Week 0 | Saturday Post-Trial

[concasse]

[... To be fair, Sanji isn't actually expecting to dodge Natsuo, but god, he is still hoping maybe he can slip into the kitchen, make himself some tea, and then promptly make himself scarce before the kid corners him.

The concern over his smoking habits? Appreciated, but unnecessary. If Sanji dies from lung cancer he's got no one to blame but himself, though those odds are pretty slim. Pirates aren't known for their long life spans.

Those thoughts aside, he's in the kitchen like he always is, so if Natsuo's got a bone to pick, the most obvious room is the correct one to find the chef in.]

Comments

[randori]

[ Good. He lets his arms fall from either side of him and goes ahead and takes his usual seat at the stool behind the island counter, letting his arms lie across the entire surface of it and enjoying the cold stone on his face. ]

...We were talking about the armor and puppets and string and stuff, and then you just left. I was scared you were guilty of something.

[concasse]

[Ha! That earns a bark of a laugh from him.]

Between you and me, if I were guilty, I don't think I could keep up the ruse for long. S'not really in my nature to deny shit like that.

[Doesn't make much of a pirate for it, but eh.]

No, I... just suspected someone else.

[Shaking his head] But I didn't want to offer up names until I was sure, and turns out I was dead wrong. Thank the seas for it.

[randori]

[ It's the same with Natsuo. He can count on his hands the number of times people had to jump in and cover for him today because he'd say something truthful but damning, very obvious in the way that he isn't very good at lying or pretending or keeping things to himself. ]

Suspecting... for moving the armor? We never found out who did it, right...?

[ or are things still being threaded, idk ]

[concasse]

Yeah, you mentioned it might not be magic, could always be string of some sort.

[He turns, refilling a kettle with water before it's placed on the stove to heat for a few minutes]

Reminded me of someone, is all. [Shaking his head]

But whoever moved the armor wasn't the murderer.

[randori]

Someone who can sew...? Dazai?

[ He thinks Dazai can sew, anyways; the guy seems preoccupied with clothes sometimes, having confiscated Natsuo's shoes and now all he's got to wear are a pair of dirty socks that probably tracked some dirt into the kitchen, sorry Sanji for defiling the place. ]

What'd the point of that? Trying to confuse us or make us run out of time?

[concasse]

Tch, if it was Dazai, I would've thrown his name in the air and let everyone dogpile on him.

[SORRY DAZAI not a lot of people like you, and Sanji is in that category]

... But that's the mystery. That shitty armor was first seen in the armory, right? And so was the murder weapon. I thought that maybe its job was to distract us so we wouldn't find who did it.

[randori]

Wait, first- What did Dazai do?

[ That's more hostility towards him than Natsuo had expected. He and Dazai didn't always see eye to eye, but he wouldn't have throw him to the wolves. ]

Dave told me to be more wary around people, so if there's anything that's not trustworthy about people, I need to know! I won't be able to figure it out by myself!

[concasse]

Well, it's...

[how to even explain this?]

I just don't like him, first off -- and it's fine if you and him get along. But I'm wary of bastards who'll be that openly petty. He voted for Ion, after all, knowing damn well the kid was innocent, just so he wouldn't have to vote for Sharpay-chan.

[Rubbing the back of his neck, he glances sideways, checking the kettle -- hot, but not whistling yet]

Imagine if the vote had been tied and it came down to him. Someone could hang not on the truth, but however he's feeling. So I'm gonna be careful around him from now on.

[randori]

[ There's a brief punch to the gut when Natsuo remembers his own outburst about Ion saying that he's guilty and actually believing him, the sarcasm having gone right over his head. But in the end, Natsuo had voted for Sharpay too, never thinking of the possibility of putting down somebody else's name out of spite and personal satisfaction, just because nobody will ever know and it won't hurt anybody in the long fun. ]

That's... that wouldn't be fair at all. If votes are tied, or if we don't know who did it at all, voting for somebody you hate so you can get rid of them, that's not fair!

[concasse]

It ain't fair, and that's why I can't deal with that asshole.

[Because Sanji's moral are ironclad, pirate or not. And Ion -- Ion's a kid, for shit's sake, one of the few people here who wouldn't hurt anyone. It'd taken all he had not to strangle Dazai for his stunt.]

... In any case, you need to calm your shit during trials! I don't want you making a mistake just because you weren't thinking!

[randori]

Ugh—!

[ Sanji isn't the first one who'd turned to him and scolded him first thing; it's why it took him so long to shake people off and get to the kitchen. ]

Sorry!? There's no mistakes though! I didn't kill anybody and I didn't do anything wrong, so there was nothing to hide!

[concasse]

I know you didn't.

[Natsuo isn't built for that level of sabotage]

Honestly, your straightforward way of going about shit might be a benefit long term. I just don't want you accidentally shooting yourself in the foot.

[randori]

[ He's not smart enough, you mean. If he's approached to murder one week, he'd probably just end up stabbing somebody in broad daylight in front of the entire crowd. ]

Is that a good thing...? Straightforwardness. I can't tell. But I think if everybody says what they mean and follows through with everything they say, it'd make things a lot easier for everybody. It's a lot harder to hide things, than it is being honest.

[concasse]

... No, straightforwardness isn't a bad trait.

[Mouth picking up briefly.] Reminds me of my captain, actually. He doesn't give a shit about hiding his thoughts or feelings, either.

But that's not how the world works. People are more likely to hide what they think, and that's why you stand out.

[randori]

Ugh- and that's standing out in a bad way?

