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Marco looked at everyone, as they had their usual meeting now. This was the meeting Pops had with him and the High Lords, which they had every other week. As it was growing to an end, Marco gave a breath. "Before everyone leaves. We are going to try and change a sin, yoi." Marco saw everyone blinking, beside Pops and Thatch, who knew this. Izou spoke first. "Which sin? I mean… can we even do that?" Marco took a breath. "We are at least going to try. And it is the sin of suicide, yoi." Haruta blinked. "But… that is there so those trying to escape will be held accountable. Why would we change that?" Marco sighed. "Because the world has changed. Yes, there are still those who try to escape accountability, but then there are some who suffer so bad, that they see no other way, yoi. They know it is a sin, they know they will end up in Hell, but that is better than being alive." Curiel frowned. "Are you… serious?" Marco nodded. "Yes. Many live in poverty, or are victims of others, or have lost everything, yoi. They see no other way."

Marco saw them taking this in, before Rakuyo spoke. "And they know they will end up here?" Marco nodded. "Yes. And yet, it is better in their mind, as they no longer live in constant emotional pain, yoi. Being tortured daily here sounds better than being alive." Namur spoke next. "How do you know this? I mean, the souls lie here, wanting to get out." Marco thought for a second, before he decided what to do for now. "For now, we work and see if we can find more standing ground, yoi. And I promise I will update everyone more in the next meeting, before the big meeting, where we will bring this up. Okay?" Everyone nodded, Haruta speaking. "Why not just tell us now?" Marco sighed. "I have my reasons, okay?" Everyone nodded, before the meeting ended.

A few did try and ask more, but he wouldn't share he knew this from Ace, not right now. He would later. Hopefully, they would find something else to fight for them and not have to tell everyone about Ace. But then again, he had a feeling he would need to. But he would try and find something else to use. Then the meeting was over, and as everyone left to do their things, Thatch headed to him. "You didn't tell about Ace?" Marco nodded. "I know. But Ace don't want others to know, yoi. Hopefully, they can find something else we can use." Thatch nodded. "I hope so as well, but I doubt it." Marco sighed. "I do too, but I hope." Thatch nodded. "Yeah… But now I need to head to the kitchen and meet Ace so we can prepare for the picnic! You are coming too, right?"

Marco nodded. "Yes, I am. Shanks also have this idea that we hate him and shuns him, yoi. Do you know anything about that?" Thatch shook his head. "No. But Ace mentioned it yesterday, when he told about the picnic. I mean, Shanks has never approached us either, he just kept to himself." Marco nodded. "I know. But we have always been civil with him too, yoi. Maybe the picnic will give some answer." Thatch nodded. "I hope so. And Ace seems to really like him as well." Marco nodded. "I know. And I am glad he is as well, yoi. I want Ace to feel welcomed." Thatch nodded. "Yeah, I agree."

Thatch then went to the kitchen and Marco went and did a few things, before he went and met up with Ace and Thatch, before a few others joined them, which was Pops, Namur, Haruta, and Izou. They had all been invited, as well as the rest, but the others had said no, for different reasons, like work or being busy. They then headed to the tree by the pit, and set everything up, as there was still half an hour left before the clock was 4. As everything was set up, they all sat down and spoke amongst themselves, many talking about the meeting and that they wanted to change the suicide sin. But he also saw Ace was uncomfortable. He had also told Ace they didn't know yet, besides from Thatch and Pops.

When it was almost 4, Ace stood up suddenly and ran a bit to the side and he saw Shanks had appeared, and Ace ran to meet him. Ace then walked with Shanks towards them, and when they were close, Ace smiled, before he looked at Shanks. "Do you know everyone?" Shanks hummed. "I have worked with them, yes." Ace nodded. "Oh, okay. But anyhow. This is Whitebeard, the king. Marco, the prince, and the High Lords Namur, Haruta, and Izou." Ace said as he motioned to them, and they all offered a smile to Shanks, before Ace motioned to Shanks. "And this is Shanks!"

