[ while the waiter had a knack for finding his last nerve, the arrangement was a decent idea.
zoro could have slept damned near anywhere, so he wouldn’t have called himself picky when it came to accommodations – but the motel wasn’t terrible. more comfortable than the backseat of his overpriced vehicle, and it came with a real bed and a working toilet.
that it would be easier to keep an eye on his crewmates – in truth, that factor alone would have sold him on the monthly cost, not that the swordsman would have admitted as much. although he hadn’t heard from usopp himself, sanji had said that he was on board and would be arriving later on. they’d be able to pool their resources, check in without relying on transponders… the fact that there was still an entire wall between himself and the cook wasn’t the worst thing in the world either.
so far as sanji’s new friend, zoro hadn’t made up his mind. the suspicion was a given – but he couldn’t blame her for taking him up on the offer. that blond idiot would have handed over the clothes off his back to the first woman who batted her eyelashes; whatever overly generous arrangement he’d made, it’d be hard to pass up. problem was, they were still strangers – which meant she was naïve to trust some guy she’d just met, or capable enough that she didn’t feel she had to worry about it.
it was the potential of the latter scenario that left zoro undecided.
having already laid claim to the bed in usopp’s absence, he’d stretched out across the sheets, booted feet propped up on the end of the mattress. already halfway to dozing, the knock surprised him less from the sound, so much as the fact it came from within the room, rather than without.
huh.
his fingers relaxed around wado’ hilt, waiting the seconds it took for her follow-up before he finally moved. his grip shifted to the pommel of the sword, still strapped to his hip as he crossed the distance to the bathroom door. (yes, he did nap while wearing it, don’t ask him about it.) the usual mask of cool indifference was already well in place by the time he’d opened up, one brow arched as he gave her a quick once over.
definitely out of the waiter’s league, but hey – he’d already been told it wasn’t his business. ]
Yeah, didn’t figure he’d knock.
[ or, more accurate to say that he wouldn’t have knocked for zoro’s sake. the manners he reserved for women were an entirely different story. whatever.
he eyed the bottle in her hand, before his attention drifted back to her face. housewarming? ]
Fridge is on your side.
[ he could have ended it there, quick and easy. in a lot of cases, he would have – but maybe luffy had started rubbing off on him. or maybe it was the prospect of a cold beer that bought his tenuous good mood. whatever the reason, and whatever her relationship with sanji was, still better to know who he was sharing a space with.
he took a half-step to the side, the door opening slightly wider. ]
( the moment the door opens, wanda call tell that zoro is very different to sanji, as far as treating strangers is concerned. it's not quite discomfort what she feels exuding from him, but it's definitely some amount of suspicion, trying to gauge at her—most likely trying to see if she poses a threat to his crewmates or not. it's understandable enough.
she isn't all that intimidated by it. sokovia was a difficult place to grow up in, and having a spine was a necessity.
(that being said, wanda's ideas about what pirates are like has really suffered some weathering and rehashing after meeting sanji, and now zoro. is this what pirates are really like?)
though he opens the door further, the invitation in comes with a caveat. wordlessly, she hands him the bottle, then turns back around to head to the fridge, pulling out the second beer, cold to the touch. the way these two rooms are, it is likely that the intention was for it to be a 'family motel room'; the bigger room with the kitchenette were the parents would be, and the smaller room for the children, a shared bathroom providing a connection while still allowing for privacy. they have since been converted into separate rooms, but zoro's room doesn't have the same amenities. it is with this thought that she pushes past the threshold into the other room, glancing up at him, and then around, having never been in this room before. )
There's more in the fridge if you want another.
( her plan, after all, was to keep the beer for him, try to fall into his good graces, though she knows how ridiculous that sounds, even for her. casually, she walks towards the table in the room and sets down the beer, turning back to him. )
You're — Zoro, right? I know there's another one from your crew... ( a glance to the side, then back to him; she loosely crosses her arms. ) I'm Wanda.
( the vibes, though perhaps a little awkward and stiff, are not something unfamiliar to wanda. she isn't entirely the most sociable person, as it was always her brother who offered smiles and warm handshakes. )
[ ooc: I am so sorry for how late this is. life sort of got in the way ;; ]
[ for his part, he’d never seen the opposite side of their joined room either. sanji could have the kitchenette, for all he cared – not like zoro would be the one using it. even back on the ship, he had been forced to begrudgingly admit that sanji did have some backing, when it came to his culinary boasts – while it did mean he’d have to swallow that smug shit smile of his along with the meal, the food itself made up for it.
good to know he had the drinks looked after too.
at least, zoro assumed that this was the cook’s suggestion to win him over. not a bad one, as the offer of alcohol would generally buy a person a conversation of undetermined length. (two sentences was a conversation, in his book.)
not being the most sociable himself, the majority of zoro’s true intent was generally read between the lines, better expressed through action and gesture than in words. for example, the way he’d left the door open as he’d stepped away, providing her both an open exit and a silent confirmation that she wasn’t bound to stay. it wasn’t an interrogation.
whether or not she picked up on that, well, that was on her.
he crossed the room back to the bed, seated on the edge once more; his arm rested on the sword now out of habit, more than any real sense of threat. ]
Yeah. [ technically, to all three questions. ] Usopp’ll be around later.
