high_seas | A Water Park with Hammers

I don't wanna be naked when it's cold outside! That would really bother me. [he just kind of smiles at Zoro, feeling warm about it though that might be the beer.] You found someone really special, huh? Except I did! Shishishi You're welcome!

[the bartender looks aghast at their finishing...but a prize is a prize so he brings out enough dubloons to buy a drink or two more for each of them and then goes into the back room for whatever the big prize is.

For Luffy's part he grins at Sanji's confidence then startles]

Yeah!

[but then glances back at Zoro.]

It's okay, right?

[cuz these things are tricky]

[Preens a little at that, a grin spreading across his face before he can stop it. He curls an arm up to brush some damp hair off his forehead.]

Yeah, you're pretty damn lucky, huh? Fucking good catch.

[He kids. ...Well, maybe not, but shhh.]

Could've been worse.

[always understating everything. He stretches out a foot under the water to reach across and nudge Sanji's knee]

C'mon, not like you need me to fill your head with hot air.

[SHIT YEAH MONEY

I mean.

He's busy for a moment collecting the doubloons and ordering water and rum, but sits back in time to be asked that crucial question.]

Mm. I guess so. I'm sitting right here so it's not like it's a secret.

[not surprised that the cook gets extra-handsy when he's drunk, though. It's kind of cute, and Zoro's relaxed enough, he doesn't mind.]

[Reaches for one of the melons and grabs a knife to slice it down the middle. He absently starts cutting the flesh inside into cubes without even really paying attention to what he's doing as he talks to Luffy.]

We could always swing by shitty Empieza sometime soon, been awhile since we've been there. Maybe have a boar feast?

[Beams up at her with a dopey smile for a moment, though given the nature of the scorpion situation, he does manage to keep the theatrics to a minimum so he can focus on actually talking to her.

At which point his smile turns a little sheepish.]

Not gonna lie, I kinda wished I could have a second Robin-chan around to help translate. It was like you were talking in shitty riddles.

[And then his expression turns more serious.]

And even though the little bastards weren't poisonous, still wish Chopper or Bepo were here to look you over.

[He was actually kidding, but hell, Luffy's hair ain't that different from Law's. Just as...uh. Diggable.

Is that a word?

No.

Fuck it.

Diggable hair is shitty good hair.

So he shrugs and hops up off his stool, stepping right in between Luffy's legs since he's conveniently sitting on the bar and all.

(And then takes a second to be glad that the bartender is in the back for the moment.)

Sanji brings his hands up again, wasting no time as he threads them back into Luffy's hair. He grips it a little, tipping Luffy's head back and pressing against the bar so that there isn't much distance between them.]

See, and then I'd kiss the shit outta you. [He's maybe a little closer than necessary actually, breath ghosting across Luffy's mouth when he speaks.] Except you were an asshole and said I was bad at it.

[That random detail pops into his head. One he'd forgotten about until just now. Tch.

His hold on Luffy's hair loosens so that he can comb his hands through it again, more gently this time, and he turns his head to grin over at Zoro.]

That guy doesn't think so.

'Course not.

[He catches that foot and settles Zoro's leg across his thighs as he scoots closer.]

But maybe I like hearing that stuff sometimes.

[lowers his gaze, a touch shy]

You know I'm not that good with words.

[the relative length of their poetry being example number one. Zoro relaxes with his leg in that nice new spot, and reaches up just to keep the towel from sliding off his head]

So I guess that's one area where you're better than me.

One of many, yes.

[Nods like he just so very much agrees that he's better than Zoro, of course, duh, isn't it obvious?

And he's still grinning, now in a teasing kind of way as he absently trails his fingers over Zoro's knee.]

Want me to teach you the art of flowery bullshit?

Just the one.

[ooh, shivers. It's not quite ticklish but it feels nice]

Nah, you can keep that shit to yourself, Mr. Driftwood.

[that's right, he remembers all the way back to that weird thing you said to Robin when she first came aboard. It was ridiculous. Never forget. There's a fondness to his smirk, though.]

You gotta learn to savor what you get from me. Since it's so rare, yanno. That means it's special and you can't let that moment get away from you.

It's not far. [he says with no idea. But he can sniff it and so he does.]

That way!

[it's a little more downstream but they should be getting to the shore soon. Luffy doesn't intend to get off, though, because he's found a new fun thing]

Maybe we should start giving you carrots. shishishi

Huh? Why?

[the shore comes closer at a bend in the river, so Zoro decides he's done swimming and climbs up onto shore, still carrying his monkey. Even though Luffy will likely regain his strength before he's even dried off, Zoro can tote him around for a bit.]

All right, use your nose. Where to, now?

[...Wow, Zoro remembers, but it takes Sanji a moment to place the gibe. He babbles so much nonsense on a daily basis, half the time he can't remember what sappy words of love come pouring out of him. So long as it gets him a pretty smile, then he's done his job! ...Well. Pretty smile, slightly scared smile, smiling while clearly thinking he's insane, you know. It's so hard to tell the difference sometimes.

In any case, he blinks across at Zoro, eyebrows lifting a bit. Then he hums a little.]

See, now I wonder if Robin-chan remembers me saying that...

