[They all have to eat at some point, and Zenitsu doesn't care much to socialize right now. The kitchen is quieter than the mess hall, so that's where he goes to grab a bite when he finds someone else already there.]
[Watching Sanji, he nods slowly before approaching the pantry.
His eyes are swollen, and he absentmindedly rubs at one as he's looking for something simple to consume when he jerks his hand away with a sharp gasp. In the process he drops the canned good he was moving aside; it hits the floor with a heavy thud and rolls away.]
Oi. Maybe... take a seat, alright? Lemme know what you're hungry for. I'll make it.
[Sanji is... well, he's trying to be gentle about this. He and the other don't know each other very well, and while Sanji knows he could a crueler, could take a more pragmatic approach and inquire about his swollen eyes, it doesn't seem all that necessary right now]
Hastily, he crouches down to pick up the fallen can and return it to its proper place. He doesn't look at Sanji, because this is, frankly, embarrassing even for him.]
... Thinking, reassessing, working through a landmine of topics. His hands go on autopilot immediately, with such ease that Sanji's almost surprised when the food is complete, simple sandwich or no. He'll plate it and bring it over to the other, placing it in front of him]
[Zenitsu isn't so oblivious as to not realize what that alternative could be. He decides against commenting on it as he gingerly reaches for the sandwich.
[The shift is palpable, and his gaze drops back down to the sandwich.
He wonders what the trial will be like tomorrow. Will the body be there, or will they have to search again? Such a dreadful thought.
He takes a bite of the sandwich—and pauses, because it seems that anything Sanji makes tastes wonderful, no matter how simple. He chews, swallows, and thinks about what to say to something so intense the while.]
[The mess hall proves a bust. He enters the kitchen to prepare some broth instead, and he sits in the corner while he waits, looking down at the teru teru bozu in his hands.]
[Upset is still upset. That's not the thought that crosses Zenitsu's mind, though, when he lifts his head and locks eyes with Sanji.
He sets the doll down, stands up, and drags the chair with him over to Sanji. Then, pulling out a marker, he climbs onto the chair and attempts to draw on Sanji's face—]
[So he asks even while trying his damnedest to keep still, and not jump up to the fridge for some reason. If he's being drawn, he'll try to keep still -- seems rude not to]
[Okay first off I"m crying bc for some reason I thought Zenitsu was drawing on paper.
And then I cried more because Zenitsu is too soft a boy for Sanji to really get mad at so I guess here he is, letting his cheek get drawn on while he sits there with way more patience than most would expect from him--]
-- Tch. I'll let you off light since it's not like you can help that shit.
[He sets a small bowl of soup down in the corner, drags the chair back to its original place, and stops there to look at Sanji. This time, there's no compulsive urge to draw on that asymmetrical face.]
According to everyone, Chuuya's been in more than one of those places. But they can't all be the same person, can they? Otherwise, more people would know about the mansion.
Maybe it's like that for us.
[Maybe Giyuu and Shinobu knew a different version of him.]
There was an Akechi back in my castle, and then another that was in a mansion. Unless there's some weird bullshit going on, they were the same person, but... different.
[So yeah. Zenitsu has reasons to be concerned. Sanji can't lie about that]
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Week 2: Friday
Ah.
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[A quiet admission from Sanji's corner in the kitchen, a cup of some liquid settled in front of him. He glances at Zenitsu, eyes tire]
I figure you're not up for socializing.
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His eyes are swollen, and he absentmindedly rubs at one as he's looking for something simple to consume when he jerks his hand away with a sharp gasp. In the process he drops the canned good he was moving aside; it hits the floor with a heavy thud and rolls away.]
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Oi. Maybe... take a seat, alright? Lemme know what you're hungry for. I'll make it.
[Sanji is... well, he's trying to be gentle about this. He and the other don't know each other very well, and while Sanji knows he could a crueler, could take a more pragmatic approach and inquire about his swollen eyes, it doesn't seem all that necessary right now]
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Hastily, he crouches down to pick up the fallen can and return it to its proper place. He doesn't look at Sanji, because this is, frankly, embarrassing even for him.]
A-anything . . . I'll eat anything.
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[Mmmph, considering how energetic and happy Zenitsu had been this week, this is painful to watch.]
