiseyou]

[ Marco hears that extra layer underneath. Ace knows well enough he shouldn't have... no, whatever. The past is the past; now is now. He's pretty sure Ace won't go after Teach alone again. They'll have each other's backs this time. ]

Smart words. Pops'd be even more proud of you than he already was.

[burnt_offering]

[He's not going to claim to be older and wiser now, but he's at least got the sense to know how thoroughly crushed he was. How he hurt people with that choice, and he can't handle the idea of harming his family again. And having this new relationship with Marco is a further stabilizing force, keeping him from wanting to be as careless.

He perks up further at Marco's words, and he thinks that he'd like to live his second life in ways that Pops would really be proud of. He wants to do better, as a pirate, as a brother, as a friend. And he thinks he can manage it all this time around.] Well, I've gotta lot to do. I fucked up, we all know this. But I can be better this time. [His quiet expression, which was one of self reflection, is lost to another cocky teasing face.] Hey, at least we know that lessons can literally be beaten into me. That's something that was debated in the past.