[ not bothering to look at it, zoro cracked the beer open with the air of someone who’d done it a few too many times, before he tipped the neck toward her in recognition. alcohol first, then he might address the question of sanji. ]
Thanks.
[ as he raised it to his lips, his eyes flickered briefly to the second bottle, still cold on the table. obviously, he had no problem drinking alone – but the second one had been intended for her to have. trust zoro to do anything but actually voice that. ]
(ooc: june/july was really a clusterfuck, i've only just gotten back on the horse myself. :') no worries! )
( wanda gets an immediate sense of the differences between sanji and zoro; one being warm, the other a whole lot colder, both sure and confident of themselves. while sanji would, however, tilt suggestions into questions about her preferences, zoro seemed more keen to not care too much about how others would prefer for anything to take place.
what she's doing is getting a sense of the swordsman, even if it's painfully awkward for now. him sitting down on his bed makes her realize that he's not the type for a more formal sitting-at-the-table-to-drink kind of individual, so that pushes the onus of formality away from her. she also gets the sense that despite the sword, it's more of something he keeps on him, like steve and his shield. it's only when he drinks and looks at the bottle on the table that she turns back to it, sitting herself down on one of the chairs, and makes an attempt to twist the cap off.
give her a minute. )
—yeah. He was getting annoyed. ( is this ammunition she should be giving the other...? she shrugs. ) Sometimes the easiest solution to a problem is to do the thing yourself.
( as in, collecting zoro to make sure he got to the motel.
with a huff, she finally manages to twist the cap off, setting it down on the table, under her palm. she takes a sip of the beer, not quite sure what to expect from this place's alcoholic produce. seems okay.
anyway, she sets the beer atop her lap, before saying, )
He says this setup is okay, and I'm okay with it, too. I hope you don't mind it. ( this is someone who struggles at making friends and really hates the idea of being the reason there's any kind of tension, for whatever reason. even if sanji said it was perfectly sound for her to stay, even as more of his crewmates arrive, wanda won't hesitate to leave if it is something the others are not in favor of.
she bites her cheek. ) You can say it if you'd rather it just was your crew sharing these rooms.
Edited (i do a million edits gomen) 2025-07-23 14:38 (UTC)
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no subject
zoro could have slept damned near anywhere, so he wouldn’t have called himself picky when it came to accommodations – but the motel wasn’t terrible. more comfortable than the backseat of his overpriced vehicle, and it came with a real bed and a working toilet.
that it would be easier to keep an eye on his crewmates – in truth, that factor alone would have sold him on the monthly cost, not that the swordsman would have admitted as much. although he hadn’t heard from usopp himself, sanji had said that he was on board and would be arriving later on. they’d be able to pool their resources, check in without relying on transponders… the fact that there was still an entire wall between himself and the cook wasn’t the worst thing in the world either.
so far as sanji’s new friend, zoro hadn’t made up his mind. the suspicion was a given – but he couldn’t blame her for taking him up on the offer. that blond idiot would have handed over the clothes off his back to the first woman who batted her eyelashes; whatever overly generous arrangement he’d made, it’d be hard to pass up. problem was, they were still strangers – which meant she was naïve to trust some guy she’d just met, or capable enough that she didn’t feel she had to worry about it.
it was the potential of the latter scenario that left zoro undecided.
having already laid claim to the bed in usopp’s absence, he’d stretched out across the sheets, booted feet propped up on the end of the mattress. already halfway to dozing, the knock surprised him less from the sound, so much as the fact it came from within the room, rather than without.
huh.
his fingers relaxed around wado’ hilt, waiting the seconds it took for her follow-up before he finally moved. his grip shifted to the pommel of the sword, still strapped to his hip as he crossed the distance to the bathroom door. (yes, he did nap while wearing it, don’t ask him about it.) the usual mask of cool indifference was already well in place by the time he’d opened up, one brow arched as he gave her a quick once over.
definitely out of the waiter’s league, but hey – he’d already been told it wasn’t his business. ]
Yeah, didn’t figure he’d knock.
[ or, more accurate to say that he wouldn’t have knocked for zoro’s sake. the manners he reserved for women were an entirely different story. whatever.
he eyed the bottle in her hand, before his attention drifted back to her face. housewarming? ]
Fridge is on your side.
