“I’m not trying to force you into anything, Makino. I’m asking you to listen, as someone with so. So much experience on the seas.”
But, he can listen, too. With a sigh, he takes another bite of the apple, his worried face never faltering.
"Commander if you don't shut it I will strike you."
Very, very intense glare.
"You won't protect me. You can't. I'm going to get hurt, whether I'm the kindest soul or the cruelest force. I'm choosing kindness to you today. Finish that apple."
He bites through the apple, allowing the remainder to fall into his hand.
“Reputation ain’t just about that, Makino..”
Still looking so worried.
“People hear that you help other pirates out, people’ll abuse that. People’ll think you’re weak. People will attack you.”
Yeah that's enough outta him. Makino plucks an apple off her counter and stuffs it into his mouth.
"Thank you kindly for your concern commander but I need no talks of reputation. Pride is shit, and words are worse. I'm going to act, regardless of what's said about me."
“Not just me, anyone else who sees us together.”
Still trying to block her. Clearly a little upset at having to do so, but not at her.
“Being a pirate is a very, very delicate thing, Makino..”
"You're the only one who considers us strangers here, commander."
She turns from him, she'll go for the pantry instead.
"The way I see it, I've just met a friend, and my friends will be fed."
+
“I do not.”
He’s stern in his words, staring into her eyes.
“Others will. People are cruel, Makino. To the outside world, you would’ve just met me, and are already insisting on feeding me. You’re a pirate. You’ll have a reputation.”
She stays silent. Her face falls flat, and honestly a little hurt gathers in those dark eyes.
"You think I'm a pushover? What for? My love for my son? My gratitude to his new family? "
“A life of your own, though.”
Stepping in front of her. Worried look on his face.
“You have a reputation to maintain as a captain, Makino. Even in private. Even to me. You don’t want other pirate crews to see you as a pushover. Ever.”
"... Well, Ace didn't learn that from me. He was always headstrong. I.... Well, I never thought I'd get a chance to explore... My pirate career is a celebration of life, in a sense. My second chance at life, and to honor those I've lost..."
She's already moving to the galley-
A very different experience than the one he had on whitebeards crew, though pleasant, nonetheless.
“Makino..”
He sounds a little sad, this time he doesn’t really want to keep denying her.
“I assume— knowing Ace, that you want to be a pirate for yourself, yeah?”
It's warm inside. Homey. You can tell the land still lingers in the mind of whoever decorated. You can tell a crew lives here who does their best to keep tidy.
"Then allow a fellow pirate to demonstrate good will to you and offer you food and drink!"
A sigh.
“Makino..”
His gaze runs along the inside of the ship.
“You really don’t have to- shouldn’t. Specially not if it’s over ace. As I told you. He’s- we did it because we wanted to, Makino.. don’t need any thanks for that.”
Really now?
(Grin only growing. He couldn’t be happier.)
Well thank you, Hawkeyes. I’m real glad you feel that way. I’ll try and spend a little more time with ya.
“It’s alright- hey. I get it. Seriously. You don’t have to apologize.”
He’s putting on an overly worried face, he cares far less for his own reputation than hers, and seeing him look so nervous with her might just help with that.
“Please.. lead the way, Makino..”
She's terrible at the whole reputation and pride thing... She does her best to dry her tears for the time being though.
"Right, right, sorry ... Guess I'll always be a little emotional about it...*
He’s worried. Pirate reputation can be real frail, he doesn’t want hers to be sullied at all by an interaction with him. He’d rather this happen in private. Rather not have others see her cry.
A glance around. Nodding towards her ship.
“Hey- hey. It’s ok. Really. It wasn’t a problem. You don’t. Have to thank me..”
The hand on her shoulder applies a little pressure, guiding her back to her ship.
“Let’s- hey. Let’s get you inside, we can talk more, ok?”
—
"Thank you... Thank you...."
She can't help it, tears flowing down her cheek.
"Thank you for loving him! For being there! For being everything he needed!"
Where she failed.
“We went to war for him because we care..”
Oh how he hates to see a lady cry. Getting closer, a hand upon her back, attempting comfort.
“You don’t owe me a thing. I promise you. I did everything I did because I want to. Because we wanted to. He’s our family, too.”
"And you have him a place to land when he flew from me... Your whole crew... You... You went to war for him..."
Oh here come the water works-
"Please... I owe you my life, won't you settle for me making you some food?"