witchesreign | BBS/Action (current day)

Can't hear you. [he puts his hands over his ears] Not even listening. Don't even care. Not a damn bit.

[BUGS BUNNY STYLE KISSES THATCH'S FOREHEAD.]

Mwah.

I'd be the best damn Uncle ever. You should be jealous. Of my mad Uncle-ing skills. [Is it scarier that he's serious, or not?]

Be the Uncle of someone else's spawn. [Thatch flicks him in the forehead] Like Jozu, or Blamenco. Or, hell, even Whitey Bay. I heard she was hooking up with some Supernova Rookie from West Blue. That won't last.

West Blue...?

[Think think think... Meh. He only remembered a couple of the Supernova rookies. The interesting ones. Ace's little brother, and the Doctor who loved fluffy things and rescued Ace's little brother in a yellow submarine.]

I'm not sure I buy that. She has better taste than that, yoi.

Ace should have kids. They'd be adorable.

No, it's true. I heard it from her first mate's sister-in-law in Grand Floor. But I also heard that he she likes his muscles and he doesn't like women that are stronger than him--so who knows.

[he rubs his chin, skipping over the question of Sparks because that would only lead to tears and heartbreak]

Then of course there's Vista's Pinne. I know he had a piece on the side or two--actually I think he was trying to play the two women off each other and then Izou found out and you know how she is.

Huh. Maybe. But that couldn't last long then. She needs someone smarter. That straw or voodoo rookie maybe if she really wants to go younger.

[There's the briefest flicker of an expression. Thatch didn't take the bait about Ace. So he had to know something was up. But Marco breezed by it.]

Vista and his damn train tracks, yoi. He's lucky Izou didn't shoot him. [It was harder for Marco to feign interest in this part, since he already knew better how it played out. Thatch's death changed everything and Izou missed him as much as the rest of them, the panicking over Ace sent Vista back home and they rounded up the allies. Still, there was a part of him that did have a genuine interest, and Marco grins.] I mentioned our own Miss Tattler here on campus, right?

[Marco loves idle chatter like this. More listening than spreading it, and maybe discussing favorite ships among people, real or not. Which also is what has him dying to drop hints on who Miss Tattler is. Thatch and her would obviously bond well over it! Right? Right? Maybe not. It has him a little worried, but itching either way.]

Straw--? [Thatch groans and puts a hand over his eyes with a laugh] Please don't tell me you're talking about Luffy. Please tell me it's some other Straw kid whose name I don't have to hear over and over. Did you know that he was eaten by an anaconda once? Or that he sleeps with his mouth open? Or that one time he sneezed so hard a bean flew out of his nose?

[he laughs again]

But please, please tell me about this miss Tattler before I start talking about him myself.

[LAUGHS.] No no, not Ace's little brother. This guy turns into straw. Some sort of devil fruit.

[Strokes his chin and thinks it over.] Oh hey, hang on. [Goes back to his room and grabs a few of her past printings.]

I might just have an in with her.

Really? [all thoughts about rookies of any straw variety were banished as he read the printing. Give him a few minutes to pour it over as he absently ruffles your hair]

Wow. This is amazing. Do you have any more of these?

A dozen or so. [Sticks his tongue out and sifts through them to hand him another.] I warned you about her incest kink though.

Bah. Whatever sells. [he reads and reads and reads, utterly entranced] Can't really tell fact from fiction here--Haven't been here long enough--but wait til I do. I'll sort her out alright. [he rubs his chin]

[He laughs.]

Honestly I was hoping you'd give her more to write about! She seems to be losing her interest lately. Too much quiet around here and nothing sparking interest.

Oh I'll give her plenty. Even if I have to make it up. [he wraps an arm around Marco's shoulders] How about we have a torrid love affair under Grell's enthusiastic eye?

Sounds like a plan babydoll.

Let's see... [Holds up his fingers.] Incest, bestiality, S&M, a triangle, possible menagie trois, why do I feel like I'm missing something important though?

I don't know, but it sounds fun. [he pulls Marco a bit closer, caressing a hand through his hair] What say we get a head start?

Okay. But be gentle, I'm a virgin.

[It terrifies me that he says that in deadpan without cracking up.]

[He laughs]

Please. There hasn't been a part of you that hasn't been molested. [a fact that he knows from personal experience.]

[A mock gasp.]

How scandalous! [Lightly shoves.] You pervert.

I can be your pervert. [bites the bottom of Marco's ear without thinking about it. Damnit, Sparks. That's one of your moves]

[Shit. Ear. Help.]

[Blinks.]

[Not red, not red.]

You never stopped, yoi.

[So red. And Thatch pulls back.]

Anyway, I intend to borrow these thoroughly, and memorize them to their fullest.Hope you don't mind.

[Blinks and tilts his head. For a minute he thought you meant his ears in which case--]

[Oh the Tattler letters.]

Certainly, yoi. Just don't tell Grell where you got them, eh?

May I ask why you're studying them?

Hm? Why does it matter? [sorry distracted by salacious gossip] So I know what's going on, of course. If I want to work effectively I have to keep a warm sensitive finger [he held it in the air] on the pulse of gossip in this fair Garden.

So long as you give her more to write about. [Nod nod.] Seriously, eh? I can't have her just writing about me, it's too weird. And you know me. I prefer to be sneaky and then see if anyone notices. I only draw attention when I'm distracting from others. So make it dazzling, eh.

She? You mean the Tattler woman or Grell? [and he gives Marco a long thoughtful look] Or both?

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