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[It’s two days after his arrival, maybe three, when Sanji finally gives his impromptu prison a well-deserved stroll. He has business on his mind – the kind that’s long overdue and should’ve been taken care of the moment he’d been sent to this shit castle. Maka’s hint on how to summon Ozuma had been well-appreciated, but Sanji eventually learns that heading to the Altar is just as reliable. Plus the chef is an impatient man who refuses to wait on someone else’s time. He wants to talk to Ozuma? He’ll crash the god’s room and air out his grievances there.
When he steps through the door, the Altar is larger than he remembers. He sends a glance to the ceiling, only barely picking out the slivers of wood (or stone). Under different circumstances, he would like to Sky Walk to the top, enjoy the architect for himself, but it’s an irrelevant footnote on his agenda list. Until he accomplishes his goal, everything else can wait.]
When he steps through the door, the Altar is larger than he remembers. He sends a glance to the ceiling, only barely picking out the slivers of wood (or stone). Under different circumstances, he would like to Sky Walk to the top, enjoy the architect for himself, but it’s an irrelevant footnote on his agenda list. Until he accomplishes his goal, everything else can wait.]
[ There are no bells hung within the residential tower, and yet, something tolls.
Soon... Perhaps Sanji will meet with their link to their own origins, the spiritual avatar of the Light itself, Ozuma.
That's then.
...Now, you will be Judged.
Light sifts down through missing stonework and broken tile, illuminating two silhouettes that stand in the way of one lone pirate and his goal. It's the stouter, shorter one who speaks first, standing in a shaft of golden light that casts deep shadows over the furrows and hollows of his skull, of which there are many. ]
...Heya.
You look like you've got a few bees in your bonnet, buddy. Before you go kicking the whole nest, how 'bout we put some of those concerns of yours to bed?
Soon... Perhaps Sanji will meet with their link to their own origins, the spiritual avatar of the Light itself, Ozuma.
That's then.
...Now, you will be Judged.
Light sifts down through missing stonework and broken tile, illuminating two silhouettes that stand in the way of one lone pirate and his goal. It's the stouter, shorter one who speaks first, standing in a shaft of golden light that casts deep shadows over the furrows and hollows of his skull, of which there are many. ]
...Heya.
You look like you've got a few bees in your bonnet, buddy. Before you go kicking the whole nest, how 'bout we put some of those concerns of yours to bed?
[The courtyard is a great place for stretching, to take a much needed breath of fresh air from the stuffy confines of the castle itself. Ammy had enjoyed a brief nap, a drink from the fountain, and event brought out her own cellphone (why in the world would a dog need a cell phone?) to listen to something nostalgic while she snoozed. The first song was slow and serene - a melodic tune from her homeland that she appreciated having saved to her phone more than she could possibly express. But As the wolf wakes, stretches out her back, and nudges her nose firmly against the phone to try and silence it, she feels a prickle at her senses. Her lips curl over her teeth as she turns and witnesses the dark portal form not too far away, the beginnings of a few shadows reaching out and pulling themselves up from the dark depths.
She growls low in her throat, as if that'd halt them from appearing, but no. Each shadow trickles out, larger than the one that precedes it. Were they drawn in by the sound of the shamisen that was playing on her phone? Well, that's better than having to sing again, anyway... Ammy already declared her speech a little too much more than she liked during this little 'event', and that is saying something. The fur bristle along her neck and back, billowing out as her tail stands up and out. The song peters off to a slow stop and that's when the shadows begin their assault in full force, throwing themselves at the wolf in the momentary lapse - the silence that exists before the next song plays.]
She growls low in her throat, as if that'd halt them from appearing, but no. Each shadow trickles out, larger than the one that precedes it. Were they drawn in by the sound of the shamisen that was playing on her phone? Well, that's better than having to sing again, anyway... Ammy already declared her speech a little too much more than she liked during this little 'event', and that is saying something. The fur bristle along her neck and back, billowing out as her tail stands up and out. The song peters off to a slow stop and that's when the shadows begin their assault in full force, throwing themselves at the wolf in the momentary lapse - the silence that exists before the next song plays.]
