#steel rig

[dknuth]

Walking the Crags

Today, we walked the most famous, most scenic, and hardest section of Hadrian's Wall, The Crags.

This is a section of hard stone that rises up in an east-west line with a steep north side. The Romans sensibly used this as a location for the wall, as there are long stretches that no sensible person would attempt to breach. But this line of steep rocks is not uniform, there are several gaps. At those points the wall drops down to the bottom of the gap and back up the other side, and so does the trail.

But it is stunningly scenic, when you can look up from where you are putting your feet.

As we approached the starting point, the wall was running parallel on the right, so we could see where we were going. But it looks less steep from there.

We started at Steel Rig and headed east.

Along the wall, there were the foundations of the "turrets" that were spaced along it.

The wall is much less tall than initially. Some of the stones were taken by farmers to build field walls, houses, barns, and other structures; they were also used in churches, monasteries, and more. Others are lying on the ground next to the wall. Of course, they took the nice regular rectangular facing blocks and left many of the irregular stones from the interior behind. So, these irregular stones often embed the ground next to the wall. They have encouraged the grass to grow on the remaining wall to protect it.

At one-mile intervals, "Mile Castles" held a dozen or so men.

We came to the most famous gap Sycamore Gap, where there used to be a large sycamore tree. It was famous, scenic, and well-loved until someone cut it down in the middle of the night last year.

The north face of the ridge is vertical rock, just what the Romans wanted.

We eventually left the crags and were on more rolling terrain.

Looking back we could see the last part of the crags and a lake below. Then we realized that the copse of trees in the distance was our starting point. not far away.

The wall continued over hills and gaps. With beautiful scenery to the south.

The final mile-fort was in fairly good condition. If you look closely, you can even see that the two bottom stones of the arch in the north gate are still there.

At last, we reached the visitor center.

Cathie was waiting in the visitors center parking lot cafe. But I couldn't see it, and she couldn't see us. Neither of us understood the layout, so we couldn't figure out where we were. Finally, the tour manager went down to get her. She had been told that it would be about three hours and brought a book, but our group had been slow on the hills, and our guide was full of information to impart, so it took over 5 hours to walk the five miles. She was kind of grumpy.

The visitors center is at Housesteads Fort, which we visited, but there wasn't that much interesting to photograph. We were late, so our guide rushed around the fort to explain things, and Cathie couldn't keep up; if I had known how slow we would be, I wouldn't have pushed Cathie to come along.

Despite the clouds putting on a continuous, dramatic show all day it never rained!

[emberglowfox]

my very large dog who eats batteries and has been described as "off-putting" and "kind of cringe"

[ltwilliammowett]

In July 1906 the Socoa (a full rigged steel ship) struck some rocks near Cadgwith Cove, England, a moment when a wreck incident became a faraway casualty of a major event triggering worldwide headlines, the San Francisco earthquake of April 1906 – for she was laden with cement to help rebuild the city.

Fortunately she was refloated, even though she was clearly in a bad way.

[digital999placebo]

so.. smiles. anyone remember my golden age boxing au?

[steampunkedparm]

"of course you have carabiner's."

yeah??? how else am i supposed to hold my keys?????

[oldtestleper]

all that shit would have never happened if they had followed OSHA guidelines

[greenmagic-oilspill]

Okay the type quiz results have stopped fitting what I have in mind for my characters. Posts canceled!

[indolift]

Indolift, established in 2010 by M/S. PDS Trading & Warehousing Co Pvt Ltd, specializes in material handling equipment, notably Chain Pulley Blocks. They collaborate with Hangzhou Jentan Machinery Co Ltd, a leading Chinese manufacturer, to offer high-quality products at competitive prices. Their product range includes Chain Pulley Blocks, Ratchet Lever Hoists, Webbing Slings, D-Shackles, Plate Lifting Clamps, Steel Wire Ropes, Forged Clamps, Pallet Trucks, and Alloy Steel Chains. Indolift is committed to delivering efficient solutions and maintaining high-quality standards.

