liathinks

[seaoftales]

No matter how many times Luffy had managed to catch his attention with one or the other story of his adventures after Shanks and his crew left Windmill Village, Shanks' gaze would every so often travel back to the kid's navigator. While some would interpret his looks as inappropriate, the truth couldn't be further from it. In many ways, he felt as if he was staring at the image of his mother.

He didn't dare hope or get his hopes up too high, but the more he looked at the girl, the more familiar she looked. All those years he thought his baby sister to be dead, fallen victim to the great pirate raid on the island they lived on along with their parents while he was out sailing under Roger. He remembered the grief, the pain, the panic when he couldn't find her, and yet he was urged to move on, and so he did. Now, however, he had the chance, or so he hoped, to see whether his gut feeling was right or simply misleading him.

Shanks got up, promising Luffy to listen to more of his stories later, and it was enough for the kid to attach himself to Beck and the rest of the crew. He, in the meantime, made his way to the girl. "Mind if I join you?"

@taleofmuses

[seaoftales]

❝ Hey, kiddo, how're you holding up? Think you might want to join the crew after all? The crew's not giving you any trouble, are they? ❞

@summerxmelodies ♥'d

[seaoftales]

It wasn't often that they the the Red Haired Pirates got caught in a storm this bad. The wind howled, blowing so hard it had already torn the fore topsail and part of the fore topmast as the massive waves rocked the ship back and forth, making it seem that the Red Force was nothing but a mere toy.

The whole wooden structure of her creaked under the heavy weather conditions, with Shanks believing she wouldn't be able to last any longer if the weather kept up like that. Worst of all, with the torrential rain already limiting their vision, the fog that crept towards them would not only make it worse, but could bring grave danger if they were not careful enough. The currents were strong enough to easily drive them towards shallow waters and rocks sticking out from the sea.

It was an all hands on deck situation. The crew was hoisting most of the sails up to slow them down as Beck and Roux worked hard to keep the jib in place since mere moments before the wind also damaged and bowsprit and they lost the flying jib due to that. "Keep her steady!" Shanks yelled to Building Snake, their navigator, as he rushed to the main deck to help with the sails, though was convinced the sea and wind drowned his voice.

They would need to make port. There was no way they could ride such a storm out in the middle of the open sea. He kept yelling orders, moving back and forth on deck to help where help was needed, Beck or Yasopp taking over where he couldn't. They were slowly approaching what seemed to be an uninhabited island, or at least an inhabited one without a port on the side they were approaching from.

"Drop the anchor and get the rowboats and emergency supplies ready. Go, go go!"

Shanks had finally made it to the captain's cabin, dripping wet and by that point freezing cold. "We're not able to keep her steady enough. We've already lost a few sails and the mast is damaged" he told Nami and moved to grab his coat to wrap around her. He was already wet to the bone, but at least he could make sure she would get less wet. "We'll take shelter on a nearby island. Looks uninhabited."

@taleofmuses

[seaoftales]

He couldn't remember the last time he had seen his old friend and rival, no other than the greatest swordsman in the world, Dracule Mihawk. From their frequent duels that resonated all across the Grand Line to rare visits to almost non-existent ones. It was almost as if the hawk eyed swordsman completely lost interest to even seek him out, even if for old times sake.

Well, Red-Haired Shanks wasn't one to let that stand.

The Red Haired Pirates set course for Kuraigana Island. The crew craved some proper sailing and Shanks wanted to see his old friend, that way killing two birds with one stone.

The island, upon arrival, looked dreary, rather uninhabited save for the... monkeys in armor and wielding weapons. Shanks recollected Mihawk talking about his island having a natural defense system, which he assumed were those creatures.

Unwilling to fight his way through and possibly disrupting whatever Mihawk had going for him on the island, the red haired captain used Haki, effectively knocking out the Humandrills for just enough so he could walk past and make his way towards the derelict castle.

Hand reached for the door, the heavy wood causing the hinges of it to give out a rather eerie creak. Shanks could see Mihawk's appeal to live in such a place. It was remote, mysterious and slightly spooky.

"Hawkeyes!" He called out, his voice echoing through the stone entrance hall. No response. Shanks delved further, finding the place lived in. He was at the right place, he had to be. "Mihawk!"

@ghastlyhall0ws / plotted

[seaoftales]

@paririeofmxses sent: The Saint was getting tired of boy's yammering. Why he had been left in chest for 25 years and he was all the better for it. "I am very serious boy, the elders told me that after three attempts, of which I told them you only deserved one, but they insisted on three, to bring you back, I am allowed to bring you back by force. Though I suppose you'll just say no again, I will still tell you a third time boy, return to Marijoa" he stated firmly.