[Colin seems a lot more relaxed with this whole state of affairs. He might argue which of them looks stouter, but he can't deny that Sans has a certain gravitas to him.]
You do look like a man possessed of a certain drive.
You okay?
You do look like a man possessed of a certain drive.
You okay?
[And then suddenly there are two assholes in his way, stationed like guards in the waning light. Sanji would think to ask how, and why. Instead his mouth presses thin around his unlit smoke.
One man he doesn't recognize, which is never the best way to start a conversation. Nothing personal to the man, either, but Sanji is less than gracious when he feels under someone else's scrutiny. That's his job.
The other figure he does recognize; the pirate's gaze does not soften, no matter the distant pang of nostalgia. Of course the shit with an aura of a dried leaf is going to give him a lecture. Sanji's definitely gonna sit still for that.]
The hell do you want? [Directly with more force at Sans because the skeleton is gonna piss the pirate off eventually so he might as well get a jump-start on acting the part. He is only a shade more civil to Colin, nodding curtly to him] I've got business to attend to.
[...] If this is about behaving, Maka-chan already has my word. [Which is a lot more than what he's prepared to offer the duo]
One man he doesn't recognize, which is never the best way to start a conversation. Nothing personal to the man, either, but Sanji is less than gracious when he feels under someone else's scrutiny. That's his job.
The other figure he does recognize; the pirate's gaze does not soften, no matter the distant pang of nostalgia. Of course the shit with an aura of a dried leaf is going to give him a lecture. Sanji's definitely gonna sit still for that.]
The hell do you want? [Directly with more force at Sans because the skeleton is gonna piss the pirate off eventually so he might as well get a jump-start on acting the part. He is only a shade more civil to Colin, nodding curtly to him] I've got business to attend to.
[...] If this is about behaving, Maka-chan already has my word. [Which is a lot more than what he's prepared to offer the duo]
[ Sans.
1 ATK 1 DEF. The easiest enemy.
But from personal experience, CHECKing Colin has a way of breaking game mechanics the way he knows them, which has led Sans to believe he's just not looking the right way, isn't judging by the correct standards for the change in scenery.
Sanji, though. He's blessedly straightforward. ]
Love that kid. But like more than a few others 'round here, she wasn't afforded the opportunity to be a kid and skipped straight to being a soldier. Damn shame, but we're not here to talk about that.
[ We're here to talk about you, Sanji. ]
...Anyway, you seem upset. And, heh heh, who wouldn't be? You didn't ask for this.
See, Ozuma? He ain't like us, but he sympathizes anyway. I figured you could use a more human perspective about our situation.
[ From a skeleton monster and a corsican. Ba-dum tish. ]
1 ATK 1 DEF. The easiest enemy.
But from personal experience, CHECKing Colin has a way of breaking game mechanics the way he knows them, which has led Sans to believe he's just not looking the right way, isn't judging by the correct standards for the change in scenery.
Sanji, though. He's blessedly straightforward. ]
Love that kid. But like more than a few others 'round here, she wasn't afforded the opportunity to be a kid and skipped straight to being a soldier. Damn shame, but we're not here to talk about that.
[ We're here to talk about you, Sanji. ]
...Anyway, you seem upset. And, heh heh, who wouldn't be? You didn't ask for this.
See, Ozuma? He ain't like us, but he sympathizes anyway. I figured you could use a more human perspective about our situation.
[ From a skeleton monster and a corsican. Ba-dum tish. ]
What does anyone want, really?
[Colin shrugs, taking a step forward. Sorry to ruin the imposing show, Sans, but he's always kinda been a spotlight hog.]
See what's going on, find out what's broken, and see if we can't get it patched before bothering the higher ups.
[He glances back at Sans at Sanji's tone.]
He got a bone to pick with you?
[His own tone suggests innocence, but...]
[Colin shrugs, taking a step forward. Sorry to ruin the imposing show, Sans, but he's always kinda been a spotlight hog.]
See what's going on, find out what's broken, and see if we can't get it patched before bothering the higher ups.
