Nami's adopted mother had instilled a strong sense of confidence within both of her daughters. Never once did she doubt her own attractive features. She had been blessed chestnut hued eyes framed by naturally long, black lashes that were able to charm adults from a very young age. When she went through puberty it was clear she was not only going to be curvy on top, but the bottom as well. Top it all off with legs for days and long, thick waves of sunset that perfectly framing her facial features.

So no, Nami wasn't surprised when the doctor stated that she looked good in the dress she had selected for their extravagant date. When the woman was requested to be Law's date for a benefit for his hospital where she could make connections with those that might be in her industry of choice there for press, the doctor request gold (but easy on the cleavage). Of course she looked good in gold, but Nami would argue she looked good in every color, but leaned into his request.

Going easy on the cleavage was a bit difficult, but the ginger had managed to find a dress that accentuated her curves while not over accentuating her breasts. Keeping her makeup light and her hair down, she looked ready for the runway- If only she had the temperament for a model. She wasn't much for covering up her tattoo more than was necessary or changing her hair color or style as often as was required as one. Now, a job as a newscast meteorologist would allow her to occasionally put on overly glamours dresses, while still keeping with her preferred style.

What did come as a surprise to the younger woman is that the typical surly doctor had admitted her beauty out loud. Or had he not meant to do that and it was merely a slip of the tongue? Either way… she wasn't about to let the opportunity slip by so easily.

“Oh no, that's not it. It's just nice to hear it sometimes.” Nami tossed the man a wink, reaching up to fix his tie when it didn't actually require fixing at all purely for the opportunity to touch him while she teased. “You're pretty easy on the eyes yourself… You should wear a suit every day,” she added quickly with a giggle.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ❝Wouldn't hold as much of the rare treat appeal if I wore one every day, now would it?❞ Between the compliment and her fussing, the surgeon flustered a bit. Avoided locking eyes with her because he could feel the amusement in the look she cast at him, opting instead to let his gaze roam over the conference hall and its varying occupants. It was early still, the evening's events not yet started, but among those already assembled and the crowd still shuffling in through designated doorways along the hall's perimeter, he'd spotted several familiar faces and one or two already he thought (hoped) would be of interest to Nami.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ She'd no sooner let her hands fall than Law eagerly took up the chance to change the subject. ❝Far door over your shoulder. That's the spokesperson for one of the smaller regional stations, if I recall correctly. Northeast, maybe?❞ The station itself was too minor to suit her interests, but it never hurt to have connections one might fall back on. Besides, it gave him something to focus on besides how perfect that shade looked on her: she really was more of a vision than her date had bargained for.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ And blurting that observation out the way Law had actually had not been intentional, as it so happened. And he certainly hadn't expected her to look so pleased when he had said she looked beautiful. It did things it wasn't supposed to and that he absolutely did not need to dwell on right this moment.

(3YV, blurted out once he returns carrying a sleeping Cora-chan to Nami’s room and tucking her in.)

"You-"

Bewildered, Nami had not even had a moment to put her phone back down when Law returned to the room. Fingers hovered mid-emoji selection in response to a meme, forgetting it's existence entirely. Sanji would just have to remain on read...

"- What?"

She wasn't mad. There was no reason to be mad, unless he intended to confess the deletion of an important message or contact. It wasn't exactly like Nami's password was a secret- even their three year old knew how to key in her own birthday- but things were finally starting to not look so bleak & since matching on a dating app, they'd had a reason to talk to one another through the work day. But she'd barely used it beyond him & for the purposes of connecting for work. Her profile very clearly stated no hook-ups, but in all honesty Nami wasn't looking for a match so much as friends closer to her new home that weren't mutual friends with Law or her child's daycare teacher.

Not a single man had been swiped right on besides the one standing before her. Over the last four years he'd been the only man she'd ever wanted.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ❝Because I didn't want you to see it,❞ he frowned, as if that much were obvious. Which in fairness he thought it had been: selfish and unwarranted, undoubtedly. But ambiguous? Hardly.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ She's got every right to be affronted. He'd known it was wrong even as he'd knee-jerk reacted and reached to do it: he just hadn't let it stop him. And of course she should be outright furious with him - he'd told her not to wait up for him, hadn't he? Hadn't wanted to string her along, leave her holding her breath in the hopes he someday figured out how to forgive what felt unforgivable. He'd told her not to wait for him because no matter what had happened, it didn't feel right to deny her the chance to move forward if there ever was one. Not when he was stuck frozen in a past that didn't exist any longer.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ He'd never wanted to bar her from moving forward to a better life without him. And yet with the briefest glance at even so casual a message, Law had faltered. Failed her. It didn't matter that it was polite and unassuming - an obvious first message. He didn't want to think about her talking to the man with the Meteorology major she didn't live or have a three-year-old with.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ It wasn't right and it wasn't his place, but he'd done it anyway. And after grappling with it all day, he'd blurted it out at the earliest opportunity: right there in the doorway.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ He shifted uncomfortably, not quite able to meet the flummoxed expression she'd fixed him with.

