getaroom | Voicemail

["Someone's coming to meet me. Point him to my office, finish clearing the day, and then take the rest of the day for yourself. Lock up behind you."]

[Some days she just doesn't understand Trafalgar. Most days, really. But since her instructions are clear, she looks up with an apologetic smile when a stranger enters the room.]

I'm so sorry, we're not accepting walk-ins today. I actually have to close the office early. I'll be happy to make an appointment for you, though!

[ So here sits the receptionist in question. Assuming he's at the right office, which he's about as positive of as he can be.

It's... a rough day. And it's only looking to get rougher. Not being one to take that out on anyone he happens to cross paths with, however, Corazon dredges up the best grin he can manage. It's not much, but he's trying. ]

Sorry. I might be the reason you're closing early, actually. If I'm at Trafalgar Law's office? We're supposed to be meeting.

[Oh! Well, this changes things a bit.]

[Tashigi had wondered what kind of person Law would be meeting - just who he'd be closing shop for. Someone from home was the likely choice, but this man was someone she didn't recognize. He doesn't seem like a Whitebeard, so maybe it's one of his own crew? But if that's the case, then why doesn't this seem like a particularly happy meeting?]

[She may never know, and that leaves only one thing to do: her job.]

Oh! Yes, he's expecting you. His office is right down the hallway - you can't miss it.

Should I put on a pot of coffee for the two of you before I leave?

[ Bless. He cranes his neck to get a proper look down the hallway. "You can't miss it" is probably one of the ideal directional statements he can receive. ]

You can if you want. I wouldn't want to put you out of your way, though.

It's fine! Making coffee is one of my chief duties here! Plus I made plenty on the ship back home.

[She gets out of her chair to head to the coffee maker, but her glasses are on her forehead, and she doesn't see that magazine on the floor...]

[WHUMP]

[One Tashigi, faceplanted.]

[ POLITE RECEPTIONIST, NO... if only he'd turned her down...! Half of a surprised shout just isn't warning enough.

It's so strange to be on this side of clumsiness, honestly. ]

A-are you okay?!

[She scrambles to her feet, face red as she slides her glasses down her face]

I'm fine! Fine! Just a slip, that's all! I'll make sure that coffee is ready for you both.

[ He looks a little bit doubtful. But on the other hand, she's not bleeding... what commitment to her job. Someone as stubborn as Law probably needs that in a receptionist.

Don't worry, he can't judge unless he wants to be struck down by god's own hand or something. ]

I-if you're sure. [ Just please don't accidentally die, tbh. Corazon doesn't want to leave it there, though, that feels almost rude. He has to believe in her. ] I admire your dedication!

Of course I'm sure! It's my job as a receptionist. You go ahead to your meeting, I'll be fine!

[It's good to know Law has at least one good influence in his life. Godspeed, mysterious stranger!]

[ Godspeed, dedicated employee. Godspeed.

Corazon proceeds down the hallway as directed without running into trouble. When he reaches the door, he doesn't knock: just reaches for the knob and silently ducks into Law's office. ]

[Law's office is fairly nondescript. In many ways it looks just like every other office: a desk complete with a large cushy chair and two slightly less comfortable ones on either side in front of it, a couple of filing cabinets, a phone and a computer, a small bookshelf filled with various medical texts, and, of course, a small name plate on his desk engraved with "Dr. Trafalgar Law". In many other offices a person might find other bits of boring decor -- paintings, potted plants, and the like. What makes Law's office stand out from the others is two things: his nodachi in the corner and the large pirate flag, his flag, hanging on the wall behind him.

His stomach has been in knots ever since he got Corazon's text. He knew this conversation would have to happen soon. It was only a matter of time. What he didn't know was how Corazon would react to all of it. He also doesn't know how much he knows. What version of events did he get, if any? He's already gone through the list of people who could have possibly told him about it. Each one would color the story differently.

Law can hear Tashigi and Cora-san talking down the hall and when the door to his office finally opens he let's go of the breath he didn't realize he was holding.

It was time.

He looks up from the stack of papers on his desk that he had been pretending to work on while he waited for Corazon, carefully scrutinizing the look on his face. Watching for any reaction no matter how slight. Shoving the paperwork off to the side, he gestures vaguely to the chairs in front of his desk.]

You got here fast. Have a seat.

