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[mera_mera_ace]

[Ace woke with a groan and sat up. Grass? Wasn't he just on a battlefield? He ached everywhere and felt very weak. It took a good five minutes for him to even be able to stand. Waves of nausea and dizziness forced him to take it slowly. Finally upright he took stock of his injuries. Numerous cuts and scratches, dirty, weak. No broken bones though.

First order of business he looked all around him as keenly as possible. He called out as loud as he could hoping for an answer.]

LUFFY? MARCO? POPS? GRAMPS?

[Nothing. There was no sign of anything or anyone. No Marco, no Jimbe, no marines, and most importantly no Luffy. He felt panic rising inside of him but quickly stomped it down. Panic would get him no where right now. He needed to figure out where he was and where everyone else was.

Deciding anything was better then just waiting around; Ace slowly started walking forward intent on trying to find civilization. He crested a hill and saw a large building in the shape of what seemed like a shell of some kind. Hoping they could help him, he began to walk towards it. Doors opened revealing a school or center of some kind. Not that he had ever been inside of a school before. He stumbled forward towards a small group of people hoping they could help him.]




Backdated to before he enrolled]

Comments

[redcinemareel]

[As one of her many duties of planning the second best wedding in Garden, only coming second to her own, Grell had to go look at a few flowers, some color patterns, fabrics, and tuxedo designs for the grooms. No matter what, at least one of them had to wear a tuxedo!

She hears someone call out a few familiar names, but what is more important is that the voice is just as familiar. It makes Grell stop walking towards her destination and turned around to find the source of the voice. After a few minutes of walking, she happens upon that familiar man surrounded by wary cadets, and a few of them admiring his physique. She couldn't blame them.

Grell stands behind him and taps on his shoulder. Her presence alone makes the others scatter. They usually associate anything red with her, and that was never a good thing.]

Ace?

[om_nom_namur]

[Namur's hanging out with Thatch on the Quad, both of them chowing down on bentos from whoever it is that keeps leaving them at their doors. There are a lot of students milling around, a lot of life and movement, and Namur enjoys kicking back on one of the terraced Garden walls and taking it all in. He knows a lot of the students by taste, though he's never met them. Those two over there have been trying to hook up for the last week, but they're both too shy. That one in the corner keeps trying to off herself, even though two or three people come by every day to keep her company and she turns them away. He can't taste Marco or Grell since they're off doing whatever it is they do during the day, Espio's probably still in the gym, who the hell ever knows what Toby does, Ace is at the entrance, and Thatch seems content enough at the mo- wait.

Namur sits up, suddenly very alert and checking with haki. He taps the back of his knuckles against Thatch's knee, and nods his head toward the entrance to Garden.]

Oi, bro. We got t' go. Y' see who all's down there?

1/2

[thatched]

[he's damn spoiled with these bentos--but he doesn't mind. It's good to be spoiled by nakama once in a while. Even if he wasn't nakama in the sense that Thatch used to know them, he was getting used to the lad--and these lunches were only helping. Didn't hurt either that it was a warm day and there was young love trying to get together nearby in fits and starts. He'd been eyeing that couple for some time now. Almost tempted to lock them in a broom closet to see what came of it.

There was also the sad girl. Always hanging in the shadows. He wonders everytime if he should talk to her. But she's pretty young and instructors seem to intimidate her more than anything. Still he eyes those that come up to her and decide to interrogate them later for a name or student id so at least he can find who might be best able to help before she does something unfortunate.

Namur's sudden movement distracts him--and wonders at why he looks so intense all of a sudden before glancing in the direction of his nod--expecting to see Marco or Grell or, hell, even someone they knew faintly from Trabia.]

[thatched]

[and freezes. Vaguely realizing the bento has slid to the ground. The shock of recognition hits him like a slap to the face and his gut jerks.

That-- he couldn't--

His hands are shaking. His breath comes thick in his throat. No. Not this. Not here. Not him--

He can't--

He won't.

No.

It's too much.

He stands somehow and somehow moves the opposite way. Cold sweat racing down his spine as his throat threatens to close completely. His ears ringing faintly as if he's going to pass out but he won't.

Not until he gets away]

[mera_mera_ace]

[He'd been talking to the wary students for less then 10 minutes before he felt a tap on his shoulder. He had noted that the others scattered just before he turned.

He saw red hair and first he thought of Shanks. But no. That wasn't right. Shanks' hair was longer and he wasn't as well kept as the man before him. He nodded when the smooth voice reached his ear and eyed him suspiciously. Even though he was hurt and weak, he was prepared to fight if need be.]

I'm sorry, do I know you?

[redcinemareel]

[SIGHS]

Perfect. Time Compression has given you amnesia. How hurtful it is to know you don't even recognize your brother's wife! [She waves her hand haphazardly before linking an arm with his.]

Apparently, no you do not, but I do. [She'll just start tugging him towards the infirmary.] I'm Grell, darling. You're Ace. Please don't forget your name, as well.

[mera_mera_ace]

Time compression? Brother? Which brother? Wife, but you're a man aren't you?

[Is a little more confused so he doesn't really react more then following along when she starts pulling on him]

Grell? I've never heard anyone mention you. Where are you leading me?

