The drink is poured into the empty glass on the counter without word, her understanding gaze resting upon him as he hunches at the bar, before turning to look out towards the street where the children play, observed by Argentí as they weave and dart across the road, giggles filling the air. It's a welcome sound, a levity to it that eases the tension of the day. Only when the bottle is tucked away does Makino throw her rag back over her shoulder and push his drink towards him.
"Penny for your thoughts Captain, I hear a problem shared is one halved..." She does not push but only guides gently, offering the solace of the tranquil ambiance allow space for him to raise his voice if he needs. Shanks might be a Yonko in the world out there, but here he is a customer and someone she has come to care for the wellbeing of. For all the coin he's spent, the least she can do is offer him a listening ear. "No one else is here, just you and your bartender, and I've heard we're supposed to be great listeners."
the red haired captain watches the kids, a soft, but sad, smile on his face as jackdaw drags stryx along by the hand, rushing to catch up as uta and luffy have yet another race, the twins determined to keep up.
from there, he looks to argenti, cradling the small baby in his arms, the far away look in his husband's eyes making his heart ache. he wishes he could do something, anything for them, but he knows that nothing will ease their heart, not when they are missing someone dearly right now.
finally, his thoughts move to his brother, and what he's up to in mary geoise, far away from here.
but he can't tell makino any of this. to her, trinity is another child for him and argenti, surrounded by her family and not far away from true father. to her, they're happy and together and no one is missing.
he looks back at her when her words finally register, flashing her a wide, but somewhat empty, grin, trying to ease her mind at least.
"i don't wanna bother you with my problems. it's nothing, really, just boring pirate politics." he takes the drink pushed forward, downing it a bit too quickly, pushing the glass back towards the barkeep. she's young and bright eyed and doesn't need to be bogged down by his, or anyone else's, troubles.
his gaze moves back to the kids, though, and after a moment, he speaks again.
"i think argenti is really missing someone, right now. i wanna help, but i'm not sure how. seems like i'm a poor replacement for the real thing. what helps you when you're missing someone?"
maybe if he keeps things vague, he can get some genuine advice from makino, while still keeping the secrets he has to keep.
and he doesn't want to put makino in danger, either.
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