Moy Mell, 1: Welcome to Moy Mell

"Moy Mell, 1: Welcome to Moy Mell"

orig. 10/12/2017

Zoro, Sanji, Elly, Shaggy - PG

Original Concept, mixed fandoms

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Elly sighed to herself as she sank down onto her favorite couch. The massive cushions were comfortable and smelled good, a sleepy mix of her favorite lavender scent. Her ears twitched as she listened to the bustle of Sanji getting ready for dinner in the kitchen. It was far enough away that everything was muted, but she liked to know he was there. It was almost as comforting as the pillowy softness she was burying her head in. Yawing hugely, she rolled over to lay flat on her stomach. This gave her striped tail free reign to lash behind her as she pondered the events of the day. She wasn't agitated, per se, just not as relaxed as she'd like. The gigantic theme park she lived on the very outskirts on took a lot of effort to run smoothly, and she was almost always in the middle of the fray, as it were. She was just starting to fall asleep when she felt a light, almost diffident tap on her shoulder.

"Hey."

"Ughh..." She slowly opened one eye, then the other, truly reluctant to be awake. "What's up?"

"Dinner." The big man in front of her crouched down to be on her level. He smelled just like he always did - steel and musk, yet another comfort smell for her. She yawned again, two sharp canines glinting in the light before she remembered to cover her mouth.

"Mmnn, Zoro. Lemme sleep a little longer."

Zoro rolled his eyes - the one on the right, anyway. He knew better to argue with the sleepy demon cat, however, and simply jerked a thumb in the direction of the kitchen. "Dumbass made fried pork cutlets."

Elly's ears snapped straight up. "Pork cutlets?!" She bounced up into a sitting position and rolled slightly to one side when she didn't quite do it gracefully.

"Watch it, stupid cat!"

"Whoop. Heh heh." She stretched, working a few kinks out before attempting to move again. Zoro shook his head at her antics and stood up, dusting his black pants off. He wore what he normally wore when off-duty - a simple white shirt, black pants and boots paired with his green haramaki. He was never without his swords, even when relaxing, and he set one hand on them as he watched Elly stand beside him. "Yay! Pork."

He couldn't repress the hint of a smile. "He said you deserved it."

"I didn't work that hard today." She shook herself and walked quickly through the dining room to the kitchen. Sanji spun about when she opened the door, a huge grin on his face.

"Angel! You're awake!"

"And hungry," she said, grinning impudently at her chef. He set the plate of vegetables he was holding hurriedly on the table in front of him and rushed to meet her. Zoro grunted with disgust as he caught her in a huge hug.

"I made one of your favorites."

"I know," she giggled. His enthusiasm was infectious. And anyway, she didn't need extra enthusiasm for pork - it was her favorite meat. She kissed him softly on the cheek, eliciting another sound of discontent from the swordsman and a happy cry from the cook. Zoro said nothing, however, just loaded his plate with food.

"Hey, don't start before everyone sits down!" Sanji glared at him. Zoro ignored him and kept eating.

"This looks great!" Elly was ignoring them both since it was normal for the two to be at odds with each other. They didn't really hate one another, but they always argued. She said thanks, filled her plate and began to eat. Sanji grumbled a little but took off his pink apron and hung it on a hook. His clothing was as impeccable as always and he absently straightened his tie as he sat down and also filled a plate.

"Are you going back out tonight?" He raised a curly eyebrow at Elly.

"Oh, no. Not again," she groaned, her ears laying back.

"I just think you need a night to yourself," he stressed. "You've been out there all the time. You can't do it all yourself, you know."

"But I like doing it. The fireworks display is tonight. I love that."

Sanji swirled the water around in his cup thoughtfully. "All right, but you could watch that from the rooftop, baby. You haven't had a break in a long time."

"You could." Zoro shrugged.

"You're not agreeing with him?"

"Nggh," he replied around a mouthful of food.

"Chew, you damned neanderthal," Sanji snapped.

Zoro swallowed mightily. "Shut up," he said absently. Then, to Elly, "You're too tired. I'm supposed to make sure you don't hurt yourself. Can't do that if you're a walking accident waiting to happen."

"I hate it when you're right," she muttered.

"Then stay home."

"Okay, okay!"

"Don't fill up, then," Sanji smiled. "I'll make something for later ... if you promise to watch the fireworks with me."

"Oh." Her tone changed. "Well... all right." She got up to stack her dishes neatly in the dishwasher. "I'm going to go sit by the pool for awhile until it gets dark enough for the show."

"Good idea." Sanji beamed at her as she opened the sliding glass door to the back of the kitchen. He heard her calling out to the guy that was on duty cleaning the pool and watched until she was out of sight. Then he sighed happily as he began to clean up the rest of the dishes. Zoro had already put his away and was stomping out the doorway that led to the elevator. The blond man shrugged. He'd probably go work out in the gym now that he didn't have to shadow Elly around. Not that he cared - all he could think about was making the perfect dessert for their little rooftop date.

The door slid shut behind her and Elly looked about, keen ears picking up the light swishing sound of water in the pool. "Hey, why aren't you at the dorm? Aren't they having some kind of game night?"

"Yah!" The young man standing waist-deep in the shallows jerked his head up at the sound of her voice, his wet hair flopping back and hose precariously held in one hand. He banged the vacuum the hose was attached to and yelped again.

"Oh, sorry." She chuckled and sat down on the edge, dipping her feet in.

"Like, warn a guy next time," he gasped, sounding extremely out of breath. "I damn near had a heart attack!"

"Sorry, Shaggy."

"Sorry, my foot," he winced, rubbing at a stubbed toe. He checked the machine to make sure the hose hadn't jarred loose, and, finding it okay, began to scrub the floor again.

"Awww. You know I didn't mean to. But why aren't you there having fun? I thought you loved those games."

"Yeah, yeah." He waved his free hand diffidently out to the west side of the house where the sprawling apartment complex was located. "I can't concentrate if this isn't perfect."

"Really?" The lights around the infinity pool slowly started to glow, illuminating the deck as dusk slipped into a deeper darkness. The only sounds besides their conversation were the soft rasp of the bristles and the crash of the waves from the ocean in front of them. It was soothing, and she sat for a few minutes in silence.

