[ - it's sometime after dinner already that Jae-ha manages to find Sanji. He's been able to keep a fairly decent facade for the better part of the day. The dripping of Gi-gan's tapestry taunts him and he's sought to drown it out any way that he can.
Until it's after dark and he's fretting to the point of possibly losing his mind.
He has a few hours still before curfew - and so he seeks out Sanji for something specific:]
I recognize that my timing isn't the greatest - but I have to ask for a favor.
[Sanji greets Jae-Ha as he always does -- with plenty of suspicion and the vague threat of violence should the guy get weird. His eyes narrow automatically.]
[Sanji knows their, uh, "dinner date" is cancelled.
He goes looking for Jae-Ha anyway. At most, he'll bring a bottle, two glasses, maybe some ice, but otherwise he leaves the food behind, knowing it has no place in the stomach of a grieving man.
So where are ya, Jae-Ha? Someone's looking for you.]
[Jae-ha is looking for - where no people are. If he hears too much noise coming from one room, he switches directions. Walking aimlessly gives him something to do, even as his mind rattles through in wonder of exactly what could have happened. Did Gi-gan walks this way? Did she meet her assailant here? Or there?
Could there have been anything he did to fix it?
He wanders and if he sees Sanji - it doesn't seem to register. He keeps walking.]
[He's... not really hungry. For a variety of reasons.
So sorry, Jae-Ha, but dinner's the last thing on his mind. Sanji will steal a cup of tea from the kitchen, but otherwise makes a beeline for his room so he can nurse it in peace.]
[It's some time after the trial - but Jae-ha has a place to be.
Hence why he's strolling into the kitchen, yawning because he hasn't slept in god knows how long, but still. Strolling. Alive. Breathing. It comes with a pleased little hum as he announces himself:]
[Which is. So goddamn lazy of a meal in the scheme of things. He should be ashamed. Except he also slept like piss the night before, and even though he's free of that moody cloud from the night before, he gives himself another couple of hours before he's passed out somewhere.
But hey, that's for later. In the now he'll almost smile when Jae-Ha greets him]
Jae-ha shows up, right on time. He doesn't bring company, but he does bring his erhu, if only to pass the time while Sanji cooks. He doesn't begin playing it right away, but he keeps it close at hand.
When he leans against the counter, watching Sanji cook - he likes watching him cook, quietly stealing away ideas for his own future meals - he hums.]
I would like just one Sunday where our meals aren't so soured.
[It's a good move to bring that erhu. Sanji is many emotions while he cooks -- it's fine, he thinks to himself, so long as it doesn't disrupt his quality -- but this is the first time he's been furious in the kitchen, and it shows in the sharpness of his cuts, how sharply he dries his hands on the towel
He glares at Jae-Ha over his shoulder]
Don't hold your shitty breath.
[Grabbing the knife again, washing it in the sink, growling to himself]
Someone's always gonna die, and depending on how we vote, someone innocent gets to do the dirty work.
[For obvious reasons... Sanji's not up to cooking Thursday night.
And believe him, not for lack of trying, either. It just so happens that getting injured turned his roommate into a severe housewife who will drag him by his hair out of the kitchen, and even Sanji isn't in the mood to test his luck. Zelos isn't in the room currently, but for once in his life?
Sanji stays put.
Still, mood spoiled by his obedience, he decides he might as well change bandages if he's going to sulk. It's gonna be slow-going and painful -- he's only just recently broke his fever, and stitching up a wound is no joke -- but he's hoping his hands will stop quaking long enough to see some progress]
It's not as good as Sanji's, very few things on this earth are, but there is an Attempt. He'd been watching Sanji cook for a few weeks straight now after all, and he's gotten a sense of what seasonings and spices to use, and a better sense of timing. He's been trying. Hence why he brings in the tray of food -
And pauses when he realizes exactly what he's looking at.]
[No one's having a good time in the castle today. That much is obvious. It's how people choose to handle their grief that marks the differences between them.
No surprise, Sanji holes up in the kitchen... not cooking. Not even boiling a pot of water. He's sitting on top of the counter instead of the stools, elbows resting against his knees, hands folded, staring into the distance...
