Whitebeard walked with heavy footsteps towards the beach, stolen food and drinks in his hand as he moved to sit down a smile on his face as he watched the scene before him. The group of pirates all moved to make room for their captain as he nodded towards one Marine moving towards Marco and another pacing and talking to a smiling Thatch.
"What did I miss?" He asked Jozu who tilted his head a hand on his chin. "I don't know, pops it all happened so fast." He asked himself before looking up at the tall man who munched on a stolen boars' leg. "Who's is that?" He asked as Whitebeard looked around then smiled "Mine." He stated taking another large bite as Jozu nodded. "uh huh." He responded.
Izo rolled his eyes "Come on guys you mean to tell me you weren't paying attention?" He asked looking at the pair who shook their heads 'no'.
Izo sighed and shook his head "I swear, alright look." He stated raising a freshly painted nail. "The tall one. That's Domino, the one that beat Marco and was damaged back on the island. Remember?" he asked as the two men nodded like little children. "Then the small one with big boobs? She's the one that used Thatch for the shower, and his money." He started as Whitebeard smiled "Right, Right, I like her." He stated.
Izo nodded and took a deep breath. "Okay, well Domino and Adaline are on this island to pick up booze for a party or something." She stated Whitebeard threw out his hands "A party!?" He exclaimed as Izo shook his head.
"We can't party with them, so stayed Focus pops. Stay with me." He stated quickly as Whitebeard frowned then nodded. "Right." Izo smiled "Okay so anyway, while they were getting more alcohol, they were gossiping about how Thatch's sex was so bad he ruined Adalines chance at sleeping with other men." He stated straight faced as Whitebeard shook his head sadly.
"Poor lass." He mumbled as Jozu nodded a somber aura around them.
Izo nodded. "Agreed, well apparently Domino knew that Marco, and Thatch were behind them the whole time so she goaded Adaline in to saying all the stuff about Thatch's terrible sex life and well, while that was going on some random bastard, whom I'm pretty sure Thatch killed, was aiming to shoot the two girls. Probably because Domino wore a Marine jacket on a pirate island." He stated with a shrug.
Whitebeard shook his head. "Rookie move." He mumbled as Izo nodded going wide eyed. "I know right? Anyway, apparently Domino knew she was going to get shot so instead of dodging the bullet like a normal person would, she took the bullet to stop it from hitting the pirates in front of her. Of course we now know that she had already planned for Marco to be, well the lovable over protective pineapple that we know him to be to heal her." He stopped to take a breath as more men now gathered around him. Including the marine Captain and Thatch.
"So she's a thinker, you wouldn't know that from our past experiences." Whitebeard awed then mumbled to himself as Izo held out his hand. "Eh, debatable, but anyway so they get back here and Adaline who was already mad that Domino had once again gotten hurt, which I think Marco is right this is a clear pattern, and maybe we should stay away from it. Just saying." He took another breath to some murmurs.
"Anyway, Adaline was now mad because Thatch heard everything and like the dumb fool he his was well, Thatch. Making her more mad. Because who can blame her he's Thatch?" He asked as Whitebeard nodded. "It is understandable." He murmured to Jozu's knowing nod.
"Then this snail rang. And suddenly they were fighting." Izo shouted using arm motions as the group pulled back in surprise.
"Fist's were flying Marco was yelling Thatch was a dumb fool, Domino was trying to spear Adaline and then Adaline straight up pulled out a gun to her head and forced her to give away all of the good booze that apparently Domino hoards. Which is Another red flag!" He stated as Whitebeard thought about this new turn of events.
"What's wrong with hoarding booze?" He asked as the group gave him a unison look of 'seriously?' before Izo rolled his eyes. "Anyway the good thing is she talked her men in to giving us some before they drank all of it as soon as she gave them the code. But that's about it." He stated thoughtfully finally taking a decent breath since he started his rant.
"Don't forget the part were Domino straight up kissed Marco to spite me!" A feminine voice stated her arms crossed as the group jumped.
"AHH!" they screamed before closing the circle once more. "Why are you here?!" Izo asked Adaline who gave a light smile leaning forward her chest spilling slightly.
"My, commanding officer ran off with your man, and Thatch is passed out from blood loss. I have nothing better to do." She hummed slightly.
