concasse | 006↠ ACTION

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006↠ ACTION

[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.]

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[Sanji spares a moment to wish he'd slapped a sign on his back saying "NO TOUCHING", much as it burns his heart to hold himself at a distance from the tender embraces of the Luceti ladies. But this experiment is intrusive and unnecessary, and he groans the moment he feels the tug stopping him short.

He also stares blankly at the wall showcasing nothing but a delicate, somehow disapproving hand.] Robin-chan?

[For the record, he's very sorry.]

[No need to be sorry, even if this particular memory is bittersweet, it's also important. You will remember it, too. She is on one side of the canal and you are on the other.

She knows you want her to come back, and she knows it's not just because she is a pretty lady and you have a (fairly silly) weakness for them. She knows the truth, or thinks she does. And so lets you go by walking away.

But the memory doesn't stop here as it should and the next part, the part you didn't see where she is walking in the shadows...she's not so happy to show you]

I don't suppose there is a way you can stop this?

[This is Robin, and she's nakama. A certain amount of guilt on Sanji's end is to be expected. But not only that, to bear witness to one of her precious memories sets Sanji ill-at-ease. The scene might be familiar, and so are the emotions - confusion, concern, fear - but as she walks into the shadows, there's a lingering desire to know a little more than he's ever been allowed.

That's exactly why he looks away.]

Ah... [Sanji stares at the floor, ashamed for reasons he's not about to say] I'm sorry, Robin-chan. I haven't figured out how yet. [But he'll try if she orders it]

[She considers this a moment, watching herself, being herself, the old emotions filling her. But they are changed now. Shifted. There are two different people here. And this is all a Malnosso trick to cause pain. Well, perhaps she can turn that around]

It's all right. [She smiles] Watch with me, Sanji-kun.

[And if he does look up, he will see her make it to a quiet room, the only light coming from the arched windows. The door closes and when it does she leans her forehead against it. There are tears, for all that she is quiet about it, and her fists clench against the wood even as her teeth clench together]

I wanted you all to leave. To not exist. But you saved me from a lifetime of this.

[And yes, she does feel vulnerable. But then again, Sanji is nakama and perhaps to fulfill their dreams, they will have to go through darker times than these]

[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.

[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]

[She probably has no idea how much her response pleases him. Then again, maybe she does. What's certain is that Sanji's smile grows brighter still.

And then morphs into confusion when the memory ends. Don't worry, Sanji needs a moment of his own to gather his bearings. The abrupt departure of these memories still takes him by surprise.

He settles her with a glance once he's finished blinking the sunlight out of his eyes, and leans to rest on the nearby wall] Yes, Robin-chan?

[She's not surprised to see him standing there. But she hesitates, then smiles.]

Mm. Nothing. Never mind for now.

[She leans back a bit on the fountain]

Welcome back. It seems like you've had a hard time.

[Alright then. Sanji knows better than to pry into a lady's thoughts. Besides, it's far more natural to fall into the usual rhythm of conversation]

Awaaah, does this mean you missed meeeee~??

Always.

[She feels like she rarely sees you these days]

Will you be all right?

[She doesn't want to bring down the mood but...]

Me? I'll be fine~!

Besides, I just needed some fresh air. I'll head home soon enough. [Before Chopper notes he's missing and ties him to the bed]

I hope so.

[And a hand blossoms from the wall as if to straighten your shirt, but then she thinks better of it and it disappears]

Promise me you won't let this place get you down. No matter what happens.

[She smiles faintly]

At least not for long.

[It's only by a fraction, but his eyes grow wide. He wonders if she knows that--

No, probably not. Or maybe so. He decides to take solace in it as a nakama's concern, all the same]

You don't have to worry about that, Robin-chan~! It's not like I'm alone here.

Besides, this shithole's got nothing new to throw at me.

... I don't think that's true. [A more serious tone]

I don't think that's ever true. And even if you're used to something it can still hurt...

Maah, I suppose so... [Still, it helps to think he's been through enough that they'd have to try and scar him now.]

In any case-- [He shakes his head a little, glances at up at the sky] I'll get through this shitty experiment.

[She wonders if it's really all right. It's difficult to tell. But she knows well enough at least to pretend not to notice if things seem a little off]

What is the nature of it? [She can guess but she'd like to know, just in case. Not that she isn't willing to share unpleasant things with nakama but she would like to have more warning.]

Something to do with memories, I guess. [He glances at the ground, eventually placing his hands in his pockets]

It happens to anyone who touches me. Either we get one of my memories, or one of theirs.

[It's difficult to judge how to take this. Memories can be fascinating things, but also very personal and it's hard to tell exactly how he feels about this. What the best thing to say is.]

It will wear off eventually. And perhaps some good will come of it.

[What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, wasn't that the saying? Though she wishes it didn't have to be this way]

You really think so? [He mutters curiously, since his own thoughts run rather strict on this topic - he has no business peaking inside someone's head, bringing up secrets that deserve to be put to rest]

To be honest, seems pretty invasive.

[She looks away and her smile is fainter than before]

I suppose you're right. [Inspiring optimism was harder than it looked] Sorry, ne?

[He blinks at her, momentarily thrown by that reaction -- but then he starts warming up to a slight, fond smile]

You don't need to apologize, Robin-chan! Besides... [Even if it was invasive-] It was nice, getting to share a memory with you.

[Nice? No perhaps not. Nothing like that can ever be nice. She had the ability to make it so but few memories of that time are all together pleasant. Still--nice or not, it is good to see him smile and she can't help but return it]

I don't think we share enough, Sanji-kun. [She props her chin on her fist] Perhaps, when things return to normal [Or for what passes around here] we can make a few of our own?

But of course~! Nothing would give me greater pleasure than spending time with Robin-chwan~!

I'll look forward to it then, ne?

[And hopefully nothing too serious will come to interfere]

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006↠ ACTION

Think you can use a memory?

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