Without being coerced, Shaggy suddenly told her the real reason why he was working so late. "Scoob's got this bet with me if he beats me in the first round."

"So you're stalling."

"Uh huh." He sank deeper in past his waist. "I really don't wanna lose."

"How is he so good at gaming? He doesn't have thumbs."

"It's not him, it's me," Shaggy groaned. "I suck." Elly couldn't hold back a soft giggle at this. He was too busy lamenting his already-lost bet to notice that, though, or the fact that the door whooshed open behind them.

"Angel," Sanji called out in a low, sultry voice. "I've come for our date."

"Date?"

"Well, isn't it?" He stepped forth into the light and she smiled. He had changed outfits again and now wore a blue t-shirt and faded jeans, with gently worn leather loafers on his feet. He nodded briefly to Shaggy, who nodded back. "I just had to clean myself up a little after making dessert. The rooftop's all set - shall we go?"

"Yep." She held her hand out and he took it in his. He smiled at her and suddenly reached further up, grasping her forearm to pull her safely and quite firmly into his arms. "Sanji!"

He grinned harder at her exasperated tone. "Sorry, love - sometimes I can't resist."

"Isn't that all the time?"

"Mmm." He paused, thinking as he led her into the house and in the elevator that would carry them to the roof. "I have to admit... yes." Elly was silent after this exchange. He was warm against her and he wouldn't let go of her hand. She didn't mind - it was a comfort she rarely indulged in. His palms were sliced with thin cuts - not many, and they were still quite smooth, but she could feel them. Cooking accidents. One didn't work in a kitchen all your life without cutting yourself a few times.

"Ah, here we are." The elevator's bell chimed and the doors opened at last into the cool night air on the highest floor of the mansion. Sanji stepped to one side and let go of her hand to bow before her, gesturing briefly. "I set a table up on the north side, facing the park. Oh, and the current caretaker is at that game thing the dorm's holding... so we're all alone." The roof was large, with many elaborate gardens. This required someone to care for them, and whoever wanted to do so was allowed to live in a larger apartment right here - bigger than the ones at the dorm, even. But when she glanced at the windows she saw it was dark - Sanji was right. James was probably at the games.

"Hmm." A light wind whipped at her hair and caused her ears to twitch. The table was small with a well-guarded candleholder set in the middle, a plate filled with something small and a bucket with a bottle set beside them. Sanji lifted this out with a flourish and she saw it was champagne. "Silly romantic," she chided gently.

"I can't help it," he murmured with a grin. "And, while I know you're not overly fond of chocolate," here he expertly popped the cork and began to fill the two tall glasses, "I thought that would also be appropriate." He placed the drink near her, along the plate, and she peered closer. White chocolate-covered strawberries! She should have known. Sanji pulled his chair close beside hers as they watched the glow of the lights from the park.

"It's always so pretty."

"And the show's soon, right?" He checked his watch. "Ah. Now." Just as he spoke, the sky in the far distance was speckled with a rainbow of lights. Elly sighed again and leaned close to the cook's side. He lifted his arm and carefully placed it about her shoulders, allowing her to relax completely against him.

"This is nice. Thank you," she said simply.

"You needed to relax, love." He smiled at her. "You know none of us will let you get stressed... even if work is fun, you still need fun other than work."

"Mmm-hmm." She snuggled closer and watched the pretty light show in the night sky.

Eventually she fell asleep. Sanji watched her for some time, not wanting to move but knowing he had to. At last, he stood and picked her up carefully in his arms. If he was quiet enough, he could perhaps tuck her into his bed tonight. He could sleep on the couch in his room, but he figured it wouldn't come to that anyway. And he wasn't wrong or surprised at all when he found Zoro waiting in the kitchen, drink in hand.

"Cook," he greeted him briefly.

"Moron," the other huffed. He knew what came next and was not pleased. Zoro grunted softly as he set his mug aside. The green-haired man didn't reply, simply held his arms out with an even stare. "All fucking right already." Sanji unwillingly transferred his warm, snoring bundle to the swordsman's arms. He had hoped that this one time the man would forget - but he never did. Zoro didn't sleep until he was certain Elly was in bed.

The rooms below were off-limits to everyone except Elly and her bodyguard. Zoro even had rooms next to hers, proof that she trusted him the most of any of her companions. The big man ignored the dagger-like stare Sanji was aiming at his back. He walked into the elevator and pressed the second-to-lowest floor button. When the lift chimed in a few minutes, he opened the side that would give him immediate access to her quarters. He was immediately surrounded by the soft glow of an underwater kingdom. Elly's grand suite was flanked all the way around by an elaborate aquarium setup. It began one floor above - one below the main floor, to be exact -- and continued down two levels below. She had one more room under this that he'd never even been in. He had no idea what was in it, nor was he curious. She was safe when she was here; nothing could get at her behind the bedroom door that had a special lock. He shifted slightly as he reached it, lining his face before a small panel. The door opened and he pushed in, making his way to the giant bed in one corner. Fish flashed by in yet more wall tanks - different ones, many a bit duller in color than the ones outside but still interesting. He pulled back the coverlet and laid her carefully down, waiting until she yawned and cuddled into a pillow before pulling the top sheet up to her hands. She grasped it and settled down with a content sound.

Still silent, Zoro turned and walked out the bedroom, closing the door behind him. He slowly crossed the huge suite until he reached another door near the elevator. This one led to a hallway that on the other side of yet another door was his room. He flopped into his bed at last, asleep almost before his head touched the pillow.

Smoke & Mirrors, parts 5 & 6

"Smoke & Mirrors, Parts 5 & 6"

orig.September /2013

Alt. One Piece Elly x Smoker
Minor romance fluff, PG-13

One Piece based non-canon

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The candles were lit on the tables set on the open deck. She could see them from her window, flickering orbs in glass domes looking for all the world like fireflies dancing on the tablecloths. People were bustling about, those getting ready for the meal, others mopping and sweeping up the deck on the designated dance floor and the band practicing.

