concasse | Luceti Appointments Post

[No, it doesn't look like Richard's ever going to enjoy himself, or not for a long while at the very least. Sanji doesn't even need to look at the young king to know as much, when his conversation with Naoki told the chef all he needed to know.

He supposes he's lucky, in a way. His friendship with Naoki will forever be sorely missed, but time has dimmed his investment, and cooled his feelings. It's easy enough to treat this new teen like the stranger he is. But for Richard...

Needless to say, Sanji doesn't expect the man to come in for work anytime soon. So it's with surprise in his eyes that he finds Richard in the restaurant anyway, and he drifts over curiously.]

Oi... [The rest of his words dim into silence, and he gives the man a quick, assessing look-over. His mouth draws into a thin line as no, he doesn't really like what he sees]

Need something?

[When he looks up at Sanji, forces his lips upwards into a smile to put on that protective mask (though he knows he doesn't need it around Sanji, nor will it work-- the man knows how to read him far too well), his eyes don't smile along, a fact that probably won't surprise the chef at all. But he's trying, at least, a vestige of his ingrained defense mechanism that he can never quite seem to rid himself of.]

I assume it's too much to hope that you would have some Romulan Ale on hand.

[Oh, Sanji's eyebrows reach for his hairline at that reply. Picking Seventh Heaven over Good Spirits seems an odd choice; his restaurant might be equipped with a bar, but it doesn't seem the same amount of use.

For which the chef is thankful of - he has a very low tolerance for rowdy drunks.

He's seen Richard inebriated, though, has even stumbled home with the man draped over his back, so he holds nothing back in his sharp stare.]

... I've got some. [He sounds relenting rather than neutral.] Drink it in the kitchen where I can keep an eye on you.

[Those are the conditions, take it or leave it]

[A wise choice given Richard's current emotional state, Sanji. (Which may have been part of the reason Richard opted for the restaurant over Good Spirits-- he's got enough self-awareness to know that he probably shouldn't be trusted around large amounts of alcohol without supervision right now.) He's not going to argue with an ultimatum like that.]

And just how much would "some" be?

[He grunts, already retreating behind the bar, where he bends low and disappears for a second]

In your case? Not enough to kill you, that's for sure. [Meaning no way in hell Sanji's parting with the entire bottle. It could kill a shitty elephant, and Sanji likes his friends alive.

That said, he is kind enough to fetch Richard a sizable glass for drinking along with the alcohol. If the point is to get wasted, he can provide that much.] Here, you think this is enough to start out with? [Even if it isn't, he's already pouring the blue abomination into the glass]

[Hey, give Richard a little more credit than that, it's been a long time since anyone has had to worry about things like that with him.

But he wouldn't mind getting plastered enough that he no longer gives a damn about anything, that much is for certain. In fact, that may or may not be his objective at the moment, as if the request for Romulan Ale didn't give that much away.]

Yes, I think I'd consider that a good enough start for now.

[He'll want more later.]

[Richard, you'll be too drunk to coax Sanji into giving you more than another glassful later, if that. Don't think the chef hasn't already thought this through.

He hands over the drink, bringing both the Romulan Ale bottle and some wine to the kitchen. It's deserted, meaning Sanji's the only one manning it tonight, but the restaurant isn't busy, either. The cold is still keeping a number of customers away today. He'd say it works in their favor for once.]

Have a seat, Richard.

[It's not until he finally sits down that the walls begin to crumble. Burying his head in his hands, he just sort of slumps, the emotional strain of the day's events manifesting itself in a physical form at last now that he's out of the public eye.

He just looks tired, defeated. And, though he says nothing, the unspoken question is obvious: Why is this happening to me?]

[It'd be nice if Sanji could give him an answer, even one born out of sympathy rather than truth. He's often wondered how he'd react if Ginko ever came back to Luceti, the same as always but utterly different, with no memories of their time spent together: a stranger again.

He never dwells on the question long; watching Richard crumble reminds him of why.

Some of the sternness melts from Sanji's face, with raw sympathy left in its wake. He takes a seat next to the man and pours himself a glass of wine, not saying anything. For now, his presence will have to be enough. There's nothing he can do to make this better.]

[Richard doesn't move for his own glass just yet; instead, all of his focus goes towards trying to steady himself. As good a friend as Sanji is, he'd really rather not break down into tears in front of the other man again if he can help it. Once was more than enough on that front.

But it's hard, harder than he'd expected, because this time there's the knowledge that this Naoki won't remember, CAN'T remember. It was like talking to a stranger with the face of someone who meant so much to him and...

