𝑮𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑬𝑺𝑻ᵒᶠkings...

each one served its purpose as a step in a long, intricate plan until he arrived here at last. the apex— to stand on the same playing field that doflamingo dominates. a separation of thirteen years has come to an end and it's the furthest thing from a heartfelt reunion, but it's exactly where law needed himself to reach.

this isn't a clash between two pirates fighting for status or territory. this isn't the rebellious phase of a kid lashing out at an adult who, for a time, took him in. this is… the ending of what started thirteen years ago, in a snow-laden land.

“ …i heard it from the two you sent to punk hazard. right after they sneered at me about my 'betrayal', they said that you've been saving the heart seat just for me. ” his head tilts, and the shadows cast by the brim of his hat shed away to reveal his expression more. what's shown is a grin, mocking and sharp: a surgeon who's found just the nerve he intends to slice into. “ i guess your precious family isn't the fortress you think it is, if they're that quick to spill your secrets the minute things get ugly. ”

the question for clarification is so out of touch with law's very reality that it's beyond what it means to be insulting. the delusion to believe that there exists even a glimmer of a chance that he'd ever accept a title like that was even more so. to everyone else, the heart seat is… the prized and illustrious right-hand position of the one and only joker. to law, the heart seat is… the one open wound he could never truly heal.

People who need love will always choose their hearts over reason in the end. “ It's true. Nobody else was worthy of that seat. ”

Doflamingo's voice drips with amused contempt even as his gaze hones further in on @reunion like hooked wire, his orange lenses glinting in the light. “ Secrets? You think Baby 5 and Buffalo betrayed me? ” Despite the accusation hanging in the air, or perhaps because of it, he is utterly at ease. “ They were sentimental. That's all. ”

Most things people say to Doflamingo turn into a game of dominance on his end: he enjoys verbal sparring, enjoys even more the upper hand he keeps during them, the psychological control and the way people crack under his dexterous fingers. But Rosinante... he's different. That's different. Law doesn't utter a single name; yet, the sudden change in the Devil Fruit user's mood, triggered by the memory of his brother— HE WHO CHOSE THE SIDE OF THE WEAK, JUST TO SPITE HIM— makes the very air crackles with volatile energy. For a split second, genuine fury threatens to peek through the performance.

The idea of slowing down long enough to honestly engage with what he represented, to confront the fact that someone he knew and loved still chose to stand against him... He refused. But as it seems, Law doesn't quite care what he wants. Law, who embodied Rosinante's final choice. Rosinante, who reached Law more deeply than he did.

his eyes shut momentarily as he smiles, amused and savoring. “ as… insightful as ever, mydeimos! i didn't realize the crowned prince knew so much about the inner workings of the body. heat, exercise, stress, and illness? truly, your knowledge knows no bounds. ” if it's a contest of sarcastic banter, then he's more than willing to battle this one out too. he's shoulder to shoulder with the man by the time he stops walking, opting to stand beside him rather than move on ahead.

“ you know… ” he starts again, a thoughtful tone that doesn't quite mask the playfulness underneath. ( — anyone perceptive enough could pick up on the mischievous glint in his eyes regardless.) “ if the circumstances were kinder to us all, the twilight courtyard could always use more nurses. i can imagine it now: you, tending to the weak and wounded with that… friendly bedside manner of yours. ” the mental image alone is enough to pull a short laugh from him, “ i'm sure miss hyacine would appreciate the help. ”

…but this, this is where he seems to be most offended. surface level, anyway.

It's a dry, aristocratic jab delivered with so little visible irritation it barely qualified as one at all. As fluidly as his arms had crossed over his cooling chest moments prior, Mydei let them fall again to rest at his sides, posture easing without ever truly softening. He makes no move as the Deliverer stands beside him, merely leveling him with the same unembellished, no-nonsense stare he always wore whenever he tacitly invites him into one of their endless verbal skirmishes.

Phainon, for his part, accepts the opening without hesitation, folding easily into the familiar cadence of their exchange. It was hardly unusual; pointed sarcasm had long since become a cornerstone of their friendship, something so routine that it went on regardless of whether they were alone or before an audience. The true sport laid in the rhythm of it the effortless trading of veiled insults, dry observations, and mutual provocations that'd become a language of trust between them.

