( video )

[starspangledhero]

[ America looks completely drained. Now that he doesn't have to keep his (questionable concept of) sanity anymore, everything he's been holding off for the past few days is taking its toll. Oh yeah, his facial expression might not exactly be the first thing you notice. And of course you know why.

It's because he's drenched in blood.

That's not an exaggeration. He's covered in it, even his face and hair. This is why your parents tell you not to run around the pool. You will fall. ]

It's not mine. I'm not fine, but not hurt. I don't wanna explain right now. I'm spending the night in.

[ He sighs and rubs his eye with the heel of his palm. You can probably hear a shower running in the background. ]

As soon as Namine's done washing it off her, I'm taking a scrub and going to bed. Might not be out for a while, unless the city falls into a new peril and needs a hero, 'course.

...Everyone else okay? Everyone in the city. Pretty sure no one's making it outta wherever we were without something fucked up. Man I'm tired.

[ Another shaky sigh, and the camera shakes violently as he moves to turn it off. He mutters something as he does, more to himself than anyone else. ]

I don't wanna think.

Comments

[starspangledhero]

No. But I will be eventually.

[fierybluebird]

Ah.

Should I even ask how bad it was?

[starspangledhero]

I dunno how I can put its awfulness into words right now.

[ it takes a moment for his brain to catch up with the conversation. ]

Hey... how'd ya figure out my human name anyway?

[fierybluebird]

We'll just skip right into the pretending it's not a problem then, eh.

[ooc: Damn sorry, they never actually exchanged names in threads, but I figured it had to happen sometime, wasn't sure which way he's go + Ace refers to the countries by their human names so.... /blames Ace. But I'll retcon/delete/edit if you prefer Marco didn't know/use it.]

Ah, my little brother. It took me forever to figure out that Honda Kiku was the same as Japan and "Ber" was Sweden.

[starspangledhero]

Exactly what I planned to do.

[ haha it's alright! I actually didn't remember if America said anything/someone mentioned it to him since he usually introduces himself as America. It's not a huge secret and several people in the city know it anyway so NO BIGGIE. ]

Oh, yeah. It can get confusing if you're not used to it.

[fierybluebird]

I find it's a good course of action in most unlikable situations. [Well. Sort of at least.]

[Heh, okay good.]

I just figured it was either Ace nicknaming everyone or like back home how we have extra names.

[starspangledhero]

Me too. I try not to think about things too much if I don't have to.

Nah, it's kinda a long story, and a lot of the countries disagree on the meanings and stuff, but we've got two. Names. I mean. You've got extra name too?

[fierybluebird]

Good policy.

Yeah. Beyond just the normal nicknames and such. Ace is Fire-First back home, he's famous for it, back when he was a Spade Captain too. Pops was Whitebeard -- more people called him that than Edward Newgate. Actually, I can't think of anyone who called him Newgate off the top of my head. Maybe Shiki. And even Shiki was Golden Leo.

Pretty much as long as you're around on the ocean long enough to get a little fame, you get pretty well known for the other name.

[starspangledhero]

So like... your real name and a pirate nickname?

[fierybluebird]

Kind of, but marines get them too. And a few others. There's Sengoku the Buddha, Garp the Fist, also known as Garp the Hero -- that's Luffy and Ace's grandfather. [Flat look, he kind of really hates Garp.] Some are less creative than others. Dragon the Revolutionary -- basically just says what he is and does, and then Straw Hat Luffy.

[starspangledhero]

Garp... [ Oh if only John Irving had written The World According to Garp a decade sooner. I could probably make references anyway but I'm too lazy. ]

I'd be America the Hero. Or America the Hegemon. Or... nah. You know, United States of America kinda says it all.

[ It's not his usual enthusiasm, but it isn't flat out apathy either. That's improvement. ]

[fierybluebird]

[It is without a doubt where Oda got the name. Oh man. It completely sums up so much of the dude's ISSUES.]

Or the United States of Awesome?

[Marco is used to cheering up hollowed out emotionally drained people. Raise a crew of 1600 in the worst place in the world where insane shit is an every day part of life and you get used to it as a leader.]

[starspangledhero]

[ I'm almost afraid of what the mommy issues could be. ]

That one's a given.

[ Still not-apathy cheer, but when you're running on no sleep, no food, and have spent days reminiscing about every horrible aspect of history ever, you tend not to have much energy for more. ]

[fierybluebird]

[Actually... HOPEFULLY not that. Although really it's Oda and there's not that much shown for D women and the one who was is like a thousand times more hardcore than the men. What does that tell you?]

Or Captain Hero.

[starspangledhero]

[ obviously that Jenny became a pirate after her assassination. ]

I like Captain America better.

[fierybluebird]

[Pfft.]

Hah. All right, Captain America then. But that would be your official name. Granted, some of the marine names can be pretty redundant. Not like Blackbeard or Whitebeard took real genius creativity to invent.

What kind of things do you usually support or like or are known amongst your friends for?