[Voice/Action]

[mikangirl]

[What a cheerful week it's been.  Almost like a vacation away from this place. 

Or not.

Nami doesn't have the energy to complain when she finds she's been returned out at the orchard in the early hours of the morning.  Not that much of a problem, bar the fact that it's freezing and she's dead tired.  The cottage isn't heated, but there's still a bed in there, and she collapses across it for a few hours' sleep.

...and at some point, rolls herself up in the covers, because that's smart.

When she finally wakes up around 8am, her journal's sitting on the floor next to the bed, and she flicks it open with a finger, not bothering to work up a filter to the crew.  Too much effort, and she's just not in the mood for things that require concentration today.  Or in much of a good mood at all.  Valentine's is... still a little too raw.  Among other things.]

[Voice]

I'm back.  [Not that anyone but the crew knew she was going somewhere.  Details.  She doesn't much care.]  You guys weather the storm okay?



[Later she'll make her way home, and then inevitably make her way into town and collapse in Good Spirits for a while in the evening.  She's catchable wherever, and probably not that hard to cheer up if you want a lighter conversation.]

((ooc:  and I will be slow for a bit, so bear with me.))

Comments

[Action]

[concasse]

[It's a rare day when Sanji decides to stay home rather than lurk in Seventh Heaven's kitchen-- but, well, it's a rare day today, he supposes. He hasn't ventured much farther than the couch, which he's currently lounging in, brooding deeply at the ceiling while Pumpkin rests on top of his chest.

Nothing too out of sorts, all things considered. He wipes the solemness off his face when the front door opens, before perking up completely when he recognizes who comes through]

Nami-san!

[Action]

[mikangirl]

[Oh hi there, slacker. 8| Nami does pull up a bit short, not expecting to see Sanji just lying on the couch, but it's not like the surprise is a bad one. After a second, she gives him a tired smile.]

'm back. [Obviously.] Does that mean I can have something hot for breakfast?

[Action]

[concasse]

Right, at your command~! [Sorry Pumpkin; that means you gotta move. He punts his cat into the ceiling-- okay no, he just sets her gently to the side, ignoring her grumpy meow]

Does Nami-san have anything in mind? [He's already up and heading for the kitchen]

[Action]

[mikangirl]

Not really. [She follows him into the kitchen with a yawn, sitting down at the table.] If it's warm and filling, it'll be the best thing I've tasted all week.

[That small thunk sound was her resting her head on the table. Tiiired D|]

[Action]

[concasse]

... You sure you don't want a nap first? [Just a guess, but, she seems exhausted. B| Not that this stops his question for a frying pan]

[Action]

[mikangirl]

Oh, I think I'll nap all afternoon. I'm gonna have a hot bath and get less hungry first. [This sounds like the most luxurious day ever.]

...how were things while I was gone?

[Action]

[concasse]

About the same as ever. [He turns on the stove heat, before angling himself for the fridge.] The shitty Malnosso are giving us a break, apparently.

[He sounds faiiiintly bitter mentioning them, but eh, it's no more crass than usual]

Chopper's not back from his mission, though.

[Action]

[mikangirl]

[She hums at that, a little disappointedly.] Hope he'll be back soon, then.

[...

...she watches him prepare for a bit, before her gaze drops to the table.]

I talked to Ragna on the way back.

[Action]

[concasse]

[Not... quite the topic change he'd been expecting. He does a full-body freeze before it occurs to him how telling that is, and forces himself back to his preparations. His tone is decidedly neutral]

Aa. You two get everything sorted out? [He does hopes so, despite his more selfish thoughts]

[Action]

[mikangirl]

[Not quite. She frowns guiltily when she sees him freeze, but. It feels better to tell him this. Maybe easing off one extra thread of anger.]

He apologised for being an ass about everything afterwards.

[Action]

[concasse]

[Heh. His lips quirk slightly] Good. [No, really. He's glad she got an apology.] I'm glad to hear it.

[Action]

[mikangirl]

[Technically the apology also extends to Sanji, she suspects, but Ragna is too bullheaded to say so. Either way, that's not her place to say. She has to broach a more difficult subject on top of that.]

We talked a little about Noel, too. And what happened last time she was gone.

[Action]

[concasse]

[Oddly enough, it's easier talking about Noel in this context. Sanji only loses his mental cool when he starts connecting an emotional attachment he doesn't know what to do with. This? This is alright. Sorta. If nothing else, easier to handle.]

... When she turned into Mu? [That said, his voice is still grave, even while he tosses together a light breakfast for Nami. He's going for filling rather than sweet, so the sugars don't keep her up.]

[Action]

[mikangirl]

Yeah. [Said on a small sigh, but she relaxes slightly. A little easier, then.]

I don't trust the Malnosso not to mess with her like that even more. [Or Hazama, for that matter.] So I asked Catherine for help.

[Action]

[concasse]

[He turns his head at that. Frankly he hates Catherine enough to want him maimed, but they've gone to him before with requests. And if Nami's bringing it up...]

Tch. Did the shithead have an idea?

[Action]

[mikangirl]

Yeah. He claims he's set up one of the rooms at the battledome with a failsafe. If Noel walks in as anyone other than ...than Noel, the failsafe will register that and Shift her back to normal.

We just have to get her there.

[Action]

[concasse]

If she acts anything like Mu, that might not be a problem. [It helps when you're crazy and want to wipe out all existence, so much that you'll probably follow any bait laid out.]

... But if it works... [His voice softens into something resembling cautious hope before something else occurs to him]

Are you gonna tell her?

[Action]

[mikangirl]

[Nami smiles tiredly.]

Actually. She already knows. I set this up months ago.

[There's a note of apology to her tone.] I figured it was her business and she should be the one to tell people. But... it turns out she didn't tell anyone.

[And Nami refuses to take the risk so close to a possible disaster.]

[Action]

[concasse]

... Yeah, that sounds like Noel-chan. [Said dryly. He doesn't blame Nami at all, nor Noel for her choice, but it certainly makes plans harder to orchestrate.]

Who else knows, besides Ragna?

[Action]

[mikangirl]

As far as I know, just Kurt. Have you ever met him?

[Action]

[concasse]

Heard of him, but...

Isn't he the blue guy?

[Action]

[mikangirl]

Yeah. He's a teleporter. One of Noel's friends. He's willing to help out.

[Action]

[concasse]

[It takes Sanji a moment to connect "teleporter" to "Kurt" to "very useful skill to have", but when he does, he nods in understanding. The more people aware, the less likely this turns ugly.]

Well then. Sounds like Noel-chan's taken care of. [She'll be okay]

[Action]

[mikangirl]

Yeah. As much as we can, anyway.

[Sanji and Ragna is enough of a safety net, she thinks. If the worst happens and Kusanagi attacks one of them, guaranteed the other won't be anywhere nearby. They can set things in motion.]

...how are you doing?

[Action] sob this is so late. ;;

[concasse]

[She asks a good question. Sanji's alternated between Not Thinking and Thinking Too Much, both which have yielded varying results. He doesn't speak right away, though hopefully it's clear he's trying to think of a way to give a satisfying answer.]

... I miss her. [Three simple words, filled with a lot of implications. He'd probably never admit it to anyone but Nami. That said, he doesn't turn to look at her when he speaks, diligently keeping an eye on her cooking meal]