Everywhere there was light, there was life. Elly was caught up in everything - the sights, smells, all sounds of joy that made her heart tremble. It might be just another little gathering to those attending, but this was her first real taste of freedom in years. She brushed at the front of her dress, wondering if she should have settled on a more modest bodice. The black, glittering dress made for her by the tailor was floor-length and cut somewhat low in the front. Her back was also partially exposed. She would have thought it was too daring, except the man had shook his head ruefully and told her she was fine. Well, she hadn't had the cause to dress up in ages. She had to trust the professional.

Nervously stealing yet another glance in the full body mirror behind her closet door, she let out a shaky breath. Once that wretched chain was off her neck, she had a few surprises for her date. And most of those at the banquet, she thought gleefully.

Smoker normally didn't care what he looked like. He dressed for wear, not show, even during a formal banquet where he was the leading Marine in charge. He grunted as he pulled on a black pair of boots on under plain white slacks. The coat was slightly less flashy than his regular one. It was shorter, like a tuxedo jacket, for one, and didn't have the fur along the shoulders. Gold buttons flashed in the light of his quarters as he tugged it on. He paused, then sighed. He'd have to button it this time. Although agreeing to wear the different clothing only a few times a year, he still disliked the feel of cloth tight across his chest. He quickly finished and ran a hand through his white hair. The barber had cut it too long this time, and he hadn't the time to trim it before the party. He had started slicking it back a couple years ago, but there was too much now. He settled for getting some of it off his sides and checked to make sure he had a cigar case in his jacket pocket. He needed that badly, seeing as he wasn't wearing his old coat.

Right. He was ready. He was almost out the door when he stopped. Something was nagging at him, something he forgot. He frowned, thinking hard, and then groaned loudly. The other box! Snatching it up where it lay on his rumpled bed, he once again checked himself and headed out the door with purposeful strides. Once at her door, he told the guard to be ready to remove the necklace and reminded him he was sworn to secrecy. The man saluted and unlocked the door, gesturing that his superior move in first. Smoker knocked politely again and then entered with the other man close behind him. The first thing he saw was Elly, standing there right in front ready to receive him. She was blushing modestly in her formal wear and seemed as nervous as he was. At a sign from him, the guard moved up to remove her chain, and she hurriedly stepped forward, bending her neck for easy access. Smoker thought he was ready for anything, but as the chain fell into the guard's outstretched hand, she let out a sigh beyond relief... and changed. The guard took a step back, startled and immediately reaching for the weapon at his side. Smoker waved him down, however. He stared at the pale woman intently. No, she was the same as she was before. He must have been mistaken. Same short, shimmery black hair, sparkling eyes the same shade, a little larger than most females and shiveringly exotic. Her dress clung to her in all the right places and dipped exuberantly down in the front, soft shadows leading down to an area where he found himself intently wishing he could explore. The thought itself brought him up short.

She had been pretty before, but this? This was ridiculous. His heart pounding in his chest so hard he could barely breathe, he silently handed her the jewel case he'd brought from his room. She took it with an arched eyebrow, popping the clutch and staring inside. 

"It isn't another sea-stone." It was not a question, but he answered anyway.

"No. You're always seen with the other, so it would have been suspicious if you didn't wear a necklace." He reached out as she fumbled with the clasp. "Here, quit struggling."

"Oh, like you'll be a big help. You've hands like an ox." But she turned about and let him work the delicate fastener closed, impressed that his touch could be so precise. "What is this, anyway?" She fingered the new gemstone at the end of the chain.

Smoker coughed apologetically. "Smoky quartz." When she burst out in a gale of silvery laughter, he covered his face with one large hand. "The tailor on this ship was lucky I didn't deck him," he added through clenched teeth. His cheeks felt hot again and he blew smoke out from twin cigars in a huge gust. Elly's smile grew wider and she hooked an arm through his. He blinked and scowled a little, but unconsciously drew her closer as they walked out into the hall. "I feel like a little kid," she whispered. "Happy and nervous and as excited as I used to be on my birthday."

He grinned down at her. "Like a child?"

"Quit." She made a face and he chuckled under his breath. 

"Behave yourself, then. And you're not to leave my side all night."

"Really?" She asked archly. "The whole night?"

He had the good grace to blush even harder at that. "Cut that out!" 

"You're making it too easy anyway," she murmured. Smoker wondered at her antics. She was clearly in high spirits and it showed in every way. She even seemed more beautiful - which of course was ridiculous -- but when he'd placed the new necklace on her she had positively beamed. That was the start of ...this change, he thought, this effervescent personality that was as strong as her other emotions. He'd seen her darkly depressed and furious, and now knew that she played everything on edge, to the limit of her emotions at all times. That's one dangerous woman, regardless of what Devil Fruit she has.

As they stepped out onto the deck he was reminded of his thought when the men all turned in one body to stare, entranced. Although Elly was enjoying herself, she didn't meet any of those other stares. She walked beside the Vice Admiral to her seat, which he politely held out for her. Once she was settled, he sat down himself. He was completely unprepared once more, this time for the onslaught of young Marines that tried to wheedle her away for any reason. He finally had to plaster a menacing expression on his face while taking hold of her hand quite firmly and in full view on the table top. 

"My, what fun," she said breathlessly as he stared another youngster down. "Are you waging war for me, Mr. Vice Admiral?" She smiled at him. In fact she smiled so sweetly that a few of the women around them had to rethink their opinion on the big man. Rumors flew around the table, in shared glances and whispered conversations as the band began playing. 

Smoker stared at the woman beside him, his eyes half-lidded. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" He said flatly.

"Me?"

"All right, you want fun?" He stood up, his chair scraping back along the wooden deck. She was raised up with him and they walked to the dance area, still holding hands. Once there he nodded to the few couples there in passing, aware of the shocked looks on most of the faces, and released her hand. He grinned when he saw confusion in her startled dark eyes and pushed his advantage by carefully circling his arm about her shoulder and waist. They danced with the others, hesitantly at first but slipping into the motions both had learned easily with the music. His hand felt like it was burning from touching her skin lightly along the open back area of her dress. He felt her body, tense at first against his, jump when he squeezed her gently on one shoulder. "Easy," he murmured. "I don't want to piss you off, but you needed to get away from them for a minute."

