#seeing what happened to Roger was so upsetting that it made Buggy want to give up piracy

[tinycurlyfry]

Thinking about how Buggy and Shanks parallel Zoro and Luffy but if Luffy dropped his ambitions. The agreement between Zoro and Luffy was that Zoro would follow Luffy, be his first mate, be his swordsman, the first member to join his crew and set sail to achieve Luffy’s dream of being Pirate King IF Luffy never got in the way of Zoro’s dream of being the Strongest Swordsman in the world.

Buggy and Shanks were “apprentices” to Roger (and really more or less they were his sons). They were learning from Roger and learning what being a pirate SHOULD BE. So as apprentices, it would go without saying (at least as far as Buggy is concerned) that that means they need to be the ones to carry Roger’s Legacy. That they should be the ones to get their captain’s treasure and carry out what he wanted for the world. We see it in what Buggy is CURRENTLY doing. That he wants to inspire people to achieve their dreams. Crocodile sees piracy as a business, and Mihawk sees his position as a power pirate as a means to live a peaceful, lazy life where no one would dare bother him. But they don’t have the  ROMANTICISM of a dream anymore. And all those years ago Buggy heard Shanks say he was no longer throwing himself into the romanticism of pirating and adventuring anymore. He’d be a pirate sure, but there was no drive, no DREAM behind it anymore. 

And then he asks Buggy to still be a part of his crew. I can only imagine what that request must have felt like to Buggy. For Shanks to tell him “I won’t be the pirate king you saw me as. I’m not seeking any dream. But come be a part of my mediocracy. Just settle for less, Buggy.”

Now of course, Shanks still went and became a HUGE big name pirate. One that achieved Emperor level. But in that moment? In that moment it felt like Shanks was asking Buggy to give up on his dream, settle for being a pirate simply to be a pirate, and betray what they had learned from Roger.

Luffy was never going to get in the way of Zoro’s dream. Zoro’s desire was Luffy’s desire and vice versa, because as they said themselves in the show- the pirate king shouldn’t have anything less than the best swordsman on his crew. But Buggy’s desire was not Shank’s desire. I’d argue it probably still isn’t! I know Shanks is now making his move for the One Piece, but I honestly don’t know that that is his true objective. I think he thinks his place is to BE THERE when the battle for the One Piece happens. He placed a bet on the new generation and he is going to be there to see that bet come to fruition.

And I think part of that conversation between Shanks and Buggy was how they were each grieving. They had both lost a captain, but also a father.

But Buggy has not given up. His own dream was rekindled this most recent chapter (yes partially because he believes Shanks finally wants to be pirate king too), but partially because he finds himself SURROUNDED by people who know longer believe in the child-like wonder of adventure and treasure and the DREAM of becoming PIRATE KING. I think Buggy HAD also given up down the line. I think we saw a Buggy who’d lost his way at the beginning of the series. I do think Buggy doesn’t have the... best morals... But whether it’s intentional or not Buggy is not who we saw at the beginning of the series and he’s rallying so many people under him, and giving them sanctuary, and honestly? Reaching a king’s status to so many people. 

But honestly? If Luffy suddenly went “You know what? I’m happy with what I’ve got here. I don’t need to be pirate king anymore. We don’t need to get the One Piece.” The Straw Hats would be SO LOST. Sure maybe they wouldn’t all get immediately angry or upset as Buggy had and asked “Well, what DO you want then?” But they are a crew made from the collection of DREAMS. And everyone’s dream is their own dreams. Zoro’s ambition became Luffy’s ambition, but that would never had happened if there was even a small chance that Luffy would be satisfied with anything that fell lower than reaching their dreams.

All this to say I’m proud of Buggy and support him as Leader of Cross Guild LMAO I hope he continues to fail upwards.

#One Piece #Buggy the Clown #Shanks #Zoro #Luffy #FryTalks #Cross Guild #Mihawk #Sir Crocodile #Gol D Roger #The funniest thing about all of this is that I did not like Buggy before this chapter #I was one of the people who would chuckle at the fun people were having liking Buggy so much after Impel Down/Marineford #but I did not care about the clown #I care about the clown now #I hope he shows up and pulls a fast one on Shanks and Shanks just beams at him with a big ol smile #OP Spoilers #One Piece Spoilers #Egghead Arc #One Piece 1082

[exactly-another-one-piece-blog]

I know that Shanks and Buggy having the same background and growing up in the same circumstances and environment yet growing into completely different people with contradictory views on a lot of things is, like, the joke and all but I still desperately want to know how and why it happened.

Oda give me the angsty Buggy backstory that retroactively makes him really cool. I know you have it in you.

#one piece #buggy #buggy the clown #how does someone who was also just as much raised by Roger as Shanks was end up like that? #and we do have hints that he is honoring his captain in his own way #I think the most interesting thing about him #Is that Buggy is completely comfortable being a big fish in a small pond #which is so counter to the quintessential One Piece pirate #If I had to guess #seeing what happened to Roger was so upsetting that it made Buggy want to give up piracy #but by that point anyone associated with Roger’s crew was a massive target #and he was forced right back into it #but that dosen’t sit right with me since it seems like he intended to captain his own ship #in Shank’s flashback of immediately after Roger’s execution

[buckysmischief]

pinch me, i'm dreaming

Scott Lang x reader

Word Count: 1.7k

Summary: A trip to San Francisco reveals a side of Scott you didn’t know about

Warnings: language, fluff, a little angsty if you squint

AN: this is for @starspangledseb​ ‘s writing challenge, sorry it’s so late. I hope you like it 💙 prompt is bolded

Masterlist

“I just don’t see why we have to stay with Scott.”

