oo8 [ action // locked to oda_hates_me ]

[fourteen]

[ This one is not so stable lately. First it's the experiment, making her fall in love with someone her best friends hate, but whom she ... really ... er. Likes. Then it's Sora, getting so badly hurt (thanks Yuber) he ends up in the clinic, and despite his protestations, it's probably all her fault. It has to be. She's tired and she's so scared and no matter what she said to Axel, no matter how much everyone is going to worry, she can't stay.

She runs. Again. Into the forest, because it's the easiest place to get lost and the hardest place to be found.

When she finally stops and sits beneath a tree, she looks a mess. All she does is curl up on the ground in a ball, burying her face in her knees, like maybe if she's small enough she can hide from the whole world. ]

Comments

[fourteen]

... it's not the sort of weapon you can just get rid of.

[ she holds out a hand away from their bodies, so that when the Keyblade appears in her hand, it doesn't hit them. ]

Once it's with you, it just sort of ... stays with you.

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

[And now a weapon that can appear at random. Their worlds, he muses distantly, are much more different than he first assumed.

Without a word he reaches for it, wanting to hold it for himself. It's a funny-looking sight, Sanji can barely take it seriously. And as if the weapon has picked up on his disdain it suddenly vanishes from his grasp, only to reappear in Xion's hands again.]

... I see.

[fourteen]

[ just ... smiles weakly and banishes it, falling quiet. ]

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

[There's another round of silence between them. Sanji's not sure what to say, what he wants to say. Comfort sounds too cheap, reassurance might be a lie. Even hugging her again feels somehow less than it did five minutes ago, and fuck, how he hates that.

All he knows is that acceptance won't come to him. He's heard what she's had to say, and now it's time do shit his way. There has to be something to reverse this... And if that means spending the majority of his stay in Luceti looking for a method, fine. He can put the Filial mission on hold.

So Sanji wipes the apprehension from his face, finally pulling away after another brief hug, though his hands stay placed on her shoulders. He's... thinking. Because Xion looks scared and tired and still wearing an expression he doesn't like to see on a friend, never mind a lady.

... First order of business needs to be taken care of, he decides]

Oi. [he nods in the direction of the village] Come with me.

[fourteen]

... [ headtilts at him, curious but willing. she'll get to her feet once he does. ]

Where to?

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

My kitchen.

I owe you a date, after all.

1/2

[fourteen]

[fourteen]

[ ... does he mean ...

hee. she finally, finally gives him a little smile, one that is not hollow or pained. ]

I... well, okay. I'd... I'd like that.

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

[That's what Sanji likes to see. His own smile grows and he begins directing her back to his house]

I'm glad Xion-chan approves of spending the afternoon with me~!! [aaaaaaaand there he goes]

[fourteen]

[ g-giggles, walking with him without hesitation. ]

Hehe, you're always fun to spend time with, Sanji. [ pauses for a moment ... then with real feeling ] Thank you.

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

[He wishes she wouldn't thank him. Not yet. Until he figures out a way to save her, he doesn't think he deserves much. Besides, it's his duty to make her smile.

But her thanks is greeted with a smile regardless]

I've always found cooking to be a good way to keep your mind off things.

I could give Xion-chan a quick lesson, if she doesn't mind.

[fourteen]

[ you shouldn't think that way, Sanji. it will only come back to haunt you later.

however, his offer makes her light up. ] Oh, you would? I'd love that! I might be really bad at it, though... [ tiny laugh ]

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

[It's a bit too late for bracket warnings now. Sanji wouldn't turn back even if he knew the outcome]

Everyone's terrible their first time. So the only thing you can do is improve.

[fourteen]

[ :| WELL ENJOY YOUR HEARTBREAK THEN. ]

Hee, I guess you're right. When did you first start cooking, Sanji? How did you learn?

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

[THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR SPILLING THE BEANS LIKE THAT]

To be honest, I can't remember when I started. It like I've always been cooking.

And most of my training was from a ol' geezer with a peg leg and a shitty attitude.

[fourteen]

[ YEAH WELL THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR BEING NICE TO HER!

... also giggling. you crack her up, Sanji. ]

Do you mean the man you mentioned to me before? Zeff?

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

[... You just don't want to lose this argument, do you?

And excellent. A laugh. His plan is working quite nicely]

That'd be him. Greatest chef in all of East Blue.

[fourteen]

[ who, me? never. I'm just always right.

yes it is! you can has a cookie, Sanji, for being a consistent winner at cheering her up. she smiles warmly at him, though her request makes it clear she's still not 100%. she'd rather listen, not talk. ]

Tell me about him.

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

Zeff... he's-- [more important than words can describe, to Sanji. But as eager as he is to cheer her up, there are some things Sanji can't and won't share at this stage]

He's rather gruff for his age. Used to be a pirate. [well, if he's gonna talk, he wants a cigarette in his mouth for this. Pulling one out] They used to call him "Red Leg" because they said his boots were stained with the blood of his enemies.

[his mouth pulls briefly into a smirk] Tch, I don't know how true that shit is. He kicked me overboard more times than I can count and his shoes never turned red.

[fourteen]

[ ... blink. blink blink. ]

He really kicked you overboard?

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

Every damn day.

I'd be dead if I couldn't swim.

[he's not joking]

[fourteen]

[ ... staring at him like she can't decide whether to feel sorry for him or laugh. ]

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

That's not counting this shitty-long chef hat he'd always wear and beat me with.

[fourteen]

....... [ what in the actual... Xion can't help but laugh, a tiny thing she tries to stifle but still manages to get out past the hands she claps over her mouth. her mental image is really silly, okay? ]

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

[it's okay, Xion. Sanji knows damn well it sounds ridiculous.]

And then of course there's the time I tried to hide the hat. Not only did he threaten to toss me overboard, he chased after me with a frying pan in his hand.