ᴛʀᴀғᴀʟɢᴀʀ ᴅ. ᴡᴀᴛᴇʀ ʟᴀᴡ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
countershocks) wrote2020-06-29 04:08 pm
countershocks) wrote2020-06-29 04:08 pm
[ Immediately after asking for Law's contact details, Rinne reaches out. ]
Hello? Sorry, I'm kinda not in the mood for any jokes right now. [ About his username. Yeah... ] I heard you were a doctor?
Hello? Sorry, I'm kinda not in the mood for any jokes right now. [ About his username. Yeah... ] I heard you were a doctor?
Edited 2025-06-08 22:02 (UTC)
Then maybe you should consider a different name if that is a concern.
[ not that he's about to make the jokes, but choosing a name like that seems counterproductive if you then have to start interactions with a disclaimer... anyway, ]
Yes, I am. Why do you ask? [ what are your symptoms, he almost asks, but it could be this guy is asking for someone else. ]
[ not that he's about to make the jokes, but choosing a name like that seems counterproductive if you then have to start interactions with a disclaimer... anyway, ]
Yes, I am. Why do you ask? [ what are your symptoms, he almost asks, but it could be this guy is asking for someone else. ]
[Rinne's tone is nervous, but earnest.]
I've got a friend. Something wrong with his lungs. I dunno if you've got another term for it in your world, but... you ever heard of tuberculosis?
He's had it for a while now. He's been weak since he got here. Sometimes when he coughs, there's blood in it. He sweats at night even when it's cold, and he's losing weight like crazy.
He hates sitting still and being treated like a patient, but it's gettin' hard to watch.
I've got a friend. Something wrong with his lungs. I dunno if you've got another term for it in your world, but... you ever heard of tuberculosis?
He's had it for a while now. He's been weak since he got here. Sometimes when he coughs, there's blood in it. He sweats at night even when it's cold, and he's losing weight like crazy.
He hates sitting still and being treated like a patient, but it's gettin' hard to watch.
Patho-Gen said I could have you as my doc. They were a plenty excited, so heads up that they'll probably be observing us like they do all Augmented.
Thanks for taking care of me. [ yoroshiku...... 🙇🏻 ]
Thanks for taking care of me. [ yoroshiku...... 🙇🏻 ]
[ well.
it's good news, and it's bad news, all at once. oh, he doesn't care about patho-gen observing them; he'll do what he has to, everything that he has to, for as long as it's necessary and not a moment longer.
no, the bad news is that ace is officially placed into his care.
(it's also the good news. he's a complex man.) ]
I work out of one of their facilities. Of course they are observing us.
Thank me after you're feeling better.
it's good news, and it's bad news, all at once. oh, he doesn't care about patho-gen observing them; he'll do what he has to, everything that he has to, for as long as it's necessary and not a moment longer.
no, the bad news is that ace is officially placed into his care.
(it's also the good news. he's a complex man.) ]
I work out of one of their facilities. Of course they are observing us.
Thank me after you're feeling better.
Yes, I have.
[ he could give a succinct explanation of what exactly it is — but he assumes rinne knows. he wouldn't be bringing up its name like this otherwise. ]
Has Patho-Gen given him no drugs for it? Why hasn't he asked for any?
[ he could give a succinct explanation of what exactly it is — but he assumes rinne knows. he wouldn't be bringing up its name like this otherwise. ]
Has Patho-Gen given him no drugs for it? Why hasn't he asked for any?
Yessir, Dr. Trafalgar.
Did you want me to set up a formal appointment?
[ he's quite willing to submit himself to whatever needs to be done, to find answers; the simmering, sickly-dark feeling of dread running rampant throughout his mind is eating away steadily at his optimism. and with sabo here... god, he doesn't know what's going to happen, only that he doesn't want to put sabo through it. ]
Did you want me to set up a formal appointment?
[ he's quite willing to submit himself to whatever needs to be done, to find answers; the simmering, sickly-dark feeling of dread running rampant throughout his mind is eating away steadily at his optimism. and with sabo here... god, he doesn't know what's going to happen, only that he doesn't want to put sabo through it. ]
[ the instinct to snap back not to call him that is strong, because "dr. trafalgar" makes him think of his parents — but that is what he will have to be here, to the locals, so he might as well get used to it.
so, ]
Considering I've had exactly two patients so far, I wouldn't bother.
Just let me know when you're coming. And make that within the next three days. I don't want Mr. Chief of Staff after my head because you've skipped your appointment.
so, ]
Considering I've had exactly two patients so far, I wouldn't bother.