Jozu looked away from the spilling bust of the woman before covering his face. "I thought you said Marco's marine was the sadist." He whispered as Izo too looked away whispering back to the group.
"I did, but remember Marco said they both are.." He started before they all pulled away and looked at the petite red head who was now looking towards a bleeding Thatch a smile on her face. The group looked back at each other and nodded."I think she's worse." Jozu stated sternly. "Yeah worse. Way worse." They mumbled their agreements.
Domino walked between the trees noticing Marco trail behind her arms crossed. "Thank you, Marco. Really." She smiled lightly before he shook his head "You can thank me by not doing it again-yoi." He stated sternly reaching for her face and holding her cheek softly.
She closed her eyes and leaned into his soft and warm touch before pulling away instead moving to squeeze his hand and let go. He looked between her face and then her stance as she moved to lean against a palm tree that grew from the sand.
"I won't." She stated coldly as Marco rolled his eyes "You're lying-yoi." He stated sternly. He didn't know who or what he was angry at. Was it himself for being so worried about the woman before him or was it the woman who did this to herself?
He was constantly on edge wondering when he would hear of her again. This was not who he was. Even if he didn't show it he could feel it tiring him. This constant weight over his head, that he shouldn't have in the first place.
Domino shook her head and looked away from his half lidded gave. "Whats the point of telling you if you already know?" She asked him before turning her eyes from the ocean's blues to his. It was a near match and just as mesmerizing.
"I mean, I can't tell you I won't get hurt." She scoffed staring down at his chest before looking down towards the sand. "I can't tell you that I'll even try not to get hurt because, in a strange way if it's a choice between myself or anyone else, I'd rather it be me?" She asked herself before she looked up at him and swallowed a lump in her throat shaking her head.
"I don't need a lecture or anything I already made up my mind." She stated again trying to make sure Marco couldn't get a word in. Marco gave her stern look stepping forward.
"There's a difference between being selfless, and a death wish-yoi." He stated looking at her reaching for her hand. She wanted to pull away, she wanted to be stubborn, but she knew this much.
What she said about dying, she was right. At any moment she could, and everyone knows she's tried. So why waste time pulling away from him when they both knew she would still move towards him in the end.
"They can be the same if I save people along the way." She stated lightly looking up at his blues gazing at her as he moved to brush a hair out of her face.
"But I don't want you to-yoi." He whispered softly sighing then ran his hand over his face pulling back at Domino's stern look. They both knew what would happen if they were close. The same thing that's already happened. He would hold her in his arms and then she would lean into him and her warmth against his would stop the very world from spinning once more as it has before.
This was starting to become a familiar pattern that he both welcomed and hated.
"Careful Phoenix." She cooed looking down at the sand then took her black boot and pushed the tip in the sand and drawing a line between the two and looked back up at him.
"You're about to cross a big line." She stated her cold voice both warning him and pleading. He shook his head and lifted his foot to cross it before he stopped. She watched as he pulled his sandal back, his anklet always interesting to look at.
She raised an eyebrow and nodded. "I know." She stated as he looked up and then away from her. His natural relaxed face showing how conflicted he felt.
"I worry about you marine-yoi." He stated sternly pushing himself across the line in the sand to Domino's wide eyes. Did she really think he would be scared to cross such thing's?
Marco internally scoffed, He was a pirate, a playful one sure. But a pirate none the less. His life was bound by the lines he crossed to be free and he would be damned if the woman he cared about stood there and drew one in front of him. He had now figured out what it was that drew him so close to her.
She had not once admonished him for his choices. She didn't expect anything less of him because he was a pirate. In fact, she silently depended on him to heal her. Both times she's needed it.
Now was it because he cared about her or she knew he couldn't pass up an injured person? He didn't know. But still it stood that even though he displayed his mark openly she didn't dare look away. Just as she had asked him when he saw hers.
That's what hit him. She trusted him from the beginning she was a calculating person even when she didn't show it she knew from the beginning what would happen. Only now, as he looked down at her auburn hair glowing in the sunlight that shown through the palm leaves, did he have the overwhelming feeling of losing their imaginary battle.
She knew from the very beginning.
"I guess the feelings mutual huh?" She giggled before shaking her head and looking back at him his hand on his waist as he stood relaxed. She was lost in her own thoughts. Did she just lose this imaginary contest? Was she the one that was ultimately tricked? The look on his face only proved it.
