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dethoratsHina -> Tashiga fic, not too heavy, 1,879 words long...the finished version of the little blurb I started yesterday.
Just a note...this isn't heavily edited
"Full house, Hina wins again." The marine captain smirked as she leaned forward to drag the considerable pot back to add to her stash of beris. Around the table various faces frowned, scowled, or grinned in acceptance. The night was waning slowly into dawn, and Hina had had a remarkable string of what the other marines decided to call luck. She'd attribute it to the fact that she wasn't drinking that much, and obviously, she wasn't a stupid man, easily able to plot strategy and wear a perfectly blank poker face.
Hina idly fingered a golden coin, waiting for the ship's commander to determine if there would be another round. Finally, from the thick haze of cigar smoke that wreathed the far side of the table, the head of the ship conceded his own defeat. Smoker's gravelly voice, low and deep, rumbled out from his personal cloud. "That's it. I'm done for the night."
This was variously greeted with sighs of relief and one or two complaints that with another round all that money could be won back. Hina just grinned, leaning back in her chair as she contemplated her winnings. The various marines around the table stood to leave, yawning, grumbling, and joking as they shuffled out into the beginnings of a gray morning. With a snap of her fingers, her lackeys jumped forward from their places along one wall. She was impressed; for once the two had actually done as she had asked.
Fullbody and Jango batted at each other as each attempted to be the first to reach their beloved Hina. A dual punch to the gut had both of them bowing low, hands wrapped around their stomachs as they awaited Hina's orders. She decided to grace them with a smile...after all, it wasn't often that the two could be quiet and well-behaved for over two hours. She waved a hand towards the table, sweeping it broadly over her winnings. The two men simpered adoringly over her. "Hina-sama is so amazing to have won so much. Hina-sama is the best!" How very true that was, and how much more fun it was to rub it in Smoker's face.
"Hina didn't have to try very hard tonight. It was easy for Hina to win." She smiled sweetly across the table, inwardly amused at the grunt that answered. "Anyway, Hina needs you to take Hina's money back to Hina's ship. Hina will be along shortly." The two marines jumped over each other to be the one to grab Hina’s winnings, spilling coins all over the floor in the process. With a sigh, Hina reached over and wrapped the two sharply on the head. “Stop that! Hina won so much that you both need to carry some.”
“I’ll carry the most to show Hina-sama my love.”
“No, I’ll carry the most.”
Shoving and bickering, the two besotted men managed to gather all of the beris, taking turns kicking each other as they headed out the door.
“Why do you put up with those…those…those two IDIOTS?”
Hina shot a sweet smile at Smoker; it was partly to annoy him that she bade Fullbody and Jango come with her. Smoker was just too easy to rile, and far too much fun to annoy, especially since his antics had dragged her all the way out to this pile of sand. “You don’t like Hina’s choice of associates? They did manage to capture several ships of BW agents.” Hina chose not to mention how long it had taken them or how disappointed she was that they hadn’t caught more, or that they had helped let Straw Hat Luffy and his crew slip through her fingers.
Smoker just scowled at her, and she sighed. She was tired, the games of all-night poker beginning to catch up with her. But it was necessary to keep Smoker occupied, it wouldn’t do to have him also slip away under her watch and miss his promotion. He was an old friend, but he was also a genuine pain in her shapely ass. This whole mess had been a pain in the ass, and she was ready for it to be over. She shoved back her chair, rising to her feet.
“Hina will return to her ship now. There is still much to be done before the ceremony. Hina suggests you get some beauty sleep. You certainly could use it.” And with that parting shot, she turned on her heel and left. She muttered to herself as she stalked along the deck. How anyone could stand to serve that stubborn jackass was beyond her sometimes. Hell, at the moment men in general were beyond her. For all that there were women in the rebellion, in BW, in the marines, that the princess helped save her country, this whole affair felt like a load of macho posturing to her. It was at times like these that she wondered why she’d even bothered with the marines in the first place.
Hina shook her head. No, she knew why she was a marine. It was about justice and helping those who couldn’t help themselves. And the truth was, she liked fighting pirates and thieves, at least when it was obvious they were bad. She liked the power of her command, and the sea itself provided a strong pull. She gazed out across the ocean, letting it calm her, lighten the mood. The first streaks of red had appeared in the faded navy sky, the heat already burning off the bit of fog that had enshrouded Alubarna overnight. The ocean was calm, a glassy gray-green that stretched as far as she could see. The day would be hot and long, but the morning was shaping up to be relatively pleasant.