❝ I don't think you understand. I am not going. Not now, not after you've asked me ten times, not ever. I don't care. I'm not going to be a lackey for the Gorosei or for Imu. I'm a proud pirate and that's that. ❞ The threat, however, still weighted heavily on him, and Shanks took it seriously. He didn't doubt that Garling would bring down hell on the entire ship if he had to, and he did have to take preliminary action based on that. He'd always put his crew first.

❝ If things start to get heated, get the crew and get below deck. If I'm not here anymore, take over as captain and go forward with the plan, ❞ he told Beck quietly, to which the first mate, although uncertain, gave a nod. Shanks would eventually find his way out of the situation, even if forced to return to the dreaded place he really didn't want to go to. It was a place that stood against everything he believed in. There was no scenario where he would willingly agree to become a Holy Knight.

❝ For the last time. No. You can take that answer and deliver it to the Gorosei. I am never, nor will I ever become a Holy Knight. ❞

[seaoftales]

"I had a flashback. It felt so real, like I was reliving the past."

It couldn't have been more than a few weeks since they left Conomi Island and the now leveled Arlong Park behind, Nami finally free of the terrors the fishman had put her through. Him and the crew did everything they could to make sure all remnants of that life would stay in the past, but neither Shanks or the crew could do much about memories coming back to her. Eight years of essentially slavery pretty much guaranteed that.

He was playing with Nami's hair as they both lay on the bed, a soft smile playing on his lips, fingers tucking the loose strand behind her ear.

"Hey, it's okay. He can't get to you anymore. You're safe here."

@taleofmuses

[seaoftales]

A part of him wanted to send Melody below deck. Kidd was an unpredictable opponent, and the fight could have went south very fast were he not cautious enough, and that wouldn't only cost him his life, but the ones of his crew as well. Shanks, as a captain, simply wouldn't let that stand. At the same time, the girl had been stubbornly adamant on keeping them safe from her lunatic father, and perhaps this was now the right time to set his foot down once and for all and show her that Vice Admiral Summers wouldn't even pose as much of a threat as she liked to think.

Were it not for his Future Sight, things indeed would have escalated more than he'd anticipate, but it was also so very telling of Kidd in how much of a coward he was, how he purposefully would go after Shanks' fleet first, knowing they were an easy wipe. Well, not on his watch.

Shanks gave no courtesy to Kidd, obliterating him and his mechanical contraption to pieces, leaving the giants to do the rest. He'd very much like to see how the young upstart would come back from drowning. Were it any other case, he might consider sparing his life, but not after he'd rather go after his friends first to get a reaction out of him.

In the end, the red haired captain returned on board the Red Force, never once looking back at the wreckage or the Kidd pirates, who called out for their captain as he faced certain death, unless they were loyal enough to dive after him. He only stopped once he reached Melody, Beck by her side to make sure she would be okay.

❝ You still think your father's a match for me? ❞

@summerxmelodies ♥'d

[seaoftales]

They hadn't even made it all that far from what was now the wreckage of the Victoria Punk, when Rockstar up in the crows nest managed to spot yet another ship approaching. The poor man didn't even get the chance to identify the flag before Shanks was running forward to the bow, his senior officers now in tow. He couldn't be too sure if it wasn't one of Kidd's allies who was simply running late for the show, or a Marine ship, as unlikely as it was. Whatever the case, the chief of the Red Haired Pirates wanted to leave nothing to chance, not after what Kidd tried to pull just moments before.

Luckily, or not so much, depending on how the encounter would go, they weren't in immediate danger, and if worst was to come, they knew how to protect themselves. A hand raised, Shanks signalled to hold fire, then to lower some of the sails to slow down and come to a pause once the ships were close enough to one another.

❝ We don't get to see many Revolutionary Army ships in these waters. ❞

@ryusokcn ♥'d

[seaoftales]

@onepiecc sent:

The blonde was supposed to stay below deck, but she wanted to see what was happening. Standing near Beck, she was amazed at the strength of her lover as he quickly went flying. The impact caused her to get swept up off her feet, so Beck was nice enough to help hold the blonde in place. She stayed sitting on his lap the whole time staring with amazement at Shanks. Seeing this side of him was doing something to the female as she bit her lip as they sailed the ship closer to the wreckage of the enemy ship.

