Emperor Red-Hair Shanks

“I’m gonna stop you right now… if I didn’t care I wouldn’t have bothered to be here. To drink with you. To invite you along. To bring you MY FAVORITE DRINK AND SHARE IT.” Its true he did care for the other. They had grown up together for a time and their paths had crossed more than once after that over the time.

How dare he say that he didn’t care about him. “You’re so self centered you’re acting like I’m deliberately here to ruin your day with my presence.”

He could see the redness in the others face but it only appeared to be strain from his screaming as far as he could tell. “You keep pushing people away like that you’re not gonna have anyone left. Or anyone thats not out to backstab you given the first chance.”

He stood up finally. “I was trying to help you have a good time but clearly the only way that can happen is if I leave.” He turned and started walking off.

“Good Luck Buggy.”

The clown opened his mouth to let out some other useless retort, but Shanks continued to speak. What he said was more hurtful than he likely realized, but it did calm the anger and produce the threat of tears instead. Sure, they had grown up together and shared many things- all good, bad, memories alike. They’d been through so much and still the rejection stung as if it had just happened. The self centered, weak, unlovable clown. That’s who Buggy was, and its exactly what Shanks reminded him of. 

Had it been past relations between them Shanks had long moved on since it never worked out in the end as far as he could tell.

“Maybe if you weren’t such an ass we could have a good time. I thought you’d have moved on from whatever is making you act like this but clearly not.”

Shanks sighed now feeling like the night was far from being saved.

“Remember what?? I haven’t seen you or been around you long enough to actually DO anything.”

Buggy was beyond furious at this point. His face burned with embarrassment and hurt, and of course it was anger that would blurt out from him in an effort to hide how he really felt. 

How dare he say that he didn't care about him. "You're so self centered you're acting like I'm deliberately here to ruin your day with my presence."

He could see the redness in the others face but it only appeared to be strain from his screaming as far as he could tell. "You keep pushing people away like that you're not gonna have anyone left. Or anyone thats not out to backstab you given the first chance."

He stood up finally. "I was trying to help you have a good time but clearly the only way that can happen is if I leave." He turned and started walking off.

“Thats where YOU are. Anger is about the only thing I ever see from you…” Shanks turned to him eyes narrowed pointedly. He softened them and he looked more hurt than anything. “I cant even be in your presence without even saying a word before you try jumping down my throat just for existing.” He took the bottle back downing the rest of it.

“You choose to be angry because you hate me for something I don’t even rightly know if I did wrong or not. You hold onto it and make it your entire… I don’t know personality or something…I came here to have a good time with an old friend.”

The only thing? Had Shanks forgotten everything? The embarrassment took to the clown, causing his face to go as red as his nose. Of course he wanted to remind him, but that was a lot harder than just telling him to leave- even if that’s not what he wanted to happen at all. 

"Maybe if you weren't such an ass we could have a good time. I thought you'd have moved on from whatever is making you act like this but clearly not."

Shanks sighed now feeling like the night was far from being saved.

“Oi! I’m not the hypocrite here! You are!” Shanks huffed in mild annoyance.

“We are just back to square one again.” He figured it would probably be best if he just left. “You only want to hear what you want to hear anyway.”

-His wife ditched him and asked for 900k a year,

-He was sexually assaulted which he said kicked him into a deep depression

-He stated that the stunts from the 3rd Mummy movie completely destroyed his body and he was in and out of the hospital for 7 years even having to get surgery to repair his vocal cords.

-He apparently blamed himself for all this which only worsened his depression.

Compare with this image from the GQ article last February:

Proper lighting, professional setting, good angles etc.

Plus

2019 Brendan is still slaying, so btfu

I mean, look at this adorable face:

“What is that even supposed to mean?!?!!” Shanks laughed but he was also very confused at that.

“The only feelings I see from you are anger and you wear that on more than just your sleeve!” He sighed leaned back lazily. “You’re always angry and thats it.” It wasn’t entirely true. “You probably couldn’t even go a day without screaming at someone.”

“Y-You hypocrite!!” Buggy was exasperated, but leaned closer to the other man regardless. He was furious, for no specific reason at all. Just having Shanks talk to him at all made him angry. 

“DAHAHAHAHA!!!” Shanks laughed and drank from the bottle. It spilled a little as he was hit upside the head but that didn’t stop him as he laughed again.

“What were you expecting? Is there some way you’re wanting me to feel??” He sat the bottle down and rubbed his head. “You can’t expect someone to feel a certain way just because you want them to! Especially if you’re not gonna be clear about it yourself.” Shanks stuck his tongue out at the clown.

“Right now?” Shanks quirked an eyebrows and hummed looking thoughtful. “Nostalgic probably.” He shrugged. “Happy. Maybe a little too sober too.”

He reached out to take the bottle back for a few more sips.

Shanks let him take the bottle. “If you want to know what I’m feeling so badly then all you’d have to do is ask.”  He didn’t look at the other and just stared off ahead over the darkening water. 

That was probably the closest thing to a compliment that Shanks would ever get from the clown for probably another year.

“I assure you I am no robot. Were I, I think I’d have two arms again.” He wiggled his shoulders a bit and shrugged them.

“I do have feelings too. I just don’t wear them on my sleeves like most people.”

“Dahaha, of course you are! What was I thinking.” He took the bottle back and sighed taking a seat and kicking back comfortably making it known he was there to stay for a while. “You have more feelings than most people. Thats a fact.” 

"I assure you I am no robot. Were I, I think I'd have two arms again." He wiggled his shoulders a bit and shrugged them.

“You? Feel bad?? I didn’t think you were capable.” Shanks laughed as the bottle was snatched from his hand.

“Ah, I never would have known. Thank you for clearing that up for me. However will I cope.” He sighed and whipped out a bottle dramatically. “That’s the best way to do it.” He opened the bottle and took the first big long swig from it before passing it over. 

Shanks stares and does his best to keep his mouth shut. He could do it… he could say it and end this mans career. But no, he wouldn’t do that. “Awh, thats mean. I’ve been told everyone finds it roguishly charming.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. 

“What makes you think I ever not have booze with me? Dahahaha!”