It's one of his greatest fears, though he doesn't even realize it himself.]

[Sanji hadn't even been in a somber mood before, but Richard's continued silence thickens the air into a heavy cloud of depression. The chef glances at the dark liquid in his glass, tilting it by the stem in circles and watching the wine swirl in turn.]

... Have you talked to Isamu about it yet? [He lowers his voice into a murmur, and even still it seems to shatter against the quiet]

[He shakes his head, at last breaking his silence with an exhaled sigh that he hadn't even realized he'd been holding in. Talking with Isamu had been the last thing on his mind given the events that had transpired between them just a few short weeks before, one of the few times they'd ever had anything even remotely resembling a quarrel. After that... he wants to keep Isamu as far separated from his romantic life as possible.]

No, not yet. I just... I had to get out of there for a while.

[Sanji is no fool. Surely he's picked up on Richard's feelings towards Isamu now, and why this situation would be even more awkward than it was the last time. While his feelings for Isamu were there the last time Naoki returned, it's been almost a year since then. He and Isamu have grown even closer over that time.]

[As he's not exactly in a position to tell Richard what to do... well, that still won't stop Sanji's eyes from narrowing as he continues staring into his glass. They can have their lover's quarrel, or whatever, but Sanji hadn't missed that unfiltered conversation between Naoki and Isamu. If a fight or argument breaks out, the chef's already made peace with whose side he'll take, and heaven help the Demi Fiend if gets any ideas.

Sanji still holds out hope it won't come to that. The kid's a strong opponent; stubborn, too. And damn, he really doesn't want to be thinking about this yet. Abruptly he shuts his eyes and takes a steep drink.]

Alright, but don't hold off too long. I don't think Naoki and Isamu are gonna get along this time.

[Now Richard raises his head to regard the chef, confusion and concern plain on his features. They won't get along? Why? This Naoki doesn't remember what happened between them the last time he was in Luceti, so shouldn't they still be best friends?

He doesn't understand.]

What do you mean?

[As that was not at all the reaction Sanji anticipated, he turns his head sharply and just stares at him.

Does this mean he doesn't--

... Shit.]

You didn't see the conversation between the two, did you?

[He shakes his head.]

I closed my journal as soon as I'd finished talking to Naoki.

[Needless to say, he's starting to regret doing so now, because from the sound of things, this isn't a conversation he should have missed.]

... You got your journal on you?

[There's no kind way to sugarcoat this, so Sanji doesn't bother; besides, with the secret out, he suspects Richard would find the conversation later to survey the damage for himself.]

[Richard shakes his head; he left it at home so that his housemates couldn't bother him for the evening. He may get scolded for it later, but right now, he just wants some space.]

[Wordlessly, Sanji sets his drink aside and slowly makes for the counter where he'd left his journal, not at all looking forward to this. After he flips it open, he just as silently hands it over to Richard.]

[And silently, Richard listens to that conversation. Though he doesn't say anything out loud, the way his expression shifts from surprise to horror should make his feelings clear.

This was... Naoki...]

...

So, what will you do, Richard? [It's such a blunt, almost heartless statement to make, but the look of horror doesn't reveal the full span of Richard's thinking, even if Sanji's aware of how much harder this situation will be on the king than himself.]

[Richard is no stranger to having the weight of the world on his shoulders. It's part of his job, after all, and he always takes it seriously, devotes his entire being to it.

But this is different. This isn't his country; it's being forced to choose sides between two of the most important people in the world to him. He knows what his answer will be, whose side he will take. But that doesn't make it any less painful to him.

He just droops, sliding forward until his head is buried in his arms on the tabletop, his thoughts a litany of Why? Why? Why?]

... I don't have any intentions of starting shit with Naoki so long as he behaves.

Otherwise... [He lets his trail-off speak for itself. Sanji doesn't just defend; he lashes back if he finds it justified. Naoki can keep his grudge as long as he wants, and to be frank, he probably deserves to feel what he does.

Things just happen to be far different than the Demi Fiend could've imagined. Time passes. People can change.]

I don't want to fight him.

[It's plaintive; more of a wish than anything else. This may not be his Naoki, but it's still Naoki, and the last thing Richard wants to do is hurt him. He doesn't want to be in this situation at all. Conflict is something he's always hated, and when it's between people he loves... it just hurts that much more.]

No one wants to, but I don't know what he might do to Isamu, either, if given that shitty chance.

Luceti Appointments Post

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