"Why?" She pulled back, but then relented when she saw the dazed look in his brown eyes. Smoker felt her body relax against his and immediately a new problem emerged. She was soft, almost the same height as he was, and warm. He could feel her breath on his neck as she moved against him, never shying away from the smell of smoke or the feel of his own body, which was preparing to betray him. He fought with himself until the solution happened in a fit of desperation - he simply evaporated the offending body part into smoke. I've never been happier to be a Logia user, he thought with a shaky sigh. Elly was smiling slyly at him. Either she knew what he had been going through, or maybe guessed. His blush tripled, turning an amazing shade of purple. The dance ended, and he guided her back to their seats.

No one else bothered her for the remainder of the evening.

In fact, nothing remarkable happened for the rest of the night. After the single dance they shared, she behaved and so did he. She still teased him, but gingerly, as if she was afraid he'd take her up again and this time insist on an even closer dance. And eventually, it was all over. Time had passed so quickly, and he had to escort her back to her quarters. They spoke little during their walk back, and saw no one heading into the important area of the ship. Only high-ranking prisoners and officials here, she thought to herself as they approached her room. Is there really a difference?

She sighed wistfully. "I haven't had so much fun in years," she said truthfully. Setting her back against the door, she waited for what was to happen next - that damnable chain to be restored to its hateful place on her neck. 

"Guard's not here yet."

"He was told to be here at twenty-two hundred hours."

"We're early." She pouted at this, her lower lip sticking out slightly. Smoker felt something within himself let go at that point, watching her tease him so casually as she had all night. He reached up and took the ever-present cigars from his mouth, and, holding them out so as not to burn her, leaned over. Elly's eyes widened, but she made no move to stop him. They grew closer and their noses brushed lightly against one another, and yet he waited. She was shaking all over but not in fright, her dark eyes a mystery as she watched him curb the smoke from his mouth in consideration for her.

"Ah ... ahem." It was the sound of someone clearing their throat, startlingly loud in the small hallway. They both jumped, Smoker spinning around, half-lowered in a guarded stance. The guard was there, waiting to place the sea-stone chain on her again. He stood up slowly, coughing to break past the awkward moment. Elly's emotions were out of control. She knew she would only say something wrong if she opened her mouth, so she was uncharacteristically silent as the man unclasped the one and re-shackled her with the disgusting touch of the sea-stone. When she looked back up at Smoker the cigars were in place, crammed back between his lips. He was sweating lightly but in control of himself.

"You're late," he snapped at the guard. The man apologized, yet there was a faint look of speculation in his eyes. This made Smoker angrier and he assigned him latrine duty for a week after his job here was done every day. "And you," he said in clipped tones as he jabbed a finger at Elly. "I'll see you later." 

He stomped out with his fists clenched at his sides. She shook her head, still reeling from everything that had happened that night. She was certain she would see him earlier than morning as the door closed behind the two men. 

When she went to bed, she would dream.

Part 6

Elly watched him practicing his logia skills on deck. He's very good, she thought with a low chuckle at the bias she knew she had. The sun was strong again that day and the light shone down, flashing off his jitte as he swung it about in smooth sweeps of his arm. There - he transformed. His lower half was now a roiling smoke cloud, and he moved with uncanny speed as he fought a battle with an unseen enemy. She wriggled closer to the window, cursing the bars for more than one reason as they got in her way. She wasn't upset that he hadn't called her to his office that morning. It proved to her that he wasn't all that sure of himself. That in turn lent a little more weight to the almost-kiss they had shared. She could almost believe he had wanted to, for personal reasons and not because he wanted her to join them. The training went on and on, and she saw he was pushing himself - he was sweating hard, his breathing sounding hoarse even from this distance. She would have watched longer, but he spun about suddenly, thrusting himself in smoke form up at the sky and coming down directly in front of her window.

"Ack!"

"Office," he panted, out of breath. "Now."

She sketched a mock salute at his back when he turned away. Of course she had to wait for the guard at the door to escort her, but the summons came quickly after. She nearly flew down the corridors, her sandalled feet slapping on the polished wood. When she came to his office the guard knocked and announced her as usual, although she felt this trip was anything but. She took a long, deep breath before entering. 

"Good morning," she called cheerfully, bracing herself for the worst. It appeared all he had done was make himself sweaty and hot as well as confused with his workout, and he was still nervous. He pacing back and forth near the desk instead of behind it, chewing restlessly on his cigars. "Um. Bad morning?" She asked weakly, seeing the state he was in. 

He faced her and that's when she also noticed he wasn't wearing his coat. The long, white jacket was tossed negligently over the desk and his bare chest glistened with moisture. Elly sucked in a lungful of air at the sight, averting her eyes before they could wander more. "Are you okay?"

He stared at her like she had gone mad. "Yes. And so are you."

"Um. Yes."

"Here's the contract." He tossed it vaguely in her direction. Elly let it flutter to the floor and concentrated instead on his strange expression.

"I won't sign it, you know. But I wanted to thank you for last night." She walked to him and reached out a shaky hand. "You know, maybe you should put your coat back on. You're breaking several dress code violations by being too sexy." She bit her lip; she hadn't quite meant to say something that provocative. His startled glance was well worth it. He stripped the gloves from his hands, placed the cigars in an ashtray on his desk and grasped her outstretched hand, pulling her quickly to him. She had one fleeting moment to look into his eyes, burning with desire, before he kissed her. Even with the cigars gone he tasted of smoke. Elly closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his scruffy face on hers. He infrequently shaved the lower part of his face and it rasped against her as they kissed. He moved forward, at first only flicking his tongue against her lips with light touches until she sighed and opened her mouth. His hand caressed the back of her neck as he deepened the kiss, pressing as hard as he wanted when he saw she didn't mind. 

It seemed like an eternity but it was probably only a couple of minutes before she broke away with a soft gasp. "Wait, wait."

