Tell it to the Marines
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Chapter 25
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"You're not allowed to leave."
Sitting on Sabo's lap, Riskua wraps her arms tighter around his shoulders, well aware her lips are pressed into a pout but she doesn't care in the slightest.
It's been two months since Ace left and Riskua honestly doesn't know how to she's managed to keep going. All three of them had just started crying as soon as they'd returned to the clearing and seen Ace Country stood there, now lacking its only occupant.
Well, she and Luffy had burst into tears, Sabo had allowed a single manly droplet to pass down his cheeks. Didn't change the fact he'd joined both herself and Luffy in invading the little country and spending the night there. Luffy had pressed his face into Ace's pillow and whimpered on how it smelt like Ace at the time, but now, after two months have passed, Ace Country doesn't hold his scent anymore.
It does, however, now proudly hold a bounty poster on the door.
When Ace's first bounty had come through via the News Coo they'd thrown a little party, one that even the bandits had joined in on.
Now, Ace's first bounty poster, a respectable ฿25,000,000, is slapped over the front door, carefully placed behind a sheet of glass to keep the rain off of it. The last the newspaper had to say on the Spade Pirates was that they'd been seen heading for the entrance to the Grand Line, and that it appears they'll soon be out of East Blue. They're all really proud of him.
But Riskua's been worried out of her head for the past two months, worried because they'd heard no word of him. She doesn't know if she can add worrying about Sabo to it too, not without a few months to recover at least.
"I'm seventeen tomorrow, I'm leaving," Sabo grumbles into her hair, one arm wrapped around her waist and the other reaching for the bag of crisps he'd been eating before she'd decided the only way to keep the blond here was to sit on him.
"Yeah, Sabo can stay and never leave until I set sail then he can be my navigator and the Revolutionary on my ship," Luffy declares, having thrown himself over Sabo's calves. Clearly her little brother shares her sentiments about the oldest among them leaving.
Tightening her hold, Riskua stubbornly presses her nose further into Sabo's collar and violently wishes that she'd thought to do this with Ace. Wha a horrendous, missed opportunity that'd been; it's been years since they've done a full on puppy-pile, but as the muscles under her arms remind her, Sabo's not a kid anymore, none of them are. Well, aside from Luffy.
"You're going to have to get up at some point."
"No we won't."
Sabo sighs, a long exhale that carries the joy he's feeling right out into the air around them.
"Yes you will, you'll have to pee."
He's got a good point there, Riskua begrudgingly acknowledges, before she recalls it is in fact two against one.
"Luffy can still sit on you."
"Luffy'll have to pee."
"We can take shifts sitting on you."
"Damn it, Riskua, I'll have to pee at some point. Actually, I do have to pee, get off me." Sabo shakes himself, and it is with great reluctance that both Riskua and Luffy crawl off of the other Sabkua occupant. The former noble hastily climbs to his feet, clearly realising this window of opportunity will be open for only a moment and he's quick to flee from the main room.
Flopping back onto the pile of cushions, Riskua gives a wheezy exhale as Luffy throws himself down upon her, curling into her side with his head on her shoulder.
"Is 'Skua gonna leave at seventeen too?" It barely even manages to register as a question, given how grumpily it is grumbled, but the redhead hears it anyway.
"Yeah... I really like the idea of the Revolutionary Army, so if they'll have me, I'll do two years with them before meeting up with you. You think I'm gonna let you tackle the Grand Line alone, do you?"
"Nope. You're my Nakama."
Riskua hums in agreement, stroking at Luffy's coarse hair. The texture must be a result of him being a rubber-man and it begs the question of if he could ever do anything with it in regards to his Devil Fruit powers. Something to look into later on.
"I'm your First Mate and it's my job to call you out on stupid ideas. I'll go along with them, 'cause you're the Captain, but I'll still try and be the voice of reason you seem to have lost."
Luffy tilts his head to a side, huge dark eyes peering up from where his cheek is pressing into her shoulder.
"I've lost my voice of reason?"
"Pretty sure you never had one, Luffy." Sabo drops onto the cushions after he's finished saying his piece and they don't hesitate to pull him into the huddle. Luffy's half sprawled across her, face still in her shoulder but now with one arm wrapped around Sabo's chest.
