Wait, I got a what?

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

Title: Presents
Topic: The Unconventional Approach
Word Count: 300
Rating: less-than-G
People: Sanji, Zoro
Disclaimer: The characters and setting, alas, are not mine. Which is probably just as well.
Summary: Sanji gets a present. For no reason.
Excuse: I had a passing thought about Sanji's technique.

~~~

There was no explanation for it. No reason for a present. But. There it was, on the kitchen counter. A small, plain box, big enough for a brace of paring knives, neatly wrapped with a bow and... yes, a card sticking up.

Up close, he could see that the wrapping wasn't paper, but silk. A very nice aquamarine silk handkerchief. The bow wasn't a ribbon, either, but a black bow tie, perfectly knotted around the box.

The card, at least, was paper. Expensive, heavy cream-white calligraphy paper, edges carefully ripped, with the katakana of his name expertly painted in firm, sure, elegant black brush strokes.

He stared at the package in wonder for a long moment, then reached out one careful hand. Picked up the card and examined it, then set it carefully aside. Gently pulled the bowtie loose. Folded back the hanky. Lifted the top off the box. And stared, wordless, for another long moment, at the contents.

"Try them on," a low voice urged from behind him. Bemused, Sanji reached out and did just that. The gloves were a perfect fit. Made of soft black kid leather, with subtly reinforced palms, sharkskin on the underside of the fingers, and deep cuffs, they'd be perfect for fighting in.

"Whhh..." His voice broke over the question, throat thick with something unnameable, as he turned to the man now standing at his shoulder.

"It's my birthday," Zoro shrugged. "So I got myself a present."

"But..."

"You're speechless. And smiling."

And then the swordsman's mouth quirked up in the first real, honest smile Sanji'd seen him wear in a long time, and he turned away.

"Oi. Marimo!"

"Aa?"

There was a pause, as Sanji searched for words. "So... cake, tonight?" Thanks, man.

"That'd be nice. Lemon?" No problem.

"Sure." Happy birthday, Marimo.


~~~

Not related to this drabble at all: I'm looking for a beta/soundboard person or two for the (vastly) extended version of Aftermaths. E-mail, please and thanks. Found three. Thanks, ladies. :)

Comments

[vampire-otaku.livejournal.com]

:D I really liked this one. For the simple fact that Zoro got himself a speechless and silent Sanji for his birthday by ways of an elegant gift. Sweet.

[kotszok.livejournal.com]

I feel totally stupid needing someone's comment to clarify what exactly it was Zoro got for his birthday. *missed the relevant part*

Anyway, very cute drabble! I like the silent thoughts/meaning. ;)

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Hey, at least you *did* figure it out... :)

[hypnosprostatis.livejournal.com]

::Coos and melts into a Sleep-shaped puddle::

I loved the attention to detail for the wrapping. I always try and fail at wrapping things with fabric. ;.; Zoro's got mad skills with a bow tie.

[nuitari4pwnage.livejournal.com]

I bet he coaxed Robin into doing it (Nami was too expensive).

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

*LOL* Yes, Nami definitely would have been too expensive!

*I* think he did it himself. Meh, they're just tied in a bow, literally, like you'd do with your shoelaces (or boot laces, which he does have). The trick is in the cut of the fabric, and getting it flat and even. If you're not working on it around your own neck it's not that hard. Might've taken him a few tries, but that's not going to hurt anything. :)

Besides, somehow, I can't see him wanting to involve anyone else onboard in this little venture...

[nuitari4pwnage.livejournal.com]

He will always be, in my mind, to stupid to do it >>. And I'm pretty sure Robin, if anyone, could be discreet :D.

[bumpgrrl.livejournal.com]

okay, totally off-topic, but I have been going insane for the past couple of weeks - where is your icon from? it's so maddeningly familiar!

[nuitari4pwnage.livejournal.com]

It has that effect on a lot of people. The great irony of this time is that it's from the same place yours is!

Ah, irony, how I love it so.

[bumpgrrl.livejournal.com]

a-ha! I knew it! I even went - "wait!! It's from vgcats!" Then sifted through half the site and couldn't find the particular comic it was from. Something with someone admiring the cuteness of the bug, and a silly "cat got your tongue" pun?

[nuitari4pwnage.livejournal.com]

Yes! Admittedly I shopped it a bit, cause there was someone standing in the background. It's one of the RO comics.

[bamf-girl.livejournal.com]

Capital work, Zoro. You know the way to a cook's heart is in fine handware.

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

Dang it, I keep reading that as "haRdware"... And then *laughing*. *hee*

But, yes. Fine accessories, definitely. :) It was either that or knives, really, but y'know, Sanji'd buy his own knives, so, yeah.
:)

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

*heh* Yeah. They do talk like that to each other, don't they? Nice sweet sentiments seem to be very hard for both of them to express...
:)

[yuki-kokoro.livejournal.com]

What a surprisingly sophisticated gift for Zoro to give Sanji. And I love the way Zoro was totally ready to walk off afterwards, having gotten his gift. XD He's so unassuming!