"I did." He spoke in a low undertone that caused her to shiver all over. She'd read romance novels before but had never imagined clearly what the authors had meant when they wrote about the male lead's "bedroom voice". Now she understood. One hand was stroking her hair, the other resting lightly on the small of her back. Her plain white blouse was sticking a little to his skin, wicking some of the moisture away. She tugged on it absently.

"What?"

"I waited all night," he clarified, "I couldn't sleep, damn it." His hand on her back pulled gently, urging her closer again.

"I know."

"You know," he said with some heat, "they told me to do something like this." He paused, thinking that sounded bad on reflection. "But I didn't do it on purpose."

"I know," she murmured once more. "This wouldn't be the first time they tried this on me." Amused at his grunt of disgust, she went on. "That's why I was up all night. Part of it, anyway."

"Decide if I was an ass or not?" His hand dropped dangerously low as he spoke the word and she reached to catch it before it went further.

"Oh, you're an ass, all right." A quick squeeze of the calloused palm in her grip. "Just not a lying ass."

"They can tell me to do something all they want." He shrugged. "Just because I'm a Marine doesn't mean I'm anyone's dog." Elly hesitantly let go of his hand and he placed both of them on her shoulders, pushing her away to look seriously down at her. "I'm doing what's right."

"I wish I knew that so easily. I started to have doubts about that area they said I destroyed after awhile. I mean, I didn't mean to do anything, but what if I had? But I knew back then I was innocent, and I'll stick to that now. That makes you guys the ones that are wrong there. You've no right to hold me..." She regretted her choice of words as he let her go. "...against my will."

He stared at her for a minute, then ran a hand through his hair. She saw he'd made a visit to the barber in the early morning hours, because his hair was shaved along the sides and long on top now. He pushed the white strands back meditatively, eyes lost in thought. "I believe you," he said, so low she barely heard.

"What?!"

"I believe you." He coughed and turned away. "Get this straight, little one - I also believe that your power may be too dangerous to leave unattended out in the world. I don't know what it is, I don't want you to tell me, but if we let you go and others found out about you, what would happen?"

No one had ever spoken to her this way before. Elly toddled crazily to the chair and sat down, stunned. "Everyone would want to get their hands on me."

"Is your ability defensive against many? A pirate crew, maybe?"

"No," she admitted, the word falling lifelessly from her mouth. "No, it's not. Well... it's good, but I could be overwhelmed. Eventually."

"I don't want you hurt," he said firmly. He was gripping the sides of his chair so tightly she saw his knuckles were white. The coat and cigars were back in their rightful places and he looked almost normal again. He stooped to pick up his gloves and she let her eyes wander around the room. The piece of paper she had let fall was nearby. She squeaked the chair over and picked it up.

"Didn't change this, did they."

He paused in the act of pulling the gloves on. "It's just a copy. I have a stack."

"Let me ask - just asking, mind -- if I wanted some specific changes done before I agreed, would they do it?"

"They'd think about it." He sat with a sigh and stretched across the desk to take her hand again. "Don't do anything you'll regret, child."

She yanked her hand out from his, wrinkling her nose. "You can still call me child after that kiss?"

He glared at her.

She stuck her tongue out at him.

That was the end of that morning visit.

Parts 7 & 8 >

Smoke & Mirrors, parts 3 & 4

"Smoke & Mirrors, Parts 3 & 4"

orig. September/2013

Alt. One Piece Elly x Smoker
Plot to start series, PG

One Piece based non-canon

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A few more weeks on the large ship and we'll be back chasing after more wanted criminals, Smoker thought as he sipped his morning coffee. To be honest, he liked it better than the office, the tedious paperwork and all the crappy things that sprouted from being an high-ranking officer.

Like banquets.

He grumbled to himself, already deciding that he'd wear his formal wear instead of a suit. He could have worn what he liked; he was well-known enough to go without insignia at an informal party like this. He just hated wearing anything other than his normal gear, his chest exposed to the air and a ton of his beloved cigars stuffed in every open sleeve. No, it was stuffy, and smoke hated being stuffed in anywhere, he thought with a chuckle. It always seeped through the cracks. He'd wear the usual fancy crap but nothing extra special. Although it was a few days away, he got up and walked to his closet. Rummaging about with one hand, he didn't stop until he found the entire outfit and hung it on a knob on the front. That settled, he walked back and set his mug down on a trembling stack of papers. New day, new contract showing. He was quite sure she'd torn up the last one, and was quite possibly saving the pieces to hurl in his face. She had quite the imagination for showing her disdain to cooperate with them. His hand froze inches away from the phone, though. The transponder blinked at him, eyestalks swiveling about to stare, but he ignored it. 

"No." He shook his head, his eyes a little wild. Not a good idea, he thought firmly. Definitely not a good idea. But as he called for her, he found he was still thinking about it.

Elly arrived promptly, such an unusual circumstance that he raised an eyebrow as she walked in. What was worse, she was silent. She sat without being asked and folded her hands in her lap quietly, not bothering with coffee. Smoker sat still for some time, waiting for her to speak. But as the minutes passed, he realized she wasn't going to. Something was very wrong.

"Did the men behave properly towards you today?" 

She finally raised her eyes to him, and he winced inside. The whites were bloodshot and there were dark circles under them, as if she hadn't slept all night. "They were fine," she said in a tired voice. 

"Something's wrong."

"Nothing." She shrugged, and he saw her eyes wander over to the closet. The agony in them was unmistakable as she saw his formal wear. 

Baffled at her reaction, he waved a hand in that direction. "Just a stupid dinner officers have to go to. The young ones seem to like it, and the - " He choked back his words. 

"Women?" She asked blankly. "That's what you were going to say, right?" She sighed, and he found himself at a loss for words. Worse yet, a blush was starting to creep across his rugged features, staining his tanned skin pink across his nose and cheeks. He struggled to compose himself while she spoke on. "I haven't been out in years.  Haven't been outside in the moonlight, had an occasion to wear something other than plain clothing or been treated like a woman." She looked up and saw him acting strangely, one hand across his face. "You hot or something? What the hell?"

"No." He dropped his hand, hoping all traces of the blush were gone. 

"Sorry. I didn't mean to go on about that shit." She crossed her legs demurely, the skirt she wore flipping as she did, and he found himself flustered again. 

