#001 - VIDEO

[flambage]

[It's night time. Anyone sane wouldn't be caught outside. Sanji isn't anyone sane, though, and as his face appears on the NV screen, he looks downright pissed. He doesn't even know he's on video, he's basically just punching the buttons on this thing that at least looks to him like your every day phone snail, except it's made of gold.]

OI! Where

Comments

[frosty_mind]

You've been kidnapped by the Core into Siren's Port. Your friends are where you left them. They will be in the same place if and when you're sent back.

There are worse monsters out in the Darkness than the one you just kicked. You should head back towards the place you arrived and go into the big building and stay there until dawn when the monsters vanish for the day.

[flambage]

[Aaaand depanicking! No idea who this is, but she sounds like- well, a she, so it's confidence time.]

Cores, Sirens, monsters? I ain't afraid of any of that stuff! Just tell me how to get back to Ryugu Plaza and save them, and I promise, I'll come back for you, too!

[frosty_mind]

No one has found a way to leave except for the Core's whim, or even any way to influence the Core's whims.

I'm in a building the night monsters can't enter. Please, get somewhere protected from the darkness; you can decide that you're willing to fight the darkness monsters tomorrow night after you've had time to find out what they're like. The simplest way to get inside darkness proofing is to go back to the field you arrived in and go to the big building nearby.

[flambage]

...Where the hell were they even hiding something like this?! I was in broad- well, not daylight, but it was light out just a second ago! Am I even still on Fishman Island, can you answer me that?

[Oh wait, he's getting cross with the nice lady. He can't be having that.]

I ain't worried about the monsters, miss. I can handle anything coming my way. Why don't you just tell me where the biggest is, I'll pound it into submission, and then we can go find Shirahoshi-chan before all of us get flattened! That big boat ain't staying in the sky forever.

Video

[runebladeknight]

[Celes is still in the hospital, but she's looking considerably healthier than she was when she'd addressed the network herself. She'll be released tomorrow. To pass the time, she's watching the network -- admittedly, it's mostly to see if any of her friends arrive. But this catches her notice.]

Granted, I haven't been here long, but I'm under the impression that it's not a smart move to run blindly through the streets at night. [She sounds utterly and distinctly unimpressed.]

Video

[flambage]

[Oh, his Den Den Mushi can display video! And what a video! He falters in his step for a second, because why couldn't he have spent the last two years with someone like this, before picking right back up again.]

I'll run through any streets, as long as I have to, to get back to my friends! I don't care how dangerous it is, they need me!

[SO BRAVE. That must earn him points!]

Video

[runebladeknight]

[She's kinda got a not-boyfriend anyway, Sanji. He's not here, but it counts.]

You don't even know where you're going. You should at least take a moment to get your bearings.

[Bravery is all well and good. She can appreciate bravery. But she sees this as more recklessness and stupidity.]

Video

[flambage]

[Why settle for a not-boyfriend? So much love to give right here!]

...You're right! I'm smarter than that green-haired idiot, I can get directions! Which direction is it to the ocean, I'll swim if I have to!

[In his mind, there really is zero difference between a hero's bravery and the reckless charge of the foolhardy, when there are precious people involved!]

[video] x3

[namiwasheretoo]

[That voice. How can she NOT recognize it. Almost instantly she dropped everything she was doing and grabbed her NV. It was set to go off if any of the others spoke up, so now....]

S-Sanji?!

[video]

[namiwasheretoo]

Sanji, is that really you?! [She laughed at first, almost a nervous sound but clearly happy as well.]

[video] done...

[namiwasheretoo]

[Then... the mood swing, already] Get inside somewhere! What mermaids?! Where the hell did you end up? [The last part was more muttered as the girl on the video suddenly started to mess with her device, trying to see if she could find him with video or not.]

[What kind of day has this been...]

[video]

[flambage]

[Well, since it's been all of a few seconds for him since he last saw her, Sanji isn't too excited that Nami's talking to him.

But he is a little excited, don't get him wrong.]

Of course it's really me, and- the mermaids, Nami-san! They were right here, all around us, and now it's just me in this dark place! Where are you, where's Luffy, where's Robin-chan?!

[...That's odd, did Nami change her hairstyle in the last couple minutes?]

[video]

[axemeaquestion]

First thing's last, you're gonna wanna get inside. Now.

[video]

[flambage]

But, but I can't! They're all waiting for me, they were right here!

[Not that he likes to tell a lady no, but... this is important, okay.]

[video]

[axemeaquestion]

You're gonna have to suck it up. Can you fight them off?

[Wait. Hold up.

Tick. Tick. Tick. DING..]

... Sanji?

[video]

[flambage]

Yes! I can fight off anything, to protect them!

[...Wait, called by name?]

Ah, yes, ma'am! How do you know? Not because of those posters, right?

[Video] Hope this is okay :C

[seaphonic]

[It's not until much later that she replies to the video. After all, she stayed tucked away thanks to the Darkness, but now that it's dawn and it's safe to come out, she's settled herself down closer to the shore, having set her NV up on a rock. Her top half is naked, although somewhat covered by her hair and the gold shimmer of her scaly tail can be seen somewhat through the water. Who knew if this man would reply? Was he even still alive?

She would give no care otherwise, but he had mentioned mermaids and well...being one herself, she felt compelled to reply.]

...You know of mermaids?

[Video] Sure is! :>

[flambage]

[At some point, Sanji has found himself taking (TEMPORARY) shelter, and dinking around on this communication thing is the best thing. It's not really a Den Den Mushi, he's discovered, but some kind of complex mechanical thing that's-

That's beeping at him. Oh. Let's push the glowing button!]

Hello...? Oh, hello! [She seems cute. This cannot be a bad call.] I sure do. Met plenty of'em just a little while ago, and I've known one for years!

[Video] 8D

[seaphonic]

[She's a little more than cute. She's half naked. There's a flick of her tail then, breaching the surface, at his words. He doesn't seem exactly threatening.]

You have known one for years? [Now that's somewhat surprising.] How?

[Video]

[flambage]

[Her clothing state, or lack thereof, will certainly make a difference sooner or later. For now, he's either not noticing, or pretending not to. Either way!]

Oh yeah, Keimi-chan and us go way back! We rescued her after she was about to get sold into slavery, nasty stuff.