concasse | ANAIDO

[He wanders into the kitchen area, wiping at his forehead, when he stops, recognizing Sanji. Him and kitchens. It's almost like deja vu.]

...Here to prepare something nice again, chef?

... No. I just wanted a drink.

[Some tea, in fact. No coffee. He doesn't want to be awake any longer than he has to be. That said, he'll gesture at the chair across from him.]

There's still some hot water in the pot if you want any.

Oh, sure. Hot water sounds good.

[He probably dehydrated himself by playing SPORTS, but for now he'll just sit, clasping his hands.]

It's...hard to think of where we'll go from here. Everything has changed...

... The basics are still the same to me.

We kill until we figure out how to fix all of this shit, and then we bring back the dead and go home.

[His voice is... even. Flat, but unshakable. He takes another sip of his tea]

[He's silent for a long moment. Finally, he lets out a short laugh, but his hands are trembling.]

How...long do we have to do this?

[Sanji's gaze isn't on him at first. He's still staring into the dark liquid of his teacup, thoughts racing at a hundred miles.

It isn't until he looks up and sees the other's hands that he... pauses. And then his mouth purses.]

Oi. Take a breath.

Edited 2020-06-14 02:51 (UTC)

Hahaha, I'm trying.

[He closes his eyes, smiling, but it's clearly an attempt to ground himself.]

It's just that...the game I was in only lasted two weeks, and I was dead for half of it. I can't really imagine it lasting more.

... You're gonna have to.

[it's not that his voice is lacking in sympathy. Sanji regards Anaido with quiet, tired eyes. But like before, his voice doesn't waver]

I lasted eight weeks, died, and then came back a few hours later. I just had to.

[Releasing another sigh]

You'd be surprised the amount of bullshit you can stomach when there's no choice.

But I don't...

[A pause. He swallows. His eyes finally crack open, the dull yellow of his eyes a little darker, somehow.]

[He heaves a sigh.]

I admit, being a brilliant detective with amnesia like this is...a rather special brand of hell. It's just hard to swallow, I suppose.

Ah, yeah... guess you weren't being full of shit about that "brilliant" part.

[Sure, his guesses weren't completely right, but he led the charge like a hound, and Sanji will at least respect the work he did for the group at large]

Hahahaha.

[What's so funny? Anaido doesn't say.]

I just do my best with what I'm given, I suppose.

Edited 2020-06-14 03:06 (UTC)

Oi, it's more than what some people can do.

[Gesturing at him]

You might've died early in your last game, but try and stick around for this one. We need people like you on this side.

You need someone like me?

[He...blinks.]

I...alright. I'll do my best. [A beat. His shoulders go up, like he's a little bashful.] I have...someone to think about, too.