Typically, after the world ended, you had also thought that the many, many, tedious customs of humanity had died with it, like obligations to other people, or morals, or decorum.

Apparently, some people did not get that memo.

And you were stuck in a room with them, for hours, listening to debates and compromises and deeply layered backhanded compliments like you were in the fucking whitehouse.

It has been hours, you had no idea how many to be exact, there weren't any clocks in here, but you knew it's been hours, and you haven't chewed on a single thing, or said anything, not even a mummer, and you've been sitting in this dumb little loveseat and you were going to go fuckass zombie feral if these bitchass craven fogies didn't just forget the useless fancy talk and agree on something.

They've spent at least half of the whole meeting so far arguing over 'who's concerns were valid or not' and 'what changes were indefinitely going to happen'.

You couldn't even fall asleep because 'it would be rude' or 'you could accidentally growl out something half-aware'.

Both were begrudgingly good points, but even then!

It's not like anyone actually expected you to be an active member of this stupid get-together! You were a last minute invite! And even if someone brought attention to your group, Franky was the one doing all the talking.

So, when the time finally came for someone to call for a recess, you practically flew out of your seat and landed yourself in Katakuri's arms, knowing that the larger ghoul knew exactly how you felt, literally.

"I'm sorry about this, I wasn't expecting it to be so..."

'Civil, wearisome, outdated...' came to your mind unbidden, most likely translations from Katakuri's unfinished sentence.

You croaked a sound of agreement, very aware of the restlessness and irritation not quite belonging to you, skittering under the skin like a parasite.

"You worried?"

Katakuri's face scrunched up at being called out, "well, at least they're not demanding territory.. but that doesn't make things easier.."

The two of you spared a glance towards the Whitebeards, currently socializing with each other and visibly enjoying themselves in each other's presence.

The sight made you salty, since you couldn't be goofing off with your own crew because of this whole stupid debacle.

"I wasn't expecting them to demand access to the highway though"

You frowned, "what would happen if they got what they want?"

The older man paused to actually play out the scenario in his head.

"The highway, which is under our tight security, is the only safe route left for the west, if the Whitebeards got access, then not only would they be able to attain ample amounts of terf, but they'd probably stir things up with the powerhouses over there"

"Powerhouses?"

"There's a man named Kaido who controls the entire west coast, his numbers are near equal to ours if not more so, and compared to him, my mother might've well been a pacifist"

More aggressive than Big Mom? When she literally attacked three groups in a single swoop?

You felt bile threaten to rise at the thought.

"The only reason Kaido has never taken control of the mainland is because of another group led by a red-haired man with a scar"

"If they're as big of a threat to make even your mom think twice about messing with them, then wouldn't Whitebeard be smart enough to know not to piss them off?"

Katakuri's eyes narrowed, frustrated more than anything else, "usually you'd be right, but that stubborn old man has a code"

You opened your mouth to mewl in inquiry, but caught yourself just as your voice rose to the back of your throat.

"Mwau- ahem, ah what kind of code is that?"

You ducked your head in embarrassment at the seething look thrown your way, even without seeing the look on his face, you could feel the warning loud and clear in the air.

"Well, no pillaging from those unable to defend themselves, no rape, no torture, and absolutely no slavery"

You were quick to jump in surprise, not expecting to get a list of morals, especially ones way too good to hope for from most anymore.

"What does that have to do with Whitebeard clashing with the west?"

"Newgate doesn't just apply those rules to his men, but he also likes to force them down other's throats"

You blinked, resisting the strong urge to fidget in place and croon, though you mostly failed as it only took a few moments for you to start playing with your fingers and muttering nonsense under your breath.

"So.. he's got like a hero complex?"

Katakuri's face scrunched up, not from anything negative this time, you noticed, but from amusement.

"Something.. like that, he's just got some code of honor, one that Kaido definitely doesn't have"

You hummed in seriousness.

Either taking note of the wrinkle in your brows, or tasting your unease from the topic, Katakuri leaned in with a mischievous gleam in the eye and whispered too softly for human ears to catch.

