// I may look happy, but honestly dear //

[oda_hates_me]

Who: Sanji (oda_hates_me), Chopper (tanukipoint), Naoki (denyingreasons), and Vash (goldenglasses) (( with guest appearances by Nami (mikangirl) and Zoro (threeswordsoul) ))
What: Sanji needs to chat with his friends in private.
When: Tuesday for Chopper, Wednesday for Naoki, and Thursday for Vash
Where: Various
Summary: ... Just some one-on-one quality time.
Rating: R

Comments

Thursday

[oda_hates_me]

[He and Vash need to talk.

He'd asked the gunman to give him a week, except there's been a change in plans, and hopefully his friend won't mind the shift. Sanji drags him away on Thursday with the promise of urgency and leads him deep into the forest. Not near the rivers or the lakes, however; instead they continue until hitting a particularly dense portion of the woods, where the trees weave close together and make navigating a shitty, tiring experience.

... This will do. He halts, turns on his heel. Sanji's not looking directly at Vash yet, eye on something beyond him.]

Thursday

[goldenglasses]

[Of course he didn't mind the shift, he would be there right away. As they move deeper into the forest, much deeper than Vash begins to wonder is really necessary for a talk, the warning he was given echos in his mind. Which Sanji was he dealing it right now?

As the trees start becoming more dense he causally slips his sunglasses on, making sure his poster is still relaxed. All these trees, makes ranged attacks a bit impossible.] What's up, Sanji?

[oda_hates_me]

[After a beat of two--

Sanji's the one that's up, perched on a branch behind Vash. He's a blur of movement for that one instance, but lacking the usual grace by a margin.]

Nothing. Just sit tight a second. [He answers, flatly, all the hurried emotion from before gone. And then he's gone too, disappearing into the darkened foliage.

Guess what game you're gonna play today, Vash?]

[goldenglasses]

[He mentally cringes. This is going to hurt. He hopes any other targets you might have had fared better. But for now the easiest thing will be to play dumb.] Uh... alright then? [Stands arms slack and relaxed to his sides with just a look of mixed mild amusement and confusion. He shifts his weight now and then on his legs to get a better view of his blind side when he can.] Did you hide something up there? [Please don't come from the right.]

[oda_hates_me]

[A pause, then the voice comes from the right, on ground level.]

You could say that.

[goldenglasses]

[Of course if had to be from the right, but that was quiet, he never heard you coming. He turns, still acting calm and relaxed, trying to act as if he had seen you there out of the corner of his eye the whole time.] Oh?

[oda_hates_me]

[Then Vash might want to turn again.

Sanji comes flying from the left, springing himself off one of the tree branches he'd jumped to. And while audible, the sound of the shuddering branch is muffled, off-center, like it's been tossed to the side.

Can't waste time with this battle. Not at 100% efficiency. The sidekick aimed at Vash's back, directly for the spine, says he plans on having the gunman stay down if it hits.]

[goldenglasses]

[He doesn't even bother to turn. Sound from the left, then the right only a distraction, means he's doing a quick jumping side step out of the way. Damn it, whatever is suppose to have Sanji really means to kill him. Looking utterly shocked either way.] SANJI! What the hell was that for!?

[oda_hates_me]

[Updating.

The speed is noted immediately. Data on the gunman is lacking, mere intelligent half-guesses, and Sanji wastes no time slipping up right next to the gunman again, angling his left leg for a swipe against the knees.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash lets that swipe hit, moving as if to jump out of the way, but more making sure Sanji's leg hits more than his foot. His knees knock together painfully and he falls backwards onto his back, but better than a possible shattered knee. After all, he knows he'll have to take some hits in this fight. Might as well get it started.] Is this about Xion? I didn't get in your way! [But he can keep playing dumb a bit longer.]

[oda_hates_me]

You're right. [He lifts his foot, prepared to crash it through Vash's head like it's a boulder]

You didn't.

[goldenglasses]

[That's not a hit he should take. Vash rolls quickly out of the way then uses that momentum to roll himself up into a crouch, hand hovering over his gun reflexively. No, not yet. He doesn't want to shoot you if he can avoid it.] Then why are you attacking me?

[oda_hates_me]

[Vash might not be prepared to shoot yet, but Sanji takes the cue anyway. He's darting back into the trees, with the sounds of his escape scattering in directions it logically shouldn't.

And no, Vash, you're not getting an answer yet]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash stands the rest of the way, muscles tight and ready, circling. Maybe he ran at the sight of the gun? It would be nice, but even Vash knows he's never usually that lucky.] Come on Sanji, we can talk about this. [Keeps circling, ears listening for any sound.]

[oda_hates_me]

No, we can't.

[The flat voice comes from the top right, hidden by leaves and branches, but a rustling comes from the bottom left. Quickly Vash, which direction will you choose to face?]

[goldenglasses]

[The voice was the trick the last time, could be again, but he choices to face that. Senses alert to the movement to the left. If the attack does come there, even if he can't dodge it fully, maybe he can at least try to soften the blow. A blow from above - could be a little more deadly.]

Yes we can!