[BBS]

[thatched]

Well since we're breaking away to begin with, why not go all the way and just become pirates? Floating the seven seas, waving our battle flag from the massive white dome. Pillage and plunder and the occasional panty raid. What do you think? Shall we put it to the vote?

Comments

[thatched]

[whatever it is...it's something Marco doesn't want Thatch to know. Maybe it's something he can't help with. Something about him or...something in a place he has no presence anymore. Thatch couldn't say. He scratches Marco's head and loves on him with pets and strokes designed to melt him into a puddle of contented phoenix goo]

You're a horrible liar and I adore you.

[he murmurs this, but warmly. He knows Marco is hiding a lot and he knows Marco knows he knows. So forget it for now. Though he wished he were like him. Could bend time and space. Could just fly with him like Grell did, throughout the centuries... but that wouldn't do him any good here.

He had to figure out how to work here. How to be more than satisfied. How to move forward in this place where he was second class just because of his origin. Now he really understood Fishmen.

Though that's not important right now either. He needed to focus on the problem at hand...]

It's not been much to savor lately has it? [he rubs his chin on the top of Marco's head. He continued in a low voice] I don't know what to do about Ace, though, eh? The more he wants me the more I want to run. [he smirks] I'm a tired old man, you know. Can't keep up with these little bastards.

Okay reply-able now :3

[fierybluebird]

[Marco nodded. That about summed it up, and he leans up to give Thatch some affectionate phoenix kisses.]

Aye.

[He wants to tell him that maybe he should be upfront with Ace, but instantly Marco can see eighty problems with that.] And the more you run, the more he pursues, eh?

[More thinking it over and Marco swishes his tail. If it took too long, eventually one of them would snap and it could get very bad indeed.]

Ace is like the sun, eh. Very intense. I think he is worried if he leaves your side for even a second or even a little, then you'll be gone forever. He's so difficult to get through to though. No matter how you explain it... [It was like rolling dice. Who could say what went on in that crazy wildfire's head sometimes?]

At the minimum don't tell him it's because you're old.

[At this Marco switches back to human and cuddles Thatch's back with his chin in the giant pompadour.] He'll see it as a challenge or that you'd be lonely without him and redouble his efforts.

Mah. And you know how Ace is. [Switches straight back to phoenix, perched now on Thatch's shoulders and with his beak poking through the hair.] He doesn't want to be left out or leave anyone else out either.

[thatched]

I think I've already told him that. [he makes a slight face at the hair pokes but trusts Marco not to mess it up. One crack about finding things to eat, though, and Thatch was going to tie him to a tree.]

I don't know... [he leans back against the tree and closes his eyes, idly stroking the smooth wing under his fingertips.]

I don't... [God. It was hard to say. He turned his head and buried his face into that warmth, seeing the soft blue behind his eyes] I'm not the same person I was.

[and what if Ace didn't like that? What if he couldn't like that? What if Thatch couldn't take care of him? What if Ace wanted more from him than he could give? How much could he give until he broke? Ah it was all such a mess]

Some first mate, huh?

[fierybluebird]

[Marco just grins softly and hugs Thatch that much more, finally switching back to human for a bit longer now.]

You wouldn't be my first mate if you hadn't grown up a little, eh? And I wouldn't be captain.

Ace isn't the same either. He's been through a lot. Places I can't reach him. Maybe only you can, and maybe vice versa, eh? He doesn't love the Thatch from the past, he loves you as you, past present, future, and all alterations thereof. Just as I still loved Ace from the universe he was a marine.

Don't run away before he even has a chance to see who this newer Thatch is, eh?

[thatched]

[he snorts]

The newer Thatch is a miserable old bastard and I hate him. Can't we just go with a younger model?

[even if Ace did love him...there was still so many ways to let him down. But in the end he'd just have to power through it somehow]

[fierybluebird]

No. Your younger model was a vapid idiot. [Pokes a temple.] Become a newer you who you want to be.

[thatched]

Oi, he was not. [he waves Marco's hand away. He'd been a man full of promise instead of...bah] I don't want to be anything...but, eh, don't worry, chicken-man, I'll be fine.

[Marco had enough to worry about]

[fierybluebird]

[A laugh.] Perhaps not, but you are deeper now. I like it. [Nuzzles an ear affectionately.]

[thatched]

I prefer rugged. [he reached up and tweaked a strand of Marco's hair, then he closed his eyes and leaned back against Marco's shoulder] Glad you're here, Captain.