004↠ Action

[concasse]

[Sanji's at the bar probably with the rest of the village, holed up in a corner for a decidedly good portion of the evening/night, well after this mess. Catch him when he's depressingly sober, moderately drunk and pissed, or in the middle of destroying what's left of his kidneys.

He'll get home eventually. Somehow.]

Comments

[mikangirl]

About as well as can be expected. [Level and soft, and she refrains from adding: better than you. Not that she's concerned. Really.] Intending to get very drunk. You?

[concasse]

Sounds like a good plan to me. [He's already pouring himself another glass]

Hi so I lost this tag and I fail

[mikangirl]

[You go ahead, Sanji. For once, Nami isn't intent on engaging him in small talk unless he wants it-- but she'll drink with him quietly. It seems like the thing to do, really.

Not that she's getting drunk any time soon, but that just means she can properly steer her chef for home when he's a mind to leave.]

Well, your inbox is a black hole *_* I do not blame you.

[concasse]

[That's fine. Silence is a good plan, too. Sanji takes to the bottle with a bit more grace now that Nami's here, carefully pouring himself a round of shots and tossing them back without preamble.

It's probably a surprise for both of them, when he abruptly speaks out, his voice quiet]

Do you think she'll avoid me from now on? [Not "hate"; Sanji doubts such a kind soul is capable of that. Anything else, however...]

I-I'm down to 55!

[mikangirl]

[Nami pauses with her glass halfway to her mouth and gives that proper thought.]

...I think she might to begin with. She won't know what to say.

[It depends on how long she's gone-- and what they do to her this time. But the mood is bad enough in here that she doesn't want to be that blunt.]

... *_* Yep, don't envy you.

[concasse]

[That's more hope than Sanji afforded himself, though the words still hurt. He nods, then closes his eyes. He's quiet again]

[mikangirl]

[She drains her own, and sits there for a long while just holding the empty glass. With the topic of Noel broached, she's searching for another way to alleviate the stress he's under. The sad thing is, nothing comes to mind that won't just make things worse.

...]

Are you going to avoid her?

[concasse]

[He hadn't taken that angle into consideration. Sanji just wants to do what's right by Noel, so much that he's brushing aside his own initial reactions.]

I'll ask her what she prefers, when she gets back. If she doesn't plan on avoiding me... [That's that, then. He won't run away, even if things can't be the same now]

[mikangirl]

Mmm. [She shifts in her seat. That could also go badly; Noel has a habit of reading far too much into a question like that.] Make sure she understands what you want.

[concasse]

What I want... [He'd be inclined to agree if not for the suspicion Noel will fashion his desires as her own personal handcuffs, and strive for something she's uncomfortable with. Hn. Stupid catch 22.]

Alright. [He smiles halfheartedly] No matter the case, we need to talk. [That much is certain]

[mikangirl]

[She has enough faith in Noel that, sans the awkward, she won't give up her friendship with Sanji. But Nami thinks now is a little too early and too raw to get into a full heart to heart discussion about it, and none of her business besides.

(Unless they can't work it out. Then it's totally her business.)

...there's something else she really needs to talk about. Especially given how the morning began. She's really not sure she has the courage for it... and so after a brief pause, she merely picks up the bottle and tops up both their drinks.]

[concasse]

[Nami's in luck - if she doesn't have it in her to talk about it, Sanji won't pry. He's gone back to being pretty terrible conversation, managing a simple mumble that's meant to be a thanks before he takes his glass to his mouth again. He's on his, what, fourth shot by now? Fifth? That subconscious shot counter of his has been eerily silent tonight.]

[mikangirl]

[They're both in luck today, then. Nami isn't here to be Sanji's keeper, and in fact faintly envies him the level of drunkenness he'll be able to achieve.

Drink all you want tonight, chef. She'll just... keep you quiet company and make sure morning sees you home in bed.]