They all gave a polite hello, before Ace moved to sit down on the blanket they had, and patted a pillow beside him. "Come sit!" Shanks blinked. "Sit?" Ace nodded. "Yeah! So we can start the picnic properly!" Shanks blinked. "I usually don't sit down." Ace blinked. "Oh, right. You also stand on the boat. Then you really need to sit down and relax and get a break from standing." Shanks nodded and slowly moved to sit down, looking like he felt out of place. Which he got. Shanks almost never left his boat or work, and never had he interacted with them outside work. But they would try and get to know him better.

Marco also felt unsure about Shanks. He was unsure if Shanks would ultimately use Ace, as Ace was prince. He had a lot of power over Hell, and that Shanks might just act nice and then try to influence Ace and get his will, that he had some ulterior motive. He had never interacted with Shanks a lot, just when he needed to use the boat, which was very rare, and Shanks never spoke much either.

As the picnic started, they all started speaking, beside Shanks, and Ace seemed to do his best to include Shanks in the conversations he had. Shanks had never struck him as an unsure guy, but right now, he looked as out of place as one could be. But as Shanks spoke with Ace, and when Ace smiled or laughed, he saw Shanks smiling as well. Seeming to be glad to see Ace smiling.

Shanks mostly stayed silent, but Ace did converse with him as well, and Shanks seemed to listen to what they said when he wasn't speaking. Then a thought hit him. Shanks looked out of place, since they never had interacted outside of work, and Shanks almost always worked. Marco was unsure if he even slept. Had they, accidentally, shunned Shanks? He hoped not, but he didn't want to bring it up right now in front of everyone either. He would try and set up a meeting with Shanks and talk with him.

They then spoke on, and Izou mentioned the flowers Shanks had shown Ace, telling that Curiel had showed them to her, and Shanks said they thrived on the souls in the river and was glad Ace saw the beauty in them. Ace then mentioned that he really liked flowers and such, which had Shanks hum as he looked at Ace. "Why don't you start a garden?" Ace blinked, before he shrugged. "I don't think I'm that good with flowers and such. I wouldn't know where to have it." Shanks nodded, accepting that. But it got Marco's mind thinking. The conversations then went on.

As it went on, Namur and Haruta spoke a bit amongst themselves about the meeting, especially about the last part about them wanting to change a sin. Ace did look a bit uncomfortable with that, but Marco had told Ace they didn't know it was because of him. The only ones who knew were Thatch, Pops, and Marco. But the topic changed quickly, before they chatted on. After a bit, Shanks hummed and said he should get going, which had Ace nod and look at him with a smile. "Okay. Thanks for coming, though. I will try and visit you tomorrow." Shanks nodded and smiled. "I would like that. Have a good day." They all have a courtesy nod, before Shanks left.

As Shanks was gone, Ace looked at them. "That went fine. Right?" Everyone nodded, Pops speaking. "It did. He seems nice." Ace nodded. "And he really is." They then sat a bit more, before they packed up and left back to the house. After a bit, Marco did go to Pops' office and spoke with the man, about that they maybe have accidentally shunned Shanks, which made Pops think. "Maybe we have. How should we fix it?" Marco hummed. "I am thinking of calling him into a meeting, yoi. And try and get to the bottom of this." Pops nodded. "Sounds good. When?" Marco gave a breath. "I would like to as soon as possible, but I am scared it might come off as wrong as we just had our first non-work interaction, yoi. So maybe in a small bit." Pops nodded. "Sounds good. You do when you feel it fits." Marco nodded and said he would, before he left.

He then did a few things, before evening came and he headed to his room where Ace was getting ready for bed, and Marco did as well. When they were lying in bed, Ace hummed. "That picnic went fine, right?" Marco nodded. "It did, yoi. Shanks seems very nice." Ace nodded and seemed glad it had gone fine. Marco then moved his hand to Ace's face and moved a few strands of hair out of his face. "I am glad you and Shanks are friends, yoi." Ace nodded. "I am too. I really like him. He's a good friend." Marco was glad on Ace's behalf, that he was getting accustomed to being in Hell, which was good. They then went to sleep.

