follow me into the rain

I saw a prompt online saying "Write 100 words of huddling for warmth", and while 'pure' 100-word drabbles are hard for me to do, I decided to join in. Not so much as making a real story, just writing 100 words and then stopping.

Then I sent it to tonko, and she replied back with 100 words of huddling for warmth on her own. Mine had been intended as shippy, (Luffy/Usopp), hers was gen, with Zoro and Chopper and also Sanji to the rescue.

I replied with Ace/Smoker, and she with Paulie/Kaya. And by that point I knew I wanted to post them. Tonko gave her permission, so here they are!

Now - I might just write more on this theme and if so I'll post it as a comment. But I'd also like to say that it's utterly cool if anyone else should want to join in with this fun little exercise in the comments!! I only ask you to please use spoiler warnings if you use new characters or events from the current One Piece manga arc. Other canons are welcome too, of course.

( C-c-c-cold )

Title: Don't Take The Fall Alone (Part One)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Zoro/Sanji/Usopp a.k.a the Red Shirt Trio
Spoilers/setting: Set after Thriller Bark and before Sabaody
Summary: After leaving Thriller Bark, Usopp, Sanji and Zoro are all troubled for varied reasons. Usopp proves quite perceptive in some respects, less so in others.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Written for Martianico within the exchange seeing-color and first posted to the AO3 collection for that exchange. All my thanks to my wonderful beta tonko, who worked hard on this story and who came up with the title, too. But the responsibility for any remaining errors are mine alone. Nitpicks are very welcome, and so is feedback in general!

DISCLAIMER: The characters and situations of One Piece are owned by their creator, Eiichiro Oda. They are used here without permission. This fic may not be used for profit and should not be reposted elsewhere without the writer's approval.
( Gah, it's been so long I forgot to make a cut!! )

Sansen Sekai by lily22 is a thrilling adventure story with a special focus on Zoro and Robin. After a double act of sacrifice, Zoro and Robin are cast into a number of dizzying alternative realities, trying to stay true to their real selves and make their way back to the crew even as their memories may betray them. Meanwhile, the remaining crewmates are affected by their absence. Some of the AUs are shippy, but mainly this is gen - though I do think Zoro/Robin fans will still like it. The canon world, non-AU part of the story is set before Water 7 but contains spoilers for Robin's backstory.

Today's fic rec is a popular story, deservedly so, for a popular pairing: Like Steel For Chocolate by maldoror_gw. It's got a prologue, four main chapters and an epilogue; it goes up to light R in rating and takes place after Enies Lobby and before Thriller Bark. Sanji/Zoro is the main pairing - it's all from Sanji's POV - but Luffy/Usopp is a secondary pairing and then there's a third pairing the writer prefers to keep a surprise.

I'll quote from the summary: "Sanji's cooking has reached a whole new level. It's almost uncanny. Especially when his thoughts and emotions somehow get into the mix along with the rest of the ingredients."

This was actually the first fic that made me see the appeal of Sanji and Zoro as a couple. It's never been a pairing I dislike, but I'm also not passionate about it - in general. There are still fics and art with them I adore, and this was the first. Very well-written and IC the whole way through - and it helps that the rest of the crew doesn't get forgotten. ♥ ♥

Happy Birthday, dethorats!

I hope you have a great day today!

May I just take the opportunity to say how impressed I am by your current ambition of posting something creative One Piece-related every day of the hiatus, and how much I enjoy the result so far? ♥

I tried to draw Ben and Shanks art for you, but could only manage a sketch I feel somewhat apologetic about, in truth.

( art behind the cut )

Happy Birthday, dethorats!

Hope you're having a great day today!
Made an attempt at a birthday pic, but I do mean 'attempt' - it's three people I can barely draw. The theme is a few seconds-in-command having drinks after hours, with a temporary Marine/pirate truce. I'm not sure, but they may be telling anecdotes about their bosses.

( Behind the cut )

I've finished some pics that probably won't make any sense unless you: 1) know of a certain older anime/manga series, and 2) have read tonko_ni's excellent AU fics set in a medieval fantasy world. Those fics feature Sanji as a half-vampire, Zoro as a half-demon vampire hunter, Usopp as part-kobold alchemist, and other neat things. I really like them (and I tend to avoid vampirey stuff).

The first one of these stories is Zoro/Sanji and NSFW, the second is gen and worksafe, and the third is Usopp/Sanji and NSFW.

Sanji the half-vampire has fangs, of course, while half-demon Zoro has tiny horns. Reading these fics gave me the idea for some silly crack art, posted here with tonko_ni's permission. I must emphasise, though, that these pics are not in any way canon art for the fic. ;p

( Images read from left to right )

Tomorrow is May Day and most everything will be closed over here - it's one of the most closed down days of the year. Today is Walpurgis Eve and half of everything closes after half the day - including work, which is nice, but also including most places with free Internet access (still no net connection at home for me.) Tomorrow will be even worse, though, and I felt like putting something up before then. (Criticism appreciated as always.)

( OOC: Usopp threatens Zoro with gun (?!) )
( A lie turned into truth? )
( Rough sketch of a thoughtful Luffy )
( Sketch of fic birds )

Posting the penultimate chapter of this fic here while pondering if I should go ahead and post the final and fifth chapter to ff.net now, or look it over for a possible final rewrite first.

Anyway, here's chapter 4.

Continues from Chapter 3
( The Twilight Street )