Cracking open one eye from where he rested on the deck of the Going Merry he paused at the sight of an unfamiliar face climbing aboard after Luffy. His captain was chattering to her, clearly excited from the way his hands were waving about, and then he was calling his name. "Zoro! Meet the newest member of our crew!"
Turning back to the girl Luffy added. "He's my first mate!"
Groaning slightly he sat up, ignoring the wet spot on his bandages as the movement caused his wound to to open slightly. He probably shouldn't have exerted himself so much at Arlong Park, but then he'd have had to watch the waiter fight and that was just unacceptable. Besides, fighting with a wound was good training for pain management.
Rising to his feet, one hand sliding into his pocket he nodded towards the other before asking. "Did you actually agree?"
His first New Year celebration in the city, one of the few he hadn't been fighting in or training. Usually he was kept busy, prepping for a fight if he wasn't in one. Something, however, made his father change his mind this time and maybe it was because of whatever his son had with Mel. Considering it his holiday gift to him, Costin let his son go with Mel to celebrate the new year. It was an introduction, in a sense, to what was out there and what the city had to offer. Though he had no intention of going to Times Square, that was out of the question. He would prefer something more low key and it seemed she did too. It was how they found themselves in the local bar, Andrei more or less quiet in general as he observed everything. It wasn't that he never partied before, he just hadn't seen this small space so packed before. Downing his drink, the countdown started and he feels her take his hand in his. Attention shifts to her as the countdown reaches zero, turning to her as he sees everyone kiss who they are with. So, he leans down to do the same and ring in the new year with a kiss.
Kiss Andrei at Midnight | Accepting | @agentrcmedy
The air was thick with smoke from musket-fire, and shouts arose from varying vantage points as Ben remained hunkered low behind a tree. He and his men had been out on a reconnaissance mission -- it was supposed to be quick and open-and-shut -- yet despite assurances of otherwise, they’d been thwarted by a small group of redcoats.
Aiming his flintlock as silently as he could, Ben glanced around the tree in his cramped position, his vision momentarily blinded by sweat as he searched through the woods. His cheek stung from a shallow cut he’d received from a low-hanging branch, and with a grimace, he paused to wipe his sleeve across the wound. Blood and perspiration smeared across his white cuff and further dirtied up his uniform.
Overhead, he heard more shouts -- both from his men and the enemy -- before the sound of musket-shot whizzed overhead.
Damnation.
Ben dove to the side and ran in a zigzag. Not pausing to look over his shoulder, he wove in between various trees and tore through the underbrush, all the while searching for the perfect place to take cover. Nearly losing his balance across the forest floor, he righted himself again and stumbled onward, but not before tripping over something prone across the ground...something petite and warm.
Cursing, Ben managed to keep his flintlock from discharging as he landed harshly onto his shins. He glanced over his shoulder, and his breath caught in his lungs once he realized he’d fallen over...a woman? What in God’s name...?
Swearing again, he tucked away his flintlock before moving over to her, his hands unsteady as he checked for a pulse. She was unresponsive, but breathing, and from what he could ascertain, injured to some degree. Scanning her from head to toe, he balked in mortification once he realized this woman was indecent -- her odd-looking shift ended well above the knee, and her stockings, though a decent enough cover, were a peculiar color and fabric. Good God, who would have been cruel enough to steal this woman’s skirts? And why?
Embarrassed on her behalf, Ben quickly doffed his coat and laid it across her unmoving frame. Although he didn’t know how she’d gotten caught in the fray, he knew he needed to get her back to camp...
--
The officers’ quarters were far superior to the tents strewn across the grounds, so this was where Ben brought the injured stranger. After sending word to Anna Strong through a messenger -- he imagined she could aid in lending this girl some clean raiment -- he carried her over toward his bed and laid her across the mattress. He, himself opted to sleep in a tent to put himself on equal footing with his men, so he wouldn’t be in need of these quarters, and the aide-de-camp who shared his room was presently aiding in another cause and wouldn’t return for at least a week.
Crossing over to his washstand, Ben lifted the pitcher and returned to the woman’s side. He wasn’t sure what she’d suffered to cause such unresponsiveness, but he knew he needed to revive her. Carefully, he tilted the pitcher and poured a stream of water onto her face, hoping that this would bring her back to consciousness.
“ that is … literally illegal. you’re describing something illegal. “ (Alec)
His brow arched, looking over at her with a briefly confused expression before he begins mumbling to himself. “...No that can’t be right, I remember gettin’ away with that…oh..” The realization that was over one hundred years ago hit him and he had to pause a moment as his hand lifted to scratch at the back of his head while a sheepish smile started to spread on the Scotsman’s face. “Right…” He chuckles a bit as he nods in further understanding. “Okay, so scratch that plan then. Alright, lass?” His arms move to now cross over broad chest as he goes back to thinking. Sometimes he got certain laws mixed up after so many years, some started to blur together. Seemed this was one of those times. Still, it was a good idea if that hadn’t been a problem like it had been long ago. A hand lifted to run over his beard as he thought before icy blue eyes were directed downwards to the smaller figure. “If my idea is so bad then, why don’t ye come up with something better?” He offers not with attitude but as a suggestion. “See if ye can, if not then we might have to figure out how to make mine more legal or just try to get away with it.” Alec shrugs, letting her take the lead with this one.
∗ 46﹕ sender pulls receiver out of harm’s way . (For Steve!)
&. memes | always accepting.
The type of person Steve was made him ideal for this in certain ways and tragically horrible for it in others. He would always be the man willing to throw himself into the line of fire to save others—knowing what was the right thing to do and doing it without a second thought—but it sometimes made it difficult to see the bigger picture. The careless heroics often put himself in danger and even knowing the risks, Steve wouldn’t have it other ways. He could push himself to the limit so he should, at least that was the logic. It takes Steve a lot to remember he’s only human with tougher flesh but still flesh. It’s why when he’s pushed out of the way of the flying object that whirls past him, his head is snapping in her direction with a heave of breath, and a look of sheepishness. He had been stuck in his own head too focused on securing the perimeter of any civilians he hadn’t noticed. ❝ Thanks you’re a lifesaver, Mel. ❞ And he means it quite literally.
Marcos wasn’t the type to like to bother people, but he’d been in this job long enough to know that that wasn’t always something that he had the luxury to care about. He was only one person, he told himself as he approached the stable that was the last given location of a contact. Besides, this meeting had been planned. it wasn’t like he was just dropping in out of nowhere.
So he knocked on the door, and he waited for her to answer.
Steve had been kissed before. That wasn’t anything new. But being kissed by this woman in particular was. He’s breathing slightly faster than normal, eyes wide as he looks at her. He had no idea she had felt that way. “Only once?” Is his reply.