Hina rounded the corner of the main cabin, her boots making a sharp, thin echoes on the wooden planking. It was another noise that halted her progress, a quiet series of grunts issuing from the figure moving across the bow. Sergeant Major, soon to be Lieutenant, Tashigi swept across the deck, her form surprisingly graceful to those who only saw her usual clumsy attempts at walking. She was wearing an old ensign’s shirt; one that had seen much wear from the faded quality and the haphazardly sewn patches. She was also clad in rather short shorts, much to Hina’s amazement. The captain hadn’t ever known Tashigi to be seen without her customary jeans or at least bottoms that ended below her knees.
The young woman’s legs were long and coltish, clearly she had yet to finish growing into them. They were pale from lack of sun, and a nasty looking scar ran in an angry red furrow from the middle her left knee north to disappear under the fabric of the rather skimpy red shorts. Bruises and several small scrapes also freckled Tashigi’s flesh, fading signs of her involvement in the struggle for Alabasta. Hina stepped back into the shadow of the cabin, watching Smoker’s second continue her exercises.
That scar drew her eyes, and she traced its path again and again, wondering just how far it climbed. It was obviously made by a sword, the cut too deep and straight to have been anything else. Hina hadn’t known Tashigi was marked, but now it was not so surprising the girl only ever seemed to wear pants and never swam. Hina could feel something in her respond to that mark, ratcheting up her respect for the officer yet again. After all, it was a brave man that managed to survive under Smoker’s command, and Tashigi took the brunt of all his frustrations and male stupidity. But the girl had responded well to Smoker’s brand of tough love, and her loyalty was absolute. It was another sign of her strength that the men responded to her with the same respect and loyalty they gave to Smoker. Tashigi could be a klutz, but she had a keen sense of justice and a dedication to the pursuit of truth. Her sailors honored that, and served her well.
That she could handle the physical pain that came from battle was a welcome surprise. It was obvious that she had learned a lesson about the emotional costs of leadership here in Alabasta, and clearly she knew about the costs to the body. Her lean figure continued its path back and forth across the deck. It was a sword kata, Hina now saw, Tashigi’s beloved Shigure held tight in both hands as she ran through her exercise. Her eyes were closed, glasses glinting in the early rays from their perch on the railing. A small wrinkle ran between her brows betraying her concentration. She was breathing through her nose, occasional grunts escaping her lips during particularly strenuous maneuvers. Overall, the effect was one of power and grace, as Tashigi flowed smoothly through the forms.
A slight breeze washed across the deck, carrying the familiar scent of salt as it ruffled through the Sergeant Major’s short, dark hair. It suddenly struck Hina that the whole picture was beautiful, a bit of elegance on an otherwise coarse ship. And as she saw this, she became more aware of the curves of the swordswoman, the smoothness of her skin. She allowed herself this moment of weakness. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t looked at Tashigi before. But somehow the growth the younger woman had experienced here in this harsh land made her far more compelling that usual. Tashigi suddenly burst into a flurry of motion, thrusts and strikes cutting the air almost too quickly for the eye to follow. With a final, panted “Hya!” she drove Shigure forward, its point even with her heart. She held this extended pose for a long moment, muscles tense with strain, before pulling in.
Her body seemed to shrink as she sank to the deck in a lotus position, her sword still clasped between her hands. Her head bowed over her lap, her forehead resting lightly against the back of her blade. Her sigh was weary and sad, and a part of Hina wanted to go over to the young woman, to let her know that she’d survive this. But Hina knew better than to let her feelings get in the way. She’d come this far through discipline and a cold denial of emotions. Dispassion kept her in command, sternness and power gave her respect. And if she’d mellowed enough to let Fullbody and Jango behave like fools, well, at least they were good for her sailors’ morale. However, she wasn’t without consideration, and it was on tiptoe that she left her post to head for the gangplank.
A final glance back showed Tashigi still seated in meditation, the woman now looking a bit more serene as she gathered herself to face the day and her future. Hina allowed herself a small smile, an honest one that held no sardonic humor for a change. The girl was rising fast, and she had no doubt that Smoker would get them into more trouble and more promotions. Soon enough they’d be equals, and then she could pursue certain lines of thought much more closely. And for now, she had a pile of Smoker’s money, her own personal flunkies, and her beloved ship, men, and duties to return to.
