circus-and-shenanigans

[circus-and-shenanigans]

Sad to say that things have been rather rough lately and my motivation to keep up the pace here has been.... well, draining. I feel I wouldn't be doing a good job and it seems like things aren't exactly getting much better, so being very sorry for everyone I owe replies to, I'll be on indefinite hiatus :')

I've had fun with our little interactions and just silently reading around!

Take care guys! Keep on having fun!

[circus-and-shenanigans]

storm prompts ˗ˏˋ ꒰ 🍊 ꒱

⋆ “you should’ve told me you were afraid of storms.”

⋆ “i can’t sleep either through it either. wanna talk?”

⋆ “calm down, i’m not leaving- i’m just going to grab another blanket.”

⋆ “seriously? you’ve lived here for how many years, and you still can’t find your way around without the lights on?”

⋆ “god, you’re freezing! come here, let me warm you up.”

⋆ “please forget every time i’ve ever been irate with you over your candle collection.”

⋆ “i don’t care if it’s red weather warning outside, if you try and warm your icy little feet on me one more time i’m kicking you out.”

⋆ "don't worry, i won't tell anyone that my big bad partner/roomate/xyz is afraid of a little thunder."

⋆ "shit, is the power out?"

⋆ "was that lightning?! that was definitely lightning, right?"

⋆ "come here, i'll keep you safe. swear."

⋆ "god, please don't choose now to be the time you tell me you're afraid of the dark."

⋆ "you can sleep in my bed, if it'd be of any help."

[circus-and-shenanigans]

Continuation with: @gloryredwrites

Biting more than he could chew wasn't a new thing for the clown, at all, and he just felt like he brought it upon himself when his drinking partner settled a fight after their little celebration ended--- well... new objective: evade that fight from happening. AT ALL COSTS.

Listening to Shanks brings back a rather bittersweet feeling at the pit of his gut, it has been so many years and yet, despite everything, he could barely bring himself to properly stare the other in the face, or listen to his voice worn by the time and events surrounding him.... which if he were to guess, had been rough here and there. It wasn't worry, not at all, never ever, it was just a curiosity buried well deep beneath all the vits that bithered him about the other, about the jealousy and the inferiority complex, many thungs that kept blinding Buggy impeding him from actually wonder why it felt so-- weird, this did, not in a bad way, not in the best one either. Something was amiss.

He had to admit the bastard had some good points witht that argument, but he knew of other two that would argue with him that it would be best to keep a distance from him. To hell with that. There's a lot of unresolved feelings and time was, if anything, drawing thinner for two of them, the wind had been changing, the world too, if there there ever was a good time for them to cross paths again it was right then and there.

From the corner of his eye he sees the other Yonko drink with extra ease, but he doesn't question it, why should he when he never asked about more obvious things? And yet he felt it was a bit too kate to start even showing any amount of worry. None of that was needed.

-I've missed my best friend-

Simple yet effective, Buggy almost jumps hearing that, but he manages to somehow keep his cool. He wants to yell at him again, if he had missed him so much then why did he never come back to him? But he isn't one to be reproaching such things when he is culprit of them as well. He never reached out and just let resentment eat him alive, trying to get rid of all the moments they spent together, of the good and bad, but specially the good so it hurt less.

Snatching the bottle from his hand, trying not to think too deeply about the smeared red on his lips, the clown tries to down the rest of the bottle himself, attempting to put an end to his train of thought. ENOUGH ENOUGH ENOUGH!!!!!

"MnPgh-pHhAwww---" coughing a bit, almost choking there at the end, he passes Shanks a new bottle while the one on his other hand is left with just a sip worth of liquid. "YoU are--- you are..... GOD, I hate you so much, you bastard!!!" Of course, he wouldn't be able to say it in another way for a bit, not yet. "You wanted to see me anD how long did that take you, huh?! ACK- nevermind!! JUSt. Cheers, you son of a bitch-!" And leaning close to clink both their bottles he finished what was left of his own.