Eventually he'll get moving, he tells himself. There's always something to do, and he's not really a man comfortable in marinating in his own sadness.
It's only after he's gone to take care of his business, cleaned his new cuts, bandaged them up, that he goes to the kitchen, fully expecting to find Sanji there. Then he'll wordlessly go to collect another bottle of wine - this poor castle's stock.... - two nice glasses, and then silently fills them both.
He helps himself up to sit on the counter next to Sanji, offering him one without a word.]
He's in front of Jae-Ha's door, in the earth dormitory, hand raised to knock but not quite... making it to the wood. In fact, he's probably standing outside the door for a couple of minutes before he gets it over with.]
[ . . . well that's not the greatest thing. It takes Jae-ha a second to answer, considering the fact that he and his partner both have an intense amount of paranoia to the point that they haven't given up sleep shifts - but he does eventually open the door and blink in confusion when he finds Sanji.]
[It was perhaps the closest to a happy ending anyone was ever gonna see in a trial (if they were lucky and that kiss did its job), but it hadn't escaped Sanji's notice who was relieved and who was... upset.
And an upset Jae-Ha isn't going to escape the gaze of most of the castle for long, so.
He waits a couple of hours, hoping that the green dragon gets his fill of other conversations before he starts looking for him, checking the usual suspects of the foyer and kitchen, and if not there, then he'll head outside]
By default, he's trying to get out - to get away. Sanji probably catches him just as he's dropping back down - and looking around, as if seeing whether his attempt to leave the castle actually did anything.
... and it didn't.
He breathes out an aggravated breath and moves to jump again if nothing else catches his attention - ]
At any rate, he's definitely late. Yet when he enters, he doesn't necessarily provide a chipper greeting. Rather, he's quiet as he moves to set the table. Rather plainly. No candles.
. . . .
And then as he leans against the counter, watching Sanji cook, he sighs.]
I need you to tell me I'm a terrible person. And maybe punch me later.
[Nevermind that if Sanji looks closely - he seems to be starting to develop a bruise on his jaw.]
[Just because the kitchen is half-burnt to a crisp doesn't stop Sanji from occupying it for most of the night. A wet rag in hand, he'll diligently mop up the soot and smoke out of the wood, as well as take inventory of whatever's in the kitchen.
It's the kind of mindless work that requires no thought, but also no passion. For now, at least, he doesn't raise a finger to actually cook.]
[ . . . of course he is. Jae-ha will join him sometime after dinner, after he's wandered out for a bit, and then he surveys the chef's action quietly. Then, he'll go to get similar materials and quietly move to mimic him in terms of helping cleaning everything up.
[By the time dinner rolls around and Sanji discovers (TO HIS FUCKIN DELIGHT) that the kitchen is no longer charred like an over-baked piece of chicken, he's... feeling okay, despite the absolute mess that was the execution.
Or he's at least looking okay, having jumped straight into cooking without a hitch. The man practically dances around the kitchen to the usual tune of clanking pans and the sharp slicing of vegetables on the cutting board, and there's even a tuneless hum in his throat as he works.
... Probably kind of weird for him to be this visibly at ease, but hey.]
Sanji is on the hunt for Jae-Ha. Whether he be in the kitchen, his room, or just hanging about the castle, the chef will approach with an air of trepidation that borders on outright nervousness.]
Jae-ha's reading, actually. He's sitting by a window somewhere, just reading. He probably has some flowers braided into his hair, but otherwise it's Just Another Day. He blinks when Sanji comes up to him and - well, he notes his body language - but that doesn't stop him from playing.]
But it is absolutely precious, so much that Sanji feels the wind ignite his his chest when he spies a lone straw hat hanging from one of the foyer banisters, just seconds away from drifting to the floor]
-- Luf...fy...
[...
Without another word, he marches up the stairs, prepared to snatch the hat away from its vantage point]
[It's slipping and Jae-ha notes that. He notes it, along with the expression on Sanji's face, and he raises a brow when he notices the item beginning to slip.
So he does what's automatic.
He reaches out to grab it before it falls so that he can hand it to Sanji, letting his fingers come into contact with the material -
[Jae-ha takes care of Cardia first, and as promised he goes back to Sanji. He's not... looking to happy though, wonder why. It can't have anything to do with his dumbass partner! Certainly not!
