wildkotetsu | 13 • Pao-Lin • [Voice/Action]

[To be completely honest... Kotetsu was miserable. When something hits him, it hits him hard, carries over like a cloud above him. After becoming a monster, possibly hurting people he was supposed to protect... after failing Nami and an innocent little girl, failing to help Sanji when he needed someone—they'd lost so many people, and he knew that it... it was really hurting not just him, but everyone else. And there was nothing about it he could do. There was no rescuing to be done. No buildings to smash through, people to grab in the nick of time.

He was too busy being in need of rescue himself, anyway. The routine was the same: smile where he could, be content to appease the audience of Luceti. Go to the Seventh Heaven and work, work, work where he was needed. And then... sign up for missions. Keep on doing that. He's already planning to go on another one when he comes across a painful discovery.]

[Voice]

... I, uh. Dunno if anyone knew—

[A pause.]

Pao-Lin's gone home. But.... But it's good that she did. I know it sucks to lose people here, even if you know it's a good thing... but I just wanted to say that she has a future to look forward to. She's—she's a great hero back home. She protects people. I'll bet she'll be at the top of the charts in no time; heck, she already outdoes oldtimers like me, she's such a natural...

[He stops himself as he trails off, realizing he probably won't stop talking if he keeps it up for too long.]

... I just wanted to let anyone know who doesn't.

And sorry if I worried any of you, back there. I've been resting and I'm feeling a lot better now, so I'm okay.

[Private // Tony Stark]

Oi, I just wanted you to know I'm still working on it. I'll be goin' on another mission, but I, uh. Wanted to talk to you before then.

[And with that, he goes back to the Seventh Heaven to help out. When he's in the kitchen... he really likes that he can be distant and quiet. And, even if it seems funny to imagine for someone like him, solemn and thoughtful. Of course, going back outside will illicit a happy little smile that says otherwise. Everything's fiiiine. Don't worry so much. It'll be okay.

Except he's starting to visit the bar more—once a night is okay. One drink is okay. He sits at the bar, observing the ugly scar lingering on his forearm, on his wrist, where the infection—and a gunshot—had marred his flesh good and well. Under his collar is the scar from another biter. A reminder of the moment he's lost faith in himself.

... Okay. For tonight? He'll go ahead and drink a little more than he should.

Just tonight.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He can't help a glance to Kotetsu's hand before his eyes dart back to his own drink. Still healing, it seems. But healing meant he hadn't died. Which was one thing. He hadn't killed him. He didn't have to live with that on his conscience, too.]

Decent. A few hiccups but we're on schedule.

[A few hiccups being they were fairly certain the Malnosso were wise to their plans. No big deal or anything.]

That's good...

Uh. Look. I've been going on missions a lot—I'll start squeezing in more as often as I can, so you just gotta let me know what kindsa' things you need, alright?

[He nods.]

I will. We're going to need a new batch of materials soon, so I'll be in touch.

Yeah? Good...

[A pause. Well, uh. How does he ask this without sounding totally oblivious to whatever cause he's helping with-]

What the hell is the thing you're making again?

[... Nailed it.]

[Oh my god man.

Are you serious.

Look, maybe he was vague with the details, but seriously.]

Air balloon to Oz. It's gonna get us right the hell out of here, let me tell you.

You can't get an air balloon through the barrier.

[Oh, right. You're a dick.]

It'd be nice to know exactly what I'm riskin' my life for working for these creeps.

[YEP. :D]

It's a portal. A doorway through time and space that will deposit you right to wherever you want to go.

... You can really pull that off...? Like it's easy, or something?

[MAKIN' SUCH A FACE AT THAT. SUCH A FACE.]

Do you think the malnosso has that same kinda' techno-crap? Maybe they're accidentally poofing us in with it, or something. And don't realize it.

Oh, don't let me fool you. It most assuredly is not easy. But I can do it. Because it's me.

And, as a matter of fact, I don't think they do. Which is exactly the reason why they haven't stopped us.

I see...

[He's quiet for a moment, hand nervously moving to rub his neck.]

I'm glad you're doin' this. It's good you're here--for the people stuck here.

You've been doing good.

[They could use you way more than him, anyway.]

[And that takes him completely be surprise. He just sits in stunned silence for a moment.]

It's what I have to do.

[He wouldn't let himself do any less than what was best for the people here.]

You don't have to do anything like this. But you're doing it anyway.

[He looks at the glass in his hand, at the gnawed skin on the back of his hand. Closing his hand tightly around the shot, right now, is too difficult.]

... You're a good hero. Able to do what the people around here need done.

[Maybe it was a choice. But he didn't look at it that way. Not since Golmirrah. His reasons for becoming a hero weren't necessarily complex - people needed him, and he had a debt to pay. But there were so many other reasons, too. He just couldn't let those get in the way of what was important.

He's about to take a drink from his glass, but stops short.]

Yeah. You're not too bad yourself, Newsie.

[He offers a quiet glance at that, looking plenty tired as he pours himself another round.

Understandably, it reeks of 'you're wrong'.]

Anyway... thanks. For everything.

[He had to at least thank him for something, dammit. The man saved him from being zombie food once, saved Nami once. He had to thank him somewhere in that conversation.

He quickly drinks his shot.]

If you need any help with anything else, lemme know... okay?

[He isn't one to pry - he's already been more personal than he likes - so he doesn't. He takes another drink from his glass, giving Kotetsu a vague salute.

Thanks. For everything.]

I'll keep it in mind.

[... Gonna need a lot of drinks.

Yeah, he'll just take the bottle. Why not.]

... F'you need me, just lemme' know. And, uh--let me know what parts you need. I'll ask for 'em.

Might have to write them down, though. I'm not good with remembering all that science mumbo-jumbo.

[Science mumbo-jumbo...the comment is enough to keep him from asking about the bottle.]

Most aren't. Don't worry. I'll send you a postcard. Check your mailbox.

... A postcard.

[Huh. He takes a drink from the bottle, thoughtfully staring at his hands when he's done.]

Alright. It'd be interesting to get mail again; just like home, huh?

Oh, I wouldn't say that. I never got mail back home.

[Or, rather, he did, and it was left entirely in the hands of Pepper so he never saw it.]

Besides, I don't know about you, but I'd like to keep this place as far removed from home as possible.

[His eyes go half-lidded in thoughtful disappointment.

Yeah... they're far from home. Who knows for how long.]

Guess you're right; doesn't hurt to remember what you're fighting for, though. I guess.

[Ah...he had him, there. Not that Tony could really lie to himself and tell himself he was removed from this place - he wasn't. He absolutely wasn't. There were too many people he cared about here, too many people he had a duty to save.]

I don't ever forget.

Good.

[He takes a drink.]

Me neither.

13 • Pao-Lin • [Voice/Action]

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