[Voice]

[mikangirl]

[The announcement doesn't come until she's tracked down what's left of her crew and paid a visit to Ace and Sabo to inform them in person. She could wish Sanji and Zoro were here, because she winces at the idea of them finding out on the grapevine before they even return home. But it can't be helped.

Besides, maybe he'll be back before they return. He always has before.

She can hope he isn't.]

[Voice]

For those that knew him, Luffy has gone home. [She sounds perfectly calm, if a little distant.] He didn't leave anything, so... wish him well.

Comments

[concasse]

[Sanji takes the news of Vivi's kidnapping as expected: with noticeable weariness overtaking his frame, until he's slightly hunched over the table as if in mourning. The news about Luffy, however--]

... Aa... [So their captain's gone home. The corners of his lips pinch, caught between a wry smile and a saddened frown, until he gives up deciding on either expression completely and stares thoughtfully into his tea. Should he bother acting upset? Luffy's always come back to them, even when the crew would rather one of their own escape this prison. No, despite the ache the news leaves behind, it's a different sort of sorrow]

Well, I think we'll manage okay without the shithead for now. [Now he does smile, the same sad, fond one from before] Who knows? Maybe this just means we better get home soon so he doesn't have to come back after us.

[Make the best of things, right?]

[mikangirl]

Maybe so. [Nami smiles back, a wistful, cautious sort of smile. She misses him. But she's very glad he's gone.] Still, it's... not the best kind of news to come back to, huh.

[She hesitates, stirring her tea, and then glances off into space behind him somewhere.]

How have you been? Aside from the mission, I mean. [Soft.]

1/2

[concasse]

[Sanji almost shrugs. Bad news in Luceti is like a standard weather report; even if it hurricanes, you nod and accept it, because that's the nature of the land they're living in. Every hurt comes with its own side-order of apathy.

That next question Sanji doesn't know what to do with, though. He quiets immediately. Oh sure, there's honesty - and then there's what he'd actually say. On habit, he attempts to gather the latter up, only for every word in his head to scatter in disarray.

Still too painful, then. He swallows a mouthful a tea before chancing a reply.]

As... well as you could expect, given all the shit that's happened. [He doesn't line the words with much detail, but it is the truth, he notes - and Nami didn't broach an easy topic. Though to be clear--] It's gotten better.

[Because Zoro's not dead and Sanji doesn't hate himself as much]

[concasse]

--Nami-san. [His head bows a little more, until his bangs fall over both eyes.]


... And you? Are you feeling okay? [Not what he wanted to say, hinted by the constricted way his carries his words. But this way might be better.]

[mikangirl]

[That question is met with the same sort of confusion how to answer. She'd like to say she's fine, and in one sense she is. On another, the reasons behind why she's fine are... probably guaranteed to prove that actually, she really isn't. So which is true?

But she broached her question first for a reason. She watches that fall of Sanji's hair, heavily reminded of Kotetsu, in a hurtful sort of ironic way. (Because when Kotetsu did this, well. All she could think of was Sanji.]

I'm sorry. [It's very quiet, and it's probably the most forthright and honest thing she can say.] I was... I wasn't coping. And it wasn't your fault at all.

[Not really a direct answer. Sorry about that.]

[concasse]

[His shoulders wilt. It's not because of her apology, either, much as that pains him too, but dredging everything on top of the table comes with its consequences. He'd hoped by now a conversation like this would be easier to bear, and with someone he trusts, too, instead of reminding him how much living here can hurt.]

You don't-- [he stops himself from finishing, and amends his words. If she wants to apologize - if it might bring her some peace - then he's not gonna stop her.] I wasn't coping, either. [Softly:] I don't think any of us were.

It wasn't anyone's fault. [Despite himself, he cracks a smile] Even if it might take a shitty while to believe that.

[It's the closest he'll get to admitting he still holds himself accountable.]

[mikangirl]

[...she wants to take that and run. She really does. It's tempting, in a cowardly sort of way, to take all of that at face value, absolve herself of any blame, move on.

She can't. Not quite. Probably, she acknowledges wearily to herself, because they'll all be blaming themselves for a while no matter what pretty words they say in the meantime.