[He glances back at Sans at Sanji's tone.]
He got a bone to pick with you?
[His own tone suggests innocence, but...]
[And in that brief pocket of silence, a new challenger approaches.
Since their first meeting, Sanji has known that Ammy is something more - still a dog by all accounts, but he is no stranger to power beyond his own. The canine holds enough sway to birth flowers from the ground, to call objects to them on command. He enjoys their unique plays at banter, their moments of unrestrained childish brawls, even the perpetual silence of someone always listening.
Under no circumstances would he want to fight them head-on.
That doesn't deter him from coming up fast without permission, right foot incased in flames and pointedly drawn against the nearest batch of shadows. It doesn't need to be his strongest attack. The swipe is enough to push them back, some shadows smearing across the sky. When there's enough space to breathe without a lungful of shadows, he relaxes his stance into a slouch next to the white-haired dog. Waiting.
The mutt can handle themselves, is what Sanji believes, but...]
Rude little shits, aren't they? [Rubbing his neck with a sigh] And after you were finished with your nap.
Since their first meeting, Sanji has known that Ammy is something more - still a dog by all accounts, but he is no stranger to power beyond his own. The canine holds enough sway to birth flowers from the ground, to call objects to them on command. He enjoys their unique plays at banter, their moments of unrestrained childish brawls, even the perpetual silence of someone always listening.
Under no circumstances would he want to fight them head-on.
That doesn't deter him from coming up fast without permission, right foot incased in flames and pointedly drawn against the nearest batch of shadows. It doesn't need to be his strongest attack. The swipe is enough to push them back, some shadows smearing across the sky. When there's enough space to breathe without a lungful of shadows, he relaxes his stance into a slouch next to the white-haired dog. Waiting.
The mutt can handle themselves, is what Sanji believes, but...]
Rude little shits, aren't they? [Rubbing his neck with a sigh] And after you were finished with your nap.
[Disregarding the comment about Maka with a faint scowl, but only after carefully placing it to the back of his mind for further consideration. If it's a story the girl wants to tell, that'll be her business down the line.
Though when Colin walks forward, he's treated to another round of appraisal. There's strength in the aura, if nothing worthy of Sanji's notice. The pun earns him negative points on the spot, however, and Sanji casually throws out a "to hell with you" with no humor added to soften the tone - he couldn't give less of a shit if Colin meant to use it or not - and then he points a finger at both of them:]
Then start talking and stop wasting my time. If you shits don't want me banging on Ozuma's door, let's hear it. [Rummaging into his pocket for his sole lighter] The whole story from start to finish. Every detail I should know.
[Go ahead, rock his world, gents. You get five minutes.]
Though when Colin walks forward, he's treated to another round of appraisal. There's strength in the aura, if nothing worthy of Sanji's notice. The pun earns him negative points on the spot, however, and Sanji casually throws out a "to hell with you" with no humor added to soften the tone - he couldn't give less of a shit if Colin meant to use it or not - and then he points a finger at both of them:]
Then start talking and stop wasting my time. If you shits don't want me banging on Ozuma's door, let's hear it. [Rummaging into his pocket for his sole lighter] The whole story from start to finish. Every detail I should know.
[Go ahead, rock his world, gents. You get five minutes.]
[ What, him? Imposing? Naaaaaaaaah. You seize that spotlight, Colin.
Sans always does better in the background. He shrugs unimpressively. ]
Wouldn't be the first.
[ He turns that skeletal grin to Sanji. ]
You already know we've been volunteered to stand in for the light against the Queen's forces of darkness.
Us. Be us heroes or soldiers, peacemakers and rulers, subjects and spacers and comedians from any number of worlds and any number of times.
We're the ones that got picked, whether we're suited to fighting or not.
Like it or not, our success or failure here will have repercussions. Might be that they trickle down to our own worlds.
Take a second to think about that.
Can we REALLY afford to go barking up the tree of our benefactor, our one link between here and wherever and whenever we call home?
Sans always does better in the background. He shrugs unimpressively. ]
Wouldn't be the first.
