(Untitled)

[chases_hawks]

[Early this morning, around the time the sun starts thinking about rising, there's a slightly damp swordsman propped up against the fountain, snoozing away. Who cares about dew and fountain spray when there's Very Important sleeping to do? However. Ever have that feeling something's not quite right? That everything is all kinds of wrong?

Zoro cracks

Comments

FFFF I am slow due to working/hiatus but <3

[mikangirl]

[...third time lucky, huh Zoro? Nami is leaving Good Spirits just as he passes the fountain again, and stops to gape. Guess he can't stay away from Luceti for too long.

She's not exactly sure how to feel about that. Just give her a second. :|]

...hey. Zoro.

[A diffident 'hey' and not particularly Nami-like. But nevertheless.]

psh, no worries <3

[chases_hawks]

[Too bad Zoro's too busy wondering why the fountain keeps moving to notice you coming out of a bar, Nami. Otherwise, he'd be making a beeline toward you demanding drinks first, then answers. He may still do that, if he ever notices you.

Ah. That would do it. Have a quick turn at the sound of his name, followed by brows furrowing in confusion. You're not supposed to be here. Forget that he doesn't know where here is. And what kind of greeting was that? And how did you change so much in a few weeks?]

Nami? Hey... [Is that a bar behind you? He thinks it might be.] Is that a bar? [That was not a happy-to-see-nakama-after-losing-touch kind of greeting, and Zoro suspects he's going to need drinks for this.]

[mikangirl]

[Is that a bar... tells her all she needs to know. Because Zoro used to drink with her here all the time.

That hurts in a way she won't look too closely at. Nami scowls, refuses to think about it (it's a good thing for Zoro, at least), and points a finger at him accusingly.]

You don't remember this place, do you?

[chases_hawks]

[Whoa. Zoro is looking hard at you and your accusatory finger, Nami. Any relief he felt at seeing her in one piece, if bafflingly older, has shriveled up and been blown away by the feeling he's done something wrong. Cue instant defensiveness. Hey, he was fighting baboons on some creepy island. Nothing to do with you.

Sharply.]

Am I supposed to? I've never seen this place before; woke up by some fountain.

[Oh, look. Zoro's brain is catching up with his mouth. ...Did something happen between the time he was sent away by Kuma, and when the papers came out with Luffy's message? She might...have a reason to be upset.]

Wait-- What happened? Are you alright? What d'you mean by, do I remember? [You're confusing him, Nami.]

[odastillhatesme]

[There's a Sanji staring at you, Zoro.

He's been frozen in place for the past minute, mouth nearly agape and the word "Zoro!" caught in his throat. Don't think he's happy to see you - it's more like a convoluted mess of habitual loathing, a hint of camaraderie-like concern (which dies quickly), and then seasoned with a sprinkling of utter surprise that Zoro is here in Luceti and younger than what he remembers and--

And that's the fourth time he's circled around the fountain, isn't it? WHELP. Sanji could just keep watching him for that extra bit of superiority, but Zoro get's lost all the time. And his swords are missing. This might end in tears for anyone else who crosses his path.]

So... how many times you plan on passing that fountain, shithead? It's gonna start thinking you like it.

[chases_hawks]

I'm not passing the fountain, asshole, it's following me--

[Yeah, that was an abrupt stop, because even Zoro just realized how stupid that sounded. Any relief he may have felt at seeing you - unharmed, not being hunted by Pacifistas, here - has drowned in comfortingly familiar irritation.

Or it could be that he got a good look at you, Sanji. That eyebrow? It's curling on the wrong side of your face. Hope you don't mind while he stares. Because how the hell did you get older?]

This is seriously fucked up...

[Zoro's eyeing you, sizing you up the way he would an opponent. No one can get that strong in just a few weeks. Plus, you look older, Sanji. It's not just the eyebrow and the scruff on your chin; the changes Zoro's registering don't happen overnight. He keeps adding up two and two and getting five, and it's starting to really piss him off.

[odastillhatesme]

[Two sentences in and Sanji's expression has tightened like he's sucking on a lemon. Especially because the shithead's confusion? Painful as admittance is, even silently, Sanji completely gets it. There's nothing like seeing those you call nakama sporting more muscles and hair than you last remember, and damn logic dictating the changes impossible. He can't blame the matching, souring expression shot at him, honestly!

... But you're staring at his awesome eyebrow and it gets a little old after a while. B| Jeez man.]

Oi, don't worry; it's me. [In case there was even a thread of doubt, the utter disdain Sanji demonstrates should clear that away in a jiffy.] I'd say I'm about... two years older than you now? [Chin stroke] Some shit like that.

[chases_hawks]

[Dude, it's more than just the eyebrow. Although that is one mystery solved. Zoro's having some troubles reconciling who he sees now with who he remembers. It's weird, man, but at least now he's sure it's you.

Two years? …Two years. Luffy's message. Oh. Sanji must have had the same idea he did, and trained that whole time. Zoro can't help but wonder what training will do for him. He also can't help feeling a bit at a disadvantage. Whatever has happened, Sanji really is older, and he's…not. He also seems to be taking this considerably better than Zoro is. It's suspicious, and he doesn't like where this might be heading.]

You got Luffy's message. How…?

