serving_love | (no subject)

Do you know what prolonged Rokushiki use does to a human body when practiced during the formative years? 55 if I'm extremely lucky. I don't want to know what kind of actual condition I would be in at that point.

...I don't know. I wasn't expecting her to leave him - I wouldn't want her to. He makes her happy. I think the most I was hoping for was that...eventually he might be all right with sharing. I didn't think it through that much. Neither of us could be with her forever anyway. I think what I was actually thinking was something to the effect of...her leaving me when I got older or she got tired of me or decided to move on.

Are you interested in dating at the moment, or just at some point in the future? Usopp certainly seems invested in your love life. Did he tell you that he thought it would be nice if the two of us went out?

That's still 25 years away. That's a long time. Hell, longer than I've been alive. Even if you don't live to be 100, it's not like dying is something you've gotta worry about anytime soon. You're not too old for this.

See...this is why I think you'll be okay. If what you're saying is true, and you really don't expect nor want her to leave him, then that's pretty much your answer right there. Usopp's never gonna be okay with sharing, that's just not how he is. At least, not in any sexual way. But that doesn't mean you can't still be around George-san and be friends with her and confide in her and have all the same conversations you're already having. Kissing her won't be an option, but I think you're the sort of person who's able to separate what you feel into two separate categories. Friendship on one side, lust on the other. Keep the friendship, love her as a best friend, but just...go take care of the lust stuff elsewhere. You won't ever lose her, friends are a lifelong deal. And it might not be the most favorable solution, but sometimes you just gotta take what you can get.

Yeah, he mentioned that. I laughed at him. No offense, it was just...hard to imagine. It's definitely something I'm interested in, though. Dating someone. Eventually.

If you say so. I just feel like I've reached the limits of my understanding of human relations.

...That should be reassuring. Shouldn't it? That should make me feel better? Because it just...hurts. And makes me irrationally angry at Usopp again. Maybe I'll just have to read it again in a month and see if it helps any then, because it does seem like perfectly logical thinking. Thank you for saying it, anyway.

I didn't laugh; I was just...confused. I think he's still a little naive. It seems strange - personally, I knew about sex before I knew about love and romantic interest.

Is there anyone you're interested in at the moment, then? I heard you say something about Miss Malandro...

Too much to handle in one day, huh?

I don't know if I'd say it was supposed to be reassuring. It's more like...a game plan. Something to work towards, maybe. Because yeah, it's gonna hurt. It's gonna suck and you're probably gonna wanna break shit sometimes and other times the urge to punch Usopp will be there because he's got the whole deal and you're stuck with half... Me typing up random words on a screen isn't going to magically fix things, there is no miracle cure for this. But time heals all wounds, I guess, or however the hell it goes. You just gotta be strong enough to stick it out.

He just got stuck on the idea of double dating, I think. Like that wouldn't be horribly awkward. I definitely knew about romance first. Failed romance, too. You wouldn't believe some of the people who came through the Baratie, I learned all sorts of shit from their stories.

...Uh. Not...particularly. Michiko-chan is - well. She's the newest female on board, that's really the easiest explanation there.

Too much for one lifetime, I think.

I'm strong enough to stick anything out. That much I know for sure. The difficult part is going to be sticking it out without killing everyone.

...I just tried to conjure a mental image of the four of us on a double date. Suddenly I know what is meant by the term "proximity embarrassment". I don't think I understand the point of a double date, anyway - isn't it the same as going out with a group of friends, only excluding all your friends who aren't in relationships? The only thing I can imagine is that it's an exercise in superiority.

That's what I thought. She doesn't strike me as your type, although I can't say that I know what your type is aside from "breasts". ...Actually, she strikes me as Zoro's type. Miss Robin tried to get me interested in playing a voyeuristic little game of matchmaker with them. I appreciate the attempt at reaching out and I know I shouldn't have rejected the opportunity, but, well, the timing was poor.

Well, I'm sure I speak for everyone on board when I say we appreciate you at least trying.

Heh, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what it is, actually. That, and I guess by excluding the single people you give yourself the opportunity to be ridiculously sappy with your date whilst knowing you're not going to be annoying the crap out of the company you're with.

You forgot "pretty face", that's also important -- and wow, kidding. I'm not that shallow, man, there's more to it than that. Michiko-chan is actually really cool. She's got balls, as Zoro put it.

.....Wait, hang on, you think she's his type? What - why does Robin-chan want to play matchmaker??

So...superiority and exhibitionism. In those terms, it actually sounds like my kind of thing.

I think that your type is just "women". You seem to be able to find something attractive and interesting about all of them.

I never did get to know Zoro very well, but they seem to have a lot in common, and he obviously likes her on some level. You just said so yourself. She's very...brassy. Challenging. Sure of herself. And I think she's older, which seems like something he would appreciate, being rather mature for his age when he isn't acting like a twit. Anyway, I think that Miss Robin garners a lot of satisfaction from meddling in the affairs of others and sitting back to watch the results. That, and something happened between her and Zoro that, I suspect, made her want to find some way to separate herself from him.

Guess you'll need to find a hot date, then.

It's not like you have to look very hard. Most people have something interesting about them.