What she lost was expecting him to stay behind a line she would have stepped over if he hadn't. Of course she had no idea of what Marcos face really meant. She wasn't a mind reader like he was. She could only assume that he was planning out everything from the beginning of this meeting. And she fell for everything he did.
"I lost," She mumbled moving to hold him now that he moved to embrace her carefully, so he didn't jostle her shoulder.
He chuckled taking a second to accept her warmth. Deciding to go along with it. "You did." He stated before pulling away and looking down at her the scar across her nose bringing a smile to his face. Well the story brought the smile.
The scar itself angered him like the other ones. Because she would have to go through such pain. But once again he silenced himself. She didn't seem ashamed so he wouldn't bring them to be something to be ashamed for.
He leaned his head against hers their mouths just inches apart. Both could feel the heat in their bodies grow as their breathing began to sync.
"Marco." She softly whispered. How she said his name drove him wild, her smile drove him mad, and her apparent death wish drove him crazy, but how she felt against him like this was something that was above any named emotion, something that he would never find repetitive.
"Hmm." He responded holding her. Both of their heads touching at one spot before she tried to pull away and looked up at his arched eyebrows without smiling at how crazy they were. Or how crazy his blond hair just formed like that or how he was someone who called her out on her lies. Or how she instantly sailed to him on a whim.
It was something maddening, he was stronger than her, someone she would have to fight to overcome even after she had trained so hard to try and get on his level. But he also held her like no one else had ever before. When she was close to him it was like suddenly, she could breath after holding a breath she never knew she had.
Domino pulled away bringing him back to reality. "Us, being worried, it's not good is it?" She asked him looking up as he took in a deep breath.
"It can be-yoi." He smiled as she gave a weak smile back. "How? How can this be?" She asked him. Leaving her cold and calm voice behind and a simpler more girlish like one come through.
"I go wherever my orders they can take, days or years." She started then looked up with a confused smile.
"Do you think you can really hold on to that worry for years at a time?" She asked him raising an eyebrow. "Even if with the snail, and the book will it be enough?" She ran her hand through her hair before hissing at her shoulder. "hah, shit." She mumbled as it was Marco's turn to look away.
He felt his legs wobbling at the weight his heart held so instead moved to sit down his legs crossed. He held out his arm to pull Domino down with him as she followed moving to lean on him slightly. He took in a deep breath thinking about her question.
"No-yoi." He spoke clearly as Domino rolled her eyes still leaning against him, maybe this back and forth would seem as if they were arguing but his tone didn't seem angry in fact it was luring to her.
"So it does drive you crazy?" She asked him with a hopeful smile as Marco closed his eye and pinched his nose before moving his hand back towards her. Making sure he held her close.
"You are a troublesome marine for me yes-yoi." He stated before looking down. "But, You also amaze me-yoi." He whispered moving to sit straighter pulling in his leg in a relaxed position so Domino could lean against him more.
"You don't need to tell me. I know." She chirped as he rolled his eyes. "You're lying-yoi." He stated with a smile. In fact he was happy to tell her the truth once more.
She nodded then threw up her arms. "Of course I am! Whats the point of trying to lie when you already know the truth." She grumbled as he gave her a victorious smile.
She looked up at him then towards the waves over the beach. Trying not to smile. So many things whirled through her head but even as they did the sound of Marco's heartbeat calmed her and this made her mad.
She brought her glance back towards him to see his eyes were already on her. "Am I really troublesome?" She huffed, her eyes narrowing as Marco pulled back raising an eyebrow.
"What?" He asked her. Yes she bothered him, it was very clear she was to caring and to willing to throw herself on a blade. Not only that but she made enemies just as easily as his brothers. Plus she was a marine. All these things bothered him. But what bothered him most was how little he cared for these things compared to how she captivated him.
Domino looked at him almost reading him like a book and nodded. "My bothering you bothers you?" She asked him as he gave her a shocked face before looking away. He never hid himself from her, now that he thought about it, but it was frightening how quickly she hit that nerve.
She nodded. "Maybe.." She stopped thinking on what she was going to say. How was she going to tell him that maybe they should just settle with being ships passing by each other? She knew she had giving him everything he would need to steal her away, her snail, her rose, even a little part of her soul. But still she would never leave the marines. So why do this? But why fight it as well?