Just a note...this isn't heavily edited
"Full house, Hina wins again." The marine captain smirked as she leaned forward to drag the considerable pot back to add to her stash of beris. Around the table various faces frowned, scowled, or grinned in acceptance. The night was waning slowly into dawn, and Hina had had a remarkable string of what the other marines decided to call luck. She'd attribute it to the fact that she wasn't drinking that much, and obviously, she wasn't a stupid man, easily able to plot strategy and wear a perfectly blank poker face.
Hina idly fingered a golden coin, waiting for the ship's commander to determine if there would be another round. Finally, from the thick haze of cigar smoke that wreathed the far side of the table, the head of the ship conceded his own defeat. Smoker's gravelly voice, low and deep, rumbled out from his personal cloud. "That's it. I'm done for the night."
This was variously greeted with sighs of relief and one or two complaints that with another round all that money could be won back. Hina just grinned, leaning back in her chair as she contemplated her winnings. The various marines around the table stood to leave, yawning, grumbling, and joking as they shuffled out into the beginnings of a gray morning. With a snap of her fingers, her lackeys jumped forward from their places along one wall. She was impressed; for once the two had actually done as she had asked.
Fullbody and Jango batted at each other as each attempted to be the first to reach their beloved Hina. A dual punch to the gut had both of them bowing low, hands wrapped around their stomachs as they awaited Hina's orders. She decided to grace them with a smile...after all, it wasn't often that the two could be quiet and well-behaved for over two hours. She waved a hand towards the table, sweeping it broadly over her winnings. The two men simpered adoringly over her. "Hina-sama is so amazing to have won so much. Hina-sama is the best!" How very true that was, and how much more fun it was to rub it in Smoker's face.
"Hina didn't have to try very hard tonight. It was easy for Hina to win." She smiled sweetly across the table, inwardly amused at the grunt that answered. "Anyway, Hina needs you to take Hina's money back to Hina's ship. Hina will be along shortly." The two marines jumped over each other to be the one to grab Hina’s winnings, spilling coins all over the floor in the process. With a sigh, Hina reached over and wrapped the two sharply on the head. “Stop that! Hina won so much that you both need to carry some.”
“I’ll carry the most to show Hina-sama my love.”
“No, I’ll carry the most.”
Shoving and bickering, the two besotted men managed to gather all of the beris, taking turns kicking each other as they headed out the door.
“Why do you put up with those…those…those two IDIOTS?”
Hina shot a sweet smile at Smoker; it was partly to annoy him that she bade Fullbody and Jango come with her. Smoker was just too easy to rile, and far too much fun to annoy, especially since his antics had dragged her all the way out to this pile of sand. “You don’t like Hina’s choice of associates? They did manage to capture several ships of BW agents.” Hina chose not to mention how long it had taken them or how disappointed she was that they hadn’t caught more, or that they had helped let Straw Hat Luffy and his crew slip through her fingers.
Smoker just scowled at her, and she sighed. She was tired, the games of all-night poker beginning to catch up with her. But it was necessary to keep Smoker occupied, it wouldn’t do to have him also slip away under her watch and miss his promotion. He was an old friend, but he was also a genuine pain in her shapely ass. This whole mess had been a pain in the ass, and she was ready for it to be over. She shoved back her chair, rising to her feet.
“Hina will return to her ship now. There is still much to be done before the ceremony. Hina suggests you get some beauty sleep. You certainly could use it.” And with that parting shot, she turned on her heel and left. She muttered to herself as she stalked along the deck. How anyone could stand to serve that stubborn jackass was beyond her sometimes. Hell, at the moment men in general were beyond her. For all that there were women in the rebellion, in BW, in the marines, that the princess helped save her country, this whole affair felt like a load of macho posturing to her. It was at times like these that she wondered why she’d even bothered with the marines in the first place.
Hina shook her head. No, she knew why she was a marine. It was about justice and helping those who couldn’t help themselves. And the truth was, she liked fighting pirates and thieves, at least when it was obvious they were bad. She liked the power of her command, and the sea itself provided a strong pull. She gazed out across the ocean, letting it calm her, lighten the mood. The first streaks of red had appeared in the faded navy sky, the heat already burning off the bit of fog that had enshrouded Alubarna overnight. The ocean was calm, a glassy gray-green that stretched as far as she could see. The day would be hot and long, but the morning was shaping up to be relatively pleasant.