Just let me know when you're coming. And make that within the next three days. I don't want Mr. Chief of Staff after my head because you've skipped your appointment.
What about right now? I finished my work for today.
[ To be fair, he absolutely says what he does to get a rise out of Law. They've never really met ( there was no reason to ), but being that the guy saved Luffy's life — it's opened him up to the fond hazing of not just one, but both of his big brothers. Sabo is the feral one, but Ace was definitely the rambunctious one. ]
You couldn't take Sabo????
[ To be fair, he absolutely says what he does to get a rise out of Law. They've never really met ( there was no reason to ), but being that the guy saved Luffy's life — it's opened him up to the fond hazing of not just one, but both of his big brothers. Sabo is the feral one, but Ace was definitely the rambunctious one. ]
You couldn't take Sabo????
Why not. The sooner the better.
[ and oh, he can sort of guess — ace treats him like he's friends with the straw hats, like his teasing is tinged with the kind of fondness he absolutely shouldn't have, and it annoys him as much as it reminds him achingly of shachi and penguin, and so in the end he just lets it be.
well. lets some of it be, because excuse you, ]
Of course I could. Normally. But my devil fruit isn't working as it should, here. I can't Awaken it at all, for one, and I needed that against Big Mom. Something tells me I would need it against your... what is he, actually? Your brother, your guard dog or your boyfriend?
[ ace may play at being nice, but law will not. it's a test of sorts: he's often rude on purpose, simply for this... to see.
( hey, captain, there's no reason to try and make people hate you on purpose! have you considered, dunno, being nice for once? says shachi in his head. law, says a deeper voice, you don't have to keep pushing people away. it's not a weakness to care for people, and be cared for in return!
shut up, law tells them both resolutely, and wonders if he should be treating himself, for having conversations with people not even in the fucking same world with him.) ]
[ and oh, he can sort of guess — ace treats him like he's friends with the straw hats, like his teasing is tinged with the kind of fondness he absolutely shouldn't have, and it annoys him as much as it reminds him achingly of shachi and penguin, and so in the end he just lets it be.
well. lets some of it be, because excuse you, ]
Of course I could. Normally. But my devil fruit isn't working as it should, here. I can't Awaken it at all, for one, and I needed that against Big Mom. Something tells me I would need it against your... what is he, actually? Your brother, your guard dog or your boyfriend?
[ ace may play at being nice, but law will not. it's a test of sorts: he's often rude on purpose, simply for this... to see.
( hey, captain, there's no reason to try and make people hate you on purpose! have you considered, dunno, being nice for once? says shachi in his head. law, says a deeper voice, you don't have to keep pushing people away. it's not a weakness to care for people, and be cared for in return!
shut up, law tells them both resolutely, and wonders if he should be treating himself, for having conversations with people not even in the fucking same world with him.) ]
[ rip law, he's en route now. ]
Yeah, mine either! I can't make my whole body fire now, for one. I can make contact with the water without becoming totally weak. And Sabo has the same Fruit! Did you ever have Haki, though? It's working a-okay for me, so far. But, I was never good at using it. I got too reliant on my Mera Mera, really.
Yeah, mine either! I can't make my whole body fire now, for one. I can make contact with the water without becoming totally weak. And Sabo has the same Fruit! Did you ever have Haki, though? It's working a-okay for me, so far. But, I was never good at using it. I got too reliant on my Mera Mera, really.
Edited 2025-06-16 23:16 (UTC)
[ — on the topic of Sabo, he falters. Brother, guard dog, boyfriend?
Boyf,
riend????????? ]
You have a weird sense of humor, doc. He's intense, but brothers are like that! Luffy was our little bro, after all.
Boyf,
riend????????? ]
You have a weird sense of humor, doc. He's intense, but brothers are like that! Luffy was our little bro, after all.
Edited 2025-06-17 00:43 (UTC)
I believe the Augmenter is dampening the effect of the devil fruit, both the good and the bad. But because haki is different, that seems to work just fine.
[ so, yes, he has it and can use it normally.
also, ]
If you say so. [ it wasn't a joke... he lets out a sigh. so that's how it is, then. if he were a better person he'd feel just a little bit bad for sabo. ]
Yes, I can't imagine growing up with him was anything but stressful. [ he had like ten mental breakdowns within the first three days of the alliance. he doesn't even want to think about luffy as a child. what a nightmare. ]
[ so, yes, he has it and can use it normally.
also, ]
If you say so. [ it wasn't a joke... he lets out a sigh. so that's how it is, then. if he were a better person he'd feel just a little bit bad for sabo. ]
Yes, I can't imagine growing up with him was anything but stressful. [ he had like ten mental breakdowns within the first three days of the alliance. he doesn't even want to think about luffy as a child. what a nightmare. ]
[ a prompt to discuss luffy that he spies........ ]
He was a really lonely kid.