"LiSten. If you are waiting for me to admit how much I have missed you as well, you are dead wrong, redhair!" But he did. So so much. "I'm still mad at you! Just because you come here, tail between your legs, handing me a piece of shared memories won't make me admit that I missed you too------ nOT. Not like. I did. Not at all!!" Struggling already? After just half a bottle? He was worse than he thought himself to be. "Aghh... you are so frustrating, you knew that? I feel you haven't changed at all! Annoying face, annoying voice, stupid words---" at some point he had started tugging at Shanks' cheek as he spoke, letting go after realization hit him. "Same-- idiot as back then"

Was that a bad thing, though....?

[circus-and-shenanigans]

Sometimes I remember how much more social I used to be like 9 or so years ago with my tumblr rp blogs and how right now I find it so difficult to make posts like these to just ramble akdbakdbskdjwjdne wheRe did all that goooo?? 😭

I just wanna-- like-- talk about Patches and stuff, or throw silly ideas for the other two, just throw them out there to the air and not feel embarrassed.

Seeing you guys do it really makes me a bit less shy--

[circus-and-shenanigans]

buncha buggys

[circus-and-shenanigans]

"R-right!! THAT I did ahahahah-" he wasn't about to go into details about it, well... made up details, but still, if Shanks decided to fill in the blanks himself that was more than enough for him, no point in overworrying about the small bits. Then again, that shine in his eyes was rather distracting........ huH? Wha-? What now?

The mention of Mihawk makes his attention come back, getting that piece of history he was slightly aware of but lacked many details of, he never asked the other man anyways (not like he would have followed along anyways, for sure), actually he never considered asking about it, preferring to obviate all of that. They are strong men, stupidly ridiculously strong, just fighting each other for the sake of showing off, so why should he bother about that piece of their past? It was just a bit nonsensical, not that flashy either. Even though the way Shanks talked about it sounded almost breathtaking to witness.

"I would win, of coure!" The clown huffs a bit, a huge confident grin in his lips. NO I wOuLd NOOOOOOOT!!!! HE iS pLaYinG WITH ME!! It's that-! He is trying to laugh at me because he kNOWs-!!! His mind rambles away at the image, even when there was that obvious non threatening tone to the question, even when the redhair's bodily expression was so relaxed, Buggy couldn't help but to jump internally like that. "BU-buT, it wouldn't be fUN, you know..... we aren't here to do that-! We are celebrating my victories!! Yeah-... It wouldn't be flashy of me to fight my guest" dodged, evaded, ducked.

Back to the alcohol, looking down at the bottles he could still very vividly picture that scene, it had happened more than once after all, and he had always been there--- right, Shanks had always been there by his side even when he became very stupidly drunk, as much as he had done the same. They would be always sticking to each other back then. Warm eyes always on him.

Oh no.

Basically plopping down onto the grass the clown looks up at him, waiting to be joined while leaving the crate close to them, taking a bottle while giving it a little shake and turn around so everything mixed up well.

"Let's start it here, it's a nice day outside anyways--" for a start, even if extremely boring, it felt just fitting enough. How many times have they spent, back then, drinking on some random place? Either way that proposal was SO like Shanks, it almost felt like being taken back in time, one would expect they would change more after all these years and experiences.

"As for the other thing--- what do you mean wrong? Actually, that's the correct way to go about it! But yOU reaching out to me now..... are you UP to something, huh?! Trying to steal my secrets? Cause I'm not sharing those!" Taking the corck out of the bottle he took the first swig, a nice long gulp that got a bright smile on his face after he was done, licking his red lips for a second, happily savouring it all and letting out a very satisfied noise. "SO GOOD! You really hit the nail with this one!! Here here-" and so his hand flew towards him so he took the bottle.

Something told Buggy that those bottles were going all down this same day.

Reply to: @gloryredwrites

Slowly his blue eyes return over the shape of the other man, tentatively as if he didn't want to get caught staring back-- even if that would be the normal thing to do. Just then is when he catches onto that kind smile of his, one he had known so well and seen so many many times, yet there was a difference there he wished he could just ignore. It's been so long.