[Wow suddenly the castle got LOUD and CROWDED again, both to Sanji's delight and slight stress. He didn't get a lot of sleep this week and honestly he's more than happy to carve out some time for himself, retreating to the kitchen and thunking his head on a counter while he snoozes a bit.
Unfortunately he's not that brutal. So he's going to catch sight of Sanji and quietly exit the kitchen.
End PC.
Just kidding, he's going to grab a blanket from somewhere in the castle and just move to place it over Sanji's shoulders, then quietly continue to make tea like he originally came to the kitchen to do.]
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week 0, thursday evening
Until it's after dark and he's fretting to the point of possibly losing his mind.
He has a few hours still before curfew - and so he seeks out Sanji for something specific:]
I recognize that my timing isn't the greatest - but I have to ask for a favor.
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You can ask, sure.
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week 0, friday evening
He goes looking for Jae-Ha anyway. At most, he'll bring a bottle, two glasses, maybe some ice, but otherwise he leaves the food behind, knowing it has no place in the stomach of a grieving man.
So where are ya, Jae-Ha? Someone's looking for you.]
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Could there have been anything he did to fix it?
He wanders and if he sees Sanji - it doesn't seem to register. He keeps walking.]
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week 0, saturday post-trial
So sorry, Jae-Ha, but dinner's the last thing on his mind. Sanji will steal a cup of tea from the kitchen, but otherwise makes a beeline for his room so he can nurse it in peace.]
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Jae-ha blinks.]
... Am I late?
[he's hungry, man]
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1/? This is just me spamming Sanji's every expression I am not sorry
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week 0, sunday
Hence why he's strolling into the kitchen, yawning because he hasn't slept in god knows how long, but still. Strolling. Alive. Breathing. It comes with a pleased little hum as he announces himself:]
Oh Chef! What's on the menu today?
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[Which is. So goddamn lazy of a meal in the scheme of things. He should be ashamed. Except he also slept like piss the night before, and even though he's free of that moody cloud from the night before, he gives himself another couple of hours before he's passed out somewhere.
But hey, that's for later. In the now he'll almost smile when Jae-Ha greets him]
Sit down, it'll be ready in a couple of minutes.
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week 1, monday evening
Hey, Chef, isn't it a little cold out?
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Cold as fuckin balls, I hate it.
[He's more a summer man.]
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week 1, sunday
Jae-ha shows up, right on time. He doesn't bring company, but he does bring his erhu, if only to pass the time while Sanji cooks. He doesn't begin playing it right away, but he keeps it close at hand.
When he leans against the counter, watching Sanji cook - he likes watching him cook, quietly stealing away ideas for his own future meals - he hums.]
I would like just one Sunday where our meals aren't so soured.
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He glares at Jae-Ha over his shoulder]
Don't hold your shitty breath.
[Grabbing the knife again, washing it in the sink, growling to himself]
Someone's always gonna die, and depending on how we vote, someone innocent gets to do the dirty work.
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week 2, thursday
And believe him, not for lack of trying, either. It just so happens that getting injured turned his roommate into a severe housewife who will drag him by his hair out of the kitchen, and even Sanji isn't in the mood to test his luck. Zelos isn't in the room currently, but for once in his life?
Sanji stays put.
Still, mood spoiled by his obedience, he decides he might as well change bandages if he's going to sulk. It's gonna be slow-going and painful -- he's only just recently broke his fever, and stitching up a wound is no joke -- but he's hoping his hands will stop quaking long enough to see some progress]
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It's not as good as Sanji's, very few things on this earth are, but there is an Attempt. He'd been watching Sanji cook for a few weeks straight now after all, and he's gotten a sense of what seasonings and spices to use, and a better sense of timing. He's been trying. Hence why he brings in the tray of food -
And pauses when he realizes exactly what he's looking at.]
.... really?
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week 2, friday
No surprise, Sanji holes up in the kitchen... not cooking. Not even boiling a pot of water. He's sitting on top of the counter instead of the stools, elbows resting against his knees, hands folded, staring into the distance...