[ He turns that skeletal grin to Sanji. ]
You already know we've been volunteered to stand in for the light against the Queen's forces of darkness.
Us. Be us heroes or soldiers, peacemakers and rulers, subjects and spacers and comedians from any number of worlds and any number of times.
We're the ones that got picked, whether we're suited to fighting or not.
Like it or not, our success or failure here will have repercussions. Might be that they trickle down to our own worlds.
Take a second to think about that.
Can we REALLY afford to go barking up the tree of our benefactor, our one link between here and wherever and whenever we call home?
Something tells me he gets that, though.
[He keeps right on looking at Sanji then.]
Me, I don't think that's got much to sway him from anything. Tell me, what's your beef here? We all got stuff we wanna ask the guy who's voluntelling us to do this. What's yours?
[He keeps right on looking at Sanji then.]
Me, I don't think that's got much to sway him from anything. Tell me, what's your beef here? We all got stuff we wanna ask the guy who's voluntelling us to do this. What's yours?
[The blazing kick that sends a mass of shadows spiraling into the air was...unexpected and Ammy turns her head in shock and surprise, ears pointed up and mouth hanging open a little. She knew this man was fast, but she didn't expect a strength and a power like that - especially not to the point of creating flames in such a way. She's impressed, and while she was concerned she had to keep him out of trouble now that he's shown up, Ammy actually she snorts with a wheezy canine chuckle at his remark.
Yes, quite rude indeed...she was having such a good nap, especially to such a good song. Lifting her head with a low, long howl, Ammy shakes herself off so that her ears flop against her skull. It's just as she gets up that a new song starts on her phone, swift and energetic. The shadows snap their heads up and hop in place to the beat of the tune, though they also creep closer as well, undeterred. Ohoho, so something to fight to...this is going to be a lot of fun.
Sanji will feel the spike of Amaterasu's haki and she swaps out her reflector for a glaive, the cerulean blade Tsumugari glistening on her back. The swift slashes she can deal should match the beat well. Looking up at her partner, Ammy bounces on her four legs and wags her tail, tongue hanging from her lower jaw.
Ready?]
Yes, quite rude indeed...she was having such a good nap, especially to such a good song. Lifting her head with a low, long howl, Ammy shakes herself off so that her ears flop against her skull. It's just as she gets up that a new song starts on her phone, swift and energetic. The shadows snap their heads up and hop in place to the beat of the tune, though they also creep closer as well, undeterred. Ohoho, so something to fight to...this is going to be a lot of fun.
Sanji will feel the spike of Amaterasu's haki and she swaps out her reflector for a glaive, the cerulean blade Tsumugari glistening on her back. The swift slashes she can deal should match the beat well. Looking up at her partner, Ammy bounces on her four legs and wags her tail, tongue hanging from her lower jaw.
Ready?]
[Sans' words hit closer like a chastisement than is probably intended. High-strung as he's been since he arrived, whatever common-sense there is to find in the speech is quickly lost by the chef's growing sense of disdain. "Can we really afford?", the skeleton asks, winning the award for the stupidest question of the day. How else do you learn the truth besides demanding answers from those who hold the cards? Gossip with the foot soldiers and the fools?
Don't preach at him, you little shit.
Sanji's tirade is stopped before it has a chance to begin - one that would end in battle, that's how ready Sanji is to cut their five minutes down to seconds. His brows are furrowed into fury, but Colin deflects it by putting the pirate in the spotlight again. He hotly responds with a fair amount of truth]
sensitive shit. I was fuckin busy and need to get back. [Before someone dies and it's his fault] Can't say I care for Ozuma's choice in soldiers, either.
[Children. What piece of shit employs children to battle? Actually, don't bother with an answer- Sanji knows.]
Don't preach at him, you little shit.
Sanji's tirade is stopped before it has a chance to begin - one that would end in battle, that's how ready Sanji is to cut their five minutes down to seconds. His brows are furrowed into fury, but Colin deflects it by putting the pirate in the spotlight again. He hotly responds with a fair amount of truth]
sensitive shit. I was fuckin busy and need to get back. [Before someone dies and it's his fault] Can't say I care for Ozuma's choice in soldiers, either.
