"Ever wonder about Luffy's intelligence sometimes?" Usopp mused as he tinkered on the deck. "n-Not that he's stupid or anything, just..."

"Dense?" Zoro offered, eyes closed for a nap. "Really really dense?"

"Well, what's that saying?" Nani joined in. "I'm rubber, you're glue, what ever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you.-?"

"He is known as a 'Rubber Man'." Chopper Agreed.

"That's something I've wondered, though." Nami mused. "Isn't gum usually sticky?"

There was a slight pause as everyone attempted to imagine Luffy sticky and stretchy.

Sanji looked pained. "I'd never get him out of the kitchen..."

-fin-

"How long has he been at this now?"

"A little over three hours."

"... Baka."

"He can't win, you know."

"Why not? He's the Ship's Staring Contest Champion."

"Fish don't have eyelids."

"You're kidding."

"Nope."

"I'm not going to be the one to tell him."

"YATTA!! I won!! Hee!"

"... Impossible!"

"No way!"

"This I've got to see."

"...."

"...."

"...."

"...."

"This fish... has eyelids."

"It didn't before!"

"It looks sort of relived to have lost..."

"Maybe it grew them on purpose?"

"To lose a Staring Contest to Luffy?!

"They do say on the Grand Line anything is possible..."

-fin-

Written after noticing that in the anime, Luffy doesn't blink. Unless he's just waking up. The rest of the time, no blink.
*staaaaaaaaaaaare* ^^;;

"I think we should name the mast 'Moogie'."

This announcement was made by Zoro, startling the rest of the Going Merry crew. The swordsman wasn't usually one to start up conversations.

Sanji took a thoughtful drag on his cigarette. "Why?"

"Cause Usopp always hugs it like it's a baby blanket when ever there's trouble." The smirk was obvious.

"I do not!" The handyman protested loudly.

The ship abruptly bounced on a large wave, causing the crew to grab on to what ever they could for support.

And Usopp clinging to the mast.

"'Moogie's good."

"What about 'Boo-boo'?."

"I like 'Binkie'..."

-end-

"Ready, Chopper?"

"Ready!"

A vegetable was thrown in the air.

Blades flashed, sunlight sparkling on them as they danced through the air.

The vegetable landed in a basket, then fell into evenly cut slices.

"How big?"

"Uh... 1.5 centimetres."

"Damn. Trying for 1 centimetre even. Again?"

"Okay!"

A vegetable was thrown into the air.

"What are they doing?" Nami paused her perusal of the skyline to watch Chopper tossing vegetables into the air and Zoro slicing them before they hit the ground.

"Oh, them?" Usopp glanced over. "Sword Practice or helping Sanji with supper, depending on which one you ask."

-fin-

“This one?”

Luffy was infamous among his crew for his blunt honesty. He wouldn’t lie. Period.

“...No.”

Which Nami never really thought about to until one day when he checked her forehead for a fever because her shirt colour made her look a bit pale.

“How’s this look?”

Which was interesting, because Sanji had complemented her looks that same morning.

“Okay.”

This led to a bit of a brainstorm, and a new development in Nami and Luffy’s relationship.

“This?”

She now brought him along when she went clothes shopping.

“Good. Nami? Can we go now?”

“Just a few more…”

*Groan*

-fin-

Zoro was fast asleep, green head dozing away on kitchen table.

Which was surrounded by several large leafy green cabbages.

That Sanji was currently in the process of dicing up for tonight's dinner with his usual calm unhurried flair.

Nami took one look at the situation as she passed by the door and covered her mouth to cover a snicker. "Oh, that's just asking for trouble!" She chortled.

"What?" Ussop wanted to know, craning his neck around her to see. "Ooh. Think we should warn them?"

"Nah." She grinned. They'd survive the impending quarrel. Probably. "Let them have their fun."

-fin-

"Luffy-sense?" Chopper echoed in awe. "Like radar?"

"Exactly." The Storyteller nodded wisely. "C'mon, I'll show you."

The troublemakers slipped forward, crouching down to watch Zoro and Luffy rest in their usual places.
"Wait for it..." Usopp grinned as they waited.

Luffy eventually jumped off his perch and wandered towards the kitchen. Usopp winked at Chopper.

"Oi, Zoro!" He called. "Where's Luffy?"

"He's on his perch."

"Gotcha! He's-" Usopp was cut off mid-cheer by Chopper drawing his attention to the bow of the ship.

Where Luffy was sitting.

Zoro smirked. "He WAS in the Kitchen."

"Eh?" Zoro raised an eyebrow.

"Well, there's that tropical shirt," Usopp counted off on fingers. "The winter clothes from the Drum guard, in fact, the only clothing I know for sure you didn't steal is the stuff we wore in Alabasta because Sanji bought our disguises."

Zoro shifted nervously. "No, I, uh, stole those too." He admitted.

"Ehh?!"

"I bought that robe for me." Sanji deadpanned.

-fin-

Don't know if he actually stole the robe from Sanji, but makes for an interesting idea doesn't it?
Course, now the Voices are wondering why Sanji would -let- him... o_O

Sanji and Zoro smirked from their positions, realising his target was out of reach. Nami cheered from the sidelines as Luffy watched silently.

Chopper strained, stretching his left front hoof to reach his goal. With a muffled grunt, he suddenly transformed into his larger man-beast form.

Zoro and Sanji went flying.

"I did it!" Chopper cheered in disbelief.

Then lost his balance and fell.

"Yatta!" Luffy cheered, limbs snapping back into place. "I win again!"

Sanji glanced over at Zoro. "Remind me why we play Twister with them?"

-fin-

10

Sanji.

Works over the hot stove most of the day. Smells of sweat, spices and fire.

Zoro.

Lifts weights and practices swordsmanship on the deck. Reeks of stale sweat.

Usopp.

Works with volatile chemicals that sometimes explode. Carries a charred scent with him.

Chopper.

Cold-weather reindeer in a warm climate. Smells like over-heated fur.

Luffy.

Sprawls in the sun, fights over food and laughs a lot. Still manages to stink.

Seven crew members on a small wood ship.

One shower.

There were times Nami got the urge to throw them all overboard and toss a bar of soap after them.

-fin-

Poor Nami... she's the only girl on a ship full of guys. -well, until Robin comes along. *grin*