[ video/text ]

[fourseasons]

--wah!

[The yell is accompanied by an all too familiar BZZZZZT of the communicator as the device drops to the ground, giving a nice view of Japan shaking his hands off with a startled expression. He seems to be out near the lake, dressed in completely normal winter clothing aside from Turkey's Ottoman Empire hat thing balancing awkwardly on his head. He fixes it so it's less over his eyes and kneels down to the communicator with a frown.]

Ah, my apologies... I had intended to speak once I arrived at a nice destination, but it seems such devices are not so patient. [Irritation is there, underneath his polite way of speaking... But he eventually sighs, wrapping his scarf a bit more closely around his neck as he continues to walk, looking to the communicator.]

As some may know, I am the creator of the map program that many should have seen by now. That being said... I am interested in programming other things, though I cannot say I am sure where to begin. Is there anything useful that is needed? Or perhaps it is fine to do games... Ah, if such a thing interests you, please be sure to fill out the form at the end of this post. I will put it up shortly.

[He raises a hand up to fix that hat again, finally seating himself on the ground near the lake.] Though on one more note... Has everyone viewed memories that are not their own by this point? ...I am simply curious. [The video shuts off there, and as promised, it's just a few seconds later before the text is added.]

Please fill out this form if you are interested in asking me to program something.

Name: Program Description: Why is this being requested?:

Thank you. 人(--*)

[Feel free to run into Japan around Discedo too if you'd like! I'd be fine with him seeing any and all memories from you guys so go for it, and just ask if you want to see anything of Japan's.]

Comments

[fierybluebird]

[Slow voice.] I wouldn't think Luffy would have that many unsettling ones...

[fourseasons]

[Even with Marco (or especially with Marco?) Japan didn't want to bluntly say "It was the one where Ace died" or anything like that. How insensitive would that be? And he's not sure if he can say it himself. He's not as affected by it as he was earlier, but he's definitely been thinking about it, and it's all just so sad.

He's not sure if it's enough, but he raises a hand to his own chest to cover it, glancing off to the side.]

Surely not many, but I can think of at least one.

[fierybluebird]

[Drops whatever he's doing and just hugs the man hard. As much as Japan had been a pillar for him when Ace left, Marco knew Japan had been close with Ace too. After all, it was Ace who had declared Japan as nakama first, before such a thought even crossed Marco's mind.]

He was well loved and he knew it when he died. [It wasn't much consolation. Barely any, and too many days it still bothered Marco, but it had seemed to help Japan before, so he had to reiterate now.]

[fourseasons]

[He accepts that hug quietly, thinking it all over. A country, someone who lived for thousands of years. But as a phoenix Marco could understand that it didn't make them devoid of emotion, right?

All this time avoiding contact with normal people has been for his own sake, selfishly, and then this sort of thing, where one grows close, occurs. It's natural... And still sad.]

I know... Luffy-kun, as well, correct? [Knew, he means]

[fierybluebird]

Luffy loved him almost most of all, so I'm sure he knows. He actually challenged Pops to see which of them would reach Ace first.

[You don't see an entire army trying to rescue one man, willing to destroy the world in the attempt, and then think nothing of it.] He pretty much snapped after Ace died though... Which is just as well. [Seeing Blackbeard wouldn't have been... good. Marco's face is stoic, his voice monotone. Oh yes, he understands the desire to avoid people in order to avoid being hurt all too well. The composure isn't from lack of emotion, it's from learning to hold onto it when he has nothing left. But he also knows his life was better for having Ace in it, and there isn't any amount of pain that could take away from all the good times Ace brought him.]

[fourseasons]

I see...

[He slips away from Marco just so he can look at him better.]

I feel as if I experienced something far too personal...

[fierybluebird]

[Frowns.]

Didn't you love Ace too?

[fourseasons]

[L-love is such a strong word, it's always startling to hear. But he looks away shyly.]

H-he was nakama. [Avoiding answering directly yes...] But surely I was not quite as close as Luffy-kun had been.

[fierybluebird]

[Nakama was how Marco meant it. Blame English for not defining versions of love better.]

Even still... [He can't verbalize what he means with it. That Japan has a right to miss Ace in his own right; same as all of them did.] I guess it's a little different because you only knew Ace after he died, eh?

[fourseasons]

...For the most part. [He did see Ace as a child BUT YES that was... barely a thing.]

[fierybluebird]

But it's still a loss... isn't it?

[fourseasons]

[He gets a little flustered... Is Marco worried about him?]

I-I am upset as well, yes... Ah, but surely dwelling on such things do not help Marco or the others...

[fierybluebird]

[Of course he is.]

Bushido... [Tugs into a hug and switches to blue wings like a guardian angel around Japan's shoulders.] You've already helped me, remember? I don't want you to ever stop feeling for my sake. Be yourself as well.

[fourseasons]

There is no need to worry over something like that. Ah... I continue to feel, no matter what.

[fierybluebird]

Ah... that's not... exactly how I mean it.

[Furrows his brow. He doesn't know how to explain it. He can't even articulate it in his head.] It's more...

You helped find ways to let me cry, you shouldn't deny yourself something like that in order to just stay strong for us.

[fourseasons]

I-I do not... What I mean to say is, I am fine expressing my sorrows in other ways!

[HE WILL BE STRONG FOR HIMSELF TOO jgkdfljgd]

[fierybluebird]

I wouldn't say it's too personal then. Since it's well... related?

Err rather... it is, but there's nothing you can do about it so... there's no need to worry about it extra.

[fourseasons]

[He pauses and then sighs to let all of the stress out.]

Forgive me... I understand. ...Thank you Marco.

[fierybluebird]

Wish I could do more. [Flomps on in birdie form. Because this is obviously a solution.]

[fourseasons]

If Marco is finished with the fish, we can move to the next room.

[Just to relax he means.]

[fierybluebird]

[Reluctantly hops off and switches back. To do: make Japan learn more phoenix.]

Aye, let me just put it all away, okay? You want tea?

[fourseasons]

Take your time. Ah... tea is not necessary. Just this once.

[He had some before his walk... FOR ONCE HE DOESN'T WANT TEA he's thoughtful okay]

[fierybluebird]

As you wish.

[And he will just... finish all that up and then join Japan in the other room quietly. He's also thoughtful. Too thoughtful.]

[fourseasons]

[He looks over to Marco silently for a long moment before bringing up his worries in a soft voice.]

Are you okay?

[fierybluebird]

[Nods.]

Right here, this moment I am. [Presses a hand to his temple.] Remember when I said being old was like feeling the weight of thousands of years, but being young was like looking forward to a future of thousands of years of possibilities? And that I get both?

I think that's a lie. Perhaps lately I have neither.

[He fidgets. He needs to be doing something with his hands otherwise, this is just not a conversation he will have. Period. Because he'll run away into bird form the minute he can, and he knows it. So he takes out his comm to work on Japan's present while they talk; though he's very much here for the conversation even mentally.]