Bubble Trouble

[meatthefuture]

Who: The Straw Hats
Where: Sailing log en route to Gamboller's Berth With a pitstop at Empieza.
When: March 30th-April 7th: Sailing, April 8th-11th Empieza
What: Bubbling and other shenanigans
Warnings: The usual




Have at. :3

Comments

4/5 and afterward

[yourotherleft]

Before:

[he was doing so well. He had managed to avoid even brushing up against a bubble for days. Haki helped, a lot. Zoro was feeling pretty good about his skills, though he figured out after the first two days that as long as the bubbles existed, this bullshit would go on. They showed no signs of disappearing, so he kept his guard up.

Until today.

Today Zoro climbs out of the crow's nest, mid-morning, after doing some scouting, and about halfway down the rigging decides to let go and drop down the rest of the way, like he usually does. But as he falls, a bubble just floats into his path and there's no way to avoid it, he doesn't even see it until he hears the pop and feels the wash of foam.

Instead of landing in a crouch on the deck as usual, a much shorter Zoro thuds onto his ass with the swords clattering on top of him. Drowning in pants and sash, he lets out the longest, most savage stream of nasty cusswords in the most adorable little child voice.

Yep, he's ten again. Himself, but child-sized. Again. Fuck he hates this so much. If you'll excuse him, he's going to go trudge off to the men's cabin and hide for the rest of the day.]

After:

[once the effects of the bubbles wear off, for everyone, Zoro will be more visibly around - but sulking. Embarrassed about pretty much everything, and he handles embarrassment poorly. Clearing the air with the cook is a priority, but otherwise, he'll just be doing his job, standing watch just as much if not more than during the first five days of the month, using all that time alone to think.

That is, if he can get any time alone.]

4/5 to start!

[serving_lovely]

[UNFORTUNATELY FOR ZORO, Sanji's making his way out of the men's cabin just in time to pass that lump of too-big clothes trudging along. He pauses instantly, blinking, because whaaaa....?????

But it comes back to him in a rush, that whole thing awhile ago where half the crew suddenly lost a few shitty years off their age.

He glances over his shoulder.]

Oi, mini marimo.

[Hoping he didn't lose his memory like some of the others did that time.]

[yourotherleft]

[trying SO HARD not to look up but he knows exactly who he just passed.]

Don't start with me, curly cook!

[in his little pipsqueak snarl]

[serving_lovely]

[Oh good! Still Sanji's usual green dumbass. Who he's really pretty irritated with at the moment because he woke up by himself again this morning and it always takes a cigarette or two before he manages to remind himself that this whole shitty ordeal is weird for both of them -- but all that evaporates in mere seconds as he looks at the brat.

B'awwwwww.

Sanji brings a hand up to cover his mouth, like he's trying to hide a grin, but the entirely-too-girly giggle that escape him ruins it.]

Thought you were avoiding the bubbles?

[yourotherleft]

I was! I am! I just...I dunno where it came from, I was perfectly normal when I jumped out of the crow's nest!

[he can be as huffy as he wants, it comes off so ineffectual when he's that short and squawky. Never mind that he's got the three swords clutched to his chest and one fist holding up his pants, bunched at the waist.]

Don't laugh, it's not funny!

[serving_lovely]

[Holds his hands up innocently.]

Not laughing.

[Well, lies, BUT HE'S TRYING.

He's squats down in front of Zoro, folding his arms over his knees as he peers at him.]

The hell did we dress you in the last time this happened?

[yourotherleft]

Um. [indistinct muttering] I think it's still in the bottom of my locker.

[the shorts and t-shirt, anyway. He'll go barefoot, and cinch tight anything else he tries to put on]

[serving_lovely]

Ah.

[Just stares for a moment, hands covering his mouth again because his grin is back.

He can't help it, though.]

Shit, you're so fuckin' cute.

[All tiny and scowl-y and squawk-y, ahahahaaaaa.

Sanji reaches out to ruffle Zoro's hair because he knows it'll probably piss him off, then he's shoving to his feet and stepping past him into the men's cabin and heading for Zoro's locker.]

[yourotherleft]

[flails his hands over his head trying to fend it off, but too late. If he thought the girly-cook was weird before, it's even weirder now, following him into the cabin - it has a vague tinge of mom to it and he isn't comfortable with that.

Not saying so, though. Just trudging along and finding a safe place to put his swords.]

This is all way too weird. Whoever's doing this to us is probably having a real laugh behind our backs.

[serving_lovely]

[HEY HE CAN'T HELP IT IF IT'S IN HIS NATURE TO CARE FOR PEOPLE, though usually it's via food. But he's always had a soft spot for kids, plus it's Zoro...

If he notices the 'mom' thing, however, he'll kick himself. Several times.]

Mah, well. Won't be too much longer.

