[In his own twisted way, Sanji is bound by honor and promises. It's why he so rarely gives either. But he said he'd listen to Baren speak, so this much he'll allow, offering up the occasional grunt or sigh of dissent, to show he's listening:
A smile for Mimori, because she's sweet and kind and everything Sanji loves about kids and teens. Twenty four hours? Fine, then he'll make sure to forgive and let live within a day.
A scoff at the "you matter to me" -- not because he doubts it at his core, but there's a mumbled "please don't" when Baren asks if that's what he's looking to hear daily. They'd combust, the two of them, sharing that much honesty.
... And then a pause when he's told what's the real mistake here, recognizing the dodge for what it is. Maybe Sanji's kinder than he thought, to not call Baren out on how he can't say a simple word. Maybe he really just wants a taste of that wine before they get any further into this conversation.
Eyes closed, deep breaths. He pulls the bottle from the fridge and hunts down a couple glasses]
I'm only saying this once, so listen up.
[Pouring while he speaks.]
My -- [my dad, my brothers, the shitheads who made me this way] -- my blood relatives did the same kind of shit sometimes -- pretended they weren't associated with me.
[His glass poured first, then Baren's. Within seconds, Sanji takes his own and shoots it down his throat in one swallow. Pours another. Damn, didn't even taste it...]
The only difference is you actually give a shit and they don't.
[Looking at Baren? That's off the table. Sanji keeps his gaze on the bottle and the wine, pretending he doesn't know how his fingers will crack glass if he clenches his fist any harder.]
... Not asking you to treat me like glass. Just-- reel it in a little, next time.
[Please do not reject him, he can't deal with it a second time.]
[Baren would pull that with most people. Pretend that he didn't know them if he didn't like them, if they hadn't made an impact on his life, would feign forgetfulness when it's almost a given that his memory is as sharp as a tack.
He thinks about that for a second, staring into the wine in his glass before throwing it back similarly.
If they're having this kind of conversation, he'll need more than that.
Hence why he'll slide his glass back over to Sanji, expecting.
. . . . ]
I've never needed to know that much about you. [It's not how much he knows that determines how much he likes a person - all that matters is that in this moment, he knows enough that he likes.] I still don't need to know more if you don't want to share.
... but you can't lose your shit on me for reasons I don't know about and expect me to take it.
[And because Baren's an annoying fuck, he'll slide himself on the counter closer to where Sanji is too, tilting his head to peer at his expression.]
I won't go anywhere.
[Even if Sanji does lose his shit.]
You're stuck with me - but the universe can probably only handle one of us being that shitty at a time.
[What a surprise, to find out Sanji's doesn't (can't) play fair in his own friendships. Of course he didn't tell Baren the reason why until this exact second.
It still took a lot of nerve for him to say that much, and for a brief pocket of time feels something like hurt cross his expression, too willing to assume that first statement is just another form of rejection. Old habits and all. You can't get hurt if you expect the blow somewhere.
But it isn't rejection -- "I won't go anywhere" -- and he... calms down. Enough that when Baren decides to be his usual flavor of asshole and peek at his face, there's only a flash of that vulnerability before Sanji is irritable again.]
Oh shove it. [No bite to his tone. Where did all his fire go? This is why he can't stand friendship.
He pours Baren his glass and slides it back to him.]
We're not the sharing and caring type, first off. And s'not like I didn't do fine for myself in the end.
[Gonna put that to bed immediately because Sanji will barf all over this counter if he so much as sniffs sympathy in the room.
...]
I didn't think it'd matter, so I never brought it up.
[No one would ever meet her, so he never brought her up. Baren talks about his twin sister naturally, even if he knows for almost a fact that no one will ever meet her. But when he doesn't expect his friends to meet each other, or his friends to ever meet his extended family, he sees no reason to mention it.
The same could be said about Baren's own past, which remains just as shrouded in mystery as Sanji's.
But even with a flash of vulnerability, it's enough for Baren to catch. So he sips on his wine glass for a moment before sighing.]
Look, Sanj.
I don't care to ask questions because I don't like answering them. But if you ask, I'll think about answering.
And if you think anything's worth telling me, I'll give a shit - because it's you. Not a pity thing, because if anything changed you wouldn't be you.
[And this version of Sanji is the one that Baren likes.