Edited 2016-09-04 19:11 (UTC)

[ Corazon drops himself awkwardly into a chair across from Law. It's good that Law is willing to have this discussion without putting it off. He thinks. That would have to be a good sign, right? It feels like a struggle to dredge up the words to respond, suddenly. ]

I didn't have any other errands to run.

[ Just meeting Smoker. Which was nice to get to do in several ways, but...

Law is scrutinizing his expression and being scrutinized in turn, even if Corazon's not entirely sure what he's looking for. Some tell. Something that can break the whole story down. A marine perspective will always be different from a pirate's. Law is the only pirate he'd want to hear it from. He's trying to maintain an impartial appearance, but it's not quite working. There's concern there, an edge of guilt: above everything is mostly fear, well-concealed by the old hand of experience from anyone who might not know to look for it. ]

[Law has no reason to put off this conversation. It's bound to be a little uncomfortable for both parties involved, but that's to be expected. What happened at Dressrosa is just as important to Corazon -- perhaps even more so -- as it is to Law. There's so much tied to it -- emotions and goals, foolish hopes and dreams -- and honestly... he hopes that talking about it will help him put it all to rest.

So much happened there and it was more than he could have ever dared to hope for. Hell, he hadn't expected to come out of it alive, but he was there to see Doflamingo fall. He was able to walk away from it, not all in one piece, but he lived.

Law's wouldn't expect Corazon's emotions to be control right now. What he came here to talk about was not going to be easy to discuss. It was a story that took years to come to fruition. Cora-san put the wheels in motion and Law worked to make sure it finally came to an end. His own emotions feel like they've been scattered to the wind and they haven't even started talking yet.

If he sees the fear (he does), he doesn't comment on it, because he's scared too. Worried about how Corazon will react to it all. His stomach twists a bit as he nods towards the door.]

I told Tashigi-ya to take the rest of the day off so she should be out soon, but there's another office next door.

[Let's quiet things down a bit, yeah?]

It's rude to refer to your subordinates like that. [ It's a reflex. On his best days he probably has no room to talk about manners, but wow. Tashigi-ya. He makes a tiny mental note about Tashigi's name, not just because he neglected to ask her, but also because he knows how high the possibility is that the Tashigi at the front desk is the same Tashigi Smoker spoke so highly of.

Corazon lets Law get his thoughts in a little order, nods his understanding.

It's hard to decide where to start. Doffy is the most terrifying thing that he knows. Doesn't matter if he's somewhere after dying, whether he's in another world or home, whether it was just towards Law living on-- a piece of his brother's shadow was inevitably going to stretch to try to cover it. Getting a touch of extra time before figuring out how far and how much and how dangerous, that's a blessing. ]

Silent.

[ Even if that touch of extra time is only as long as it takes to snap his fingers. ]

[And it was a reflex to ignore it. Waving a hand nonchalantly and rolling his eyes. It's not like he reserved that -ya for just her. Almost everyone gets it. Almost.]

I'll call her whatever I want.

[The familiar veil of silence washes over them and despite the conversation he was about to have Law instantly feels more at ease. It's comforting. A warm sense of nostalgia that settles deep in his chest. The quiet reminds him of a different time when life was as complicated as it was simple. When it was the two of them traveling the North Blue. It reminds him of stupid jokes, smiles, and laughter. Of everything that was sacrificed.

It reminds him of why Corazon is here in his office right now.]

How much do you know?

[He's not sure where to start either, but someone must have told him something for him to even ask to have this conversation in the first place. He wants to know how much Corazon has heard and then he'll work from there.]

[ He sorts through his memory of his conversation with Smoker as he lights a cigarette, trying to remember all the details and sort them into a workable order. Between the tight grip of anxiety and his earlier waves of disbelieving, selfish relief-- Doflamingo's defeat, Dressrosa free-- he knows it's possible he missed details. ]

My brother did everything that he planned to do with the resources at his disposal. He became a shichibukai. [ And if that's not something he doesn't want to say again as long as he lives. It takes constant, active effort to keep his voice level. ]

You became a shichibukai, too. Allied yourself with the 'straw hat' pirates? Saved children on Punk Hazard and outed Vergo as a traitor. Defeated him. You traveled to Dressrosa and... fought my brother. You freed that country.

Voicemail

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject