haute_cuisine | IC contact

[ It's some unspeakably early hour of the morning, pre-dawn, really, when the following voicemail arrives: ]

SANJI!!!

[ Something good happened. ]

[ Sanji rarely gets messages, so he had failed to really toy with the settings with TANJA's help. So while deep asleep, he hears the AI's female voice notifying him of the voicemail and he responds with: ]

Mm? Nami-san... you know I'll listen to your good morning message of --

[ TANJA complies with what seems like permission to play, and Luffy's voice blares out across the apartment. Sanji flails awake with such violence that he falls right out of bed, his long legs the only thing remaining on the mattress. It's about a minute of laying there, elbowing the nightstand to knock his cigarettes down, and it's only after he's taken a drag off one that he returns the call. ]

LUFFYYYY! DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?!

TIME FOR ME TO BREAK A FUCKING FOOT IN YOUR ASS!!

[ That's a lot of shouting, something about fucking and something up his ass and naturally, he misunderstands everything. ]

Huh..? I'm not talking about that stuff!

I FOUND HIM!

[ There's not even a shred of fatigue in his voice, he's practically vibrating with elation, still riding the high of running into whoever 'he' is and sleep isn't going to come to pay Luffy a visit for a good long while. ]

Ace!

[ Sanji is muttering something about wait, what did you mean by that but already Luffy is barreling through that subject and honestly? What he says next is just too attention grabbing to revisit it.

Sanji first says: ] Found who? [ In that blunt way he does when talking about something unrelated to ladies. But then he goes dead quiet at the answer. ]

...Oi, Luffy. It was just a dream, go back to bed.

Don't you think I tried that already?! I pinched my arm so many times I thought I was gonna tear something off!

[ He's really serious about this. It's real, and somehow he's going to get that through Sanji's skull. ]

Sabo saw him too! And he's got a place near mine and everything!!

Sabo?

[ Sanji's expression twists into a look that says it all, What's that weird fire guy got to do with it? But of course, it doesn't exactly surprise him either -- his too trusting captain could bond with pretty much anyone, it seemed. ]

I'm glad you're making friends, Luffy... but you really are the most gullible idiot --

I don't care if you believe me or not!

[ Luffy's frustration has everything to do with Sanji's skepticism, even though he's right to be. ]

All you gotta do is see him, right?! That's easy!

Look, I get it. You've seen it right, Sabo's ability?

[ The one that looks like Ace's. That Sabo... he remembers that looks he gave him when he mentioned the name, and it was nothing short of unsettling. ]

Just because it looks similar doesn't mean you can trust that Sabo guy.

...Right. [ NOT CONVINCED LUFFY, SORRY. ] Are you saying he's there now?

I'unno--maybe?

[ He ain't his brother's keeper -- either of them! But he's pretty sure Sabo's gone back to wherever he goes, probably not back to Tanagura. And Ace might have gone back to his apartment. ]

It's not like we can just show up in that shiny place! I'll just tell 'em to come over when you're visiting!

If it can wait, don't call me in the middle of the night!!

[ Nevermind the fact that it's technically his own damn fault for not configuring his settings properly so that he has some kind of DO NOT DISTURB while he's sleeping. ]

...Unless Nami-san or Robin-chan or a beautiful lady, don't disturb me!

[ NOT EVEN IF IT'S IMPORTANT. Except no, please do keep disturbing him. ]

Now get some sleep, idiot.

Edited 2015-05-15 02:11 (UTC)

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!

[ If it was about anyone else, anything else but his brother, he might have laughed off Sanji's insistence he only be disturbed for the sake of a beautiful lady, but this is different.

And Luffy's chafing against the idea that he's not believed, but then--who would believe that the dead come back to life? Even Luffy didn't, at first. ]

Edited 2015-05-15 02:15 (UTC)

[ Sanji blinks, he's still groggy from his disturbed sleep... and for a while, he just stares back through the snaking wisp of smoke from his cigarette from his position on the floor. ]

...You miss him a lot, don't you Luffy.

[ And he's giving him a softer tone with that too. ]

It's okay, I get it. I'll come soon, alright?