Marco looked down at her wondering where she was going with the tone in her voice.
"Are there other woman?" She asked him out of nowhere blurting out a nervous thought as he looked taken back.
"Should there be-yoi?" He asked her unfazed by how girlish she sounded. Could she be really intrigued or was there conversation on the verge of going somewhere neither wanted to indulge. Looking at the nervous smile on her face he assumed it was the later reason and watched as she continued down a different path.
"I mean? I don't have other guys cause really no time. But you with other woman, maybe that would get me off your mind and I wouldn't be some bothersome." She hummed.
Marco rolled his eyes looking around noticing a light pink dress in the distance and made a face.
"Even that wouldn't get you out of my head-yoi." He stated looking at Domino who gave a light smile. He relished in how peaceful the woman looked. "Besides, I thought our charm was from the unspoken agreement we have-yoi?" He asked her with a smirk pulling her into his chest.
Domino let out a small yelp as she pulled her chest away from him so she could look at him. His lips almost even with hers in this position. "What is it?" She whispered wrapping her arms around his neck and locking her fingers in his hair. Her knees in the sand and her voice eager.
He smirked leaning to close the gap and claiming her lips in a smooth motion. He felt as her body began to move in with his, the heat between them rising. But before he could once again get lost she pushed him back smiling and taking in a deep breath.
Marco looked down at the marine and gave a light chuckle moving some falling hair behind her ear. "If I say it then it loses it's charm-yoi." He stated smugly.
Domino rolled her eyes and gave a light smile. "Well, I guess if you put it that way." She mumbled before looking up at him and groaning pulling away. "God damn it, I'm a terrible marine." She stated shaking her head in her hands.
Marco raised an eyebrow. "Probably-yoi. You should be a pirate." He gave a teasing smile as she rolled her eyes and lightly pushed him away.
"Please, I'd be an even worse one." She stated with a smile as Marco thought about it before smiling to himself and looking down at how she now moved to lay on him her smile wide and wholesome.
"Probably-yoi." He laughed again looking at her nose and her rolling her eyes before giggling along with him.
However in their moment of bliss both had failed to realize that even though they were behind some thin palm trees this did not shield their happiness from the beach that watched them with wide smiles. Up until now the group had been placing bets on what was going to happen and as it was a smug Adaline stood above the crossed legged men collecting money from them with a smile; counting it to herself as well.
Thatch looked down at the woman who plopped down happily next to him. "How did you call it?" He asked. Before looking back at the two lost in conversation in the distance.
"I was sure she was going to just up and leave." He stated looking at Adaline who folded the money and pulled down her shirt to place the cash in-between her bra before removing her hand at the blushes of the group before her.
"HA, Domino's never once up and left anything in her life. It's both her greatest quality and weakness." Adaline smiled leaning forward as Thatch looked towards the men who blushed at her chest spilling over and threw his hands over the woman.
"PERVS!" He shouted as Adaline raised a perfectly made up eyebrow. "You should know." She stated as he looked down. "Hey well that's. That's not the same." He murmured. "You're my angel not theirs." He looked down towards the sand sheepishly.
Adaline looked away blushing at how cute he seemed before patting him on the back for the first time through this interaction touching the slouching pompadoured man. He stiffened at her touch and looked at her as she stayed looking away.
Izo sighed putting up his coin purse. "I don't think it's fair, you had insider information." He mumbled as Adaline looked back at the group.
"I had? What about all of you? Don't you like live with the man?" She asked her light voice losing its authoritative tone. Whitebeard rubbed his head "Marco's a different breed of man." He stated "It can be hard to bet on his emotions." He smiled.
Adaline rolled her eyes "Yeah but you are like his Pop's or whatever shouldn't you a least have sensed what was going to happen?" She asked a very honest question. Jozu raised an eyebrow and looked up at his father.
"She's got a point Pops, don't you think you should have bet with her?" He asked as Whitebeard gave a guilty smile. "I knew what he was going to do, but I couldn't go against such a beautiful woman." He stated sheepishly.
"It was my money you bet with!" Jozu shouted as the others groaned "Oh, pops."
Thatch nodded "See, I knew someone here had class." He then opened his eyes and looked towards the tall man his hair now receding a little with age. "Hey whoa whoa whoa." He started as Adaline giggled and covered her smile.
