concasse | 004↠ Action

[A nod to that, and she carries both cups back to the table, setting Sanji's in front of him. She opens her mouth to tell him it probably needs to steep a little longer, then closes it with a shake of her head. Of course he knows that.]

[Then she takes her seat opposite him, bobbing her teabag a little by its string to help the flavour permeate the water. She can't help but utter an unnecessary warning.] It's hot.

[If Vivi were a man, Sanji would not have allowed the comment to slide without some acrid rebuttal along the lines of "No shit" -- but instead he nods and smiles again, staring at the liquid and the rush of color that is the tea steeping further. He's grateful for the heat; his hands are ice cold, he notes distantly, offsetting the slight flush in his cheeks. He swears he's getting drunker the longer he sits.

Still, he isn't keen on burning his tongue. Rather than wait, he employs some of Kipinn's expertise, hoping to blow some of the heat off the cup. Maybe under prime conditions that would be no spectacular feat, but as he is, the chef gets a stiff wind billowing about the kitchen.]

Heh. Didn't work.

[Vivi shivers as the wind rushes past her, crossing her arms over her body for warmth. The china hutch rattles, and the curtains flap. Vivi gives a short, incredulous laugh. It's pretty clear what Sanji was probably attempting, but it seems like alcohol and filial spirits don't mix.]

A-ah-- I'm sorry, Vivi-chan. [There's a laugh of his own intermingled with self-disapproval, sparked by Vivi's. Then he groans and rubs the crown of his head]

I'd try to warm the shitty room but I might set you on fire.

[Vivi absently flaps a hand.] Don't worry, Sanji-san. It's fine!

[She cups her hands around the mug of tea, enjoying the warmth flowing outward from the steamimg water. She waits a long moment more like that, before removing her teabag and setting it on the saucer. She lifts the cup to her lips, first inhaling deeply before taking a careful sip.]

[As he's forced to take the more patient route, Sanji mimics Vivi's gestures, idly stirring the teabag around with a spoon until he's satisfied with the color.]

Thank you. [The last comment he says before taking out the teabag, and savoring the warm taste]

[Vivi just nods in reply, taking another drink of her tea. The herbal taste is soothing, and the heat pleasant as it slides down her throat and warms her core.]

[She's content to just sit and drink in silence for a while, but after a time, the quiet starts to get to her. She glances up at Sanji over the top of her mug, wondering if she should say anything, or if it would be best to leave him in peace. Finally, she settles for offering a suggestion regarding his sleeping arrangments:]

You could sleep on the couch tonight.

Weren't you doing some reading there? [He asks the question without his gaze straying from the fix point on the table. His plan had been to take up residence there, for a few days, if no one minded - but not if it was already occupied.]

There's always a room upstairs.

I was, but... [Vivi shakes her head.] I think after this, I may try to sleep again. So, the couch is all yours, if you want it.

[She smiles at him, hoping he accepts that graciously. All in all, much simpler (and safer) to sleep there than upstairs.]

Well, so long as I'm not putting you out. [Couches are easier to handle than stairs, that much is certain.]

Not at all.

[She takes another drink of her tea, savoring the warmth and the mild taste.] I think the tea really is helping, so hopefully I'll be able to drift right off. [And if not, she has a reading lamp in her bedroom. Sanji needs the couch more than she does, at any rate.]

Yeah, I hope so. [He knows he won't sleep well tonight, despite all the alcohol he's consumed, so it helps knowing at least one of his crewmembers can.

He takes a long, deep sip, nearly clearing half the cup in one go, and winces slightly when it hits his stomach. He did a number on himself tonight. The sooner he lays down, the better]

[Vivi takes a few silent sips of her tea, watching Sanji. He doesn't look well, to put it mildly--tired, drawn, bleary-eyed--but she's uncertain how much of that is the alcohol and how much is...everything else. Impulsively, she reaches across the table and touches his hand lightly.]

Mm? [His eyes draw up]

Yes, Vivi-chan? [Is he being a cause for concern again? Sanji tries to clear some of the exhaustion off his face instinctively, or look more attentive, at any rate]

[She gives him a wan smile and rises.]

Let me get you your things. A blanket, a pillow... [Anything else?]

O-oi, just a second. I'm not about to make a lady get my shit.

[That's going too far, for him] It's fine.

[Vivi shakes her head, looking vaguely pained.] Sanji-san, you're drunk. It's no trouble for me. Just...please. Let me help.

[She'd made the offer impulsively; she wasn't sure what she intended when she'd touched Sanji's hand, except maybe to offer him some comfort. Yet, when he'd looked at her with those eyes, when he'd questioned her, she had no idea what to say. Maybe she can't be of any real help with the root of the problem, but she could at least do this much for him.]

[He tries not to make a show of gnashing his teeth together; it's not her he's angry with. That pleasure is reserved for himself, for being so much of a mess she feels the need to do this.

... But after a slight hiss of breath, he nods in acceptance. Yeah, she should get that stuff.

Because he really

really

doesn't feel good all of the sudden.]

Ah-- right, go ahead, Vivi-chan.

[Sanji's face suddenly goes a sort of waxy ashen, even as he's giving her his blessing to fetch the bedding for the couch. For a moment, she hesitates, then retreats back a step or two. If he's going to be ill, she can at least give him the dignity of having no witnesses.] I'll be right back.

[She doesn't rush, however. She even takes unnecessary time to fold the blanket that will just be just be flipped open again in a few minutes, to fluff the pillow so it's even. After a moment's consideration, she even lightly prods Pumpkin awake with her toe, thinking she might want to join her master out on the couch. The cat yawns, stretches, and trots after Vivi as she leaves the room.]

[Well.

Sanji is nowhere to be found in the kitchen. This will probably come as a surprise to no one.

No matter how long Vivi waits, however, the chef isn't coming back. And if she looks for him, she'll find the bathroom door open... the bathroom upstairs, mind. Somehow, through the haze of sickness, he decided he wasn't so far gone that he was gonna be sick in the girl's bathroom, and stumbled his way up there.

At least he flushed the toilet.]

[Vivi isn't surprised to find him no longer in the kitchen--in fact, she'd been expecting that. She takes a little time to set up a bed for him on the couch, and only then, when she realizes she's not hearing any sounds from the bathroom, does she head there to check he's all right.]

[...and finds it dark and untouched. Where did he..? That he might have managed to stagger upstairs would never have crossed her mind, until she sees Pumpkin beginning to make the ascent. He didn't.]

[...he did. When she finds him, sprawled out on the bathroom tile, for a moment all Vivi can do is stare incredulously. Then she kneels beside him, gently shaking his shoulder.] Sanji-san.

... Mmm. [That's an Mmm of "I'm not dead but I wish I were." He might've emptied the contents of his stomach, but he feels even worse now, if possible, and certainly in no position to move. He very slowly turns his head and opens an eye to peer at the girl kneeling next to him.]

[Vivi tries to keep her face placid, despite the concern she feels. She takes Sanji by the arm to assist him in righting himself.] Can you sit?

[Rather than answer the question, Sanji struggles until he's hunched over his loosely folded legs, using his arms to stabilize him in place. His head feels detached from his body, the way it hangs]

Chopper's gonna kill me.

[Vivi makes no comment, but stands and dampens a washcloth in the sink, which she offers to him. Now that he's managed to get himself upstairs, it's best he stay up here for the night, and the spare room where Ace used to stay is just around the corner. Probably the best course of action.]

Do you want some water?

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