text | un: m.cabrera

[naloxone]

[ turns out? space doesn't give a single fuck about your circadian rhythm. or maybe insomnia is just that attached to her that even the absence of a sun dictating her internal clock doesn't faze it, like an old friend you wish would just forget you already.

one night (?) late into the early hours (???) marta finds herself drifting out of the room she's come to assume will be hers for the indefinite future, passing through stark white walls with all the sterility of a hospital, but none of its familiar chaos.

she's still getting used to the earpiece. still getting used to hearing other people's voices in her head. she doesn't mean to add another in the void, but one of her own thoughts blares out too vividly as she stares out into an actual void: ]

—but where are the stars?

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text; un: kozuki.oden

[hannyas]

oh, they're up there! right? that's where they're supposed to be! but wait, if we're in space as well... they're around us? would we see them like stars if we're where they are? or would they look like bonfires?

[naloxone]

[ hang on, getting a strange sense of deja vu— ]

I don't know, actually. I've never been in space.
But so far I haven't seen either.

[hannyas]

[ shhhh how can that be ]

I've never been in space either! I mean, I have, when I got here some time ago, does that count? we went down to a different place and came back, so I guess this is my second time in space.

oh. maybe it's really cloudy outside?

[naloxone]

Are there clouds in space?
Though I like that thought more than there just not being any stars.

Do you like it? Being in space?

[hannyas]

[ well clouds are up there in the sky like stars so... yes, right?? ]

then let's say that's it!

it's not bad. it's a little strange, the technology here is really weird and more advanced than what we have home, but I like being here better than being stuck on just one island back home... it's a little like sailing the seas, getting to see all these different cities. I've always wanted to sail out and see other islands so even though this isn't the exact same... it's still an adventure!

[naloxone]

[ sure, sweetie. ]

I guess in some ways, space is just the sea of the sky.
Is that what you're here for, though?
An... adventure?

[hannyas]

no! I'm here to save my friend.

[ their only friend, as a matter of fact, but that probably doesn't need to be repeated. and if they save ace... then they can go to wano together, be ready for momonosuke, for luffy. they can both support luffy when he and momonosuke bring about the dawn of the world. ]

[naloxone]

[ hearing that, marta can't help but find her thoughts turning inward. to thinking about her own friend, the one she didn't get to save. the one she's here for now, hoping that "better late than never" could still apply.

she's grateful the other person can't hear her right now, to notice the way her voice might've cracked. ]

I hope you get to.

[hannyas]

thanks! I'm sure I will! and then he'll get to live and see everything that happens and we can save my country together.

what are you here for?

[naloxone]

[ and here marta had been hoping to avoid having to answer herself— ]

A friend, too.
I couldn't help him, back home — [ didn't ] — so I'd like to get the chance to again.

[hannyas]

oh! then... we're the same!

I promise I'll help you help him!! and then we'll both get our friends back! [ in an amazing feat of projecting, yamato decides marta's friend needs to be helped the same way ace needs to be helped... to not die. ] what's your name? I'm Yamato! what can I do to help you? is there something you need help with? do you have enemies you need me to fight for you?

[naloxone]

[ marta actually has to replay their conversation, wondering if she'd accidentally revealed far more than she would have liked—

but they keep going, and going, and marta is helpless but to follow along. ]

I'm Marta and — no, no enemies.
Just... something I need to do. Something I wasn't strong enough to do before.
Thank you, though. I almost wish it was as simple as that.

[hannyas]

[ no..... they're just generalising their own experience, as you do ]

oh! if you weren't strong enough before... do you need to train? I can train you! or help with that, I haven't actually trained anyone before... but I'm sure I can do it!

[ "I almost wish it was as simple as that" who?? ]

[naloxone]

[ they are so very earnest in their offer and gesture that marta doesn't really have it in her to correct them. ]

Are you a fighter?

[hannyas]

yes! don't worry, I'm really strong. you can count on me to defend you until you learn to fight, too.

[naloxone]

That's really kind of you. I'll try not to be too much of a burden.