[Not that he has any clue really, but he's been telling himself this every shitty hour since midnight passed on the first day and his boobs didn't disappear. It's gotta be true eventually, right?

He's on his knees, digging through the bottom of Zoro's locker, and holds the clothes out when he finds him.]

You don't even wear half the shit in here. Wasn't I with you when you bought some of this?

[yourotherleft]

[at least he manages to put aside most of the awkward for the moment, because deep down he does trust Sanji inherently, and doesn't mind his help. Zoro just sort of wriggles out of his too-large clothes and tosses them onto his nearby hammock before pulling on the set from the last time this ridiculousness happened.]

Huh? Oh...yeah, that stuff. What? I don't need to wear something new all the time. 'Sides, I really like that sweatshirt.

[he wears the hoodie a lot. But usually rotates between three shirts, depending on the weather. He's only shredded a couple, lately.]

[serving_lovely]

[Snorts, shifting so that he's sitting and leaning back against the lockers, knees propped up in front of him.]

Some people change clothes every day instead of waiting 'til they smell too bad to keep wearing 'em, you know.

[Pulls out a cigarette and lights up before taking a deep drag and tipping his head back to exhale.]

[yourotherleft]

Yeah, maybe fancy peacocks like you.

[he fishes out the sash from the rest of his clothes and wraps it around his waist an extra time before knotting it so it wouldn't drag on the ground. That should keep his makeshift clothes held together.]

Damn all of this. I guess my luck ran out.

[serving_lovely]

Yours ain't that bad.

[Eyes him around his smoke.

That's probably not fair of him to say, but it's not like he's comparing their two bubble-induced forms. He just means that at least Zoro kinda knows what to expect.]

Least you've been like that before, right? And the world didn't fuckin' end. Having all you brats around was almost amusing, aside from Luffy and Bepo tearing apart my damn kitchen.

[yourotherleft]

[for a moment he grins, remembering Luffy and Bepo as little ones tearing the whole ship apart. But remembering Bepo is sad. Even Mr. Stoic misses the bear.

Zoro flops onto the floor, because what else is he going to do? A moment later he has Blue coming up to sniff him. The cat has to be confused, because they both smell the same but are different somehow. Zoro pats the gremlin-cat on the head and sighs.]

That doesn't mean I liked it enough to wanna go through it again. Nothin' I can do now except wait it out like you.

[serving_lovely]

Yeah... Kinda glad I never got hit with the shrimpy kid deal. Cooking wasn't very easy back then.

[He had to use a stool to properly reach the stove, and his small hands were sometimes clumsy with the knives.

Sanji reaches out to rub a finger behind Blue's ear.]

Guess this takes any experimental screwin' around outta the picture, though.

[DRAMATIC SIGH.]

[yourotherleft]

[HOLY SHIT COOK WHAT THE

flushing brilliantly red]

What do you mean experimental screwing? Asshole!

[serving_lovely]

[Bursts out laughing, tossing his head back and letting his cigarette dangle from his fingers.]

I'm kidding, I'm kidding, marimo, geez. ...I think.

[Looks a little too thoughtful for a moment, but it's mostly for show.]

Though, you know, for science maybe...

[But another glance at Zoro's red face has him snickering again.]

Don't have a shitty heart attack now, ya idiot.

[yourotherleft]

Don't even say that, you jerk!

[he hadn't really thought about it but now all kinds of bad images are flitting through his mind. Good show.]

You're just trying to tease me again.

[serving_lovely]

Heh, yeah, I do that.

[Lifts his cigarette back to his mouth, smirking as he takes another drag.]

You make it really damn easy, though. Besides, ain't like I can even get you in the shitty hammock with me. Even if I wanted to, you'd probably bail before my shirt even came off.

4/5

[lettucebefree]

[turns at the clatter to see Zoro is...a lot different]

You popped a bubble! [have a gigantic hug] You really can have fun! shishishi

[Your captain is proud of you! Try not to suffocate in there, though]

[yourotherleft]

[he freezes in place for a moment, and then tiny little arms are flailing wildly to try and throw him off]

NO NO NO NO GET OFF ME NO LEAVE ME ALONE!

[lettucebefree]

[she steps back, sitting with her chin wresting on her knees, her hands gripping her legs as she peers at him]

What's wrong, Zoro? Did you get hurt somewhere?

[yourotherleft]

No. M'fine. [except for the while shrimpy thing. And the drowning in pants thing.

He hops up and aggressively fists the extra waistband into one hand so he can hold them up.]

I didn't do it on purpose, it was an accident, okay? I don't wanna be changed.

[lettucebefree]

Oh, stupid bubbles. [she dislikes them now for making Zoro mad like that. Even though Luffy doesn't really understand because they aren't permanent.]

You want to find a rope or something?