[rigroofing]

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[g4zdtechtv]

X-Play Classic - Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor Review

Xplay's lowest rated game, across both incarnations… EVER.

[ceilidho]

ceilid. oil rig soap i am foaming at the mouth omg

he's covered in an ever present layer of grease and grime, stinking of sweat and rust. comes off as a cocky showboat when you first arrive on the rig, jokes about wanting to see you all messed up like the rest of 'em, but his jokes are barbed, electric blue eyes looking you up and down like he really can't stand how clean and neat you are compared to the men on board. like he wants to tear your ironed skirt down so he can drag his dirty paws all over your ass and thighs.

you honestly write him off; hard to see the laid back charmer as a genuine threat or even someone to go running to should something bad happen to you, but then everything on the rig goes to shit. something violent and hungry comes out of the water and you can hear the blood curdling screams from the men it catches as you sprint down the landing, the helicopter already starting to take off even as you yell for them to wait.

but then a man twice your size is suddenly pulling you into the shadows, covering your mouth and shushing you as the thing that came aboard the ship suddenly passes (and you think, wildly, that it would've been on you by now had soap not dragged you out of the way) and you watch in horror as it obliterates the chopper, the body of the chopper bursting into flames and going into a tailspin, crashing into the ocean below.

"keep the heid, bonnie," murmured into your ear, the hand around your mouth pressing harder and muffling your screams as he pulls you deeper into the rig, trying to find a place to hide, his arms like steel bands around you. "willnae let anything bad happen to ye."

[yandere-daydreams]

Title: Mesmerized.

Pairing: Yandere!Lyney x Reader (Genshin).

Word Count: 0.8k.

TW: Hypnosis, Unhealthy Relationships, General Lose of Autonomy, Implied Kidnapping, Implied Stalking, and Obsessive Behavior.

[Commissioned piece. Donate to Palestinians in Gaza here.]

“You’re getting crueler, brother.”

Lynette watched you stir at the sound of her voice, nearly identical to that of your dearly beloved, but you slackened as soon as you realized it was only his sister, melting back into place against Lyney’s side. Your expression was one of vacant bliss; all glassy eyes and careless smiles, worry only visible in the dark circles laced under your eyes, the pained creases folded into either corner of your mouth. A poor imitation, altogether. You looked more like yourself when you were angry.

Lyney hummed, resting his head on your shoulder. As if trained to, you cooed softly and raised a hand, carding your fingers through his hair as he spoke, self-satisfaction heavy in his voice. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean. Is it cruel to want to spend time with one’s dearly cherished?”

“Father said not to let the public see them until—”

“—until we’ve fallen in love,” Lyney finished. It was a clipped summary, to say the least. In reality, Lord Arlecchino’s order had played more closely to the tune of ‘until you’ve collared your pet properly’, but admittedly, Lynette might’ve missed something. She and Freminet had been listening from the other side of a steel door, and Lyney hadn’t been eager to discuss their conversation after her lecture ended. “And I’m sure, if you bothered to ask, you’d already know that we’re quite in love. Aren’t we, beautiful?”

“Quite in love,” you parroted. There was something strange about your inflection, as if you were trying to speak in a language you hadn’t yet mastered, but Lynette chose not to dwell on it.

“And I’d hardly call this the public,” Lyney went on, when Lynette made it clear that she had yet to be impressed. He made a quick, sweeping gesture to the rest of the backstage area – as if the technicians and stage-hands rushing between lighting rigs and half-assembled props were no more real than the silhouetted figures painted onto the set dressing they were hauling into place. “Think of it as… a trial run, to see how much we’ve improved. If everything goes well tonight, perhaps we’ll be able to attend Father’s next banquet together, too. I’ve been dying to introduce them to the rest of our family – preferably without all the screaming and biting, this time.”

