spohkh | Personal Log #12 - Planning [Video]

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party

Personal Log #12 - Planning [Video]

[Spock fiddles with the journal for a moment, making certain that the message is broadcast to everyone but Nico Robin.]

Greetings and salutations everyone. It is my hope that everyone has recovered from the latest Malnosso experiment, as from what I heard from others, I do not envy your experiences.
At this time, I find myself with a request for those of you who are familiar with Miss Nico Robin. It has come to my attention that due to recent events, Miss Robin's emotional disposition has greatly suffered, and it is my wish to see it improved. From what I understand of various cultural habits, it is common to utilize various festive activities to improve emotional morale. These activities should consist of conditions that are agreeable to Miss Robin, so if there is anyone who is aware of what Miss Robin enjoys, please inform me as soon as you can.
I am asking for assistance in planning this gathering... I believe the proper term is 'party'? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as well as refraining from telling Miss Robin about this.
The time and location for this gathering will soon be disclosed.

[Spock lifts his hand in a Ta'al.]
Peace and long life.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Secrecy comes difficult to me these days. The fine lines.

I err too much on the side of caution and then people don't know everything they need to about Blackbeard, or Chameleone, or the Malnosso, or who knows what else.

But too open goes against my grain as well and presents a whole set of different dangers.

[His mind is racing to do damage control. To figure out Robin's mindset, how to help it, how to ease it. She must feel raw and exposed, and Marco knew all too well the pain of that. What it was like having the whole world see your deepest darkest fear, your worst moments, and the compounded fear of who might use it for what.]

[Robin, Marco, Spock, they were all alike in that way. Lone survivors of catastrophic events, with only nakama to rely on -- and even that was tricky.]

Let me ask you something. You consider Robin a friend, but do you consider her nakama? Like one of your crewmates? If so, I suggest telling her that.

[The biggest problem for Robin was feeling alone. Alone when she'd been alone for so long. When the people who were fighting off her loneliness "now" couldn't remember her. And to feel alone in facing that was truly a terrible thing.]

It is one thing to try to cheer up a friend, but to protect a nakama... [A shrug.] I am not sure how her crew is though. They are considerably smaller than mine, so she might feel only Luffy can decide such a thing. But if you explain you wanted to help her as a nakama, I think she'll understand.

[Spock's brow furrows as he considers Marco's words.]

Miss Robin is my friend... and considering what has happened between us I have begun to think of her as family. [Because Spock has few friends, and fewer family now.]

So yes, I consider her nakama.

[Spock goes silent.
He realizes now that he has thoroughly betrayed her trust, and have exposed her privacy, and concept that Vulcans hold to dearly. When Spock looks at Marco again, he is resolved.]

No matter what the consequences are from this incident, I will remain Robin's friend. And if it takes my entire stay here in Luceti to regain her trust, then so be it.
[Spock breaths...] However, the first step would be to apologise to her...

[A meeting that he is starting to anticipate with a not-so-good feeling.]

[she puts a hand against her lips at the flowers comment. It's entirely too endearing and while such a thing from Spock would be awkward, Marco is idiotic and sweet enough to pull it off. She would like to forgive them then and there were

it not for that word.

No he is not. Spock is not nakama, nor will he ever be unless Luffy decides otherwise. Besides that, it is too soon and there has been too little to even begin to think so. A forced closeness out of some Malnosso trick? No. That is not what nakama means. It means fighting together. For the same crew. The same dream. It means people who believe in Luffy, and the others, without fail. How can he even do that much when he doesn't know them.

Though she believes that Marco is doing this because he wants to help. To give Spock some measure of ways he can apologize. To give her some measure of safety. But she has seen enough of Spock to know that there are others first in his heart.

She sighs and forgives them only because there is nothing to be done about it. What is known is known and she will have to be vigilant just in case. For Usopp and Nami if nothing else who are still too fragile to be on their own here. Especially since they have no idea what Luceti will bring.

She approaches them, in a sense, she wonders if Marco can tell the difference by now, as she runs her hand over his head and feels the faint warmth]

I won't be the guest of honor anywhere. [it's enough everyone knowing without being the center of all that attention. She eyes Spock carefully]

There are others in your heart, ne? Your Starfleet and those part of it. They will always be before me. Just as any Whitebeard will be before me, and any of my crew will be before you. We are not nakama. But we are friends.

[Spock suddenly stands, his eyes wide.]

Miss Robin!

[His head bows.]

I am sorry for betraying your trust.

Aye, but nakama can get through anything. And it's different when nakama expose something accidentally. [He lied to protect Ace, he lied to the world, and so far as Marco's concerned, he'll continue doing so for the rest of his life.]