"Hmn? Whatcha got there?" Curious as ever at the prospect of a gift he is stepping closer, internally happy that he had been thoughtful like that, expecting gold or pretty and expensive jewellery, maybe some interesting treasure maps to follow, but what he gets shown instead is something far less frivolous.

Now. It does take him a few seconds to process it, it attacks directly to his excitable heart and it almost, almost makes him fall into a pathetic display in front of Shanks. THANK LORD He didn't, else he wouldn't be able to outlive the shame that would follow.

"That's ---" even though years have passed the label and bottle shape remained the same, just like back then, he could almost taste it on his tongue already, the strong flavours accompanied by the salty breeze and laughs left and right. Even when he missed it, he had made his best to move on from all of that by now, yet a small indulgence like the one they might be about to have now wasn't so bad. Or maybe he was still trying to lie to himself about that moving on thing.

"Heh, you truly are--" his mumble moves to silence as Shanks' voice rings back up, listening as his hands rest over his hips, head tilted to look back at him again with an amused smirk that he tries his best to make look as genuinely confident as he can, body tensing up at the mention of Mihawk remembering his-- co-partners. Co-stars. EvEn THoUgh It's HIS SHOW, DAMN IT. His show, his protagonism, his group!

"Of course you have seen them!! As you said they are all over the place! As they must!! Hehehe..... yeaaahh, they came to me asking for a place there, how could I say no? It would be stupid if I did! They are great a-" he coughs a bit, already feeling their heavy glares over the back of his head, trying not to let his voice break. "Assets!! Very strong, very useful, doing great work under good ol me-- because I'm at the top! I am. Mn-hmn! I am the strongest of them anyways!" He speaks rather quickly there, his eyes shifting around a little even when he is trying to sell out the concept of the Cross Guild being different than what reality hides underneath and trying his hardest to just brush over any mentions of power levels. If they could hear him right now........ a shiver.

Quickly his floating hands take a hold of the crate, lifting it close to himself as he smiles wide, laughing some too as he changes the topic. "I'm surprised you even remembered these!! Who would have thought you appreciated a drink as fine as this one, huh?! Come ooooon!! Let's go get that celebration going!! We aren't here to just talk about.... no, actually, yeah, we are here to talk!" AboUt ME!! Me me! At last! My time! Is what he wished to yell about, but the idea of making Shanks leave because of that old behaviour was a bit.... no, he didn't want him to go just yet, it was the perfect time to finally talk together, right here and now where they could finally see eye to eye, when he finally felt worthy enough to face him as both successful pirates.

[circus-and-shenanigans]

lack of interaction ≠ lack of interest. sometimes, life gets in the way, or my muse doesn't cooperate with me the way i want, or i'm simply too anxious to take the first step. but just because we currently don't have any interactions going, doesn't mean that i'm not interested in writing with you and your muse(s). maybe the perfect opportunity hasn't presented itself yet, or i couldn't think of a good enough plot but that never ever has anything to do with you. after all, we're mutuals for a reason and that's usually because i enjoy seeing you on my dash and would love to write with you ― whenever that may happen.

[circus-and-shenanigans]

Reply to: @gloryredwrites

Slowly his blue eyes return over the shape of the other man, tentatively as if he didn't want to get caught staring back-- even if that would be the normal thing to do. Just then is when he catches onto that kind smile of his, one he had known so well and seen so many many times, yet there was a difference there he wished he could just ignore. It's been so long.

"Hmn? Whatcha got there?" Curious as ever at the prospect of a gift he is stepping closer, internally happy that he had been thoughtful like that, expecting gold or pretty and expensive jewellery, maybe some interesting treasure maps to follow, but what he gets shown instead is something far less frivolous.

Now. It does take him a few seconds to process it, it attacks directly to his excitable heart and it almost, almost makes him fall into a pathetic display in front of Shanks. THANK LORD He didn't, else he wouldn't be able to outlive the shame that would follow.

