[ . . . he had a point to this

but like]

Pinning me to the bed on the first night in your new place, Z? Forward....

[apparently he's not mad anymore]

[zoro

punches him.

and scoops the ipad up and rolls off the bed. evasive maneuvers.

anyway, he'll just sit on the floor now, back against the bed, tapping the play button on the video.]

Where is this, anyway? There's color.

[what the fuck

baren absolutely makes a pained noise at that - openly. he's not very well healed from the week and he's absolutely exhausted.

his answer might take a second longer than usual.]

... The - void place.

[guh.]

[why is he surprised he got punched. stupid.]

An unreality twist?

That.

[.... he sounds tired just thinking of it. he might be.

everything is tiring him out a bit now.]

Wish I got yours. Half my team got caught in some messed up Candyland underground.

[Though he was sure both were hellish. An oceanic hell just sounds more fun.

He glances up at Baren.]

You want me to wake you up when food comes?

What the fuck, I love Candyland.

[That's... also a lie, but he can at least pretend to think it's funny?]

Nah, I shouldn't sleep more. It'll fuck up my sleep schedule even worse. Wanna meet my new friend?

[baren never calls anyone his friend, so that's a weird thing

but also

he's just going to show Zoro the selfie he took with the octopus chef so]

[maybe zoro would have picked up on that friend statement if he didn't just remember an octopus pointing eight swords at him and then making takoyaki.]

You know Hachi?

[Wait. Hm. He closes his eyes and shakes his head.] Sorry. Did he cook well?

[ . . . . what - ]

Who's Hachi....

It's a memory. I think. Octopus guy. Pretty freaky looking.

[there was another big thing...] Might've tried to kill me? [eh. he shrugs.] Guess he became a chef? Made good food.

[but all that is beside the point.] You didn't answer my question.

... what the fuck...

I guess there's honor among thieves... and pirates...

[but ok]

Yeah the piranha soup wasn't that bad, even though I had to be the one to round up all the piranhas.

[zoro shrugs. he doesn't know either.]

How was it? Never tried fighting 'em. Bet it'd be annoying.

Rounding up piranhas? Not hard. I was underwater with 'em so I just sliced the fuckers up and put them in a net.

[ . . . ]

I really haven't learned anything for all the fishing you do.

You still killed fish and ate it. That's pretty much all fishing is.

So why do you bother with the rod.... Just go diving and stab them all.

[????]

[he shrugs]

Sometimes I do.

[but the whole fishing schtick is romantic.]

But... sometimes you don't....

[what's even the point]

It's relaxing.

[YOU JUST DON'T GET IT]

[NOPE.]

Sounds fake but okay.

[at least food should be coming soon and baren's not getting out of bed to get it]