[Zoro lets that question dangle, because he honestly doesn't know where to start. How is it you're a Sanji two years from now? What happened? He saw the papers and knew what needed to be done, but how is it you've already done it, and he was just beginning? How is it he's running into you now, when they were supposed to meet back at Sunny? His expression becomes

[toujoursfluer]

[If Zoro happens to pass the fountain again, which he most assuredly will, he will find a Robin sitting on it and smiling at him as if she has been watching his wanderings and has followed him here to sit and wait for him. He is nothing if not absolutely predictable.]

[chases_hawks]

[Hi Robin. Have a Zoro stop in his tracks to stare at you. You weren't sitting there the last time that damned fountain moved. If you're quick, you'll probably see a flash of relief cross his features before he heads over to you.]

Oi, Robin! What're you doing here?

[You're the first familiar thing he's seen all morning, and in spite of the greeting, Zoro's happy to see you. It's been a while, and you look like you've been doing alright. But you're not supposed to be here. He doesn't think he's supposed to be here, either. He's counting on you to Know Things, Robin.]

[toujoursfluer]

[She doesn't think you want to know the answer to that. Then again, maybe you will enjoy this place. It can be one big training ground. It's always hard to guess the swordsman's motivations. Even though it seems though it seems like it should be simple...]

Do you feel something is a little different?

[Do you feel what is suspiciously like a hand grown out of your back and tugging at your wings? It might be true.]

[chases_hawks]

[She's right. He probaby doesn't. But don't think he doesn't notice that neat sidestep you did there.

That, however, will be overshadowed by a shudder that runs straight through his entire body before he can answer. Robin, you will always be nakama, but you are a dangerous woman. However. Mission accomplished. That aching he was ignoring? You've very nicely pointed out that it has a source. He knows those baboons got a few good licks in, but not a one caught his back.

Zoro cranes his neck to look over a shoulder and might end up turning in a circle to see what is going on back there. Wings. Wings!? They're brown, mottled with a few black spots, and they're growing out of him. Have a nice, panicked look in your direction, Robin.]

1/3 HI. 8D

[skulljokelol]

[Just heading off into town today! Maybe he'll stop by the restaurant and-- is that Zoro?!]

[skulljokelol]

[Indeed it is. Brook about calls out to him, but the look on Zoro's - much younger, he notices - face makes him hesitate. He looks very focused indeed. It might not be wise to interrupt him - he'd hate to break his concentration!

So he decides to just follow him. Around, and around... and around. This certainly is an interesting new perspective! Being Zoro must be so exhausting some times.]

[skulljokelol]

[But eventually he comes to the point where he can't keep a lid on his excitement any longer. In a loud whisper:]

Ah, pardon me, but... Zoro-san? What are we doing?

Hi! 8D

[chases_hawks]

[You have no idea, Brook. This world is a fluid place. Honestly, Zoro can't fathom how Nami expects her maps to be accurate. When he uses them, he always gets lost.

Any other day, Zoro would have noticed you following. But not today. He's been entirely too busy figuring out how to leave. It hasn't been going well. So your stage whisper? Scares the bejeezus out of a certain swords-less swordsman. A hand drops to his hip, reminding him yet again that there's nothing there.]

Shit!

[It's hard to miss an eight-foot-tall skeleton, but give him a second to regroup. It's good to see you nonetheless.]

...Brook? Why're you here?

[Sorry, Brook. Zoro isn't doing too well with the answering of questions today. If you ask again, it might eventually hit him that you want to know something. Right now, he's a little distracted by the very fact that you're here. And he's here. And he doesn't know how that happened.]

[fierybluebird]

What the--? A talking marimo?!

[Have a startled Whitebeard pirate. You can tell his crew by the tattoo, as Zoro recognizes that mark and all. Also sorry for the marimo crack. Could not resist.]

[chases_hawks]

[There's only one person who calls him Marimo, and you're not him. That particular nickname is barely tolerated as it is, but it comes with an understanding that you're not a part of. Have an irritated Look that eases into something a bit more cautious, though, once he recognizes Whitebeard's mark. Ace was part of Whitebeard's crew, but Zoro doesn't know you. Still and all. Familiar among the unfamiliar. He'll let the marimo crack go in favor of more pressing things.]

Oi. Whitebeard held a lot of territory; [have a short nod to that tattoo, there] is this one of his islands?

[fierybluebird]

[He immediately tenses at the first part, but loosens slightly at the nod and question. Back home it'd be a testy question, since anyone asking would see it as a kind of challenge and try to take it over now, but he can let this one go. After all, in this case, the truth is easy. If just plain weird.]

'Fraid not mate. It's a whole different world. [Tilts his head like a bird.] Are you from the Grand Line then?

[chases_hawks]

[Zoro doesn't care about pirate politics. He's just trying to figure out where he is in the most direct manner possible.

But that answer? It doesn't make any sense. His expression changes to one of utter confusion.]

A whole different world? [Phoenix, meet a parrot.] What are you talking about?

[The Grand Line, though. That's something that makes sense. He can go with that.]

The Grand Line, yeah. We made it halfway.

[You're Whitebeard's; you've been all over. Please tell him your "different world" is some phenomenon of the Grand Line.]