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[concasse]

"Sanji" Vinsmoke

Oi. Make it quick, will ya?

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

Comments

[fabrefactions]

Oh... so you didn't just remember everything at once, it's been filtering through in stages?

[ ... He's only heard of skillsets coming back mostly intact - things like languages, for example.

Well he's learned by now that cooking is a form of art in and of itself, so building doesn't sound like a strange verb to him. ]

[concasse]

[At that, Sanji's hands slow, tossing the salmon like it's a salad to make sure all the surfaces are coated. He gives a little hum]

Y'know what, I can't tell.. maybe it was always there, but I didn't know until I went looking for it.

[It's difficult to express just how massive his past life's techniques were. In that way, it is like recalling a language, except one that's utilized in very specific instances.]

In any case, thought this one would pair pretty good with the chicken. [Light vs dark in both appearance and taste.]

[fabrefactions]

Do you feel happier, the more you remember?

[ He sets the plates down at the table, half watching where he's putting them, but also watching as Sanji tosses and chops and plates. Like his hands have always known what to do. ]

I leave the taste planning up to you, but it certainly sounds delicious.

[concasse]

[That question makes him stop moving entirely.

-- But only a beat, and then he's back to it, body naturally swaying in time with the constant drum of kinetic movement. At one point, he reaches over to pluck an unmarinated piece of salmon from the bowl, held over his shoulder so Chou can nibble on it]

"Happy"... that's probably stretching it.

[Another hum. He scoots the closest plate over, patting down the middle section with a bed of rice.]

I mean, can't deny it's kinda nice having all of it shoved in my head, but... [And then a shrug coupled with a thoughtful frown. He's not upset; it's just difficult voicing how nebulous it all feels]

Oi, can you take the princess and give her another salmon bit? I don't want her falling into the plates.

[fabrefactions]

... is there a reason you shouldn't feel happy about it?

[ Oh. Well, Yusuke stops adjusting plates or whatever he was doing to pluck Chou from Sanji's shoulder. She mrowls and tries to dig her claws in, but Yusuke is quick to carefully unhook them and tuck her neatly into the crook of his arm. Leaning around Sanji to grab a morsel of salmon for Chou to nibble on. ]

And you keep trying to tell me she isn't spoiled.

[concasse]

Salmon's good for her! [A dismissive wave of his hand as he grins at Yusuke leaning around him] It's me taking an active interest in her diet.

[The wide smile settles into a muted tilt of his lips after that. As he chatters, the man plucks up a pair of chopsticks and begins slowly lining the chicken bits over the rice, creating a spiral pattern in the process.]

Well, s'not like I earned this shit. I didn't spend years working my ass off to become a chef. [Just the truth as he sees it. Once the the chicken's been placed to his liking, Sanji wipes his hands on a towel tucked into his pants before continuing to the salmon.] It's not really mine, so no point getting a big head over it.

[fabrefactions]

I see.

[ His tone of voice is heavily laced with implication he hears your bullshit, Sanji, doesn’t believe it, but will indulge it nonetheless. Chou meows as soon as she spots the fish and puts two and two together and realise she is getting a snack, quieting only when she is fed the scraps of fish from Yusuke’s hands. ]

I think it’s good to enjoy it, regardless. It would be more of a shame to not make use of what you have, and if you enjoy it then where’s the harm? Besides, I’m rather partial to your cooking now. If you stopped I would be very put out.

[ Both of these statements are the truth, tbh. ]

[concasse]

[Way to feed his ego there. His subtle smile slips back into its smirk, tempered only by the slight drum of of embarrassment in his chest. He's uh, not used to be complimented. About anything.

Emotions are weird. After clearing his throat, moving on. Around the mound of rice and chicken, he begins placing pieces of salmon until it creates a circle, and then feathers slices of avocado and cucumber between the pink cubes.]

Oi, I didn't say I was gonna give it up. It's kinda addicting. [As Yusuke can clearly see with Sanji choosing not to dump the food onto the plate, but carefully craft a more visually appealing entree.\ And I can't bake worth a shit, so... maybe I should work on that.

[fabrefactions]

[ Tough. Yusuke lays his compliments down heavy.

He watches as Sanji places the food neatly around on the plate - seeing the way he picks and chooses where to put them and the way the colour is laid out. ]

Good. You shouldn't give up on something that you enjoy. [ He tilts his head. ] Do you enjoy baking? Even if it's a struggle.

