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dethoratsJust wanted to get two ideas that have been haunting me since Saturday off my chest.
Title: Castling
Rating: PG
Pairing: Shanks/Ben/Mihawk
Word Count: 1203
Beneath the constant murmur of the waves and the shrieks of birds, monkeys, and god-knows-what other types of wildlife, the near-silent click of stone on wood was impossible to hear. The summer type jungle island in the peak of its overarching season was its own special kind of hell. Endless tendrils of thick, bitter-smelling smoke coiled up in search of a sky that was shrouded by the canopy of green. Despite the heavy wood and pitch produced screen, biting insects buzzed and whined individually and in tiny, swarming clouds, feasting on the bare flesh of the men who had had the temerity to intrude upon territory where humans rarely dared to venture.
A cry went up from one end of the boat, followed by a loud splash as yet another over-eager snake dropped from the trees among the card-playing men only to be swiftly dumped overboard. Half-hearted shouts and complaints drifted across the deck to the prow. Laughing quietly, a strong, tanned hand decisively moved one obsidian rook forward before swatting at an exposed neck, killing a mosquito in the process. Shaking off the insect, the hand moved to the tankard settled along side the checkered playing board. The polished cedar shone redly in the torch light, glow reflecting up and onto the stone pieces so that shimmers reflected here and there into the blackness of the jungle, caught in the gleams of rounded yellow eyes, slanted green ones.
A pale chalcedony bishop slid across the board, the player behind it blinking eyes easily the equal in feral opacity to those hiding in the foliage behind him. A black pawn was captured, whisked off the playing surface to the accompaniment of another slap and soft chuckle. A few feet away, sweeter-smelling smoke billowed out of an unsmiling mouth as a tall man leaned over towards the rail, ears straining to make out the faint noises coming from the impossibly glowing den den mushi leaving trails of green incandescent slime along the wood. A nervous voice issued from the device, talking rapidly in clipped, frightened tones. In the background, the sounds of a struggle were clearly audible. There was a roar at one point and the sound of cracking stone.
“He’s…no,…they’ve breached the courthouse. The government’s key squad there is now arrayed against them.”
The tall man spoke scarcely above a whisper, all of his senses attuned to the creature on the rail next to him, but the two chess players heard him clearly. Obsidian moved once more, took out a knight, and the air around the three men grew very still. Over the insect whines and the mutterings of the crew, the noises from the odd snail creature grew louder and louder, the voice issuing from it more and more desperate. Then, following a strange whistling news and a silence whose pressure could be felt even in the far-removed stifling heat, was one final shriek before the den den mushi fell silent. Another plume of thin, grey smoke worked its way out, threaded its way through the branches. Three pairs of eyes watched it go, staring until it was lost in what little moonlight filtered through the heavy overgrowth.
Another minute passed; the den den mushi remained quiet, no longer painting a shining green stripe atop the railing. Finally the redhead sighed and gestured at the board.
“You gonna move?”
Golden eyes met soft hazel unflinchingly and a chalky-white pawn slid forward diagonally to capture its mirror opposite. The redhead nodded slowly, studied the pattern on the board. With a sudden crow of triumph, one that sent brilliantly colored macaws fluttering up from the tree line and made the purple spider monkeys gibber in their immense leaf nests, the black rook dashed forwards once more, capturing the white bishop. The tall man stood up from his crouch next to the mollusk-cum-device, shook his head as he sauntered over to study the board. White seemed to be in a bit of trouble. No more bishops remained and the side was down a rook, and knight, and half of its pawns. Its own side somewhat reduced, Black was nonetheless poised to sweep forward, pieces arrayed menacingly against White’s king.
“Time to press the advantage, hmm Captain?”
Slapping the tall man familiarly in the small of the back, the redhead nodded enthusiastically. Across the board, thin lips pursed and predator’s eyes narrowed. Sword-calloused fingers finally settled on the alabaster queen, sent it smoothly sliding forward away from its protective shielding of the king. Pitch pieces stood against it, the queen was finally halted safely behind a pawn. It waited there, as if in hiding, searching for the perfect opportunity to spring forth against the ebony figures. After the move, the hawk-like gaze flickered up to meet a deep brown one. The tall man drew in a breath, exhaled another smokey viper to join its anaconda brethren. Nodding, ink-stained fingers gently ruffled crimson strands, skimmed across a neck that was bare in a rare concession to the intense heat.