“We can’t stay in San Francisco and not stay with Scott, Yn, that’s just rude.”

“Come on Sam,” Bucky chimed in, “you know why she doesn’t want to go.”

“Oh, yeah, you’ve gotta thing for tic tac.” Sam knew what he was doing, and you weren’t going to give him the satisfaction.

He wasn’t wrong though, you do have feelings for Scott, but he was with Hope and you weren’t a homewrecker. It was pretty easy to suppress those feelings when you lived on the other side of the country, what were you supposed to do sleeping under the same roof?

“I will put this jet so deep into the pacific, don’t think I won’t.” You had two options: suck it up and act like a normal person, or possibly set yourself up to get your heart a little broken.

If you didn’t already know for a fact you were going to embarrass yourself, things might be different, but things just happened when you were around Scott. Like the time Sam had a dinner party and was passing out the food, Spaghetti had fallen in Scott’s lap and for whatever reason you jumped to help. Hope had walked in while he was unbuttoning his flannel and you were gripping his bicep, just trying to get him cleaned up.

“Don’t think too much about it, Yn.” Bucky tried to calm your nerves, but it was too late for that. “Just say you’re tired from the mission and flying and just go to bed, I’ll even sneak you some food later if you want.” It wouldn’t be a lie, and if Hope was there it would probably be for the best.

Unfortunately though, Scott seemed to have other ideas.

“Hey guys, hey Yn.” He always seemed to be smiling, but you could have sworn it got a little bigger after saying your name. “I figured you guys might be hungry so I ordered food, it just got here maybe five minutes ago.”

The table only had four places set, so Hope probably wasn’t there, but Sam couldn’t resist himself, “Is Hope not here or-”

“We broke up a few weeks ago, it was a mutual thing.” He was answering Sam, but his eyes kept darting to you.

“Mutual?” Sam asked, knowing there was more.

“Okay, so maybe it was more my decision.” That got your attention. “She didn’t fight it though.”

The possibility of Scott being single wasn’t anything you considered before, but now it was mind consuming. So much so that you didn’t notice everyone was done eating until they were getting up from the table.

Bucky had mentioned something about watching a movie, and by the time you got to the living room the only seat left was on the loveseat next to Scott. There wasn’t a doubt in your mind that Sam and Bucky did it on purpose. Now that Hope was out of the picture, nothing was going to stop them from messing with you.

“I thought you might want a blanket,” he whispered as you sat beside him. With a smile you thanked him, but warning him it might make you fall asleep before the movie really even got started. “I can sit on the floor if you want to lay down-”

“Please don’t..” The words came out desperate and whiney, thankfully Bucky and Sam didn’t seem to notice. Scott smiled and covered you with the oversized blanket. Gathering all the confidence you had, you gestured for him to cover up too. It was cold inside, and it wasn’t fair he was the only one without a blanket. Just as predicted, though, you were asleep before a movie was even picked.

It had to have been after midnight when you woke up. The TV was still on, Sam and Bucky were nowhere in sight, and your head was in someone’s lap. Oh shit, Scott.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you..”

“It’s fine, you moved around a lot at first and somehow found your way here.” He looked down at you and moved the hair out of your face. “Go back to sleep.”

He said it so naturally, like this was something that happened between you two every night. For the first time you let your imagination run wild with thoughts of him. Was waking up to him always this peaceful? Was he the type to fall asleep with you on the couch, or would he carry you to bed? Was he even the cuddling type?

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Then you can help me pack up some stuff.”

“What kinda stuff?” You sat up and tried to fix your bed head.

He smirked, “Stuff for New York.” Apparently while you were sleeping, the boys had convinced Scott to get away from San Francisco for a few weeks.

You followed him to his room and picked out his outfits while he got all his Ant-Man gear together. This was the first time you were ever truly alone with Scott and it felt more normal than it should. Nothing felt awkward, nothing embarrassing happened, it was nice.

When everything was packed, Scott shrunk his bags down so they would fit in his suitcase keychain. He could tell you weren’t ready to go back to sleep, even though you both looked exhausted, so he took you back downstairs. “What are we doing?”

“I want to show you something.” He put his hand in yours and led you through the basement and to a room behind a bookcase. It was filled with different suits, gadgets, tools, and a wall of glass that covered the dirt. “I wanted the ants to have their own area that didn’t feel like it was a part of some science experiment, there’s glass tunnels so they can come and go but you should see the colonies they made in the dirt. It’s amazing.”

“It’s beautiful.” You whispered, watching the ants move around the tunnels. “You didn’t show Sam and Bucky?”

“I haven’t shown this room to anyone.” He didn’t move from behind you, but you could see him in the reflection of the glass.

That was the ego boost you needed apparently. You turned around and looked into his eyes, they were tired but focused only on you. “I’m glad that not everyone gets the privilege to see this side of you, then. It makes me feel more special.”

Again he smiled down at you, placing his hand behind the nape of your neck like it was always meant to be there, “Then I know exactly what I’ll be doing the next few weeks.”

“What?”

