006↠ ACTION

[concasse]

[It's sunny. And hot. And perhaps not the best weather to take a nap in while you're unabashedly unconscious.

... Which is too bad, seeing as Sanji's passed out under a tree located at the village's edge - clothes dirty and ruffled, no doubt collecting more dirt as he rolls in his uncomfortable slumber, the crook of his arm covering his eyes.

Go on. Wake him up. Be a good Samaritan.



And hell, even if you don't, Sanji will eventually stumble upon you -- or into you, if that's your thing. Later in the day he'll be all over the village insisting he's fine, no he's not drunk so stop trying to escort him back to bed. B| He can walk it off.]





[ooc: MALLYNAP EFFECT. Touch him and your character will share a memory with Sanji. It can be a memory of his or a memory of your character's; just specify in the subject line what you prefer. |D Any memory is free game, and the scope of it is at our discretion, but keep in mind both characters will view it until the memory ends or they escape the "boundary". (Just imagine the memory as a bubble and if a character walks far enough for whatever reason, they pop it.) Also note they're still in Luceti - no teleporting anywhere. Just assume the characters are mostly slack-jawed and staring at a tree for the duration.

I also endorse all time-breaking. Tis but a flimsy wall in our way.]

Comments

[action]

[winged_moon]

[Yue's wings flex slightly and re-fold, a small gesture that demonstrates just how tense he is right now even though he refuses to show it. To see this again— he isn't ashamed of what he did, for it truly was necessary, but he hardly needed a reminder. Even less, however, did he need an audience for it. Especially one who didn't truly understand what was happening or why.

Of course, if Touya had been the one watching Yue would likely have been even less happy. He isn't certain whether to be thankful or not for that, though.

He simply waits, knowing what he would have seen if he had turned to watch the entire scene, waiting—

And then the bell rings out, piercing the still air, and Yue glances over sharply in an echo of his past self's startled reaction even as he addresses Sanji once more.]

There. You'll see.

[concasse]

[The memory ends, Luceti's surroundings flicker back into their awareness, and Sanji is staring at the spot where Vanitas just moments before stood, face uncomprehending.

The terror who made his daughter's life a hell and had to be killed came from Ventus's heart? He can't--

The greater the light, the darker the shadows cast. Right? The truth of it echoes in a voice that is his own, but from a different reality, and Sanji sucks in a quiet, seething breath.]

... Is it true? [of course it's true. Even still, Sanji asks him, watching Ven in his peripheral.]

[Action] shhh it's okay

[failazure]

[In all honest honesty, that doesn't bode very well. Awkwardness aside, he needs to make up!] Oh, no... I'll bet the Malnosso have something to do with this. [...] Sanji, please!

[And with that, she grabs him by the shoulder and shakes.]

[Action]

[concasse]

[His breathing near ragged, Sanji descends as soon as Perona quiets, though her sniffles and pleas for home are not ones he can guard his heart against. And knowing that he's the one who reminded her of what those bastards did...

Soon as he touches down on a rooftop to catch his breath, his hold on her tightens a bit. Maybe not a Bearsy hug, but Sanji tries his best anyway]

... I'm sorry. [His voice dips low in remorse] This is my fault.

[concasse]

[Her excitement is contagious. Though he's still a little taken aback by the sheer difference in experience, Sanji is quick to follow along like a good visitor, nodding and oooing at all the pauses]

What about your room, eh?

[gavemyword]

[Sanji's comment earns him his own glare.] Like hell you will, cook. You look like shit. [He stands his ground, expression chilly. He's not going anywhere and you know it, Sanji. Still, Zoro thinks better of offering him a hand up.]

[markofthebrave]

[Okay, he's starting to creep her out now. Making sure to keep supporting him, she moves around in front to see his face.]

Sanji?

[--her breath catches when his arms wrap around her waist in a loose hug, and his face blurs as he comes closer. She stiffens, she can't help it. But then he's moved even closer, and his lips brush her forehead in a chaste kiss.

60.

And he lets go. And he's smiling at her, smiling at her like that.

"Believe me now?"]

Sanji, you're scaring me. What's wrong?

[concasse]

[Oh for hell's sake.]

And what do you expect to do, idiot? Watch me trip the entire, shitty way? [No, Zoro won't offer him support; Sanji won't let him. And as if to prove the point to himself, the chef pushes himself into a stand - a shaky stand that hints of more drugs in Sanji's system than Chopper can name, but he's on his feet and gritting his teeth through the dizziness.]

I'll be fine.

[concasse]

[-- Oh.