[concasse]

"Struggle" is underselling it.

[SCOFF]

You never got a chance to taste my birthday cake when me and Usopp tried to make it, did you?

[fabrefactions]

I didn't. I heard some of the commotion about it though. I take it "not great" is an understatement...?

[concasse]

Baren made me try it and I nearly died.

[This might be a dramatization...]

[fabrefactions]

That sounds a little intense.

[ Hmm. ]

It was that... [ No nice way to phrase this, really. ] ... bad?

[concasse]

[Wiggling his fingers at Yusuke, covered in marinade sauce]

The shit of nightmares, I'm telling ya.

You never got to try my food when I couldn't cook worth a damn. But remember the burnt mac and cheese?

Like that, but in cake form.

[fabrefactions]

[ Yikes. ]

I see. So... interesting, but using the term in a loose way.

Did you want any help practising? I'm no gourmet, but I've seen Haru bake plenty of times, and done a little myself.

[concasse]

[... Huh, there's a thought. Sanji slows his progress again -- he's on the second plate by now, also layering the cucumbers and avocado until they create a crescent moon -- turning the idea over his head until he finally breaks into a grin]

Alright. Just be warned, I really am shit at it.

[Can't repeat that too many times, he figures.]

And almost done, just gonna put the finishing touches on this shit.

[fabrefactions]

I will find the simplest thing I can, and we can try that.

Ah...

[ He leans over a little to see the full picture, closer to its completed form. Considering he is looking at food... it is beautiful, as delicate in colours and hues as a watercolour. He almost wants to paint it but that would be weird. ]

Is there anything else I can do?

[concasse]

[Please don't paint over his food, that would indeed be kinda weird.]

Mmm. [Nearly done, Sanji pulls up into a full stand and glances about the kitchen.] Just grab some wine glasses, and-- [A pause, before he glances over his shoulder]

Wait, do you even like wine?

[Ah shit. He didn't think that part through.]

[fabrefactions]

[ He is not going to paint over the food. ]

...

I suppose we will find out? My mother is not a big alcohol drinker, so I've never really been one myself.

[ And we don't talk about the kind of drinks that get thrown together at house parties. They are usually Not Wine. ]

[concasse]

[Say what you want about Sanji but he prefers a bit of class with his meals. A food snob in the making]

Guess we will. I prefer mine dry so if you got a sweet tooth, you might not like 'em.

[Dessert wines are the bane of his existence, especially the ones determined to drown you in sugar.

But regardless, Sanji has finally finished his creations: the bed of rice and chicken surrounded by a half moon of avocado, cucumber, and seasoned salmon, all topped with a garnish of green onion. Briefly he wonders if he went overboard with the presentation, it seems a little cheesy, but doing any less wouldn't have satisfied.]

Oi, let's take these to the table.

[fabrefactions]

[ Yusuke has an everything tooth, so maybe this will work out. ]

And dry wine goes well with...? [ Because they've got chicken and fish here, so he really can't make a guess. ]

Are you balancing a cat as you go? [ As adorable as it is to watch. ]

[concasse]

[Yusuke you fool, don't get him started on this topic--]

With the right flavor? Just about anything.

[Can you hear the French snobbiness seeping through his tone? He smirks while balancing the two dishes in his hands + plus a cat on his shoulder because he has no chill.]

I got a chilled Pinot Noir in the fridge -- light red wine, pairs well with seafood. The best of those grapes come all the way from the Burgundy region of France.

[fabrefactions]

[ Look, he's just going to... take the cat. Just in case. Chou mewls and pads his shoulder. ]

... I see. [ Yes, there is the hint of snobbishness coming through there good sir. ]

So you're focusing on pairing something with the fish, rather than the meat. Is there anything that pairs with chicken...?

[concasse]

[Wow, rude? He could've made it to the table with a hungry cat on his shoulder.]

Of course there's shit that pairs with chicken. [Clucking his tongue as he starts setting the table.] Though a good rule of thumb is pair with spices when they're heavy, pair with the meat when they're not.

So in this case, better to pair with the fish since the chicken's got ginger in it.

[fabrefactions]

[ Sure, dear. ]

... This is far more complicated that I first expected. [ Layers, like an onion. ] I would have no idea where to start with colour, let alone what works with different meats and spices.