[Children. What piece of shit employs children to battle? Actually, don't bother with an answer- Sanji knows.]
[ He'll stand there, grinning the same grin as he always does, watching the chef, who is right on both counts. He is, in fact, a diminutive skeleton. He is also a shit, or as a certain little buttercup likes to say, a Smiley Trashbag. Neither version is wrong, admittedly. ]
Now there's a familiar tune. Me, I ain't too crazy about all the kids getting dragged into this.
[ And if that happens to be Sanji's reason for being dissatisfied with the 'rank and file', then they agree on something. He still finds the kids bring a unique perspective to the situation... And provide monsters like Toriel with new purpose. ]
The kids, unfinished business... All the more reason to get this done fast and get home, right?
Now there's a familiar tune. Me, I ain't too crazy about all the kids getting dragged into this.
[ And if that happens to be Sanji's reason for being dissatisfied with the 'rank and file', then they agree on something. He still finds the kids bring a unique perspective to the situation... And provide monsters like Toriel with new purpose. ]
The kids, unfinished business... All the more reason to get this done fast and get home, right?
[Colin looks between them, and he just sighs and then laughs quietly.]
None of us asked to be here. Least of all Ozuma.
Me? I'm looking at six months minimum of retraining, testing, and recertification before I'll be able to do my job on my ship again. I'm not looking forward to in in the slightest. I'm a spacer, being planet-bound bothers me.
But here's the thing... Have any of us thought to ask Ozuma questions? He's no god. If anything, he strikes me as a servant of a higher power, stuck in a real bad situation.
[He makes an idle gesture off to the side, clearly going on a rambling talk.]
And since he isn't a god, what makes you think he chose to pull in kids? Maybe a third of us are combat ready. Less than that are people who have any business fighting a psychotic slave-making queen of darkness.
To me? That sounds like a guy who's trying to find help however he can. A guy without options. A guy looking for help and casting a line to try and get the most capable souls he can... out of a multiverse of possibilities.
Is it a good situation? No particularly. But chewing him out isn't going to make things any better. He's not gonna magically wave a hand and bring in a platoon of guerrilla-trained soldiers capable of taking down these shadows.
[He takes a step closer to Sanji then, holding out a hand palm up.]
You wanna talk to Ozuma, I ain't gonna stop you. I'll probably even go with you. But draw it back a little. You kick a man when he's down, when he's at the edge of hope and despair, all you're gonna do is hasten the end.
None of us asked to be here. Least of all Ozuma.
Me? I'm looking at six months minimum of retraining, testing, and recertification before I'll be able to do my job on my ship again. I'm not looking forward to in in the slightest. I'm a spacer, being planet-bound bothers me.
But here's the thing... Have any of us thought to ask Ozuma questions? He's no god. If anything, he strikes me as a servant of a higher power, stuck in a real bad situation.
[He makes an idle gesture off to the side, clearly going on a rambling talk.]
And since he isn't a god, what makes you think he chose to pull in kids? Maybe a third of us are combat ready. Less than that are people who have any business fighting a psychotic slave-making queen of darkness.
To me? That sounds like a guy who's trying to find help however he can. A guy without options. A guy looking for help and casting a line to try and get the most capable souls he can... out of a multiverse of possibilities.
Is it a good situation? No particularly. But chewing him out isn't going to make things any better. He's not gonna magically wave a hand and bring in a platoon of guerrilla-trained soldiers capable of taking down these shadows.
[He takes a step closer to Sanji then, holding out a hand palm up.]
You wanna talk to Ozuma, I ain't gonna stop you. I'll probably even go with you. But draw it back a little. You kick a man when he's down, when he's at the edge of hope and despair, all you're gonna do is hasten the end.
[As the song begins to fill in the spaces of the courtyard, Sanji glances sharply at the phone and feels his heart stir in time with the colorful twang of strings. This is not a type of music he's familiar with. The melody feels weighted and ancient in the way that new music sometimes does, but at the same time swift and complicated. A smirk stretches across his face when he turns back to the shadows. Well shit. And he was already working with enough battle adrenaline as it is. This song is gonna add fuel to the fire.