Edited 2015-05-15 02:34 (UTC)

[ ...

Stuff like that just makes him more keenly aware that Sanji doesn't believe him.

That's fine.

He'll see for himself. ]

Okay..!

[ He doesn't. Which is only going to come as a bigger surprise than being woken up in the middle of the night could ever hope to be later when that bomb drops on him.

But for now? Sanji snubs out his cigarette and tries his best to sound positive through his own weariness. ]

Alright. 'Til then.

[ END TRANSMISSION ]

[ Upon arrival at the apartment in Lhassa, each bedroom will have the following items left on the mattress:

- one complete set of bedding, new.
- two pillows, new.
- one bath towel, one hand towel, and a facecloth, new.
- one of those toiletry kits you can buy at a store, with your basic comb, razor, toothbrush, tube of toothpaste, a pair of trimmers, you know the deal. Because it's Amoi there's probably, like, a bottle of lube in there too or something, let's be real.

The kitchen already has a basic set of cutlery, utensils, enough cups, bowls, plates and mugs for four people and other cooking supplies, but YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT because Sanji put it there. There isn't much furniture in the common area, just a table with chairs, and a basic couch, more functional than fancy.

Anyway, your captain's keeping busy. ]

[ ((continued from here))

There's really no reason for Sanji to be so conflicted. This is a simple concept. You enter this room, you wear a digital skin that makes you look and in some minor ways behave like the opposite sex. It's social commentary on gender roles and stereotypes, except all that just goes right over the cook's head.

All he knows is he's got a pair of knockers and he's stuck between lust for the fairer sex and his own stupid transphobia. ]

I don't know! This shit is just too insane! Ahh! [ He puts his hands into his hair, pulling at it in frustration, but then his eyes catch sight of the bounce that follows because the artist apparently ~~works for Toei~~ really is into that sort of thing. ]

I can't take it anymore ♥ [ Sanji makes a strangled noise of a man who might be on the verge of suffering a hemorrhage, and lowers his hands as he starts to slowly advance toward Ed, fingers twitching. ] Hey, it's okay if I try yours too? I mean it's okay if it's between girls, right?

[ He's officially lost his mind. This room should have come with it's own general health warning for madness inducing images! ]

[ This has to be a joke. His chest totally just bounced there. The expression on Ed's face twists into disbelief. He's finding it hard to believe that this was still an attempt at social commentary, because the artist wouldn't have added that unnecessary little detail, otherwise. He didn't know if these artificial breasts were indeed made of matter (and he didn't want to find out; he just wanted to leave), but he does know that gravity doesn't quite have this obvious of an effect on the chests of real girls. The artist is probably a perverted fetishist trying to pass off their work as 'deep' and 'philosophical'.

Speaking of perverts -- ] I think this room's really gone to your head! [ Sanji looks somewhere between confused and lustful, and Ed doesn't think he's ever seen that mixture of conflicted expressions on a human being. He was considering dragging Sanji out for his own benefit when the guy starts to move over on his own. ]

What? What are you thinking -- [ No. ] Of course it's not okay! Control yourself!

[ HE'S HAD ENOUGH OF THIS. SANJI'S GONE OFF THE RAILS. Ed grabs him by the thin wrists and starts to yank him toward the exit. ] We're leaving right now.

lots fiting in front of garden
gonan check teh kids talk later ok

I haven't seen Strawhat-ya. I got a call that he was at Guardian, then I haven't been able to reach him.

Is he with you?

[Straight and to the point.

Law is Concerned.]

Edited 2015-09-29 19:57 (UTC)

[ Psst, Sanji. Guess who's calling your Palm Reader. RIGHT NOW.

It's your captain, who has been missing for a week. ]

SANJI! I just got back and I had to call you right away! I'm real sorry I disappeared but a whole lotta crazy stuff happened and I ended up in jail!

Call me back!

[ An hour later, when Sanji is finally able to get a break... ]

Haah? What do you mean? I'm worki-- Oh, hang on a minute. I got a message from him.

[ And less than a minute later, Sanji is shouting back: ]

What the fuck happened at Guardian?!