You wouldn't think it, because of how readily he makes friends and gets close to people — but he was. He just needed someone to love him. I wasn't able to do it at first, but I learned to.
I'm here btw 🔥🔥🔥
You wouldn't think it, because of how readily he makes friends and gets close to people — but he was. He just needed someone to love him. I wasn't able to do it at first, but I learned to.
I'm here btw 🔥🔥🔥
Edited 2025-06-17 16:34 (UTC)
I don't need to know that.
[ a minute. two. three, ]
He seems to have enough people for that now.
[ a minute. two. three, ]
He seems to have enough people for that now.
[ to that last message, there is no response — but there is the world around ace turning blue for a moment, as if a film passes over him —
and then he is no longer standing outside, but in the middle of a doctor's office, law sitting near a desk, an examination table pushed against the wall, a door to his left and another at ace's back, both of them closed. ]
Fire Fist, [ he says as a greeting, glancing at the open folder on his desk. ] I told them we need privacy, but they will be privy to any notes I make. I assume you are fine with this?
and then he is no longer standing outside, but in the middle of a doctor's office, law sitting near a desk, an examination table pushed against the wall, a door to his left and another at ace's back, both of them closed. ]
Fire Fist, [ he says as a greeting, glancing at the open folder on his desk. ] I told them we need privacy, but they will be privy to any notes I make. I assume you are fine with this?
[ there is a terrible familiarity to this, and law sighs. ]
As it happens, I'm working with another patient with a similar case. He was dead before arriving here, too, and it's not left him without consequences. I suspect your friend is similar. [ he draws a breath, continues, ] The body that has been brought here, unless they have somehow remade him entirely, was already deceased. The illness should have killed him instantly when he woke up here — that it hasn't is both reassuring and intriguing.
As it happens, I'm working with another patient with a similar case. He was dead before arriving here, too, and it's not left him without consequences. I suspect your friend is similar. [ he draws a breath, continues, ] The body that has been brought here, unless they have somehow remade him entirely, was already deceased. The illness should have killed him instantly when he woke up here — that it hasn't is both reassuring and intriguing.
Patho-Gen can bring back the dead?
[His friend made it sound like he was the only exception... Okay. That was a wrong assumption on Rinne's part. What the hell.]
I know I'm supposed to be happy about that, but that's the thing, Doc: he's already been brought back from the dead before this. Like, several times. He thinks he was brought to this place the same reason he was brought to wherever he was at last. I don't know if he was sick each time, but I think we can assume that much.
I don't even know if medicine will fix him, but I dunno how else to help him. He won't tell me anything about it, and I don't want to lose his trust. He's always keeping himself busy, like he's trying to make up for lost time...
I want to get to the bottom of this, Doc. I'll pay you whatever it takes.
[His friend made it sound like he was the only exception... Okay. That was a wrong assumption on Rinne's part. What the hell.]
I know I'm supposed to be happy about that, but that's the thing, Doc: he's already been brought back from the dead before this. Like, several times. He thinks he was brought to this place the same reason he was brought to wherever he was at last. I don't know if he was sick each time, but I think we can assume that much.
I don't even know if medicine will fix him, but I dunno how else to help him. He won't tell me anything about it, and I don't want to lose his trust. He's always keeping himself busy, like he's trying to make up for lost time...
I want to get to the bottom of this, Doc. I'll pay you whatever it takes.
[ Luffy having his crew was the only reason Ace didn't fight harder to survive, after Akainu tore a hole through him. Knowing that he'd miss out on everything to come, but that Luffy — his lonely, lonely little brother — wasn't going to be alone anymore was enough to soothe the bulk of his anguish. Ace lets that part of the conversation go, with the enveloping blue light that surrounds him and whisks him from the outdoors to the middle of Law's office. ]
— wow! You know, I've heard of your Devil Fruit, but I never thought I'd end up manhandled by it like that!