[ he could have ended it there, quick and easy. in a lot of cases, he would have – but maybe luffy had started rubbing off on him. or maybe it was the prospect of a cold beer that bought his tenuous good mood. whatever the reason, and whatever her relationship with sanji was, still better to know who he was sharing a space with.
he took a half-step to the side, the door opening slightly wider. ]
Grab another one if you’re coming over.
no subject
she isn't all that intimidated by it. sokovia was a difficult place to grow up in, and having a spine was a necessity.
(that being said, wanda's ideas about what pirates are like has really suffered some weathering and rehashing after meeting sanji, and now zoro. is this what pirates are really like?)
though he opens the door further, the invitation in comes with a caveat. wordlessly, she hands him the bottle, then turns back around to head to the fridge, pulling out the second beer, cold to the touch. the way these two rooms are, it is likely that the intention was for it to be a 'family motel room'; the bigger room with the kitchenette were the parents would be, and the smaller room for the children, a shared bathroom providing a connection while still allowing for privacy. they have since been converted into separate rooms, but zoro's room doesn't have the same amenities. it is with this thought that she pushes past the threshold into the other room, glancing up at him, and then around, having never been in this room before. )
There's more in the fridge if you want another.
( her plan, after all, was to keep the beer for him, try to fall into his good graces, though she knows how ridiculous that sounds, even for her. casually, she walks towards the table in the room and sets down the beer, turning back to him. )
You're — Zoro, right? I know there's another one from your crew... ( a glance to the side, then back to him; she loosely crosses her arms. ) I'm Wanda.
( the vibes, though perhaps a little awkward and stiff, are not something unfamiliar to wanda. she isn't entirely the most sociable person, as it was always her brother who offered smiles and warm handshakes. )
Did Sanji end up picking you up?
no subject
[ for his part, he’d never seen the opposite side of their joined room either. sanji could have the kitchenette, for all he cared – not like zoro would be the one using it. even back on the ship, he had been forced to begrudgingly admit that sanji did have some backing, when it came to his culinary boasts – while it did mean he’d have to swallow that smug shit smile of his along with the meal, the food itself made up for it.
good to know he had the drinks looked after too.
at least, zoro assumed that this was the cook’s suggestion to win him over. not a bad one, as the offer of alcohol would generally buy a person a conversation of undetermined length. (two sentences was a conversation, in his book.)
not being the most sociable himself, the majority of zoro’s true intent was generally read between the lines, better expressed through action and gesture than in words. for example, the way he’d left the door open as he’d stepped away, providing her both an open exit and a silent confirmation that she wasn’t bound to stay. it wasn’t an interrogation.
whether or not she picked up on that, well, that was on her.
he crossed the room back to the bed, seated on the edge once more; his arm rested on the sword now out of habit, more than any real sense of threat. ]
Yeah. [ technically, to all three questions. ] Usopp’ll be around later.
[ not bothering to look at it, zoro cracked the beer open with the air of someone who’d done it a few too many times, before he tipped the neck toward her in recognition. alcohol first, then he might address the question of sanji. ]
Thanks.
[ as he raised it to his lips, his eyes flickered briefly to the second bottle, still cold on the table. obviously, he had no problem drinking alone – but the second one had been intended for her to have. trust zoro to do anything but actually voice that. ]
So sending him was your idea?
no subject
( wanda gets an immediate sense of the differences between sanji and zoro; one being warm, the other a whole lot colder, both sure and confident of themselves. while sanji would, however, tilt suggestions into questions about her preferences, zoro seemed more keen to not care too much about how others would prefer for anything to take place.
what she's doing is getting a sense of the swordsman, even if it's painfully awkward for now. him sitting down on his bed makes her realize that he's not the type for a more formal sitting-at-the-table-to-drink kind of individual, so that pushes the onus of formality away from her. she also gets the sense that despite the sword, it's more of something he keeps on him, like steve and his shield. it's only when he drinks and looks at the bottle on the table that she turns back to it, sitting herself down on one of the chairs, and makes an attempt to twist the cap off.
give her a minute. )
—yeah. He was getting annoyed. ( is this ammunition she should be giving the other...? she shrugs. ) Sometimes the easiest solution to a problem is to do the thing yourself.
( as in, collecting zoro to make sure he got to the motel.
with a huff, she finally manages to twist the cap off, setting it down on the table, under her palm. she takes a sip of the beer, not quite sure what to expect from this place's alcoholic produce. seems okay.
anyway, she sets the beer atop her lap, before saying, )
He says this setup is okay, and I'm okay with it, too. I hope you don't mind it. ( this is someone who struggles at making friends and really hates the idea of being the reason there's any kind of tension, for whatever reason. even if sanji said it was perfectly sound for her to stay, even as more of his crewmates arrive, wanda won't hesitate to leave if it is something the others are not in favor of.
she bites her cheek. ) You can say it if you'd rather it just was your crew sharing these rooms.