Not that! He was a complete asshole! Anything but that! 

Elly recovered from her depression enough to ask curiously, "Did you know you're smoking today? Like, actually smoking. Your skin."

"What?" He groaned when he saw she was right. He'd choked back the blush, but the embarrassment had caused curls of smoke to escape, unnoticed, from his neck. He quickly forced them down and cleared his throat. A solid frown is the way to go, he thought, and he plastered one hastily across his face. "Yes. Did you look at the contract the other day?" He was automatically reaching for a new one as he asked, knowing the answer.

"Threw it away again," she said, her eyes taking on more of a sparkle. Needling Smoker was one of her favorite pastimes. "It hasn't changed much."

"Here's another. Read it again." He handed it to her and she shrugged. 

"I have a question about it," she said then, unexpectedly. She normally didn't want to talk about it at all. "Does anything bad happen to you if I don't say yes?" 

"Chastisement? Or maybe even punishment for failure, you mean?" 

"Yeah."

He considered. Saying yes might make a weaker person commit, but she had lasted many years now. Besides, why should she care about him more than the last ten men and women who had tried? He decided to tell the truth. "No, nothing like that."

"Ah," she said a little sadly. "Better treatment for you, then." 

"Do you get mistreated?" The thought hadn't crossed his mind for some reason. Punishing someone you wanted on your side seemed idiotic. 

"Somewhat," she hedged, looking uncomfortable. There was a long silence and he thought she was done, but then she spoke up in a very small voice. "They told me I'd have to go with Akainu next time if - if I didn't..." 

"Ah." Smoker visibly flinched this time. That man went to extremes! She'd worked her way up through the ranks, though, and he would be one of the few with power left to try her. The top brass were getting desperate.

"I just want to be free," she whispered. Amazed, he watched as her head drooped and she sniffled back tears. He hadn't been ready for this at all. In fact, he'd gotten used to her being as steady as one of the rocks he balanced. Something had really set her off, and he thought he knew what it was.

"You can go," he said at last, unable to say what he was thinking at the moment. Elly nodded, clearly ashamed at having wept in front of him, and made her way back to the door. Smoker waited until the guard had led her away before picking up the transponder again and making some urgent calls.

Elly was worse than ashamed - she felt terrible at having broken down in the Vice Admiral's office. No, if the truth were to be told, it was bad because she had cried in front of one of Them. It was worse that it had been Smoker. She walked as quickly as possible back to her room and for once was glad when the door closed shut behind her. She sat numbly down on her bed and hid her face in her trembling hands. She knew there was a name for what she was feeling - some syndrome of being held captive for too long -- but she rejected that on all counts. It wasn't like that. She had held out for many years and wasn't going to break now. And yet her emotions were real, and that terrified her even more.

She didn't know how much time had passed until there was a knock at her door. Startled, she got up and brushed herself off. 

"Be right there," she called out, glad her voice was steady again. After splashing some water on her face she felt better. "All right," she sighed as she stood some ways from the door. "Let's begin the next round of bullshit, whatever it is."

Part 4

Elly stood still, frozen in place at the scene before her open doorway. The guard had respectfully stepped aside, but she wouldn't have paid him notice anyway. She saw only one amazing thing, and her tired brain struggled to make sense of it. 

"Are you going to stand there all day?" The big man in front of her sounded irritable. No change there, then - just in his stance as he held out an arm towards her roiling with smoke in the makeshift form of a bouquet of flowers. He wore his usual open jacket with the cigars stuffed in sleeves along the sides and military-issue boots, belt and gloves. His white hair, usually slicked back, was ruffled on the sides and on the very top. It gave him a rakish appearance and made him look younger, for some reason. There was color in his cheeks, too - he was blushing. 

The cranky tone of his voice, something normal, brought her to her senses and she nodded dumbly. He stepped inside and the guard locked the door behind them, as was protocol in any visit. Smoker muttered something under his breath and the flowers wisped back into his hand. He was getting fairly close to her chain and wouldn't be able to form them when near. "We don't have any on the damned ship. Best I could do." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. 

"We're in the middle of the ocean," she found herself agreeing faintly. She waved at her chair, offering him a seat, but he shook his head. 

"I can offer you one night free of your chain, no strings attached," he said bluntly, getting right to the point. Elly nearly choked. She stumbled in the middle of walking towards the window and squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation of bruising something, but she didn't fall. A strong arm had quickly snaked around her middle and held her back. She cautiously opened her eyes, knowing she was shaking a little. She was afraid this was some kind of trick or a dream. But the arm was still wrapped around her, firm but gentle. She could smell cigar smoke, a masculine smell, and some sort of strong soap the guys on the ship used. Her heart beat faster in her chest and she managed a little wheeze. "Oops," she said lamely. 

"Be careful," he scolded.

"Sorry," she apologized, head spinning. What the hell was happening? "You kind of, uh, took me by surprise. I can go out? I can get the chain off?"

"For one night," he repeated. 

"And I don't have to sign the contract or agree to anything?"

"That's what 'no strings attached' means," he snorted. Then he gave a little jerk, as if suddenly noticing his arm was still around her. It was his turn to apologize, and he stuttered badly as he did.

"It's okay," she hastily assured him. She reached up and ran a hand through her short, dark hair, taking a deep breath. "Is it that formal? Can we have a dress made in that short a time?" A strand fell across her forehead and she tucked it back.

He shrugged, still looking uncomfortable. "Talk to my first. I don't know about things like that." He paused. "Doesn't matter, though. You'll go with me, right?"

"Yes." She couldn't say no. Why would she turn down a little slice of freedom like this? And yet in her mind she still thought it could be some ploy on behalf of the Vice Admiral. Get her to see how nice things could be if she signed, for instance... 

"Two days," he was telling her.

"I'm sorry, wh - what?" 

"Damn thing's gonna be in two days. At night, eight. I'll come get you." He turned to go and she panicked.

"Wait!"

"Eh?"

"You'll take the chain off then?"

"The guard will." Smoker wouldn't touch the thing, she should have known that. She nodded.

"How do you know I won't try to escape? Why now?"

