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; time and space BOW BEFORE US

[consultsdetective]

[ Sanji. What are you doing.

Does Lestrade have to arrest you for public drunkenness? Not that he really can, which is a fact that irks him on the regular. He would if he could, probably, from the looks of that path you're not strictly staying on.

Okay, that's not entirely the point, Mister Sayo's Boss, the point is that you've made a return to the public eye and. Well, you look like hell, kid, nice as it is to know you're not missing any limbs. Detective Inspector is on the approach. GIRD YOURSELF. ]

Alright there, Sanji?

Okay I couldn't resist.

[mikangirl]

[Must've been a pretty eventful and horrifying day for you all round, right Sanji? Luckily Nami wasn't around for it so she didn't inadvertently add to the headaches. Your day can be free of all navigators!

Because it's technically the 10th when Nami arrives home. It's an hour or so before sunrise, and hopefully Sanji has managed to get some kind of sleep by then. The extra weight on his bed may wake him. Either that, or the damp orange hair he's in danger of inhaling with every other breath. She's haphazardly sprawled on top of his covers.

Well, the Malnosso have always been horrible trolls with her re-arrivals to Luceti. This probably takes the cake. B|]

[gavemyword]

[Sense of direction finally working to his advantage, Zoro almost trips over the chef while on his way to the bar. His first instinct is to feel concern, then annoyance. Leave it to the chef to reappear this far out of the way. What a royal pain in the ass.]

So this is where you've been. [He crouches down with a sigh.] Come on, love cook. Let's get you ba--

[The world tilts sideways the moment his hand lands on Sanji's arm. Zoro can feel his thoughts pushing and pulling, pulsing in strange circles until the world around him falls apart and suddenly it's just him and Sanji and the early morning light dawning on Thriller Bark.

There they were, with Kuma and explosions and Sanji-- another one, somehow-- cursing and falling to the ground. Idiot, idiot. Not your turn. It was-- Luffy. No way out but through the bubble, and there was Kuma giving him a taste of agony but, no, he knew what was coming even as he watched his own mouth open, his knowledge filling in the words a split-second before they happened.

Just... let me decide the location.

And there it was: that familiar explosion of pain wracking through his body, digging into his bones and cutting lines through the spaces under his skin. For that one long moment, Zoro found himself lost in the sensation of his second death rushing up to meet him.]

[concasse]

[He lifts his gaze, hesitantly finding her eyes first before obeying the command. Not... entirely the reaction he expected, but then again, Robin's always been one for surprises.

And oh yes, this scene is not so unfamiliar in tone. While he has only seen her shed tears once, her opposition to being saved is not ever something Sanji will forget. Turned them down again and again - and the chef recalls the pain he bore in his heart, watching a nakama walk away from them. One they all loved. One they just wanted to sail with again.

... They got their wish. It only cost them notoriety on every sea, but heh. As pirates, there's no greater compliment coming from the World Government, now is there? His lips twitch into a smile]

Mah, Robin-chan just picked a stubborn crew to sail with.

[Action]

[concasse]

[For all intents and purposes, it appears the smaller of the blonds hasn't heard her at all - he's still busy inspecting his finger with a pout, while the peg-legged man looms over and catches a piece of the apple's skin. It's... sloppily done, when generously put; too much meat with the skin. This fact is quick to catch the attention of older man, whose already severe-looking face turns disgruntled the longer he gauges the boy's progress.

"Just what do you think you're doing, lil' eggplant!" Punishment is swift and sudden. The man collides his tall chef's hat with the boy's noggin, causing him to cry out from surprise rather than pain.

"Ooooooooooow!! Geezer, that hurt!!"

And while the scene unfolds, Sanji's momentarily forgotten Applejack's presence. He's too busy staring wide-eyed and befuddled, mouth slightly agape. Because he knows this scene intimately well. After all, he lived through it.]

This is... [The two predictably (at least to Sanji) start up a war of words, giving the chef ample time to glance around the kitchen] Oi, how did we get here?

Let us pretend it's still the ninth. And let's go with one of her memories.

[allseeingdeath]

[ She was never one to criticize when and where people chose to take their naps...and under a tree was definitely not a bad idea. But she couldn't help but feel like something was off when she saw the man out under the tree, clothes looking like he had just been through a tornado, passed out like no tomorrow. She approaches him, before lightly shaking his shoulder. ]

Hey, are you okay?

