damned_institute | Nightshift 35: Courtyard

For a moment, the crack was ignored as Usopp's ears picked up the sound of a distant splash. Hopefully that was Sanji knocking Chopper into the pool and not the other way around. It was a little hard to see through the shadows of the leaves, even with the moonlight.

"Good work, Sanji-kun!" Usopp called out anyway. "Keep him in the water! But don't let him drown or anything!" What else was there? "And if there's any monsters, fight them off!" There, those were good standing orders; nevermind that Sanji could probably figure all that out on his own.

Back to concentrating on the afro. A tiny limb here and there snapped back up into position on the tree as Usopp eased it free of the powerful hairdo. Really, at home, this shouldn't have been a problem at all. Brook was a skeleton at home, and that had to be lighter than a full human being, no matter how lanky they were... though at least his weight wasn't balanced on just one branch, thanks to the depth of his entanglement. And Usopp was lighter than Zoro or Sanji, his build's only muscle by virtue of his work on the ship. Then again, he'd decided to climb the tree with his pack full of heavy work tools, the branches were supporting two fully grown men, and each time he freed a bit of Brook he increased the weight the remaining tangled branches of the tree were bearing. In an ideal situation, he ought to have been able to free Brook without anyone falling an uncomfortable distance to the ground.

Since this wasn't an ideal situation, a louder crack came from behind him, threatening. "Um, Brook, I think we need to hurry. The afro's almost free, except for a big mess that's tangled right in..."

With a crunch, the wood bent forward, nearly sending Usopp tumbling down over Brook's hair and onto the other man. He clutched at the branch, tilted awkwardly. "Can your feet reach the ground?!"

That wasn't a good sound. Maybe there would be a problem if the two of them stayed on the branches for too long. Brook himself would have been no matter - he didn't think he weighted too terribly much even with his skin returned - but adding Usopp to that might do it. Of course the sniper wasn't that heavy either, but hurrying was not a bad idea anyway!

"Ye-yes, hurrying would be good," he agreed quickly. If the branch did give way, then there was more of a chance that his afro would suffer for it! Never mind that the two of them would fall who knew how far! Also, it sounded like Sanji might still need some assistance, though he probably had things under control, so getting out swiftly became the best of options.

Another crack, this one louder, had Brook look up and brace as Usopp was almost forced into falling on top of him! "I'm not sure! Let's see...!" he could at the very least see the ground below and tried his best to move his feet towards touching it. At first he felt nothing but air in the attempt, but a few more tries (and a bit more creaking of the branches), he was able to slightly feel something solid. "I think... yes, just barely. With the tip." But that didn't help them much. He was still stuck even if he could just scrape his tow on the ground. Usopp though... "Allow me to get the rest. There is no reason for the both of us to risk falling!" After all, it was Brook's afro, and he was responsible for it!

Chopper hit the water, and Sanji stumbled to the edge after the kick, almost falling right in himself. He waited only a moment or two before removing his shoes and jumping in after the reindeer.

The water wasn't as he expected it to be. He knew this place limited his strength and abilities to some degree, but he was pretty sure that whatever was making swimming difficult was the water itself. Thankfully, compared to the ocean, the pond could hardly be considered deep and he hadn't knocked Chopper too far. Still, there was something not right about this water and the idea that he would have to remain in it to keep the reindeer safe didn't sit well with him.

Reaching his crewmate finally, Sanji wrapped an arm around Chopper's waist and made his way slowly back to the surface. It took far longer than it should have and he was gasping for breath by the time he was back in open air. He made his way close to the shore, somewhere he could stand while still keeping Chopper submerged in the water up to his neck.

The recent activity had taken its toll. He hated this place and how it limited them all. He was panting, and he didn't know how long he'd be able to keep up a fight if the reindeer got free again. "You okay, Chopper?" he asked, wondering if he'd have to squeeze some water out of him.

Chopper had tried holding his breath upon his sudden submersion, but Sanji's kick had unfortunately left him somewhat breathless from the start. The spent air escaped from his lungs in bursts, and it was all he could do to prevent himself from breathing in the water. As long as it didn't get into his lungs, maybe he'd be okay... As long as he stayed conscious, maybe he could somehow make it to the surface...

The thought that Sanji would dive in after him hadn't crossed his mind, and so he hadn't expected to feel the chef's arm warp around him. By the time they surfaced, Chopper was coughing violently, his nose and throat burning. He still felt horribly weak, but he could breathe... He took in fresh oxygen in gulps, fits of coughing in between, trying to even out his breathing. He could breathe now, but hyperventilating wouldn't do him any good.