“Doing whatever I can to always make you feel more special.” How was this not a dream? It’s not a dream… right? “Do you want some coffee?” You nodded and followed him up the stairs, not remembering a time he’s sounded so serious.

Sitting in the kitchen, you noticed the sun was going to come out soon, which meant the boys wouldn’t be asleep much longer. No matter what timezone they were in or how sleep deprived they were - if the sun was up, they were up. Whatever Scott wanted to say, you just hoped he said it before one of them came downstairs and ruined the moment.

He prepared everything in silence, waiting until he handed you a steaming cup with some cream and sugar on the side. “For a long time I knew I had feelings for you, but I didn’t know what they were exactly...”

He paused to take a sip of his coffee and continued. “It wasn’t too long after Sam’s dinner and the spaghetti incident, remember that?” You nodded, slightly surprised that he remembered.

“Well, after Hope and I got back she.. She would get upset whenever you were brought up, like when I got called in on missions that you were on. I didn’t understand until after the rescue mission in Vegas-”

“You were there?” It shouldn’t have been a surprise considering it was a rescue mission for you.

“Yeah, Tony called and said you were kidnapped. I asked him where you were and left without saying anything to Hope, it was like my body was on autopilot.. After I got back Sam called and told me you finally woke up.. that’s when I realized what the feelings were and why Hope was getting so upset, she saw what I didn’t.”

“And those feelings are what exactly?”

“The kind where I’ve been wanting to kiss you since you walked through my front door, the kind that made me stay awake for hours even though I’m beyond tired because I wanted to appreciate every second I had. Sam was dropping hints all night to just make a move but didn’t think you felt the same, I still don’t-”

Before he could finish, Bucky walked in the kitchen and did exactly what you knew he’d do. “Stop rambling, she likes you too. Now just kiss the damn girl and let’s go.”

“DAMN IT Bucky! Don’t you have anyone back in the 40’s you can go back to like Steve did?!” He stood there in shock, realizing he should have just waited an extra five minutes at the top of the stairs.

While you yelled at Bucky, Scott made his way around the kitchen island and did exactly as Bucky suggested and kissed you right there. It was a moment you only thought would exist in your dreams, except for Bucky standing seven feet away and Sam sitting on the stairs giving Scott two thumbs up. It took Sam physically pulling you away from Scott for you to come up for air.

“If either of you mention this to anyone I’ll get Scott to put ants in your ears.” You threatened, knowing they already got the proof they needed.

In the end it didn’t matter though, it took less than an hour for Tony to notice that Scott was never more than a foot away from you. Sam and Bucky’s laughter was all the confirmation everyone needed, but what surprised you the most was money being passed all around the room. “You’re all assholes, I hope you know that.”

Permanent tags (50/50): @sociallyeneptbarnes​ @hopesbarnes​ @saturn-aka-six​ @stuckonjbbarnes​ @superavengerpotterstar​ @estillion14​ @sleepingspacedragon​ @geeksareunique​ @infj-slytherclaw​ @imsoft-barnes​ @piper-koko-barnes-rogers​ @murdermornings​ @distractedgemini​ @screaming-fridge​ @readeity​ @whatinthyworld​ @my-drowning-in-time​ @valkyriesryde​ @buggy-blogs​ @hey-its-grey​ @pinknerdpanda​ @brokenthelovely​ @theannoyingnightmarecollector​ @death-unbecomes-you​ @rhymesmenagerie​ @ptrprkrss​ @sweetkingdomstarlight-blog​ @mushyjellybeans​ @https-bucky​ @also-fangirlinsweden​ @goalexis123​ @missmeganrachel​ @sunflowersandcherry​ @miraclesoflove​ @matsumama​ @reann-loves-sebstan​ @thinkoutsidethebex​ @thefridgeismybestie​ @niall2017​ @maddope​ @imagine-all-the-imagines​ @thummbelina​ @m3ga1nsp1r3d​ @starspangledseb​ @thebadassbitchqueen​ @king-sebb​ @nerdy-bookworm-1998​ @bonkyboinkybucky​ @slaytherinthoughts​ @candydancey​

#scott lang x reader #scott lang imagine #fluff #bucky barnes #sam wilson #tony stark #mcu fanfic #marvel

[newstfionline]

Man of Letters

Stephen Meyers, City Lab, July 24, 2018

My fourth day delivering mail for the U.S. Postal Service, it snowed-one of those heavy, wet, spring-in-Colorado snows that knocks down tree branches and crushes newly-bloomed tulips. I was training with a veteran letter carrier on a walk-out route, the type where the carrier pushes a blue buggy full of mail and small packages. It’s a lot harder, I discovered, to push that thing through slush.

I schlepped my disheveled, wet self into downtown businesses where concerned secretaries took pity on me as I handed them their soaked mail.

Welcome to the Postal Service.

“Neither snow nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night ...” that’s how the saying goes right?

The rude welcome to the Postal Service quickly taught me mail delivery is no leisurely stroll through the neighborhood, dismantling the idyllic image of a smiling Mr. McFeeley handing out birthday cards in “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” My first week on the job, I lost 5 pounds.

Being a mail carrier is hard.

I’d eventually get used to the physical rigors of the job and learn the rhythms, tricks and routines of delivering mail, but what surprised me the most over the next 15 months working on the front lines of this vast, imperfect, but essential big-government institution is how the Postal Service delivers much more than just letters, magazines and Amazon packages to a neighborhood.