"You can't start that again. Not with her you won't." He shouted clearly talking about a moment that was known only between the Whitebeards.
"Come on Thatch you can't be serious?" Adaline asked unknowing of Whitebeards tendency to steal Thatch's woman just for the fun of it.
Thatch stood up pointing towards Whitebeard "I don't like were this is going, Pops." He started as Whitebeard gave him a confused look. "I'm sorry son. She's not beautiful." He stated looking away as Thatch went wide eyed.
"How dare you disgrace the angel like that!" He shouted to laughter as Adaline watched him with amusement.
However a quick hand moving down to her breasts caused her to jump. She instinctively punched outwards and went wide eyed as Domino moved her head away from the punch and pulled the wad of cash from her bra and gave her a small glance.
"You picked gambling back up?" She asked while thumbing through the cash and counting it before splitting it in half.
Adaline sighed and shook her head. "You could of like asked. You know." She stated as the crowd now eased at the two woman and watched as Marco walked over to sit next to Whitebeard. The groups smiles on him. He ignored the wiggling eyebrows and quickly snatched away a bottle from his father who tried to take it back from him.
Domino nodded. "Yeah, but. Didn't wanna bother you. You looked so cute." She hummed as Adaline looked away blushing. "I do not, besides I didn't pick gambling up again. I just made a a small bet." She murmured looking down as Domino raised an eyebrow and handed her the bigger pile of cash as Adaline kept her head down.
"Oh yeah? Cause it looks like gambling." She stated walking over to hand Marco half of her own cash. To everyone's wide eyes. Adaline jumped up. "You can't give him that girl are you crazy?" She shouted.
Domino leaned down and smiled as he took the cash and placed it in his vest pocket as she stood up and shrugged "I'm sure we've already covered this last time you bet on me." She stated moving her collar to place her money in her own sports bra. "If the bets about me then I should get a cut." She stated as Adaline rolled her eyes.
"Whats the point of gambling if you're money is stolen." She mumbled now pouting. She then looked up at Thatch pouting. "She stole my money." She whimpered. Thatch looked at the hurt Adaline and looked at Domino. "You made her sad?" He stated.
Domino sent a sharp glare towards Adaline, before shrugging and shaking her head. "She's gonna steal your money dude." She stated as Adaline broke her pout and threw her arms down in a huff. "Damn it Dom! If you can drink, I can take their money!" She stated.
Domino held out her hands "I can't drink there's no booze! Your dudes drank it all!" She stated playfully. Adaline tried to look away but sighed rubbing her temples. "Why is it when YOUR crew does something bad they're my men but when its good its ours?" She asked.
Domino smiled moving to sit down next to her looking towards the sea.
"Because I refuse, to take credit for your bad habits, that you taught them. I mean come on be a marine." She stated straightening her back and smiling clearly making fun of the very group she lived for.
Adaline looked over at the relaxing Domino, her eyes a fire with anger before she saw Domino's knowing smile and sighed leaning between her own legs.
"I swear girl." She mumbled as Domino nodded "I do to." She teased.
Adaline looked towards the horizon ignoring the pirates even though Thatch did try to slide into their line of sight. He wanted to ask what the hell was happening, but Adaline calmly pushed him out of her frame of view as he once again appeared.
"Where's the ship? It should be here by now." She asked looking over at Domino who nodded. "Dunno." She mumbled.
Adaline once again pushed Thatch out of the way. "You're worried?" She asked as the group noticed how Domino's demeanor changed. Now she sat with her knees up her arms laying over them with her wrists twisting lightly.
"Nah, not really." She stated. Marco watched her closely. He wanted to call out her lie. Yet he knew better, she was believable enough to fool Adaline who once again pushed the leaning Thatch out of the way.
"I'm just sobering up is all." Domino mumbled running her hand through her hair and looking up at the group who went wide eyed. Even Marco was a little taken back. He hadn't noticed that she was drunk. But now that he thought about it her lips did taste sweeter.
Adaline sighed and looking up at the sun that was still high in the sky signaling it was about 3 or so. "Damn girl, you're right. It's been like what 4 hours since the last case?" She asked as Domino nodded lightly with a smile.
