PSL: fullcowl

[hot_mes]

Original starter

(continuing from this)

[Even though he still has a long way to go to restore his strength, Law manages to last out the rest of the night without dropping off again. It helps that once or twice something a little too large passed a little too close to their hollowed-out tree, but whatever it was either didn't like fire or wasn't into humans and kept going on past. His haki alerted him in time, but he sat tense until it passed rather than wake Deku. Kid needs his rest, after all.

The gap in the tree must face east, because Law eventually can see a gray line in the distance as light starts to come up behind the hills, and then the approaching dawn getting brighter and brighter. The fire fizzles out about then, and he stretches out a heel to scratch some dirt over it lest the smoke attract attention. With dawn coming, he won't be able to sleep anyway, so he just lets Izuku sleep for as long as he needs. Besides, he's nice and warm.]

Comments

[hot_mes]

I'll take open skies over the roof of a prison, but I get your point.

Any ship we get will have cabins. Places we can go that are secure from the weather. [mmm ship dreaming, he can picture it all now...] I doubt anyone here knows how to build a submarine, though. Pity.

[fullcowl]

I wouldn't know where to start with a submarine. I think finding a ship is more likely than that.

[hot_mes]

[bummer, he loves his sub]

I'm aware. I was only thinking out loud.

Have you ever been to sea? [it occurs to him they made all these plans and he's never asked that]

[fullcowl]

Uh... I was on a boat once, but it was in the USJ, and some people with shark quirks were trying to kill us.

[hot_mes]

[...wait what]

Oh. Animal types. Well, that's pretty close to life as a pirate, except I don't know what a USJ is.

[attacked by real sharks, attacked by fishmen, same thing.]

[fullcowl]

Oh, sorry. It's the Unforeseen Simulation Joint.

It's where we go to practice working in various conditions, like burning buildings, water, mountains or snow.

[hot_mes]

Ah. Simulations...interesting.

[honest! there's no snark in his tone, he's already wondering what a simulation of a ship would look like. What technology they might have. HMM.]

So were the attacking shark-types deliberate or not part of the plan?

[fullcowl]

Those weren't part of the plan.

The uh... villain alliance came in and tried to kill everybody who was there. The shark-types were part of the villain alliance.

[hot_mes]

Ugh. How cliche.

In that case, being on a simulated ship might not prepare you for a real one, in terms of how it moves. You'll get used to it, though. Most people do. [or they're smart and stay on land]

[fullcowl]

[A little]

It was a real ship, but it got cut in half pretty fast. I don't think an indoor lake is close to an ocean.

[At least Izuku is a quick study and adaptable.]

[hot_mes]

Not at all. You should be fine, though.

[and then, for a moment he turns wistful] There is a freedom to being on the sea. It's dangerous, but at the same time, there's nothing holding you back. You can go anywhere, do anything you wish. Your ship is home, and home can be anywhere...

[fullcowl]

[He's quiet as he lets Law talk about the sea.

He's never really done something like that himself before. He lived in an apartment with his mother- and then he moved into a dorm with the rest of his class.

But he's worlds away from that now, and Law is the closest thing he has to a friend in this place. So... boarding a ship and being out at sea-]

It... It sounds nice.

[hot_mes]

[he gives Izuku a little faint smile. Not a smirk, a smile.]

You're not just saying that to humor me.

[what, he still has insecurities. The perils of not letting anyone close to him for so long.]

[fullcowl]

No.

The way you talk about it, it really does sound nice.

[hot_mes]

You're free to change your mind once it happens, if the sea doesn't agree with you. [fair's fair!] But it isn't just for personal reasons. I really do think taking to the sea is our greatest chance to raid the fortress and make a difference.

[fullcowl]

We'll see what happens. But I'd like to help you with the assaults on Wulgrimm.

[hot_mes]

You're free to stay with me as long as you like.

[as soon as he says so, Law takes a quick breath. He doesn't just let people hang with him if they're not crew, what is this? But the offer is sincere. He doesn't take it back.]

[fullcowl]

[His eyes widen- he didn't seem like the type that would be okay with something like that but-]

Thank you, Law.

[Now you're stuck with him.]

[hot_mes]

[Dammit, Cora-san must be subconsciously rubbing off on him again. Giving him his heart back.]

At least, if you get too carried away with your training, you'll have a doctor at hand to patch you up.

[yes because that's totally the only reason they need to stick together. Totally.]

[fullcowl]

[That's definitely a good reason though.]

I'd appreciate that. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you.

[hot_mes]

You've done a lot already. I've come to rely on you. [more quietly] I do owe you my life.

[but that just brings up one more unpleasant debt. Law glances aside at Izuku as they walk]

...that time. What you did for me. It won't happen again, but I don't want you to have to remember it. Can we put it in the past and leave it there?

[fullcowl]

[Izuku nods, but then realizes that Law probably isn't looking at him so he has to speak up.]

... Yeah. I think I'd prefer that, honestly.

[hot_mes]

[it is hard to look straight at him, but Law does steal a glance now and then.]

I'm sorry. Then, that will be all we need to say.

[he lifts a hand as if to pull his hat brim down, forgetting that he's not wearing one. Oh well, his eyes are exposed, that means his emotion is there to be seen. The regret fading, and relief replacing it.]

[fullcowl]

Right.

[Izuku is perfectly content to never speak of what happened in the prison every again. He's glad Law's in the same boat.]

... what else is there to say...

The... the weather is nice...?

[hot_mes]

[that gets the softest laugh out of him]

Yeah. It is, isn't it? Should be a fine day for walking.

[he just jinxed it, didn't he?]