Week 1 | Thursday

[concasse]

[Sanji is not a man to look frazzled often (his penchant for fiery theatrics aside), but Thursday does not seem to be treating him kindly. While often taking up post in the kitchen, right now he's in the Foyer, resting against a wall while massaging his temples.

Of course, upon noticing Ion nearby, he'll straighten, shelving his irritation or exhaustion or whatever it happens to be. There's a wave if not a smile]

Yo.

Comments

[fragileprophet]

[The air drains out of him, and whatever that was, illusion or reality, fades back to where it came from, and Ion's expression goes back to what it was: soft, easily rebuked, bordering helpless.]

I know...I wish...

[He laughs, he can't help it. Wishes.]

Well, I'd like it if things could be different. Rest assured that as long as my partner's livelihood depends on me, I wouldn't take on anything I thought would put him at risk as well.

[concasse]

[That's something, then, and Sanji can't help it either -- he visibly relaxes at the unspoken promise to look after his life. And after a moment, he'll sigh, glancing far off above Ion's head]

You remind me of my doctor, a little.

[Elaborating before Ion can ask the question:]

The reindeer I mentioned. His dream is to find a cure for every disease in the world.

[fragileprophet]

That's...a lofty, but admirable dream.

[Ion's smile loses a bit of that synthetic edge. It really is, it's beautiful.]

I'm no doctor, but suppose I can see the connection. All my life, I've wanted to use my position to make the world a peaceful place. I know that it's naive to expect that anywhere can be wholly free of strife, but just to think that there could be an end of suffering...that's something I'd give everything I had for.

[concasse]

Well, that's the thing about goals and dreams -- they're only impossible if you don't bother trying in the first place.

[It's not that Sanji's naive enough to think world peace will ever be in the cards, not while humans are humans, but why not strive for it? Why not try?

In this why, he can... understand why Ion does what he does.]