[Zoro sighs and changes his position, full body facing Baren. If it was this serious he'd give a proper promise. Face to face, eye to eye, nothing hidden or obscured.]

I promise I will never lie to you. I swear it on my life. You'll never have to worry about retaliating. I'll kill myself if I go back on my word.

[Every word is so unwavering, so certain, all unspoken until now. Baren's request is annoying not because it's unreasonable but because it's redundant. The promise had been sealed since the first time Zoro called Baren a friend. It was inherent within the word.]

I swear on my right eye I will always be here and I will always give you the truth.

[He takes back the drink.] That good enough for you? Idiot.

[It's not like Baren doesn't know a thing or two about the unspoken - he loves to dance in the grey area, taking misconceptions and half-truths and playing with them until they explode like fireworks. It's just—

It's just that even his poker face can't stay in place after that. Baren asked for honesty, but this sort of automatic extreme - Zoro putting his life on the line and promising to be here - that sounds more like... loyalty?

His expression grows uncomfortable because no one's ever said that shit to him.

Not once.

21 years, millions of people that he's crossed paths with, and maybe those promises were whispered drunkenly into his ear or give out frivolously and jokingly from people who didn't matter but.

But.

His expression eventually relaxes when he sighs and he finds his eyes wandering skyward. He knows that in theory, Zoro's not special. There's other people like him that could be found... probably on an island somewhere? Someplace warm, tropical. In theory, determined and loyal and honest idiots can be found anywhere.

Baren doesn't want to admit that he's pretty attached to the one in front of him.]

... I guess if it's like that....

[It's not just good enough for him - it's too good for him.

He knows that.

He can't promise the same, not in so many words, maybe just not out loud, and Baren knows that he does not deserve this.]

[ .... and so he doesn't address it. Instead, he shakes his head.]

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me"... or something like that, right?

[A beat.]

Right. Well, what I saw being hurled were more like - sticks, stones, dead animals, dung, words, insults, curses, death threats...

[ . . . and despite everything, he can't help but snort.] So I guess it just sounds like another Friday night for me, you know?

Either way, makes me think the shit that gets shoved into our minds and what we do are connected, since this came up not too long after your little witch hunt. Like a trigger or a switch.

[And it's automatic - how he gives away the barest minimum of his memory before trying to move on to the technical aspects. He's not even sure if he's done talking about it - what he saw - but figures that he's just really rusty at talking about himself.]

Makes sense. That'd explain why I got that bounty and some weird rooster obsessed with me. Or... past me. Whatever it is.

[The specifics are still confusing. A lot of theories get thrown about by smarter people with more time on their hands. Digital manipulation, kidnapping, alternate selves–the list was eternal and the explanations increasingly ridiculous. Zoro saw it as something much simpler.]

I think it's reincarnation. Like thinking that, at least. I haven't seen much but it feels like I wasn't much different. It's like we've got a legacy. Even if it's a shitty one at least we're making some impact.

[It's the first real comfort he's had since the accident. That maybe he'll live on, get another chance to leave a mark on the world. Achieve the things that society's keeping from him now.

Just a wayward indulgent thought.]

Do people really do that stuff to you here?

[All he needs are names.]

Optimism. You really must be drunk.

[But it's said with a wry grin as Baren fishes out a pack of cigarettes and his lighter, just one of his many vices. He'd come to terms with the fact that he doesn't think that his life will mean anything to anyone - he could have a statue of himself made and think that it's all for naught. That's a mentality born out of years of not letting anyone know your truth.

He doesn't see that changing - but reincarnation isn't a bad thought.]

Could be that. Red strings, nirvana, cycles of life and death - I don't really care about the details. Just that it's fucking with me in a way I didn't invite.

[And he lights his cigarette and it probably sounds like he didn't even hear Zoro's last question or he didn't plan on answering it, but. He ends up looking over with a smirk.]

Are you worried about me? That's cute. [he takes a drag of it before blowing a smoke ring out at Zoro's face] And really fucking stupid.

[He reaches through the ring and flicks Baren's forehead.]

My choice to be that way.