"Going to try, child?" His voice was mildly curious.

"Don't call me that!" 

"Then don't ask silly questions. I can stop you. Besides, the guards will be around, and we're in the middle of the ocean. There's nowhere to go." He walked to the door and knocked. "It's me."

"Smoker," she called out before he left. When he faced her again she was smiling at him. The simple act brightened her face noticeably. He saw that this time, the smile reached her eyes and he swallowed hard past a strange lump in his throat. "Ask Tashigi to come by?"

He nodded and left before he could make more an even bigger fool out of himself. He found he was having difficulty breathing, and he hastily drew in deep from his cigars, pulling a sense of serenity about himself. He'd stop by his first-in-command and tell her to help her out as much as possible. He really wanted this night to be good for her. As he clumped along the halls to the deck where she was training the men, he barely acknowledged any salutes or nods from fellow Marines. Those he passed saw the Vice Admiral was lost in thought, a strange twinkle in his brown eyes.

Parts 5 & 6 >

Smoke & Mirrors, parts 1 & 2

"Smoke & Mirrors, Parts 1 & 2"

orig. September/2013

Alt. One Piece Elly x Smoker
Plot to start series, PG

One Piece based non-canon

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Growling with more than irritation, Smoker chomped down on the two cigars in his mouth and forced himself to relax. With his boots scuffling the mounds of paperwork on his desk and smoke swirling lazily about him, he looked calm. His mind, however, was another matter.

The child had been unimpressive when he'd first seen her, he thought as he leaned back in his chair. Frowning, he shook his head and reached up to scrub at his temples in annoyance. Not "child", though she looked it. She was a woman, close to his age. Younger than he was, certainly, but not young enough for him to dismiss her as that word she so hated. But it was so much easier to get her out of his head when he thought of her as too young!

Too young for what? 

"Tell the ...child, to get in here," he grunted into a small communication snail. "She's late."

Elly, as usual, was angry when she stormed into his presence. Her dark eyes flashed and he could see the muscles rippling under her jaw as she ground her teeth in fury. A passing glance would show only a pale lady with short, dark hair dressed in a plain black skirt and white blouse. Yet she was unremarkable in appearance only to those that didn't know her, and certainly those that had never seen her use her power. A fine link chain around her neck swung as she stomped forward, glittering in the light from the porthole behind him. 

"How dare you talk to me like that!" She slammed a hand onto his desk, scattering papers everywhere. The seastone cabochon on her chain flapped forward, then touched her skin again. She hesitated as her strength waned.

"It's early," Smoker sighed, his voice unusually gentle. "If you don't shut up, I'll have you muzzled - you know I can do that -- so why don't you sit." A tendril of smoke tipped a chair opposite him. "Or get some coffee if you feel like it. This might take awhile."

"It always does." One minute she was screaming at the top of her lungs and the next sounding depressed, defeated. "Wait." He watched silently as she walked across the room and fixed coffee for them both without asking. Hers was a mix of cream and sugar, his obliterated with cream so much it was nearly white. "The guards in level five made me angry this morning," she offered by way of apology as she set his mug down. "Of course, not being free when I've done nothing wrong also did." 

"I was told you say that every day."

"I do." She sat down and held her coffee in front of her. Probably making a face at me behind it, he thought, amused. Elly slowly peered at him from around the cup. "Did you ever look into the charges behind me being here?"

His frown deepened. "I told you, I couldn't get clearance."

"A Vice Admiral," she drawled comically, "doesn't have clearance? Doesn't that seem odd to you?"

"What did the level five unit do this morning?" 

"Change the subject," she grumbled. "They, uh, sort of..." She trailed off, the rest inaudible. 

"They what?"

"Um." Her face was averted now, her black hair hiding her forehead and cheeks as she stared down into the mug she held. 

Smoker let the irritation he was feeling finally creep into his voice. "The hell did they do already?!"

"They said I was plain," she said quietly. "And some said 'ugly'. The rest laughed and questioned why I was here at all because I was worthless."

The big man's palm slapped against the side of his face. That unit was always breaking the rules, and this was a huge one. No one was to speak with or even at this prisoner. It was what they wanted the rest of them to believe, yes, but they all depended on her silence to reinforce the belief. If she had blurted anything out, someone might have questions. He got up and told her to be still for a minute. Speaking to a guard outside was all that was required to issue punishment for the one that had been walking her to his office and the unit that had made fun of her, as well. The orders would trickle down and he would show her as they marched outside for extra training under the soon-to-be grueling hot sun on deck.

Elly was pleased. "That's fine," she murmured. "It's just that, sometimes, I want to be something, do something. And get this damned thing off!" This last was addressed to the chain around her neck. "It looks like a necklace to almost everyone else, but I'm so freaking tired of it!"

Smoker raised an eyebrow at this foolishness. "All you have to do is agree to work with someone." He carefully sat in front of her, more papers falling as he did so. A pen clattered to the floor and they both ignored it.

"You?" Her lips quirked in a little smile. 

"I was told whoever you wanted."

"Oh, the well-known leniency of the Marines." She sneered a little at the logo on her coffee cup. "I can pick anyone I want to work with. I'm an innocent locked up on bogus charges for one reason: I have this power you guys are dying to exploit."

"We know what power you have," he admitted, drawing deeply on the cigars in his mouth while he thought. "Your charges seem authentic. Working with us would give you some status. I could remove the chain, for one... but you'd have to immediately abide by the contract at that point." He paused, turned slightly, and rummaged through the half-torn and crumpled sheets of paper still sitting on the desk. He found what he was looking for and held it out to her. "They revised it. Look."

She turned her head away. "No."

"Look."

"It's always the same!"

"I'm not cut out for this!" He shoved the paper at her, spilling a little of her coffee as he did so. She grabbed it instinctively as he did. "Read the damned thing or don't. I don't care. It's what I was told to say." He set his boots back down on the floor and clumped back to his chair. "Now get out."

Elly clutched the paper in her hand and thought about throwing it at him for a moment. She sighed when she realized he'd probably just throw it right back, though - and tommorow was another day. Their morning discussions were the same, every day, a fresh contract was prepared and he'd try and persuade her to agree to their terms. She carefully set the coffee down on his sad excuse for a desk and walked back out to the guard waiting to escort her back to her cell - what they called her "quarters".

