Week 0 | Friday

[concasse]

[He didn't see Eichi around for the investigation. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, once all the bodies seem to be discovered and cased for the castle to see, but Sanji goes looking for him anyway. Kinda hard to quell nervousness unless he sees the evidence for himself.

He'll try Eichi's room first, but if that doesn't work, there's always the foyer, the kitchen... really, whatever room the other might be hiding in.]

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[concasse]

Remember, it's not like we're going be talking over a picnic. I expect everyone's gonna start lobbying threats at each other the moment emotions run high.

[Sanji folds his arms, voice steady but eyes never straying from Eichi, as if monitoring his condition]

So watch people then. There's a chance the culprit'll slip up under the pressure.

[finethanks]

That's right. Emotions can cause a variety of reactions in people, but there's almost always a sign of some sort. In order for there not to be, it would require some sort of intense training.

[Everyone has tells!!] Then, quietly, I'll watch everyone that I can. I hope that we're able to solve this.

[concasse]

["Hope for the best, prepare for the worst" is the creed every sailor lives by, but in Eichi's case, Sanji forces a softer variation, and gives the guy a gentle clap on the back.]

Deep breaths, positive thoughts. We gotta be prepared but stressing ourselves out won't cut it, either.

[finethanks]

[Even a gentle pat makes him twitch a little, like he's not used to anyone touching him at all. Most people are afraid to... and the ones who aren't are much more soft and cuddly than a bro pat on the back.]

...It's difficult not to be stressed. As student council president, tea club president, leader of my unit, owner of the entertainment portion of my parent's business... There's plenty that I control and work with, and stress at that level is something that I can handle, to a point.

But this is life or death, and my life is already something I've been told since birth could end any day. I don't know who to trust, since "trust" was never something I was taught to do.

[concasse]

... Shit, you got fingers in every pie. I should be asking you for tips.

[It's more a compliment than anything, Sanji's voice tinged with respect]

And oi, about you being sick... [Before, he'd walked around the issue, trusting Eichi to take care of his body. It's a little different now; there's a dead body in the castle and Sanji thinks distance isn't going to be the thing that keeps people alive here.]

Did you take medicine? To help manage the symptoms?

[finethanks]

Yes.

[He focuses on his illness, since he knows that's bound to come up in everything. He hates it, he hates it so much, but that's exactly why he talks about it so lightly. It feels like less of a weight on his shoulders, even as it's crushing him.]

I would see my doctor once a month, or more if necessary, and I would take medication to reduce the symptoms. Even with medication, things as simple as the weather or attempting to walk could set my body off, depending on my health for the day. It varies greatly.

Why do you ask?

[concasse]

Because I'm assuming you don't have that shit here.

[God. Why does everything gotta be so complicated? Sanji would think he'd be used to it by now, and huffs a sigh with his arms folded]

Tch, all I got is my cooking, which might reduce some discomfort in the short term, but...

[Just. Said casually? Like of course Sanji is going to do something about this, however small. S'not like it puts him out in any way.]

[finethanks]

You're right.

[Eichi stifles a few more coughs, frowning as he does.]

But... you're offering to try and help? [He heard that right?] Why?

[He asks it so genuinely, too. Why help him...]

[concasse]

Well, why not?

[Scoffing a bit]

You deserve an even chance here, too. S'not a big deal.

This is me evening the playing field.

[Yeah because it's not like he cares about Eichi's welfare.

Obviously.]

[finethanks]

...I see.

[Caring just for caring... That's what that is, isn't it?! He can see through that tsun, since there's no practical reason at all. Sanji just cares. Sanji is a good person... But that means he could be taken advantage of, so he's worried for him, too, now.]

In that case... I'm not meant to have much caffeine, but tea is a passion of mine. It helps me relax, and the tastes vary. I'm capable of making that for myself... so, with that, and to be blessed with your cooking whenever you'd allow it, I'd be happy.

[concasse]

... Alright. You got it.

[That simply. He wanted an answer, and Eichi gave him one. Sanji will work with what they have.]

Tea's got some nice healing properties to it, anyway... nothing that'll cure, unfortunately, but they're good for the body. Black tea's my favorite.

[finethanks]

I love black tea. Like earl grey? Fufu, normally it's someone else who makes the tea for me, but in your case, I could make some for the two of us.

[Special tea just for Sanji! Even if Emperor's don't do manual labor, he's been trying to work harder himself for a while.]

[concasse]

I wouldn't mind it.

[A smirk plays on his face.]

Might learn a thing or two from you about brewing good tea.