What she does take from that is that Sanji doesn't-- hate is a strong word, and no matter what happens, she knows the ties will always be there. They're nakama. But--

He's not blaming her, either. She's sure he's honest on that score, far beyond just trying to be a gentleman. Not at this dark time of the morning. Not when he looks so tired and weary and sad.

So a knot loosens, just a little.]

I'm still sorry. [And she smiles at that, quick and shaky, but. Hey.]

I missed you.

[concasse]

[He gives her a knowing grin at the first line, but manages to settle for looking content all the same. Nothing but shitty time will take care of that, and that's maybe the only thing Luceti promises for as long as they're stuck here.

The second line is what gets him, catches his breath in his throat. His stare turns blind and vulnerable, and he bites his bottom lip.

... It hadn't seemed fair to hope that she might miss him. And after her departure from Luceti, his greatest wish and cruelest punishment had been administered: she was safe (as safe as the New World would allow) with him left behind in Luceti, wondering how far their bond had been strained. Only strained, because the bond between nakama is worth more than that, but it can be bent and warped with enough time and pressure.

For this one moment, he doesn't care how selfish it is, but--] I'm glad. [He laughs a little shakily, probably looking close to tears save the fact his visible eye is completely dry] That Nami-san came back.

[He needed to hear that]

[mikangirl]

[The fact there's a table between them is really all that stops Nami from trying to hug that look off his face, but really his reaction is what she needs to see in any case. She feels better than she has in a long time.

Which is why she's nearly in tears herself, mind. Relief does that to a person. She takes a breath, then smiles at Sanji, reaching across the table to lay her hand on his.]

Well. It's not like this house can function without me.

[Sass at 3 am.]

[concasse]

[And just like that, it's like everything clicks back into place, and it happens so quickly his worries seem laughably exaggerated in hindsight. When he grins again, for the first time that night, Sanji looks wholly like his usual self.]

Of course it can't! How else is everyone supposed to stay in line? [He's only partially joking. They managed okay, but it didn't stop them from wandering throughout the town likes ghosts with no purpose for a while.

It really is nice to have her back]

We need our navigator to help us navigate through life~! [Dorky, yet true]

[mikangirl]

That was terrible. [She would look more unimpressed, but Nami's still grinning, so the whole sort of you are a moron vibe she's trying to give kind of ...fails. Oh well. She leans back in her chair, picking up her cup.] I'll put it down to being exhausted, just this once. Drink your tea and go to bed.

[concasse]

[What can he say? Sanji enjoys reveling in his own silliness sometimes, and thus looks decidedly unapologetic for the sap.

Though he does appear surprised at the mention of bed, having forgotten his own exhaustion in the midst of their conversation -- but then Nami says the B word. Add to that the fatigue only relief can bring and it hits him like a ton of bricks. While he'd like nothing better than to chatter at the woman all night...

Well. He's currently fighting back a yawn, even if the huge smile continues to take up space]

Right, right~ I'll get to bed in a second. But what about you, Nami-san?

[mikangirl]

Oh, don't worry. I think I'll be right behind you. [She doesn't feel all that tired, but Nami suspects she'll have no trouble going back to sleep now. This horrible tension gone between them, she thinks she'll at least be able to go back to bed in a far better state of mind and snuggle under the blankets.

Sleep won't be that far off.]

I guess I'll see you in the morning. Though it's pretty late. Want me to make breakfast in the morning? One time offer. [Sleep in. She'll only make you pay for it a little. >.>a]

[concasse]

[To exhausted chefs who would like nothing more than five hours of sleep, that is a very tempting offer, and there's a breath of moment where the man sits there, considering.

-- But in the end Sanji's still a chivalrousness bastard who'd rather Nami get to sleep in his steed. The smile from before becomes rueful, in preparation for turning down her hospitality.]

How wonderful Nami-san's kindness is~! But I think I'll manage alright. [He stands up, tea in tow - he'll drink it in his room - but before leaving he reaches over and gives her shoulder a small, fond squeeze]

I'll see you in the morning.

[mikangirl]

[She smiles up at him.

There is... a lot of comfort to be drawn from that farewell.]

That you will. G'night, Sanji-kun.

[She'll finish her own drink at the table, though. But when she does return to bed, sleep comes swiftly.

One small piece of the universe put right.]