[ Someone who says what he thinks, does what he wants, blunt and straightforward and a very bad liar. He's been told again and again that these things will all work against him, but changing who you are is hard. ]

I don't think I can do it any other way. I'd feel bad if I lie, and if I had to withhold things from people, that's all I'm going to be thinking about until I let something slip. Maybe I should just not talk?

[concasse]

I'd be damned impressed if you managed five minutes without saying a word.

[Sanji is not holding his breath for that miracle, however, and smirks.]

Instead of lying or withholding, just be certain what you're sharing is necessary. It's not really withholding if no one needs to know, right?

[Rubbing his jaw]

Like any ability you might've gotten from our hosts. You're not blabbing about that shit, so you can keep information to yourself when there's a need for it.

[randori]

[ He has to press a fist against his mouth to keep himself from talking, but he still mumbles around that because, yeah, it'll be so hard for him to not talk. ]

I've already talked to people about that, though... [ He blabbed about it the first week... The fact that Sanji doesn't know means that the people Natsuo had spoken to at least had the good graces of keeping it to themselves, for now. ]

Can I ask you? If you had to not speak for a week, how would you do it?

[concasse]

[... Of course he told other people.

Of course he did.

Sanji isn't sure what he was expecting. Lord.]

For a shitty week? ... Unless I was held at gun point, ain't gonna happen. [And honestly Sanji would just dare a fucker to shoot him out of spite.]

Maybe carry a napkin or a piece of cloth, and each time you feel the itch to say something no one should know, mutter it into that instead.

[randori]

[ Mumbling into a cloth won't blot out all his words though, especially if it's right in front of somebody— he only ever feels like talking when he's with other people, after all, quieter when he's alone but nobody ever sees that. ]

No, I mean like... if you're not allowed to say anything at all, not even muttering. If you had to do that for a week, and if you can manage it, maybe something good'll happen...

[ ...this isn't subtle. It isn't at all. ]

[concasse]

[... STARING.]

Your task is to shut up for a week?

[BLURTING IT OUT, he can't help it. Holy shit, that's so cruel.]

[randori]

SHH!! SHHHHH!!! DON'T SAY IT OUT LOUD!!!

[ Even though he's. the loud one.
hand flying up to cover Sanji's mouth, please shut up ]

I'm asking for advice, that's it!

[concasse]

[There's no nice way to tell Natsuo that the mods God hates him, so he'll do nothing upon having his mouth covered, just staring at the other sadly.

... Though if he wants advice, eventually gonna have to free his mouth, buddy]

[randori]

[ ...He'll lift his hand away, but just barely so that it's still hovering close enough to clamp back over Sanji's face if he starts shouting again. ]

What would you do...?

[concasse]

Hide in my room for a week.

[... Well, he asked.]

Except you got a roommate so that won't work. At best you could ask 'em not to talk to you for a while, but...

[Sorry Natsuo. He does not have faith.]

[randori]

[ Yeah, Dave's a chatterbox once you get him going, so that won't work. ]

What if I hide in your room but you don't talk to me 'cause you know I can't?

[concasse]

If it was just my room, I wouldn't care, but my asshole partner'll ask questions.

... He's not stupid, either. He'll figure out what you're trying to do.

[randori]

Who's your partner...?

[ It might not matter who, really; almost everybody in the castle has heard from Natsuo one way or another, and him not screaming for five minutes is bound to draw suspicion. ]

We can just say I don't feel like talking. I can pretend to be mad or some— no, I yell when I'm mad. Sad? Do people go quiet when they're sad?

[concasse]

Zelos.

[Said with a bit of contempt. GUESS WHO DOESN'T GET ALONG WITH HIS PARTNER? But that aside, he'll sigh at Natsuo's insistence.]

Yeah, some people get quiet when they're sad. It's still gonna be hard on ya -- what do you expect to do during a trial? You gotta be there, and everyone's gonna assume talking to you is fine. Shit, they might get weirded out if you're mute the entire day.

[randori]

[ He likes Zelos!! He likes a lot of people. And he's sure Zelos likes Sanji too— they're coming for him in that other thread ]

I don't have to talk during a trial! I can't help figure anything out anyways, so it's fine if I don't talk... and if someone tries to make me talk, I'll give you permission to knock me out.

[concasse]

[Natsuo SLOW DOWN]

Oi oi oi, that'll put me on trial!

You realize most everyone here likes you, right? They might get pissed off at me taking a foot to your head!

[randori]

[ Has Sanji not seen the CR chart? The common consensus is that Natsuo is too loud and too stupid. Absolutely nothing endearing about him.

Case: this dumb grin that spreads across his face ]

People really like me? They'll condemn you for my sake? Heh, I'd kinda like to see that...

[concasse]

[TOO LOUD AND TOO STUPID BUT LIKE THAT DUMB SIBLING YOU CAN'T HELP BUT TOLERATE.

... Or maybe that's just Sanji.]

Tch. How about this -- tie something around your mouth for a week.

I'll say it's because of a bet with me, and you're determined to win. Most of the people here'll buy it. If they're suspicious, I'll add it's a way to keep you from derailing the next trial.

[randori]

Oh- that's actually pretty smart! That would actually work!

[ It takes into account both childishness and gentle derailment! ]

But not yet— there's stuff I want to talk to other people about still, so not yet!

[concasse]

Alright, aright. Just lemme know when you wanna start.

[He cannot believe he got roped into this crazy scheme]

[randori]

Yeah! I'll let you know everything later! Thanks again for the advice, I think it's actually possible now!