37 → Action/Voice
[This isn't the first time in a week Sanji's slipped out of slumber, indicated by the immediate clarity of his surroundings when his eye opens. No blank moments, no gaps in understanding. No sudden shutdowns where he goes right back under.
He's completely awake, and that's noted with paramount relief.
... And under house arrest, if Nami's last ( Read more... )
He's completely awake, and that's noted with paramount relief.
... And under house arrest, if Nami's last ( Read more... )
She knows -- she hears it -- and she doesn't even stop to think. Whatever she was doing is suddenly completely unimportant, because she drops her journal, drops everything, and starts running.
Sorry, Straw Hats. Xion will be bursting into the house without warning. Having been there every day since the fight, she knows exactly where Sanji's room is.
She doesn't care that her arm is in a sling because he shattered it. She doesn't care he helped kill her and that the memory of his kick has been haunting her in her sleep.
The moment she sees him, Xion's eyes well up with tears, and sling be damned, she tackles him with a hug. ]
SANJI!
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Now, hearing it from her perspective turns the memory all the more ugly. Had to hold him there, huh?
The selfish part of him doesn't want to hear it, but he makes himself listen all the same, even to the unspoken truth of what did happen and what could've happened. She's so lucky to be alive, when there should've been no need.
So he's surprised when the tone changes and then her words-- This is the second time in the span of two minutes she's sent his mind into static. The hug seals it because maybe...
Maybe he did need to hear that, and know he's not blamed for something that wasn't his fault.
Saying "thank you" again is redundant, so he settles for hugging her back, tightly, and smiling in her hair]
So am I.
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it surprises her, and she lets go only so she can brush her fingers over her wet cheeks, touching them gently and staring at the wetness on her fingertips before blinking up at Sanji ]
Why is... [ a startled laugh ] I thought... tears were only supposed to happen when you were sad, or... [ just ... keeps laughing, rubbing at one of her eyes and positively beaming. ]
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No, there are tears for every occasion.
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[ rub rub. the tears finally slow, then stop. she sighs, still smiling, but it becomes a little crooked as she looks back up at him. ] There're a few other things I wanted to tell you, though... but first, how're you actually feeling? When did you wake up, anyway?
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[And because he can't let her get away with mothering him, he parries the question with:] And you? How's your arm?
[It still stings to ask that question, but he'll plow through it anyway]
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she doesn't look upset, though. rather, she smiles ruefully up at him. ] That's one of the things I wanted to talk to you about. I ... figured out what my loss was, for dying. [ before he can stop her or say anything, she plows ahead. ]
When the parasite kicked me away in order to escape... at first I didn't know what had happened, because I didn't feel anything. It wasn't until I realized I couldn't move my fingers that I knew something was wrong. [ pulls her mouth to the side, making something of a face. ] And it wasn't just shock. A few days later I did little things like pinching myself to make sure, but ... I'm pretty positive of it now. I can't feel pain anymore.
[ and now she makes more of a face, frowning thoughtfully down at her arm again. ] So, I can't really tell you how it is. I'm not sure if it's even fully ( ... )
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When Chopper's feeling better, have him look at it. He'll be able to tell you for sure.
[It's not a request. If she can't feel anything, he wants a nakama's opinion]
Any thoughts on how to work around the loss?
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to his question, she shakes her head. ] No, not yet, other than be really careful. I guess it ... really is a problem, because...
[ she frowns at the floor, folding her arms in her lap. after a beat, she frowns a little more deeply and looks him square in the eye. for once in her life, she's going to be painfully blunt about this. ]
Sanji, if Naoki hadn't arrived when he did, the thing that was controlling you would have killed me. And it wouldn't have taken more than a few minutes, if even that. [ a pause. ] Somehow... I feel like ever since I've come to Luceti, everything I ever learned about fighting has become totally useless. Back home I could fight, and I felt like I was competent enough... most of the time. [ her frown shifts a little, fades into something softer and a little more troubled, but she doesn't linger on the point. ] But then I got here, and ( ... )
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And then his mouth twitches once -- oh Xion. But you weren't a burden.
If not for her, there's a chance Sanji would've forced Naoki into drastic measures - her Blizzaga saved more lives than she realizes.
But at the same time he understands the sentiment behind her concern, and yes, she would've died if not for Naoki's intervention; there's no denying it. In a village where the strongest have seemed to gather, it's all too easy to get left behind.
That doesn't curb the frank surprise that her question brings] Why would I? You have every right to get stronger.
[Though he's quick to add] I don't like the idea of you being hurt, but if it better prepares you for whatever this shitty place tosses at us next, I'll do what I can to help.
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[ she pulls her legs up to her chest and wraps her arms around them, resting her chin on her knee. ] I want to learn archery. I think maybe fighting from a distance might be better for me. I already know some elemental magic, so I'm going to try and form pacts with the spirits of those elements... to get better, like Nala is helping me improve my healing magic.
[ she turns her head, so her cheek rests on her knee now, and she can look at him. her smile is faint. ] Maybe then ... maybe then I'll be able to keep up. Even with someone as strong as you.
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And I'm sure you'll get there eventually. [a grin] Archery sounds like a good fit for you, too.
Maybe Usopp can help. He's got the best aim of anyone I know, even if I've never seen him use a bow before.
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Thanks! I hope so. [ pause, blink. then she grins. ] Really? Okay, I'll definitely ask him.
[ also, gonna lean against him slightly. hi, sanji. ;; ]
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He has nothing else to say for now, and that's okay. It's nice just remembering what her company feels like]
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