I met elderly residents who lived alone and just wanted someone to talk to for a couple minutes a day. I saw how critical the Postal Service is for local businesses, like the one that ships dozens of Priority Mail boxes of custom-made zippers for wedding gowns across the country every day. I met strangers willing to donate grocery bags full of food during the long-running Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, which tallied 71.6 million pounds of found collected nationwide. I learned the value of a powerful union and experienced the most diverse workplace I’ve ever encountered. And most importantly, what I found while roving from house to house on foot was an intimate insight into my community and fellow Americans.

Like many who come to work for the Postal Service, I didn’t find my way into the USPS because I had a burning desire to deliver mail; I just needed a job. A laid-off journalist, I’d spent six months striking out on landing a writing gig and grew tired of the soul-sucking grind that is job searching. An old college friend was working happily delivering mail, and making more than I ever did in newspapering: The benefits are good, you don’t take the job home with you, and there’s lots of overtime if you want it.

And the USPS is nearly always hiring, especially in metro areas in advance of the holiday shopping season. Colorado’s Front Range, which includes Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins, is currently short more than 500 positions. The hiring process is long--I applied in mid-February and didn’t start until May--and includes two exams, a personality assessment, and the 473 Postal Exam, which tests your ability to check addresses for errors, accurately fill out forms, and memorize and recall lists of street addresses. I had to also pass a drug test (that’s the biggest hurdle to hiring in weed-legal Colorado, the Fort Collins Postmaster told me) and an exhaustive background check. Then it was off to city carrier academy, where veteran carriers taught my fellow classmates and me the tricks of organizing and carrying mail and how to drive the postal vehicles. We each got a navy blue USPS hat and T-shirt and were sent to our respective post offices to begin our postal careers; I was now a USPS employee, working as a city carrier assistant.

In the evenings I’d continue my search for a Plan B career after journalism, but for the other 8-to-10 hours a day (and up to 12 during holiday season) I’d deliver mail and packages to residents of Fort Collins, Colorado.

A lot of packages.

Receive an Instant Pot for Christmas? Yeah, so did your neighbor. My record was 18 delivered in one day--we saw that craze coming on well before Black Friday.

The old-timers at my office remember the days they’d deliver, five, maybe, 10 packages a day. Now it’s more like 50 or 60 a day, from 40-pound bags of dog food to furniture and food-in-a-box meal kits. The Postal Service wasn’t really built for the Amazon era: Our (badly outdated) vehicles don’t have enough space to house them, and few have shelves, leaving carriers to play an Amazon box-sized game of Jenga every day.

(Sidenote on those trucks, called LLVs, or Long Life Vehicles: Most are about 30 years old, with that many years of cigarette smoke soaked into the seats; they lack airbags or air conditioning, and the heaters are less than effective. The USPS is facing a major budget challenge because it needs to replace up to 180,000 of these elderly machines over the next several years, which is going to cost more than $6 billion.)

Every Sunday we’d fill our LLVs with 100 to 175 Amazon packages, thanks to USPS’ exclusive contract with the e-commerce giant--that’s the one that the president keeps objecting to, though it’s been a revenue source for the cash-strapped service. And, no fail, every Sunday, customers would ask why I was working and I’d jokingly (is it a joke, though?) tell them “Because Amazon is taking over the world.”

Other comments I’d hear almost every day:

“You bringing me a check today?”

“You can keep the bills.”

“This one better be a winner!” (I had no idea Publisher’s Clearing House was still a thing, but it is, especially in low-income and senior-living communities.)

“You staying cool out there?” (The answer is always “No, but I’m trying!”).

No one is ever upset to see their mail carrier, you know? This was so foreign to me, as a journalist who was used to being less warmly received. And while predictable and routine and mostly about the weather, I loved these little conversations with residents along my route.

When kids saw me driving around the corner, they’d drop their ballgame and race me down the sidewalk. Others were excited to see me because I was about to be a lucky customer at their lemonade stand. At the retirement home, residents greeted me every day at the wall of mailboxes; if I’d show up five minutes early or five minutes late, they’d jokingly let me have it. “You know, Sue is usually here by 3:30!”

Residents learned my name, and more importantly I learned the intricacies of their neighborhoods. A fellow carrier, a Fort Collins native and Mexican American, proudly showed me his home that’s part of the historically Hispanic neighborhood that I had never taken the time to properly explore and experience on foot. I learned from longtime residents how they felt about the gentrification happening in pockets of Fort Collins. This booming college town has outgrown its farming and ranching roots and is transforming into a progressive tech hub, known for its breweries and affinity for bike lanes, coffee shops, and high-priced boutiques.

Delivering the mail gives you a granular insight into America’s growing cultural, political, and wealth divide. North of town, there’s a senior-living mobile home community sitting in the shadow of newly-built eco-friendly condos that sell for half a million dollars. Residents at the condos subscribe to The Atlantic and New Yorker; residents in the trailer park a few hundred feet away get People and National Enquirer.

After several months, the rhythms of carrying mail became second nature; I’d successfully carried nearly every one of the office’s 50 routes around the city. I also became familiar with the downsides of the job. As one might expect at a financially beleaguered organization that’s been losing money for more than a decade, office morale was often low: Nearly every week, there’d be a shouting match between carriers complaining about mail arriving late to the office, thus delaying and extending their day, and management only shrugging their shoulders and saying that’s an issue out of their control. Clerks, whose duties include working the front desk helping customers and sorting mail and packages (sometimes overnight), were brutally overworked, often clocking 60- to 70-hour weeks. Many of my coworkers felt trapped: Sure, the job sucked sometimes, but where else can you find a secure job that pays as well?