When the captain came on board the ship again, Stella was in shock and awe trying to process the whole scene she just witness. Beckman being the gentleman he was was not pushing her off, but she noticed he was getting a little uncomfortable when Shanks came walking up to them. Smirking playfully, she decided to take advantage of the adrenaline coursing between both of them. Giving him a look, she knew that he knew what it meant. "Well, well well look who's finally back. I was so lonely that Beckman had to offer me his lap."

He explicitly told Stella to stay below deck because he knew that the fight could go all sorts of wrong, and the last thing he wanted was for her to get caught in the crossfire. In reality, he should have left her on the shores of Elbaf with Dory and Broggy, knowing that she would be safe there, but there was no turning back now. Kid wanted a fight, and a fight he got, even if he wanted to play it dirty and go after his fleet first before getting to him, a move only a coward would have done.

What he had seen with Future Vision was a disaster threatening to come if he didn't spring into action immediately, and there was no time to alert the crew about what would happen. He bolted up the stairs of the stern, forcefully spinning the helm to direct the ship to sail out of the port on Elbaf, before sending himself flying, reaching for whatever spare rope he could find to swing himself to the front of the fleet, not even noticing Stella coming out or anything else that was happening around him. His focus was on preventing the worst from happening, and he sent Kid flying with Divine Departure. Dory and Broggy did the rest as he returned to the Red Force and sailed away, not once looking behind.

The sight up on deck was something he hadn't anticipated. ❝ I thought I told you to stay below deck, ❞ he snapped at Stella and regretted it seconds later. He shouldn't be angry with her, especially not when she did nothing wrong and was unharmed, quite safely sitting in Benn's lap, and by all looks teasing him. Not to mention, Beck was looking a bit flustered and like he wanted to disappear from the face of the world. Luckily, there was an easy way to get his frustration out in a healthier way and spare Benn further awkwardness.

Reaching for Stella's arm, he pulled her up to her feet and flush against him, forcefully kissing her. ❝ I need you, ❞ he whispered against her lips. ❝ I need you now. ❞

[seaoftales]

❝ Buggy, you stubborn son of a gun! Look at you, Yonko and all. Finally stepping into Roger's shoes after all, eh? ❞

@chopchopclown bonus starter because Buggy and Shanks at the same spot can't end well!

[seaoftales]

Thaddeus looked at Shanks for a moment and back at his mother, Kanrya, before speaking "Grandpa Shanks? Is Uncle Ben your sleeping buddy? Like how Papa was Mama or how Kitty is for Mama?". The Ship was silent as those around took in the questions, Kanrya blanched upon realizing what her son just asked while the rest of assembled pirates reacted, Thaddeus remained oblivious to why everyone reacted as they did to his simple question.

Nobody saw that question coming. The entirety of the ship fell completely silent after a plethora of rather interesting reactions.

Benn looked absolutely mortified, the lit cigarette in his mouth falling to the ground, Shanks promptly spitting out the sip of saké he had taken moments prior. Lucky Roux stopped eating, Hongo stared at the boy wide eyed before looking between the captain and his first mate, meanwhile Yasopp, Rockstar and Bonk were wheezing in the background, trying their best not to make a sound while dying from silent laughter. The rest either looked at Shanks, expecting an answer, or looked away, pretending that the sails and floorboards of the main deck were much more interesting than whatever just had happened.

Now Shanks in his day had a lot of sleeping buddies, as Thaddeus had called it, not that he needed to know that, now or ever for that matter, but Beck was most decidedly not one of them.

"I..." There weren't many things that had him reconsider his words several times before speaking. Hell, he never had such questions pop up when Luffy or Uta were Thaddeus' age, and the red hair was rather puzzled as to how to answer or even go about it.

"No. Uncle Benn's not my sleeping buddy. He's my best buddy. He'll always have my back, and I'll always have his, but we're nothing like your Mama and Papa. Or like Mama and--" Oh. There was that, too.

Grey eyes focused on Rya. "Who's Kitty?"

@ryathenaughtykitsune

[seaoftales]

@healingbrews sent: "How is it you're so adorable yet so fuckable?" The doctor is a wee bit tipsy and needs to know for science. [Shanks]

The question had him choke on the swing he had just taken from the bottle of alcohol in his hand. The red haired captain had expected many a question, especially when most of the crew was already halfway drunk, but his one in particular was very much out there and very much unexpected.

Coughing and trying to clear his throat from whatever liquid got stuck there, Shanks bent forward, trying to cover it all up as best as he could, though really, given the state he was in himself --- a whole mess, mind you --- there was not much he could do, except laugh at the question, which he did promptly as soon as he managed to catch his breath.

