audio | un: surgeonofdeath

[kikoku]

[There's a bit of a hesitant pause, before;]

I do feel like we can say with a relative amount of certainty that there is some sort of higher power in Taeum, presumably the Highest One that Angrial refers to, and they seem, based on what Finn and I sensed, to have an Orb. I'm not sure what that means for reports of the orb potentially being in Sedorum, but frankly, this whole situation is bullshit and if there are in fact two orbs or two parts of one whole orb that we have to figure out a way to combine, I wouldn't be surprised.

In any case, this is Trafalgar Law, reporting in that Daisy, Finn, Cora and myself have been branded traitors and taken into custody for attempting to breach the area where the orb is contained. I don't have access to my abilities and I assume the same goes for the other three.
[A long pause where Law presumably just silently ruminates on the fact that he has ended up in Heaven Jail and really of course this would happen.]

This is not a request for a rescue, simply something to keep in mind as work to find the orb continues. As well as a test on my part to confirm that our comms are still functional from in here.

[ETA: Despite what Law says there is now an OOC plotting post re: potential jailbreak ideas.]

Comments

[kikoku]

I'm fine. Honestly, this hasn't even gone as sideways as things have been going every time I try to plan things with Straw Hat, so I can't complain.

[So he's annoyed and tired but at this point he's not surprised.]

[callada]

Sounds like in some strange way, you're better off here. Not forever, I mean, but the break from that chaos must be a relief.

At least, I'm glad you're here.

[kikoku]

Thinking about this as a break makes my life seem pretty abysmal.
[He's not arguing though. And since this is both not in person and private;]

But I'm glad you're here, too. That we're here together.

[callada]

[Law won't see his stupid wide smile at the sentiment, but he can probably imagine it well enough. Yeah, yeah, they're stuck in chains that might as well be something like seastone, with no way of knowing where in this jail complex they or the rest of the group are, but he can be happy about this one thing anyway.]

We'll get out, one way or another. ...Next time, though, let's think about trying something more subtle than tearing through walls to get to the orb, all right?

[He had so much faith in Law and the others that he was willing to try it, though!!]

[kikoku]

Well if they don't want us to tear through the wall they should hide the orb better.
[HMPH....]

It's kind of strange, though. Do most people here have powers like devil fruit abilities or just the ones you hang around with?

[callada]

Lots of people here have magic. Magic, really, like the kind from fairytales. But then there are others like Finn and Daisy where it's something innate and more like what we're used to. Or there's Ed, who uses a science from his world called alchemy where he can transform one thing into another.

But I know plenty of people here who don't have anything like that. So it's a real mix, thanks to all the different types of worlds. It's part of what makes us good at getting the orbs, I think. Different powers, different specialties, different points of view.

[kikoku]

Honestly with everyone coming from such different perspectives I wonder how anything gets done, surely there has to be a lot of disagreements.

... Also, we better not be the only ones with a downside to our powers.
[HE'LL BE MAD IF DEVIL FRUITS ARE THE ONLY AVENUES TO MAGIC POWERS THAT COME WITH A WEAKNESS BUILT IN.]

[callada]

Maybe not as many disagreements as you'd expect, but the one big one that always comes up is how to handle these situations ethically. Whether it's right to kill someone to get an orb, or to defend ourselves. How much meddling we have the right to do in these worlds that aren't ours.

[And of course he has a lot of opinions on all of this himself, but he's ever the lurker. It's good that they're interested in the debate, but he sees no reason to weigh in unless they start crossing lines that he won't tolerate himself.]

Dunno about the downsides to their powers, though.

[kikoku]

Well, when push comes to shove, all I can say is that I'm a pirate, and I don't let anyone else tell me what I can or can't do.

[Not that he's really one to kill anybody but he wants people to think he's the type of guy who would.]

[callada]

And I know you've seen success with your own methods for a long time now.

But keep in mind that we have a lot of people on our side, and they're not a pirate crew. Some of them need to be kept safe. If nothing else, try to make sure we don't lose anyone. We'll be more successful for it in the long run.

[kikoku]

... They're not a pirate crew, but they're still a crew. I'm not letting anyone get left behind. Anyone outside the crew isn't my concern, is all.

[But he will protect a bunch of strangers just because they've been arbitrarily allied? Sure, ok Law.]

[callada]

Thanks. That's all I'd ask.

I personally try to help minimize harm done to the people of these worlds too, just because it doesn't feel right to act like we have any right to stomp all over them, but retrieving the orbs always comes first anyway, and sometimes there's a cost to doing that. It's better than leaving things as they are.

[kikoku]

Right. It's not like I go out of my way to hurt people. After all, most of the damage done with my ability is completely reversible.
[Did he mention this before? If not he has now.]