Hina rounded the corner of the main cabin, her boots making a sharp, thin echoes on the wooden planking. It was another noise that halted her progress, a quiet series of grunts issuing from the figure moving across the bow. Sergeant Major, soon to be Lieutenant, Tashigi swept across the deck, her form surprisingly graceful to those who only saw her usual clumsy attempts at walking. She was wearing an old ensign’s shirt; one that had seen much wear from the faded quality and the haphazardly sewn patches. She was also clad in rather short shorts, much to Hina’s amazement. The captain hadn’t ever known Tashigi to be seen without her customary jeans or at least bottoms that ended below her knees.
The young woman’s legs were long and coltish, clearly she had yet to finish growing into them. They were pale from lack of sun, and a nasty looking scar ran in an angry red furrow from the middle her left knee north to disappear under the fabric of the rather skimpy red shorts. Bruises and several small scrapes also freckled Tashigi’s flesh, fading signs of her involvement in the struggle for Alabasta. Hina stepped back into the shadow of the cabin, watching Smoker’s second continue her exercises.
That scar drew her eyes, and she traced its path again and again, wondering just how far it climbed. It was obviously made by a sword, the cut too deep and straight to have been anything else. Hina hadn’t known Tashigi was marked, but now it was not so surprising the girl only ever seemed to wear pants and never swam. Hina could feel something in her respond to that mark, ratcheting up her respect for the officer yet again. After all, it was a brave man that managed to survive under Smoker’s command, and Tashigi took the brunt of all his frustrations and male stupidity. But the girl had responded well to Smoker’s brand of tough love, and her loyalty was absolute. It was another sign of her strength that the men responded to her with the same respect and loyalty they gave to Smoker. Tashigi could be a klutz, but she had a keen sense of justice and a dedication to the pursuit of truth. Her sailors honored that, and served her well.
That she could handle the physical pain that came from battle was a welcome surprise. It was obvious that she had learned a lesson about the emotional costs of leadership here in Alabasta, and clearly she knew about the costs to the body. Her lean figure continued its path back and forth across the deck. It was a sword kata, Hina now saw, Tashigi’s beloved Shigure held tight in both hands as she ran through her exercise. Her eyes were closed, glasses glinting in the early rays from their perch on the railing. A small wrinkle ran between her brows betraying her concentration. She was breathing through her nose, occasional grunts escaping her lips during particularly strenuous maneuvers. Overall, the effect was one of power and grace, as Tashigi flowed smoothly through the forms.
A slight breeze washed across the deck, carrying the familiar scent of salt as it ruffled through the Sergeant Major’s short, dark hair. It suddenly struck Hina that the whole picture was beautiful, a bit of elegance on an otherwise coarse ship. And as she saw this, she became more aware of the curves of the swordswoman, the smoothness of her skin. She allowed herself this moment of weakness. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t looked at Tashigi before. But somehow the growth the younger woman had experienced here in this harsh land made her far more compelling that usual. Tashigi suddenly burst into a flurry of motion, thrusts and strikes cutting the air almost too quickly for the eye to follow. With a final, panted “Hya!” she drove Shigure forward, its point even with her heart. She held this extended pose for a long moment, muscles tense with strain, before pulling in.
Her body seemed to shrink as she sank to the deck in a lotus position, her sword still clasped between her hands. Her head bowed over her lap, her forehead resting lightly against the back of her blade. Her sigh was weary and sad, and a part of Hina wanted to go over to the young woman, to let her know that she’d survive this. But Hina knew better than to let her feelings get in the way. She’d come this far through discipline and a cold denial of emotions. Dispassion kept her in command, sternness and power gave her respect. And if she’d mellowed enough to let Fullbody and Jango behave like fools, well, at least they were good for her sailors’ morale. However, she wasn’t without consideration, and it was on tiptoe that she left her post to head for the gangplank.
A final glance back showed Tashigi still seated in meditation, the woman now looking a bit more serene as she gathered herself to face the day and her future. Hina allowed herself a small smile, an honest one that held no sardonic humor for a change. The girl was rising fast, and she had no doubt that Smoker would get them into more trouble and more promotions. Soon enough they’d be equals, and then she could pursue certain lines of thought much more closely. And for now, she had a pile of Smoker’s money, her own personal flunkies, and her beloved ship, men, and duties to return to.
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no subject
Date: 2004-07-04 01:16 am (UTC)I need to get my hands on s'more OP. I'm suffering withdrawls. ;_;
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Date: 2004-07-04 10:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-04 10:53 pm (UTC)-k.