No, I haven't heard of that one. [ Shanks sounds nonchalant about the fact, but he does have plans to ask Zoro about the sword at some point, if he ever meets him. He, after all, has no idea Zoro would show up the month later. ]
[ And no, while he didn't say he was friends with Ace, Luffy isn't wrong. They got on, and celebrating with someone like that, yes, Shanks would easily say they were friend. Shanks, after all, tries to support the younger generation, as much as possible, even if they are, technically, rivals. Either way, there's no way he could hate young Ace. He was jovial, polite, enjoyed partying, and reminded Shanks of both Luffy and his former captain. Two of his favorite people. ]
We did have a great night. His crew and my crew got on, as well.
[ While Luffy watches Shanks, Shanks looks right back, fond smile on his lips. The second Luffy asks his question, Shanks' expression falls, slowly, as guilt flickers on his face for a second. It didn't need to be an accusation, there was a reason Shanks couldn't go back. Several reasons, really. For Luffy to become greater than Shanks he had to learn a lot, on his own. And for Shanks to realize part of his own dream, he needed to pave the way for Luffy. ]
[ His usual playful tone is absent when he answers. ]
Of course, I did. I enjoyed my time in Windmill Village. I miss it. Makino. And you.
The whole crew does, really. Everyone was happy to see your bounty poster. We know it means we'll meet again. Soon.
[Luffy beams, touched. It's not that he doubted it, exactly (whatever else can be said about him, having low self-esteem is certainly not one of his issues), but hearing that he was missed is still nice. Especially from Shanks, who has been in his thoughts constantly since the day he left.
So he nudges Shanks' side with an elbow, looking to cajole him back into his playful mood, recognizing the flash of guilt for what it was. Truly, he doesn't regret being left on Dawn Island, because if he'd gone with Shanks' crew he never would have met his brothers. He wouldn't have set sail when he did, a decade later, and been in the right place and time to save Koby, or free Zoro, or help Nami and Usopp (and Usopp's friend Kaya.) Sanji would have stayed with Zeff, so that wouldn't have been bad, but Luffy doesn't ever want to go back to a life where he doesn't get to sail with Sanji. (He certainly doesn't want to miss out on everything Sanji will cook for him once they find the All Blue!)
And having been out on the sea now, he definitely understands what Shanks meant, when he said that a pirate ship was no place for a kid. Luffy remembers how weak he'd been back then, totally unable to aim his fists and barely able to take a punch. He never would have been capable of fighting someone like Arlong before growing up. Or even Buggy. (Sorry, Buggy. Love you, Buggy.)] We missed you guys too! [Everyone but Mayor Woop Slap, of course... but Luffy suspects maybe he had, too, he just wouldn't admit to it. Either way:] It was so quiet after you left.
Well, for awhile. Then gramps made me stay with the bandits, they were pretty loud. [That's rich, coming from the loudest boy in the world.] I wish everyone else was here! I mean, I want to meet you guys on the Grand Line, like we promised, but I like that you're here with me now. [His nose crinkles a bit, because his feelings on the resort are complicated and he prefers to not get bogged down too much. He can have fun and he's with a lot of the people he loves so he doesn't let it get to him very often, but he misses sailing on the Going Merry so much. The sea salt and the wind pulling at his clothes, adventure spilled out before him in the waves.] Is that bad? [Everyone here wants to leave, he knows that.]
[ And Shanks, especially, isn't the sort to twist the truth to comfort someone. He would have been completely honest with Luffy if he hadn't considered him a single moment. But instead, he had talked about Luffy to everyone he was close with, discussed him with the crew on the regular, and celebrated his first big success. Every word is just true, and leaves out the moments Shanks almost doubts himself, doubts never returning. Doubts the reasons why he's been unable to. But seeing Luffy, he knows it was the right choice. He's come so far. ]
[ Luffy's jab gets a chuckle and grin from Shanks. It really did work out for best, for both of them, perhaps, even if these ten years have been long ones. ]
[ There's still a level of hypocrisy in Shanks' words to Luffy at that age. He's never - not once - thought less of his own captain and his first mate for keeping two small children out on the waters. He understands, why. And while that experience might have shaped Shanks, made him as strong as he is, it did help him understand why the seas are no place for a child. ]
[ The Mayor was a prickly person, but Shanks understood that, too. He would take no offense at the older man's words and laugh them off, knowing that beneath it all, he, too, cares. ]
I'm surprised to hear anywhere was quiet with you around.
