Curse you, 300 word limit!

[maldoror-gw.livejournal.com]

Title: Sailor's Knot
Rating: PG
Word Count: 300
Pairing: Mention of SanZo
Topic: Knots

Drastically cut and reshuffled and finally put in the Mutator Machine to change it around entirely to fit into the 300 word limit, and I just hope the analogy still makes sense now ^^;





"This loop of rope is your anchor. Pay attention; nobody can tie knots like Captain Usopp! Put your second line across it, twist it around and then into the loop-"

Their newest nakama made a panicked noise as he tried to follow. Hooves weren't ideal for tying rope.

"Then you do a half-hitch and you're done!"

"That's amazing!"

Usopp wondered if he'd ever tire of that reaction. Probably not.

Then the big brown eyes lost some of their shine. "You're all so good. Beating Walpol and all. You're pirates...and I've never even set foot on a boat before."

Usopp stared at the furry head, then glanced around. Sanji and Zoro were fighting again- and it wasn't even an act, though Usopp knew full well what those two got up to in the hold afterwards. Luffy was laughing his head off instead of breaking them up for Merry's sake. Karoo was drunk and occasionally getting stepped on; Vivi was trying to - politely! - remind them of the dangers on these seas; Nami was charging over, determined fists clenched...which begged the question of who was at the helm. And Captain Usopp was busy impressing their doctor with skills he'd learned from books and only ever used in his imagination.

Chopper had been on board twenty-four hours, and instead of laughing hysterically and then demanding to be set back on shore, he was depressed over his lack of nautical experience.

Usopp pointed at the ropes in Chopper's lap. "Yeah? Well, you just tied your first sailor's knot. Goes off in all directions and doesn't look like much, but it's one of the strongest knots there is, and you can trust it to hold fast in all weathers. And Chopper? Don't worry about lack of experience. Something tells me you'll fit right in..."

END

Comments

[sparkestra.livejournal.com]

Awww! Although anything Captain Usopp and Chopper themed tends to make me feel warm and fluffy, the knot analogy truly perfected it.

And the idea of a drunken Karoo getting stepped on - that truly cracked me up. XD

[maldoror-gw.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad the knot analogy worked after cutting it waaay down to fit ^^; Ahhh, I miss Vivi and Karoo, but the latest stint of the manga has rekindled my love for Chopper+Usopp interaction ^_^

[salmon-pink.livejournal.com]

Awww, I love how Chopper's on a constant learning curve, and how wonderfully confused he was when he first joined the Straw Hats, how mixed his priorities were, and that's so perfectly displayed here. I have a real thing for Usopp when he's in big brother mode, because he never coddles, only encourages, and he always tells his very best lies when he's trying to keep Chopper's morale up. Loved the tableau of the rest of the crew, and how Usopp is including Chopper, and just awww. ♥

[maldoror-gw.livejournal.com]

Thanks ^__^ The latest stint of the manga has rekindled my love for Chopper+Usopp interaction big time.

[yuki-kokoro.livejournal.com]

^_^ I've got a soft spot for any aspect of the actual sailing being covered, and this is just a cute moment. For the semi-normal people (reindeer people... whatever) coming into the Strawhats would be so... wow. Overwhelming and scary it could make you doubt yourself (even though Luffy would never doubt you).

Nice to see Usopp being comforting 'bout the pirate thing and helping Chopper through this rough time. I love new-nakama moments. ^^

[maldoror-gw.livejournal.com]

A lot of fics do make it look like they're sailing along in a hotel, or possibly a high-school. I want more fics with naval battles ^__^ (Mind you, even Oda is a bit light on those...)

New nakama are fun because it's fresh eyes suddenly seeing the madness anew all over again :P Then again, Chopper does fit right in...

[cptn-shinigami.livejournal.com]

<3 I have much love for Usopp and Chopper bonding moments

[maldoror-gw.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The latest manga chapters have been rekindling my own love for that interaction.

[anyjen.livejournal.com]

Very very cute Usopp and Chopper moment... and the sailor's knot analogy was just great. :3