[Action]

[concasse]

[Sanji does not often shed his tears silently. The rare moments he does cry are usually as violent as his temper. Wild. Open on display with no shame at all.

This time, he feels he can't go that far. Either because Law is present or circumstances hold him back... whatever the case may be, when Sanji lowers his hand, his visible eye is bloodshot and moist. No other signs exist.

He doesn't acknowledge Law's presence until he's got a cigarette safely in his mouth. Excuse him, doctor, but his nerves sorely crave nicotine right now. One puffs, two, then three. He exhales slowly through his mouth and watches each cloud of smoke dissipate in the air. The normalcy is a comfort, and grounds him.]

... Thank you. For looking after my captain. [And for showing me, even if you didn't plan or mean to.]

/turns this super ugly 1/2

[concasse]

[Talk? Let's.

Sanji will start by grabbing you by the collar and shoving you against a tree]

Retired, huh?! [Lying bastard. The words echo in his head, each renewal charged by Sanji's own guilt for being so damn angry when he should be handling this better. And maybe Kotetsu has known the blond long enough to pick up the subtle shake in his shoulders, or that the bite to his words lacks focus - he's not angry at Kotetsu.

He's angry because rage so often comes before his sorrow.]

[concasse]

[And then suddenly, it's winter. The wind bites at Sanji's skin under the clothes, snow piled high around his ankles. Sanji catches his breath in surprise, his anger chilled in the sudden confusion. Whose memory is this?

The answer comes soon - the moment he hears his own voice screaming a name, a command - Don't you dare die on me! - Sanji's grip on Kotetsu turns slack. He forgets to move away. His head doesn't turn. He loses the ability to do anything but drill a hole into Kotetsu's shoulder with his blank stare, breath held tight in his chest. Every part of his mind is frozen in silence.

Like Ginko's chest will sound: silent. Sanji doesn't need to look to know when the knowledge clicks into place - when his own heart stops for a second and he pulls his slowly ear away from the man's torso. The words "He's dead" won't make sense for another hour or so. Until then, all he can do is float in-between a state of numb acceptance and firm denial.

So the chef will sit there in the snow, and stare.]

;A;

[concasse]

[There is no magic button that will put a stop to this. There are no pauses in motion. Sanji opens his mouth to offer some words of comfort, but what do you say to comfort this?

No, you don't say anything. The chef's mouth further thins into a line while he looks on like a chained spectator, expression a clean slate save for the distressed glint in his eye.

When it's over, maybe then he can at least apologize]

[Action] >D *has a good idea now* 1/3

[goldenglasses]

Alright. Alright. Although I'm not really sure you could hit me right now. I'm getting down.

[He starts to move down the roof. Only he starts down too fast and slips.]

2/3

[goldenglasses]

AHHHHH! LOOK OUT BELOW! [Vash comes crashing down the roof. Sliding right off and on top of Sanji.]

3/3

[goldenglasses]

[Which triggers the start of a memory.

Vash is sitting next to fountain. Looking out at the people passing by in the square. It's a fairly peaceful day, that is until Vash doubles over as if in pain. Only it's not pain, just that something is wrong. Something feels funny and he can't put his finger on what it is.

He leans over the water and stares at his reflection. Only it's not exactly his reflection.]

W-WHAT THE HELL!? [That's not exactly his voice that escapes his mouth either.]

[Action]

[gumgumboobies]

Ahh, Sanji! You're finally awake!

[After a much needed slapping and stuff.]

[Action]

[concasse]

Yeah, I'm--

[Action]

[concasse]

Oi! Don't act like it was nothing!

...

And why are you a girl? [And such a cute girl, too! Gods, this is such an injustice]

[Action]

[gumgumboobies]

How else, those Malnosso bastards did it!

[Duh!]

But don't worry, once the experiment is over, I bet I'll just go back to normal. [Poor Luffy. It's already over. =(]

[Action]

[concasse]

[Oh good, Luffy is aware that he's in the wrong body. Excellent. This means Sanji is free to bitch as he pleases...

At least when he's not being distracted by that ample chest...

Huh, he had a thought somewhere in his head but now he can't find it...

...

Yeah so what were they talking about again? 8|a Sanji's preoccupied.]

[Action]

[gumgumboobies]

Sanji...?

[What are you even looking down at bro. It's a good thing Luffy can't make the connection that you're gawking at her female body. YOU'D BE A BIGGER PERV THAN VASH.]

