Drabble Time
Jan. 17th, 2006 05:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dethoratsFor the "obsession" topic.
Title: The Most Important Thing
Rating: G
Pairing: Gen.
Word Count: 100 even
The captain is a driven man, they would say if asked. Obsessed is more like it, but that makes the bright-eyed young man sound crazy. And his dream is anything but. He will be the pirate king, of that his nakama have no doubt. He will claim the One Piece. When he finally reaches his goal, it will be with his hat safely on his head and with plenty of meat for all. And above everything else they will be at his side - proud and pleased and their faith rewarded - for they are the most important of all.
Title: One Man’s Trademark…
Rating: PG
Pairing: Smoker/Ace
Word Count: 252
His nose twitches, catches a whiff of the scent that’s at once acrid and sweet. He follows it, questing like a bloodhound, stopping every few yards to tilt his head and sniff the air. There are strange looks and wondering glances but he ignores them all, towed along by the unmistakable smell. Lately it’s become impossible for him to resist; every time he breathes in the familiar odor it works on him like one of Pavlov’s dogs.
His shorts are tighter than they should be when he rounds a warehouse corner and stumbles into the wharf district. The strong scent of the sea almost overpowers the olfactory trail, but that’s familiar too and he grins, growing warm in anticipation. Usually he’s not lucky enough to end up anywhere near the ocean. Perhaps this time fate will favor him.
His face falls a few minutes later when he finds the large old man perched on a piling and fishing as he puffs away on a fat stogie. Polite to a fault, he still cannot resist the temptation that swells in him and he fishes in his pockets, digs out a handful of cash. The fisherman looks at him like he’s crazy but takes the money, handing over one of the spares he had in a pocket.
Ace takes the cigar, savors the smell. Holding it in one tight fist, he vows this time that he’ll only smoke it and wait for the real thing to take care of his OTHER suddenly insatiable urge.
Title: World’s Greatest
Rating: G
Pairing: Mihawk/Zoro
Word Count: 300
There are nights, and less frequently days, when all Zoro does is sit and stare blankly. Sometimes his white sword rests across his thighs. Sometimes it does not. His nakama have all learned that the swordsman is not to be disturbed when he has one of these fits of brooding. Pulling him out of it only makes his grumpier than normal and that puts Sanji into a bad mood, which throws off the captain when he doesn’t get his alloted amount of food. Of course that’s more than enough to disturb everyone else, and so they just leave Zoro alone.
There are times, scarce among the scant days he comes to stay but enough to be noticeable – he knows Ben is keeping count - when Mihawk can do little more than look out over the waves and get lost inside his own head. His host knows by now to leave him be and goes off to pester his first mate even more than normal to keep himself distracted. And the first mate only watches him and sighs, turning away to drag the captain off and leaving him to his thoughts. As for the rest of the crew, most fear him and so they too let him brood in peace.
Gold and green and the sounds of metal on metal and the feel of steel through flesh and above all the blood; the same thoughts cycle endlessly through two minds. They are connected, destined to meet, and as the passage of time drags on, the future confrontation weighs more and more heavily on their minds. Being the best isn’t just an admirable goal, it is a calling. One seeks to supplant the other and both fear their failure and, even more as they increasingly dwell upon the first meeting, their success.
Title: Earrings
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: ZoSopp
Word Count: 233
The question is driving Usopp slowly crazy, mainly because he can’t stop thinking about it. It seems simple enough; three earrings for the three swords. But WHY earrings? There are plenty of other mysteries about the swordsman, but this is the one that has consumed the sharpshooter lately. He blames it on the way the three golden drops catch the sun, send it dazzling into his eyes when he’s trying to work. He also points a knowing finger at the gentle chiming sounds they make when they strike one another as Zoro moves his head, whole body flexing and straining as he swings around his massive practice weights.
Maybe, just maybe, he also has feel of them, cold or warm metal depending on where the swordsman has been, to thank for his problem. The taste, too, is a culprit; all steely tang and bitter gold and salty-sweet hints of the swordsman’s earlobe sneaking through. Later, straddled over the swordsman’s lap and tonguing languidly over the backings of the three earrings while he listens for the telltale low rumble of pleasure that means the older pirate is just about ready to pitch him over and strip his overalls the rest of the way off, Usopp decides to put this particular puzzle out of his mind. After all, why Zoro had his ear pierced isn’t nearly as important as what those piercings do for him.