[His eyes wind up blazing blue in spite of himself. The demure apologies are gone in a quick flash at Robin's appearance, the flight instincts kicking into a fight mode instead.] If nakama do it, you can trust they had the best intentions at heart no matter what, and they'll do their best to fix it.

[He always tried to teach Ace that. To show him that they trusted Ace no matter what. Trusted him to the point that his "screwups" were not screwups on his own head at all, but screwups on the whole lot of them. Even now, intellectually, Marco knows that part of his perhaps overprotectiveness on Spock's behalf is perhaps all too similar.]

Say as you will Robin, but nakama are not just friends from home--

[Why is he fighting on this? This is--]

[Not what he wants. Nor the right time and place for such a discussion. Too emotionally charged, and during a time when she's already hurt and fearful?]

[He hangs his head apologetically and glances away, getting up to walk off.] Perhaps I should leave you two to discuss it.

[Whitebeard would always be his father, always. But Ikki was no less a brother and nakama in the strongest sense of the world despite not knowing Whitebeard himself. Nakama would always fight to protect each other, but not all fights were on a direct foe vs. foe battlefield. The hardest fights took place in things like this where Marco struggled the hardest.]

[Spock was about to interject, wanting Marco to stay... but falls silent. If that is what he wants to do, then far be it from him to stop him.

He looks at Robin.]

[she waves off Spock's apology]

It's nothing you were aware of. [she can't blame him for Marco's idiocy. Though she meets those flaming blue eyes with her own. Perhaps nakama are different for the Whitebeards. Perhaps 1600 meant a new face and you had to trust whoever it was even if you didn't immediately recognize them. Perhaps because he had lived free and wild on the sea for so long.

But she can't forgive the insult]

Just friends from home?

[she shakes her head]

There is nothing to discuss.

[and disappears into a shower of petals. Still hidden and at some distance, she slips from her hiding space and heads...somewhere. She doesn't know where yet. But everything is cold where it once was warm]

[And now Spock is alone.

He sits with a little less grace than usual, and regards the table top as though it held the mysteries of the universe.
Is he responsible for two of his friends fighting now? He isn't sure. But there are other things he needs to discuss with Robin, despite what she said.

Opening his journal, he writes a private message to her.]
[100% locked to Robin.]

If it is permissible, I would speak with you. Please.

[after some time. A long time. She replies]

No.

[Spock spends a long time looking at the one, definitive word.... ]

Very well.
Peace and long life to you Miss Robin.

[He wasn't giving up... but he was also going to spend a long time just sitting at the coffee shop.]

[When Robin speaks, Marco turns back with a glare.]

Not "just," meaning those from other worlds can be nakama as well --

[But he's too late and Robin disappears in a burst of petals. They're too alike sometimes. If Marco wants to flee, then Robin, of course, beats him to it.]

[His eyes flatten at all more and there's a swift punch to the tabletop.]

My apologies, Spock. That was something I was trying to avoid.

[WHY. Why did his temper always flare around her? It was worse than how reckless he could get around Ace! What was wrong with him?!]

[Spock looks up, after having taken his seat once more.]

Indeed. I believe the term is 'bad timing'. I hope I did not create a dissidence between the both of you?

[A bitter laugh and Marco shakes his head.] No.

It wasn't you. Robin-- [She inflamed all his passions, and he always seemed to go from ice to fire around her. How? Why? It made no sense.]

I said once if my brothers were here they would never stop smacking for saying the wrong things around her. So aye, I understand all too well how-- [A sigh and he rubs his temples.]

It will be worked out. In time. But it is me, not you, I promise. I just hope it does not put you in an awkward position, eh.

[Spock looks down at his journal.. then back at Marco.]

Do not concern yourself about my feelings.
[Because he has none... or at least, he has them under wraps, right?]

The important thing is Robin. What did she mean by Nakama? [Spock needs to know her perspective... but he wasn't going to get it from her.]

[He leans his back against a tree trunk.]

Crewmates.

They are comrades on a journey through life. Family. [A muscle in his cheek twitches from how hard his jaw is clenched.]

My captain was never just my captain. And if she thinks I love my brothers any less because there are so many of them, she's a fool, and welcome to keep her distance.

[He clenches a fist, quietly acknowledging the firestorms raging on the inside of his head. Too many things he hasn't dealt with, too many things he couldn't deal with. No outlet. Robin missed her crew, missed her friends, didn't feel she could trust other people the same way? Her loss, but of course Marco couldn't accept that. How could he? He wanted to protect her, to help her. Did she think he didn't understand what it was like to be separated from one's family? His crew was his life. Did he wear this tattoo so openly just for show? She'd known the Straw Hats deeply and they'd fought together long and hard, but anyone who denied the experiences of Luceti was an idiot. How many decades had she thought Marco spent with his brothers, with his crew? Did she think it was so easy, such a small task to add more to the numbers of those he wanted to protect?]

