Free space / Festival


Shortly after Marineford, the Whitebeards disappeared temporarily and healed and focused on getting everything brought together again. The island they were at is an odd one, where clouds hung lower and a temple lay within the middle in said clouds. No one dared to go far from the ship, except one man who needed to walk and calm his thoughts.

They had sailed and buried the ones they had lost right after the battle, but he could tell no one was truly ready at the time. On one hand, Marco was aware of their captain's dwindling health, but he never wanted to think on it. Having lost their youngest brought a deeper pain in him as it only had been a week prior to losing Thatch that Ace came right out to kiss him into the wall of the hall. It only had Marco return it in vigor, but they never went farther than rough kisses that Ace would spring on the first commander and Marco figured it was enough as neither of them commented on it more. Then they stopped after Thatch, after Ace went after the traitor, and permanently after Ace had been met with lava—taking Marco's heart along with him.

Marco wondered the temple, it was pristine even as the stone looked to be standing for a long while. He merely walked along the paths through fountains and gardens, finding a peace for his aching chest and would rest by the largest fountain. Sitting on the ledge, he put hands to the ledge with fingers dipping along the water and let his head dip back. A sigh leaves him, trying to ignore the impending thoughts of what he needed to do back at the ship as the new captain. Shanks even commented how he would do well enough, but Marco knew it was for encouragement as the crew needed someone there to be standing in support for the others.

The sound of rustling feathers reaches Marco's ears and soon notices in his peripheral the presence of a decent size bird, the height of his chest it reached. A cooing brings him to lower his head and stare in confusion on the bird next to him. Fire red feathers ruffle and it was distinctly clear that this bird resembled a phoenix, something Marco never thought he would see in real life besides his own zoan. Hearing more cooing, it is a coaxing sound while the bird shifts closer with eyes looking up to him with smoldering dark pools. A dark patch lingers the top of his head and the rest of the feathers are a dark red and oranges with a yellow feather here and there.

"What are you doing here, yoi?" The question lingers with a smile, Marco moving a hand to lift and stroke along the back of the bird.

"Marco…" The voice festers in his head as the bird cooed and tilted its head. Blue eyes show surprise at the familiar voice and soon feathers shift to flap harshly with a small screech. "Don't give me that look, turkey!"

"Ace…?" The name leaves his lips in surprise before the bird bobbles lightly in a happy sway before bumping its head to a jaw.

"Cool, huh? I'm a birdie like you~!" A sing-song tune leaves the fire bird as it moves back with wings flapping once more and fire curls along the bird before it disappears. "Lady up top said I have to wait before I can change like you, but still cool." Dark eyes look to stunned blue and gives a soft cooing. "I can… I can be with the family again…" The words linger from the chatter made and Marco soon moves to face the bird more with fingers running along feathers before pulling it in. A squawk is made to go with the complaints, but talons merely grip to Marco's sides for stability.

"You stupid brat, come here." Marco's voice is strained as he pulls the other in for a firm embrace and gets cooing in return.

"The Maiden said I wasn't supposed to leave yet… So she made sure you had a companion for indefinitely." Ace mentions with head rubbing against the new appointed captain, feeling as the man began to shake with choked whimpers leaving him.

"Don't leave me again, yoi… Don't leave me again, Ace."

"I won't."