"That's ---" even though years have passed the label and bottle shape remained the same, just like back then, he could almost taste it on his tongue already, the strong flavours accompanied by the salty breeze and laughs left and right. Even when he missed it, he had made his best to move on from all of that by now, yet a small indulgence like the one they might be about to have now wasn't so bad. Or maybe he was still trying to lie to himself about that moving on thing.

"Heh, you truly are--" his mumble moves to silence as Shanks' voice rings back up, listening as his hands rest over his hips, head tilted to look back at him again with an amused smirk that he tries his best to make look as genuinely confident as he can, body tensing up at the mention of Mihawk remembering his-- co-partners. Co-stars. EvEn THoUgh It's HIS SHOW, DAMN IT. His show, his protagonism, his group!

"Of course you have seen them!! As you said they are all over the place! As they must!! Hehehe..... yeaaahh, they came to me asking for a place there, how could I say no? It would be stupid if I did! They are great a-" he coughs a bit, already feeling their heavy glares over the back of his head, trying not to let his voice break. "Assets!! Very strong, very useful, doing great work under good ol me-- because I'm at the top! I am. Mn-hmn! I am the strongest of them anyways!" He speaks rather quickly there, his eyes shifting around a little even when he is trying to sell out the concept of the Cross Guild being different than what reality hides underneath and trying his hardest to just brush over any mentions of power levels. If they could hear him right now........ a shiver.

Quickly his floating hands take a hold of the crate, lifting it close to himself as he smiles wide, laughing some too as he changes the topic. "I'm surprised you even remembered these!! Who would have thought you appreciated a drink as fine as this one, huh?! Come ooooon!! Let's go get that celebration going!! We aren't here to just talk about.... no, actually, yeah, we are here to talk!" AboUt ME!! Me me! At last! My time! Is what he wished to yell about, but the idea of making Shanks leave because of that old behaviour was a bit.... no, he didn't want him to go just yet, it was the perfect time to finally talk together, right here and now where they could finally see eye to eye, when he finally felt worthy enough to face him as both successful pirates.

[circus-and-shenanigans]

RED HAIRED SHANKS

🍻—

"Buggy! I've heard you finally became a Yonko. I knew you had it in you. How's a few drinks on me sound? Let's celebrate!"

That voice. That hair. That stupid face.

A million things cross Buggy's mind and out of all of them his first reaction is to yell at him with the usual intensity. Usual, because even though coming across each other during the past twenty years or so hadn't really been a thing, old habits die hard.

"SHANKS!!" His voice almost breaking at how hight pitched it came out, just anger pushing through before he properly processes what has been said to him, hands already flying above his head into fists, unsure if to grab him or keep the distance. He still hasn't forgotten about the lie at Marineford and he wanted to let him know!! About that thing, about that other thing, and about how stupid and boring and plain he looks!! Then again........ turning down a celebration wasn't in any of them both's blood, must have come with their upbringing by Roger and his men's side.

Also. It was just slowly registering. R I G T H. He was a Yonko now as well. He had caught up! He was being acknowledged by him. Not. Not like he cared. Not like that specific thing mattered. No no no.

Coughing a bit he tried to compose himself, crossing his arms over his chest that he just inflated, a huge grin on his face.

"HAH-! Of course I did!! Becoming Yonko was absurdly easy, so don't go giving me that-- oF course I had it in me!! Always have!" There we go, nice and easy, not letting him have it. How does that taste, huh? How does it feel not being that special anymore? Buggy almost wanted to ask for the sake of stepping over the other, so many things rolling around in him. "I'm sooooo busy, though, this much power and fame come with a high cost of all of my attention, I don't think I can celebrate with you" No. Wait. Don't go, though. Not yet.