[om_nom_namur]

[Namur scrambles to his feet just long enough to pounce after Thatch, grabbing him around the legs and bringing him to the ground.]

Come on, bro! It's Ace. Think he's hurt, an' he needs us. Y' ain't gonna flip out an' leave him drownin' are y'?

1/2

[redcinemareel]

I said WIFE, didn't I?! [Ace had better read between the lines, or he's going to have a Problem.]

[redcinemareel]

[Grell calms down, though, because she could see that Ace is in no condition to get his ass kicked.]

I was speaking of Marco. I'm his wife. We've been here, in this world, for quite some time now, thanks to a phenomenon called Time Compression. Some sort of magic that pulls us all from differing worlds. I personally call it a headache.

[She looks him over at his condition.] You're obviously in need of medical attention, dear. We're heading to the infirmary.

[mera_mera_ace]

Marco? Marco's here!? What about Luffy, is he here too? Let me see him. Now. Take me to him. Forget the damn infirmary I have to make sure he's alright! [Starts to try and pull away because you've said a magic word. The rest of the conversation is on hold for the moment until he sees the blond with is own eyes.]

[thatched]

[and why is hurt.

why is he hurt?! Who caused that, goddamned fish!

Thatch wants to say that but can't even breathe as it was knocked out of him when he was tripped to the ground. But he wont' go. He won't do this. He won't show himself so weak. He won't face him knowing--

knowing--

everything.

He can't.

He twists around and kicks Namur in the nose. And again. Until he lets go, digging furrows in the ground with his hands as he wheezes, struggling to breathe]

[om_nom_namur]

DAMN IT THATCH!

[Sure, he's only kicking Namur's face. But it still hurts!]

JACKASS KNOCK IT OFF!!! Y' GOIN' T' BE FIRST MATE THEN Y' GOT T' ACT LIKE ONE!

[redcinemareel]

Marco or Luffy? I can only take you to Marco, however. Luffy is not here. [And she doesn't know who he is...]

[mera_mera_ace]

Huh? [Ace was talking to a wary cadet when he heard what sounded like Namur. It was faint but it drew his attention towards the Quad. He started limping towards the sound, something compelling him to check it out. He didn't really pay attention to two of the cadets following him. Both seemed a little worried about him. Entering the Quad Ace startled seeing Namur fighting with Thatch. But..Thatch was dead wasn't he?]

T...Thatch? Namur?

[mera_mera_ace]

Then take me to Marco!!! [He doesn't mean to sound rude, but he's really upset right now and yeah needs to see something he knows. Of course..you could knock him out and get him treated. He does need that badly.]

[thatched]

[no! He can't! Not anymore! And if Namur doesn't let go of him right now he's going to grab him by the gills and--

He freezes at the sound of that voice. Calling him. Shit. Shit shit shit shit. He doesn't deserve to hear that. Doesn't deserve to even see him. Everything is crashing into him at once and he's suffocating.

But that's fine. That's fine he doesn't have to run. He doesn't have to hide. He just has to stop. So he does. Sitting up and staring into the middle distance at nothing.

He won't do it.

He can't.]

[redcinemareel]

No. [Grell stands her ground and looks at him sternly.] I will only take you directly to him AFTER you get looked over, and not before!

[mera_mera_ace]

Dude or lady or whatever you are! I don't give a marines fucking left ass cheek who the hell you think you are or aren't but you better take me to my brother right now or else. [He's not exactly happy, he doesn't know you, and he's panicking. So yeah. Don't take it personally. Usually he's really nice.]

[redcinemareel]

[Grell places a hand onto his chest and Draw-Casts a Sleep spell from him, and then at him. Purely luck, really, but she just thought she would try before she would use her own Sleep spell.

Pleasant dreams~!]

[mera_mera_ace]

[Goes to try and move away when Grell touches him, then the next thing he knew his eyes were rolling into his head and he fell forward to him dead asleep]

[om_nom_namur]

[Namur glances back at Ace, smiles, then kneels up next to Thatch, whispering.]

Come on, Thatch, y' got this. Don't blank out an' regret it later.

[Then he turns again. This time, leaping at Ace to wrap him up in a big hug and ruffle his hair.]

Hey Barbecue Pit! Took y' long 'nuff t' show yer scraggly face 'round here!

[redcinemareel]

[When he wakes up, Grell is sitting next to his infirmary bed, reading volume one of Shakespeare's complete works, nearing the end of it. The nurses worked on him and brought him to full health, so all that needs to be done is to wait for him wake up. She did let Marco know what happened, and perhaps he will make an appearance soon.

Perhaps...what a foolish word to use. He'll be there.]

[mera_mera_ace]

[Shocked was an understatement. Ace was speechless as he stared at the two before him. He opened his mouth to speak, desperate to figure out what was going on when he felt himself falling and everything going black. Ace fell backwards sound asleep and landed on the ground. Now would be a good time to get him checked out and cleaned up in the infirmary.]

[mera_mera_ace]

[Ace woke with a small groan and looked around. The red head was still beside him. He looked around noting he was actually in a medical room. The bed wasn't the best but he did feel so much better already.

He looked up at Grell and then noted something on her neck. A tattoo. Familiar and yet different.

Your tattoo. What does it mean?