[Baren, did he not just say the two of you weren't caring and sharing type--
A few glasses of wine aren't nearly enough to loosen his tongue further, so Sanji's glance darts to the side instead, a little embarrassed... a little relieved, too. It's the latter that ends up being palatable in the air.
Sighing himself, he pours himself more wine, taking cues from Baren to nurse this one instead of demolishing it.]
Nah, there's nothing I wanna know. [That's a truth shared between them; Sanji doesn't need Baren's dirty past, or even much of his present, to make his own decisions. There's a reason Baren's allowed to crash on his couch most days]
... Didn't mean to put you in the doghouse with your cousin, though. [That, uh... he might actually be sorry about?]
It's when he somehow says the right thing despite just saying what he wants to say. Baren chooses to just focus on his drink then, worrying less about Sanji now that this seems to be cleared between them.
At the mention of Mimori though, Baren laughs, whether the timing is inappropriate or not. It breaks any of the tenseness he might feel, instead grinning easily. He loves the family he still has more than anything.]
Nah, Mimi's an angel. Don't know how we're related, really.
I'll probably buy her something nice to make up for all of this? She actually apologized to me - can you believe that? Ah, I'll have to get her something extra good.
[A snort of amusement on Sanji's end, but it's tinged with nothing but fondness and relief. He shakes his head a little] She apologized to me and then asked that I cut you some slack; not like you weren't being mean on purpose.
[It probably says plenty that a middle-schooler got the lesson Sanji didn't want to hear, but he'll cut it with the self-abasement for today. Still smiling, he brings the glass to his lips, tilting it until the liquid dances.
And then without answering immediately, glances in Baren's direction.
It's not from hesitance. Acceptance is already reflected in his expression, of a duty he would've taken on without Baren's asking. He's just thoughtful for now, considering what would keep Baren from taking care of a girl he so clearly loves.
... Eh. Thinking too hard. It'll be Sanji keeping down the fort until Baren shows up. He won't accept anything else.]
Of course I'm gonna.
[Smirking back into his drink]
Though no complaining when I'm first in line to kicking some shithead's ass.
[The fondness coming from Sanji manages to get the rest of the tension to drain from Baren's person entirely. He actually laughs at Sanji's remark, taking the smile from the other as an invitation to completely relax whether that's what it is or not. Even if it's not quite forgiveness, Sanji's smiling again - and even if it's not for him, Baren will take that as a victory.]
Oh fuck off, you'd know if I was really being mean on purpose.
[Easily, because he really didn't have a hint of malice toward Sanji at the time. Just a bad joke that sounded funnier to him at the time. An attack would be different. It'd be something more direct, more intensely personal - and he'd rather it never have to come to that.
This sort of thing is easier.]
Hah, first in a line of two - maybe three if my sister can make it.
Mimi hasn't met Z or anyone else I know yet, so far as I know.... so keep up the good impression, alright?
[It's one of the few times where Baren has to deal with the most important thing in his world - the scraps of family that he still holds dear - to actually interact with the other people in his life.]
[Sanji had eavesdropped on enough of that conversation to realize that no, Mimori really didn't know much about Baren's friends or lifestyle. A good choice, he thinks, but he hadn't taken the thought further, either -- less people to look after the girl should it become necessary. A faint frown appears on his expression.
Hn. No matter.]
Three's plenty.
[They'll take good care of her.]
And please, I'm a goddamn gentleman to anyone who isn't you. [A flash of a smile, his humor returning in full.] I'll take care of her.
[FAAAAKE!! But Baren's laughing at that, amused at the idea. Then again, he supposes he wouldn't know. He doesn't pay attention to many of Sanji's relationships outside of himself - and maybe Zoro, just out of necessity.
Maybe he is different around other people.]
Just be yourself, dipshit. She's good at spotting lies and you'll get scolded if you tell too many.
[Honestly -- Sanji just snorts, not bothering to get irritated, waving at Baren like he's a fly stuck in his hair. Of course he's different around others. As if anyone else really puts up with his wet feline attitude. He's kind to children, passably polite to most women, and as for everyone else--
Well, he's learned how to play nice in the sandbox, if only to keep shitheads from burning down his apartment.
So a gentleman? Absolutely. Even if it usually doesn't count for shit.]
Tch. Now that I believe. She's has plenty of practice by now.
[He downs his glass of wine again, only this time tasting the flavor, and smiling briefly for it.]
