[video]

[concasse]

... Nami-san’s gone home.

[The announcement comes early afternoon, after Sanji has tracked down all available housemates to share the heavy news; after spending thirty minutes alone in an empty room, leaning against the door frame and smoking while he stares dead-eyed at the stripped bed, and struggles to remind himself the tray of food he brought with him needs to go back into the fridge; after telling himself around breakfast, when she didn’t come to join them at the table, that she was probably in her mikan grove for the morning, and it wouldn’t be gentlemanly to disturb her; after waking up at the crack of dawn, grumpy and disheveled, thinking that at least with the Valentine’s Day shit over, he and his nakama could look forward to some semblance of peace.

...

His expression isn't grieved. Nor his tone. He keeps his gaze steady and serious] You all better wish her the best, you hear?

[He'll stick around to answer anyone who responds, then check on his nakama. And after his duty is finished, he's heading for the sea, and will stay there well into the night.

He's done all the talking he can manage. Now? He just wants to be left alone.]

[ooc: Action is open for castmates, and for anyone who'd like to track Sanji down, if they want /o/]

Comments

[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[That much Richard can understand too-- it's that feeling that has fueled part of his own drinking habit, which he knows he engages in more often than he really should, yet can't quite bring himself to stop.

That's why he isn't going to say a word to Sanji about the cigarette, because it would make him a hypocrite and he knows it. Instead, he'll just stand quietly and wait for Sanji to light it. Sometimes that silence is what's needed the most.]

[Action]

[concasse]

[Sanji takes his time going through the motions - a flick of the thumb; a blossom of fire he cups away from the wind; the first, thick inhale and exhale of smoke that clouds the air in front of him. Only once he repeats the ritual a few more times does he speak in the same, steadied tone.]

I'm heading for the beach. [He watches a piece of ash fall to the ground] You can come if you want.

[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[By now, Richard likes to think that he knows Sanji enough to know that this is the closest thing to an invitation that he's going to get from the other man, and that turning it down would probably come across as rude.

So he nods, trying for a quiet little smile once again to show that he's grateful that Sanji would allow him to come along under these circumstances.]

It's been a while since I've been out to the ocean here.

[That's his own way of accepting.]