Title: Play On
Theme: 67 – Playing the Melody
Rating: T
Words: 418
Disclaimer: Fiction as in made up.
Summary: When he hears the melody he knows it is an invitation
A soft melody drifted out across the deck of the Thousand Sunny and into the darkening evening sky. The corner of Zoro's mouth twitched as he verified that all of his weights were secure and wouldn't roll about causing damage to the ship. A few weeks back Brook had leapt on to the ship shaking with excitement over his new purchase. According to Robin it was a gramophone and was a common method of playing music in the pre-pirate era. Discs were placed on a spinning surface and somehow the music was then transferred through a needle and out a large horn without the help of any Den Den Mushi's or tone dials.
Brook wasn't the only one to get excited over the contraption and the navigator had soon become enthralled spending most nights playing the various discs. The music stopped and Zoro paused waiting to see which one would be chosen next, wondering if it would be that special one. A few seconds later a haunting note echoed through the air sending frissons up his back. Zoro knew it wasn't the first song on the disc but Nami knew exactly where to place the needle to get the start of it. The pace was slow and each note seemed to resonate with emotion. Checking the last of his equipment Zoro climbed down and headed towards the aquarium room where the gramophone was set up.
He paused in the doorway to just admire the scene before him. Nami was sitting on the floor in front of the gramophone with her legs stretched out in front of her leaning back on her arms. Her head was tilted back eyes closed and a soft smile on her pink lips. She looked carefree and beautiful as if in her own little world where she didn't have any pressures or worries. He didn't say anything as he walked into the room – he never did – he just went in and placed all three katana carefully on the floor. Nami didn't open her eyes but Zoro knew she was aware of his presence. After all that is why she put the song on; an invitation to join her which he always accepted. The swordsman lowered himself to the ground beside her with his back against the couch. He leaned over to press a soft kiss against Nami's temple smiling as the navigator responded with a happy hum. They didn't speak they simply sat there in easy companionship and listened as the melody played on.