Week 1 | Saturday

[concasse]

[Where else is a chef going to find solace if not in the kitchen?

He's not even hungry, to be honest, but that doesn't stop him from pacing around and letting his hands distract him -- probably tea or some shit. Maybe a few biscuits on the side. Comfort food he won't take much comfort in.

It'd been a long day, okay?]

Comments

[fragileprophet]

[ :) ]

Oh well.

[OH...WELL.]

I'm just glad for the context, though I wish these stories weren't so...

[Does he even have to say it, really?]

[concasse]

[Honestly Sanji still wanted a million more minutes to stare into the void, but he supposes it's time to move on.]

Yeah, fairy tales tend to have that edge to 'em... much like the shitty wishing well.

[Sigh]

A read a bunch when I was a kid... 'course some had happy endings, but a lot of them... didn't.

[fragileprophet]

[There's plenty of time to stare in the void still tbh.]

Maybe this is our chance to give them new endings.

[Fon Master "I'm supposed to break myself into pieces" Ion, who's still banking on a peaceful, happy ending. Even after today. Some things just don't change.]

[concasse]

[That is so fuckin cheesy.

Sanji loves it, heh.]

New endings, eh? ... Can't say I mind the sound of that.

Let's say we keep you from breaking into a million pieces.

[Ion better not be surprised Sanji turned this back on him. He will be optimistic for his survival]

[fragileprophet]

Okay!

[He doesn't necessarily want to be broken into a million pieces, so that's a deal he can make. Ion reaches a hand out toward Sanji.]

Let's shake on it.

[concasse]

[Tch! Stop being so pure, this is upsetting.

Oh who are we kidding, he's grinning and immediately reaches out to shake the hand.]

Fine, it's a deal.

[fragileprophet]

[He absolutely cannot help that he is simply a pure boy.]

Whatever your story is, I'll keep you from an unhappy ending, as well.

[At least as much as he's capable, which granted, he understands isn't much. Especially since he's already promised Sanji he wouldn't use his power on him. His handshake is gentle, but it's full of warmth for such a small, pale hand.]

Now neither of us has to worry!

[concasse]

[... This kid, he swears.

Whatever, he's gonna ruffle Ion's bangs as if in revenge.]

Tch! Roger that.

[Turning back to his work in the kitchen]

C'mon, lemme make you something small. You hungry for anything? Or thirsty?

[fragileprophet]

[By Yulia, when was the last time someone ruffled his hair like he's an honest-to-God child? Well, he responds like an honest-to-God child automatically, his face flushing as he laughs and reaches up to fix his hair.]

Sure! I don't have much of an appetite in general, but I'd love to try anything you'd be willing to make, as long as it isn't too much trouble!

[concasse]

Ever had an omelette? Was thinking of making one myself... we could split it.

[Which sounds delicious to his ears, so he's going to start with that regardless, on the hunt for some vegetables in the fridge]

[fragileprophet]

That does sound really good! It's been a long time since I've had eggs.

[I, like, totally don't know what his eating habits are I just for some reason assume they make him eat vitamins and oatmeal??? Is that weird?]

What are you going to put in it?

[He's already watching with curiosity fluttering over his features. He gets to watch an expert Chef cook!]

[concasse]

You're not allergic, are ya?

[He certainly hopes not. Kinda puts a damper on the omelette thing if so]

And whatever you want -- though I'm thinking simple is best. Some green peppers, onions, avocado, tomato, and a bit of cheese...

[fragileprophet]

No--I don't think I have any allergies. My condition is mostly related to exhaustion.

[But he perks up. His enthusiasm is as pure as a boy half his apparent age.]

Those all sound good! Oh--is it okay if I ask you questions while you cook? Some of my companions would make meals for us while we traveled but I never really had much of a chance to actually observe like this!

[Watching someone make food in an actual kitchen is definitely different from fugitive-style campfires.]

[concasse]

Sure, ask away. I don't usually get many questions to answer.

[Because Luffy does not ask questions, he howls in Sanji's ear demanding he bend the laws of time to cook faster. Sanji will take Ion's curiosity any day.]

[fragileprophet]

Okay!

[He waits until Sanji's brought out the ingredients before he comes up with his first question.]

How do you cut an onion without crying?

[Truly, one of life's mysteries.]

[concasse]

Breathe through your mouth.

Or you can freeze the onion first, though I don't prefer it.

[SCIENCE TIME: Cooking edition]

When you cut up an onion, it produces a gas that irritates your eyes, so you start crying to get the shit out of it. If you breathe through your mouth, the gases are pulled in there and don't get a chance to burn your eyes.

[fragileprophet]

[!!!! Ion's whole face lights up.]

I didn't know that!

[I mean, obviously, but he's really happy to have learned.]

How old were you when you started cooking?

[That's less of an omelette question and more of just a Sanji question, but he's curious.]

[concasse]

When I was four.

[Looking amused at this energy suddenly being thrown at him. Ion, why so adorable]

Between you and me? Sucked at it. My hand was barely big enough to hold a knife.

[fragileprophet]

[That is really young.]

Did you always know it was what you wanted to do, even then?

[concasse]

Nah, took me a while to figure it out.

[...]

Technically I wasn't allowed to be a chef, so you could say I was going against my family's wishes.

[Ha. Ha. Ha.]

[fragileprophet]

Oh...I see.

[He deflates, just a little--but only because it's sad to hear that he had trouble with his family.]

Did they come around, at least?

[concasse]

[With a bright, amused smile as he begins the process of chopping up the tomatoes and green onions]

Not at all.

[fragileprophet]

Oh, no!

[He frowns. Sanji doesn't look put out, but he feels like he took a misstep and opened a door he maybe shouldn't have. After a pause, he tries to redirect.]

Well...in any case, I'm happy that you were able to pursue something that you're so passionate about. It's nice to see how you smile when you talk about cooking.

[concasse]

[Ion's not wrong to redirect. The sharpness of Sanji's smile abates and turns mild as he continues his work, only pausing to grab a frying pan from a cabinet and set that on the stove.]

Me happy?

[What a way to put it. He hums, as if he means to correct Ion. Eventually:]

I guess. But really, I became one because all people need food to survive, so might as well make it enjoyable for 'em, right?

There's nothing like a good meal to settle the soul, especially when nothing else seems to be going right.

[fragileprophet]

[What a strange way to put it. But Ion tilts his head as he thinks about it, a hand resting over his chin.]

With so many restaurants all over the world...that really must be true.

[He has no idea, honestly, but it's clear that he's thinking it over like it's some kind of a puzzle. See Ion: learning more about humans every day.]