That, Lynette could admit, would probably be for the best. She still had a bruise in the shape of your teeth on her left wrist from the day she’d met you, but Lyney still claimed it’d been one of your better first impressions.

“I’ve always wanted to see one of your shows.” You were cupping Lyney’s face, now, using your thumb to draw tender circles into his cheek. “I’ve always loved the opera. You’re playing the male lead, right?”

Lynette pursed her lips, her eyes widening slightly as she turned her attention pointedly towards her brother. He looked away. “I’m still working out the kinks. By this time next week, it should all be right as rain.”

Reluctantly, Lynette let her attention shift back to you. Your sleeves were long, dense with lace and tulle, but a patch of reddened, raw skin where the shackle had been wrapped around your wrist was just barely visible underneath the frivolous material. There was a slight tremble in your stiff shoulders, and when she looked closely, she could see that you were swaying; your legs weak from disuse, barely able to hold your own weight. Her brother, on the other hand ��� she could remember the last time she’d seen him smiling so widely. He been in a state of pure, untethered euphoria since the moment you were dragged, kicking and swearing, into one of the Fatui’s lesser-used underground holding facilities, and she rarely saw him without a glint in his eye and a light flush painted over her cheeks. It was almost upsetting, to see a face so much like her own so distorted. If she hadn’t been so used to his sudden flurries of passion, she might’ve been disturbed.

“It can’t last.” Lyney straightened, but she didn’t give him a chance to cut in. “The—the trance, I mean. You’re a magician, not a hypnotist. It’s going to wear off, eventually.”

“I’ve always hated stage magic,” you muttered, dreamily. “I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. I hate feeling like I’m the only person who doesn’t know what’s going on.”

“It doesn’t need to last forever, just long enough.” This time, it was Lyney who caught your chin in his hand, pulling you just close enough for a quick, shallow kiss. Lynette looked away before she could be forced to endure yet another unabashed show of affection, but she could still hear him far too clearly when he spoke seconds later, his voice now nearly distant as your own.

“Until we both manage to forget how we could ever live apart.”

[anim-ttrpgs]

"The Eye of Neptune," a Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy Adventure Module

This previously patreon-exclusive adventure module was just released in beta on itch.io!

This adventure module takes place in 2020 during the height of the pandemic lockdowns, and actually has two possible starting points, one where your characters are fishermen picking up a distress signal from an off-shore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, and one where your characters are workers on that oil rig.

This horror-mystery adventure module should last you about 1-2 sessions.

You can download it here. Payment is optional, but highly appreciated!

Here’s the full adventure hook under the cut.

Route A: Man has built a city of steel and black blood atop the endless abyss. It is a beating heart bound together with labyrinthian pipe veins. Hundreds of miles away from civilization, it stands in the midst of the Gulf of Mexico with naught but empty horizons around it. Within is a vast structure of winding halls, grinding machinery, and thousands upon thousands of small parts working to achieve a grand design. It is the Offshore Oil Rig Neptune, and it was once run by 200 workers. Now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has fallen to more or less a dozen. These last vestiges of life in the rig spread themselves thin and work their hands to the bone to keep the massive beast running. In the midst of this overwhelming isolation, two members of the already shorthanded crew are unaccounted for, Seth Barlowe and Lukas Ward. The installation manager, Noah, has convened a meeting to try to find out what happened to them. With the crew already severely shorthanded and tensions running high, a mysterious disappearance is the last thing anyone needs. 

Route B: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday…” Hundreds of miles away from civilization, a distress call echoes out to a fishing boat about a hundred miles south of shore in the Gulf of Mexico. It hails from a city of steel and black blood atop the seemingly endless abyss, powered by a beating heart bound together with labyrinthian pipe veins - the Offshore Oil Rig Neptune. The distress signal continues, in a haggard and nervous male voice: “This is the fixed drilling platform Neptune (spoken three times). 