[He leans back and knocks the rest of the smoke away with the bottle, taking a sip.] I won't help if you don't ask. Doesn't mean I have to like it.

[Insults and death threats are one thing. Those are what Baren invites, consequences that Zoro will let him deal with. But violence–stones, rocks, whatever–he's not at a point where he trusts Baren to leave that unharmed.]

You need to stop pissing people off.

[There's a noise of irritation at the flick and Baren doesn't hesitate to swat Zoro's hand away in retaliation, nose wrinkling.]

And you need to stop telling me what to do.

[A shake of his head, the ring of his hair bells, and he takes another drag of his cigarette, this time releasing the smoke up into the air in his exhale.]

I do what I want when I want to. That's it. What people think, what people say... that's their baggage. If it's just me being me, then why should I change for them?

[He'd spent years of his life - years that he hasn't told anyone - crafting a personality that suited what people wanted from him. Charm, elegance, politeness, humility, and what did he get for it? A fucked up personality and a dead mom.]

Shit would be easier if people just laughed more.

That's more like it.

[The right words for every occasion. Is that what that modeling punk meant by charisma? Zoro doesn't think so. There's a different Baren in his house. One that's slightly more truthful than usual. Or that's how it feels.

Who knows?

Zoro sure likes that answer. Freedom's one of the few excuses that works for everything.]

People are too serious here. [A bit messed up when he's the one to say that.] Too many of them hold back.

[Zoro is the definition of an enabler.

Baren wonders if he should keep going with this - wouldn't that just lead to the same result where he's hated by a whole town for things that aren't his fault?

Except he remembers not being surprised by it. Maybe it's okay if he anticipates it, really does harden his heart to the idea of being so thoroughly hated.

It's a thought.]

Pretty sure they do it to be liked. It's not polite to say someone's dress makes them look fat, but what if it just does? Especially if they ask?

[god dammit]

Fuck politeness. 'm sick of it. [He might be a bit more aggressive with his cigarette in the next moment.] What's the point of being liked if it's not you?

[though maybe that's the celebrity talking]

"I don't care" works for that. Pretty truthful to how I feel about it too.

[He scoots forward, dangling his feet so that his toes dip below the water and kicking his feet.] Everyone here is gonna die before they do anything they want to. [He snorts.] Hell, they'll probably die before they say anything they want.

Feels like we're the only ones living sometimes. Don't mind being hated if I can feel like that.

[As if to punctuate his stance, he splashes Baren with water. Heh. Nice.]

[what the fuck - Baren's just barely able to raise a hand to keep the water from smacking him right in the face, flicking the droplets right back at Zoro before they can fall off his fingertips.]

I didn't know that rum made you five years old.

[He says, running his hand through his hair to fix it while also simultaneously sticking out his tongue. Uh-huh.

Though admittedly - the idea of being the "only ones" manages to make Baren feel a bit odd. He's never been the only one of anything, because - ]

My sister would like you.

I guess the three of us being adrenaline junkies wouldn't be so bad.

[Baren's disgust only encourages him further. He starts stripping off his hoodie.]

Bring her. I wanna see if she's crazier than you.

[One last sip of that rum before taking a running leap into the water. He tosses his sweater at Baren when he jumps. Maybe he can use it as a shield from the splash.]

I'm doing a practice swim for a shark race on Sunday. She a swimmer?

[He says it as if he's inviting them both to brunch and mimosas.]

[Baren is absolutely using the sweater as a shield from the splash - he has no interest in getting drenched unless it's on his terms. Then before he says anything else, he drops the sweater with a smirk.]

I know I looked bummed, but I don't know if a strip show is gonna do anything, Z.

[anyway.

Baren waves a hand.]

Whatever I can't do, she can. Anything I can do, she can do better. She'd kick your ass and I'm pretty sure you'd like it.

[did you know that okuni is a goddess who walks among us

anyway]

But no can do. Maybe one day - not now. I don't know if I'm ready for you to meet my family. It's all moving way too fast...! ♥

[Just how many times will Zoro splash Baren? Good thing he has that sweater because another wave is coming at him.]

Sitting next to you made me too gloomy. Toss me my ankle weights. They're right behind you.

