[yup. things are seemingly back to normal. zoro's just like. casually doing chin-ups in a doorway. doesn't even stop for conversation.]

Congratulations.

[fuck sanji]

[Why is he this way.

Not that Baren seems to think much about it? He'll just go sit on the couch and wave a hand.]

No, not like that, stupid.

Like he'll tell me if he sees the rest of your crew sort of saw him.

[So an actually fairly important kind of thing.]

Asshole doesn't know what most of them look like. How's he supposed to keep watch?

[fuck sanji!!!!]

He's getting memories back whether he likes it or not.

[even if baren doesn't feel comfortably sharing the details of them...]

He remembers Nami now at least.

[that makes zoro pause]

He say anything about her?

She's cuter than me?

[uh]

Are you asking me or...?

Not really, I don't trust your taste.

But that's what Sanj said - it's probably true since I'm not exactly the cute type, but I haven't met her myself so I'm not sure.

[peacock....]

And something about a giant crocodile.

Giant crocodile? You mean snake? I don't remember a giant crocodile.

[fine. he's stopping his chin-ups altogether now. new info is more important than doing another set of two thousand.]

Nope, I heard crocodile. So just one more thing to add to your zoo of memories.

[He's still debating how much more he should actually share - Zoro has more of his allegiance than Sanji but it's still not in Baren's nature to reveal other people's information.

Maybe it'll be balance since he told Sanji about the crew...?]

[ah. shit. wait.

halfway through baren's reply, zoro leans against the doorway and covers his face.]

Bananadiles. [he corrects baren despite himself. particularly despite the fact that he would rather die than tell baren the memory he just regained.]

[which means

baren is sitting up, excited]

Yeah?

[IS THERE AN ATTACK NAME INVOLVED]

What're you so excited about? Down, pup.

[idk where zoro just picked up this pillow from but it's now being thrown at baren's face.]

[he's gonna catch it, laughing. his pillow now.]

Your memories are either about your crew or are just glorious fantasies that sound like they were cooked up at 4 AM by someone high as a jet plane over a box of animal crackers. C'mon, what's the new story?

Just the dumb asshole kicking a giant crocodile with a banana on its head. Nothing big.

[he doesn't mention that this is, in fact, big. nor does he mention the fact that sanji was saving him from drowning in a bizarre jail cell.]

[yeah that does match up with what sanji said

but also there's the no lying rule

Baren watches Zoro for a moment - but files this under "if it's no big to him he's either downplaying it or trying not to talk about it".

technically not a lie.]

You saw him do it?

Yeah.

[this is getting DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO WHAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO SAY. his embarrassment is already showing up in its classic form of frustration.]

[ . . . uh huh.

Baren just pauses at that.]

... You know, the less you give me to work with, the less I can use to poke at his memories.

HE DOESN'T NEED TO KNOW THAT!

[erk. shit. it's obvious now, isn't it?]

Picking and choosing what you think he needs to know? Now that's just mean, Z.

[yeah it's obvious]

He remembered what he did. What else matters?!

[sighs he's getting huffy now]

Why he was there?

[just a guess]

[fuck




he glances away. mumbles:]

Save some people.

[ . . . ok better]

Did you lose to giant crocodiles.

Like hell I did! I would have kicked that thing's ass myself if I wasn't locked up!

[-SHIT]