PHOENIX

[concasse]

will shitpost later

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W0 || Sunday

[concasse]

[God bless this whole ass kitchen he can lounge in. It's the first place Sanji decides to explore after his own cabin (and discovering his baby tiger), and it's already a mess of bowls, pans, and ingredients. What is he making? Who knows. Right now he just wants to bask in the glory of having all this space to himself.

... Well, in theory. Since obviously this open kitchen means people are gonna wander in and out. He's a lot more amiable than he was on the bus, however, and arches his eyes in the direction of whoever joins him.]

Oi, you hungry?

[At his feet, the baby tiger rouses herself and immediately goes sniffing about this stranger's feet. She's, uh, not really afraid of humans, it seems]

[slobjection]

[ he certainly is in a much better mood.... then again, the bus had everyone on edge. ]

Taking requests?

[ phoenix on the other hand, nearly freezes up when the baby tiger comes sniffing around... but his pokerface is as good as ever, so he glances down. ]

... Huh. Who's your furry friend?

[concasse]

Of course I am. I'm a chef by trade.

[Did he... ever mention that? Well now he is, and Sanji's gaze drops down to the baby tiger who is clumsily circling around Phoenix's feet]

That's Nami! Treat her kindly or I'll beat your ass, got it?

[Yes, treat the baby predator with kid gloves]

[slobjection]

Never would have guessed.

[ hard to tell if he's being factitious as well. ]

[ phoenix just stays still and doesn't really look at nami. knowing cats, this will only get him more cat attention. ]

Oh, that's Nami. Seems like you found her.

[concasse]

[Yea


She starts batting lightly at his foot like she expects him to dance for her entertainment. Or to be picked up. Thankfully she's so small that her claws aren't an issue, but Phoenix will continue to suffer for now]

She was waiting for me in my cabin, so she got to miss the whole bus trip.

[Sanji looks happy? Wild. It's like he truly loves this jungle cat.]

w0, friday || friday

[slobjection]

[ wherever sanji is, phoenix has just popped up. like a weirdo. ]

You said you were from the castle, right?

[ no hi or hello... rude ]

[concasse]

[It's okay.

Sanji is in a foul mood so the lack of pleasantries suits his needs, and his holding himself gingerly?? weird.]

That's right -- and make your interrogation quick, got it?

[slobjection]

[ hm. ]

.... Everything alright? Aside from the obvious.

[concasse]

Just get to the questions.

[...]

The other questions.

W0 || TRIAL DAY

[concasse]

[Wow, first trial sucked. Who is surprised.

Though at this point Sanji isn't so much murderous as he's just irritated and taking it out on one of his cigarettes, smoking it down like it's his only lifeline. He'll see Phoenix approach and offer a tight nod, but if the other wants to start a conversation, he's gonna have to do the beginning legwork.

Someone is still pissed]

[slobjection]

[ sanji...... you're gonna inhale that cigarette. ]

[ he lifts his hand in a wave. ]

He's from your round, isn't he?

[ evan ]

[concasse]

He is, yeah.

[Sanji knows who they're talking about. It's all anyone wants to discuss tonight. His mouth twists into a bitter grin]

First to go this time.

[slobjection]

[ this time..... ]

Even having done this before, don't think anyone could ever get used to watching kids die.

W1 || Sunday

[slobjection]

[ later at night, when beau is resting and/or being visited by others, phoenix is in the kitchen..... cooking without burning things??? incredible. ]

[ he seems to be making pancakes. ]

I'll be quick.... well, quick enough.

[ but sanji can cook too if he doesn't mind pancake batter probably getting into his food, phoenix is still kind of messy ]

[concasse]

... So you can cook when you put your shitty mind to it.

[Sanji doesn't sound too surprised, or even put out by this discovery. Beau had a rough time but Sanji can't say Phoenix made out like a bandit, either.]

I'm just here for tea, so you're fine. Just clean up after yourself.

[slobjection]

Don't get too excited. I have one specialty.

[ and there's still a chance he can fuck it up!!! ]

Not hungry and no mouths to feed?

[concasse]

I'm on break for fifteen minutes.

[A huff... though Sanji uh, glances sideways, like he's trying to talk himself outta speaking, but:]

You... alright and everything?

W2 || Friday

[slobjection]

[ phoenix is hovering outside the nurse's office after akira's been taken care of, looking weirdly tired again. he winces a little, holding a hand up to his face --- then dropping it. ]

[ then glancing at sanji when he approaches. ]

Looks like your group hasn't had the best luck so far.

[concasse]

[... Sanji isn't in an especially friendly mood today, it seems, and just stares at Phoenix like he's tempted to put him six feet under.

He does not do that. In the end, he'll fold his arms -- wincing, not unlike the time he got cut by a million knives, haha -- and get to the point]

Did you go snooping around? And did you find anything? I'll trade you info.

[slobjection]

[ they're both doing great. ]

... Sounds good. I've got a bit of info I could drop on you.

[ ... ]

You doing alright?

[concasse]

Peachy.

[Ah. That would probably sound more threatening if Sanji didn't





reach over and pet Phoenix on the head



-- before launching himself five feet back like a wet cat]

I swear to the sea I'll cut off my own hands!!

W3 || MONDAY

[concasse]

[By early afternoon, Sanji already knows that it's dangerous to walk outside. His memories are shooting out left and right the moment he makes eye contact with anyone; even being in the kitchen is a precarious affair.

But a cook still needs to cook, and people still need to get fed. He makes the choice to be available during certain hours, no matter how he does his best to avoid looking anyone in the face.

A pity it's proximity he needs to worry about, not just eye-contact. When Phoenix comes sliding into the kitchen, the scenery immediately reverts to a memory of a kid with his mother.

The real Sanji just watches it quietly, not even sad, but distantly bemused]

[slobjection]

[ he has come here to make himself a chicken sandwich.. frankly he has kind of resigned himself to memshare since he absolutely couldn't avoid it in the mansion, so he doesn't mind running into people. ]

[ lo and behold what should he encounter but a memory ]

[ he goes quiet for a bit, before speaking ]

Sorry for your loss.

[ why are there so many tragic orphans here ]

Is that where you got your passion from?

[concasse]

... Yeah, guess it was.

[Voice still rather curious even as the memory fades. He folds his arms, head tilted.]

S'weird. I didn't think I'd remember what she looked like. Pretty sure I was only five or six when she passed.

[Which... might explain some of why Sanji isn't all fire and brimstone as usual. A memory this faded is more a gift than a curse.]

[slobjection]

Long-term memories have a way of sticking with you.... just deep in there, I suppose.

[ sometimes it just takes murder camps to draw it out. ]

Then again, there's some kind of magic involved with these, so I couldn't tell you how any of it works.