#medicus mortem

ㅤ⠀The Graveyard shift on the Tang was an interesting one. Not only due to usually having one other person awake at the time- and usually on the other side of the submarine- but also due to the sea creatures they’d pass. Penguin enjoyed spending this time just watching as the Tang cut through the depths of the oceans, which sort of deep sea creature they'd unintentionally stumble upon and wake from its slumber.

ㅤ⠀He'd been on his way to grab something to munch on when the familiar sound of his Captain's voice caught his attention. Backtracking in his steps, he waited for a moment before the sharp sound of a yell echoed from Law's room. Alarm coursed through him as he opened the door, quickly entering the dark room. He crossed over to his bed, where he hesitated for a moment- waking Law was a dangerous game to play, sometimes.

ㅤ⠀Fuck it.

@medicus-mortem

Nostrils flare with a chest heavy sigh, he could deal with the ache that goes straight through his bones, the too hot feel of healing skin and multicolored bruises. Two days out from open heart surgery, four days out from Iva-chan's treatment and— a hand moves to cover his eyes, his crew was alive and their ship safe. Had they heard the news? Would they blame themselves for not being there?

Luffy, spread eagle on his back, rolls over to his side and pain throbs through his limbs like thunder. Has to ground himself, even if it hurts, even if Law yells at him. The older pirate hadn't bothered to restrain him several hours ago, doubts he could have anyway. 

"Oi, uh—" What the hell is this guy's name? Dark eyes squint in thought, Luffy rolling on to his other side towards a docked yellow submarine where uniformed crew mill about. "OI, DEATH DOCTOR HOW LONG TILL I CAN START TRAINING?" Yelling zaps what little strength Luffy still has, even leaves him light headed.

This motherfucker. This cheeky motherfucker. So, he wants to dance, huh? Sure. He can go. He's got a couple of minutes to burn. Might as well waste them on ruining this asshat's day.

❝ Ah, well, you'd know all about animal carcasses when ya got a damn little dead mole glued to yer fuckin' chin. What, can't grow a real beard so ya had to settle for strappin' a wee rodent to your face? Shame, that. Dun' fret, maybe one day yer balls will finally drop and you'll be enough of a man to grow a half-decent beard instead of having a face that looks like a freshly trimmed gash before a night on the town. ❞

Flecks of his accent always seep through when he's ranting like this; a habit he won't apologize for. Tough shit if the surgeon need's a translation, because he isn't going to bother writing out his death report.

❝ Nah, I ain't insulted that ya hate my clothes, though. I ain't lookin' to get complimented by someone who's been stuck wearing the same jeans he bought when he was fourteen. Still clinging to that teenage youth, aye? Still hoping there's some wee dweeby boyband out there that's desperate enough to take you in? Good for you; follow yer dreams, and all that sad shite. ❞

He takes a brief pause to bring his bottle of rum to wet his lips, but barely has a chance to swallow before he's continuing.

The Marine Vice Admiral strides down the hallway of this base, brow furrowed as he considers the problem he is faced with. As he walks a chore boy demands directions from him. This makes him pause for many reasons, observant eyes focusing on the kid. "Huh? Now aren't you bold," Law hums, smirking. "Hello there, Monkey D. Luffy. Care to tell me how you got in here?" || @medicus-mortem

There were a lot of places out there in the world that Luffy was curious about. That he wanted to visit one day, wanted to explore. Go on adventure after adventure and discover new stuff. It was part of the reason why he had left Dressrosa all those months ago. Not because he wanted to leave in the first place, but because he wanted to explore. 

This marine base however... it hadn’t exactly been a place he had wanted to go. Not really. After being told to join the marines by his grandfather for years back in the East Blue he really was done with everything that was considered marines. 

And yet he was here. Mostly because he was lost. He somehow had ended up on this island after his little rowboat had been damaged and this base had been the first thing he had stumbled over. Unfortunately he had been hungry. Marine base might be a bad, bad place for a pirate like him and everything considered but... they had food. And sooner or later one of his nakama would notice he was lost and come pick him up. Hopefully. 

At least he had thought so far to get himself some disguise. And so he walked rather freely through the halls, searching for the kitchens. Asking for advice probably hadn’t been the best idea though, cause rather soon he found himself met not only with observant eyes but also a smirk. And his name. 

Busted. 