Eventually he'll get moving, he tells himself. There's always something to do, and he's not really a man comfortable in marinating in his own sadness.
... Gonna take a while, though.]
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Jae-ha can't blame him.
It's only after he's gone to take care of his business, cleaned his new cuts, bandaged them up, that he goes to the kitchen, fully expecting to find Sanji there. Then he'll wordlessly go to collect another bottle of wine - this poor castle's stock.... - two nice glasses, and then silently fills them both.
He helps himself up to sit on the counter next to Sanji, offering him one without a word.]
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week 2, FRIDAY NIGHT I GUESS
He's in front of Jae-Ha's door, in the earth dormitory, hand raised to knock but not quite... making it to the wood. In fact, he's probably standing outside the door for a couple of minutes before he gets it over with.]
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.... good evening?
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week 2, saturday night
And an upset Jae-Ha isn't going to escape the gaze of most of the castle for long, so.
He waits a couple of hours, hoping that the green dragon gets his fill of other conversations before he starts looking for him, checking the usual suspects of the foyer and kitchen, and if not there, then he'll head outside]
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By default, he's trying to get out - to get away. Sanji probably catches him just as he's dropping back down - and looking around, as if seeing whether his attempt to leave the castle actually did anything.
... and it didn't.
He breathes out an aggravated breath and moves to jump again if nothing else catches his attention - ]
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week 3, wednesday
At any rate, he's definitely late. Yet when he enters, he doesn't necessarily provide a chipper greeting. Rather, he's quiet as he moves to set the table. Rather plainly. No candles.
. . . .
And then as he leans against the counter, watching Sanji cook, he sighs.]
I need you to tell me I'm a terrible person. And maybe punch me later.
[Nevermind that if Sanji looks closely - he seems to be starting to develop a bruise on his jaw.]
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[Glancing over his shoulder with an arched brow]
But first things first -- the fuck did you do?
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week 3, friday
It's the kind of mindless work that requires no thought, but also no passion. For now, at least, he doesn't raise a finger to actually cook.]
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After some time of quiet movement - ]
What's on your mind, Chef?
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week 3, sunday
Or he's at least looking okay, having jumped straight into cooking without a hitch. The man practically dances around the kitchen to the usual tune of clanking pans and the sharp slicing of vegetables on the cutting board, and there's even a tuneless hum in his throat as he works.
... Probably kind of weird for him to be this visibly at ease, but hey.]
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A long, long moment.
And ultimately settles on:]
... I don't understand you.
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week five | Tuesday
Sanji is on the hunt for Jae-Ha. Whether he be in the kitchen, his room, or just hanging about the castle, the chef will approach with an air of trepidation that borders on outright nervousness.]
Oi. You got a sec?
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Jae-ha's reading, actually. He's sitting by a window somewhere, just reading. He probably has some flowers braided into his hair, but otherwise it's Just Another Day. He blinks when Sanji comes up to him and - well, he notes his body language - but that doesn't stop him from playing.]
For you?
Always.
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week 5, wednesday
But it is absolutely precious, so much that Sanji feels the wind ignite his his chest when he spies a lone straw hat hanging from one of the foyer banisters, just seconds away from drifting to the floor]
-- Luf...fy...
[...
Without another word, he marches up the stairs, prepared to snatch the hat away from its vantage point]
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So he does what's automatic.
He reaches out to grab it before it falls so that he can hand it to Sanji, letting his fingers come into contact with the material -
so it's bubble time]
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week 5, wednesday post-cyoa
... whatever, he has bandages and some alcohol.]
Scale of one to ten, how bad's it hurt?
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[It wouldn't even be a lie! His personal pain scale is just that broken, and the chef shrugs to demonstrate this, still bleeding through his clothes.
At the very least, the flow of blood has considerably slowed. He won't die of blood loss -- just maybe faint from it.]
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week 7 | saturday
Yeah.
That's how Jae-Ha is gonna find him]
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Unfortunately he's not that brutal. So he's going to catch sight of Sanji and quietly exit the kitchen.
End PC.
Just kidding, he's going to grab a blanket from somewhere in the castle and just move to place it over Sanji's shoulders, then quietly continue to make tea like he originally came to the kitchen to do.]
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