[The smile's good. Baren huffs out an offended breath at that even as he waves off the idea.]
What's this? Are you making rude remarks about my character? [A quirk of his brow and damn if Baren doesn't move on real quick with burying hatchets - ] Do I get to have a tantrum now?
[fucker still tests his luck, holding out his wine glass for a refillllll]
That didn't take long, did it? The smile wipes off Sanji's face as he sends Baren an unimpressed stare, swiping that wine glass from the other's hand. Shut up, he'll pour it in a second.]
You missed your shitty window. Go tantrum outside if you wanna.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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A smile for Mimori, because she's sweet and kind and everything Sanji loves about kids and teens. Twenty four hours? Fine, then he'll make sure to forgive and let live within a day.
A scoff at the "you matter to me" -- not because he doubts it at his core, but there's a mumbled "please don't" when Baren asks if that's what he's looking to hear daily. They'd combust, the two of them, sharing that much honesty.
... And then a pause when he's told what's the real mistake here, recognizing the dodge for what it is. Maybe Sanji's kinder than he thought, to not call Baren out on how he can't say a simple word. Maybe he really just wants a taste of that wine before they get any further into this conversation.
Eyes closed, deep breaths. He pulls the bottle from the fridge and hunts down a couple glasses]
I'm only saying this once, so listen up.
[Pouring while he speaks.]
My -- [my dad, my brothers, the shitheads who made me this way] -- my blood relatives did the same kind of shit sometimes -- pretended they weren't associated with me.
[His glass poured first, then Baren's. Within seconds, Sanji takes his own and shoots it down his throat in one swallow. Pours another. Damn, didn't even taste it...]
The only difference is you actually give a shit and they don't.
[Looking at Baren? That's off the table. Sanji keeps his gaze on the bottle and the wine, pretending he doesn't know how his fingers will crack glass if he clenches his fist any harder.]
... Not asking you to treat me like glass. Just-- reel it in a little, next time.
[Please do not reject him, he can't deal with it a second time.]
no subject
He thinks about that for a second, staring into the wine in his glass before throwing it back similarly.
If they're having this kind of conversation, he'll need more than that.
Hence why he'll slide his glass back over to Sanji, expecting.
. . . . ]
I've never needed to know that much about you. [It's not how much he knows that determines how much he likes a person - all that matters is that in this moment, he knows enough that he likes.] I still don't need to know more if you don't want to share.
... but you can't lose your shit on me for reasons I don't know about and expect me to take it.
[And because Baren's an annoying fuck, he'll slide himself on the counter closer to where Sanji is too, tilting his head to peer at his expression.]
I won't go anywhere.
[Even if Sanji does lose his shit.]
You're stuck with me - but the universe can probably only handle one of us being that shitty at a time.
no subject
It still took a lot of nerve for him to say that much, and for a brief pocket of time feels something like hurt cross his expression, too willing to assume that first statement is just another form of rejection. Old habits and all. You can't get hurt if you expect the blow somewhere.
But it isn't rejection -- "I won't go anywhere" -- and he... calms down. Enough that when Baren decides to be his usual flavor of asshole and peek at his face, there's only a flash of that vulnerability before Sanji is irritable again.]
Oh shove it. [No bite to his tone. Where did all his fire go? This is why he can't stand friendship.
He pours Baren his glass and slides it back to him.]
We're not the sharing and caring type, first off. And s'not like I didn't do fine for myself in the end.
[Gonna put that to bed immediately because Sanji will barf all over this counter if he so much as sniffs sympathy in the room.
...]
I didn't think it'd matter, so I never brought it up.
no subject
... what I thought too, about Mimi.
[No one would ever meet her, so he never brought her up. Baren talks about his twin sister naturally, even if he knows for almost a fact that no one will ever meet her. But when he doesn't expect his friends to meet each other, or his friends to ever meet his extended family, he sees no reason to mention it.
The same could be said about Baren's own past, which remains just as shrouded in mystery as Sanji's.
But even with a flash of vulnerability, it's enough for Baren to catch. So he sips on his wine glass for a moment before sighing.]
Look, Sanj.
I don't care to ask questions because I don't like answering them. But if you ask, I'll think about answering.
And if you think anything's worth telling me, I'll give a shit - because it's you. Not a pity thing, because if anything changed you wouldn't be you.
[And this version of Sanji is the one that Baren likes.