Sanji had asked him something. "I... I'm..." Chopper answered between coughs. "I'm okay..."

More splashes over by the water, although it was too far for Usopp to make out the conversation. Besides, he had larger worries at hand, like his impending untimely meeting with the ground.

His hands started working faster, while he apologized, "Sorry, sorry, this'll yank a little bit, I'm trying not to lose any hair... but if the branch falls and your hair's in it..." That was, given the choice between Brook maybe getting a gravity-assisted violent hair yanking from the branch and Usopp managing to free what he could from the branch in time at the cost of a little extra tugging, he thought the latter was best. He hoped Brook would agree, although the man wasn't really in much of a position to argue anyway.

And the tree was bending a little more. Usopp glanced back at where he'd climbed on, and could see the branch pulling away from the tree, practically peeling off. At least the tree wasn't so brittle it had broken at once, but... how could he climb back?!

"And I'm really, really sorry, excuse me!" Usopp proceeded to climb forward instead, grabbing ahold of Brook's shoulders and attempting to reach around to his back. If Brook's feet could touch the ground, even a little, the man could be used as a ladder. Besides, Sanji might be in need of help too, and there wasn't much more Usopp could do for Brook, other than try hard not to kick the man while climbing over him.

The additional splashes worried Brook. He couldn't see and had no idea what was going on - the fact that there was water in this place was new to him anyway - so absolutely anything could be happening! Sanji could be in trouble from Chopper or Chopper from Sanji. The little reindeer was a devil fruit user and water was a terrible thing for those! He could really really be in trouble!

"Yanking is fine! Just get it out so we can help the others!" Brook flailed just a bit, then stopped when the branches creaked more. He couldn't even panic in his position! How had he gotten himself into such a mess?!

He held his breath when Usopp had to start climbing over him, scared that the wrong move would make the branches finally give way. He had to stay still while Usopp moved. Still as he possibly could.

Good. Chopper was coughing, but otherwise appeared to be fine. Sanji took the opportunity, while his friend was still recovering, to wrap one arm further around the reindeer's waist and begin a careful attempt to pry off his hat with the other. (He wasn't quite sure how Chopper managed to fit his antlers through the sides.)

He recalled Luffy talking about getting his own hat back. Hopefully this would work out the same way. Their crewmate would feel much better about things the next day if he had something of his old self back.

"I'd hold still," he advised. "Wouldn't want to hurt this thing any." It was a difficult task, but he thought he was beginning to see how it could come off.

Chopper remained still as his coughing fit slowed and his breathing evened, feeling lethargic from the effect the water had on him. He felt like he should be doing something, but his mind was feeling as sluggish as his muscles. He couldn't recall what it might have been...

He closed his eyes, trying to think.

Their new crewmate was very, very useful as a ladder. Usopp managed to turn around on Brook's back, and slowly back down the last of his legs, until his own feet hit the ground. Then he let go, and watched the end of the branch from the ground, now visibly still cracking.

Stay, or go...? He wanted to help Brook and the afro, but that situation seemed as though it would take care of itself, and Sanji and Chopper... "I'll be right back!" Usopp promised, then dashed over towards the pond.

He was relieved to see Sanji sitting by the edge of it, holding Chopper in. Perfect. "S-Sanji, you okay? Brook's almost free!" Well, free of the tree at least.

"Yes, yes, you go on and I'll just hang out here! Get it, hang? Yohohoho!" Brook laughed for some humour, bur Usopp had probably already run out of hearing range. No matter, it was still funny to him!

He tried to look up at what remained of the entanglement, but sighed when he could not see it. His hands could feel the last bit at least and were working as best they could. Just a little more and... well, he'd still have a fair-sized branch-turned stick in his hair, but there would be relatively no harm done to the afro in general. Nothing a little tugging and teasing couldn't solve! "Aha!" he believed he'd finally gotten to the last piece of tree and snapped it triumphantly. A bad idea.

"Take that you vile piece of vege-- eh?" He was halfway through what amouted to a victory cheer when he realized that his body was sinking. He shouldn't be sinking in a tree, though it would have been preferrable to the actual falling that it was. "Ehhhhhh?!" Brook only just realized what was happening before the branches gave way completely. He collapsed to the ground in a mess of twigs, leaves and limbs, face planted in the ground while his backside remained high in the air. "I... concede..." he spat out through a mouthful of dirt, "... for now..."

The tree would pay later.