[callada]

Most?

[He'd been hesitant to ask for details before, admittedly. Turning in a hundred hearts to the government doesn't sound reversible, though. Killing Vergo was clearly not reversible, not that he'll ever complain.]

[kikoku]

Well, I can use Mes to extract someone's heart non-lethally and it can be easily slotted back in by anyone holding it as if nothing happened. But that won't undo any damage it sustained while outside of the body.

[This perhaps answers several questions.]

[callada]

... Wow. I... Should have guessed, I suppose. It's the perfect surgeon's fruit. But it always comes down to how a person uses it. Law, I'm...

[He stops himself as he slouches in his cell, waiting for a guard to pass. Even though the voice communication over the earpieces is all mental, it probably still looks bizarre that he's so wrapped up in some kind of intense thought, with so much affection on his face at the same time.]

I'm so glad you're the one with that fruit. For lots of reasons, but I mean - you're the only person I know who's clever enough to use it to its real potential.

[kikoku]

[He's really SO glad this conversation isn't happening in person. He's not used to being complimented so much?? Normally it's like "oh there's that notorious Trafalgar Law," "Surgeon of Death Trafalgar Law," "I hear some pretty nasty rumors about you, Trafalgar Law."

And that's the way he likes it!!! The fuck!!!

Anyway he's just been slumped to mostly conceal his face behind the ruff of his jacket from any passing guards in principle but now for even more reason.]

I could just hold Angrial hostage if I took their heart. I've done that plenty of times before. You'd be surprised how little applied pressure it takes to the heart to incapacitate a person.
[Law like STOP COMPLIMENTING ME CAN'T YOU SEE IM A BIG SCARY MORALLY DUBIOUS PIRATE???]

[callada]

But you can do it without actually hurting them long-term! That's so cool. I can't do anything like that. Best I could do is to try shooting her in the knee.

[Which he doesn't do much of because knees are fucking hard to hit?? He's just not going to talk about how many people he's had to kill on these missions just to keep their side alive, okay, apparently Law has a way better solution!]

Bet that wouldn't help anyway, she could probably stare a hole in your soul even with her eyes covered. I can't believe I miss long missions where I get to study someone for months first.

[Jury's still out on whether Angrial even has eyes, actually.]

[kikoku]

[Law thinks he should probably examine his instinctive urge in the face of unconditional supprt to do everything in his power to challenge it someday, maybe.

Not today though.]

Mm. Honestly I'd prefer that too. I'd rather take the time to gather information and make a concrete plan before acting, but the encroaching war makes waiting and lying low feel inadvisable.

[callada]

Right. And every time, it's been like this. We show up and have to act fast. It works, so far anyway, but it feels a lot rougher around the edges than I'd like. I like to think I'm not bad at improvising, but it's a lot to get used to - the timing, the huge team to work with, or around. Plus the orbs keep asking for more things from us.

I'm supposed to solve some kind of argument with violence this time around. Does combat count as an "argument" if this war can't wait until we've gone? That's what I want to know.

[kikoku]

Hm. Maybe? I feel like the intended meaning is to punch someone until they do what you say. It's not like you're beyond threatening that. [Getting aggro at all of those different doctors...]

How flexible are these tasks usually? Mine is to allow someone to remain injured when I have the ability to help them, amd I was wondering if it included myself.

[callada]

[Law does know his temper better than anyone else here, that's for sure. He'll just keep thinking over how to achieve it until he sees an opportunity. It's not an impossible task, just an irritating one.

Maybe made easier now that he's been branded a traitor of Taeum, though. No need to worry about playing nice.]

Unfortunately the orbs don't tell you if they accepted your attempt or not. By the exact wording of the request, that should work, but I don't know any better than you do. ... If you do that, and if it's not a minor scrape, stick close to me. I don't want you putting yourself at worse risk than you need to.

[kikoku]

[Musing... He doesn't really want to have to rely on Rosinante protecting him again!!!]

I suppose I could just do it to one of the people who bought their way in here... I wouldn't feel bad about that.

[callada]

I... don't think I would either, especially given the options. I'm sure you'll find yourself with more important priorities.

[Actually that's probably true anyway if war breaks out before they get sent back to the station. Plenty of people will end up wounded, and it isn't like Law can personally tend to all of them. Might as well treat the ones who aren't complete useless assholes first.

But. Maybe some of those who bought their way in aren't all that bad either, it's not like he knows them personally. It's just awfully tempting to generalize.]

[kikoku]

Mm... At this point I find myself doubting we're going to get out of this mission without getting at least somewhat involved in the war that's clearly about to happen. There's going to be plenty of time for chaos amd violence.