Fire and ice and all.]
no subject
A few glasses of wine aren't nearly enough to loosen his tongue further, so Sanji's glance darts to the side instead, a little embarrassed... a little relieved, too. It's the latter that ends up being palatable in the air.
Sighing himself, he pours himself more wine, taking cues from Baren to nurse this one instead of demolishing it.]
Nah, there's nothing I wanna know. [That's a truth shared between them; Sanji doesn't need Baren's dirty past, or even much of his present, to make his own decisions. There's a reason Baren's allowed to crash on his couch most days]
... Didn't mean to put you in the doghouse with your cousin, though. [That, uh... he might actually be sorry about?]
no subject
It's when he somehow says the right thing despite just saying what he wants to say. Baren chooses to just focus on his drink then, worrying less about Sanji now that this seems to be cleared between them.
At the mention of Mimori though, Baren laughs, whether the timing is inappropriate or not. It breaks any of the tenseness he might feel, instead grinning easily. He loves the family he still has more than anything.]
Nah, Mimi's an angel. Don't know how we're related, really.
I'll probably buy her something nice to make up for all of this? She actually apologized to me - can you believe that? Ah, I'll have to get her something extra good.
[And then easily, as if none of this happened:]
You'll take care of her when I can't, right?
no subject
[A snort of amusement on Sanji's end, but it's tinged with nothing but fondness and relief. He shakes his head a little] She apologized to me and then asked that I cut you some slack; not like you weren't being mean on purpose.
[It probably says plenty that a middle-schooler got the lesson Sanji didn't want to hear, but he'll cut it with the self-abasement for today. Still smiling, he brings the glass to his lips, tilting it until the liquid dances.
And then without answering immediately, glances in Baren's direction.
It's not from hesitance. Acceptance is already reflected in his expression, of a duty he would've taken on without Baren's asking. He's just thoughtful for now, considering what would keep Baren from taking care of a girl he so clearly loves.
... Eh. Thinking too hard. It'll be Sanji keeping down the fort until Baren shows up. He won't accept anything else.]
Of course I'm gonna.
[Smirking back into his drink]
Though no complaining when I'm first in line to kicking some shithead's ass.
no subject
Oh fuck off, you'd know if I was really being mean on purpose.
[Easily, because he really didn't have a hint of malice toward Sanji at the time. Just a bad joke that sounded funnier to him at the time. An attack would be different. It'd be something more direct, more intensely personal - and he'd rather it never have to come to that.
This sort of thing is easier.]
Hah, first in a line of two - maybe three if my sister can make it.
Mimi hasn't met Z or anyone else I know yet, so far as I know.... so keep up the good impression, alright?
[It's one of the few times where Baren has to deal with the most important thing in his world - the scraps of family that he still holds dear - to actually interact with the other people in his life.]
no subject
Hn. No matter.]
Three's plenty.
[They'll take good care of her.]
And please, I'm a goddamn gentleman to anyone who isn't you. [A flash of a smile, his humor returning in full.] I'll take care of her.
no subject
[FAAAAKE!! But Baren's laughing at that, amused at the idea. Then again, he supposes he wouldn't know. He doesn't pay attention to many of Sanji's relationships outside of himself - and maybe Zoro, just out of necessity.
Maybe he is different around other people.]
Just be yourself, dipshit. She's good at spotting lies and you'll get scolded if you tell too many.
[not at all speaking from experience]
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Well, he's learned how to play nice in the sandbox, if only to keep shitheads from burning down his apartment.
So a gentleman? Absolutely. Even if it usually doesn't count for shit.]
Tch. Now that I believe. She's has plenty of practice by now.
[He downs his glass of wine again, only this time tasting the flavor, and smiling briefly for it.]
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What's this? Are you making rude remarks about my character? [A quirk of his brow and damn if Baren doesn't move on real quick with burying hatchets - ] Do I get to have a tantrum now?
[fucker still tests his luck, holding out his wine glass for a refillllll]
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The asshole.
That didn't take long, did it? The smile wipes off Sanji's face as he sends Baren an unimpressed stare, swiping that wine glass from the other's hand. Shut up, he'll pour it in a second.]
You missed your shitty window. Go tantrum outside if you wanna.
no subject
Don't wanna!
I'm comfortable right here, thanks.
[probably too comfortable???? but well, this is the life sanji leads now.]