Sweat beaded, caught, rolled down into the trough gouged long ago across bright hazel. The captain blinked at the sudden sting of salt in his eye, stared tear-blurred at the board. Inside, wheels turned and plans laid in years past began to unfurl themselves for examination. Contingencies and disasters and not entirely unexpected D miracles were considered. The plot now in motion could not be stopped, not even for a threat as severe as a hidden queen. Taking a long draught of grog, the redhead shook hair out of his eyes, wiped his mouth on his lone, freckled arm. Frowning, he studied the pieces, considered the price of each, and slid the knight forward once more.
“Will it work?”
Light bounced off the gold cross as it shook when the Hawk-Eyes spoke. The ship’s captain sighed, shot a glance over at the now-sleeping snail phone, and caught the subtle shake of his first mate’s head. Waving his hand through a gathered cloud of gnats, Shanks flicked his fingers expansively across the board, then picked up one of the captured chalcedony bishops. He rubbed it between his fingers and remembered for a moment a tremulous, watery promise made to him years ago. Nearly all of the pieces of his scheme were in motion now, and his brave, unwitting knight had done more than most. The swath it had cut across the board had been fast and terrifying, relentless in its forward progress. He thought of Enies Lobby and the enormity of its gates and he thought of the shadowy circle of men who sat somewhere at a table looking at an equally quiescent mollusk all the while plotting their next move. And he looked at the rest of the pieces still on the board, identified each easily, gauged their strength.
“Aye,” Shanks said finally, putting down the white bishop.
The redhead drained the last of his booze, took Ben’s offered arm as he rose to his feet. Raising an eyebrow at Mihawk, Shanks jerked his head in the direction of his mosquito-netting appointed cabin. There would be no more utterances from the den den mushi that night. And no more need to continue their game.
“It’ll work. It's got to.”
Title: Adrenaline
Rating: PG
Pairing: ZoLu
Word Count: 280
In the quarter of a second it took for green to meet warm brown, a thousand thoughts and meanings were communicated. And then all attention was turned squarely back to the line of enemies standing over their nakama. A single tear escaped, rolled down Robin’s cheek. Luffy tensed, coiled power coursing through his rubber limbs, and Zoro let the wild grin that had long wanted to escape his stern frown free at last. His hand clenched around Sandai Kitetsu, the sword’s blood lust ringing in his ears as he scanned the line of their opponents. The situation reminded him in some ways of rival dojos and he hoped, with a longing fiercer than he’d expected, that he’d get a chance to watch Luffy in action and for the captain to see him.
It had been a long, long time – all the way back to their very first meeting – since they’d gotten to really watch one another face down a truly serious opponent. Zoro didn’t count Foxy among the numbers of the true enemies Luffy had defeated. And this, he bared his teeth at the sound of knuckles popping to his left, this would surpass even the battle against Crocodile that he’d instinctively felt but heard so little about. Blood would be spilled today, plenty at the ends of his blades if he had anything to do with it. And when it was over, Robin would be back by their sides and there would be bottle or two of booze with his name on it and an expected weary, overstuffed captain crawling in to bed next to him shortly before he would be able to drift off to a well-deserved sleep.
A/N: I went back and checked - Zoro does not see Luffy defeat Buggy, Kuro, Kreig, Arlong, Walpol (who doesn't really count either), Crocodile, or Ener. Nor does Luffy get to really watch Zoro kick anyone's ass after his butt is defeated by Mihawk. I find this VERY interesting, as at least Sanji got to see him whup up on Kreig, and Nami watched him beat Kuro and Arlong and Usopp watched him beat Arlong. I imagine, especially with the way the two of them are acknowledging each other's growing skills so much recently, that they'd really appreciate the chance to see each other fight.
Title: Castling
Rating: PG
Pairing: Shanks/Ben/Mihawk
Word Count: 1203
Beneath the constant murmur of the waves and the shrieks of birds, monkeys, and god-knows-what other types of wildlife, the near-silent click of stone on wood was impossible to hear. The summer type jungle island in the peak of its overarching season was its own special kind of hell. Endless tendrils of thick, bitter-smelling smoke coiled up in search of a sky that was shrouded by the canopy of green. Despite the heavy wood and pitch produced screen, biting insects buzzed and whined individually and in tiny, swarming clouds, feasting on the bare flesh of the men who had had the temerity to intrude upon territory where humans rarely dared to venture.