-x-

Ace moved towards the river around noon, and wanted by the river for a couple minutes, before Shanks appeared and Ace got onto the boat as he said hi, and when he sat down, he looked at Shanks. "Also, could we visit that tree that had those gear flowers?" Shanks blinked. "Gears?" Ace blinked, before he got Shanks most likely hadn't been on Earth before, and did his best to explain how it looked, which had Shanks nod and they started to head that way, and when Shanks asked why that one again, Ace said it was since he wanted to give the one he had to his friend, and he would still like to have a full set, which Shanks got.

After a small bit, Ace looked at Shanks. "Did you like the picnic?" Shanks hummed. "It was… new." Ace nodded. "I get that. I'm sorry if you didn't like it." Shanks shook his head. "No, it is fine. It was a bit nice as well, but honestly, I feel most comfortable in my boat." Ace nodded. "I get that. This is like your safe place. You didn't need to come if you didn't feel comfortable coming. I don't want you to be uncomfortable." Shanks smiled at him. "You are such a kind soul, Ace. It wasn't so bad. I should probably get off my boat more." Ace hummed. "I mean, why leave your safe place?" Shanks hummed. "Maybe you're right. But I should maybe try and go around a bit more, not just row around." Ace nodded. "But only if you want to. If you want, we can go on a walk one day?" Shanks smiled. "I would like that maybe." Ace nodded and felt glad. They then spoke a bit and just enjoyed each other's company.

After a bit, Shanks looked at him. "Ace, can I ask a question?" Ace looked at him, before Ace nodded and Shanks continued. "During the… picnic, some of the others spoke about changing a sin. The sin of suicide. What made them decide to try that?" Ace looked down and felt unsure, before he slowly spoke. "Um… because of… me." Shanks was silent for a second. "Because you want to change it?" Ace opened his mouth, but only a breath left him, before he decided to just tell the truth. "I… when I was alive, I had… no one left. My family had just died, my friends ignored me, and I got depressed. So, I decided to call a demon to get a friend. Which ended up to be Marco. And… if it hadn't worked or he said no… I was going to kill myself as I had nothing to live for as I was so… alone."

Ace still looked down in the boat, as he felt ashamed, but he wasn't entirely sure why. He just heard silence, just the sound of the oar in the water, before that also went silent, before he heard the oar being put down on the boat. Before he heard some footsteps and saw Shanks' feet walk to be in front of him, before Shanks crouched down in front of him, making Ace slowly look up at him. Ace expected to see a disapproving look, but he saw a kind and compassionate look. "Do you still think that, Ace?" Ace blinked, before he slowly shook his head. "No, I don't." Shanks nodded. "If you do, can you tell me?" Ace blinked. "I… will try." Shanks nodded. "Good. Because I don't want to lose you." Ace blinked. "You… don't?" Shanks nodded. "I don't. Because I really like our friendship. I really like you. You make my day brighter, Ace."

Ace didn't know how to react, when he felt a tear go down his cheek and Shanks looked concerned. "Did I upset you?" Ace shook his head and dried the tear away as well as trying to blink away the others that wanted to fall. "No… I am just not used to people being so kind to me." Shanks blinked, before he smiled. "No matter what, you always have a place in my boat, Ace. As well as in my heart." Ace smiled, and he felt his eyes water again, but the tears didn't fall. "Thank you, Shanks. I really like you as well." Shanks smiled. "And no matter what it is, you can always talk to me." Ace nodded. "I know. Thank you." Shanks shook his head. "No, it is what friends do." Ace nodded. "Yeah."

Shanks smiled at him. "If you need anything, never be afraid to tell me what you need. Okay?" Ace nodded. "Yeah." Shanks then went back to the back of the boat and lifted the oar and started to row again, and Ace actually felt a bit better. It was good to know Shanks didn't judge him and was there for him, but Ace wasn't used to it. Shanks then went back to his spot and started to row again and Ace had a smile as they spoke again, and Shanks didn't ask more about the fact he hard planned suicide, which was good as Ace wasn't really comfortable talking about it.

They then got to the small island with the tree a bit later and Ace got a couple more flowers, before he went back to the boat with a smile as he looked at Shanks. "I don't know if I have said it, but thank you for taking me to these trees. I hope it isn't a hassle." Shanks shook his head as he had a smile. "It is nothing, Ace. I am just glad someone sees the beauty in them." Ace nodded and looked at the flowers he held. "They are so stunning and so beautiful." Shanks hummed. "Most don't see the beauty in the flowers or trees in Hell, I am very glad you do." Ace nodded. He had always liked flowers and such, he didn't know why, but he did.