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[He's caused enough of a mess already, so he sits down in a corner and stares up at the ceiling.]
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... Thinking, reassessing, working through a landmine of topics. His hands go on autopilot immediately, with such ease that Sanji's almost surprised when the food is complete, simple sandwich or no. He'll plate it and bring it over to the other, placing it in front of him]
... You were at the nurse's office, yeah?
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He murmurs his polite gratitude when the sandwich is placed in front of him. This time, he looks up at Sanji and nods.]
Because of that, my eyes hurt.
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[tears because of heartbreak and/or embarrassment? Yeah. That was Sanji's second bet.]
At least this shit will go away tomorrow.
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Speaking of tomorrow.]
He was from the same place as you, wasn't he?
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[Everything about Sanji, from his presence to his expression, slides into neutrality]
We weren't close, hardly talked, but. [A shrug]
He was important to some, so I'm not gonna tolerate anyone bullshitting around tomorrow.
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He wonders what the trial will be like tomorrow. Will the body be there, or will they have to search again? Such a dreadful thought.
He takes a bite of the sandwich—and pauses, because it seems that anything Sanji makes tastes wonderful, no matter how simple. He chews, swallows, and thinks about what to say to something so intense the while.]
I'm sure everyone will do their best.
Week 3: Friday
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Case in point, the guy sitting in the corner by his lonesome.
... And he nearly leaves the boy be, not thinking its his place to offer condolences, but--]
Oi... you... want company for a bit?
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He sets the doll down, stands up, and drags the chair with him over to Sanji. Then, pulling out a marker, he climbs onto the chair and attempts to draw on Sanji's face—]
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[So he asks even while trying his damnedest to keep still, and not jump up to the fridge for some reason. If he's being drawn, he'll try to keep still -- seems rude not to]
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Yeah. From the arts and crafts cabin.
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And then I cried more because Zenitsu is too soft a boy for Sanji to really get mad at so I guess here he is, letting his cheek get drawn on while he sits there with way more patience than most would expect from him--]
-- Tch. I'll let you off light since it's not like you can help that shit.
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Sorry.
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[Giving a dismissive wave]
You're off the hook, it's fine.
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If he's off the hook, he won't bother Sanji anymore. Instead he'll attend to the broth for some much needed soup.]
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[Which, to be fair, Zenitsu responded by pulling up a chair, but Sanji can't tell if that was his own will or an effect of curfew]
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Aren't you busy?
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[Expression somewhat bemused, and he tilts his head at the other]
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Aren't there other people you can be talking to? Like Belph.
[And the girls. Definitely the girls.]
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[He's still a little bemused, even if he gets the point. It's not like he an Zenitsu are particularly close.]
I talk to who I wanna, and right now it happens to be you.
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Mr. Tomioka and Ms. Kocho are gone. C-3PO, too.
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I never got a chance to really talk with the other two, but... I liked Giyuu.
[A quiet, tired admission]
If I'd known shit would turn out like this, would've made extra effort to keep an eye on him.
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Whoever did it must've been incredibly strong.
[Or it was an accident, or something else entirely. Either way, it's not good news.]
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[Eyes brightening with surprise]
Huh... don't usually get along with swordsmen.
[Go fuckin' figure]
I'll keep that shit in mind for tomorrow, then. Even with his arm gone, I can't imagine he'd go down without a fight...
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Ms. Kocho is also a Pillar. They're both really strong.
[Now it's that they were, isn't it?]
When I first heard the voices, I couldn't believe that they died on the same night.
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The two of them were... close, yeah?
[That sure seemed like the case from what Sanji witnessed]
Maybe they were together when they were attacked.
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[But they did seem close.]
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[He trails off.]
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[folding his arms]
At the castle, our hosts told us we'd be sent back to the exact time and date we were taken from, once the war was over.
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According to everyone, Chuuya's been in more than one of those places. But they can't all be the same person, can they? Otherwise, more people would know about the mansion.
Maybe it's like that for us.
[Maybe Giyuu and Shinobu knew a different version of him.]
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There was an Akechi back in my castle, and then another that was in a mansion. Unless there's some weird bullshit going on, they were the same person, but... different.
[So yeah. Zenitsu has reasons to be concerned. Sanji can't lie about that]
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Then I might not meet them, after all.