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, fixed drilling platform Neptune. My position is 27.383 North, 93.299 West. My vessel is under assault by an unknown perpetrator, and I am requesting immediate evacuation.

I have fourteen persons aboard, this message will repeat.”

A few moments after the message is received, a radio response from the Coast Guard reports that they have received the Neptune’s distress call, but they are weathered-in due to a storm - neither boat nor helicopter will be able to respond for eight hours at minimum. Those aboard the fishing boat set a course to investigate, perhaps out of compassion or perhaps out of legal obligation - and what they will find when they arrive is anyone’s guess.

[henry-cavs-tudor]

Henry Cavill, Man of Steel behind the scenes of the ‘Oil-rig scene’🤤

[ink-perfect]

unguarded.

## request!

─ about: anime zoro x gn!reader ⋆. angst-to-fluff, 2nd person ⋆. migrane, battle, near-death experience, infirmary visit, argument, mushyl!zoro 🥹, apologies ─ synopsis: as a swordsman for the straw hats, you're well-adjusted to the amount of strength it takes on the battlefield, and are willing to fight through even the worst of migranes to meet this standard. despite your crew’s warnings against this - zoro's, especially - you insist that you can handle it. however, a near-death encounter almost costs you everything, forcing you to confront the consequences of your stubbornness through a particularly intimate conversation with a fellow swordsman... 

the sea was calm, deceptively peaceful, as the going merry sailed smoothly through the waves. but something wasn’t right. you could feel it in the air, in the way the wind seemed to whisper warnings through the rigging.

you gripped the railing, trying to ground yourself as the sharp, relentless pounding in your head throbbed behind your eyes. your migraine had been creeping up on you for hours, starting as a dull ache and slowly escalating into something unbearable. but you had learned to endure it. you had to.

there was no room for weakness on the crew. you’d seen how much the straw hats gave - how much they sacrificed - and you refused to be the one dragging them down. even if your head felt like it was being split open, even if your vision blurred and your knees threatened to buckle beneath you, you wouldn’t say a word. you could handle this.

but the pain was constant now, like a nail tapping at the back of your skull, never quite leaving you alone. the world seemed too bright, the sounds around you too sharp, and it took everything in you to keep your face neutral, to not flinch at every piercing noise.

“oi.”

zoro’s voice cut through the haze of pain, low and gravelly. he had been watching you, as he often did when you thought no one was paying attention. you turned your head slowly, trying not to wince at the movement.

“what?” you asked, your voice coming out colder than you intended, betraying just a hint of your discomfort.

his sharp green eyes narrowed as they studied you, suspicion darkening his features. “you look like shit,” he said bluntly, his gaze not leaving yours.

you forced a laugh, though it felt hollow. “gee, thanks for the compliment, swordsman.”

he didn’t laugh, didn’t even smirk like he usually would. instead, his eyes stayed locked on yours, intense and unyielding. zoro wasn’t one to pry, but he wasn’t stupid either. he could sense something was wrong, and you hated that he could see through you so easily.

“don’t tell me you’re thinking about fighting in that condition,” he said, the edge in his voice unmistakable. it wasn’t a question - it was a warning.

“i’m fine,” you lied, shifting your weight as you tried to stand a little taller, even though the motion sent a fresh wave of pain through your skull. “it’s just a headache. i can handle it.”

his expression darkened, his jaw clenching as his fingers twitched toward his swords, like he was itching to cut through whatever was standing in his way - even if that thing was your stubbornness.

“don’t be an idiot.” his voice was low, almost a growl. “you can barely stand straight.”

“i said i’m fine,” you snapped, harsh now. you regretted it the moment the words left your mouth, but you couldn’t back down now. you hated the idea of them worrying about you, of anyone thinking you were weak. “we’re about to run into trouble. you need every fighter on deck, and i’m not going to sit this one out because of a little headache.”

zoro’s glare could have cut through steel. “this isn’t just a ‘little headache’, and you know it damn well. you look like you’re about to pass out. if you get yourself killed out there, you’ll just be another thing we have to worry about.”

you flinched at the harshness of his words, your chest tightening with frustration and…something else. why did he have to make it sound like you were a burden? like your presence was just another problem for the crew to deal with?