'Almost' became 'was' as Sanji caught their newest crewmate falling out of the corner of his eye. He winced in sympathy, but otherwise was still busy on the task of removing Chopper's hat. At last he succeeded, pulling the pink item completely free and setting it atop his own head.

"We're fine for now." He turned to Usopp with a grin. "What do you think?" The chef didn't need a mirror to tell him he probably looked utterly ridiculous in the reindeer's hat, but it was all fun for the moment.

His grip on Chopper tightened. Their friend was calm enough now, but the loss of his hat was bound to upset him.

The first thing could remember through the foggy haze covering his thoughts was that he'd been fighting. It took until he heard the exchange between Usopp and Sanji to remember who he'd been fighting, and why. The haze cleared, but his body still felt so weak...

Nevertheless, he began to struggle, hoping to free himself from Sanji's hold. "L-let go! You have to go back to your rooms... You have to!"

He was barely aware of the loss of his hat; getting the patients to comply with what was best for them was far more pressing a matter.

Usopp winced too at the sound of his crewmate plus part of the tree hitting the ground. Well, at least Brook would have less to worry about from gravity as he finished freeing any bits of hair left. Sanji's sudden display of himself plus pink hat earned a startled laugh, as much from relief that Chopper was under control as at the sight itself. "Sanji-kun! You shouldn't steal other people's fashion styles!"

The mock-scolding ended as Chopper seemed to come awake again, struggling. Usopp leaned forward towards the water again but didn't touch it yet, since Sanji should be able to control the weakened Devil's Fruit user like this. "Are you hurt, Chopper? Don't worry, it'll be fine in the morning, just try to relax." It was easy to say that, but Chopper's frantic tones struck a little guilt up.

Standing straight, Usopp turned to yell over his shoulder, "Brook! Hold onto the branches for me, please? I'd really like to have them!" Something to focus on other than the forced weakness and confusion Chopper would be enduring until night ended.

More dirt was spat out as Brook pushed himself up from the ground and gave his head a shake. Then he checked his hair and, except for the stick still stuck through it, all was well. Good. His hair was fine. His body was a little worse for wear though, but Brook would have let it suffer through even the harshest of tortures to keep his look intact! What were a few scrapes and bruises anyway?!

Enough to make it a bit painful to move, apparently. He got to his feet however, determined not to be kept down! "A formidable foe indeed..." he hissed under his breath, but refused to speak directly to the tree anymore that evening. Provoking it would do little good now. They would meet again some other night to settle things.

He looked up when Usopp called to him, then gave the wreckage at his feet a look. Branches, he certainly had. "Will do, Usopp-san!" Brook put a hand up, intending to wave, but froze for the action. Right, painful to move. He'd need to remember that before he tried to move quickly again. Slowly he got his arm back down, then squatted to collect the requested sticks for Usopp. It looked as though the other two had things under control for the moment, so stick collecting was safe enough to do.

Sanji held the reindeer tighter as he began to struggle. They'd have to take more action here. He couldn't just keep poor Chopper held in the water for the remainder of the night, could he? Who knew how long that was going to last?

"Sorry about this, Chopper," he sighed before clocking his crewmate hard enough in the back of the head to knock him out for a while. Maybe if they could get him back to their rooms they could keep him in there. If they left this area, would the brainwashing wear off?

"Let's get him back in." They'd have to go over the wall again, as there was no way the sun room would be safe. He was tired and not looking forward to this, but it was the better option. "Usopp, did you still want to run to the shed?"

Chopper redoubled his efforts to get free when Sanji's hold tightened, but to little avail. "Let go," he continued to plead. "You have to let go and go back!"

He concentrated on Sanji's arm, trying to take hold of it to pry it off. When the chef apologized, Chopper looked up at him again. It was the last thing he saw before losing consciousness with a groan as he felt a blow to the back of his head. His body relaxed and became limp in Sanji's arms.

Usopp let out a little sigh as Chopper fell unconscious. That'd make it easier, at least, and Chopper looked sort of cutely innocent like that... apart from the having to be beaten unconscious part.

He just stared at Sanji's suggestion, though. "W-what?! We can't move him! What if he wakes up again? The only reason we could beat him this time was because we kept him confused, and we're not gonna have a pool or something indoors to dunk him if he gets upset!"

It wasn't that Usopp wanted to hold their friend hostage in the water for the rest of the night--or rather, have Sanji do it--but it seemed a lot safer. He looked over Chopper's unconscious form with a little more worry than sympathy this time. "We can wait for the shed another time. I've got new stuff to worry about tonight anyway. By the way, do you have any spare space in your closet?"

