[fic] tricks out of our sleeves (pt. 2)
Title: tricks out of our sleeves
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairing: (reaching for) Zoro/Sanji
Word Count: ~7200
Set after Water 7, right before entering the Florian Triangle.
For c_callosum
( For all his years at sea, he knows he’s still got the devil’s luck in his blood, devil’s fire in his bones. )
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairing: (reaching for) Zoro/Sanji
Word Count: ~7200
Set after Water 7, right before entering the Florian Triangle.
For c_callosum
( For all his years at sea, he knows he’s still got the devil’s luck in his blood, devil’s fire in his bones. )
I love how this two-shot was not at all about Zoro and Sanji discovering each other's weaknesses but instead stumbling upon the source of their strengths. And honestly I don't think there was a better way to show this than how you compared the parts of Sanji's brittle, malnourished body to weapons, and a source of blazing fire and parchment to tattoo faith onto himself. It's brilliant, I can't even tell you how brilliant that is. It just screams so loud, it felt like Sanji screaming his strengths out to the world, that his experience on that rock forged the devil in his blood and bones, as you so awesomely put it.
Also, at the end, that little bit tying back to Thriller Bark was the best way to conclude this. The way you seem to perceive that scene is so deep, and it's become my headcanon too. This line is perfect: "Zoro promises to survive, and Sanji will pay him back for every drop of blood he loses."
Also, Zoro watching over Sanji starving on that rock was heartbreaking, but so very well done. And Sanji almost losing his mind a couple times, and apologizing to Zoro profusely for his past and making Zoro stay the whole time (which is brutally poignant by the way), and thinking that Zoro must've been hungry and wanting to fix him a meal. Just the whole thing was packed with emotion and true, MANLY hurt/comfort.
I like how you touched upon this "god" throughout the story, and then at the end we find out how Zoro and Sanji were "chosen" for the test, and passed. That was very cool to piece together. And that you made it the entity that Lola and her crew encountered, just... really creative and smart.
Your understanding for these two characters as well as the other SHs, and even the world of OP in general further astounds me. And don't worry that "you tried" with the Zoro/Sanji, because your hard work certainly showed. Honestly I enjoy friendship fics with them just as much as romance and usually I enjoy them more, actually. So yeah, don't fret, because I'm brimming with satisfaction in that regard. Anyway, I'm blabbing, but I really commend you for this. You're an amazing writer, never stop. :)
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I love how this two-shot was not at all about Zoro and Sanji discovering each other's weaknesses but instead stumbling upon the source of their strengths.
Yes! This is partly because when I asked Zoro what his weakness was, he just slowly raised an eyebrow at me, and when I asked Sanji, his predictable response was BEAUTIFUL WOMEN. Haha. No, but seriously, we go in knowing their soft spots if not their weaknesses (Kuina for Zoro, fear of starvation for Sanji), and we also know how much they've grown despite--or because of--those soft spots, so that's what I wanted to explore. Zoro grows because of his promise, and Sanji grows because of his gratitude. Yush.
About the scene at Thriller Bark-- there's just so many ways to interpret it, because there's so much unsaid, and there are so many facets of Zoro and Sanji's characters that you can draw from to inform your interpretation and just-- it's heavy. Zoro and Sanji standing up to Kuma and Usopp leaving the crew-- those two scenes I can probably try to analyze forever XD But I'm glad this interpretation works for you!
My choice to use the same entity encountered by Lola&co stems from an overbearing need to have everything fit. I know when writing fanfic you don't have to worry so much about tying it up to canon but-- overbearing need and all that. It consumes me and makes my ficcing life very difficult. :(
As for the supposed Zoro/Sanji pairing in this fic... it's funny, because as I was writing this and part one, I was thinking to myself, GOSH YES THIS IS ROMANTIC AS FUCK. And in a way, I still believe they're being romantic, because this is Zoro and Sanji and there ain't no romance like a bromance, skewed as it is. Sanji letting directionless Zoro lead the way, Zoro needlessly reminding Sanji to have another cigarette, throwing down when the other is being an idiot? Shit, you two, get a room. XD In that sense, I do understand the allure of Zoro/Sanji. They're just so romantic all the time. 8D
Anyway-- thank you thank you thank you, for all your kind words. It's always so validating to have a fellow Sanji fan read my fic and go HMM YES. Sanji's character is like a subject you'd discuss with peers in dimly-lit, smoke-filled rooms over tumblers of fine whiskey. Sanjiology. XD And really, writing Sanji fic is shameless self-indulgence for me. Having readers such as yourself who can jump on board mitigates the shame :)
(Augh, I've been trying to post this comment for the last hour. Hopefully this works and you get get 93820 comments from me in your inbox.)
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