Week 0 | Sunday Post Execution

[concasse]

[After that execution? Sanji needs a stiff drink and a cigarette. Yeah, he only has half a pack left at this rate, but if there was ever a time to flood his system with nicotine, it's now.

Though once he's settled and calmer, he's got a few rounds to make. His sense of principles lead him to the civilians first -- anyone he worries might've been spooked by that grim reminder of the stakes.

So wherever Veronica is at, he'll hopefully find, waving cheerfully but a lot more quiet than his usual, syrupy displays]

Oi, Veronica-chan, got a minute?

Comments

[asswipe]

[Luckily for Sanji, Veronica won't be too hard to find. He'll spot her exiting the kitchen, dabbing her face with napkins and looking a little bit like she might have just poured a whole glass of water all over her head.]

Oh, yeah. Sure. I got a minute. I've got all the minutes, in fact. [Because they're trapped here, ba dum tshh.]

[concasse]

... A-are you doing alright?

[He's not going to tell someone how to cope but yikes, girl.]

[asswipe]

As alright as anyone can be after that, I guess. [... Said like she isn't still visibly drying herself off.

Spilling water on herself is a very tame and healthy coping method. Probably.]

What about you? How are you feeling?

[concasse]

Getting by.

[He won't lie and say he's feeling like sunshine, no need to disrespect the dead.]

... Shit could've been worse, so I'll be thankful for that.

[asswipe]

It could've. [Parroting back, bobbing her head up and down in agreement. She's... weary.]

We got lucky that someone decided to save Jae-ha and Sousei.

[concasse]

Mm. Be nice if we knew who that was.

[Because assuming the same thing happens -- and it will -- that means another pair of partners will be on the chopping block. Sanji rubs at his neck]

I thought it'd be our hosts... but maybe it's one of us?

[asswipe]

... That's what I assumed, yeah.

[The way Dragon phrased it made it seem like she was trying to preserve someone's anonymity, so...]

We all have a title and a "gift." What if one of those gifts is saving the partnerless from getting executed?

[concasse]

Then ideally, we wouldn't have to worry about the partnerless.

[He says, without sounding convinced at all.]

[asswipe]

Ideally. But we don't know what the rules behind a gift like that would be.

[concasse]

I admit, my biggest worry is it's a power you can only use once in a while.

And then -- if there's an odd number of partnerless, someone's gonna die.

[asswipe]

Yeah... We're in the middle of a war. A "gift" that lets you save the partnerless whenever and without any catches sounds too good to be true.

[concasse]

Exactly. Can't imagine our hosts being that benevolent.

[Shaking his head]

Well, we'll find out eventually. Until then we got another week ahead of us.

[asswipe]

Another week of living in fear of death. Hooray for us.

[DRYLY.]

[concasse]

Oi now, we'll go crazy in that case.

How about this, I'll make ya your favorite meal one of these days!

[asswipe]

I think it's too late to worry about people losing their marbles, after, um... Murder.

[but she huffs out a laugh at that, even if it's a bit humorless.]

If you know how to make a pâté, go for it. But you really don't have to.

[concasse]

... I've never heard of that one before...

[Sorry Veronica, you have his full attention. LEANING FORWARD]

Oi, what's it made of?

[asswipe]

It's... liver shoved in a food processor?

[Her mom does all the cooking. She's bad at this, but—]

I can write the recipe down for you if you want it.

[concasse]

[SPARKLING AT HER]

If you don't mind!

[asswipe]

Have something to write on? If not, I can just grab a napkin.