Such manly cuteness. As a side note... I really want to see Sanji in those gloves. @_@

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a gift for a (usually) sophisticated kinda guy, so, really. Good tactics, right? :)

[And, oh, yeah. I really don't get why Sanji *doesn't* already *have* about 15 pairs of gloves... Definitely wanna see him pulling those on!]

[ptps.livejournal.com]

^^u I'm not sure if Sanji would fight even if he had gloves on, because the impact through his fists would still be enough to cause damage anyway, but... [/martial arts mode] really sweet take on gift-giving. XD Although we all know that Zoro's just a horny, kinky bastard and the way his eyes will roam appreciatively over Sanji's near-naked form while he tugs on the leather with his teeth, and inclines the tilt of his chin to the dim ceiling light just so, like that, and... and after that they have hot kinky glovy sex. Yes.

(...glove. XD Shit, totally bad puns about Love Gloves and... no. No, very bad mental image.)

(p.s: I wouldn't mind being a beta. Contact details on my infopage if you need 'em. :) )

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if Sanji would fight even if he had gloves on,
Buh...? Sanji fights all the time *without* gloves on. With his hands on the deck, or the roadbed, or whatever the heck nasty surface he was standing on five seconds ago, when he does those spinny-kick things. Which is where a little protective padding and grip would come in handy, no? Zoro knows exactly how Sanji does and doesn't fight, and how careful about his hands he is and this is a way Zoro can protect him without cramping his style, yeah?

Zoro's just a horny, kinky bastard
Well, yes, there is that. ;) And whaddaya mean, "bad mental image"??? Sanji under lights with leather in his teeth? Very *nice* *pretty* mental image! *hee*

[ptps.livejournal.com]

Oh, argh *slaps self* I misread this, I thought the gloves were so he could attack with them using his fists. @@

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

Nah, see, this is why I need a beta. To keep me from writing stuff that people are going to miss... :)
*still randomly pondering GloveKink!Zoro and BlackLeather!Sanji...* hee...

[yuki-kokoro.livejournal.com]

And now I'm pondering GloveKink!Zoro and BlackLeather!Sanji. Thanks. No, actually... really thanks. *drools*

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

*laughs* I really gotta see if one of the art people on here can be persuaded to be thinking about GloveKink!Zoro and BlackLeather!Sanji, too... Hey, even just the Sanji part... leather pants, leather vest, pulling on the gloves with his teeth... And why, oh why, can I see the crop hanging from his wrist so clearly? *shakes head*

[luco-millian.livejournal.com]

Okay...this post may be old but this little art person has been inspired by GloveKink!Zoro and BlackLeather!Sanji......just remind me about it again once I get back from Baltimore ^^;

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

*swoons in complete asrfljkaryawe mush puddle* *squeeee*!
[Trans: That would be wonderful!]

[orange-smaug.livejournal.com]

Eee, lovely ♥. I've always wondered about that, with Sanji always going on about not fighting with his hands because he doesn't want to damage them, then promptly putting them on the ground for his helicopter-kick moves >.<. Though sharkskin might be too rough actually, even if it's only at the fingertips; it's much rougher/sharper to the touch than it looks since it's actually derived from similar material as it's teeth. It's a nice touch anyway though :).

And indeed a surprisingly sophisticated gift from Zoro, but lately I've been of the opinion that Zoro probably is surprisingly sophisticated (though also surprisingly dorky, so I suppose it balances out XD).

[orange-smaug.livejournal.com]

Er, I mean shark skin at the fingertips would be a risk everytime he puts on and takes off the gloves. Sorry, that wasn't clear >.>.

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Considering all the details, I'd have to say the gloves were a custom job, and presumably Zoro would have specified "traction" rather than "flesh-eating"... It's also quite possible the wrong term came to mind *sigh* but as long as the grip factor got through it's probably good. Doubt Sanji's much of an expert in leathers, either, somehow. ;)

And, yes. Zoro's a sophisticated dork. :)

Either that, or he just knows protective gear (which seems rather more likely all told) even if he doesn't *use* it much himself... And intimidated a few shop keepers into showing him "something nice". ;)

[hypnosprostatis.livejournal.com]

Gloves=Shark-skin
Zoro=Shark(supposedly)
Thus...
Gloves=Zoro-skin... o.o;; ... TT^TT

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

*blinks* I... had not thought of that, but it works, yes... oh, my.
*wanders off to ponder some more*

[hungry-worm.livejournal.com]

Aww, that's very, very sweet. *grins* Because, you know, conversation is a difficult thing. :P Soo, gloves with sharkskin... hmmm. *enjoys mental imaginary*
And as a sword fighter, naturally he'd be the one to do perfect giftwraps and writing. Just my opinion. :)

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

...And conversation is particularly difficult for those two, yeah. :) Sharkskin for grip, yes. Figured the last thing we needed was Sanji skaing around upside-down... *snrk* And, yes; caligraphy is one of the arts I usually associate with bushido training, too. :) Glad you liked!

[shymagical.livejournal.com]

Cuuuute <3 Zoro also knows the Japanese art of wrapping gifts, huh?

[bronzetigress.livejournal.com]

Mah, enough to fold the corners over nicely, anyway. :) Glad you liked!