PHOENIX

[concasse]

will shitpost later

Comments

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.

[concasse]

[The bitter part of him wants to argue that one day, you do. All death just washes over you like a sea breeze, and you hardly flinch at the spray.

... But it's not true for himself, so Sanji keeps his mouth shut]

Well, saddle up. We're gonna be here for a while, and now the rules are even worse.

[slobjection]

[ it's nothing that phoenix will ever get used to, even if he acts unconcerned. even with how little he knows sanji, he doesn't think he will, either. ]

Don't think I ever left the saddle, personally.

[ murder to murder.... ]

[concasse]

Yeah... yeah.

[Some of the fatigue shows on his face, but just for a moment. He spends the rest of the time sighing to himself]

... So only one team can win, eh? Not sure if I buy into that given how my last game went, but...

[slobjection]

So they say.

[ blues didn't really have teams so this is a new thing to him ]

But it's only been a week, so it's a little early to take things like that face value.

[concasse]

Oh I expect it's gonna be like last time -- rile the beehive, watch them dance, then give us an ending we can live with so long as we follow the game.

[... Well. Maybe. The sex ship puts a wrinkle in that, given what Sanji's heard, but...]

[slobjection]

Is that what happened....?

[ they seem to all have different ending experiences. and the mansion got one the better ones, seems like ]

[concasse]

More or less. Not saying we were "gifted" the perfect solution, but we kept searching until we found it.

[slobjection]

Did you wear them down, then?

[ he sounds approving. ]

[concasse]

'Course.

... And I got nothing against our current bosses, but if I gotta wear them down, too, I will.

[slobjection]

You do seem to have the energy for it.

[ it's a compliment (????) ]

[concasse]

Tch! You tryin' to start a fight?

[how does Sanji to make any friends..]

[slobjection]

By saying you have energy?

[ wow ]

[concasse]

It's because you always look so smug when you're talking!

[slobjection]

This is what I normally look like.

[ smug and douchey ]

[concasse]

... Would it kill you to, I dunno.

Smile like you mean it? Or do you need help?

[slobjection]

I do need help. Why don't you show me how it's done?

[ his expression doesn't change... he's definitely doing this on purpose ]

[concasse]

[Phoenix better run because Sanji will reach out and try and pull this poor man's cheeks into a smile BY FORCE]

[slobjection]

[ no this is happening because he deserves it ]

[ muffled and garbled, from the manhandling: ]

Good effort, but I can't see my own face right now. Maybe you should demonstrate on your own face.

[concasse]

[The worst part is that Sanji likes Phoenix all the more for letting him do shit like this, cursed.

Anyway Sanji doesn't mind smirking like a gremlin because he. is one.]

Does this work?

[STILL PINCHING THIS MAN'S CHEEKS]

[slobjection]

Hmm... yes, I'm starting to see it.

[ phoenix will always let sanji bully him. this is going to be the basis of their friendship. ]

Maybe a little happier, though.