"BUT- since I'm such a wonderful and gracious man I'll give it to you" his head tilted to a side, not staring at the other Yonko. "Let's go get some drinks"

[circus-and-shenanigans]

A little work everyday...... god that sounded SO boring, there were plenty of things to do, plenty lf things to see than just taking a moment out of his day to just fill up and sign papers!! CoMe ON!! Then again... even when Galdino was right, he wouldn't have agreed to this, not when he was throwing a small tantrum about it.

There was no other way around it, no tricks up his sleeve anymore since as of now the other two knew them well enough, he couldn't just scurry away frim responsibilities like that. For now. Right. Riiiight. It was all a matter of letting some more time pass, and after that he would be able to pull the same play again right under their noses, bam, perfect.

Except. It would lead him back to this same instance. Bump in the head and all.

As his hands hurried around picking up the papers, as well as still acknowledging the new ones the other man brought in, Buggy tried to think of a way to speed ​​up the progress, it was ok if he at keast sinoly tried to messily get it done, right? What mattered was that it was doNE, right?!

The sound of the chair dragging closer made his now floating head turn towards the artist, it wasn't that he hasn't listened to him the entire time, it was that his brain was simply trying to move past this responsibility slop, then again, it seemed like he was staying, like the kast time, and the last and the last........ truly a welcomed companionship, and definitely something that gave him a little boost of energy. He couldn't just acT like this all the time!! Not in front of a subordinate! SHAME on himself!!!

"She did?!" That also added to the whole ordeal, yeah, his energies were definitely back. Oh, these papers had nO CHANCE against him now. "We are annihilating these bastards before they even DArE take those donuts from us, I assure you, my friend!" With his limbs fully reattached, the clown hurried up continue on his job, clearly appreciating Galdino's company anD help as he moved papers between his hands and across the desk, pen in hand.

"I hate to admit it, but it's true that we need those two on our side now" he groaned then. "They are just such sticks in the mud, though!! No humour, no flexibility, just dry-! But I didn't tell you this, yeah? They don't know I said any of this" he quickly added there at the end. "Haaaaahhh, being at the top if the world is sooooo demanding---" with an exaggerated sigh he leaned back on his chair, once again forgetting about the work at hand as he stopped.

"..... right, you worked for Crocodile, didn't you? Did he also throw mountains of papers at you as well? God. Must have been awful. The pirate life isn't about desk jobs-!" Definitely, Buggy had gotten distracted once again, now crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at the other man with curiosity and a frown.

< cont'd // @circus-and-shenanigans >

“ If you did a little work everyday instead of letting it pile up, ga ne. You wouldn’t be in this situation, Buuggy. ” Mr 3 speaks in a scolding manner, almost in a whisper while shaking his head. This time he had decided! He won’t help him at all! To worsen the situation, he was carrying yet another pile of late errants that were placed just by the end of the table.  Simply watching the clown’s rambling as he keeps his natural scowl. Pirates were truly not made to deal with this type of paperwork. Although in his own view they were pretty easy tasks…but even easy tasks were difficult when you were hurt, aren't they…. “ We don’t really have another option, do we? After the giants left, they’re our only defense against the marines— ” Buggy’s scream didn’t surprise Galdino at all, but did make him go a step behind while seeing the papers fly everywhere. By now, the artist was already pretty much used to their flashy behavior. It was just hard to feel pity when those were the consequences of their own choices…. but they could go a little lighter on these bruises couldn’t they…. 

It was a drastic change from just a few months ago, but perhaps that was a good opportunity to teach that pirate to be a little more responsible with tasks. Mr 3’s frown turned more apparent as he went to pick up a few lost papers across the room. Staying means he would end up helping and he was adamant on NO PITY this time.

“ ............Hm. Is that so.” 

But the artist’s actions go the opposite of his mind, as the sound of a chair being dragged across the room resonated, one that placed on the other side of the table. He tapped his glasses in, tying papers up before giving them a quick review as he started to stamp them.

“ .... Saaa! Let’s get this done, shall we? I heard Alvida called the donut seller today and I’m preetty adamant on having it for brunch. ”

[circus-and-shenanigans]

Wanna RP: A PSA

Wanna RP together? Let’s do it.

