One Piece drabble

[rainsometimes]

Recently I've started to write a few short OP ficlets, previously something I've been really bad at (it's the same with comics: I still can't do a decent four-panel strip to save my life). This new development is probably due to having read so many One Piece drabbles/ficlets over at onepieceyaoi100 and other places.

I figure I'll probably post them on ff.net under an umbrella title once I've got a small bunch done. The first one and so far the only actual 100-word drabble (not counting the title) follows behind the cut.

Title: The Thought Of Giving Up
Spoilers Up to and including OP manga chapter 419
Characters Usopp
More I'm not quite sure but it may have been that I gave myself the prompt "Relief" and then immediately had the idea. Or else I had the idea first and then immediately thought "the theme seems to be 'relief', maybe I could use that for another character, too?" (which hasn't lead anywhere so far, however)



Usopp had never liked the thought of dying, not one tiny bit.

In that one moment, standing there on the roof after having shot Robin’s keys to Franky, cape flying, not fully himself yet feeling more alive than ever, his blood was singing in triumph and he felt astonishingly far from despair despite the danger. For once it didn’t seem so hard, then, to keep fighting, keep struggling, for the others and for himself…

And yet there had been a part of him deep within mumbling in quiet relief, mumbling something like, Now I can die.

Stop worrying.
So simple.

Comments

[scribe-protra.livejournal.com]

...Arg damnit, this plus the recent rant on suicides on FFrants is makeing me freak out for Usopp. Don't die Usopp, you have so much to live for!


(Good drabble by the way.)

[serrende.livejournal.com]

Thanks for commenting! Sorry it made you freak out...I really think it was just a small part of him that thought that, honest!

Are you referring to this (http://community.livejournal.com/fanficrants/6290568.html#cutid1) thread? I've looked it over and found nothing that made me think of Usopp particularly...

I've actually become a lot more optimistic about Usopp's abilites to deal with future emotional shocks ever since reading manga chapter 461. 'Cause he's ALREADY NEGATIVE. I figure whatever happens he'll know how to handle it. :)

[scribe-protra.livejournal.com]

It is good freaking out thing.

Yep! Well the comments that discuss how some people who are suiccidal, it is when things start getting better that you need to worry the most.

Probably.

On suicide thread, etc

[serrende.livejournal.com]

Hmm...well yeah, that's probably something that's always good to keep in mind. But I dunno...sure, Usopp is pessimistic and self-loathing, but he's also outgoing and adventurous with a great appetite for living, and he's pretty good at making friends and getting along with people for the most part. Plus, he's very stubborn and tends to bounce back quickly. Not that there isn't room for decent Usopp angst (and angsty fics!!), but still, on the whole I wouldn't worry so much.

[hsiuism.livejournal.com]

I'm following your example and doing late comments! :D

This drabble is really nice; you packed so much into 100 words, and it you did a great job of making every word count (which is a problem I have with my drabbles, boo). The last two lines are killer.

I'm making my way through "A Quiet Walk in the Noonday Heat" - you have such an interesting set-up for it! It's going to be my treat for this weekend, so look forward to more late comments, I guess :)

re: The Thought of Giving Up

[serrende.livejournal.com]

Thank you. (You're right, it is really nice to get late comments. ;))

This remains the only actual drabble I've written so far - I've aimed for it with others, but have fallen woefully short (or rather, long), with nothing else under 200 words. It really is tough. But I do have some really good benchmarks to follow now.

One of my favourite drabbles are by you, actually, "See You Up There Someday". Especially I think that last line: She sees inward always, while his own eyes wander out and around and up, up, up.