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]

[ 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!