Luceti Appointments Post

[concasse]

† A P P O I N T M E N T S †

This post is to be used specifically for one-on-one appointments and interactions with concasse. o/ Probably because we're too busy/lazy to make a post or a separate log. [written], [voice/video], and [action] are all fair game - just mark the method of communication and the date in the subject line.

EXAMPLES:

[March 15, Action]
[March 15, Voice]
[March 15, Written]



➟ Directory

Comments

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

... Welcome back, Xion.

[He didn't start out with a lie. That's improvement]

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

... just because I call you dad doesn't mean you have to treat me like a kid.

[ With only mild disapproval. She's more concerned than anything, and glances at his bandages with a critical eye. A healer's eye, very much so. It's what she's been doing for three weeks straight, after all. ]

It seems like you had a way rougher time than I did. [ Her expression softens, and she meets his eyes again. ] Sanji, what happened?

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

[That nearly elicits a startled chuckle - Xion, you're not the only one he treats like this, but he doesn't say so, figuring the point left behind. Instead, he mutters a soft apology before continuing on.]

... A shithead got one of my wings. [He sits down on his bed, palms laid flat against the comforter.] And kept it as a memento.

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

[ Momentarily she blanches -- not thinking of him -- but Sora -- and she can only imagine what --

But quickly she shakes herself out of it, and closes the distance between them. ]

I can't believe I wasn't here. I'm sorry. Should you really be on your feet yet?

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

[He catches that look, and his eyebrows knit in concern as he speaks]

Oi oi, I'm fine now! Just a little sore. [He rubs one of his shoulders, chancing a grin] It's almost been a week. One more day I should be back to normal.

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

That long already? [ She lifts a hand and presses it to her cheek, sighing. ] I feel like I missed so much. Dad...

[ She hugs him. Not really caring he hasn't got a shirt on. More just wanting - maybe needing - the contact, to make sure he's real and here and not dead. ]

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

[Sanji doesn't hug back - no matter what his smile hides, it still hurts to move - but he does place a hand on top of her head, smoothing down some of her hair.

... This is why he doesn't think he can tell you what else happened down there.]

It's alright. [A little frankly] I'm just glad they didn't drag you along.

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

[ She sighs at the hand on her hair, but when she pulls back, she does frown at him. ]

I'm not! I would have really preferred being there to help. It's not like I'm not used to drafts by now! But I guess there's no point in saying that now. [ She shakes her head. ]

... should we at least sit down if we're going to talk?

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

[The rueful smile he shows in return hides his thoughts.]

Well, in that case... [He gets up from the bed] I'll put in some tea, if you want any.

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

[ She sighs, gently, and actually smiles a little. ] You know, I'd tell you to sit down and let me do it, but there's no way you'd agree to that, is there?

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

I'm not so sore I can make my precious Xion some tea~!

[Shut up and let him dot on you.]

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

[ She laughs, and gives him a friendly nudge to the arm. ] Okay, okay. Some tea would be nice, actually.

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

[He embraces the intermission with a well-timed smile, going on about making a light snack to compliment their beverage, but in truth he wants more time -- to decide how much he's going to share with her.

Only a handful of people know what happened: Nami, Vivi, Kotetsu... If he wanted, he could oversell his injury or let her talk about her mission. He doesn't need or particularly want to bring up week-old wounds.

It's the question of whether or not he should that presents the problem, and gathers inner hesitation.

He hasn't come to his decision by the time they reach the kitchen; and neither when he asks her what type of tea she'd like. So for now, he'll continue to play his cards close to his chest]

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

[ She tells him, quietly. It is sort of noncommittal. Without any to do, she takes a seat at the table, but for once, she doesn't watch him work, or try to strike up further conversation. Instead, she props her chin on her hand and looks away, out the nearest window, her expression very, very thoughtful.

After all, she's just spent three weeks working as a medic. Some of the things she saw were ugly at best. And the memory of Sora with his wing ripped off is still so incredibly vivid in her mind. She can't help but imagine Sora's place swapped with Sanji. It is only because the thought occurred to her once already and she managed to shove it off that she doesn't physically flinch.