Interesting though... he was asked how he had gotten in. Not why he was here in the first place. Funny where priorities were, wasn’t it?  In the and a grin appeared on his face while he crossed the arms behind his back. 

“The door was open and there was no one around to stop me.” 

from medicus-mortem

Name: Trafalgar Law

Age: 26

Do you like to cuddle?: I'll allow it.

Can we make-out?: Not gonna happen, even if you did have a crush on me once.

A night in or dinner out?: Night in. Would rather just hang out on the Tang, talk shit and maybe have a couple drinks.

Ice cream or chocolate covered strawberries?: Whichever you prefer. I'm not fussed.

What makes you a good Valentine?: I'm a better Valentine than I am a wingman. Even when I'm tryin' to get you a date it just doesn't work out. I'm too damn sexy and it is a curse.

Would you cook for me?: Nope. Don't really feel like torturing you today.

Would you let me cook for you?: Maybe not food but you're hot beverages are pretty great.

---

"Captain....." Shachi whines, gritting his teeth, "You promised to not bring that up again... also it was a really long time ago and ALSO, everyone kind of had a crush on you so it isn't anything special either..."

Staring at the paper for another moment, Shachi lowers it, now grinning at his captain instead. "I am however," he cleared his throat, "delighted you're allowing me to invade your personal space."

Wrapping an arm around Laws waist, he squishes him close once. "You're so nice today, Captain! I wonder if something good happened?"

@medicus-mortem

The hours after victory are a euphoric blur. When he wakes next to his first mate all Luffy can do is grin and shout for his vice of choice. Life was good again, he is bandaged from head to toy but it was time to feast and party. The festivities pick right back up after last night's with renewed vigor; twenty years of oppression, starvation and death lift like the final act in a play. The Strawhats, Hearts, and Kidd pirates all taking a well deserved bow: neither having a chance without the other.

Luffy spends the better part of the early afternoon checking in with nakama, everyone accounted for and in one piece. It doesn't take much for him to venture outside the castle soon thereafter, music and laughter deafening. Stalls overflow with new rations, vendors more than happy to wave Wano's savior over for his approval. A dangerous game of free food and drink was liable to put thankful residents out of business if the young captain had a second mouth or attention span longer than twenty seconds. Luffy gorges himself on crispy skinned duck, grilled eel and all flavors of sweet dango and he's easily doubled in size again before game stalls capture his attention, snacks still happily inhaled as he plays.

For all his fighting prowess the rubberman muddles his way through ring tosses and magnet buzzer games, the joy in doing rather than winning. It's after his tenth try at goldfish scooping that he decides now's a better time than any for a break. The merchant (a small older woman) waves him closer before he leaves and offers a wooden monkey mask as a consolation prize. She says it matches his kimono, all red makeup and gold accents. Happily tying the mask to the back of his strawhat, Luffy's all set to hit the food stands again until round eyes land on a snarling white tiger carved in a similar style. "Granny, can I have that one too?" The felines grimace and sharp eyes with gold accents reminds him of a reluctant friend and why shouldn't they match! It was a party and he had waved to passing Heart Pirates in cream colored uniforms so they're captain couldn't be far off. 

"Tora-o!" It's not partially difficult sniffing out the recluse surgeon, where people were he was liable to not be and Luffy's happy to find him under a shaded table. Kicking one leg then the other over the bench seat he flops down with a grin, tiger mask tied to the front of his straw hat. "Wanted to talk to you about—" Gaze clicks down to the plate of neatly shaped onigiri and a second later he's helping himself to two, friends sharing food his only logic. "About my fight with Kaido." He swallows loudly before stuffing his face with a second pilfered rice ball to speak around chewing. "Do hearts just change? Like the beat? 'cause I don't know if mines still mine ya know?" Tongue wags around his lips to capture stray rice, dark eyes focused on the remaining two onigiri. "It was beating weird 'n I heard Zunesha again talkin' about—"  Luffy helps himself to another rice ball, eyes finally meeting Law's with arched brows. "Joyboy? I think Robin mentioned him a while ago? Didn't say he replaced hearts, that'd be weird right?" He blinks, finishes his stolen snack, and licks his fingers. "Oh wait you do that too right so you know it's weird … wait, wait! Is that where your crew gets its name?!" Stunned he leans over the shared table, narrowed eyes taking in the man's various heart motif tattoos again. "How long have you had your devil fruit? You always want to be a doctor?"