Quakerman

(these could be said to a muse outside of the family, or to a muse inside the family! there are no rules. currently amused by the thought of 'muses overhearing other people say 'let me finish winning' abt their game' though)

the family.

"Stop i- sto- get OFF! It's mine!"

"Give us a sec, he's/she's/they're not finished losing."

"Wait, let me finish losing to (name)."

"You know I can hear you, right?"

"Absolutely not."

"No way we're leaving you behind."

"There's no way (name) would do that."

"Yes, (name), you're very handsome/pretty and everyone should be in love with you."

"My mistake. You're handsome and pretty and everyone is in love with you."

"I'm pretty cute, though."

"Don't listen to them. These guys love me."

"We tolerate you."

"Oh, we're not friends."

"Nice of you to show up."

"Glad to see you're making yourself at home."

"Make yourself maybe a little bit less at home, huh?"

"(Name) really likes you, you know."

"I care about them. You hurt them, you answer to me."

"They're a pain in the ass. Not 'my' pain in the ass. Just a pain."

"(Name) is a good kid. Be nice to them."

"No, if (name) says we jump, we jump."

"Do you trust them?" / "You have no idea."

"Don't listen to 'em. They're just jealous."

"You wanna talk about it?"

"You like him/her/them?"

"I'll take a look."

"Sit down."

"You need someone to check you out, you're not gonna do better than (name)."

observer.

"Are you guys always like this?"

"These are the people you hang out with... on purpose?"

"So are you the 'annoying little sibling' or the 'drowned kitten' in this dynamic?"

"Seem like good people."

"These are your guys?"

"So (name)'s good for it?"

"You vouching for them?"

"I can see what you mean about them."

"If (name) told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?"

"You guys love each other."

The sight of Whitebeard - of Pops - standing before her had so many emotions running through Ikkaku's heart and mind. At first, she'd thought it had to be a trick. Edward Newgate was dead. She'd seen it with her own eyes and felt the ripples his demise had caused the world in the two years after the war. She hadn't heard from the other Whitebeard Pirates since before the Payback War. Well, up until Wano, at least, where she'd seen Marco and Izou again.

And now...now here was Whitebeard. Was he real? Was he an illusion? Was he a Pacifista disguised as him made to lure unsuspecting pirates to their doom?

She didn't care. What did she have to lose anymore? Her legs moved on their own and before she knew it, she was in the big, warm, protective hug she'd thought she'd never experience again. Ikkaku had been put through the wringer in the past few weeks, and she just desperately needed something to cling to.

It had been so dark, and Ikkaku needed a spark of hope so the shadows wouldn't suffocate her.

"He's..." It was so hard to articulate her jumbled emotions, especially when it came to being separated from Law. It had been bad enough on Zou, not knowing if he would return and rejoin his Hearts after watching his vivre card start to smolder in its glass jar. Now she didn't even know if he was alive at all. And she'd already lost so much. Her response came out in jumbled sobs. "I don't know for sure. He's gotta be alive. He's too strong and stubborn to die. He can't be dead. If I could survive a fight with Blackbeard, he's gotta be alive and kicking."

That was the only hope she had. Hell, if Whitebeard of all people was alive, surely Law was still alive somewhere, right? Bepo was probably with him, keeping him safe while her brilliant captain planned his next move and sought to reunite the Hearts.

As Ikkaku started to speak, he furrowed his brow with worry. That stormy look and how she started off was not a good sign, but he did not interrupt. Listening to her sob filled reply, he grumbled lowly, "Teach...." it seems it wasn't bad enough what he did to Ace. Now, after his death, he was targeting Law and his other kids. "We'll find him, don't you worry, daughter." He told her, stroking her head. They would find everyone and bring them back together again, then he'd deal with Teach.

She laughed so hard she nearly keeled over. Seawater? Really? And to think Vista of all people would make such a mistake! He seemed far too competent and refined to even dare consider watering down wine, much less with seawater. Oh, she’d have to ask him for the full story at dinner later.

When she finally caught her breath, she wiped a tear from her eye, cheeks rosy and grin wide. “I almost wish that’s what we had back at the lighthouse. When I was seventeen, I decided to prove I was an adult by drinking down a jar of Gramps’ moonshine. It…wasn’t a great night for me. Poor Gramps had to hold my hair back while I vomited for the next few hours. Said I handled it better than he had at my age at least,” she chuckled, fondly recalling the old man and his stories.