[ There was little reason for Commander Portgas D. Ace and Supernova Trafalgar Law to meet, since Law wasn't targeting Emperors — and Ace was heavily preoccupied with hunting Teach down, rather than putting the rookies through their paces ( and poaching the ones in need of family ) on behalf of Whitebeard. It's not the first time he's ever seen Law in person, but. It's the first time he's really studying up on the guy. He's really lanky. He also has a great hat. #hatpirates ]
That's fine with me. I'm not trying to hide anything — [ liar, he's trying to hide certain things from certain people; from himself, even ] especially if your findings might help the other Augmented. I'm sure I'm not the only one going through this, so I'll do whatever you say.
— wow! You know, I've heard of your Devil Fruit, but I never thought I'd end up manhandled by it like that!
[ There was little reason for Commander Portgas D. Ace and Supernova Trafalgar Law to meet, since Law wasn't targeting Emperors — and Ace was heavily preoccupied with hunting Teach down, rather than putting the rookies through their paces ( and poaching the ones in need of family ) on behalf of Whitebeard. It's not the first time he's ever seen Law in person, but. It's the first time he's really studying up on the guy. He's really lanky. He also has a great hat. #hatpirates ]
That's fine with me. I'm not trying to hide anything — [ liar, he's trying to hide certain things from certain people; from himself, even ] especially if your findings might help the other Augmented. I'm sure I'm not the only one going through this, so I'll do whatever you say.
Edited 2025-06-21 19:16 (UTC)
Evidently.
[ and if they have done so twice, they must have done it more times than that — he wonders just how many among their number have already died once. ]
I see. I think the best course forward would be for me to see this friend of yours. I want to examine him... and I would suggest we try at least some medication to mitigate the symptoms. But I don't want to see him at my clinic. I work from a Patho-Gen facility, out of necessity, but I'd rather there's no official record of the meeting... if your friend agrees to it.
[ a pause. ] We'll discuss payment later.
[ and if they have done so twice, they must have done it more times than that — he wonders just how many among their number have already died once. ]
I see. I think the best course forward would be for me to see this friend of yours. I want to examine him... and I would suggest we try at least some medication to mitigate the symptoms. But I don't want to see him at my clinic. I work from a Patho-Gen facility, out of necessity, but I'd rather there's no official record of the meeting... if your friend agrees to it.
[ a pause. ] We'll discuss payment later.
I thought you'd prefer it, [ he says laconically, meaning that he'd prefer it to having to make small talk with the patho-gen people he'd run into on the way to his office... but then, ace is friendly. perhaps he'd have liked the talks.
for a moment, he tips his head to the side and looks at ace, expression impassive, eyes sharp and assessing; he'd looked back when they first met, too, but not this carefully. back then, ace had been straw hat's dead brother, but now he is portgas d. ace, his patient. there is a marked difference. ]
That'd be a first, [ he mutters in response to I'll do whatever you say, and then says, a little louder, ] Everyone is hiding something.
[ with that cheerful note, he stands up, grabs his sword. ]
I will start with a scan. It should show if anything is immediately wrong.
for a moment, he tips his head to the side and looks at ace, expression impassive, eyes sharp and assessing; he'd looked back when they first met, too, but not this carefully. back then, ace had been straw hat's dead brother, but now he is portgas d. ace, his patient. there is a marked difference. ]
That'd be a first, [ he mutters in response to I'll do whatever you say, and then says, a little louder, ] Everyone is hiding something.
[ with that cheerful note, he stands up, grabs his sword. ]
I will start with a scan. It should show if anything is immediately wrong.
[ Well, that's generous of him. Rinne supposes Law sees the benefits of having a case study, though. The more they know about what Patho-Gen's done to their bodies, the better. Rinne just doesn't want the man to have a hard time... ]
Thanks. That's fine with me. The less Patho-Gen's involved, the better. I'll send you his contact details ASAP.
[ Rinne forwards the contact details of Takasugi Shinsaku. But... Hmm. Reaching out to him isn't that easy. ]
Takasugi-san ain't your ordinary patient, Doc. The government branded him a terrorist when he was alive. He's gonna make things difficult.
Whatever you do, you need to make it look like I didn't ask you to do it. Can you handle that?
Thanks. That's fine with me. The less Patho-Gen's involved, the better. I'll send you his contact details ASAP.
[ Rinne forwards the contact details of Takasugi Shinsaku. But... Hmm. Reaching out to him isn't that easy. ]
Takasugi-san ain't your ordinary patient, Doc. The government branded him a terrorist when he was alive. He's gonna make things difficult.
Whatever you do, you need to make it look like I didn't ask you to do it. Can you handle that?
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