Sanji blinks, glances down at Katara and stares at his friend, uncomprehending. He sees her, but in his mind's eyes there's still Masaomi smiling in triumph with a point proved and realized.

Oh.

... Yeah, he guesses he really does see now. And he lets out a slow, long breath as his anger fizzes out.]

Sorry, Katara-chan. [The words are out of his mouth, as is a smile - it occurs to him he could lie, put on his best performance and pretend he hadn't seen a thing, but so does the knowledge he won't do that, either.] You-- [he glances away, a little worried how she's going to take this]

I didn't get a chance to warn you. The shitty Malnosso did something to me.

... Anyone who touches me-- Uh, we end up sharing a memory.

[concasse]

HOW THE HELL SHOULD I KNOW? [He smacks Vash in the head. Just 'cause]

When does your memory end??

[markofthebrave]

[Katara's grip on him goes slack, but she doesn't quite let go.]

What?

[That memory that came out of no where, that - one moment - where she risked everything to show him that she didn't --

Her stomach twists into knots.

Was that what he saw?]

[concasse]

[As far as Sanji's concerned, the time for talking passed the moment his own memory ended.

Kotetsu's grip on his wrist is the only thing keeping him stationary, and the older man will be able to feel the muscles tense and flex, tightened by the mad desire to keep walking and leave this shit behind. The old wound on his heart is open again, bleeding itself dry - all he wants to do is work on mending it closed with denial and disregard. It worked before. It'll work again.

He sucks in breaths through his teeth and hisses the air out of his nose. He doesn't want to remember. So--]

Let go already.

[wildkotetsu]

... No.

[Said has his head sags toward the ground, but his grip on his arm is still tight. No explanation why, no attempt to talk him down or make him feel like it'll be okay.

Just a no.

In the distance a van drives across the old road, but there's so little noise around them. Some sound of trees rustling, some sound of birds chirping. Almost like Luceti, with some hazy wheat color pressing the scene.]

[concasse]

Kotetsu.

[There is a very thick, very present threat in his voice, as his fingers twitch into a fist again. The background scenery barely makes an impression.

Let go.]

[wildkotetsu]

I said no!

[He jerks Sanji's wrist toward him, frowning.]

The last time I let someone run off like that, I regretted it, so I'm not letting you leap off like he did! We're friends! We don't leave each other in the dark!

[concasse]

[Oh no you don't. Sanji yanks - hard - temper finally snapping under the pressure]

Then why the hell didn't I know you were dead!?

[wildkotetsu]

Eh??

[Blink, blink. He lets Sanji's arm go with that yank, looking confused.

In the distance, Kotetsu sits up, yawning, looking disgruntled, pulling his collar. "Moou, it's too hot to sleep out here..."]


...


Dead?

[Wait a sec-]

Is that why you were mad at me earlier?

[are you confused yet sanji]

[concasse]

[...

With measured slowness, Sanji turns around and stares down at the other, his anger retreating. His own expression is less confusion and more dawning realization]

But-- [It takes a second for his voice to work properly] I saw you...

[wildkotetsu]

[...

He casually loops his fingers around his wrist, clenching and unclenching the hand.]

No one checked my pulse.

1/?

[concasse]

[... Didn't check his--]

[concasse]

[Shit, Sanji can't--]

[concasse]

[He just can't, right now. He lacks the ability to do anything resembling a normal reaction besides stare slack-jawed and later close his eyes against the pounding truth]

4/4

[concasse]

[... Except to laugh thickly, in shudders that make it sound more like he's trying not to cry. Or learning how to breathe again.

He's not dead.

So there is such a thing as fairness in the universe. Sanji's relief almost brings him to his knees]

[wildkotetsu]

[A sigh of relief--because honestly, it's relieving to know you didn't accidentally look dead to a friend, right? What a crazy day this has been, but he knows it's more worse for Sanji. Definitely.

And a moment later, he pats his hand atop Sanji's head, smiling apologetically.]

Sorry... I didn't think.

But I'm definitely all here and alive. We beat the bad guys and everything.

[concasse]

Idiot. [Somehow, Sanji manages to pull off a sickly relieved snarl in a choking voice with his chest too tight. And there's an understanding he can't guard against, that he wouldn't be taking this so badly if he hadn't seen--]

I should kick your shitty ass into a tree. [For scaring the shit out of him. For patting him like he's some damn child. For showing him that and shooting down those careful defenses he spent months setting up so he wouldn't have to keep thinking about what he'd lost.

He was okay with being a coward, this once.]