Wanna jump into my inbox randomly? Do it.

Send me a starter? Do it.

Wanna plot? Do it. IMs are a thing now. Let’s go.

Wanna- Just do it.

My inbox and IMs are always open for whatever reason you can think of.

[circus-and-shenanigans]

I've been so inactive---

I'll try to get my stuff together, promise!! I haven't forgotten!! *points at the person to whom I owe a reply*

[circus-and-shenanigans]

“With eveeerything you’ve been through lately, of course you’re tired, ga ne." // wave wave hello!! thanks for the follow back! For buggy perhaps.

A small groan escapes from gis mouth, almost pathetically as his face is buried between his arms and mountains of papers at both his sides, the desk a mess, much like his head, which was still sticking to his neck despite threatening to come rolling down into the floor at any moment now.

"Right? Right?! Owww... Ow...." He makes a few other noises, trying to garner some more sympathy, even if it was extremely unflashy behaviour, but if anyone was allowed to see such depressing display was no other than him. Even though.... well... he still had an image to uphold, he would have easily sprung back to life and played it off as just some mere small bump. A small bump ---- like the one atop his head from failing to meet a specific criteria for his new business partners.

A shudder makes his back stiffen some, his head lifting up from the desk to look at the other for a second, attempting seriousness.

"Ugh. I just wanna take a loooong nap and forget all about this-- paper bullshit... between them dARiNG to ruN me through the muD like that, the sudden deadlines, the exigencies, uh .... etcetera. I just miss being king of everything" a rant, poor Mister 3 was getting a rant out of this. "Even while being just in charge of the delivery service things were getting a bit hectic...... this is just...." Buggy's voice started losing momentum as he spoke until it finally happened, his head just rolled to the corner of the table.

"To hELL wiTH ALL oF ThiS!!!" Was his sudden outburst, with the little energies he had left his body jerked upwards, throwing the papers all over the place, angry about his current situation. "..... no wait, I need those...." Instant regret got his hands to float in hurry to pick them all back up, not wanting a beating.

"I do truly appreciate your company here, though... don't go, the distraction is highly needed"

[circus-and-shenanigans]

exhaustion … sentence starters

the exhausted

“I can’t sleep.”

“I can’t keep my eyes open.”

“Can you help me back to bed?”

“I’m okay. I’m not even that tired.”

“I don’t remember the last time I slept.”

“I can’t sleep, yet. There’s too much to do.” 

“I don’t want to sleep. I keep having nightmares.”

“I promise I’ll sleep in a bit, just let me finish this, first.”

“Can you help me lie down? I can’t move, I’m too tired.”

“I can’t even think straight anymore… maybe I need to sleep.”

“Of course I want to relax. But, we don’t all get what we want.”

“I’m so tired I can’t do anything, but I’m not tired enough to sleep…”

the concerned

“You keep yawning.”

“Go. Sleep. That’s not a request.”

“If you’re that tired, just take a nap.”

“You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were this tired?”

“Those are some bad bags under your eyes.”

“You don’t have to push so hard. It’s okay to rest.”

“You can barely keep your eyes open, go lie down.”

“I haven’t seen you sleeping in a long time, what’s up?”

“I just had to stop you from toppling over. You’re not okay.”

“With everything you’ve been through lately, of course you’re tired.”

“I heard you thrashing around last night. Nightmares? Is that why you’re so tired?”

“You know, you keep fretting over everyone else, but you won’t even take a second to relax, yourself.”

misc

(doze) : one muse falls asleep on the other’s shoulder

(tuck) : one muse finds the other passed out onto the bed, and tucks them in

(collapsed) : one muse finds the other passed out on the floor from exhaustion

(carry) : one muse finds the other after they’ve fallen asleep on a chair / couch, and carries them to bed 

(cover) : one muse finds the other asleep somewhere other than bed and covers them with a blanket / their jacket

(assist) : one muse finds the other so tired they’re having trouble standing and helps them walk somewhere to lie down

(comfort) : one muse has been having nightmares and unable to sleep, so asks the other to cuddle with them to help them drift off

[circus-and-shenanigans]

Doctor? Well that got her interest, hadn't ever seen an animal-like being in such position... huh, then again, weren't other animal shaped beings parts of other pirate crews? Doing normal positions? It didn't help that the only being akin to an animal in her life was a common lion that liked belly rubs and food.