Title: Priorities
Rating: PG-15
Pairing: Shanks/Ben
Word Count: 276
Somehow what had started out as a simple game sprouted into a contest (and a one-sided one at that) and then grew even further into the realm of true obsession. Ben hadn’t meant for it to get so out of hand. It was just so damn frustrating! How was it possible for him to lose every single game of checkers they played? And although the odds for each game were always fifty-fifty, proportions told him that he’d simply HAVE to win eventually.
So he kept playing and losing and spending a large portion of his earmarked book money on buying Shanks booze and ending up walking around somewhat more stiffly than had been the case prior to his losing streak. Until one night, tired and sore and out of cash, he’d lost the final game. Staring at the black and red squares, something inside of him had snapped and he’d uttered a broken “why?”
Shanks, having risen to his feet and walked around the table, patted him lightly on the back. The pirate captain urged him to stand, and Ben had miserably complied, following the redhead into the bar’s restroom. After he had locked the door and stood with his forehead resting against the old wood, Shanks’ hand had snuck around his waist in a quick hug before it began working on loosening his sash. When his pants were pooled around his ankles and clever fingers were gently teasing his well-used flesh, Ben finally received a possible reason for his continued losing streak.
“It helps,” and Shanks punctuated his words with a slow push, “to focus on something more important than just the act of winning.”
Title: The Most Important Thing
Rating: G
Pairing: Gen.
Word Count: 100 even
The captain is a driven man, they would say if asked. Obsessed is more like it, but that makes the bright-eyed young man sound crazy. And his dream is anything but. He will be the pirate king, of that his nakama have no doubt. He will claim the One Piece. When he finally reaches his goal, it will be with his hat safely on his head and with plenty of meat for all. And above everything else they will be at his side - proud and pleased and their faith rewarded - for they are the most important of all.
Title: One Man’s Trademark…
Rating: PG
Pairing: Smoker/Ace
Word Count: 252
His nose twitches, catches a whiff of the scent that’s at once acrid and sweet. He follows it, questing like a bloodhound, stopping every few yards to tilt his head and sniff the air. There are strange looks and wondering glances but he ignores them all, towed along by the unmistakable smell. Lately it’s become impossible for him to resist; every time he breathes in the familiar odor it works on him like one of Pavlov’s dogs.
His shorts are tighter than they should be when he rounds a warehouse corner and stumbles into the wharf district. The strong scent of the sea almost overpowers the olfactory trail, but that’s familiar too and he grins, growing warm in anticipation. Usually he’s not lucky enough to end up anywhere near the ocean. Perhaps this time fate will favor him.
His face falls a few minutes later when he finds the large old man perched on a piling and fishing as he puffs away on a fat stogie. Polite to a fault, he still cannot resist the temptation that swells in him and he fishes in his pockets, digs out a handful of cash. The fisherman looks at him like he’s crazy but takes the money, handing over one of the spares he had in a pocket.
Ace takes the cigar, savors the smell. Holding it in one tight fist, he vows this time that he’ll only smoke it and wait for the real thing to take care of his OTHER suddenly insatiable urge.
Title: World’s Greatest
Rating: G
Pairing: Mihawk/Zoro
Word Count: 300
There are nights, and less frequently days, when all Zoro does is sit and stare blankly. Sometimes his white sword rests across his thighs. Sometimes it does not. His nakama have all learned that the swordsman is not to be disturbed when he has one of these fits of brooding. Pulling him out of it only makes his grumpier than normal and that puts Sanji into a bad mood, which throws off the captain when he doesn’t get his alloted amount of food. Of course that’s more than enough to disturb everyone else, and so they just leave Zoro alone.
There are times, scarce among the scant days he comes to stay but enough to be noticeable – he knows Ben is keeping count - when Mihawk can do little more than look out over the waves and get lost inside his own head. His host knows by now to leave him be and goes off to pester his first mate even more than normal to keep himself distracted. And the first mate only watches him and sighs, turning away to drag the captain off and leaving him to his thoughts. As for the rest of the crew, most fear him and so they too let him brood in peace.
Gold and green and the sounds of metal on metal and the feel of steel through flesh and above all the blood; the same thoughts cycle endlessly through two minds. They are connected, destined to meet, and as the passage of time drags on, the future confrontation weighs more and more heavily on their minds. Being the best isn’t just an admirable goal, it is a calling. One seeks to supplant the other and both fear their failure and, even more as they increasingly dwell upon the first meeting, their success.