Ensnared by the beat of the music, the shadows bob and sway the closer they approach, but Sanji's attention is suddenly drawn to his peripheral - at the mutt who's bouncing on the pads of their paws like an excited puppy. If he were viewing them through the full lens of his Observation Haki, they'd be glowing a bright blue. Instead he gives a good-natured smirk at that wagging tail and sighs a little, briefly closing his eyes.
The strings pause.]
Aa. I'm ready.
[And then the music starts again. Propelling himself off the balls of his feet, Sanji heads directly for the first wave to his left - a group of shadows hopping to the beat, before quickly rearing up when Sanji draws too close. He kicks at them, through them, swinging his entire body into a circle that lifts streaks of dust from beneath his feet. The strings continue to drum on in the background]
Ensnared by the beat of the music, the shadows bob and sway the closer they approach, but Sanji's attention is suddenly drawn to his peripheral - at the mutt who's bouncing on the pads of their paws like an excited puppy. If he were viewing them through the full lens of his Observation Haki, they'd be glowing a bright blue. Instead he gives a good-natured smirk at that wagging tail and sighs a little, briefly closing his eyes.
The strings pause.]
Aa. I'm ready.
[And then the music starts again. Propelling himself off the balls of his feet, Sanji heads directly for the first wave to his left - a group of shadows hopping to the beat, before quickly rearing up when Sanji draws too close. He kicks at them, through them, swinging his entire body into a circle that lifts streaks of dust from beneath his feet. The strings continue to drum on in the background]
[Those are a lot of words, more from Colin than from Sans, and after a certain point, Sanji's gaze drifts boredly behind the taller one. He's only half-paying attention because if it wasn't clear, Sanji isn't a man who tolerates men handing down lectures.
Colin's a spacer? Whatever the fuck that is. Don't care.
No one's asked Ozuma questions? Shithead, why do you think he's here.
Ozuma's no god, huh? Then get on spreading a better network of valid information, it's not Sanji's fault half the inhabitants in this castle all refer to him as such.
The list keeps on rolling, until a certain point when Sanji takes his own step forward - slightly to the side as if to circumvent Colin and Sans completely, and walk away from a fruitless conversation. The five minutes aren't up, but he's tired. He's done. This is exactly why he doesn't rub elbows with shitty pawns.
There's only one reason he stops. A pebble among many stones that never found their mark. The chef pauses on his heel, head slightly bowed, and gives the hand held out by Colin an arched brow. His expression masks into low key exasperation]
... I already told you shits I promised Maka-chan I'd behave. [And while Sanji knows that's not really a statement any stranger should hang their hat on...] I'm here for are answers, not a fist fight. [For all his fervor, Sanji needs to survive. He needs to keep his friends safe and that won't happen if he dies off planet. And he's got an aversion to kicking people when they're desperate. That's how you make a monster.
He points his index and middle finger at them] Your five minutes are nearly up. Anything else?
Colin's a spacer? Whatever the fuck that is. Don't care.
No one's asked Ozuma questions? Shithead, why do you think he's here.
Ozuma's no god, huh? Then get on spreading a better network of valid information, it's not Sanji's fault half the inhabitants in this castle all refer to him as such.
The list keeps on rolling, until a certain point when Sanji takes his own step forward - slightly to the side as if to circumvent Colin and Sans completely, and walk away from a fruitless conversation. The five minutes aren't up, but he's tired. He's done. This is exactly why he doesn't rub elbows with shitty pawns.
There's only one reason he stops. A pebble among many stones that never found their mark. The chef pauses on his heel, head slightly bowed, and gives the hand held out by Colin an arched brow. His expression masks into low key exasperation]
... I already told you shits I promised Maka-chan I'd behave. [And while Sanji knows that's not really a statement any stranger should hang their hat on...] I'm here for are answers, not a fist fight. [For all his fervor, Sanji needs to survive. He needs to keep his friends safe and that won't happen if he dies off planet. And he's got an aversion to kicking people when they're desperate. That's how you make a monster.