Right. Tall, dark, and older, that does seem to be the trend of his. Figures. She seemed pretty hell-bent on teaching him to dance, too, and he actually went along with it, so. Maybe you're not...too far off. ...When you say something happened, you mean the Halloween thing? They weren't even in their right minds for that, did that actually get to her??

By no means do I actually want to do it, but it's a funny thought.

Mm. True. You found something interesting about me, after all.

I actually have no idea what happened. She tried to make me guess and then left me hanging, but she did mention they weren't in their right minds. I don't get the impression that it "got to her" so much as that she's trying to...distract him in some way. Possibly it was just awkward for them and she's attempting to dispel that awkwardness.

Have you ever even been on a regular date?

Of course I did. You're one giant enigma, Rob Lucci.

Oh. They were possessed by their costumes and kissed or something, so yeah, slightly awkward I'd say. Although I don't know why the awkwardness would still be there. It was like two weeks ago.

No. Unless dates faked for cover on missions count.

Am I really?

Well, he did panic when she brought it up again. But he does that whenever someone teases him.

...Those definitely don't count.

Mm. It's all part and parcel with the whole CP9-agent-turned-pirate thing.

Ha, yeah he does, and it's fucking hilarious.

Then no.

I suppose that does make me rather enigmatic, doesn't it? I think some of you are getting quite good at predicting me, though. ...On that note, I wanted to know if you'd be interested in making pie.

That it is. I wonder if everyone is like that to Miss Robin.

Guess I shouldn't find that surprising. I'd ask you on a date just for the hell of it, but I don't think that'd really help this whole current situation.

That's what happens when you actually start letting people in. Pie? Heh. I suppose I could make that happen.

I'm gonna go with yes. To some extent, anyway.

...I don't know that it would have any actual impact on the situation. It's like you said - this is this, and that's that. I appreciate the thought, anyway. Have you ever been on a date?

I hate to ask, but. Well.

I think that the reason she's still uncomfortable around me is that she played cat and mouse with everyone, and then ran up against a bigger cat. She doesn't seem to realize that she hasn't been my mouse for a long time.

Well, not impact, no. It’d just feel...odd. Yeah, I’ve been on several dates. Having an entire restaurant at your disposal makes that easy. Especially when you can get in after-hours and have the whole place to yourself.

It's been awhile since I last made one, hasn't it. Cherry?

Robin-chan's a smart woman, I'm sure she'll realize it eventually. Maybe she's still not ready yet.

Ah, that's certainly lucky. I was lucky too, growing up: I was rich, and in certain circles, famous. That did most of my work for me for awhile.

Please.

...I suppose I don't exactly make it easy for her. Maybe I should take her up on that offer just for the sake of making peace.

You mean back when you were doing CP9 stuff?

Can do!

...The matchmaking offer? That one?

Yes. Especially when I was younger. The older I got, the more...boring it seemed to just drop a name or wave some cash around. I like a challenge. Victory is sweeter when you have to work for it.

Thank you.

That one. It would...be a good...ah, bonding experience? Something to that effect. Right?

That’s always the case, isn’t it? Must’ve been nice having extra money like that, though. Not that the Baratie was lacking in funds by any means, but most of it was spent on supplies.

No problem. I'll consider it a warm-up for next week.

Sure. I guess.

I didn't really do anything with it, admittedly. Sometimes I spent it on people, and I used to collect rare weaponry...and clothes. I spent what my handler considered an embarrassing amount of money on clothes, but I didn't really have any other use for my wages, and if you're not going to be well-dressed, what's the point of having money?

Next week?

Look, if you're actually interested in her - or him, whichever - I'll let it go, but you have to say something.

Hey, I'm the absolute last person who would argue against that. Anything that was actually mine to spend was pretty much immediately blown on suits and the like. But at least I can say I was the sharpest looking guy there!

Yep! It's Thanksgiving - some sort of holiday where George-san is from. It involves a shit-ton of food and that's pretty much all I know. We did it last year, too! I think I made like ten different types of pies.

...Ha, right, like I'd be interested in him. She's a different story, but it's not like I called dibs or something stupid like that. And you and Robin-chan having a bonding experience probably IS a good idea. So. Have fun with that.

I don't understand what it is about some people that causes them to scorn fashion like it's some sort of blight on humanity or the mark of a deranged mind. The last time I checked, there was nothing wrong with taking pride in one's appearance. I assume he just thought it was weird and didn't see me needing any more ways to be weird than the obvious.

Oh. Hmm. Well, this crew will take any excuse to eat excessively.

...Honestly, I'm not even interested. It seems like a rather dull way to spend time. Perhaps I should just think of something else. The trouble is that I don't know what else I could do...

Yeah, no matter how many times I try to explain that to some of the idiots on this crew, they just don't seem to be able to grasp it. I think it's just beyond some people's capability to comprehend.

That sums it up well enough, yes. Luffy had a fucking field day with it last year.

Shame sparring won’t work. I dunno, what does Robin-chan like to do... You could start your own two-person book club. And serve coffee at all the meetings.

Odd. Although it would explain a lot. I once tried to tell Luffy that a vest does not count as outerwear, realized what I was doing, and gave up.

So, basically, what you're telling me is to wear a raincoat?

Ha. I'd be more than happy to discuss literature with her, but I think the last book I read was - oh. ...Never mind.

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