One hand tangled up in Luffy's hair, Riskua reaches out and ruffles Sabo's too. It doesn't feel right though, it still feels like there's a component missing and probably always will until they all meet up once again.
God Riskua misses Ace, how faux-grumpily he'd scowl over the little cuddle pile but how eagerly he'd join in the second he got any kind of hint that he was invited to do so. Maybe by the next time she sees him he'll just hug them without trying to keep up the tough guy act.
The thought brings a smile to her face and Riskua pushes Luffy off of her until she can sit up.
"ASLR meeting," Riskua declares, prompting both boys to turn to her with raised eyebrows.
"But Ace isn't here?"
"Then as the most sensible person present, I'll make his vote for him."
Muffling a chuckle under his breath, Sabo looks delighted by this turn of events, though Riskua doesn't have any idea why.
"I'm sure you'll vote just as he would," is his amused quip and Riskua just grins because they both know that ain't true. She's gonna use his vote with his best intentions at heart, that she would never not do. But vote something he'd personally agree to?
No chance in hell.
She knows what's good for her best friend, and that is-
"I say, from here on out, whenever we meet up with one another, we have a massive group hug with however many of us are there."
"Sounds good!"
"I agree." She hadn't exactly expected that from Sabo, and his devious little smile seems just a touch too smug, but she won't look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Oh, what do you know, Ace votes yes too."
Luffy laughs, delighted, the shoulder that Sabo's pressing against her shaking as he attempts to suppress his own laughter and Riskua grins. It doesn't feel right, doesn't feel complete without Ace, but that doesn't mean they can't be happy without him here.
"How do you even plan to find the Revolutionaries anyway, Sabo?"
"I was just going to set sail and head to areas they've been spotted in first, I've been trying to keep track of their movements, but the newspapers East Blue gets..." He shrugs and Riskua can only agree.
The newspapers they get out here in East Blue, it's always about what the richest nobles have been up to, the latest Marine triumph in the area (not that they have much to do here in sleepy East Blue) or even just how pleasant the weather is today. Boring.
"Vell, vith a plan like that, it's a good thing ve've come for you-buru!"
Riskua rolls forwards, coming up in a defensive stance with Haki building in her fists. They've moved in perfect tandem, Sabo snatching up Luffy and retreating back, not only to protect their younger brother, but to snatch up his pipe from where it rests against the wall as he goes, arming himself.
Their flawless teamwork is all Riskua gets to think about at that point as she finds herself distracted, because wow that is a big head. The proportions of some people are strange here on Dawn Island, but this is an extreme she's not seen before, not even on her tiny island in the Grand Line. And all that hair; it doesn't even attempt to disguise things, to make things more subtle.
This man (is that the right term? Riskua recognises him and she really doesn't want to offend this guy) is bold as brass and loud as thunder. He's also strode right into their little country like he belongs here.
"How did you finds us and what do you want," Sabo snaps as he walks forwards, eyes narrowed and shadowed by the brim of his hat. The grip he has on his pipe is white knuckled.
"Mmmfufufu! Dragon vas right to keep an eye on you, Sabo-boy. Once ve had your name, it vas easy enough to check the nobles' records. Our spies have heard of your plans to leave the island vhen you turn seventeen, so here ve are, buru!" Hands planted upon his hips, the purple haired man just beams at them.
Riskua risks a glance behind her and worryingly enough, Luffy looks entranced.
"Drago- you're with the Revolutionaries?" While Sabo's pipe doesn't lower from its defensive position, he does visibly brighten at the intruders words, to the point Riskua tightens her stance, just in case. It's infinitesimal, but there is that tiny chance this could all be an elaborate ruse.
"I am Emporio Ivankov, of the Revolutionary Army!"
"Your hair is amazing!" Of course Luffy couldn't keep quiet for long, hell it was a miracle he'd managed to not start rambling sooner. "Hey, do you poop?"
At this point, Sabo has given up trying to stem his laughter, shoulders shaking and one arm wrapped around his ribs to support himself. Riskua doesn't know whether to hide her face or smack her future captain upside the head, so instead settles for an exasperated sigh, doing her very best to ignore the way her cheeks burn with second hand embarrassment. Maybe someday she'll be over how incredibly childish Luffy can be and just accept it with a long suffering grin. Today is not that day though.
