[Action] Whitebeard's birthday = lonely birdie

[fierybluebird]

[All the talk about birthdays has been silently amusing Marco. He's not willing to say it out loud but today, the 6th, is his Pops' birthday. Or it would be if Whitebeard hadn't died in battle. Marco's not sure how to feel. Should he make something in honor of his Pops? Back on the island with Ace and Whitebeard's grave he'd leave him some sake in remembrance. But here... where would he leave it? Would a random cemetery suffice? Instead he buys a giant thing of sake and divides it up into 17 several portions, each labeled with a name of one of the commanders; one of Marco's brothers, one for himself, and the biggest portion for Whitebeard. If they were home, if Pops and Ace and Thatch were still alive, they'd be toasting his Pops' surviving another year. So that is what Marco is going to do, even if the message is a lot different now.

He'll be alone unless someone finds him crying, but he'd greatly prefer the company all told, he'll even share cake and stories.]

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[werepanther]

[Although today also happened to be his birthday, Tom honestly hadn't done much beyond go out to town in the morning and grab some coffee for breakfast. And maybe see what kinds of comic books and fantasy novels they had over at the bookstores, but beyond that? Nada.

He doesn't recognize Marco until he comes closer, though, and even then, he's not really sure he should make the first move.]

... Hey. You okay?

[fierybluebird]

[Stills and tenses up, but once he places who it is, he takes a deep refreshing breath and laughs quietly, gesturing for the teacher to take a seat if he wants.]

Yeah. It's just my Dad's birthday. The first one I've ever spent without him in several decades. [So much for playing younger than 40, oops.]

[werepanther]

I get that. [gracefully plops down and helps himself to some sake] Funny that he and I share the same birthday.

[The age revelation doesn't shock him, particularly since he's used to being around old people] ...You know, you don't have to show up for dinner with us if you don't want to.

[redcinemareel]

[Finds Marco because he wants to go to Esthar and explore with him! Stops just behind him, looking at all the sake divided up, and raises an eyebrow.]

What are you doing?

[fierybluebird]

Toasting.

[Looks away.]

[redcinemareel]

[Furrows eyebrows and goes to sit on his knees next to him. Looks to the bottles.

Ah, the atmosphere is thick.]

...do you need any help? [Looks to Marco] Or company? [Asks to be nice, although he won't budge unless Marco wants him to.]

/CHEERS YOU UP WITH DERP

[thewindything.livejournal.com]

[John mostly wanders over to you because you're one of the few people he actually knows in this place. Also you're kind of cool so there's that.]

Hi, Mr. Marco! What are--

[Oh well, this was a little awkward. But John is concerned, and Marco is one of his friends so he's now doubly concerned.]

Are you okay?

XD yaaay

[fierybluebird]

[There a quick stifled sniffle and Marco's eyes are a little red and bloodshot, but he covers well.]

Yeah. Just remembering someone important, eh?

What's up John?

[thewindything.livejournal.com]

[He frowns a little and decides to take a seat next to him.]

I think I finally got the hang of the map.

[Looks at all the booze laying around.]

Um, is all this for that 'someone important'?

[gyrocopter.livejournal.com]

[That... was a looooot of sake, even for his own tastes. What was up with that?]

Uh... hey, pal. [Wave?]

[fierybluebird]

[Waves.]

Hey.

[gyrocopter.livejournal.com]

[Staaaaaaring at those sake bottles. Just. Staring.]

... You planning on drowning yourself in booze or something?

[nomark1or2.livejournal.com]

[Jecht was about to pass by when the sight -- and smell -- caught his attention.]

Heh. That's a lot of booze.

[fierybluebird]

Aye.

[Sorry, he's a bit quiet.]

[nomark1or2.livejournal.com]

That's... not some end-of-quarter drinkin' game, right?

[Jecht: trying to be tactful and delicate. As usual, failing so hard.]

[shops-a-lot.livejournal.com]

[Bulla spots the sake portions and Marco looking uncharacteristically downcast and decides to see what's going on.]

Hey Marco.

[fierybluebird]

Hey. [Calmly (outwardly) holds up a hand to wave.]

[shops-a-lot.livejournal.com]

What's up? You seem kind of bummed out.

Because Marco needs more surrogate little sis comfort

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

[Luki doesn't pay the least bit of attention to the sake. Alcohol is a boring grown-up drink that tastes bad. What makes her eyes widen is the fact that he's crying.]

Who made you cry? I'll go after whoever it was with my gunblade!

lol he does 1/2

[fierybluebird]

Ahhh... Luki?

[Blinks and tries to fix it.] What're you--? Hah...

[fierybluebird]

[Just ends up grabbing her for a one-armed hug.]

An old enemy, eh. He's not here luckily.

Then he shall receive it!

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

[Luki snuggles in, wrapping both of her arms around Marco's waist.]

Well, you're nice and lots of people like you so if your old enemy shows up, there's lots of people to help fight him. If he's bad enough to make you cry, I'll help. And so will Miss Red. Her chainsaw is AWESOME.

[runaway-chosen.livejournal.com]

[]

Um... sorry to be a bother, but are you all right?

[fierybluebird]

It's not a bother, eh?

I'm all right.

[Though there's still a bit of struggle to get the emotions under control and he's looking away.]

[runaway-chosen.livejournal.com]

[]

You could tell me about it, if you wanted. Unless you wanted to be alone instead...