[Might as well work out while hearing Baren out. Nothing can stop him. He swims to the edge of the porch to make the eventual handing off easier.]

Not smart to tease me like that, you know. I'll get eager.

[stop]

[this sweater is going through a wash at this rate - but then baren's just going to roll his eyes. fucking jock. meathead. muscle for brains.

some of those insults might be muttered under his breath even as he goes to do what zoro asks. he just think he might get dunked if he says no.....

though even as he offers them out to Zoro, he also leans down so that their faces are probably uncomfortably close]

Maybe that's just the sight that I'm dying to see, you know...?

[Anyone else and Zoro would uncomfortable but Baren's done this too much for Zoro to be surprised. He takes the weights and doesn't move away, slides a hand behind Baren's head.

And pulls him into the water, laughing.

Serves him right.]

[on the one hand: yes

on the other: fuck you

Baren saw it coming the second that Zoro's hand left the water, because what fucking else would this asshole do, but he's still too close to actually dodge. He played himself.

not that it stops him from getting pulled into the water and immediately planting his feet against zoro to use him as leverage to push off (or just kick him) and backstroke away before he's stuck in a game of chicken he doesn't want to play, surfacing with an irritated noise and a hand through his hair]

Fuckin' asshole!

[hIS HAIR. HIS CLOTHES. HIS!!!!]

[The kick only makes better. Zoro stays under for a concerning amount of time before resurfacing with boisterous laughter.]

You look better like this! It suits you!

[alright that gets Baren to snort.]

Water doesn't hurt the beautiful, fuckface.

[and he shakes his hair out before hoisting himself back up to the edge of the porch - it'd be elegant if it wasn't for the fact that it comes with a drenched plopping noise]

These clothes cost a small fortune. Your next paycheck is mine.

[is he kidding

maybe he's kidding

what he's not kidding about is apparently salvaging these clothes if he can, starting with unbuttoning his shirt right then and there this ain't gay at all nope]

[it takes zoro a bit to respond on account of doing leg rises underwater. For a couple worrying minutes all Baren will be able to see are Zoro's legs and his hands strapping the ankle weights on.

When he's finally finished he resurfaces with a gasp and eyes Baren's pants skeptically.]

They're just jeans, aren't they? How much can they cost?

[He and Baren have probably seen each other naked way too much for him to care about the reasonable stripping.]

[just

a Look even as Baren moves to stand]

... sweet, sweet, naive Z...

[baren has a couple of ratty old things that he wears when he's going graffiting or otherwise has an art project (and most of those are stolen. maybe from Zoro himself) but otherwise he probably doesn't own anything within a reasonable price range]

Guess you'll find out when I steal your bucks.

[then he's shrugging off his shirt and working off his jeans even as he

turns to head back inside]

I'm borrowing your shower, musclehead. Don't pull something and drown, I'll just ignore it.

[supportive]

As if this would kill me.

[He will let Baren go, continuing his water workout well into his showertime.

Eventually that tidbit about the clothing gets the best of him and he makes his way back inside. By the time Baren gets out, Zoro will be doing leg stretches over his phone, those wet jeans hung up on the back of a chair in front of him.]

I'm not buying you these.

[baren isn't even surprised though the expression on his face just looks... sad... pitying...]

... Can't afford it, huh? Work's been that slow...

[unfortunate.

though when he's getting dressed he's also. ignoring his designated drawer. guess who's borrowing zoro's clothes it's baren, but there's a method to the madness. probably.]

Stunt double usually means I have to double as the actor.

[Hard to do that with one eye. So yeah, work's been slow. His life has stalled. Thanks for the reminder, jerk.

It's Baren's lack of attention to his designated drawer that makes Zoro suspicious. And when he turns around--lo and behold.]

None of that fits you.

[Take it off.]

[You're welcome.]

That's why I've been pitching the MMA fighting idea. I'll be your manager. What could go wrong?

[Everything.

Anyway, he's not listening??? Just gonna find a hoodie and thrown the hood up over his ponytail - his feathers and hair bells are probably lying around somewhere. That's already a bad sign.]

And no shit, Sherlock. Kinda the point of incognito to not look like myself.