They then spoke as they got back to the shore, before Ace gave a goodbye to Shanks, who smiled as he gave one as well, before Ace left as Shanks rowed away. he then got back to his room and put the flowers next to the other ones who were the same, and when Marco came later, Ace asked when he could visit Eustass again, and Marco hummed and said they could next week, unless he wanted to earlier. Ace shook his head. "No, next week is good." Marco nodded. "Okay. Is there a reason you want to visit him?"

Ace hummed and moved to the flower he thought Eustass would like and moved to show one to Marco. "I really think he will like this one. He is very fond of metal and tools, and this looks like gears. And I want to give it to him." Marco nodded. "I see. I am sure he will like it, yoi." Ace gave a small nod. "I hope so… He doesn't like flowers like I do." Marco hummed. "Even so. He knows you like them, yoi. And this would be a gift with meaning and not a random thing." Ace blinked, before he smiled a bit. "Yeah." He hadn't thought of it like that. Ace had always liked gift with meaning more than expensive things. Hopefully Eustass would like this flower and not mock him for giving it. Not that Eustass had ever mocked him for liking flowers, but Ace had never given one to him before either. But many had mocked him for liking flowers.

Marco moved a hand to his cheek and looked worried. "You look sad, yoi." Ace was about to deny it, before he gave a breath. "Am I… weird for liking flowers?" Marco blinked, before he shook his head. "No, yoi. Why do you think that? Has someone here said anything like that to you?" Ace gave a small shrug. "No one here… but many have when I was alive." Marco nodded and hugged him. "You're not weird for liking a thing, yoi. You see the beauty in things. And that's a good thing." Ace nodded as he took the hug and hugged back.

They stood and hugged for a bit, Ace now realizing he was actually upset about this, but he was glad Marco supported him. When they parted Marco smiled at him. "You are so kind, yoi. You see the beauty where others don't. And that is a good thing." Ace nodded and smiled, feeling better. They then went on with their day before they went to bed.

The next day, a bit after dinner and as he was relaxing in his room, Marco came in, which had him smile as Marco had been busy lately, and Marco hummed. "I have a surprise for you, yoi." Ace blinked. "You do? What?" Marco chuckled. "Wouldn't be a surprise if I told, yoi. Follow me." Ace nodded and did and they headed outside and then headed towards the back of the house, before they walked a bit, and then Marco asked him to close his eyes, which Ace did, and Marco led him a bit forward, before they stopped, and Marco said he could open his eyes, before he blinked, feeling shocked.

He then looked at Marco, who smiled at him. "Now, you can grow whatever you want to, yoi." Ace nodded and looked back to what was clearly a garden of sorts. It had dirt patches, a small fence around it, and a few large pots and a few garden boxes. Marco then pointed to a storage box. "In there is a few items that I got my hands on so you have what you need, yoi. If you need anything more, tell me, okay?" Ace nodded, feeling shocked. "I- I don't know what to say." Marco hummed. "You don't need to say anything, yoi. You liked flowers and plants, and now you can have your own garden. You can expand it if you want to." Ace nodded. "Maybe. But… how do I get seeds?" Marco hummed. "I heard a bit around, and seeds from the surface should work here as well, yoi. But the flowers might look a bit different than what they do on the surface if they get enough nourishment." That was interesting.

Ace nodded. "So, I need to water them a lot?" Marco hummed. "Here in Hell, flowers and trees thrive on blood, yoi. I can get you some and you can water it out with water so it lasts longer." That was good to know and Ace nodded, before he looked at Marco and smiled. "Thank you for this, really." Marco shook his head and had a smile. "It is nothing. I want you to be happy here, yoi." Ace got that, and this was amazing. Maybe he could get an amazing garden with flowers? That would be amazing. He couldn't wait to tell this to Eustass if this worked out. Ace didn't know why, but he had always really liked flowers and plants and had always wanted a garden, and now that dream might come true. He needed to think of which flowers or plants to start with.


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