It was my relationships with fellow carriers and clerks--a diverse group, from first-generation Americans to military veterans--that made the job bearable most days. But once I landed a long-sought communications gig, I made the decision to move on from the USPS.

After I shared my Postal Service experience in a thread on Twitter that went semi-viral, I received dozens of comments from readers who shared their nostalgia and affection for this beloved and embattled American institution. One told me about a mail carrier who heard a smoke alarm going off in an empty house and alerted a neighbor. Others were children of postal workers, grateful for the livelihoods that the jobs provided. “Both my parents retired from the post office,” one reader told me. “My mom started when she was just 19 years old. It’s not what it used to be…. They work the new folks into the ground, so I hear. I try to tip my carrier well for dealing with the BS.”

The response made me even more proud of my time wearing the blue uniform; I’m more deeply connected to my community and have a better understanding of my fellow Americans. From now on, I’ll tip my mail carrier well. You should, too.

#U.S. Postal Service #mail carriers #mailmen #USPS

[skitscratched]

Hat - Chapter 5

Summary: The Roger Pirates are no more, but life continues on. 

Chapter 5 - Gol Arc: Renovatione

Yeah, so. Meeting Rouge. That happened.

I don't even really know how to feel about that. I mean, sure, I kept Roger company most nights, but I couldn't really seem to react. As much as I am glad that Roger found her - someone who will love him with everything she has and he will love as fiercely in return - I only felt, I don't know, numb? I can't really describe it very well, sue me.

Silly huh? I wasn't even really meant to be here and here I am getting torn up about Roger finding someone to be happy with. Jealousy? Really? It's not like I have a claim over him and I certainly don't love Roger in that way.

I suppose… the more things happening that lead up to Roger's death are just getting to me.

AGH! Happy thoughts! Happy thoughts! No more of this emo angst!

SO! We went onto the West Blue, where we met Shanks and Buggy! Seriously, it's weird seeing them as brats who don't know what they're doing at sea when you know what they're going to be in the future. Seriously.

Like I thought, there was nothing helpful in any of the Blues, so we cut back into the Grand Line to the New World. Roger announced that the search would continue there, but I could tell differently. He felt… Not resigned. I don't think a D would ever give up, but maybe… at peace with whatever happens?

He started feeling like that after meeting Rouge, so I guess if nothing else I'm thankful that we met her. Or he really, since she doesn't know me. I don't think he noticed his own feelings for her quite yet either, the oblivious idiot. Still, I hope to meet her again. If nothing else, I could finally reveal myself to her and meet her properly.

Yeah, I think I'd like that.

Shiki was a pain in the ass. And it wasn't as much of a stroke of luck that the Golden Lion's fleet was half wiped out by a storm as it was just the strength of our crew. Roger's Conqueror's Haki knocked out the crews of the ships he could reach and, unattended, the ships sunk in the storm.

So yeah, the marines were misinformed/deliberately lied about the incident, though it wouldn't be surprising if they tried to downplay Roger's strength either. It wasn't long after the Edd War that Roger managed to do what he set out to do.

Roger conquered the Grand Line! We managed to reach Raftel! Roger achieved his dream to see all the seas at the Grand Old Age of 52! We both came a long way from when we started out 29 years ago.

However, with the discovery of Raftel, also came the end of the Roger Pirates. It is the island of the beginning and the end to me, for all that Logue Town will come to be known as the city version.

"WHAT?!" The Roger Pirates roared in outrage.

"You heard me." Roger tilts his Hat to shadow his face. "Starting today, the Roger Pirates are officially disbanded."

Crocus steps forward, a furious expression on his face. "This is about your illness, isn't it."

"Terminal illness." Roger corrects, though not unkindly. "Call it what it is Crocus. It's going to kill me, and soon."

Roger looks up to meet the eyes of his crew. "When I die - and no one try to deny it - the Marines are going to go after the rest of you. I'm not saying you can't handle yourselves," Roger cuts off the cries of offense before they can really begin, "though some certainly can better than others, but it'll look bad for them if the Pirate King dies by something other than their hands. That's why I'm going to turn myself in."

The cacophony of noise that bursts from the crew was made of pure outrage. The crew nearly turned their shouts on their first mate as well, but it was telling how Rayleigh's head whipped around to stare at Roger in shock and fury.

"Quiet." Roger orders, a bit of Conqueror's Haki leaking into his voice. When there's nothing but silence, he speaks again. "Sorry, but you all need to listen. Especially you Rayleigh." He faces his longtime companion. "I know I didn't discuss it with you before, but it's the only way everyone will be able to live their own lives. If I die hidden away, the Marines will never stop looking for me- for any of us."

"But Captain!" Shanks cries out, drawing the attention of the crew. Beside him, Buggy surprisingly looks like he agrees with him for once. "There's still time! We can still-!"

"No." Roger shakes his head. "We traveled all the seas and I paid close attention to the Voice of All Things. There is no cure because it hasn't been made yet. At this point, I don't think we'll be able to find within the next two years and that's all the time I have left. I'm a dead man walking," He smirks, "although I bet the Marines wish it was because of them."

