Odds and Ends

[dethorats]

Title: Sailor's Adage
Rating: PG
Pairing: Implied Shanks/Ben
Word Count: 370



Red sky at night,

Ben exhales a long plume of smoke, cigarette dangling carelessly between his fingers, the ashes falling like a smattering of dirty snowflakes against the side of the ship and the waves lapping gently against its tarred planks. Behind him the usual frivolity is going on; bursts of laughter ringing out in between shouts for food and the clinking of mugs and glasses against one another during the endless rounds of toasts. The sun is glowing warmly as it sinks into the welcoming bosom of the sea, red-gold rays streaking the few clouds and turning them pink. Celestial joy, he thinks, snorting privately at himself and at the truly over the top painting from their latest raid that Shanks had decided needed to be hung above the bed. He turns at the sound of his name, his captain grinning like a loon and already at least one sheet to the wind, and tosses his cigarette overboard. His fingers are already itching to wrap around the overfull mug Shanks is using to beckon him over to his side.

Sailor’s delight.

…

Red sky in the morning,

The sun doesn’t seem to want to get out of bed and Ben watches it with a mixture of annoyance and grudging sympathy. He didn’t much want to leave the warmth of his blankets and Shanks’ gentle snores either but a postal gull had arrived and he knew better than to rouse his captain after a hard night of drinking unless it was really important. The rest of the crew knew better as well and that was why he was the one standing on the deck and frowning through his hangover at the nearly illegible scrawl on the paper in his hand. The light lies in faintly crimson stripes over the words, barely enough to see by and certainly not strong enough to fight off the chill the suddenly climbs up Ben’s spine. He sighs and squints at first the fading stars and then the baleful bloodshot eye that is the rising sun. It’s too early but he heads for the galley anyway. Shanks will need his hangover cure all the more once Ben gives him the bad news.

Sailor take warning.

Comments

[shake-the-stars.livejournal.com]

Because, you know, the unborn go to church all the time and thus obviously require protection. Also, I find it interesting that many of the extremists are men, who will never have to deal with an unwanted pregnancy and can, biologically and socially speaking, walk away. (Seriously, what is wrong with our society when we demonize women who choose to take responsibility by terminating an unwanted pregnancy but let people who don't take care of the offspring they already brought into the world get away with a slap on the wrist?)

Re: Foreign Policy, DOOOOO IIIIIIIT. XD It is your DESTINY.

Also, my life too has been with the angst, so I have no room to mock.