concasse | Luceti Appointments Post

[Kotetsu can take all the minutes he needs.

At least, until Sanji enters the kitchen. He's got an order in hand, and vaguely notes the newest presence by the sink as he breezes past -- Kotetsu, of course. And late. That deserves a faint grousing, if nothing else, and Sanji prepares to deliver in style--

The threat dies somewhere in his throat when he finally looks up.]

... Kotetsu. [He speaks slowly, on the off-chance he's dreaming this.] What the hell happened?

[He clears his throat and keeps turned away, because he's bitter and angry right now and very few people get to see that. But he's quiet. Uncharacteristically so. And when he speaks, he's still distant, neutral, like someone off-handedly silenced him with a threat. Somewhere out there, they're dragging Barnaby to a cell; they'll experiment on him, give him disgusting food, and then throw him out a mess like they did him. He only hoped he might come back with something entirely unsevere, like they did him.

But he's heard horror stories. Boy, has he heard them. So he shifts his weight, feeling his leg's nerves whine; not that he cares about that. For some reason, it's really hard to admit he watched his friend get dragged off despite his efforts, so he doesn't say that, precisely.

He internally panics, and avoids it altogether.]

Something.

[That answer suffices, right? Yeah. He's great at replies.]

Dishes need washing? [He runs his thumb knuckle against his injured lip, before he starts watching his hands at the realization that he's a mess.] I can get to the floors, too. S'been a few days since I got broom duty.

[quietly reaches for the washcloth, quietly prepares for work]

... Tch. [Sanji makes no guesses as to what this "something" means, though he could certainly come close to the truth. He doesn't act either, until Kotetsu reaches for the washcloth. Sanji snatches it up before he can get to it, sour expression tempered by an assessing concern.]

Pull up a seat. [He nods to one of the many stools the kitchen has to offer] At least let me help you not look like such shit. You'll scare someone.

[Kotetsu's surprised by the swift movement, but whatever irrational misplaced anger he might have began to gather by the motion is halted right in its place when he looks down at himself and sees he's pretty banged up. Yeah. The last thing he needs is scaring or worrying any of the waitresses or cooks around here.

He breathes through his nose, not moving for a moment before he finally limps over to the stool and plops down in it. He was feeling detached and fine a moment ago, but now? He feels pretty tired. Maybe the adrenaline took a minute to wear off. Lord knows it probably works that way for him.

He smooths back his hair with both palms, resting them on the top of his head as he slumps on the counter. Dammit.]

... There's gotta be a way to beat down those droids.

[He thought so]

Barnaby, was it? [He takes a guess while he tosses the cloth over on some counter and approaches Kotetsu, unceremoniously taking the closest limb by the wrist -- his right arm, in this case, and a flare of green light travels over any scrapes and cuts.]

[He hisses faintly under his breath--that's tender, you know. But once the healing kicks in and sweeps across his limb and back, he's relaxed again, looking down at his other fist.] I went to the barrier; I already knew that it wouldn't break, but...

You still wanted to try. [He finishes that statement, and there's nothing mocking in his tone; Sanji understands the sentiment all too well, having played out the scenario time and time again. At this point, the only reason he won't try is if the victim requests he not expend his energy...

And even then it goes against everything he believes.]

Wait for him to get back. [His hand tightens briefly, gently.] It's what you can do for him now.

[He works his jaw, looking distantly toward the wall, not wanting Sanji to catch the upset shadow passing his features; he was an easily emotional guy, and knowing he gave it his all and it wasn't good enough? Not nearly as painful as knowing he failed his partner. He knows how Barnaby must've felt now, when they took him away. That helplessness. They weren't unused to it. Their relationship was still tender, after all the bullshit they'd reaped through. After he almost died, and Barnaby learned his life was a big plan. But...

He slams his battered fist down on the table and the whole counter rattles against it.]

Dammit.

[I failed him. The memories of his own visit to the cells prod at his thoughts.]

Dammit...

Edited (edits forever) 2012-03-15 08:53 (UTC)

[Sometimes, Sanji forgets how relatively new Kotetsu is to this place. It's a rare thing to see such a visibly frustrated reaction to the droids nowadays. They're just one of the dark shadows hanging over Luceti that everyone knows about, and no one can figure out how to fight.

Healing finished, he releases the first arm in exchange for the one that slammed against the counter, repeating the same motions and steps. He remains silent save for a light warning not to make his injuries worse]

[Mrmmmrrr. He sighs.]

There has to be a way to stop them. We're able to break them, f'we work at it. I know there's gotta be a way to stop them... We could--save people from having to deal with those experiments.

[He's Plotting. Probably to get himself beat up on a regular basis, but at least he's going to try. Fail or not, he'd rather feel like he's working at it.]

Edited 2012-03-15 21:54 (UTC)

Oi, don't get ahead of yourself. [Sanji would like to say he could care less if Kotetsu gets the snot beat out of him, except he knows he'd be one of the people delegated to healing his stupid ass.] I'm all for finding a way around the stupid shits, but tossing yourself at them until they break doesn't do a damn thing.

They just send in more. [And when it's machine versus endurance, it's no contest to who wins out]

[He winces, but doesn't pull away, at least.]

... There are young people and innocent civilians here.

[A breath, determined:]

They deserve someone to fight for 'em hopelessly.

Edited 2012-03-16 08:33 (UTC)

[Said snappily]

You sure that's the reason? [His hand flexes again, but it's not in sympathy this time] Or is this to satisfy your need to be a Hero?