A few chuckles rise, but the tension on deck kills any more before they slip out.

Shanks is undeterred. "But-!"

"Shanks." Roger cuts him off, a rare somber expression on his face. "If we were to stick together any longer, there's a chance that some of us will be tracked down by the marines. This has to be the end."

Shanks slumps over. He knows that tone from his captain. No one has ever managed to stop him when he uses it.

Shanks looks up when he feels a hand on his shoulder and sees Captain Roger smiling down at him. "Cheer up. Goodbyes don't have to be sad, you know?"

Roger turns and faces his entire crew. "We Roger Pirates have never done anything quietly. We started loud and proud, so we'll end it the same way! Let's have it!" The crew can feel the grins creeping up on all of them, no matter how upset they were. Their Captain is special like that. "THE PARTY TO END ALL PARTIES!"

"YEAH!" They cheer, breaking out anything and everything they could use. It was their last day with their captain. They won't let it end with regrets.

:: You're really doing this then, Roger? ::

Roger glances at his Hat before returning his gaze to his crew. It's nearly daylight and the party was still going strong purely because not many wanted to waste time sleeping that they could use to . He could see several people struggling to stay awake, but they refused to sleep the rest of the day away.

Roger himself was pulled in every direction early on and he obliged. He made sure to spend time with each and every one of his crew members. It would be the final time he could after all. There's just one more thing he needs to so.

:: Roger? ::

He ignores his longtime friend as he spots that distinctive flaming red hair and approaches his cabin boy. Roger knows that Felix was planning to stay with him to the end, but he can't let that happen. This is for his own good.

"Shanks." Shanks turns at the sound of his name and follows when Roger gestures below deck. He closes the door behind him, leaving the noise behind them muffled.

"What did you want to see me for, Captain?" Shanks asks, curiosity evident in every inch of his voice.

Roger leans against the wall and tilts his head. "You're going to start your own crew when you leave today, right?"

:: ...Roger? ::

Please, don't be doing what I think you're doing.

Shanks blinks at the abrupt change of topic. "Uh, yeah. I am."

"Why?" Roger bluntly asks.

Shanks pulls a grin worthy of his crew and cheekily says, "How else will I be able to have what I love: sake, the sea, sake, adventure and sake?"

Roger laughs and plops his Hat on Shank's head with a smile. "Well then I think I know you well enough to trust you with this. Meet my first crew member, Felix."

:: Roger! What in the world makes you think I would be alright with this? ::

Roger ignores Shanks' startled look with ease and replies. "You may be willing to go down with me Felix, but I'm one who's dying. You still have a life to live. The marines won't let me keep you, you know that."

:: So you're just going to give me away to Copperhead here?! ::

"Hey!" Shanks assumes an offended look. "I can hear you!"

:: I know Coppers. Anyone who wears me can hear me. It's not like I can ignore whose head I'm on. ::

Roger rolls his eyes. "Try to get along with him Felix. After all, you'll be with him from now on."

:: Don't I get a say in this? I won't leave you! ::

"No, you don't." Roger gives his friend a stony glare. Shanks freezes, caught between them. "I won't get my best friend killed, Felix. And if you care about me at all, you'll respect my final wishes."

The Hat seems to sag. Shanks swears blind that the only reason he buckled at that moment was because it gained a thousand pounds in an instant.

:: ...That was a low blow Roger. ::

Roger tilts his chin up defiantly. "If it'll get you to stay with Shanks and away from the marines, I'll pull out everything I need to against you."

:: … Nothing I say will change your mind, will it? ::

Roger shakes his head. "Nope."

Sigh. :: Sometimes I wish you weren't such a stubborn bastard. ::

And I always wish I wouldn't crumble before the face of your will. If it was anyone but you…

A small wry smile forms at the corner of Rogers lips. "I know you love me anyways." He teases.

:: Goda only knows why. ::

They fall into a comfortable silence. An awkward cough directs their attention at the decidedly uncomfortable cabin boy.

"Ah, not that I'm not happy that the two of you made up," Shanks glances between them before deciding to focus on the person he could see more than hear. "But what exactly is going on?"

Roger blinks.

A fist smacks into an open palm. "That's right! I completely forgot about that!"

Shanks sweatdrops. "Then why did you even call me here?" He mutters to himself.

"Felix is one of a kind." Roger continues blithely. "As far as we know, there's not a single Hat out there like him. And because he has a conscious, he is capable of Haki. In fact, due to his lack of a body to fight with, his Haki is stronger than most people. Rayleigh and I are as good with Haki as we are because Felix was able to see what we were doing wrong with it when we started."

Excitedly, Shanks looks up at the brim and asks, "That's awesome! Are you going to teach me too?"

:: Mm. You'd have to unlock your Haki first, Copperhead. Train using the methods Rayleigh gave you first before asking me for help. ::

"Alright!" Shanks cheers.

Roger's head turns to the door. "Well speak of the devil."

Rayleigh opens the door and sticks his head through. "Preparations are being made to sail off. We're dividing the ships among people who are heading in similar directions." His eyes flicker over to Shanks' head and his lips quirk up. "So you've met Felix then?"

"Yeah." Shanks nods. "Cap- Roger said that Felix is staying with me from now on."

Rayleigh steps in the room and holds a hand out. "May I?"