“i don’t need you worrying about me,” you muttered, your voice quieter now but still firm. “i can take care of myself, i….i’m strong enough.”

zoro’s eyes flashed with something unreadable - anger, yes, but also something deeper, something more vulnerable. “you think i’m worried because i think you’re weak?” he said, his voice suddenly quieter, more controlled. “no. i'm worried because i actually give a shit about you, believe it or not.”

the words hung in the air between you, so light-hearted yet so suffocating. you opened your mouth to respond, but before you could, a sudden shout from luffy in the crow’s nest broke the tension.

“pirates ahead!”

instantly, the mood shifted. the crew sprang into action. nami called out orders, directing the ship into position, while usopp scrambled to ready the cannons. sanji lit a cigarette and disappeared into the kitchen, preparing to fight in his own way. robin, ever calm, began reading the enemy ship’s movement. franky and chopper were already preparing for the worst.

your grip tightened on the hilt of your sword, your heart racing. you had to fight. you needed to fight, to prove that you weren’t a liability, that you could handle yourself no matter what.

zoro shot you one last look, a warning, but you ignored it, pushing yourself forward as the enemy ship loomed closer. the adrenaline began to dull the pounding in your skull, but it didn’t disappear. it was there, always there, lurking just beneath the surface, ready to pull you under the moment you let your guard down.

the battle erupted in chaos. cannon fire echoed through the air, and the sound of steel clashing against steel filled your ears. you moved on instinct, your body following the rhythm of the fight, even as your vision blurred and the edges of the world seemed to tilt dangerously.

you cut down one pirate after another, each swing of your sword sending a jolt of pain through your head, but you gritted your teeth and kept moving. you had to keep moving.

but then, your body betrayed you.

your knees wobbled, and your vision went black for a split second - just long enough for you to misjudge the distance of an incoming attack. the pirate’s sword swung toward you, too fast for you to block, and for a horrifying moment, all you could do was watch - there was no time to react.

you were done for.

suddenly, you were yanked backward, a rough hand grabbing the back of your shirt and hauling you out of harm’s way. you stumbled, barely keeping your footing as franky’s voice boomed above you.

“hey! what's the big idea?!” franky demanded, his voice tinged with panic as he glared down at you, his massive hand still gripping your shoulder. “you almost got yourself killed!”

your breath came in ragged gasps as you tried to shake off the dizziness, the world spinning violently around you. the migraine, which had been a dull roar before, now surged to unbearable levels, like someone was driving a spike through your brain.

“shit…” you whispered, your vision swimming.

“’shit’ is right,” franky growled, his usually carefree demeanour replaced with an urgency that sent a cold chill down your spine. “you need to get out of here before-”

the next words were lost in the ringing in your ears. your legs gave out beneath you, and before you could hit the ground, strong arms wrapped around you, pulling you up against something solid and warm.

zoro.

his scent - sweat, steel, and the faintest hint of sake - washed over you, grounding you for just a moment. his grip on you was firm, almost possessive, as he cradled you against his chest, his face twisted in anger and something dangerously close to fear.

“what the hell were you thinking?” zoro’s voice was rough, strained, as if he was holding back something he didn’t want to say. “actually, i bet you just weren't, you idiot.”

you tried to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. the pain was too much. you couldn’t even muster the strength to argue, to insist that you were fine, that you could handle it. because the truth was…you couldn’t. not this time.

zoro’s expression darkened as he realised just how bad your condition was, his smirk immediately settling into a frown. “shit…this is bad, you can barely talk. damn it, why didn’t you say anything when i asked before?”