"I do poop," Ivankov acknowledges, his grin fearsome as he focuses on Luffy. "Onto business though, I am here for Sabo-boy, if you're still serious about joining the Revolutionaries."
"I am."
"No! Sabo's not allowed to leave and we're gonna sit on him to keep him here!"
"Oomph!"
Sabo hits floor as Luffy tackles him from behind, rubbery limbs winding all around his torso and legs until he's well and truly caught. It's not so much that Luffy's sitting on him as he's curled up all around him.
Riskua's lips twitch up at the corners, though she does make a slight attempt to still the expression. Only slight though.
"Vell, you can always come join too, Strawhat-boy."
"What?! No way! I'm gonna become Pirate King!"
This feels almost surreal. For so many years, Riskua has been here upon this island, this island where Sabo, Ace and Luffy stopped being characters; they became real people to her. But with the isolation of growing up on this island... watching them interact with such a larger than life character is a bit startling.
Ivankov has a really creepy smile though, it's even stranger to see it in person. With his large head, the age old tale of Alice in Wonderland leaks back into her mind. Certainly he's as absurd as the Red Queen could be (and hey, he's a queen too, so that has to count for something, right?) but he doesn't appear to have any desire to see heads roll. Thank the lord.
"Hey, Iva, join my crew!"
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Unsurprisingly, Ivankov turns down Luffy's offer for him to join his crew. He does however sit down to join in their farewell meal for Sabo, watching them interact with that incredibly large smile stretching across his face. His makeup is as heavy as it is daring and Riskua is torn somewhere between envy and sheer awe over just how much glorious, fantastically healthy hair he has.
"And you've vant to serve two years vith us before sailing with Strawhat-boy, Riskua-girl?"
"I believe in what you guys are doing, but I'm not so selfless as to give up my dream to do so, and I honestly believe I've got a better chance of achieving my dream with Luffy."
The boy in question full out beams at her, shimmying off of Sabo's back to come and plonk himself down in her lap instead, arms wrapping around her neck and cheek rubbing against her own.
Curling her own arms around Luffy's thin waist, Riskua peppers a kiss to the youngest male's nose, mirroring his grin.
"Of course, I have no problem sharing some of my Haki expertise with you in return."
"It's 'Skua's dream to be the World Expert on Haki!"
And though the bellow down her ear isn't really appreciated, it's nice that Luffy speaks with such conviction, as if he has absolutely no doubt in her ability to achieve her dream. She presses another kiss to his nose as thanks.
"Even someone vith a basic understand of Haki vould be velcome," Ivankov muses, rubbing his hands together with a grin. "As things are though, ve must make haste, Sabo-boy."
"So soon?"
Glancing towards the closed window shutters that shield them from the dark of night, Riskua does her best not to frown. She fails completely, can feel the emotion pulling at the corners of her mouth.
In her lap, Luffy pours just as fiercely, one arm shooting out to the blond who doesn't even try to resist, allowing Luffy to reel him in.
"Aw, guys," Sabo teases, wiggling one arm free of Luffy's grasp so he can throw it over and around her shoulders.
The hug's nice, Riskua has no problem with hugs. What she does have a problem with is one thirteen year old in her lap being joined by an approaching-six-feet-tall seventeen year old because together they are heavy.
With a huff, Riskua forces all her weight back, landing half-sprawled across the pillows and managing to shuffle Sabo and Luffy (with some Haki enchanted strength) to lay by her side instead of on her. No longer crushed by their combined weight, Riskua goes about squeezing the air from their lungs instead.
She didn't hug Ace nowhere near enough before he left; she's not about to make that same mistake with Sabo.
"Such friendship, it is so inspiring!" Ivankov's croon draws all their attention, though not one of them make any attempt to move from their tangled pile. "But this island's security has grown. Sabo-boy, ve vill have to travel vith disguises."
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The next three minutes are the most surreal of Riskua's life. Because seeing Luffy's Devil Fruit in action, and then seeing someone like Ivankov's Devil Fruit in action are two very different things. So very different.
Sabo's not even suppose to be a girl.
So why does he get bigger boobs than her?
Staring is not polite, but it's just so very difficult to lift her eyes away from the sight before her.