He points his index and middle finger at them] Your five minutes are nearly up. Anything else?
[As Sanji darts left, Ammy goes right, the sapphire blade on her back humming as it cleaves a whole line of shadows as the music pings and plucks. She controls it with her mind mostly, sometimes using her jaws to handle the massive sword as well. The shadows screech and hiss as her divine instrument shreds through them, and she moves almost in sync to her partner, her sword striking in tune to when the blaze sole of Sanji's shoe slams into the body of a sentinel or ghoul.
A black line with a blazing white-hot light on his leg, a white streak with a dab of black on her tail - Yin and Yang; the symbol for balance.
And though the shadows try to lash out with clawed hands and shadowy, black teeth, the duo is nothing if not persistent. Ammy is having the time of her life, meeting her partner as their paths cross in and almost circular pattern. She greets him with a happy look and a prance - lifting her legs as she trots, like a show horse.]
WROOF!
[Uttered in time to the yell in the song. This is the song of her people, and she's deeply enjoying getting to share it with someone like this. The shadows don't seem to know how to keep up with the high-energy and the sheer speed and strength of the 'dancers', bucking with each kick and strike of Amaterasu's glaive.]
A black line with a blazing white-hot light on his leg, a white streak with a dab of black on her tail - Yin and Yang; the symbol for balance.
And though the shadows try to lash out with clawed hands and shadowy, black teeth, the duo is nothing if not persistent. Ammy is having the time of her life, meeting her partner as their paths cross in and almost circular pattern. She greets him with a happy look and a prance - lifting her legs as she trots, like a show horse.]
WROOF!
[Uttered in time to the yell in the song. This is the song of her people, and she's deeply enjoying getting to share it with someone like this. The shadows don't seem to know how to keep up with the high-energy and the sheer speed and strength of the 'dancers', bucking with each kick and strike of Amaterasu's glaive.]
[ There's a moment during which Sans's sockets are blank pits of shadow, sometime while Colin is speaking and Sanji begins to move.
He thinks about conversations in the stillness of the Altar Room, with the memory of coming to inside one of those many stone sarcophagi still a fresh one scraping at the back of his skull. Requests made and answers given.
Gods. He doesn't believe any exist.
After closing his eye sockets for a moment his lights are back again, bright pin pricks tracking Sanji with the permanent fixture of his grin. ]
He's a spirit. And if that means nothin' to you, fuhgeddaboudit.
[ There's a pause.
Sans looks like he has something more to say, but this time, he shrugs. ]
Nah, I pass. Colin?
He thinks about conversations in the stillness of the Altar Room, with the memory of coming to inside one of those many stone sarcophagi still a fresh one scraping at the back of his skull. Requests made and answers given.
Gods. He doesn't believe any exist.
After closing his eye sockets for a moment his lights are back again, bright pin pricks tracking Sanji with the permanent fixture of his grin. ]
He's a spirit. And if that means nothin' to you, fuhgeddaboudit.
[ There's a pause.
Sans looks like he has something more to say, but this time, he shrugs. ]
Nah, I pass. Colin?
Dear Sanji,
This is Toriel. Hello! I hope you are well. I have a question for you. If you are not busy, would you help me make an angel food cake for Papyrus' birthday? It is his favorite kind so it must be perfect. 🎂
This is Toriel. Hello! I hope you are well. I have a question for you. If you are not busy, would you help me make an angel food cake for Papyrus' birthday? It is his favorite kind so it must be perfect. 🎂
[Colin smiles and looks at Sans.]
Thanks for the summation, I talk too much sometimes.
[He looks back to Sanji then.]
I'm not asking you to behave, double redundancy ain't necessary here. I'm asking you to take it easy on him.
IF we need to take out our frustrations on him for any reason, I'd rather it be when he's done something to deserve it.
Besides, the guy's doing all he can to make our stay here... tolerable. Look at it from another perspective, try to see what makes this place work and what it needs.
That's all I'm asking of you.