A cry went up from one end of the boat, followed by a loud splash as yet another over-eager snake dropped from the trees among the card-playing men only to be swiftly dumped overboard. Half-hearted shouts and complaints drifted across the deck to the prow. Laughing quietly, a strong, tanned hand decisively moved one obsidian rook forward before swatting at an exposed neck, killing a mosquito in the process. Shaking off the insect, the hand moved to the tankard settled along side the checkered playing board. The polished cedar shone redly in the torch light, glow reflecting up and onto the stone pieces so that shimmers reflected here and there into the blackness of the jungle, caught in the gleams of rounded yellow eyes, slanted green ones.
A pale chalcedony bishop slid across the board, the player behind it blinking eyes easily the equal in feral opacity to those hiding in the foliage behind him. A black pawn was captured, whisked off the playing surface to the accompaniment of another slap and soft chuckle. A few feet away, sweeter-smelling smoke billowed out of an unsmiling mouth as a tall man leaned over towards the rail, ears straining to make out the faint noises coming from the impossibly glowing den den mushi leaving trails of green incandescent slime along the wood. A nervous voice issued from the device, talking rapidly in clipped, frightened tones. In the background, the sounds of a struggle were clearly audible. There was a roar at one point and the sound of cracking stone.
“He’s…no,…they’ve breached the courthouse. The government’s key squad there is now arrayed against them.”
The tall man spoke scarcely above a whisper, all of his senses attuned to the creature on the rail next to him, but the two chess players heard him clearly. Obsidian moved once more, took out a knight, and the air around the three men grew very still. Over the insect whines and the mutterings of the crew, the noises from the odd snail creature grew louder and louder, the voice issuing from it more and more desperate. Then, following a strange whistling news and a silence whose pressure could be felt even in the far-removed stifling heat, was one final shriek before the den den mushi fell silent. Another plume of thin, grey smoke worked its way out, threaded its way through the branches. Three pairs of eyes watched it go, staring until it was lost in what little moonlight filtered through the heavy overgrowth.
Another minute passed; the den den mushi remained quiet, no longer painting a shining green stripe atop the railing. Finally the redhead sighed and gestured at the board.
“You gonna move?”
Golden eyes met soft hazel unflinchingly and a chalky-white pawn slid forward diagonally to capture its mirror opposite. The redhead nodded slowly, studied the pattern on the board. With a sudden crow of triumph, one that sent brilliantly colored macaws fluttering up from the tree line and made the purple spider monkeys gibber in their immense leaf nests, the black rook dashed forwards once more, capturing the white bishop. The tall man stood up from his crouch next to the mollusk-cum-device, shook his head as he sauntered over to study the board. White seemed to be in a bit of trouble. No more bishops remained and the side was down a rook, and knight, and half of its pawns. Its own side somewhat reduced, Black was nonetheless poised to sweep forward, pieces arrayed menacingly against White’s king.
“Time to press the advantage, hmm Captain?”
Slapping the tall man familiarly in the small of the back, the redhead nodded enthusiastically. Across the board, thin lips pursed and predator’s eyes narrowed. Sword-calloused fingers finally settled on the alabaster queen, sent it smoothly sliding forward away from its protective shielding of the king. Pitch pieces stood against it, the queen was finally halted safely behind a pawn. It waited there, as if in hiding, searching for the perfect opportunity to spring forth against the ebony figures. After the move, the hawk-like gaze flickered up to meet a deep brown one. The tall man drew in a breath, exhaled another smokey viper to join its anaconda brethren. Nodding, ink-stained fingers gently ruffled crimson strands, skimmed across a neck that was bare in a rare concession to the intense heat.
Sweat beaded, caught, rolled down into the trough gouged long ago across bright hazel. The captain blinked at the sudden sting of salt in his eye, stared tear-blurred at the board. Inside, wheels turned and plans laid in years past began to unfurl themselves for examination. Contingencies and disasters and not entirely unexpected D miracles were considered. The plot now in motion could not be stopped, not even for a threat as severe as a hidden queen. Taking a long draught of grog, the redhead shook hair out of his eyes, wiped his mouth on his lone, freckled arm. Frowning, he studied the pieces, considered the price of each, and slid the knight forward once more.
“Will it work?”