Glancing over his shoulder, he added heartlessly to Brook, "The bigger the better, okay? I've been wanting to get some wood to work with at night for a long time! Thanks!"

"Woodworking would be the term, wouldn't it? Yohohoho!" Not so much of a joke, but it made Brook feel better saying something close. He'd lost of much of his material with not being a skeleton anymore. The only good thing that had come from having skin so far - aside from well having it - was that it had only been his hair stuck in the tree and not the whole of him. Having to pry branches out of his eye sockets would have taken some time!

With a bundle of sticks in his arms, he finally made his way away from the tree and over to the fountain the others were playing in. He'd not been paying much attention in his stick gathering, and hadn't heard most of the earlier conversation, so seeing that Chopper was unconscious in Sanji's arms gave his a scare. "Chopper-san?! Is he all right?! What did you do to him?!"

In response to Usopp's question about his closet space, the chef looked at his friend blankly and deapanned "Ask Brook."

Sanji waved off both of the other pirates' concern. "He's okay. I just knocked him out for now." If they could get him inside to one of their rooms they might be able to keep him down if he woke up. There would also be less space for him to change form in. The blond backed up, stepping out of the water somewhat shakily and still wearing the pink hat on his head.

"We're heading in, then."

"We are? Wait, is this a good idea? Sanjiiiiii..." Letting his voice trail off into a slow whine, Usopp stood for a moment at the water's edge, staring at the unconscious Chopper and at Sanji. But instead of voicing further arguments, he let out a heavy sigh.

"Right, woodworking." He reached out to take a few smaller branches from Brook's armful. "Brook, do you think you've got room in your closet to hold these for me? I need some extra space for just a night or two. Then I'm going to rearrange things."

Well, things would be rearranged, at any rate--he wasn't going to keep storing every single thing everyone he knew brought in his own closet. It was just too dangerous. Speaking of dangerous, "Let's head to Brook's room with Chopper! Maybe music'll help Chopper stay asleep." Chopper was a beast, even if he wasn't very savage most of the time, right?

"Oh, just knocked out..." Brook calmed, but had a worried expression as he looked at the little reindeer. He'd not been the one to deal any real blows to him, but Brook still felt bad about having had to fight him at all. And now Chopper was unconscious and being treated like a threat! It was heartbreaking!

Brook kept the larger pieces without protest, giving Usopp a nod. "I'll see if I can stick them in there. Because they're sticks, so I can stick them in! Yohohohohoho!" Now there was an actual joke! Not a skull joke, but that had never stopped Brook before!

Talk of music pulled him away from the humour for a moment. "A good idea! Yohohoho! Music soothes the savage beast as they say, though Chopper-san is hardly savage at the moment." Honestly this was the first time Brook had seen Chopper's more ferocious side what with those extra transformations and all. It was a little scary! Hopefully he wouldn't turn on them again now that they'd stopped him. "However, while my closet is sure to have space enough for your woodworking, my instrument is in Luffy-san's closet. We would need to visit his room for anything beyond my tapping a bat on the tile floor."

And speaking of his bat... he looked around the place and found that it was still there lying abandoned. The poor thing had slipped from his grasp just prior to his flight. He'd pick it up when they left.

"We'll go to mine." Sanji made his way towards the wall. He could use a change of clothes at this point anyway. And another cigarette.

As he approached the obstacle, the chef sped up his pace so he could get a good running start. Then, tucking Chopper safely under one arm, he made a leap for the top of the wall. He didn't make it all the way feet slipping along the side as one hand gripped the edge, but he managed to pull himself up all the same. He didn't wait for the other two, having only one free arm to help.

"But Brook was going to keep my wood!" Usopp protested half-heartedly, still following along.

Seeing Sanji actually do the leap he'd expected for their trip into the Courtyard was a little surprising, although Usopp wasn't sure why. At home, he'd seen Sanji jump higher, but he was so used to them all being weak here. Even weakness was relative, he guessed. As long as Chopper didn't get jerked around too much. He gave the pond a last, worried glance.

Usopp walked up to the wall in a slightly more laid-back fashion, and after several hops, managed to push his sticks over the top edge. Following, he climbed up the more traditional way, managing not to slip and fall down and figuring someone as tall as Brook probably didn't see the wall as an obstacle anyway.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/460474.html?thread=38166714#t38166714)]

Nightshift 35: Courtyard

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