fourteen | oo24 [ voice // action for housemates ]

[ Xion sits down to make this post in her room, quietly unhappy about it, but knowing she has to persevere. He wouldn't want her to be sad, she knows it.

She'll have to find a new teacher.

But Xion finds she just can't sit still, and rises, speaking as she moves down the hall. ]

For anyone who knew him... Longshot has...

[ then she notices something. Sora's door is slightly ajar, and the inside of the room...

as if entranced, Xion slows, then moves towards it, giving a gentle push. ]

Gone ...

[ it's empty. the room is empty, completely bare of any sign that Sora was ever there. ]

... home.

[ and that's it. Xion has lowered her journal, giving an upside-down view of the wall through the journal's camera as she stares at this empty room.

it takes a moment -- a long, numb, endlessly empty moment that may go on for two or even three minutes -- for Xion to sink to her knees. only then does she finally, slightly, come back to her senses. she adds her final statement in a voice that, while even, is just barely above a whisper. ]

And ... and Sora ... Sora has also ... gone home.

[ if heartbreak had a sound, it would sound like her voice. for anyone who replies to her over the journals, it will be some time before she responds. housemates will likely get to her first. ]

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[ it's strange. many things are different, when she's with Sanji.

she doesn't hedge as much, and she's not nearly as self-deprecating. asking for something like this isn't something she'd normally even consider; but because it's Sanji... ] Would you mind making something for us to eat, too? I'm starving. I haven't had anything since way before we even found out Sora was gone. [ she frowns a little in sadness and concern, starting to pull off her jacket. ] It's been a long day.

[And he gets to cook for her? Well he brightens considerably.]

Of course! Anything you're in the mood for? Or just whatever's quickest?

[He'll get to that last part in a second]

[ hee. seeing him smile makes her feel a little better. her expression softens a bit, though she doesn't actually smile. ]

Whatever is quickest. I'm sure it'll still be delicious.

[ she keeps her coat and scarf in her arms while they're in the kitchen, not wanting to simply set them down on a counter. part of her wants to ask if she can help with the cooking... but she'd rather just eat than have a lesson. ]

[Alright, then he'll default to sandwiches. He gets out the bread, the meats - ham and salami - some feta cheese and pepper jack and a tiny bit of mozzarella, decides against any dressing for now, and eventually settles on throwing a fried egg into the mix. Something quick and hot.

He only asks one question as he works to put the sandwich together]

How's everyone coping at your house?

[ how to answer that question.

Xion looks down for a moment, eyebrows knit as she heavily considers the floor. ]

... how would you all feel if Luffy left one day? If he was just gone? That's ... what it's like. No one's okay. We're not going to be okay for a long time. [ it's actually worse, in a way, as no one in Luffy's crew is actually another piece of his heart, soul, or memories. ]

[He distantly recognizes it's a different matter for them, from what he knows about Sora, and the role he plays to Xion...

But at the heart of the matter, yeah - it's still the same. He can't imagine how the crew would immediately fare without their captain. And he's been in Luceti the longest, too.

He offers no words to that - there's nothing to say besides "sorry", and that doesn't cut it. It just makes everything hurt, sometimes.

When he does speak up again, it's to announce her sandwich is done, as is the jasmine tea he'd put on the stove. He places both on the table and takes her coat and scarf, giving her shoulder a tiny squeeze before he goes off to put them away.]

[ she doesn't even verbalize her thank you -- just makes a tiny, grateful noise when he squeezes her shoulder. when he returns, he'll find her curled up in a chair, nursing the jasmine tea and staring thoughtfully off into space. she's already taken a few bites of the sandwich, so no worries there. but her thoughts are distracting her from her own hunger. ]

[He won't say much. In fact, he won't say anything. That she's eaten something keeps the remarks to himself. Rather, he takes up a spot next to the table, half-sitting on the edge (ha, table manners). He considers a smoke before deciding better of it - not while she's eating and clearly lost in her head - so instead that leaves him glancing at her in thoughtful silence.

As much as he wonders what she's thinking, he doesn't feel like pressing any more than Xion might want to be pressed. Sometimes, silence is better]

[ she appreciates the opportunity to eat in silence. she polishes off most of the sandwich while left to her own devices -- that is, allowed to snap out of her thoughts on her own and focus on actually feeding herself.

the silence is helpful. it doesn't make her feel guilty or sad. it just lets her be, one of those things she's always appreciated about Sanji.

once she's done, though, she'll take another sip of her tea, then smile shyly at him from behind the cup ]

Thank you, Sanji. That was just what I needed.

[he returns the smile with one of his own]

Feeling a little better?

... not as tired, anyway. [ hedging, slightly. but it is something and she's grateful for it. to put off the topic a little bit longer, she has a question ] What kind of tea is this? It's nice.

It's called Jasmine - one of Brook's favorites.

Hee. I can see why. [ she takes another sip, sighing quietly to herself. without really meaning to, she ends up staring off into space again, her thoughts obviously going elsewhere ]

... Y'know, if you're tired, you can crash here for a few hours on the couch.

[ she smiles at him with real gratefulness. ]

... somehow I always seem to end up here when things are at their worst. Thank you, Sanji. But I shouldn't stay gone for too long, especially not now. [ a pause. ] ... I could use a hug, though.

Oi, Xion-chan's always welcome here! [But he will quietly agree with her - now isn't the time to dawdle in another person's house.

And... ha. He smiles softly and stands back up, motioning for her to do the same. Get over here]

[ she knows. and she's eternally grateful for it.

with another smile, she sets her tea down and goes over to hug him, arms looping loosely around his waist. she just -- needs a moment, really, to just bury her head in his chest and remember that not all is lost. ]

[No, all isn't lost. And he grins and ruffles some of her hair in quiet affection]

It'll work out somehow. [Eventually. The path is long, but there's always an end in sight. They can make it]

oo24 [ voice // action for housemates ]

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[Action] I hate you because now I want a sandwich that has fried egg on it.

[Action] I regret nothing 8]

[Action] I went out and got a BLT with fried egg and cheese on it. If I die, it's your fault.

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[Action] /punts

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