you blinked up at him, your body trembling with the effort of staying conscious. you prepared yourself to lie again, to maintain that tough exterior you spent so long cultivating, but looking into the swordsman's dark eyes, the way they felt like they truly saw you, made you melt. you could feel his stare make your stomach do flips, opening your floodgates all too fast. “i just didn’t… want to be a burden,” you admitted, your voice barely a whisper.

zoro’s grip tightened, his jaw clenching so hard you could see the muscles twitching in his neck. “a burden?” his voice cracked, raw with emotion. “you think we’d ever see you as a burden?”

his words cut through the haze, slicing through the pain and self-doubt that had been weighing you down for so long. you had always thought you needed to be strong, to never show weakness, but in this moment, zoro’s expression told you everything you had refused to believe.

he cared.

deeply.

“we’re getting you to chopper,” zoro said firmly, his voice a low growl as he scooped you up in his arms, holding you close as he carried you below deck. the battle raged on around you, but for the first time, you couldn’t bring yourself to care.

you were exhausted. broken.

as zoro carried you, his arms wrapped protectively around your limp body, you could feel his heart beating against your chest, steady and strong, a sharp contrast to the chaos and violence outside. you wanted to tell him you were sorry, that you’d been stupid, that you didn’t mean to scare him.

but all you could do was rest your head against his chest, your body too weak to fight anymore.

“don’t ever do that again,” zoro whispered, his voice rough with an emotion he rarely let slip. his grip on you tightened as if he was afraid to let go, afraid you’d disappear if he loosened his hold for even a second.

you blinked, your vision hazy and unfocused, but the raw emotion in his voice pierced through the fog clouding your mind. the world felt distant, the sounds of the battle muffled by the pounding in your head, but the warmth of his embrace - the way he held you as if you were something fragile, something all-too precious - was undeniable. zoro had never been one for softness, never one to show anything but strength, yet here he was, carrying you as if you were the most valuable thing in the world.

“i-i’m sorry,” you mumbled weakly, your voice barely above a whisper. it was all you could manage, but the apology burned at the back of your throat, thick with guilt and shame. you hated that you’d scared him, hated that you had been reckless enough to push him to this point.

zoro didn’t respond right away. his jaw was clenched so tightly you could see the tension in his neck, his eyes fixed ahead with an intensity that sent a shiver down your spine. you could feel the frustration radiating off him, a silent storm brewing just beneath the surface, ready to erupt at any moment. but he didn’t let it show. not yet.

“you don’t get it,” zoro finally muttered under his breath, so low you almost didn’t catch it. his voice was tight, as if he was barely holding back the flood of emotion threatening to break free. “you think we don’t care. you think i don’t care.”

your heart clenched at his words, guilt twisting like a knife in your chest. you’d never meant to make him worry. you’d never wanted to be a burden, to make him or the others feel like they needed to protect you. but hearing him say it, hearing the raw, unfiltered emotion in his voice, made it impossible to deny the truth any longer.

“i…” you started, but your voice cracked, and the words got caught in your throat. what could you say? how could you possibly explain the need to prove yourself, to be strong, when it had nearly cost you everything?

zoro didn’t look at you, his gaze still fixed straight ahead as he carried you down the stairs toward the infirmary. his arms tightened around you protectively, his body tense as if he was afraid you’d slip away if he let go for even a second. “you could’ve died, goddamnit.”

the words hung heavy in the air, suffocating in their weight. you had been close - too close. franky had pulled you back, but if he hadn’t...you shuddered at the thought.

you weren’t ready to die. you weren’t ready to leave your crew, your friends. and zoro��the thought of leaving him behind hurt more than the migraine ever could.

as if sensing your unease, zoro’s grip on you softened, his voice dropping to a quieter, more vulnerable tone. “you can’t keep doing this. you can’t keep pushing yourself until you break.” his words were slow, deliberate, like each one was a struggle to get out. “we’re a crew. we’re supposed to watch each other’s backs. and that includes you.”

his gaze finally flicked down to meet yours, and what you saw there made your breath hitch. his usual sharp, unreadable expression was gone, replaced by something raw and achingly open. his dark eyes were filled with something so deep, so intense, that it made your heart twist painfully in your chest. you had never seen him like this - unguarded, his walls stripped bare.