Light bounced off the gold cross as it shook when the Hawk-Eyes spoke. The ship’s captain sighed, shot a glance over at the now-sleeping snail phone, and caught the subtle shake of his first mate’s head. Waving his hand through a gathered cloud of gnats, Shanks flicked his fingers expansively across the board, then picked up one of the captured chalcedony bishops. He rubbed it between his fingers and remembered for a moment a tremulous, watery promise made to him years ago. Nearly all of the pieces of his scheme were in motion now, and his brave, unwitting knight had done more than most. The swath it had cut across the board had been fast and terrifying, relentless in its forward progress. He thought of Enies Lobby and the enormity of its gates and he thought of the shadowy circle of men who sat somewhere at a table looking at an equally quiescent mollusk all the while plotting their next move. And he looked at the rest of the pieces still on the board, identified each easily, gauged their strength.
“Aye,” Shanks said finally, putting down the white bishop.
The redhead drained the last of his booze, took Ben’s offered arm as he rose to his feet. Raising an eyebrow at Mihawk, Shanks jerked his head in the direction of his mosquito-netting appointed cabin. There would be no more utterances from the den den mushi that night. And no more need to continue their game.
“It’ll work. It's got to.”
Title: Adrenaline
Rating: PG
Pairing: ZoLu
Word Count: 280
In the quarter of a second it took for green to meet warm brown, a thousand thoughts and meanings were communicated. And then all attention was turned squarely back to the line of enemies standing over their nakama. A single tear escaped, rolled down Robin’s cheek. Luffy tensed, coiled power coursing through his rubber limbs, and Zoro let the wild grin that had long wanted to escape his stern frown free at last. His hand clenched around Sandai Kitetsu, the sword’s blood lust ringing in his ears as he scanned the line of their opponents. The situation reminded him in some ways of rival dojos and he hoped, with a longing fiercer than he’d expected, that he’d get a chance to watch Luffy in action and for the captain to see him.
It had been a long, long time – all the way back to their very first meeting – since they’d gotten to really watch one another face down a truly serious opponent. Zoro didn’t count Foxy among the numbers of the true enemies Luffy had defeated. And this, he bared his teeth at the sound of knuckles popping to his left, this would surpass even the battle against Crocodile that he’d instinctively felt but heard so little about. Blood would be spilled today, plenty at the ends of his blades if he had anything to do with it. And when it was over, Robin would be back by their sides and there would be bottle or two of booze with his name on it and an expected weary, overstuffed captain crawling in to bed next to him shortly before he would be able to drift off to a well-deserved sleep.
A/N: I went back and checked - Zoro does not see Luffy defeat Buggy, Kuro, Kreig, Arlong, Walpol (who doesn't really count either), Crocodile, or Ener. Nor does Luffy get to really watch Zoro kick anyone's ass after his butt is defeated by Mihawk. I find this VERY interesting, as at least Sanji got to see him whup up on Kreig, and Nami watched him beat Kuro and Arlong and Usopp watched him beat Arlong. I imagine, especially with the way the two of them are acknowledging each other's growing skills so much recently, that they'd really appreciate the chance to see each other fight.
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-21 04:47 pm (UTC)The chess one was awesome, I really loved the reference to Luffy at the end, that was great. X3
And pretty much, your author's note about the LuZo is what I think. XDDD
no subject
Date: 2005-11-21 11:30 pm (UTC)And your imagery in the first one was awesome! Both were great.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-02 09:17 pm (UTC)Castling: Oh, the pretty picture this paints in my head! All the imagery makes me happy indeed. (Just imagine me quoting every word of it right here.)
“He’s…no,…they’ve breached the courthouse. The government’s key squad there is now arrayed against them.” OMG, OMG! Squee! I love how this is tied into current events! And how the chess game is all... a metaphor (I'm a little stupid right now, I think that's what I mean, though) for what Luffy and co. are doing! And how your Shanks theory is tied in a bit! (And I was watching the news today, and one of the new operations in Iraq is called Operation Shank, and that made me think of you. Weird, I am.)
mollusk-cum-device Wow, I think dirty. And I'm laughing like a mad woman.
Adrenaline: In the quarter of a second it took for green to meet warm brown, a thousand thoughts and meanings were communicated. Awww! Happy making.
A single tear escaped, rolled down Robin’s cheek. Darn, but even thinking about it's gonna make me tear up again.