"This sucks." She mumbled as Marco leaned in. "You've been drunk this whole time-yoi?" He asked. As Domino held out her hand. "Mostly. I'm glad too because if I was sober when I got shot it would have been a different story. cause, In case you haven't noticed I hate pain." She stated as Marco raised an eyebrow beginning to speak as she held out her hand stopping the words she knew he was going to say. "Physical. Not pleasure, Birdy." She stated to his smug shrug.
Adaline sighed "See this is why I said I could gamble. Because you're the real reason we had to get another case. You already drank the last 2." She crossed her arms and looked towards the group who watched Domino hold her head down and groan.
Thatch finally sat in front of Adaline "Wait a second, she's a lush and you gamble?". He then crossed his arms. "Are you guys even marines?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
Adaline rolled her eyes. "Thatch, can I play with your deck or what?" She asked him with her normal commanding voice.
Thatch held out his hand beginning to speak a smile across his face before a cold voice rang out. "Don't" Domino nearly growled as Thatch looked between the crowd then nodded "Sure, um. Let me get my cards." He mumbled turning around from the two women to make a score motion as the men nodded.
"I'm in love." He mouthed before rushing off.
Domino groaned coming off her high and dropped her head lower the pain in her shoulder now beginning to throb. "Flipping fuck." She mumbled as Marco watched her surprised. She was truthful when she said she was becoming increasingly sober. However, this was now an act to keep Adaline from knowing she was worried about her men.
"Light weight-yoi." He mumbled as Domino held up her middle finger with a smile before Adaline slapped her hand down.
"Don't be like that." She growled as Domino pouted then stuck out her tongue only to get smacked in the face to a loud roar of 'O's.
Domino felt Adaline's scarlet red nails contact her face and recoiled looking towards the sea and smiled jumping up grabbing Adaline by the collar to jar the woman backwards.
"Hey, booze!" She cheered as Adaline quickly recovered and dusted herself off both girls personalities changing.
Adaline rolled her eyes. "Not booze, your men!" She emphasized as Domino nodded "Yeah, yeah, that too. But." She smiled giving Adaline a goofy smile before looking back at the men who watched the two with confused glances.
She frowned as she saw Marco's lazy glance and then quickly looked away with a 'tck'. "Let's just go." She mumbled her voice growing cold.
Adaline looked up towards the Moby Dick. "But Thatch, isn't back yet, I should say goodbye right?." She mumbled as Domino stopped from her quick pace away from the red headed model.
"Yeah, well I'll see you back on the ship. If I look back, I'll stay." She stated harshly before walking off. "See you birdy!" She waved as she walked off. Marco gave her a light salute a smile on his face as Adaline raised an eyebrow.
"Damn, I can honestly say anyone who does that." She pointed towards Domino who grew vines from the beach towards the ship in the distance and began walking on them like a bridge. "Is a monster." She stated shaking her head and looking back.
Marco nodded "The other guy with the sharp face said the same thing-yoi." He stated as Adaline nodded. "Like, no, yeah just no." She stuttered before she blinked and looked back again.
"Like wow." She whispered before looking up to still see no Thatch in sight. Adaline thought to herself and nodded. "Actually, I just realized that I sent a sober Dom towards the drunk marines." She paused looking between the whale shaped ship with no sign of Thatch and then Domino who was nearly at the Marine Battleship in the background.
"That is really bad. I need to go." She mumbled then looked up towards the tower of a man holding Marco's stolen bottle.
"Thank you, Whitebeard sir. for your money and letting us stay again really we are grateful." She tilted her head with a polite smile and turned quickly on her heels.
Izo held out his hand stopping her. "You're not going to say bye to the poor fool?" He asked. Adaline smiled while biting her lip then turned around walking off and jogging lightly calling out to Domino before catching up to her.
The Whitebeards watched in silence as the Marine ship pulled away with hollers and cheers. They were silently watching the ship sail away when Thatch appeared once more cards in hand with a smile on his face. He looked around happily before frowning.
"They left?" He asked his voice heartbreaking and body dropping in the sand as he began to shuffle the cards in his hand.
Izo blinked and threw his hands up. "Are we just going to ignore ALL of these red flags?"
"Sure." Whitebeard who reached for someone's wallet.
"Yes-yoi." Marco who leaned into the circle watching Thatch while swatting away Whitebeards thieving hand.
"Yeah." Thatch who sat down and began dealing.
Izo looked between them and nodded "Oh, Okay." He asked himself before shaking his head. "Okay."