In Phainon's cyan irises, ringed with the unmistakable pattern of Kephale encircling his pupils, Mydei catches a lurking spark of mischief. Sinking past deadpan into even drier territory, his expression flattens even further at the sight. “ If the Twilight Courtyard were ever desperate enough to require my assistance, I suspect your presence would already have worsened the situation considerably. ” An amused breath puffs from his nose. “ How fortunate for the courtyard that your imagination rarely survives contact with reality. ”

✔ saved yuffie

bonus:

her promise to pay him back with a snow cone of his own is rich though. his hand, now free from the passed on treat, descends onto the crown of her hair instead to ruffle it as he scoffs. “ pfft—! no way! you, pay me back? does a kid like you even carry any money? ” his grins grows a bit bigger while his hand falls from her hair at last, offering a single nod of assurance. “ nah, save your money. how about you win me somethin' big instead? now that i'll accept. ”

but looking around… well, she's right about two things. there's tons of people here and lights illuminating in every color of the rainbow. enough stimulation to overwhelm every sense is just typical gold saucer fashion, over-the-top and surely jarring to first timers like her. “ so… you ready to get on another ride, yuffie? or is your 'inner balance' too messed up? ”

...Cold air?

Yuffie loses the staring contest of her own making when her curiosity inevitably gets the better of her, disarming the daggers she bore into his Mako-infused eyes. “ Huh? ” As opposed to the one holding nothing, she had raised her snow cone hand, the paper cup bending helplessly under the force of her grip. Her own strength shocks her, sometimes...! Practically forgetting about their stare-down and the importance of it to begin with, she flashes one of her disarmingly clumsy grins and relaxes her hold.

Until he goes and basically calls her penniless! “ Excuse you?! Of course I have money, @1stclass! What kind of question is that?! ” It's a little too defensive to be convincing, and Yuffie feels all fuzzy inside from his ministrations as she grumbles out the truth. “ ...Okay, maybe not right now, but that's just 'cause I'm between major scores. ” If perhaps a worried patron or a hardworking employee still has their attention on the pair, they've probably got as much of a headache from watching her go through the motions as she herself supposedly did from the cacophony of music and colors.

how's your mom?

i don't think there's anything funny about good journalism.

why does he trust everyone?

i've sacrificed my own humanity to help get rid of it.

your obsession with me is getting a little creepy.

it's not too late for either of you.

this is what you do every time you're faced with conflict.

i'm sorry, friend.

any chance they're mistaken?

i'm not gonna say that. you know i'm not gonna say that.

i'll be there as soon as i can, okay?

aw, you look like shit.

where's the button?

he's gonna regret harming me for the rest of his life.

i can handle any question that comes my way.

i will admit that, i am scared.

they sent me here to kill people.

come on. my actions? i stopped a war.

rule without mercy.

hey, handsome.

people were going to die!

what are we gonna do?

you saved us so many times. now it's our turn.

this girl is obsessed with you?

i thought i told you to keep an eye on him.

we're so different.

if you keep interviewing yourself, eventually people are gonna figure it out.

i shouldn't have brought it up.

hey, man. i'm sorry. i didn't mean to bum you out.

ethically, these interviews are hugely problematic.

we need to find him.

hey! hey, no, no. stop!

i tried to stop him.

no need to thank us, as we will not appreciate it.

guards! guards! he's doing something!

i'm just in the middle of a big news day here.

we have to try. come on.

what did you mean when you said that you knew this would never work?

it's a big story. put it above the fold.

three months ago, we had our first date.

so we're gonna lock up all meta humans now?

we'll never make it in time.

why is nobody clapping?

it's been a minute.

we feed the canine, but he is unruly.

the alien is on its way back.

can't he hold his breath for over an hour?

i can tell you don't really think so.

i probably should have told you that a long time ago.

don't worry. tall, dark, and martian isn't my type.

what are you doing here?

how dare he throw a pencil at me?

how am i being dishonest?

i'm goddamn mr. terrific.

there's other parts of you that people would find very attractive.

that's the problem. i need to heal.

i've been trying to figure out a way to get it out of here alive.

yes, but you know that's very silly.

we have what we need. return to base.

i knew this would never work.

we have no clue what his actual goal was here.

i cherish it more than anything.

oh, my god! what is that?

well, what's particularly bad for business is dying.

should we really still be standing here?

i don't need your help.

way to bring it home!

this ain't playtime! quit messin' around!

i didn't do anything.

i think it's pretty obvious the goal was kicking superman's ass.

what did you mean by that?

what did you say?

take me home.