"Sure." Shanks moves to hand his Hat over, but Rayleigh shakes his head.

"I was asking Felix." Rayleigh clarifies and Shanks flushes slightly in embarrassment. It was going to be a while before he got used to a hat being their own person.

:: It's fine. You didn't mean anything by it. Pass me over to Rayleigh. ::

"Felix agreed." Shanks mumbles as he gives Rayleigh the Hat, not really meeting his eyes.

:: Hello Rayleigh. ::

"Hello Felix." Rayleigh's smile grows a little. "It's been a while."

:: It'll be longer than this the next time we talk. ::

"Probably not that long. You said it yourself, Shanks has the potential to be great one day."

:: Is that why Roger asked me to stay with him? ::

"I think his personality came into play too, but you're probably right about that."

:: Roger really just does whatever he wants, huh? ::

Rayleigh watches Roger capture Shanks in a headlock. "Would we really want him any other way?"

:: No, not at all. None of our adventures would have been as fun if he was. ::

Shanks manages to get a leg behind Roger's and Roger lets him take him down, laughing. "Hey, Felix?"

:: Hm? ::

"Whenever Roger's… when he turns himself in, I'm not going to be there. I've thought about it - even if I'd rather have done anything else - but I can't watch him die."

:: Did you think he would care? So long as his crew is safe from harm, I think Roger would die without regrets. If you can't bring yourself to come, then don't stress over it too much. ::

"Yes, but I can't even be there in your place."

:: As if you could replace me. And… Roger's right. Some of the crew are just too well known, and that includes you. Roger may be dying, but I won't lose any more people if I can help it. You're a fantastic first mate Rayleigh, and the very best of friends."

Rayleigh closes his eyes and lets a sad smile appear on his face. "It's been a pleasure sailing with you Felix."

:: Same here Rayleigh. Same here. Farewell. ::

"Until next time." Rayleigh reaches a hand up and gently takes off the Hat giving it a final smile. He looks up and feels his face fall flat. "How the hell did you do this in the five minutes I was talking with Felix?"

Roger smiles sheepishly. "I thought I could do it this time!"

Rayleigh shakes his head, walking closer to free Shanks first, placing Hat on the redhead at the same time. "Roger, if I told you once, I told you a thousand times. You'll never be able to lasso. Every time you get near a rope of any kind, you somehow manage to make the biggest knot possible between you and everyone around you. It's a miracle that I wasn't caught along with you two."

Roger pouts. "Meaaan."

"Hey, what's the hold up?" A random crew member opens the door to the sight of Roger and Shanks in a web of rope and Rayleigh attempting to free them. "Ah, this again."

"Yea, this again." Rayleigh grumbles. "I swear, I can untie just about anything because of all the practice you gave me."

"Oi, Rayleigh." Rayleigh glances over briefly. "What is it?"

"Since we're leaving the ship here, do we really need that rope? Why don't you just cut it?" Rayleigh freezes. Slowly, he inches his head up to look his cap- Roger in the eyes. Sure enough, there is a smug look on his face.

"Yeah Rayleigh." Roger mocks. "Why don't you just cut it?"

Rayleigh clenches and unclenches his hands. He glares at the crewmate still in the door. "Look at what you've done! He's never going to drop it now! And I'm the one stuck with him!"

"Aw come on mister-swordsman-who-forgets-he-has-a-sword," Roger gleefully teases, a mischievous gleam in his eye. Shanks is watching with a shit-eating grin on his face. That boy is just too much like Roger sometimes. "It's just until we reach Baterilla. Only a month."

"A month alone with you. Like this." Rayleigh accuses, pinching his brow.

Roger beams. "It's going to be great!"

Rayleigh groans.

Felix listens to Roger's and Rayleigh's voices for as long as he can as they sail away from them, desperately wishing he could have gone along.

"Felix?" Shanks prods gently at cap- Rog- his Hat. "Are you okay?"

:: ...It's times like these that I wish I could cry like you can. No, I'm not okay, but- I think I can be. Maybe. ::

Shanks smiles sadly. "I'll miss everyone too." He stares into the sky. "Hey, I'm going to go to Roger's execution. Will you be fine with coming with me?"

Snort. :: If you're offering me one last chance to see my best friend, you're crazy to think I'll turn that down. ::

"Awesome." Shanks grins.

:: Shanks, Shanks! Hide me! Take me off and place me underneath your cloak before the Marines see! ::

Shanks wastes no time in following Felix's instructions. With the Hat hidden, the group of marines chasing them storms straight past them in the alley. When he can't hear or see them anymore, Shanks breathes a sigh of relief.

"Jeez." Shanks hooks the Hat around his neck by the string before covering it with his cloak again. "Looks like they thought Roger escaped when they saw you."

Frown. :: Yeah. Maybe you should keep me like this until you're strong enough for it not to matter. That or until the marines forget about Roger wearing a Straw Hat. Roger's face without me on his head was posted for that article announcing his execution so it might not be too long. ::

"Well, hopefully they'll forget sooner rather than later." Shanks turns around and heads towards the center of the city. "Though this ruins my plan to display you in the air for Roger to see."

:: The fact that you were going to do that in the first place means a lot. It's the marines who are frightened of a Hat. It's more pathetic since they don't even know I can think. ::

Shanks barks a laugh. "Of course!" He shades his eyes with a hand and looks at the sun. "Looks like it's nearly time. We better hurry."