[finethanks]

Ah, I have a teacup from home, as well! I have a collection, you know, so it's one of a kind...

[Who cares about the cup... But it's fine, he will gladly brew Sanji a different type of tea every day. He knows just about every kind, the history and so on. Nerd.]

[concasse]

Aaah, that the item you got from home? More useful than my shit.

[Which were cigarettes and thus keeps Sanji from murdering anyone who annoys him, but he rather likes the sound of a one of a kind teacup]

[finethanks]

Really? Belph-kun had seemed unimpressed, and he was able to gain a piano, so I'm a bit jealous... But at the same time, I wouldn't be able to go on without tea.

[He smiles at Sanji, curious.] What was it that you got?

[concasse]

Cigarettes.

[All of his icons are a lie. Most of the time he doesn't have one. How he suffers.]

Terrible, shitty habit, but I can tell you it'd be a special kind of hell if I had to go through withdrawal in a place like this.

[finethanks]

[That's for the best, because even if Eichi won't tell him to stop if he does, he'll choke and die for the most part.]

Hmm. It's normal for adults to look for a vice like that, isn't it? Cigarettes, alcohol, sex... It may be bad for your health, but at least you're able to truly live. Isn't that right?

[concasse]

[That... earns somewhat of a chuckle.]

You wanna know the truth? I can't remember why I started... I was just a kid.

[Shaking his head]

Probably thought it made me look like an adult, and then like magic, people would take a scrawny kid more seriously.

[finethanks]

Fufu...

[That's his own soft chuckle, because imagining him as a kid smoking a cig? Jesus christ.]

That's not what I expected at all. Sanji-kun was actually quite cute as a child, then... [Eichi] But I can understand that desire. More than anything else, I'd like to be taken seriously, as well. Even now.

[concasse]

[Eichi plz. Not that Sanji will deny any of what he says (and he was, indeed, a really cute kid). Instead he arches a brow, snorting softly.]

Well, I won't speak for anyone else, but it's not like you've given me a reason not to take you seriously.

[finethanks]

Isn't my appearance enough? I'm a frail person who's clearly ill. I have a rather average face compared to those inhumanly perfect gods that I defeated at school, and I was absent so much in the first place that I was hardly known.

Of course, I ended up using that to my advantage... I believe I'm taken seriously now, since I was given that title of Emperor. But it also means I'm viewed as a tyrant. I suppose I went from one extreme to another.

[concasse]

[Sanji's... silent for a moment, considering Eichi's words. Yeah, he supposes it's stupid not to consider how others might view him, especially in the castle. The guy is frail, and that's the kind of impression that lingers.]

Do you plan on using that to your advantage here? You got a point -- chances are some shitheads'll underestimate you just based on your looks.

[finethanks]

It's all I have, so I do intend to use it in one way or another. As much as I'd prefer for things to go smoothly, without issue or conflict, when blood is required... then it's also required to think.

[He sighs.] Even then, it can't do me much. Even if I'm underestimated, I can be killed quite easily. It's a miracle I'm even alive.

[concasse]

Hn.

[Okay he knows there's no denying it, having thought the same himself. Even still, Sanji looks visibly displeased by the idea of Eichi dying]

This shit's so annoying... even staying locked in our rooms is no guarantee things'll go the way we want them to.

[finethanks]

It feels like a dungeon more than a room. Comfortable furniture aside... I don't feel comfortable at all.

[But he's also just lonely, so that doesn't help.] ...But Sousei-kun told me to have hope, no matter what happens. So, in each situation... I'll do my best to have hope and push forward, like always.

If I fight against death each day, then surely I can continue to do it here, right?

[concasse]

Sousei, eh? ... The guy's got a point. Whining won't help our cause.

[Hope is fragile, but it's all they've got for the moment.]

And when you say it like that, must mean you're one of the more capable survivors. You've lasted this long; wouldn't be surprised if you kept right on surviving.

[... Sanji hopes Eichi outlasts him, if it comes to that.]

[finethanks]

[Sanji you're going to make Luffy's ears burn thinking horrible things like that!! And Eichi would smack him for it, too.]

Fufu, I hope so. It turns out that I'm not ready to die, after all. I'd like to survive alongside you.

[concasse]

[...]

Well, here's hoping then.

[Yeah... here's hoping.]

Anyway, don't worry too much about missing the investigation. Just make sure you're ready for tomorrow.

[finethanks]

I will be. I'll do my best.

[DON'T DIE SANJI Eichi will riot. But yes, the trial... he'll do his best!!]

I'll see you then, so please get some rest when you can.