Title: Earrings
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: ZoSopp
Word Count: 233
The question is driving Usopp slowly crazy, mainly because he can’t stop thinking about it. It seems simple enough; three earrings for the three swords. But WHY earrings? There are plenty of other mysteries about the swordsman, but this is the one that has consumed the sharpshooter lately. He blames it on the way the three golden drops catch the sun, send it dazzling into his eyes when he’s trying to work. He also points a knowing finger at the gentle chiming sounds they make when they strike one another as Zoro moves his head, whole body flexing and straining as he swings around his massive practice weights.
Maybe, just maybe, he also has feel of them, cold or warm metal depending on where the swordsman has been, to thank for his problem. The taste, too, is a culprit; all steely tang and bitter gold and salty-sweet hints of the swordsman’s earlobe sneaking through. Later, straddled over the swordsman’s lap and tonguing languidly over the backings of the three earrings while he listens for the telltale low rumble of pleasure that means the older pirate is just about ready to pitch him over and strip his overalls the rest of the way off, Usopp decides to put this particular puzzle out of his mind. After all, why Zoro had his ear pierced isn’t nearly as important as what those piercings do for him.
Title: Priorities
Rating: PG-15
Pairing: Shanks/Ben
Word Count: 276
Somehow what had started out as a simple game sprouted into a contest (and a one-sided one at that) and then grew even further into the realm of true obsession. Ben hadn’t meant for it to get so out of hand. It was just so damn frustrating! How was it possible for him to lose every single game of checkers they played? And although the odds for each game were always fifty-fifty, proportions told him that he’d simply HAVE to win eventually.
So he kept playing and losing and spending a large portion of his earmarked book money on buying Shanks booze and ending up walking around somewhat more stiffly than had been the case prior to his losing streak. Until one night, tired and sore and out of cash, he’d lost the final game. Staring at the black and red squares, something inside of him had snapped and he’d uttered a broken “why?”
Shanks, having risen to his feet and walked around the table, patted him lightly on the back. The pirate captain urged him to stand, and Ben had miserably complied, following the redhead into the bar’s restroom. After he had locked the door and stood with his forehead resting against the old wood, Shanks’ hand had snuck around his waist in a quick hug before it began working on loosening his sash. When his pants were pooled around his ankles and clever fingers were gently teasing his well-used flesh, Ben finally received a possible reason for his continued losing streak.
“It helps,” and Shanks punctuated his words with a slow push, “to focus on something more important than just the act of winning.”
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no subject
Date: 2006-01-17 05:18 pm (UTC)Yum. You've filled my recent craving for SmoAce, and MihawkZoro rather nicely- love the others, too- but I was CRAVING those. ^_^
Hmm. I owe you some comments for the other ZoSopp a while back, too- I'll get on that in a bit... I hope... (If I forget again, I really liked it; but I'll expound on that later, assuming I remember...)
Sorry about the car- I feel your pain- I had to drop about $300 into brakes a few months ago, along with another $2000 for my tranny... oh, ouch.
You know, that was my second, favorite Sonata Arctica song (Wolf and Raven came first... but I think I like that better, now) and got played a WHOLE LOT when I first got that album. In fact... *pulls cd out, now* Ah, that's better. ^_^
no subject
Date: 2006-01-18 09:05 am (UTC)As for the ZoSopp, no worries on the commenting, but I'm glad you liked it!
*pops in Sonata Arctica after reading your comment* This IS nice. They're on tour in the U.S. actually. Tonight was the night they were down in D.C. I had wanted to go but work had to come first.
Lastly, in my own disjointed reply XD, Thanks SOOOOO much for putting me in contact with your friend regarding the Katsucon room! Now I don't have to worry about dragging certain obnoxious pieces of cosplay back and forth on the Metro!
no subject
Date: 2006-01-18 03:19 pm (UTC)Gah! I think I'm gonna miss Sonata Arctica again! >_< We had tried to go to a show last year- had even bought the tickets, but they changed the day on us, and we couldn't drive three hours for a show when we had to work the next day... -_- Ah well, I’ll talk to Bryan and see if I can’t talk him into it- there’s one in Cleveland on a Sunday… that’s not TOO far. (Btw- I’ve got some music video’s of theirs I snagged off of Nick, a while back, if you want any. ^_~)
As for Katsu- No prob! I'm glad it all worked out. ^_^ I knew she was looking for someone to share the room, and I had already made plans before they had decided to go (though I'm rather regretting them now, as I DO have to commute every day... -_- Oh well, at least the stay is free. *laughs*)
Well, its not too bad- Kate'll probably let me change up there, at least; if I'm bringing Alucard, I don't want to be in that all day.