The sheer horror on Sabo's face more than makes up for awkward she feels for gawking.
"I thought you said disguises!" The blond snarls, whirling on Ivankov and grabbing a hold of him by the lapels of his burgundy one-piece.
The Revolutionary allows himself to be shaken back and forth, though the grin never slips from his face.
"Vhere vill you find a better disguise than one such as this? The Nobles vill be vatching for Sabo-boy-"
"Not Sabo-girl," Riskua finishes and really, it feels as if Ace is right there in the room, egging her on. God, he's going to be heartbroken when he learns he missed this.
"Or is it Sabine-girl?"
"Shut up," hisses Sabo, features twisted in an attempt at fury, which is ruined by the burning red of his cheeks. "You're not allowed to laugh".
It is around this time that Luffy feels like adding his two cents into the mix, proudly proclaiming, "Sabo makes a very pretty girl!"
And Riskua loses her shit.
She's clutching at her ribs, trying so very hard not to cry, but this is just so delicious she can feel the liquid weaving its way down her cheeks.
"You're both horrible and Ace is my favourite right now."
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It all ends with the two Revolutionaries, one freshly recruited and one perhaps a veteran member (as veteran a member as you can get of a newish organisation) walking out of their lives under the night's cover of darkness.
Both she and Luffy had peppered Sabo (Sabine) with kisses before he went, another thing they should have probably done with Ace.
Sat in the den of Sabkua, knowing that the blond will not be back, will perhaps never see this place again, has her heart clenching. They're just growing up, and she's sixteen now and will be spreading her wings in under a year, exploring the world and chasing her dream as best she can. Just until it's time for Luffy to set sail.
Luffy who's curled, against her side, arms wrapped thrice around her and a little pout on his lips.
"It's too quiet," he murmurs, snuggling closer. "It's too quiet and when I set sail I'm gonna have a good Nakama and they won't leave for anything." It's the whispered words of a child realising the realities upon the horizon, of how time and life changes people, that change is as indivertible as the sunrise.
But it's also the words of a young man, one who has recognised change will happen no matter what and so is determined to make sure that the only change that can occur is good change.
"Well, as soon as you set sail, Kinglet, I promise I won't leave. Not for anything. Got that?"
"Ushishi, okay, 'Skua."
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Ducking low under the swipe of a sword, Portgas D. Ace falls into a forwards roll, springing back up as soon as his feet are under him. His heart is pumping, yellow shirt sprinkled with dirt and hair windblown from his mad dash.
The Marines still seem to be swarming everywhere. This whole island is infested with them; not entirely a surprise given that it's under Marine control and thus one of the more dangerous stops throughout the first half of the Grand Line, but the opportunity had been there, just screaming at Ace he hadn't been able to resist.
Holding out both arms, the dark haired teen effortlessly catches the white box he'd thrown into the air before his hasty tuck and roll, leaping to the left to get out of range of the next marine's swing.
There's the cock of a gun somewhere behind him and Ace feels that ripple of terror pass down his spine as the bullet roars towards him.
It passes through him with a sizzle.
Ah, that's right, he's a logia now, it still slips him mind sometimes. Thankfully his crew are always there to remind him not to jump into the sea given that he's as much a hammer as Luffy now and will sink instantly, but there have been a few close calls.
"Portgas D. Ace! Surrender yourself and the stolen goods!" Ha, not likely.
Sprinting down the street, Ace shuffles the box about until it's tucked neatly under one arm, pressing up against his side while his other hand swings around towards the Marines.
He's not had his Devil Fruit for very long, having only just consumed the sunset orange flesh (and oh boy had that tasted like regret and decay) a mere two days before he'd entered the Grand Line. Certainly he doesn't have any signature attacks like Luffy'd been working on when he left. Hell, he doesn't even have any names for his attacks yet.
A rapid punch has a stream of fire licking through the air though, scattering the marines like cockroaches faced with the sun.
"Captain?!"
Snapping to attention, Ace flicks his gaze towards his sniper, who's gesturing vaguely towards the Wild Card.
Queenston, upon first glance, had reminded Ace nostalgically of Sabo, despite the difference in colouring it's just in the way they dress and act. That he's proven to be such a sure-shot had cemented it; the man belonged on Ace's crew and the freckle-faced teen hadn't taken no for an answer. Granted it's only taken four hours of seriously courting the man to entice him into going up, but Ace doesn't like to let his thoughts linger on that too much.