[ Days of fruitless searching. Sanji's been through it before. It earned him nothing but frustration, weariness and that plummeting feeling when you realize you're never seeing one again.

Now imagine feeling that, living with it and then suddenly finding a door you thought closed forever opening... flooding that darkness with light.

You're starved for it, you miss it. You feel like you've been withering without it. That's what it's been like losing your captain, or thinking you have. ]

L-luffy...?

SANJI!!

[ He's as enthusiastic as ever, with a voice that's rusty, like he's been doing a lot of shouting lately, but there's no denying the fact that he's absolutely delighted to hear Sanji's voice: ]

I'm okay, promise! Are you okay? How's Ghostie? Did anybody get hurt when everything went all crazy?!

Last I heard, the authorities were fighting each other outside Guardian and the children inside were being endangered. Ceres is rioting and attacking the chrome and he messaged me he was going to join them to protect the kids.

Then the line went dead. I can't tell if his reader is offline because of the cyber attacks right now or if he's unable to answer.

[ How's Ghostie? How's anyone else? It's all Luffy would think of, wouldn't he? Coming back from who the hell knows what only to pick up right where he left off -- and asking if there's anyone else whose in trouble.

Suddenly the visual feed is... of the floor, with Sanji's shoes occupying about half the screen. He's dropped the palm reader down until it aims at the floor for some reason and there's a strange hitching sound.

Sanji's biting into his fist, imprinting the shape of his teeth into his preciously treasured hand as he struggles to hold back the waves of relief that crash over him, wearing away at the walls of his heart. ]

You... you piece of shit...!

[ So, while this also means Sanji can't see the screen, either, this also means he can't see Luffy tip his head to one side and then to the other, trying to squint at the unusual perspective. But he can hear the confusion just fine: ]

Sanji?

Are you okay? What about everyone else! Oi!

His reader...?!

[ That's decidedly unpleasant news that spells nothing good. There's a momentary panic, the kind only lessened by the possibilities Torao-guy presents that seem tame compared to the outcomes the chef has experienced before. Ed's disappearance, the long days and nights spent fruitlessly searching for a man forever out of reach from his friends...

Fuck, he can't think about that. It's too soon. ]

Dammit... [ A pause as he mentally catches up with him. ] What the hell is a cyber attack?

Th- they're fine! Dammit --

[ It's a few moments more for him to recover, to allow tears to continue their overflow from his eye down to the scruffy line of his jaw, to scrub all evidence away by the absorbent material of his gloves as he palms it over his eyes and nose... rubbing over his beard until it's all wiped away. His eyes are rimmed in red but he hopes his hair provides adequate cover as he glares back into his palm reader. ]

Where the fuck have you been?!

Then answer me sooner! You got me worried!!

[ For fuck's sake Luffy you have NO RIGHT to get frustrated! ]

Oh yeah, that -- I ended up in prison, they just let me out!

You asshole, you got yourself jailed? Did you get involved in that Guardian bullshit?!

[ Prison. Of course it'd be prison. That explains everything - the dead air, the inability for anyone to find out where he was... the fact he just dropped off the face of everything. Understanding shakes out of him in a nervous, disbelieving laugh. ]

I outta kick your ass! You had us all worried!

Yeah, even I wanna kick my ass! I was real worried about those kids, but it turns out I really screwed up!

Anyway, they're taking lots of the money I get for a whole year and I gotta wear this thing--

[ There's a metallic glint from the bracelet around his wrist as he lifts his hand into view of the Palm Reader. ]

So, I can't keep Lily and I'unno if I can even still stay here! Do you have somewhere Lily can stay?

[His reader.]

An attack against the systems that govern the operation of technology. Results in the tech being disabled, destroyed, or taken over.

Lhassa and the network are fucking messes right now. I'm lucky I got a hold of you.

[Law can't think he's dead. Can't consider that right now.]

IC contact

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1/2 i'm sorry

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ON MOVING DAY...

Continued from P1 May event; CW: TRANSPHOBIA

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text;

Sometime after things; voice

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A while later, just not as long as OOCly it took lmao

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