Whitebeard’s request was a surprise, but she dutifully followed through, grabbing the framed flower and carefully bringing it over. “That’s pretty,” she commented. It reminded her of the memento mori her grandfather had in his room in honor of her late grandmother; a lock of grey hair and a piece of dried kelp preserved in a glass and metal case. “I’m guessing it belonged to someone special.”

She wouldn’t push him to share, but she knew Whitebeard was a sentimental man. Whether it belonged to one of his children or a lost love, the person it reminded him of was definitely close to his heart.

The antics of their youth. Ed remember it quite well, they were under heavy pursuit by the marines back then and they were running low on everything. In order to try to stretch their supplies, Vista thought to add seawater to the wine stocks much as was done to Rum to make Grog…. It… didn’t go so well. “He was quite young back then. Needless to say, you cat extend wine like you do Rum.” He smirked, knowing Vista would like that tale to stay forgotten.

“Gurarararara! At least you learned something important from it…” He laughed before telling her what that important thing was. “Keep a hair tie handy.”  He smirked. As a youth he has drunk plenty of times to the point of vomiting. with long golden locks like he’d had, he learned the value of hair ties.

Deciding to make herself comfortable, Ikkaku hopped up to sit on the edge of the bed, her feet dangling off the side. “Yeah, we all do stupid things when we’re young. Plenty when we’re old, too, I’m sure,” she added with a laugh. Part of her wondered if she should leave and let him get some sleep, but Whitebeard seemed to enjoy the company, and wasn’t laughter supposed to be the best medicine?

Besides, for all she knew, the second she left, one of the boys might try to sneak in some liquor, and that wasn’t going to stand on her watch.

She took a moment to imagine what Ace’s mother might be like. Had to be a looker, if Ace’s own features were anything to go by. For some reason she pictured the freckles coming from her side. Maybe the smile, too.

Whatever she looked like, she must have been one hell of a woman to catch Pop’s eye.

[ side hug ] a casual and friendly hug where one person puts their arm around the other's shoulder / waist [ back hug ] a hug where one person comes up to another and wraps their arms around them [ bear hug ] a tight, warm, and engulfing hug [ waist hug ] a hug where both partners put their arms around each other's waist and hold onto them [ welcome hug ] a hug given to someone as a form of greeting [ goodbye hug ] a hug given to someone before they leave [ reunion hug ] a hug where one leaps into their partner's arms after time apart [ quick hug ] a quick hug that's usually accompanied by a quick pat on the back [ unreciprocated hug ] a hug where one partner remains motionless while the other hugs them [ eye-to-eye hug ] a hug during which two people gaze into each other's eyes [ patting hug ] a hug where one / both partner(s) give a pat on the back [ cuddle hug ] a tight hug where both tightly hold onto each other and one snuggles into the other person's chest [ pickpocket hug ] a hug where they have their arms behind their partner's back and their hands in their pockets [ straddle hug ] a hug where one straddles their partner's waist who is holding them up and they both keep eye contact [ heart-to-heart hug ] a hug where the left arm is over the partner's right shoulder and the right arm around the partner's left side [ london bridge hug ] a hug where the upper bodies are close to each other but the lower bodies are kept apart [ head-on-shoulder hug ] a hug where one partner holds onto their partner's arm and rests their head on their shoulder [ twirl hug ] a hug where one twirls the other around while tightly holding onto them [ flirty hug ] a hug where one has their arms around their partner's neck and their head on their chest [ lingering hug ] a long-lasting hug between close friends or romantic partners [ comforting hug ] a hug given to someone to comfort them [ touch starved hug ] a careful hug given to someone after noticing some signs of touch starvation [ running hug ] a hug where both partners run into each other's arms [ surprise hug ] a hug where one catches the other off guard with an unexpected hug [ apology hug ] a sincere and heartfelt hug given to convey apologies [ group hug ] a hug that involves multiple people [ slow dance ] a type of hug where both partners are incredibly close to one another and sway to some music [ shoulder-to-shoulder hug ] a hug where two people stand side-by-side with their arms around each other's shoulders [ family hug ] a hug given between two family members [ no-words-needed hug ] a hug given when no more words are needed and they just want to be close to one another

Send 📝 for a letter my muse has written for yours to receive after my muse has died!-accepting!