The point is, he expects Queenston to watch his back, trusts him to do so.
So when the top-hat adorned male gestures vaguely to Ace's left, he doesn't hesitate to swap hands and send a jet of flames racing in the direction indicated.
"Back to the Wild Card!" Ace bellows, throwing himself forwards to slide feet first through the legs of a particularly tall marine. The poor bastard flails, arms wind-milling uselessly before he makes an attempted grab for Ace.
As he's going past, Ace hooks his free hand around the guy's ankle and toppled him, springing up onto his feet as the momentum of his slide runs out.
"What was so important that you just had to steal it anyway, Captain?!"
"You'll see, Knave, you'll see."
Clutching his prize closer to his chest, Ace can't quite stop the near feral grin that overtakes his face. Because it really had seemed like the universe declared it the perfect opportunity and he just couldn't resist, even though he'd been trying to keep a low profile on this island.
Some things are more important than a low profile though, and this certainly falls under that category.
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Boots slapping against the worm dirt path, Ace feels his spirits lift even higher as he spots the Wild Card just where he left it.
The ship is aptly named, given that he's Ace, they're the Spade Pirates and he won this mighty vessel in a poker match. Not that the bastards he'd been up against had known he had the devil's luck at cards. Just about the only thing he was remarkably lucky with; Riskua had once mumbled how it had to come hand in hand with his name.
Personally, Ace is of the opinion it's because his father was the devil, but he knows enough about the redhead and her opinions on children taking after their parents to know she wouldn't have liked his input on that. It's one of those things they just will never agree on.
Riskua's so sure children are only what they make themselves to be, but that's too idealistic for Ace. He knows that's not true, he knows it like the sweat on his brow, the blood in his veins, the pounding in his heart.
Especially in his case.
He'll never try to argue his point though, because while he knows it's not the truth... he wants to believe the same thing, wants to be as damn sure of it as Riskua.
The world cracked his rose-tinted glasses long ago.
Back on topic though, the Wild Card is a beautiful ship, even better now that they've fixed the figurehead from that shitty bird into something as badass as a ship captained by Portgas D. Ace deserves. The cow skull reminds him of the bull one that hangs from his hat, and the flames around it is particularly epic. They've added flames to the Jolly Roger too, it seems the appropriate warning now that Ace is fire. People should know exactly who they're facing, after all. Then if they still tangle with him, even with all the clear signs that they should not, then it's on their own heads for doing so.
As he transitions into the docks, Ace swerves off course, nearly ending up taking a nose dive into the ocean in his haste. A quick blast of fire has the surface steaming but gives Ace enough momentum to pull back from a watery grave.
The bastard marine who he'd been forced to swiftly dodge grins at him, a nasty smile and teeth nothing like the perfect pearly whites he's grown use to seeing given he spent his youth with Riskua and Sabo, both of whom were quite clear on the importance of dental hygiene. He'd hated it at the time (not as much as he'd hated morning breath the one time after he'd got a whiff of Luffy's though) but he's now ever so thankful they pushed him to keep brushing his teeth. Sparkly white is so much better than the grim yellow he's become used to seeing other pirates sport.
"Portgas, you're un-"
Ace doesn't give the bastard chance to finish, darting forwards and slamming one booted foot into his meaty chest. All those years practicing for Geppo means Ace's leg strength is phenomenal even without any Haki enchantments, so the marine ends up launched straight into the ocean. Huh, if he's a Devil Fruit user then he's in trouble.
"Get the ship going, I'll hold them off!"
It's not like he won't be able to go join them when need be; while not as proficient at Geppo as Luffy, he's good enough to keep up with Riskua and Sabo, running a hundred meters or so to his ship won't be a problem. He might end up with a bit of cramp later, but that'll be all.
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His escape from Marine Island (or whatever the hell it's call, Ace doesn't know or care right now) could not have been made any better.
He'd thrown his stolen goods into the air, fighting off three marines all at once as it curved towards to ocean's surface.
The only thing that beats the marines surprised faces as he'd leapt after it was their blatant disbelief and horrified astonishment as he'd continued to dash through the air, landing safely upon the deck of the Wild Card. He'd even offered the landlocked bastards a cheeky wave as he roasted their only seaworthy ship with fist-full of fire.
