[Video]

[burnt_offering]

[Ace and Luffy are sitting together, and Ace has a serious expression on his face. This is kind of important in his opinion, they've got to figure out who their potential allies and enemies are here. Not that being a pirate is a promise of alliances, or Marines a promise of a threat, but it's still good to have a base to go off of. And to Ace and Luffy, piracy is freedom. And the Marines stand for things far worse.]

So this is a roll call. If you're a pirate, let us know. If you're a Marine? Let us know faster.

[Luffy laughs, waving at the camera. He sticks his little finger into his nose, and thinks for a second.]

I haven't seen marines here, or other pirates. Do people here know what a pirate is? [He laughs again.] We're pirates! And brothers!

[Ace's expression softens considerably, and he smiles. He's weak against Luffy's antics, even more so now that they've been separated and reunited.] Yeah, that's right. And we wanna know who else lived a life of piracy back in their home world. Especially if you're from our home world.

Comments

[burnt_offering]

Those are bad too. I'd never wanna marry someone just 'cause I was told to. [He huffs.] The man that helped my mom make me, he was kinda famous in a bad way. So that's why they were trying to find me. [The understatement of the year.] It'd be better if people were less caught up about blood and rules and traits, and more focused on stuff that really makes a difference.

[Ace nods, and then lifts a hand up. And it ignites into flames, from the finger all the way down to the wrist, and further still to the elbow. And then he grabs his hat with the flames that were once his hand, and presses the fires up against his brother who's leaning out of frame mostly to talk to someone else enthusiastically.

And nothing burns.

He finally pulls the flames back, and his arm and hand reform.] So back home, we get our powers from cursed fruits, devil fruits is what they're called. My fruit is the Mera Mera, and it made me a fire human. I can choose what burns, I can form it how I want, I'm pretty much immune to heat or cold as far as I've tested. Unless it's a real special situation. [He shakes his head, though.] But I can't do what you do. It's just fire when it comes down to it. Maybe not normal fire, but it's still fire.

[But the talk of the rites makes him feel ill.] That's... [Ace goes from a quiet expression to visible rage.] Shit. It's so wrong. We have slavery back home, and Seastone can cut off someone from their devil fruit and drain them. The Marines use it to keep devil fruit users controlled when they're imprisoned. Is there anywhere that's free of this kinda thing? Or is it just how people are?