:: Then what are you waiting for? GO GO GO! I am NOT missing my Best Friend's execution! ::

Shanks was off the moment Felix started talking. Sprinting through the crowd, they just managed to see the scaffold as Roger took his position on top. Shanks skids to a stop at the edge of the crowd despite wanting to get closer. He knows better than to make his association with Roger known now.

Still, he sidles against the walls and only half listens to the marines' announcement. Shanks can do this much, even with the marines on alert.

As Roger gets on his knees, he looks over the crowd contently. These people may have come to see his death, but they did so for a dying man. His time was up; if anything, this made a far more memorable end than fading from illness.

A flash of familiar red on the crowd's fringes catches his eye and he subtly follows it to his cabin boy. Oh, that's right. He's not a Captain anymore. He snickers. Even after a year, it's hard to remember that he gave up his crew.

A marine backhands him for laughing, but he falters when Roger hits him with a piercing stare. "Now that wasn't very nice." He remarks casually, smirking at the marine's obvious alarm. "I was just remembering some fond times in the past."

That spot of red moves and Roger's eyes follow it to the wall, keeping his head still. The marines' attention are off Shanks right now and he doesn't really want to expose his ca- old cabin boy.

The marines on either side of him prepare their swords when Shanks lifts the cover of his cloak from himself just enough to expose the Hat underneath for a moment, but a moment was plenty of time.

Roger can hear his voice now that he knows he's there. He can hear Felix one more time before he passes and an unbidden smile appears on his face. Felix's voice is full of memories and nostalgia; and though there is a hint of sadness too, it's not drowning him. He catches bit's of Shanks' intentions as he listens and his smile grows. It looks like he made the right choice in handing Felix to him.

"HEY!" An unidentifiable voice calls out from the crowd, dragging Roger's attention away, though a part of him is still listening to his old friend. "WHERE IS IT? WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE? THE GREATEST TREASURE IN THE WORLD!"

"WHERE IS THE ONE PIECE?!"

A moment of silence hangs in the air before Roger bursts into laughter, ignoring the marines panicking around him. Really, he's about to die and these people weren't concerned about "Justice". Apparently, some just want to know where his treasure is. He'll never really understand greed for treasure, but what the hell. It could be one last interesting thing he pulls off.

"My treasure?" Roger grins mischievously, even as the blades rise to strike. "You can have it! It's all at that place! It's at Raftel, the island at the end of the Grand Line!"

:: ROGER! ::

The blades fell, but too late. The last words of the Pirate King set off the crowd and reporters were going insane. There would be papers of the Pirate King's last act spreading across the Blues before the marines would be able to do anything about it. Even in death, Roger stole a victory straight out of the marine's hands.

In the chaos left in the wake of Roger's death, a certain redhead and Hat snuck away.

Shanks pulls the hood further down his face, hiding the way he bit his lip and the tears pouring from his eyes. At the slow, stumbling pace he set it took Shanks the better part of an hour to reach the ship that would give him a ride to the next island.

Swinging his legs over the edge, Shanks stares out into the sea. The tears were mostly gone now, but every now and then a stray tear dared to make its way down his face.

:: You know what Shanks? I think…. I think seeing Roger die like that - smiling and causing mayhem and havoc as the last moment of his life - well, I think it's the best end he could have wanted. It doesn't make it better, but Roger died with no regrets. ::

"Yeah." Shanks whispers with a faint smile on his lips. "I'm glad we came."

:: Thank you Shanks. You didn't want to be here either, but you came because of me - don't try to deny it! I will never be able to repay you for that. ::

Shanks shakes his head. "No. Didn't you just hear me? This was good for me too. There's nothing to repay. Besides," He grins and looks up at his Hat, eyes red rimmed but finally dry. "Anything for a friend, right?"

:: Of course. ::

Practically radiating contentment, though there was some sorrow mixed in, Felix and Shanks sit in silence as they pass the time by.

"The sunset sure is beautiful today." Shanks remarks.

:: It's fitting for the day of the beginning and end of an era. ::

It's a fitting end for the day of Roger's passing. He deserves nothing less.

So here's the chapter! Most of this struggled to get out and even the beginning of the next part is fighting me too. I'm hoping I'll be able to get through it faster than this time, but you should expect the next chapter to come out sometime between 1-2 weeks.

For the record, Felix the Hat has no gender. It's a HAT. It doesn't have hormones or a reproductive system to make it feel one way or the other. Even mentally, Felix is cool with being identified by however. This is mostly because I, personally, don't care how people address me. I've never been mistaken for the other gender before, but it doesn't really matter. You can refer to it however you want to, so go ahead and pick. Just know that I'm never going to tag Felix as one way or the other.

And yeah, let me get this straight before people inevitably ask about it. I WILL HAVE NO PAIRINGS FOR THIS STORY. I may joke about relationships, I may reference them in side characters, I will have canon pairings in the story (such as Rouge and Roger so Ace would be born), but the main characters will NOT be paired with anyone. I don't care to write romance and I'm horrible at it besides. The remark above was just to show how scatterbrained Felix is about Roger's death, the canon interaction with Rouge, and just about every other problem that popped up his way so far.

#Fanfiction: Hat #One Piece #Gen #Friendship/Adventure #OC #Gol D. Roger #Shanks #Silvers Rayleigh