Thanks for the summation, I talk too much sometimes.
[He looks back to Sanji then.]
I'm not asking you to behave, double redundancy ain't necessary here. I'm asking you to take it easy on him.
IF we need to take out our frustrations on him for any reason, I'd rather it be when he's done something to deserve it.
Besides, the guy's doing all he can to make our stay here... tolerable. Look at it from another perspective, try to see what makes this place work and what it needs.
That's all I'm asking of you.
[Haha, "easy".
Well, they're bound for disappointment. The truth is Sanji doesn't care enough about Ozuma's perspective - he does not care - and literally can't until he talks to the guy himself. He's open to presenting chances; he's not open to smiling and walking away like this talk with Sans and Colin has satisfied him. In his eyes, they're largely useless as bodyguards.
Which is a bit odd, considering they speak as if the end of the world is knocking on the door.]
You do talk too much.
[He is not looking at Colin when he speaks (probably because he stopped paying attention halfway through again), he's looking at the skeleton who seems to have some extra words on his soul.]
Something I don't get. If keeping our host stress-free is so important, are you two really who Ozuma drummed up for guard duty?
Well, they're bound for disappointment. The truth is Sanji doesn't care enough about Ozuma's perspective - he does not care - and literally can't until he talks to the guy himself. He's open to presenting chances; he's not open to smiling and walking away like this talk with Sans and Colin has satisfied him. In his eyes, they're largely useless as bodyguards.
Which is a bit odd, considering they speak as if the end of the world is knocking on the door.]
You do talk too much.
[He is not looking at Colin when he speaks (probably because he stopped paying attention halfway through again), he's looking at the skeleton who seems to have some extra words on his soul.]
Something I don't get. If keeping our host stress-free is so important, are you two really who Ozuma drummed up for guard duty?
...
[ Sans pulls his left hand from his pocket and makes a show of scratching his temple with the tip of one phalanx. ]
Guard duty? Heh. Nah.
Only thing Ozuma's asked us to do is the same he's asked everyone else. Colin here? He solves problems.
[ They haven't known each other long and, quite frankly, Sans isn't the type to go expecting respect, but neither is he feeling much to swallowing disrespect without showing the line.
He doesn't know much about pirates, not much more than what he's read in old, mildewy, tattered novels like Treasure Island plucked from the subterranean junkyard. Figures manners aren't something to expect. But he's getting a little annoyed, and maybe there's a little edge in his voice that wasn't there before, beneath the lazy drone. ]
Problems a lot bigger than a high-strung pirate with a hair across his tailbone.
...But, y'know. Theoretically speaking, if I thought you were gonna pose a threat, to him or to Ozzy, or to our chances of getting home..?
Buddy.
You'd be dead where you stand.
[ Sans pulls his left hand from his pocket and makes a show of scratching his temple with the tip of one phalanx. ]
Guard duty? Heh. Nah.
Only thing Ozuma's asked us to do is the same he's asked everyone else. Colin here? He solves problems.
[ They haven't known each other long and, quite frankly, Sans isn't the type to go expecting respect, but neither is he feeling much to swallowing disrespect without showing the line.
He doesn't know much about pirates, not much more than what he's read in old, mildewy, tattered novels like Treasure Island plucked from the subterranean junkyard. Figures manners aren't something to expect. But he's getting a little annoyed, and maybe there's a little edge in his voice that wasn't there before, beneath the lazy drone. ]
Problems a lot bigger than a high-strung pirate with a hair across his tailbone.
...But, y'know. Theoretically speaking, if I thought you were gonna pose a threat, to him or to Ozzy, or to our chances of getting home..?
Buddy.
You'd be dead where you stand.
But, hey.
[ Hands up! He's just kidding you, pal. Think this lazy pile of bones could make good on that, just now?
Don't put your foot through his skull, ok. ]
You're not, so we got nothin' to worry about!
[ Hands up! He's just kidding you, pal. Think this lazy pile of bones could make good on that, just now?
You're not, so we got nothin' to worry about!
Edited 2016-03-28 18:50 (UTC)
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