i think i'm doing a good job.

i won't be able to sustain the impact at this speed.

without solid proof of malicious intent, it's just not worth the risk.

your pride won't be making our choices today.

it would be difficult to find him.

even if he was dead, those trackers would still be there.

i just do what i can not to be splashed.

i'm pretty sure you wouldn't like that.

that is where you've always been wrong about me.

okay, i'd like to change the subject, if i could.

man, you are so weird.

don't talk to me.

i have no clue what you're talking about.

i put your parents' message on to soothe you.

you are only 83% restored to health. you must rest.

you seem upset.

your choices, your actions: that's what makes you who you are.

they won't fool everyone forever.

there were no casualties and no significant injuries.

i can recover the rest.

can we go on now?

who raised you as a child?

we'll need more than you when we enter.

we love you more than heaven.

you came to get me.

oh, my. i do apologize, but this is a restricted area.

we've done what we need to do. wrap it up.

you know what? it doesn't matter.

you have to say “off the record” beforehand, not after.

we must get to the bunker!

i am giving you one last chance to stop!

i don't get it. what's bad about that?

buckle up, we're going live.

no, you are not going to take credit for this.

come on, bro. don't be such a wuss.

okay, well, a lot of people love 'em.

you're just trying to get information out of me.

you love breakfast.

you are not punk rock.

she has to be the biggest idiot in the world.

we'll take my ride.

i put one foot in front of the other and i try to make the best choices i can.

oh, come on, man.

okay. i'm gonna do my job.

you gotta get outta here. it's not safe.

i'm as human as anyone.

it's not healthy, is it?

i'm not even sure how i feel. honestly.

now you're being dishonest.

what the hell, dude?

i party like a rock star, choir boy.

i was gonna break up with him, actually.

i've been very honest about that. from the beginning.

oh, here. i brought you a donut.

wait. can we talk..?

i'm sorry we fought.

i hope he rots in hell.

i'm punk rock.

hopefully, there's something on here.

i'm coming in on my own accord.

there's gotta be a better way to do this.

he's been studying him for years.

you have to promise me we get to hang this weekend.

you piece of shit alien!

i can help.

i told you i wasn't good at relationships.

i have a workaround for that as well.

what do you want me to do?

look, i didn't even want to bother you,

take a hike, barbie!

please see what you can find out.

this is all on the record.

i don't know how else to find him.

he'll be dead in minutes.

i screw up all the time.

i couldn't be more proud of you.

you were out there helping them?

hey, bro, what are you doing? stop that!

isn't that one of those justice guys?

is that really how you feel?

do you want me to take it apart and put it back together?

you want me to drive?

sorry about that. i'm so sorry.

you'd be terminated already if it was up to me.

it was very funny today.

he's out there alone and he's probably scared.

we have no consciousness whatsoever.

oh, that's really good.

it's what people on the internet are saying.

hey, buddy. eyes up here.

i cleaned your boots. i'll go get 'em for you.

it's just a working name.

go for its eyes!

i can't stop it. i need your help.

i didn't imagine that would go so quickly.

how's that a mystery?

your superman has abandoned you!

you know that one specifically irritates me!

you have the footage?

would you like a coffee or tea?

i'm not who i thought i was.

can you get in?

where is my dog?

this is what we came for.

darn it, i can be such a jerk sometimes.

i will not accept that. will you?

how are we supposed to know how we feel when we read this malarkey?

enough! you're, you're gonna get all of us in trouble!

good luck with that.

you think this is going well?

the rumors are true.

i swear to god, that's not it.

my point is, i question everything and everyone.

whoa! what do we got here?

i didn't make it up.

how long have they been hooking up?

who are you working with here on earth?

as far as we can ascertain, there's none left on the planet.

parents aren't for telling their children who they're supposed to be.

are you being serious right now?

it's an awfully small distraction.

i really don't understand why you stay in that relationship.

i don't read that stuff.

i know you won't kill me.

you couldn't be more obvious.

with a healthy dose of yellow sun, we'll have him up and at 'em in no time.

kill him! he's still weak!

i don't know what a pocket universe is.

i don't know how in the hell this thing hasn't been spotted.

we can't stand here much longer.

this is your last warning.

why are you being like this?

…but sinking down into the grass and calling for a break after hours of action isn't the same as forfeiting— never that! it's a truth understood between both of them: a battle that has no clear victor doesn't end, it only gets prolonged. …that isn't such a bad thing.