Ah, damn. I spilled salad dressing somewhere didn't I? [And Luffy starts to brush at the imaginary salad dressing on her shirt. Yes. Luffy said salad dressing Sanji. A little over a week ago she probably didn't even know what that was.]

[toujoursfluer]

[She likes that smile. They need to smile more. They need to laugh again.]

[There is a soft laugh in her voice as she says]

So it seems. I picked the best crew.

[She hesitates a moment and then gives you a look]

Sanji-kun, I...

[But suddenly she is blinking in the sunlight, the fountain playing behind her. She is faintly disoriented, as though having Sanji in her head is a normal occurrence. Give her a minute to adjust]

[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[At first glance, the memory doesn't seem to be a bad one, or even anything special. Yet if Sanji happens to glance over at Richard, it's hard to miss the fact that the other man's face has gone white, because as ordinary as it is, Richard recognizes the events of that night all too well.

In the memory, Richard - he's just a young boy, but it's clear it's still him - is just finishing up his dinner before heading off to his bedroom to prepare for bed. It's nothing unusual at all, or so it seems. It isn't until the Richard of the memory begins to unbutton the top button of his outfit that it becomes clear that something is very, very wrong: he pales, then gags, retching helplessly, but what he brings up is more bright red blood than anything else, painting the rug before him a gruesome shade of crimson.

It's a horrifying sight, there's no doubt of that. Yet despite the horror of it, there's no bewilderment on the young Richard's face, no desperate search for understanding. There's fear, yes, but beneath it is a sickening sense of resignation. He knows exactly what's going on.

Richard is dying. He's twelve years old and he's dying, poisoned at last just as his father had been before him.]

[action]

[hiken_ace]

[Ace watches the scene with a humored look. After all, it's not everyday you can see what your friends were like as children. But it's also just a bit awkward when you know the other party probably doesn't want you to see this. There's a silence between them for a few brief moments, Ace is just trying to find the words. It's not so much seeing a memory, but that Sanji probably has a few things on his mind. Ace will break the silence after a bit.]

No wonder you're a great chef now.

[Action]1/2

[deathsdoctor]

[Don't thank me.

Not for that.

The flashbacks come fast. Marineford. Kizaru. Blackbeard. The blood on his hands.. Ivankov.

What Ivankov said.

Jinbe. Boa Hancock. Two weeks spent waiting. The awakening. The aftermath.

Rayleigh.

I didn't do it for gratitude.

I just did.

For a whim.




For a promise.]

[Action]

[deathsdoctor]

[It's approaching two years now since then for Law since the incident occured. Not a two years spent separate from the Strawhats, where the memories can fade and he can be firm in his denial.

No. They've all been stuck in a jamjar. And much has happened. And things have changed and he has changed and

... the reply will be different than the one he would have (will) given on Punk Hazard.



Law inclines his head. Nods. An 'you're welcome'.

Silent acknowledgement of the thanks. He isn't at the point where he can speak it. It doesn't need to be spoken. Some things are better unspoken - can only go unspoken. They're understood - the bond between rivals is a complex one - and gratitude and respect and all the other things that go hand in hand are beyond words anyway.

It is an acknowledgement.]

[wildkotetsu]

Sanji don't—

[—grab me.

Well, too late for that.

Kotetsu's starting back with wide, uncertain eyes as the scene bleeds into reality again. He thinks for a moment 'I don't remember this', doesn't remember why he'd be screaming like that. He's yelled for people not to die before, but not so fervently, not to anyone but helpless citizens injured or fading beneath a mound of debris or licks of flame.

This was way worse. And it only now clicks when he looks over Sanji's shoulder that it's not him at all. A body with hair white as the snow they're in, and Sanji... looming over that body desperately, not realizing it's too late until the moments tick by.

Sanji's still boring a hole through Kotetsu with his gaze when he looks at the chef. Never seen him so numb-looking. It occurs to him, a quiet realization, that he's very well watching someone as close to Sanji as Bunny was to him die.

And god, does he know that pain. The pain that's jumbled his eating and sleeping habits, kept him restless when he's alone, flooded the pit of his stomach with guilt. 'Should've been able to something, anything, to save 'em.' But sometimes, even if you try your damnedest, all you're left with is that achy pain.

He grabs Sanji's shoulder and yanks him, in the roughly gentle way Kotetsu manages to pull off so well, until the chef's face is over his shoulder. Where he can keep his focus. Don't look.]

I'm sorry, I shouldn't be here.

I'm really sorry.