The jump from the little reindeer made her stop, not seeking to push him further away, even less now knowing he was a doctor as well, one she had never come across before.

"I would say I pay enough attention to bounties... aren't you and your crew famous?" She didn't find the situation all that odd considering that, they were constant wrecking havoc out there. "My name is Patches, I'm a doctor as well" no harm in letting him know, even less harm considering she had nothing better to do for the time being, and also? He didn't seem dangerous or ill intended.

"A friend...." She mumbled. "Is it alright if I accompany you?" Curiosity was far grater than evading getting into a mess.

@circus-and-shenanigans

Chopper turned to look at the approaching woman, his eyes going from fearful to relieved as he understood this to be a harmless individual, not some kind of monster or powerful enemy he couldn't hope to defeat. Of course, the instant he heard her words, his expression turned to something more irritated, eyes narrowed and face frowning in disgust.

"The Straw Hats' doctor… not pet." He grumbled, clearly more annoyed than happy to make a new friend who made such a miscalculation. He could handle his pathetic bounty, but being called a pet was always so insulting. All the effort he put into averting crisis and the government somehow never even saw it happen.

"You know me though? Who are you? I've never seen you before!" Chopper jumped back to create a bit of distance, lifting his head to observe her attire and potential accessories. She didn't seem armed for combat. Blushing at his overly cautious behavior, he rubbed the back of his head somewhat bashfully. "Well, I'm not lost if that's what you're wondering. I'm just headed somewhere to meet my friend."

[circus-and-shenanigans]

The room itself was one even she wouldn't feel comfortable working at for longer periods of time, being just a replacement for her actual office-laboratory back at their main stay, of course it's not like she couldn't be left without anything to work with when traveling out there, even if it wasn't as comfortable or complete-- or convenient, or spacious, or empty of most of her normal samples.... in essence, it was a place holder and sadly, this time, it was all she could do for the two of them. Then again, she doubted her captain would be too pleased to have the other roaming around their main base.

His sudden run made her stare at him curious and then an-- insult? followed, looking extremely offended and frustrated, angry, and for a second there Patches tried to not talk back as the poor poor victim of this colorful hell stumbled through his rage to get his point across. Don't pull too hard.... the clown barely voiced out, not wanting to interrupt yet also not wanting to see this middle aged man lose all of his hair in one second.

"Huh?" was the noise that escaped her as Law finally pointed out the source of his sudden outburst, then again, it could have happened at any given moment considering how much he had been holding back internally. "The lights?" her head tilted back to look at the poor light above their heads, which seemed to threaten to leave them in the dark between short blinks generously spaced out. "I think it's... not that bad" she had seen wors--- oooohhhhh it was because of the plant. Right. "Is that so...?" she gave that up, she wasn't going to argue against this one, not when his breath seemed to get a bit too short. The least Patches wanted was to be the cause of death of this guy, and all because an algae!! Now wouldn't that be weirdly funny?

So he was easily irritable, kind of a weirdo, short of breath and balding, oh this poor man...

"You have a point? That's why you are here, doctor Law" her brow relaxed as he threw that at her, it made sense, why was he frustrated? "Obviously if someone had written about it before I wouldn't have tried to contact you, wouldn't I--- fift---" her words cut off as the Heart's captain threw that age estimate at her, unsure if to feel flattered or annoyed, how did she even look fifteen!? Was he blind? Was it that?

