( shanks had been so handicapped in the village that he'd never had a chance to sense any of the unique auras of the straw hat crew. it wouldn't have been entirely necessary, but it would have been a convenient way to check in on them if he needed to. largely, he stays out of their business, because it's not his place; he's not their captain nor their father, and they're all perfectly capable of handling their own problems. but here? he'd be remiss if he didn't at least acquaint himself, in case the need arises. (and zoro, he's heard, does have a tendency to get lost.)
he's lying on a lawnchair out by the lake when he zeroes in on zoro's aura, bright green and strong-willed, moving through a series of familiar training exercises. normally, he wouldn't intrude, but — )
Take a break, Zoro. I can feel your frustration from here.
( the vibration of his phone in his shorts pocket is, actually, enough to get zoro to finally take a fucking break. it's with a grunt that he drops his barbell onto its rack, collapsing back onto the bench, almost dizzy from exertion as he lays there, panting, trying to get his bearings again.
blearily, he squints up at his phone, propped up on his chest because his arms feel like fucking mashed potatoes right now — and honestly, it's the whole proper grammar shit that makes him double check the username. not koby. shanks? huh.
zoro scoots from under the barbell and sits up, looking left and right around the otherwise empty gym and then right back down at his phone. )
you spying on me or something?
( just to be sure, he looks up towards the window — still nobody. )
( shanks can agree, sleeping and drinking are pretty good hobbies... he does, after all, engage in both frequently. )
Don't tell me he tried to get you to take up gardening.
( can you feel him rolling his eyes. )
Haki is the innate power of your own will. I've no doubt when you dueled Mihawk you faced his haki without realizing.
( but this isn't about him. anyway. )
The Emperors, some of the Warlords, and most of the upper-ranking Marines are skilled users. The Grand Line isn't an easy place to traverse without it.
( notice how he still hasn't entirely explained how this isn't spying. there's never a direct answer with shanks. )
( the priority shift right now is unreal, but who could blame him? zoro's trying to get stronger every single day in this stupid place, which is probably why shanks even felt his frustration in the first place. )
why bother with a practice sword when i have a real one
( and if he sends shanks a picture he took of the wado one night in his room, very artfully framed, et cetera, just in case he ever needed to show it off to people and didn't have it handy? well. )
( it isn't necessarily surprising that zoro has one of his swords, but it does surprise shanks to see what he suspects is a legendary sword. the picture surely doesn't do it the real justice it deserves, and certainly can't confirm shanks' suspicions yet. he'll just have to wait to see the sword in person. )
An impressive blade. I was under the impression the staff confiscated weapons.
yeah so was i it just showed up in my room one day there was a scavenger hunt and i'm pretty sure someone was supposed to try to get it from me but they were probably scared shitless
( a pause. )
maybe i'll bring a couple of the practice swords i haven't used only one since i was a kid
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text | un: shanks
Date: 2024-07-29 07:30 pm (UTC)he's lying on a lawnchair out by the lake when he zeroes in on zoro's aura, bright green and strong-willed, moving through a series of familiar training exercises. normally, he wouldn't intrude, but — )
Take a break, Zoro. I can feel your frustration from here.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-29 07:56 pm (UTC)blearily, he squints up at his phone, propped up on his chest because his arms feel like fucking mashed potatoes right now — and honestly, it's the whole proper grammar shit that makes him double check the username. not koby. shanks? huh.
zoro scoots from under the barbell and sits up, looking left and right around the otherwise empty gym and then right back down at his phone. )
you spying on me or something?
( just to be sure, he looks up towards the window — still nobody. )
shanks? like
red haired shanks
luffy's dad shanks
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-29 10:04 pm (UTC)No, I'm his evil twin, Planks.
( he's kidding. obviously. )
I promise I'm not spying.
It's more complicated than that, really.
Mihawk didn't teach you about haki?
( they may not have been able to use it in the village, but surely mihawk of all people would have explained what it was? )
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-30 12:17 pm (UTC)haki?
no
maybe he mentioned it but we focused more on endurance and strength training since we didn't have our swords
and he told me i needed to have hobbies outside of training which was stupid since i like sleeping and drinking which are my hobbies
what the hell is haki
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-31 01:50 am (UTC)Don't tell me he tried to get you to take up gardening.
( can you feel him rolling his eyes. )
Haki is the innate power of your own will.
I've no doubt when you dueled Mihawk you faced his haki without realizing.
( but this isn't about him. anyway. )
The Emperors, some of the Warlords, and most of the upper-ranking Marines are skilled users.
The Grand Line isn't an easy place to traverse without it.
( notice how he still hasn't entirely explained how this isn't spying. there's never a direct answer with shanks. )
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-31 02:53 pm (UTC)seemed boring as hell to me
( cue zoro squinting... because why's this guy so mysterious and confusing? )
so mihawk was cheating?
i have a lot of innate.... power... of will
willpower
( complicated ass.
he's distracted now. )
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-31 04:55 pm (UTC)Is it cheating when Luffy stretches?
Think of haki as more of an extension of your willpower.
It can manifest physically, but not always.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-08-01 02:27 pm (UTC)( the priority shift right now is unreal, but who could blame him? zoro's trying to get stronger every single day in this stupid place, which is probably why shanks even felt his frustration in the first place. )
(no subject)
Date: 2024-08-01 04:53 pm (UTC)( not really answering the question... )
Are you asking me to show you?
(no subject)
Date: 2024-08-21 09:42 pm (UTC)then hell yeah
(no subject)
Date: 2024-08-22 11:11 pm (UTC)Bring the practice swords from the gym.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-08-26 02:02 am (UTC)( and if he sends shanks a picture he took of the wado one night in his room, very artfully framed, et cetera, just in case he ever needed to show it off to people and didn't have it handy? well. )
(no subject)
Date: 2024-08-26 04:41 am (UTC)An impressive blade.
I was under the impression the staff confiscated weapons.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-01 05:26 pm (UTC)it just showed up in my room one day
there was a scavenger hunt and i'm pretty sure someone was supposed to try to get it from me but they were probably scared shitless
( a pause. )
maybe i'll bring a couple of the practice swords
i haven't used only one since i was a kid
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-28 08:28 pm (UTC)( he may not be personally scared of you, zoro, but everyone else should be. )
Bring as many as you like.
But I only need one to demonstrate.