Yeah! Well, As Long As I've Known Him, At Least.

　　　❝ yeah! well, as long as i've known him, at least. ❞

　rosinante loved law; truly, he didーbut conversations had never been his strong suit. baring a small array of topics (usually concerning medicine, or reliving parts of what the two had gone through together all those years ago) conversations tended to be stilted & one-sided, with rosinante often fighting to keep it alive until law's disinterest was so palpable, he couldn't help but get embarrassed and pretend he never initiated any conversation in the first place. sitting in silence and simply basking in each other's company was something they often did, often doing different activities in the same room parallel to each other, but rosinante couldn't deny one of his love languages was definitely talking.

luffy, though? oh, luffy was a dream; a sunny disposition, seemingly limitless energy, eager to chat (especially if rosinante happened to bring food with him onboard the sunny) but, most importantly, seemingly as interested in law as he was.

　❝ part of it is definitely that he's a doctorーhe's actied like a teeny tiny professional ever since he was tenーbut he's also been through a lot. though, the issue is he doesn't like talking, so he just internalizes it. he hates talking so much, he didn't tell you he was in dressrosa to try and kill my brother until all hell had broken lose already, right? he's always been like that. a bit... frustrating, but that's law. ❞

"Me too!Shishishi" Luffy's shoulders jostle with laughter. Law had never tried to correcthim or demanded he stop, by all accounts he'd just accepted it with no other choice. It could have been worse. "His last name ugh Tra—trafela, that it's just hard to say." It's a mouth full with his East Blue accent so instead of getting it wrong every time Tora-o it is.

Face lights up, smile brightly spreading from ear to ear. "Yeah! Ya see it!" Law hasn't said the word himself but they are friends! "He's been so stubborn 'n stuff but I think he had a lot of fun with us. Takes himself real serious all the time, like he's always thinkin' of the worst thing that can happen." Nostrils flare as he huffs. In spite of his gentle probing and curious looks Law was determined to shut himself off from everyone but his crew. "He always been like this?"

❝ none taken! ❞

evil as doflamingo was, rosinante wasn't one to revel in his brother's misfortune (at least no more than a sibling usually would) but he understood what needed to be done. he still had trouble wrapping his brain around the whole ordeal. he still had trouble coming to terms that his brother's reign of terror was stopped by a teenager. it was a shock to him but, at the same time, it wasn't. he supposed that was the power of the d. at work.

　❝ and, right? he's so... grouchy. and independent. like a... housecat. ❞ or, a feral stray taken off the street and forced to be a housecat, more accurately. ❝ but tough as nails, too. did he tell you the story about the week we met? about how he tried to murder me? ❞

The idea of a very small Law scowling from under his hat is very easy to conjure and has the man laughing. It’s cute, he’s always been like this, always deadly serious and Luffy knows for a fact they would have gotten along worse as children. “He’s a doctor, should know that’s not good for him.” Luffy’s smile relaxes as he shakes his head. “ ‘M surprised he hasn’t exploded yet.”

“Nope, I don’t think so?”  Luffy had been distracted in the colosseum for the better half of Dressrossa. “Tora-o got kidnapped at some point then I was running all over the city with him.” He sighs, eyes glancing down and away. “He could have told me, already said I’d help him.” Knows he can’t take it personally if Rosinate says Law’s always been that way but Luffy knows he’s reliable, trusts that his crew can and will handle anything thrown their way. “Dunno what he would’a done if we didn’t land on Punk Hazard, he didn’t even have his crew with him.” Did they know their captain was on a suicide mission? What did he tell them he was doing? 

“He’s so stubborn! Just let me care about you idiot.” Hand smacks against his chest, fingers curling into the rough skin of his scar. “I didn’t ask for his help but he did anyway. Dying that day would’a been fine.” Maybe Law didn’t see it with the same weight he did or it was just another day, another surgery. There is no obligation to help Law, no debt to be repaid, no thanks needed.  “Kept my dream alive ya know? I’d kick ten Mingo asses if he asked.”

“Not you, no offense.”

me writing rosinante vs. me writing doflamingo

　　　❝ uh... maybe? ❞

　rosinante's reply had been startled out of him, not expecting to be approached for conversation and, frankly, very much in his own thoughts. his mind went blank upon hearing the name, and as a result his voice was strained & unsure.

his trips to hq were always uneventful; he had long retired, so he wasn't there on work-related reasons (though, he did pass off any relevant tips he happened to come across if he found it worth reporting) but to visit ex-colleagues and, of course, his adopted father. a quick trip, in & out. it was hard to say he went 'unnoticed' because, with his size & the way he often dressed, he of course stood out everywhere he went no matter how low he hunched. still, as the years went on, his presence to most seemed like less of a novelty & he all but faded into the hustle & bustle of the commotion around him.

perhaps it was fitting that someone equally as eccentric would happen to approach him.

　　　　　❝ you aren't... a friend of his, are you? ❞

It wasn't often that the swordsman was called to the Marine Headquarters. Whatever it was, it ought to have been rather important to the higher-ups if they called for him personally. Others would have perhaps felt honoured to be called upon by the Admirals, though Mihawk really couldn't have cared less. If they really resorted to calling him specifically to get whatever business they sorted out, they truly were desperate and their own troops incompetent.

On his way out, Mihawk had crossed paths with somebody. Now normally he wasn't the type to stop and make small talk, though what struck him about the blond was the coat he wore. A feathery one, at that. He just so happened to know only one other person with such peculiar style, though in a much more eye-soringly vibrant pink shade.

❝ I don't suppose you know a certain Donquixote Doflamingo? ❞

@code01746 ♥'d

he’s still the same brat with the same smirk

~ oh fall