A cell is a cell, she thought dismally as they walked the corridors of the ship. They can dress things up as nice as they want, like the necklace, but in the end I still have shackles on, and my windows have bars. How depressing. And all because she had eaten some weird fruit she had found when she was starving. If she knew then what she did now, she'd have destroyed it instead and rather died of hunger. 

But it had looked so pretty.

The guard locked the door behind her as she stepped inside her quarters. The room would have been gorgeous had she been able to wander freely about. A large bed, a nice little bathing room and her own direct line to the Vice Admiral (in case she changed her mind at any time during the day or night). She had decent meals and her outfits were of good quality, though she always wore black and white only. But the curtains that Smoker's second-in-command had thoughtfully put up by the windows didn't quite hide the thick bars in them. And the chain with the cursed seastone in it around her neck, though disguised as a necklace to make those around her think she was a "normal" prisoner of sorts, still kept her docile and unable to lash out at her captors. 

It was enough to make her cry. As she peered out the barred window, she saw the level five unit laboring in their enforced exercises. They didn't look very happy, and she wondered why. They chose this life. 

She hadn't.

Part 2

At night the sea air billowed the curtains about her windows and the crescent moon lit long, long shadows of the bars on her window. They spread out, taller and longer, coating the floor with their hateful reminder of her captivity. Elly stared at them for a long time before she slowly turned her head to look at the crumpled piece of paper by the side of her bed. She'd thrown the new contract in a fit of rage at the wall, where it had bounced and rolled back to her. She'd felt it was bitterly symbolic; after all, the Marines always had a fresh one in the morning for her. It always came back down to this. She'd read the damned thing only once before declaring she would never touch any of their hideous proposals again. They didn't know what they were asking ... they couldn't! And yet she was afraid they did. That was what made it worse.

They kept transferring her from Captains to Admirals and back again, always a different person in case someone new could change her mind. She hadn't been this high up before, though. And although he was a Marine, Smoker seemed a decent sort of guy. She'd heard that he didn't always follow rules to the letter and that made her somewhat more at ease with him. And his second-in-command was a woman. That was something of a relief after having to put up with insufferable men for a five years. That thought brought her up short, her dark eyes widening. Had it really been that long? 

Moving in a daze, she reached down and picked up the paper. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to look at the damned thing.

As she started to read, a few rooms away the Vice Admiral was engaging in his favorite pastime to relax. One side of his room had a small table with sand and an aesthetically placed bonsai. A small, polished rock was in one of his large hands. One more, to the side and on top should do it. Smoker held his breath and carefully stilled his hand before placing the last rock on top of the stack he'd been balancing. It wasn't too hard on a large ship like this; he'd been without his hobby for awhile when they'd been sailing on the smaller boats for transportation, though. Wisps of vapor curled out from the ever-present cigars in his mouth, thinner as he concentrated. There.

As soon as he was finished with his latest stack, his mind started wandering again. He turned his head, careful not to upset his latest work, and blew smoke out gustily in several directions. After dinner Tashigi had come to see him and raised some disturbing questions - questions no one was supposed to ask. One had been why the girl had been placed in their care, and that was all right, because he could answer that one. 

"We were instructed to try and reason with her." He had re-crossed his legs, military-issue boots banging on his desk. "Others have failed."

"She's so ... I mean, did she really take down a Government Institution all by herself? That's the charges, isn't it? Undermining the authority and ultimately bringing down..."

"I can't say anything," he had told her firmly, refusing to look in her eye. He felt fatherly towards this slight Captain, always wanting to show her the right way to do things. In this case, however, Smoker was disgusted with himself because he didn't know what the right thing was. He held up his hands and his voice took on a tone of dismissal. "Orders. You know better to ask," he added brusquely.

From the unsatisfied look on her face, she still had questions; so did he. The problem was he wasn't allowed to ask. He could read the contracts, and he had, but they made no sense. He could understand wanting her loyalty to the Marines if she was so important, but the rest confused him. There were stipulations before anyone could take her chain off, for one, something about her picking a partner. And that partner would be the only one privy to the rest of the information. If he wasn't the one she chose, or if she never did, he would never know what her story was. That bothered him, and the fact that it did disturbed him more. And what about the special release he'd gotten about this case? It normally broke every rule to start getting involved with prisoners in any way, but this time he had been told to do "whatever it took" to get her on their side. That had the faint odor of dishonesty to it. Smoker absently began to remove his leather gloves. Maybe in the morning things would be clearer, after a good night's sleep. 

Elly sat on the edge of her bed, her eyes narrowed to slits in her anger. They hadn't changed this thing a bit! It still had her demeaning herself by becoming their pawn, and worse, doing ... that. Sure, she could choose who to do it with, but did they know how personal it was? Did they even care? She thought not. The only new bit added this time was the fact that they would allow her to remove her chain for good if she abided by the rules they set. They'd have to remove it anyway if they intended me to use my power, she thought with a sniff. 

She let the paper fall from her hand to float down to the floor. Tashigi had told her about an Officer's ball they were having soon today, an extravaganza with a banquet and softly lit globes with candles lighting up the night so couples could dance and be free under the moonlight. She bit her tongue to stay her tears. Every night she fantasized about being free. The dancing and the open night sky was too much; she wanted it. She craved it. Even a little taste, fettered by her chain, and she'd gladly accept after so many years of being cooped up in rooms. Maybe her eyes had spoken of her need because the other woman had stopped talking immediately after a glance in her direction. And Elly was sure she'd get to go if she just signed that stupid contract. Hell, they might make it in her honor at that point. With chain broken, she could make sure she was the prettiest lady there, as well. She was still young enough to want a man's attention, especially as she'd never gotten around to that when she'd been picked up. Now all she had was bad jokes and scoffs in her direction by the men that didn't understand, like Unit Five earlier. 

Groaning, she rolled over and placed a corner of the soft sheets over her head. But sleep didn't come for a long time that night.




Parts 3 & 4 >