You don't get your wing ripped off from a simple mistake or oversight. She understands - intimately - that Sanji is an incredibly powerful and skilled fighter. If he got his wing ripped off, then something must have gone terribly, horrifically wrong, and she's keenly aware of that fact, so much so that it almost hurts. That he's not saying what happened is really only increasing her fears about how bad it must really have been.

At the same time, he's, well ... not dead. And on his feet, now. Will it do any good to press him for the truth when it's obviously already over and done with?

What she doesn't notice is the sigh that escapes her after she's been silent a little too long. ]

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

Lost in thought? [The prodding question comes with her tea and a plate of pastries he'd made the day before, both of which he places on the table - and the finished presentation is the only indication of how much time has passed with neither side talking.

Which might be why he's unabashed in his question, taking a seat opposite of her, with his own cup of tea warming his hands]

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

[ She actually starts a little when he sets things down on the table, and immediately looks a little shamefaced at getting caught. ]

... I guess so. You were pretty quiet too, you know. [ Said gently, and without reproach, as she picks up her own tea. They both have things to think about, clearly. ]

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

Mmm. [It's a sound of agreement... and that's it.

For once, Sanji can't think of a word to say, and the air is saturated with the heavy fact. He gets as far as opening his mouth once, before it closes, and his eyes drop to stare at his tea]

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

[ ... she searches her mind. Really, truly searches. It takes her a moment, as she stares at him.

But she really can't think of the last time he was just lost for words around her. Not only that, but not even looking at her. ]

Dad...

[ She pauses, then shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath. When she reopens them and fixes her gaze on his face, her expression is very serious. ]

I don't want you to tell me. Whatever happened out there ... it's done. You're ... you're still here. [ A little more quietly. But she doesn't let her gaze fall. ] That's all that matters to me. So don't feel like you have to, or like you owe me. All I need is just ... to be able to see you. Here. And maybe give you a hug. [ Her smile is faint, weak, but there. ]

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

[His eyes rise to meet her gaze, and for the longest time he just... stares at her, unblinking, scanning both her words and her expression. It's unclear what's on his mind, what strings are pulling at his chest.

But eventually...]

You don't care to know? [It's nothing but an honest question]

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

[ ... she breathes in; out. Slow. ]

It's not that. But would it really help either of us if I did?

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

Maybe not. [He takes a slow breath of his own] Everyone's got their secrets.

[A pause] But you can't really understand something if you're in the dark all the time. [It's not clear if he's talking about her, or something else. The statement stands on its own]

... I don't mind telling you, Xion. [His hesitancy isn't due to wanting to keep a secret from her, specifically. Old habits just die so very hard, sometimes, and he's consciously acknowledging it here]

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

[ For a moment there is no reply, as she sips her tea and thinks.

But the decision is not a hard one. ]

If you want to, then I'll listen, Sanji. I'll always listen to you.

[ She almost says "I'll always be here to listen to you," and realized in time that she can't promise that. Neither of them can. But as long as she is here, it's true - she'll always listen. ]

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

[Even now, "want" isn't the word he'd apply to this. He wants nothing in the strictest sense, besides maybe for the nightmares to stop. And this isn't like his talk with Katara, who he thought needed to know the truth. Sanji believes Xion when she says she's happy enough that he's here now, and alive.

... But she deserves to know. That, for him, is enough of a reason.]

The draft lasted five days. I spent at least half of that trapped in a shitty cave-in. [No food, or water] A blast got us out, but the Third Party didn't show us much of a warm welcome. [I was too tired to fight at my best... and Vivi-chan... I had to protect her, too.]

I got lucky. Kotetsu and Nami-san found us on the last day, before I died.

[December 24th, action]

[fourteen]

[ She sucks in a breath at those last words -- before I died, darkness no -- but otherwise manages to keep her reaction pretty restrained. ]

... I'm glad. When ... when the Third Party found you, is that when...? [ She gestures, somewhat vaguely, to his shoulder, meaning to indicate his wings. ]

[December 24th, action]

[concasse]

[he nods, and takes a brief sip of his tea]

Vivi-chan was with me. [he... doesn't think he needs to explain why he'd been so distracted]