[After Blackbeard's betrayal?]

[HAH!]

[Marco almost eerily calmly grabs his former seat across from the Vulcan and quietly takes a sip of his tea.]

My father, my captain, was killed by a former nakama.

Perhaps I am pushing her too hard. [Because Marco himself had to be that strong. To recover no matter what. To still accept new people in his life despite all that fear.]

[To still forgive those who were brainwashed, who were stupid, who made mistakes. Squardo stabbed Whitebeard to betray him in the middle of battle, if Marco could forgive that, how could Robin stand there and say nakama could only--]

[It's not his crew.]

[Perhaps that is what bothers him. Just as Nami's words cut him to the bone unexpectedly, Robin's too, deeply affected him. Because they were the future of the world. They were going to take his place and their ways weren't his father's. And yes, he resented them for it.]

[Still, he fixes Spock with a serious look and in a very calm, all too quiet voice:] Still, I do not understand how a woman as strong as her, and as smart as my father can allow herself to--

[No. He's still too angry. He needs to calm down more. Marco glances off to the side, thinking rapidly again.] Cut herself off from the rest of the world. [It would cause more pain in the long run. Marco knew. He'd been there, done so, experienced that pain too often. And he knew, understood better than anyone, why Whitebeard had such a large family, such a large crew. So then why? Why did she insist so hard on limiting those she trusted? Did she think it made it easier to protect them? Easier to discern the good from bad? It didn't. And it didn't change the hurt when they disappeared. It just meant that there were others to lean on. And she wouldn't even lean on him now. Her pride. And Marco hoped it wouldn't hurt her as much as he saw.]

[If he could see it, then it already had to be more than she deserved. Though, anything was more than she'd earned.]

Again... please forgive my temper. It's been a trying time.

Perhaps I am just sick of watching young kids make the same mistakes I have already had a chance to learn from. But then, if they do not learn for themselves, how will they learn it, eh?

It's still painful to watch. [He hates watching and not being able to do anything. Might as well put him in Marineford all over again. Every move he made, was it ever enough? All he could do was save Straw Hat. All he could was try his last best to protect the future, for the sake of his father and Ace's dreams.] May I ask you something else? [He was slipping into polite now. The manners are a sign more than ever, that he's shook up and trying to hide it.]

[There was a lot that Spock wanted to say, to ask. But he hesitated because it was not his business... that and he had already done enough.

The Vulcan's brows furrow as he regards Marco. It is quite obvious that he cares for Robin deeply... a romantic would say that it is written all over his face. In Spock's opinion, Marco's feelings are being practically shouted from a loudspeaker.

Marco truly is an extraordinary individual... both of them are.
So, he contains his comments and questions.]

Of course. However, you are not attempting to 'change the subject' correct?
[Because that will not do. And Spock is formulating a plan, something to help Marco at least a bit. He saw that fist hit the table... he recognizes a caged animal when he sees it. That same expression was shown to him when he looked in the mirror.]

I am not. [His words and tone are stiff, but letting out more of the emotion than the polite formality from before.]

As a first mate, and someone who would have to take your captain's place were he not here, don't you have to trust each of your crew members to hold their own and do their jobs?

Trust is of utmost importance. It is what we were all trained to to do, and I have placed my trust in them to do their job. We work together to ensure our mission is completed, and our survival is kept.

[The Enterprise? Of course he trusted everyone to do what they were supposed to do. But he tilts his head at Marco.]

Why do you ask?

Because that is why I am annoyed.

Perhaps I'm getting even older than I realize, but it's incredibly frustrating to watch this crew that is trying to take my place flounder like a bunch of guppies while I must fight the seakings of the world.

[Spock quirks an eyebrow.]

All generations must find their own path, however, learning from those who were there before is only logical. Have you talked with them?

[Then again, Spock doesn't fully understand what Marco is trying to say.]

Such a thing is difficult when they do not remember anything yet. If they were children before, they might as well be babies now.

I'd expected more from Robin, as a historian, but perhaps I am expecting too much.

This greatly troubles you. Surely you and Robin have spoken of this before?

[Because.. they were together right? He can't imagine Robin wouldn't listen to Marco.]

Aye.

But not at great length. It has never been a conversation either of us wanted to have.

Personal Log #12 - Planning [Video]

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