The Great Angst-Off

[mettathron.livejournal.com]

Since chibi_trillian dethroned me as a Master of Angst, we decided to have a fun little contest. (It beats the old fashioned way {read: killing your usurper} of reclaiming a title.) We both wrote drabbles for the same pairing (Zoro/Sanji), the same genre (angst), and the same prompt (Promises, kindly provided by Paxnirvana). As we couldn't work up the courage to ask find an impartial judge, we decided the community at large gets to judge. Most non-conversation comments wins.

Title: Promises
Word Count: 300
Topic: Promises (way off from Dexterity)
Rating: PG-13 for language
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.



Roronoa Zoro doesn’t break his promises. His honor and the iron determination to abide by it are as integral a part to his identity as Sanji’s chivalry and gentility are to his. That’s why, when Zoro wants to end their relationship-that-isn’t-a-relationship, Sanji doesn’t remind him of the promise.

“I never promised anything.” The swordsman says awkwardly. The cook distinctively remembers him being stretched out like an overgrown cat, sated and sleepy and silencing Sanji’s questions with a single word: “Always.” Zoro, apparently, does not.

“I know.”

“Good.” Pause.

“What?”

“You’re… okay?” He looks wary, as if he expects the cook to start crying and throwing knives.

“Moron.” Sanji rolls his eyes and silently wills the other man out of the kitchen before he does start throwing things.

“It wasn’t that long.” Seven months, twenty-one days, as Sanji counts. He wonders if Zoro’s trying to convince himself, too, or if the apathetic mask he wears is genuinely confusing the swordsman.

“Nope.” Not long at all, in comparison to the forever you promised me.

“It was just sex.” The knife slips, narrowly missing Sanji’s shaking hand. He’s romantic at heart, yes, but he’s not a complete fool. There’s love, and then there’s sex. While their ill-lit meetings couldn’t be called candlelit rendezvous’, he thought… hoped… since Zoro kept coming back to him, even when they were in port… the sated, happy smile on his face…

“Yeah.” His voice is a harsh whisper as he takes up the knife again.

“You’re crying.” Zoro notes, suddenly too close for a man who just shattered Sanji’s fragile illusions.

“Onions, dipshit.” Never mind that he hasn’t cried over onions since he was twelve. Zoro expects him to break, but Sanji’s stronger than that. He’ll numb himself to the pain. “I’m fine. I promise.”

It’s only forever.

</lj-cut

Comments

[ptps.livejournal.com]

“You’re… okay?” He looks wary, as if he expects the cook to start crying and throwing knives.

ZORO'S SO BLATANTLY IN HIS OWN DENIAL.

And dammit but Sanji lying and stomping on his own heart was just... gragh. TT

[winterwaltz6.livejournal.com]

That was beyond wonderful. I love how everything is just under the surface and the subtlety melts me. I'm torn between feeling sad and angsty over the emotional piece and squeeling like a fangirl over how incredibly everything is conveyed here. I loved it.

[nike-victory.livejournal.com]

Damn, the quiet sadness and the tears and the denial. *sniffs*

[noodle6680.livejournal.com]

Awwww!! T__T
Don't give up Sanji!!

Oh, I can't help but love angsty stuff. ;__; And you write it so well!! ♥

[kikkuma.livejournal.com]

You know, that onion excuse will only work in moderation dearest Sanji-kun. I know. I've tried it before.

Mraaah. This was so difficult. You and Chibi are always able to successfully tear out my heart, but I have to say that you threw in that extra 'stomp' afterwards this time. Gods. I need to go angst now.

Ps. I so totally need to think of a nickname for you. Just because. *squeebles*

[morriwritestuff.livejournal.com]

I'm not an angst person, but I'm going to have to throw my vote to you on this one. I liked the emphasis on Zoro intentionally having to forget making a promise to Sanji because he absolutely can't break one.

“You’re crying.” Zoro notes, suddenly too close for a man who just shattered Sanji’s fragile illusions.

Sad, sad. *Sniffles for Sanji*

[kotszok.livejournal.com]

AUGH STOP ITTTT It's breaking my heart dammit.

NOW BOTH OF YOU, WRITE A HAPPY SEQUEL DAMMIT. OR I KEEL JOO DED.

[jadeprince.livejournal.com]

Nope. I can't decide. You 'll just have to participate in another challenge. Or two. Or three.

>_>

[bulastar.livejournal.com]

Or fifty.

[mango-32.livejournal.com]

I actually cried ;_;

“Nope.” Not long at all, in comparison to the forever you promised me.

It's...it's...*damn all coherent thought are failing me and I feel like my heart's being pulled out and twisted, and hitting my head against the wall does little to help anything* You guys write the nicest angst.

Sure Sanji's stronger than that, and I'm glad that you had him so IC. Though I don't think anyone who gets put through such things will be so heartless as to feel nothing or feel fine, so...poor Sanji! *sobs*...

[bumpgrrl.livejournal.com]

dammit, you just said everything i wanted to say, and all-intelligent-like too.
it's a deeper love than just trying to hold onto a relationship, when you care so much about the integral character about the other. <-- especially that.

*sobs*

[bumpgrrl.livejournal.com]

“You’re crying.” Zoro notes, suddenly too close for a man who just shattered Sanji’s fragile illusions.
gah! he's doing the thing! the thing where the ender-of-the-relationship still cares enough about the endee that they want to comfort them, because in spite of things not working, they still care!! or worse, in spite of things actually working, they get scared because they care so much, and run away!

I LOVE/HATE YOU AND YOUR ANGST FICS.

[yuki-kokoro.livejournal.com]

I think what really killed me was the contrast between these two moments, both entrancing in their own way:

Zoro "stretched out like an overgrown cat, sated and sleepy and silencing Sanji’s questions with a single word: "Always."

And then:

"It was just sex." The knife slips, narrowly missing Sanji’s shaking hand.

The contrast just... stabs.

I think part of what makes your angst work so well for me is the emphasis of one partner being in so much pain for the sake of the other, even when things are going to shit and the other will ever know. Sanji doesn't remind Zoro of his promise no matter how much he's hurting right now because of what it will do to Zoro's character. He just stands there and takes the pain, letting Zoro walk away and only thinking: you promised...

And we watch Sanji's heart and Zoro's promise slowly crumble to pieces...

[fieryredqueen.livejournal.com]

AAAARRRGGGHHHH.

[paxnirvana.livejournal.com]

AHHHH! FUCKING VACATION!! MISSED THESE!!! *huff huff pant wheeze*
You guys did GOOD. *beams*

STUPID STUPID ZORO. Gah! Sanji shouldn't be throwing things he should be KICKING HIS DUMB MARIMO ASS! ahhhAHHH!

*hee* Don't worry... man-angst just pisses me off sometimes... mostly because it rings so true here. But I do adore GOOD believably-motivated angst like this -- *whimper* I can so see Zoro picking his focus over anything else, especially a weakness like caring a little too much about Sanji.