[And if she does, it's probably just because she's Robin-chan. He's not sure Nami-san would remember any of his more...creative...poetic verbal vomit.]

Uh-huh, special... What if I give you a compliment first? Look, it's real easy.

[He clears his throat and then graciously lays a hand on his chest.]

I don't hate your shitty hair.

[See? SEE? So easy.]

[completely deadpan]

Yeah, real complimentary. That's like me saying, I don't actually hate your cooking.

[because no, he genuinely loves it, but he can never say so. At least, no more than he has on accident lately.]

You don't gotta be flowery to say shit like that.

[woah.

What is going on?

It's close. Really close. Really very close.

And Sanji's hands feel really very good and make his scalp tighten but it's the close stuff that makes him want to lean back and lean forward at the same time except leaning back would be better because his face is so hot it feels like gear second is going through his blood especially when Sanji says something like that and he swallows hard especially since it's so close.

Smoker was bad at it, too. But... then things changed... But then he didn't really want it after all and Sanji...

Is just showing him and he knows it.

And that cools him somehow and he relaxes with his hands behind him, smiling a little as he absently thumps his heels against the lower half of the bar.

Maybe people just like to show things sometimes when they've had to drink a lot or flower farts on them or eat weird candy. They're different then and that's why they don't wanna do it later because maybe it changes something.]

That's cuz you've had more practice with Zoro. But you guys have to keep getting stronger at it so you'll be the best.

[the best at kissing each other? Well why not. This kind of thing felt really good so they should have as much fun as they could. He nudges Zoro's shin with his foot just for it to be there and squinches his toes a bit against Zoro's pantleg.]

But I bet Law would just get mad at me if I tried that. He's even grumpier than you guys are.

I wasn't doing flowery. You gotta work up to that.

[And it's so dumb because Zoro's just throwing his own game back at him and he already knows he likes his cooking, of course, AND YET.

That shitty backwards compliment still makes him perk up a little as a pleased expression settles on his face.]

You love my cooking.

[Just like Sanji loves that stupid green hair.

He brushes his fingers over Zoro's knee again, going for another obvious one as his eyes lower slightly to stare somewhere around Zoro's collarbone.]

I like watching you fight. Especially when you put that shitty bandana on. Even if it means everything's going to fuckin' hell, you're amazing to watch when you get serious.

[...Not that Zoro is ever not serious when he's fighting, but when the stakes are high and all three swords come out... Oh yeah. That's the good stuff.]

[grumbles under his breath; he didn't say that, and yet, that really is true. He loves Sanji's cooking and anything else pales in comparison.

So even this is a competition - and Zoro can't let himself be outclassed, not even after he knows how poetic the cook can be. The admission takes him totally by surprise, though - he wasn't expecting that.

Okay, gotta come back with...words. Guh. Words are hard.]

Yeah, well...same to you.

[SO ELOQUENT FOREVER. Yet, that's also true. He loves watching Sanji kick the shit out of things.]

[just kind of watching from over the rim of his glass because hnnnnngh goddammit cook you come over here and give me some of that right now.

On the inside.

He meets Sanji's grin with a knowing little smirk of his own.]

Yeah, we practice a lot. Over and over until we get it right. [snerk] I got no complaints.

...and for the record, I ain't grumpy. Not like Law.

[Tosses his head back as he barks out a laugh, and has to quickly reach up to keep the towel from falling off. The laugh softens into a chuckle almost immediately, though, as he gives Zoro an amused look.]

Wow. Thanks. Never thought you'd bare your soul to me like that, marimo-kun.

[Nah, he knows words and shit are hard for him... But he can't help poking a little fun, though he gives Zoro's leg a soft squeeze just above his knee like he's trying to keep him from being grumpy about it.]

Practice makes perfect and all that shit.

[Speaks in a singsong sort of tone.

He leans up against the bar -- or tries to, but he forgot he was between Luffy's legs, which means Luffy's body is sort of in the way of where Sanji wants to brace an arm. Instead, his hand winds up on Luffy's chest for a beat before he remembers their positions, and then he shifts it back up so he can lazily drape his arm over Luffy's shoulder. If he absently starts brushing his fingers through the hair at the nape of Luffy's neck, well...sorry, captain.

His other hand reaches behind Luffy to find his drink (which got refilled at some point, nice), and then he angles himself in Zoro's direction as he sips at it, his hip resting against the bar.]

Law's his own special brand of grumpy. I don't think that idiot had any fuckin' clue just what the hell he was gettin' himself into when he joined up with us. But long as he takes that shitty hat off sometimes and doesn't whine when I serve bread, he can hang around however the hell long he wants.

[Sanji don't mind. ...But the hat thing is important. Because floofy hair.]

[ducks his head with a little growl, but he's not really that grumpy over it. Just a little embarrassed.]

Shut up. It's not easy! Maybe for you, but...

[huffs] I'd rather show it. But I guess it's not like you have any doubts or anything.

...do you?

[the speed at which his brain moves, rethinking itself, could use some improvement, but he will blame the haze of the heat of the bath right now]

Do I have doubts?

[Blinks.]

What, you mean like... [Gestures between the two of them.] About this?

Mm.

[he feels dumb even asking, but he wants to be sure]

It's not like I've really...said...anything...

A Water Park with Hammers

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject