Storm
Plumes of black smoke roll over the circles of the leaden sky while the surface of the sea is rippled by an icy, sharp breeze.
A storm is coming and the electricity is dancing in the quiet but full atmosphere.
On a solitary corner of the rough waves floats a certain Sunny-ship, the swinging bow almost touching the moving water and the sails swollen with the engulfing wind.
On the double-decker of the ship there are six colorful figures standing.
The biggest is handing the helm with a strong and not-very-human grip, frowning in concentration; on his right a red-headed girl, checking fervently a strange bracelet, is shouting orders about the route. A straw-hatted boy, arms intertwined, is silently watching the scene while a little blue-nosed reindeer grasps his bare calf and a huge, afro-ish skeleton walks back and forth towards them.
A tall dark-haired woman, crossing her arms, conjures a hand on the top of foremast.
The fake fingers caress the air and the woman says:
- Nami, now the wind is really raging!-
- I know – nods the bracelet-girl – We'd better be in the lower-deck soon…-
She glances at the closing sails with the corner of her eye and suddenly a long-nosed boy comes running from the deck.
- Almost set! They're tangling the sails!- he shouts, panting.
A sudden flash and then, into the distance, the crackling sound of an ignominious thunder strikes loudly.
The long-nosed boy and the reindeer jump in their feet and cry.
A thin curtain of rain starts to pour all over them.
On the grassed deck, a black-suited young man gives the last check to some knots, then he rushes back to reach the rest of his crewmates.
The sky is almost purple-black and the hard rain drips violently on the wood of the ship.
The black-suited guy tosses away his burnt and useless cigarette and speeds up his pace…in that very moment a lightning fills the air all around him and he stops, the thunder rumbling louder than ever.
In the blinding flash he gets the hypnotic glimpse of a very fast silhouette flying down the foremast stays.
The green-haired young man lands just near him with a hefty thud, lifts his bandanna-covered head and glares back:
- Move on, shitty cook!-
The so-called shitty cook jolts (like he was temporary lost in his thoughts) and resumes his running, followed closely by the other.
They fly across the grassed deck and reach their crewmates.
- Sanji! Zoro! – calls the little reindeer, the fur already soaking wet.
The straw-hatted boy grins at the sight of his first mate and his cook.
- Quick! – says the dark-haired woman – Let's go or we'll get drenched!-
She picks up the reindeer and hurries back to the lower-deck, followed by the long-nosed boy, who seems scared than ever.
- Yo, Luffy-bro! – exclaims the not-very-human guy at the helm – How about going indoor?-
- Follow me, my Captain – starts the tall skeleton, strolling away from the double-decker – we'll share a beautiful song about stormy nights in the seas!-
- Shishishishi – sneers the boy, patting his straw hat. He turns around for a moment, looking at his first mate and his cook. They grin back. Then he looks at the girl, his navigator, and his eyes soften a little.
- Nami-swan! – says the cook aloud, with a sugary voice – Go with the others, I'm serving hot tea soon!-
The girl hesitates, casting a glimpse to her strange bracelet.
- We'll stay here and check. Go.- states the muscular green-haired young man, like he's not used to be contradicted.
The girl nods and speaks:
- Keep this way, Franky, don't let the tidal currents break our route!-
She then smiles and runs away with her rubber Captain and the afro-skeleton musician.
Another lightning, another thunder, everything trembles and they're practically bathing in the rain.
The storm begins to roar and the (not-very-human) man grabs the helm better, laughing:
- Suuuuuuupeeeeerrrr-stoooorm!- he cries.
- Fufufufufu…- the black-suited cook chuckles at his companion.
Ignoring the water pouring down, he takes the lighter and lights up another cigarette, blowing away a lazy grey puff.
He turns a little his head to shoot a look at his other left crewmate.
And then he quivers, impressed for some unnamable reason by something he can't really figure out.
The green-haired man is soaking wet but he's staring into the darkening mass of clouds, his eyes sparkling fiercely on the mute mask of his face.
He smirks, mysterious thoughts going on his mind, the right hand beautifully rested on his three swords hilts.
It's like he's actually enjoying the violence of the raging storm…
The cook turns away from him and shakes a little, cursing silently the rain that is now wetting his beloved black suit.
They're now in the heart of the storm but the ropes are all tied around the sails and the ship is well ready to face it.
yuki's corner:
updating and revision. I found some mistakes and I'm trying to epurate them. Help me if you spot something unclear contact me.
Many thanks.
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