"I couldn't really find a way to let you know before, but you look good"

You felt a stroke of flame heave up from your core, while you wanted to blame it on the context of his words, you knew it was more from the way his rich voice physically vibrated through you.

"Thanks.. your scarf looks cute" you tacked on.

As if rewarding you for speaking up, both of you were taken off guard by the rush of red caught on his cheeks.

The lively flush only lasted a few moments before Katakuri forced the colour away, but you swore to always retain the memory for as long as you lived.

Your conversation branched into more things from there, however, none of the topics really had time to take root as a new character approached the nook you had placed yourselves for the recess.

"Katakuri! Who's your dance partner here?"

Your body froze up in apprehension, taking quick notice of the Whitebeard insignia printed on his clothes, and dreading the attention of a potential threat.

Katakuri, having sensed your discomfort, had no problem in displaying his disapproval at the interloper's unheeded entrance.

"If you were paying any attention during the hearings, then you'd know that she is one of Strawhat's representatives"

The unnamed Whitebeard member winced good-naturedly at the Charlotte head's clear wounding.

But ultimately, wasn't warded off.

"I know, I know! It's just that I don't remember meeting her last time I saw Luffy, are you new?"

Next, the man suddenly directed the inquiry right at you, and for a moment you were scared of accidentally growling in your half-startled state.

"M' (Y/n), I joined a few months ago.."

He flashed you a friendly grin, almost too bright and relaxed to be shown to a stranger.

"So you've been with him for a while, yeah? Who were you with before that?"

"I was by myself"

"Huh?" The gang member looked like he didn't believe you.

"I lived by myself in the downtown area near the apartment complex"

The eyes rounded in disbelief then narrowed in doubt, "bullshit, that place is a zombie nest, has been since the first wave"

You wanted to snap your jaws at him, wanted to growl out in warning, to hiss low and deep from the furthest depths of your core, maybe threaten a nip or two.

You've been forced to sit still and stay quiet, you haven't been able to even make stupid sounds to knock out the buzz in your head, you've been surrounded by all these strangers and made to take their scrutiny without rise.

You've been forced to act all civil and normal and human, and it was driving you up the wall and this guy was suddenly grinding down your final nerves.

Could anyone blame you for feeling a little like salt in the wound?

Your agitation must have made itself known, because almost as soon as you began to think about bashing his face in, the Whitebeard shifted his stance into one less abrasive.

"Though, uh, well I guess Luffy does tend to pick up guys with unusual penchants for surviving"

Katakuri, bless his heart, put a definite step in-between the two of you and smoothly slid in front of the guy in a way that blocked you from his view.

"If you just came over here to interrogate my company, then you can go back to your men and find some other time to do it"

With the way the man had been behaving thus far, that being purposefully non-aggressive and polite- well as polite a man could get in the apocalypse, you assumed that he'd have no choice but to bow out in face of such a resolute dismissal.

You thought wrong.

"Isn't it the point of a recess to get to know your fellows? I just thought I'd ask her about what Strawhat's looking for in these discussions"

You felt Katakuri's mood worsen, and despite his seemingly endless patience, the writhing annoyance growing from within proved that his reputation might just be proven otherwise today.

Not bothering to stick around, you used your friend's bulk to your advantage, and slipped away from the souring interaction with intentions of moving to another room for the remainder of the recess.

Mentally sending an apology the ghoul's way, all it took was a quick scamper through one of the ballroom's many doorways and you found yourself on a well hidden balcony.

'Much better'

The breeze felt therapeutic in a way, a nice secret hideaway from the politics and civilities.

"Oh hey! You're with Luffy, right?"

'Fuck'

You suddenly found yourself in the company of not one, but now two Whitebeards, one of them easily recognizable as being one of Newgate's central men from the way his clothes were embellished with the Whitebeard gang's colours and insignia.

"Sorry, I didn't think anyone else was out here-"

You made to make a beeline back out into the ballroom, but the higher ranking Whitebeard member motioned you to join them, "nah it's alright, I saw Thatch trying to hit you up, I hope he wasn't too forward with ya"

Joining them for a chat wasn't really something you were planning on doing, but with the invitation now thrown your way, there was little else to do without being rude.