Did you ever consider maybe some of those victims don't want some stupid shithead getting hurt on their behalf, when they know it's currently hopeless?

[...

Did you really. Really.]

You think it'd change what I'd do if I were a Hero or not?!

[Now he rips his hand from Sanji's grip. He'll keep the rest of these bruises and cuts, thank you.]

If they don't want me to try to help them they can tell me that themselves; they don't need some guy to say that for 'em. I'll never be the kind of person who sits back and watches someone get dragged off to be prodded and poked and sent back a big mess!

[.... and then he calms down. As much as he can. Sanji, you're talking to a guy who just lost his partner about an hour ago. What did you honestly expect.]

Do you really try and sit back and do nothing at all? Just because it's hopeless and there's nothing else you can do for your friends but wait?

[And he's up and on his feet, limping for the door, fists clenched. A pause.]

I did my week of work, and then some. You can find someone else to wash your damn dishes.

Edited 2012-03-16 15:54 (UTC)

[Sanji didn't expect a damn thing; but that doesn't mean he's gonna mince his words for the guy when he thinks he's going about this the wrong way.

That's not really his style. And now he's pissed off]

I know when to fuckin quit and not worry the people still here because I was reckless, Kotetsu! [Touched a nerve in turn, Kotetsu. Sanji supposes that makes them even. He shouts over his shoulder] If you wanna break yourself without giving a fuck about us, do what you want!

[He looks back at Sanji, the anger flooded out of his face in exchange for something neutral, wiped clean. How can he even bother to care about your advice when he's so utterly useless to all the people here, including his own friend? It's too much for one morning.]

Thanks for the fix-up.

[He disappears through the door quietly, toward home. Sleeping would be good.]

[He very nearly yells at him again - partly to satisfy some childish desire to get the last word in - but Kotetsu's already gone, and Sanji can do nothing but kick one of the cupboards in frustration, mood gone to hell and now with a dent to prove it.

Tch! Fine then. A beat later and Sanji stubbornly picks up one of the discarded dishes, polishing it to a mirror shine. He can roll with this, too. It shouldn't be any concern of his anyway.

... Except that he can't feed fire to his anger by will alone, especially when that nagging shit called a conscience points out the very line he'd crossed. Over and over. Everything else he can back up, but not that one callous sentence. And it nags him relentlessly until thirty minutes after Kotetsu's departure, Sanji snarls out loud and nearly shatters one of his own plates against the sink, now pissed for an entirely different reason.

Shit. He hates this.

And now, we enter eight thirty at night. It's already dark, perfect for a covert mission. In Community House 1, Floor 3, room #14, there will be a prompt knock on the door, and with any luck the culprit will flee the scene before Kotetsu has a chance to spot him, leaving behind only a simple Styrofoam box with something inside.]

Edited 2012-03-16 21:20 (UTC)

[Oohoho.

Sanji, when you're about to knock--

There are bleary amber eyes

leering at you

from a cracked door.]

... Hey.

Edited 2012-03-16 22:02 (UTC)

[Oh jeez, way to throw him off his game. Sanji freezes like he's been caught doing something questionable.]

... Yo. [The box in his hand suddenly feels a lot heavier. The man clears his throat and glances off, frowning slightly] ... Uh. Listen, I figured you'd be too exhausted to cook for yourself today.

... So here. [Still refusing to look at that bleak amber eye, he shoves the box out like it's too hot to the touch]

[Aha... He opens the door and stares down at the food like it's a weird looking creature or something. Don't mind him, he's been sleeping, so nothing feels entirely there all there yet. Or maybe he's maybe dreaming... or something. On the bright side, he quietly reaches over and takes the box.]

Aa... eating'd be good.

[He sort of forgot to do that today.]

Thanks.

[And because he's Kotetsu, he forces a stupid grin despite his dishevelment anyway. Gotta be done, mate.]

It'll taste great, I'm sure.

[To that he offers a subdued hum, seeing as the smile does nothing to decrease the levels of awkward on his end. After a second's pause, he turns away, hissing out a sigh and flattening his hand against the back of his neck.

Well.

He's here. And Kotetsu's spotted him. Might as well have his say.]

The day that Valentine's experiment ended... the girl I'd been in love with was captured by the droids, straight out of our bed. I tried to stop them, but. [He just cuts off with a shrug. No point in reminiscing about that, since it's not really the point, anyway. He's not saying this to garter sympathy or share sob stories] She still isn't back, either.

I knew what was gonna happen, but I still tried. [So, he supposes, that makes you right. No one just sits by and lets someone they care about be taken away without a fight.

Another pause, and he starts walking away] Try not to beat yourself up too much, alright? A Hero shouldn't look so washed up.

[Oh... That's surprising, and unsurprising. Is that possible, to be both? But on the other side, the reasoning behind Sanji's logic is more understandable. His shoulders sag a little, as he leans on the door-frame. After a moment he looks after Sanji.]

Oi. Sanji.

I never helped you 'cause it was my job. [A smile, as he moves the box thoughtfully in hand, holding it up.] Friends're just supposed to look out for each other.

[Did you hear that, THAT WAS AN ADMITTANCE OF FRIENDSHIP. So. Accept that, and stuff. And added with some snarky humor in his tone;] Besides. 'Retired', y'know.

March 14th

concasse - 2012-03-17 00:07 (UTC) - Expand

March 14th

wildkotetsu - 2012-03-17 00:20 (UTC) - Expand

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