"I'm thirty two, I would advise you get glasses for your tired old man eyes, Trafalgar" was her reply to it, calm as can be even if she still felt internally amused at his hold on the tank where the plant floated, uninterested in their yapping. "Take a seat before you colapse from your outburst, it can't be good for your heart, I can also go get you a drink too if you want, we got soda... though I'm unsure if sugar would be good for you" the clown doctor tried to be accommodating for the other, both in good faith and attempting to poke at his short patience for his late outburst.

"Now breathe in, breath out, and calm down about the lights" and said that, the orange lady reached for the light switch to turn it off, leaving them in the dark, only source of light barely pushing through the hallway and past the doorframe in pink and blue hues. "There. Better?"

✚✚✚ @circus-and-shenanigans // continued

Law followed the little clown throughout the sinuous insides of the big top, through the narrow alleys between seats, one heeled foot fitting at a time. He held Kikoku higher against his shoulder, almost as if a parent would carry a toddler in a crowded space for fear of losing them. It was the dirt floor he minded, to spare his sword the dishonour of meeting with some gluttonous child's half-licked, sticky-as-glue lolly. Law grimaced at the vision of paper wraps and unpopped kernels of corn sprawled under his feet. How had he allowed himself to get caught up in this mess, again?

Oh, yes. The funny (as in 'peculiar' rather than 'amusing') clown girl had lassoed him in with the promise not of entertainment, but of medicine.

She had said she was a doctor, a claim that earned her a studious gaze bundled up in doubt. This orange thing was a doctor? For all his brilliance, Law did lack the necessary amount of self-awareness to recognise that most civilians, too, would doubt him a doctor when he sported a loose shirt buttoned up with haste over his jeans and black polish over his fingernails so casually. Both he and the clown were as far removed from the semblance of a textbook doctor, with their one white coat and two rows of white teeth arranged into a reassuring smile as could be. All things considered, it was discerning of a circus to harbour a medical team, only not right next to the menagerie, he hoped, for a nomadic, strenuous lifestyle offered plenty of opportunities for injury. And the jolly roger lulling in the wind above the tarpaulin had not escaped Law's atttentive watch. Pirates required medical assistance more than the average person.

❝ Listen, Raggedy Ann...! ❞ he started, an edge of warning to his voice, her jab at his aquatic lifestyle returned in kind as he manoeuvred the space towards the reserved compound of doors and platforms the audience had no idea lay within and underneath the circus. ❝ I'll have you know submarines are lots of fun. ❞

What the hell did she know of his literary soirées? Of the crew's monthly talent shows? Of the most exciting, free-for-all race to the loo after every Tuesday's taco dinner? Why, she was but a simpleton, all too excited to watch some other idiot in oversized shoes juggle up some balls and deem it as entertainment. If there was a literal embodiment of the panem et circenses phrase, here it was.

❝ I am not a man to be toyed with. I did not come here, to the very depths of Satan's rectum, to discuss the concept of merriment over tea with a child. Where is the chlorophyte? ❞

She had said, and not just in passing, to be in possession of a rare species of algae Law had read about in his studies. Although, admittedly, phycology was a field of pharmaceutical interest he generally buried under other priorities. The species was said to be at least a hundred times more efficient than other maritime eukaryotes in boosting immunity and serving as an anticancerous agent, nothing short of a miracle if proven true. If he could get this alga into his laboratory and multiply it so he got enough specimens to sample from... Only the hypothesis of an unprecedented scientific breakthrough could have made him enter the circus tent.

Trafalgar Law hissed, catlike when the faux flower hit him with a surprise drizzle. Though hygienic, he would rather take his shower the conventional way. Just like he would like to keep his feet not stepped on by stupid miniature velocipedes! ❝ I really, really hate the circus! I'll take my clowns in the form of Ruggero Leoncavallo, thank you.❞

His eyes were daggers directed at this Doctor Patches character, but then the gold in them melted and glinted with mischief. Kikoku made another move on his shoulder, ready to lose her sheath. ❝ There is no fucking chance a clown can trick me. ❞

[circus-and-shenanigans]

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