❝ Sounds like our newest crewmember's quite the flirt!, ❞ he announced, ignoring Beck and Hongo in the back wheezing from supressed laughter. ❝ I dunno what to tell you, Hinoka, 's just my natural charm and good looks that make me both adorable and fuckable. Trust me, I have plenty of witnesses to both. ❞

[seaoftales]

QUESTIONING;

Still, definitely not spying on behalf of the World Goverment.

[ ★ ]

Not the current target.

Even so, S-HAWK had business regarding the legendary red-haired yonko. He has yet to instigate a brawl. The most the little winged fella did, not 6 feet here in these fandomlands, was have the audacity to come storming forward. He abruptly halts, lifts up a photograph, and persistently shoves it in Shanks's face.

The picture reveals two grown men kissing. The original and this mutt.

The constant pointing is a silent questioning of WHY WHY WHY.

For a few split moments when the boy appeared in front of him, Shanks was convinced he was hallucinating. He was the spitting image of Mihawk when he was younger, albeit with white hair, black wings and ---- fire? A Lunarian? Mihawk as a Lunarian? What the--- ?

The red haired man glanced down at the bottle he still held in hand, the contents of this particular one being filled to the brim with some wickedly good moonshine, and for a few split seconds, Shanks even considered the boy to be a a product of his imagination. When a picture was shoved in his face without a word, however, and he became aware of the contents of said photo, it was a sober up call like no other.

There was a lot to unpack, from the boy's appearance to how on earth he got to the photo, not to mention how he managed to track him down.

Discarding the drink he held, Shanks reached for the photo, getting to the boy's level with a small smile. He seemed quite upset about it. ❝ I happen to love him very much, yes. Is he your father? Is that why you're upset? ❞

[seaoftales]

@fellapart / continued

Shanks couldn't help but be a little startled by the smile, though couldn't help the chuckle either. No matter what Buggy did, he could always make him smile and laugh.

Pretending to give him a rather critical look, even tilting his head as if trying to see whether a better angle would do the trick, the red hair moved to sit next to his old friend, really close, maybe a bit closer than intended, but he wouldn't pull back either. The familiar closeness was comforting, a reminder that things were different, much nicer when they were kids.

He lifted his hand, tentatively reaching for Buggy's face. As calloused as his hand was, his touch was soft, the other's face cupped in it for a little bit, thumb moving to one corner of his lips, lifting it up just a little more before letting go and doing the same on the other side.

Shanks didn't stop there. He reached for the corners of Buggy's eyes, doing the very same. In the end, unable to help himself, he gave his nose a soft boop before pulling back and admiring what he did. Now that was a smile he remembered from when they were kids, the genuine smile he used to have.

"There. Much better."

[seaoftales]

@ryathenaughtykitsune It was hard to sneak up on Shanks, harder still to stay just out of sight of anyone in the crows nest while she followed his ship to the island where he would make camp. Harder yet was trekking across the island with a fussy toddler sucking on his pacifier furiously. She had reached Shanks camp keeping out of sight, the only one that knew she was there had been Benn who locked eyes and smiled before taking Thaddeus so she could make her 'attack'. She snuck up on the Yonko and pounced -- only to wind up eating dirt and Shanks sitting on her ass. "Aww! Come on I was close enough Old Man. Not fair with using Haki."

The rattling that came from the nearby bushes had everybody be on alert only for a few moments. With how efficient the Red Haired Pirates were in setting up camp, they were equally as efficient in making sure no threats were around. They'd deliberately chosen an island uninhabited for most part, simply because they wouldn't want to be a bother or alert the Marines to their presence, so the only real threat were wild animals - an easy meal if it really came to that.

Shanks remained seated by the fire, back turned to the surrounding trees and shrubbery, unbothered for most part, though still very much alert. The footsteps behind him didn't go unnoticed, not too loud to be one of his men, not too quiet for it to be somebody who wanted to kill him. He focused, Observation Haki allowing him to see what exactly would happen.

He really could have let her have her little moment of triumph, he really could have. But where would be the fun in that? Leg pulled against his chest and a slight adjustment in his seating position allowed for a quick dodge, a grin plastered on his face as sat down on Rya's bum to keep her in place for a little bit.

"What if you were an enemy? I'd be dead now," the red haired captain remarked as he scrambled to his feet and offered her his hand to help her up. "There's a lot you still need to learn, little fox."

[seaoftales]

Rumor Has It...Shanks bleach his white hairs, ga ne.

❝ The slander! I would never! ❞