[ He shakes his head. Monkey D. Garp. ] I'm not surprised to hear he was working with bandits. What bandits were those?
[ Again, Shanks' expression drops for a moment. He breaths in, then smiles. ] It's probably for the best they're not. Though, I wish they were here, as well.
[ There's another chuckle, before Shanks rolls over to his side, so he can put his hand on Luffy's shoulder. ] Not at all. There's nothing wrong in taking joy from what moments we get. Regardless of where they are.
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[ And no, while he didn't say he was friends with Ace, Luffy isn't wrong. They got on, and celebrating with someone like that, yes, Shanks would easily say they were friend. Shanks, after all, tries to support the younger generation, as much as possible, even if they are, technically, rivals. Either way, there's no way he could hate young Ace. He was jovial, polite, enjoyed partying, and reminded Shanks of both Luffy and his former captain. Two of his favorite people. ]
We did have a great night. His crew and my crew got on, as well.
[ While Luffy watches Shanks, Shanks looks right back, fond smile on his lips. The second Luffy asks his question, Shanks' expression falls, slowly, as guilt flickers on his face for a second. It didn't need to be an accusation, there was a reason Shanks couldn't go back. Several reasons, really. For Luffy to become greater than Shanks he had to learn a lot, on his own. And for Shanks to realize part of his own dream, he needed to pave the way for Luffy. ]
[ His usual playful tone is absent when he answers. ]
Of course, I did. I enjoyed my time in Windmill Village. I miss it. Makino. And you.
The whole crew does, really. Everyone was happy to see your bounty poster. We know it means we'll meet again. Soon.
no subject
So he nudges Shanks' side with an elbow, looking to cajole him back into his playful mood, recognizing the flash of guilt for what it was. Truly, he doesn't regret being left on Dawn Island, because if he'd gone with Shanks' crew he never would have met his brothers. He wouldn't have set sail when he did, a decade later, and been in the right place and time to save Koby, or free Zoro, or help Nami and Usopp (and Usopp's friend Kaya.) Sanji would have stayed with Zeff, so that wouldn't have been bad, but Luffy doesn't ever want to go back to a life where he doesn't get to sail with Sanji. (He certainly doesn't want to miss out on everything Sanji will cook for him once they find the All Blue!)
And having been out on the sea now, he definitely understands what Shanks meant, when he said that a pirate ship was no place for a kid. Luffy remembers how weak he'd been back then, totally unable to aim his fists and barely able to take a punch. He never would have been capable of fighting someone like Arlong before growing up. Or even Buggy. (Sorry, Buggy. Love you, Buggy.)] We missed you guys too! [Everyone but Mayor Woop Slap, of course... but Luffy suspects maybe he had, too, he just wouldn't admit to it. Either way:] It was so quiet after you left.
Well, for awhile. Then gramps made me stay with the bandits, they were pretty loud. [That's rich, coming from the loudest boy in the world.] I wish everyone else was here! I mean, I want to meet you guys on the Grand Line, like we promised, but I like that you're here with me now. [His nose crinkles a bit, because his feelings on the resort are complicated and he prefers to not get bogged down too much. He can have fun and he's with a lot of the people he loves so he doesn't let it get to him very often, but he misses sailing on the Going Merry so much. The sea salt and the wind pulling at his clothes, adventure spilled out before him in the waves.] Is that bad? [Everyone here wants to leave, he knows that.]
no subject
[ Luffy's jab gets a chuckle and grin from Shanks. It really did work out for best, for both of them, perhaps, even if these ten years have been long ones. ]
[ There's still a level of hypocrisy in Shanks' words to Luffy at that age. He's never - not once - thought less of his own captain and his first mate for keeping two small children out on the waters. He understands, why. And while that experience might have shaped Shanks, made him as strong as he is, it did help him understand why the seas are no place for a child. ]
[ The Mayor was a prickly person, but Shanks understood that, too. He would take no offense at the older man's words and laugh them off, knowing that beneath it all, he, too, cares. ]
I'm surprised to hear anywhere was quiet with you around.
[ He shakes his head. Monkey D. Garp. ] I'm not surprised to hear he was working with bandits. What bandits were those?
[ Again, Shanks' expression drops for a moment. He breaths in, then smiles. ] It's probably for the best they're not. Though, I wish they were here, as well.
[ There's another chuckle, before Shanks rolls over to his side, so he can put his hand on Luffy's shoulder. ] Not at all. There's nothing wrong in taking joy from what moments we get. Regardless of where they are.