[017 || Voice]

[serving_love]

[It's getting to be late in the evening when Sanji opens his journal, and for a moment there's only silence. When he speaks, his voice is low, almost like he's talking to himself more than anything.]

Seems like the shitty end is in sight... Feels like it, anyway. Like it won't be much longer.

[He falls quiet again for a beat or two, and then there's a soft exhale before his tone shifts a bit and he becomes more direct.]

We're heading to Isla Empieza. As soon as Meep has a path for us to take, we're going in.

Guess we'll see the rest of you idiots there?


[Action option: He's in the galley, chair tipped back as he sits at the table and stares up at the ceiling with nothing but an overflowing ashtray in front of him and a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth.]

Comments

[all action all the time]

[yourotherleft]

[he doesn't even need to hear the remarks on the journal, even though he has been idly checking on it ever since Meep's missive. Because really, Zoro can feel the same tension. They have what they need. If Robin or Celestia can get the harmony thing to work and they've got all the shards they need to get home, they're going to damn well punch the shit out of Davy Jones and get home. One way or another.

Dying trying isn't what he wants but hey, there's always that.

So he pushes his way into the galley at a moment when he's sure Sanji would be alone. There doesn't seem to be a point to keeping watch right now, anyway.]

Yo.

\o/

[serving_love]

[Zoro's heavy footfalls are as familiar as ever, but Sanji doesn't turn to look at him until he speaks. Then he lowers his head and lets the front chair legs fall to rest against the floor again.]

Hey.

[Reaches forward to stub out his smoke in the tray and flip his journal shut at the same time.]

[yourotherleft]

[his eye follows the movement of that hand, and his brow twitches a bit at the size of the pile of butts in the ashtray. He knows Sanji only chainsmokes that badly when something's up.]

Probably a long-shot, but is there any liquor at all? I'd even drink that shitty mint stuff we collected if there's any left.

[serving_love]

[Juts his chin toward the sink.]

Should still be a bottle of the good stuff under there.

[Then he braces his elbow on the table and rests his temple against his hand, just watching Zoro as he goes to get it.]

[yourotherleft]

[he goes to look, and sure enough, there's a fine spiced rum hiding in the cabinet. Funny place for it, but he's not complaining - it's rum he hasn't drunk up, yet. Zoro fishes it out, pops the cork, and takes a swing right then and there before turning to consider whether he wants a glass.

Maybe two glasses. He sets them with a thunk on the table and pours some for both of them.]

What're you moping about, then? [with a flick of his good eye toward the full ashtray. He can tell, don't deny it.]

[serving_love]

[Hey, he's pretty sure it's a place Zoro wouldn't have thought to look. Always good to have some backup booze around.

Also it's a little more expensive than the shit he usually buys for everyone, so it's better off where people won't go snatching it up.

Sanji reaches out for one of the glasses but doesn't take a drink right away. He just sort of stares at the amber liquid swirling around for a moment, before lifting his gaze to look at Zoro. He wouldn't call it moping, per se, but he doesn't bother denying it either.]

You have to ask?

[yourotherleft]

I can't read your mind.

[he comes around the corner of the table and perches himself to sit on the edge, rather than in a chair, so he can take the other glass and drink. The bottle goes between them, they're going to need it.]

But I can probably take a guess. Missing everybody before we even say goodbye?

[serving_love]

[Gives a one-shouldered shrug as he takes a sip.]

Not just missing everybody.

[Though he will, of course.]

It's more than that.

[yourotherleft]

What, then?

[he's a little slow on the uptake, but as he raises the glass for another sip, he starts to wonder. It's been a while since they talked about it. A very long while.]

...us?

[serving_love]

[Gives him a look that pretty much screams: "no shit, Sherlock" before his expression smooths out again and he sighs a bit.]

Can't help thinking about it, is all.

[yourotherleft]

[he's quiet for a bit, finishing that glass of rum and refilling it before he can think of anything to say]

There's not a damn thing we can do, if going home means we don't remember. But I guess it means we won't remember wanting it. Missing it. Any of that, either.

[serving_love]

[Frowns a little, then downs the rest of his drink and sets the glass heavily back onto the table.]

I know that. But knowing we ain't gonna remember it doesn't make it any easier to let it go.

[letteropener]

[Celestia pops into the galley in a flash of magical light -- easier that way than to walk there, at her size.]

You're right, I think. This does feel like we're about to reach the end of our journey.

[Maybe they won't have time when it happens. So perhaps now is the time for goodbyes.]

[serving_love]

[Looks up in slight surprise at her sudden appearance before relaxing back in his chair again immediately. He gives her a small, not quite as cheerful as usual smile.]

One can only hope... Bittersweet as it's gonna be. Think I'm about ready to go home, though. You, Celestia-san?

[letteropener]

Well, I won't be sorry to see an end to zombies and darkness and death, I will grant that much. But I wouldn't have mind spending a few more decades with my friends here.

[Including you, Sanji, which she makes obvious with her smile.]

[serving_love]

Heh... I don't got decades, unfortunately.

[He stubs out his current cigarette, then rests his chin on his hand as he looks at her.]

This is a really small drop in the shitty bucket of life for you, huh?

[letteropener]

I wouldn't use that adjective. [...Well, she'd never use that adjective anyway.] This has been an enjoyable adventure, for the most part. I would not trade having come on it for the world.

[serving_love]

Eh? Oh. [Waves his hand.] Yeah, I don't mean nothing by it.

[That is just how Sanji talks... It's his go-to adjective for everything ever.]

It's definitely been an interesting adventure, though, that's for sure. And enjoyable, you're right. Sort of an adventure of self-discovery for me, too.

[letteropener]

[She knows. That doesn't mean he gets a free pass on using that language around the magic horse.]

You made new friends, and you learned new things. Can you truly call it a bad experience, after all that?

[serving_love]

[Shakes his head.]

'Course not, never even occurred to me. It's been far from bad.

[Gives her a thoughtful look.]

Hell, who knows. Maybe we'll find a way to cross between worlds again or something.

[letteropener]

I intend to find one.

[Which she says matter-of-factly, but yet with determination and force behind her words. She means what she says.]

[serving_love]

H'ohhh... [Grins.] When you say it, I actually believe you.

[And then the grin fades again, just a little, a more somber edge to it now.]

When you do, hopefully we all remember each other.

[letteropener]

If none of us do, it won't much matter. If only one of us does, well... we became friends once, we shall simply do it again.

[judgementscythe]

[there is a bit of a morose look on Lorelai's face while she sits in the galley.]

An end to this, I wonder if we'll be able to get home when this is over.

[It's all she's wanted since she got here but at the same time, she doesn't want to leave the family she's made]

[serving_love]

That's the plan.

[He folds his arms over the top of the table, leaning onto it from where he's sitting across from her.]

Don't think I'll be happy with anything else.

[Pauses for a beat as he sends a look around the galley, then glances back to Lorelai with a small smile.]

There are plenty of things I'll miss about this place...if we're given the chance to. [Unless they forget it all when they leave.] But I got shit to do back home.