“i need you to understand,” he said, his voice rough, almost pleading. “i can’t lose you.”

the confession hit you like a punch to the gut. zoro, the strongest, most stoic man you knew, was admitting something you’d never thought you’d hear from him. it wasn’t just about the crew. this was personal. it was about you -about what you meant to him. and that realisation left you breathless.

you stared up at him, wide-eyed, struggling to process the weight of his words. “zoro…i didn’t…i didn’t mean to…”

“yeah, well, you did anyway,” he interrupted, his voice harsher now, though the vulnerability in his eyes didn’t fade. “you think i didn’t notice? every time you push yourself past your limits, every time you pretend like everything’s fine when you’re barely holding on…i see it. i see what you do. i see you.”

you swallowed hard, the lump in your throat growing tighter with every word. you hadn’t realised just how much he’d been paying attention, how closely he’d been watching. it made your heart ache, knowing that while you had been so focused on hiding your pain, zoro had been silently carrying the weight of his worry for you.

“why didn’t you say something earlier?” you mumbled through your pain, the words barely making it past your lips.

zoro let out a short, bitter laugh, though there was no humour in it. “would you have listened?”

you couldn’t answer that. deep down, you knew the truth. you had been so determined to prove yourself, so fixated on not being seen as a burden, that you had pushed away anyone who tried to help. even zoro.

especially zoro.

his gaze softened slightly, though his frustration still simmered beneath the surface. “i get it. you’re stubborn. you don’t want anyone to worry about you. but damn it, i can’t stand seeing you like this. you’re more than just another crewmate to me.”

your heart skipped a beat at that, the weight of his words sinking in. more than just another crewmate.

zoro’s expression tightened, his eyes flickering with something dangerously close to fear as he set you down gently on the infirmary bed. his hand lingered on your arm for a moment longer than necessary, as if he couldn’t quite bring himself to let go.

“chopper will take care of you,” he muttered, his voice rough and uneven. “just… don’t scare us like that again. don’t scare me like that again.”

your throat tightened, and you reached out, grabbing his hand before he could pull away completely. his eyes snapped back to yours, surprise flickering across his face.

“i really am sorry,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “i-”

“i don’t care about apologies,” zoro interrupted, though his tone had softened. he looked down at your hand holding his, and for a moment, you thought he might pull away. but instead, his fingers curled around yours, holding on with surprising gentleness. the action was quick, so smooth that you thought you had imagined it - but as you checked and saw your intertwined hands, your heart swelled. “just promise me you’ll stop pretending like you have to do everything alone.”

you nodded, tears stinging at the corners of your eyes. you hadn’t realised just how much you’d needed to hear those words, how much you’d been carrying on your own for so long. zoro wasn’t just scolding you for being reckless - he was asking you to let him in, to trust him.

“i promise,” you whispered, your voice barely audible, but the weight of the words was heavier than any sword you’d ever carried.

zoro’s grip on your hand tightened for just a moment, his expression softening in a way that made your chest ache. then, without another word, he let go, turning away as chopper bustled into the room with his medical supplies.

but before he left, zoro made a final pause at the door, his back to you. his voice, when he spoke, was so quiet you almost missed it.

“i need you here. with me. don’t forget that.”

and with that, he was gone, leaving you alone in the infirmary with chopper, your heart pounding and your mind racing. his words echoed in your head, each one a reminder of just how much you had been blind to, how much you had taken for granted.

you weren’t alone. you never had been. and it was time to start letting yourself believe that.

because one thing was clear: zoro needed you. and that knowledge, that unspoken truth, healed you in a way no medicine ever could.

── ౨ৎ masterlist