📅 How long have you been roleplaying, and what got you started?

🌊 Do you prefer plotting everything out or going with the flow?

🪞 How similar are you to your muse(s)?

🎭 What’s your favourite genre to roleplay (angst, fluff, horror, etc.)?

💖 What’s a trope you love and will never get tired of?

🚫 What’s a trope you avoid or dislike?

🎧 Do you associate songs with your muse(s)? If so, share one!

🥹 Do you ever get emotionally affected by your threads?

🛋️ What’s your ideal RP writing environment (music, silence, chaos)?

✨ What’s your favourite thing about your muse(s)?

⏳ How long does it usually take you to reply to threads?

📝 Do you prefer short replies or long, detailed ones?

🏆 What’s your proudest thread or RP moment?

🌐 Do you enjoy crossovers with other fandoms?

🕵️ Do you stalk blogs before following them? Be honest.

💕 Who are you having the most fun writing with, at the moment?

😶 Are you shy about approaching new RP partners?

🌟 Where do you get inspiration for your writing?

🖼️ Do you make edits, moodboards, or playlists for your muse(s)?

😭 What’s the saddest scene you’ve ever written?

✈️ If your muse(s) could go anywhere, where would they go?

🎁 What’s a random fun fact about you (the mun)?

💻 Do you RP mostly on mobile or desktop?

🌙 Have you ever stayed up way too late just to reply?

🎲 Do you like doing random starter calls or planned plots more?

🤔 What’s something you’ve never tried in RP but want to?

✍️ Has your writing style changed over time? How?

🎯 Do you set personal goals for your RP (activity, improvement, etc.)?

🧪 Have you ever experimented with a completely different writing style or format?

🧑‍🎨 Do you prefer original characters, canon characters, or a mix?

📊 How much research do you do for your threads (if any)?

🔐 Do you keep secrets about your muse(s) from other writers on purpose?

✏️ Do you write outside of RP (stories, poetry, etc.)?

⛰️ What’s the hardest part of roleplaying for you?

🧱 What helps you get out of writer’s block?

📐 Do you prefer long-term threads or short interactions?

🚪 How do you usually start a new thread? Dialogue, action, or description?

⛓️‍💥 Have you ever taken a long break from RP? What brought you back?

🧠 Do you believe muses “have a mind of their own”?

✂️ How much do you edit your replies before posting?

🎬 Has any media (show/movie/game) recently inspired your RP?

🌀 Do you enjoy chaotic threads or calmer, character-focused ones?

🌱 How do you develop your muse(s) over time?

⚡ What’s something small that instantly makes you excited to reply?

📥 Have you ever adopted ideas from other writers into your own headcanon?

⚔️ Do you like conflict-heavy plots or softer dynamics more?

🪫 How do you handle losing motivation for a thread?

📦 If you had to move your RP somewhere else, where would you go?

🛑 Do you have any RP boundaries or topics you will not write?

😤 Do you have any pet peeves when it comes to RP partners or threads?

💌 Do you prefer people to DM you for plotting, or just jump into asks/starters?

🔄 How do you feel about dropping threads vs. pushing through them?

🫶 What makes you feel most appreciated as an RP partner?

👤 Do you ever write characters very different from yourself on purpose?

📚 Do you reread your old threads? Why or why not?

"Sorry, no I'm not – I'm not laughing at you –" She buries her face in her hands, giggling helplessly for another moment before she forces herself to calm, gulping in air. "Sorry, sorry. Just. I know you don't mean it because you didn't know, but from my perspective you just asked me to marry you."

She wipes her eyes, giggling again. And then reaches over, plucking the ribbon from Law's fingers and reaching up to set her hat aside. Deft fingers quickly pulled her hair up into a tail, tying it off with the ribbon before tilting her head to feel the difference in weight without the hat she's already stuffing into her bag.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ❝By giving you a ribbon?❞

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ She is laughing at him, though. Even if she claims she doesn't mean it that way, the knot of tension in Law's stomach only coils itself tighter with every second she spends giggling: certainly not the reaction he'd been expecting when he'd held the small gift out for her.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ It doesn't relent at all until she finally reaches out to take it from him, but even then he's not quite sure he's not just being humored. She's got the whole thing about being polite, after all. Aside from that...

"Shambles only likes plain sandwiches," Lillian decreed finally. "Will you eat plain sandwiches for his birthday with me?"

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ He has to resist the urge to groan - or bribe her. Instead, Law lets out a long sigh, deep and long-suffering. All the things she'd inherited from him but of course the disdain for all things bread could not be one of them. Oh no. It had to be her favorite, just like her mother's.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ Or second favorite, rather.

‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ But it's fine; plain bread's still slightly better than cake for every meal - and she'll be relieved when Law offers to share his with Mr. Shambles so she doesn't have to. Still gonna make sure she snacks on something at least a little nutritious to go with it, though.