"No he seemed nice, I'm just a little tired" a lie, but not like they'd know that.

The other guy laughed though, as if he could see right through your excuse, "yeah, tired enough to run out here like your pants were on fire! Thatch outta really work on his approach"

A few inside jokes, all ribbing at the previously acquainted Thatch character, were shared between the two, before the higher ranking Whitebeard blurted out a gasp.

"Oh yeah, name's Marco, and this-" he jabbed a thumb into the other guy's chest, not so easily sending him into a wheezing fit, "is Ace"

"(Y/n).."

"Nice to- to meetcha (Y/n)! So, who were you running with before Luffy?"

'These guys really be going around asking the same questions, huh?'

Somewhat unsettled by the deja vu, you felt more hesitant in your answer upon the remembrance as to how Thatch reacted, "I wasn't with anyone before Luffy, I was on my own"

"Huh?" Ace gave you a disbelieving smile, and regret already began to burrow its way through your chest.

Marco seemed to have shared Ace's opinion, "I- yoi, I'm sorry.. I think I misheard you?"

"I was on my own, I survived solo before I met Luffy"

Not liking the conspiratory glances being shared between them, a rush of anxiety began to seep into your level head.

"Is there a problem with that?"

The men were startled by your sudden inquiry, if their rounded eyes were anything to go by, and the tensing postures were only making your stomach twist in knots at the visible discomfort.

"No-! Yoi, no of course not, it's.. it's just-"

"You seem a little too normal for someone who flew solo" Ace was the one that finally ripped the Band-Aid off.

"Too normal?"

Before Ace could elaborate, Marco elbowed his fellow in the gut, hard.

Watching as the younger man choked out threats in-between his heaves for breath, Marco quickly stepped in to derive attention from his floundering.

"What Ace meant to say was that- well, people who had to go alone through these times with zombies everywhere, and no security or trust anymore, usually- ah, well they usually don't take the isolation very well"

You quirked a brow, "would you rather I act like some paranoid trigger finger?"

Ace laughed from where he laid spread eagle across the balcony, much to Marco's ire.

"Of course not! We just weren't expecting you to have been a loner considering it's Luffy you've joined up with.. wait, when did you meet Luffy?"

"Um, a few months ago? At least five passed I think before Big Mom attacked us I've lost count at this point"

The bubbly man's grin cooled at your admission, "you mean.. you were roughing it on your own for that long?"

Not knowing whether the narrowed look being thrown at you was either from pity or suspicion, you decided to distract yourself with the scenery to avoid their gazes.

"I guess- I had it easy though, since I had an apartment easy to keep uninfected and close to a bunch of grocery stores"

Marco made a sound of agreement, "ah, that would probably explain a few things, where was the apartment?"

You wanted to growl, feeling more and more like you were being interrogated.

But if this is what it took to keep Whitebeard off your back, then so be it, no matter what they threw at you, there was no way you were going to let your friends down.

"It was downtown, I know it's hard to believe since that place was hit by the first wave really hard, but I had my ways to manage through the swarms"

One of them made a sound as if they wanted to press further, but another cleared their voice and it was let go.

"D'you guys mind if I fire a few questions of my own?" Feeling combative from the pressure mounting onto you from all of the politics and word battles, you dared to take the initiative.

"Sure" Ace quipped.

"Do you guys just go around asking every new person personal questions like this as a conversation starter or something?"

Ace had the sense to at least look ashamed, Marco, either from the maturity that came with his age, or the responsibility balanced on his shoulders from his higher ranking, avoided the discomfort the barbed question brought with a quickly disguised cough into the fist.

"Ah- yoi, well it's just a precaution, since you can't know what people are thinking these days"

You raised a non-impressed brow, "so you were interrogating me?"

"That's-!"

"Gurararara! This one's got some spunk, eh?!"

You nearly wheezed out a yowl in startlement from the unashamedly booming voice joining you on the balcony.

Turning away from the landscape surrounding the mansion, you felt adrenaline begin to make its way through your bloodstream as you came face-to-face with Newgate himself.