“ huff… ” phainon's hand raises to swipe the sweat away from his eyes and up through his hair, pushing his locks back until they spring into their usual shape. his eyes open then to look at his sparring partner. “ you're sweating like that… but you're not even remotely tired yet, are you, @coreflamed? ” he questions with a knowing smile, his eyes traveling over those red-inked muscles before locking back on mydei's eyes. “ you know, it amazes me still that that body of yours can even feel fatigue at all. i'd have thought you'd always be raring to go until the very end, muscle cramps be damned! ”

As if it were sown into the dirt with a green thumb's love, the results of his attempt are a luscious thing to behold: a fruit of genuine insight. Crafting a deflection that balances teasing with challenge is a skill he's sharpened over the years, thanks in no small part to Phainon’s audacity: “ If this is all it takes to worry you, you’re already falling behind. ” The sun beats down with a fervor expected of the Descent Hour; abetted by the mighty swings of his companion’s greatsword, it surprises Mydei little that these two factors leave him beaded with perspiration. He acknowledges it during this interlude that Phainon has decided for the both of them...

...and yet, he doesn't demand that he pick himself up from the ground.

Languor coddles him, and the flush of his skin from increased blood flow to his chest soothes his beating heart. “ Sweating isn't always caused by exhaustion. ” Mydei's tone carries a biting edge from the frustration of needing to explain the obvious, but the sound itself was weak, forced out with a deep, weary heave. He moves on quickly from this, choosing instead to list off every reason for perspiration with clinical precision. “ This is how the body cools down. It can be from heat, exercise, stress, or illness. ”

was severely artblocked and depressed this whole month but suddenly got h🚫rny for mydei

...but that's as far as what 'respect' should look like goes.

zack's fine with rolling his eyes (n-not actually though!) at the 1st class's wise words. though his time here in the SOLDIER ranks has been little-to-none so far, he's learning rather quickly that angeal's not someone who just says what he means outright. beating around the bush with padded words like that just makes him scratch his head with the vague feeling that it's somehooow pretty important... just not sure how. something worth remembering, but not yet able to be understood.

this... is one of those moments.

“ yeah... i mean... i guess, ” zack concedes after having visibly mulled it over in his head, his tone matching every ounce of uncertainty his face displays. another swing and a miss— he rocks his leg idly now, the tip of his boot nudging against the floor. “ but what's that gotta do with me? i don't think i did anything funny out there. ”

angeal just doesn't get it either, then. zack sighs in defeat at that thought, stepping away and crossing his arms over his chest. in deep thought... before that tried and not-so-true idea crosses his mind.

Like shafts of sunlight peeking through the clouds, Zack turns involuntary suffering into voluntary resistance. That's good. But...

“ You're taking it too seriously, @1stclass. ” Count on Shinra's poster boy for honor and dreams to pull thoughtful life lessons from every encounter, his firm spine an active contrast to Zack's fidgeting demeanor. Angeal simplifies the concept further with the assumption that he wasn't understood the first time, his arm falling to his side in the meantime. “ The point isn't to find actual humor, but to put a better spin on the memory by accepting that everyone messes up... ”

Turning to watch Zack's active deliberation, Angeal notes his dissatisfied outbreath with a hard, unblinking stare. “ ...especially rookies. ” A steadying current of warmth pulses beneath the layer of his drawn-together eyebrows and flat-lined mouth, flowing like plasma through his bloodstream. His decision to mentor Zack was rooted in personal and emotional investment, fueled by a desire to nurture his growth rather than by duty.

It's exhaustive, if only because of the kind of person Zack Fair is.

Just when he starts to think that he's too busy rehearsing his next display of attitude to listen, Zack spins around with a new face, new attitude, new everything. The realization settles in that he's being taken as a fool comes moments after his steely eyes become glinted by both surprise and amusement, in equal measure. He's trying to get brownie points and make his bad behavior seem less severe, like a misbehaving kid who suddenly starts acting right before a fun activity.

The 'fun activity' being something he contrived out of his own head, at that...

Not only is their gap in power and skill too disparate for him to have any meaningful effect on a 1st-class SOLDIER-assigned mission, but Angeal doesn't reward lack of discipline. It's his turn to cross his arms over his chest and resign from eye contact, turning away from the too-eager expression of his mentee to look forward. “ If I take you with me, will you stop sulking? Your attitude is unbecoming of a SOLDIER. ”