Hmm, fist of fire... fire fist? Oh yeah, that sounds a hell of a lot better than Gum Gum Pistol.
That's the first time he's showcased Geppo, no doubt that'll end up on his wanted poster at some, especially if Shitty Gramps was telling the truth and it is some top secret Marine trick. Who knows, Ace isn't exactly gonna trust the guy that's been in so many damn fist fights; his brain's probably mush by now if it wasn't already.
"So, Captain, what was so important we had to risk venturing onto a marine controlled island?" Kingsley, his first mate and owner of a hat that is almost as great as his, asks.
With a cheerful grin, Ace places the white box upon the railings, happily flipping the lid off and into the ocean. It's a little squished, but it's undeniably-
"CAKE!?" The outraged shouts of his crew have Ace laughing.
It's iced beautifully, the same blue as the ocean on a sunny day, happy birthday artfully decorating the top in white. It's pure luck that the only words smudged are Captain What's-his-face's name, which have ended up looking like a cloud instead. It's perfect, Ace couldn't have done better himself.
"Misses my brother and best friend's birthday. When I heard there was a marine having a birthday, it was like the universe was handing me the perfect opportunity. Might as well celebrate my youngest brother's birthday in advance while I'm at it."
They stare, expressions bamboozled and Ace doesn't have the slightest idea why. It all makes perfect sense; he wanted cake, he saw the opportunity for cake, so he went and got cake. What was wrong with that?
"Is the log pose set for the next island yet?"
"Aye, Captain," a bewildered Blackjack, his trusty navigator, answers.
Ace watches him for a second, plucking up his hard earned cake absentmindedly.
"Then I'll be in my quarters. Hit me up if there are any problems."
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His quarters are small, but it's not like Ace needs a lot of room. He's not got a vast amount of possessions to store there, nor does he particularly need a lot of room to move about in. Just somewhere to store his clothes, the few little keepsakes from Sabo, Luffy and Riskua, and of course, a genuine bed. Because he's gone without one of those for so damn long due to living with the bandits and now that he has the opportunity to actually use one, to own one, he's sure as hell not going to miss out on that.
He misses those three idiots, and now that he's got the chance... he's going to celebrate them the only way he knows how. By stuffing his face with all the food he can get his hands on.
There's one candle in his room and it's in no way appropriate to be used upon a birthday cake, but it's all that he's got so Ace's gonna make do.
Sticking the candle down at the very corner of the cake (because he's sure as hell's not gonna waste cake on the chance wax melts onto the icing, putting it in the middle would fuck up more of the cake than the corner) Ace sticks out one pointer finger and holds it above the wick.
He'll have to get better with his powers; he has no plans to meet up with Luffy again and be fumbling along as much as the rubber-brat has for the first seven years with his powers.
A little bit of focus and his finger goes up in a blast of explosive flames, lighting the wick and nearly getting the ceiling too.
Hastily shaking out his hand, Ace flexes his finger when it forms once again, though a panicked glance around the room reveals no intruder to laugh at his lack of control.
"Well," he grunts, turning back to the cake, the only picture in his room visible just beyond it. It's the four of them, one of the very few group pictures they'd managed with some quick footwork and the timer of Riskua's camera. There's more photos then he'd like to admit of one of them tripping while running back to make sure they were still included in the photo.
"Happy birthday to you guys. I'd save you some cake, but something tells me it'd spoil before we meet again. Maybe next year."
So there was way more Ace in this chapter than there was suppose to be (He really does take after Garp in that, given the Hero of the Marines bullied his wya into more of a previous chapter than the 500 words I'd wanted to give him) And yeah, the names of his crew mates are all ones I've made up and are all related to playing cards in some way. (eg, Queenston has 'Queen' in it, because what we've seen of Ace's crew are all irritatingly male)
And yep, Riskua's gonna spend some time with the Revolutionaries. I've had that planned a while, since like chapter 10 or something. The sketch for the new cover has been done since then, and now it's fully complete and given that you all know where Riskua is going, I figured I could put it up now. Have a lookie; only if you want to avoid a spoiler for next chapter don't look too close?
Tsume
xxx