wildkotetsu | 14 • Working Ethic • [Voice/Action]

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14 • Working Ethic • [Voice/Action]

[Kotetsu's essentially been away for the last week and a half (two weeks? he couldn't remember when they started) working a mission, because it's one of the few things that successfully keeps his attention away from the sad downhill roll his life'd been on. Things had been a little easier with time after Bunny had died, but then came the draft, trying to kill people, unable to save friends, citizens, himself—and then Pao-Lin went home, to top it off. Bottom line, it hasn't been easy. Kotetsu's naturally unfocused when it comes to anything but his job, so when he returns to the Luceti battered and bruised but mostly okay, he's confused.]

I'm back...

Oi, did something happen while I was out? There're—

[waaait

wait a sec]

Christmas. [He slaps his forehead, making a loud, annoying sigh, same ol' same ol'.] Aaaargh, I forgot! How'd I go and forget something as easy as Christmas? —Did I, uh. Miss anything? I mean, I guess maybe it's a little late to get everyone something, huh? But if you guys are okay with that... [keep busy, he thinks. keep busy] If anyone needs anything done for 'em, lemme' know. I can help get firewood or clear out snow, or whatever you'd need done.

[Cue scrambling for gifts. Let it be known, if he knows you he'll show up somewhere and give you something. It'll be small, probably something you'll hardly care for or use, but whatever. It's the very late thought that counts. And he hurries back to the restaurant and hey everyone sorry for being missing 75% of the time I had combat training stuff to do. Washing dishes, delivering things; he knows it's been hard goings around here. Admittedly, Kotetsu's been airheaded for a while now—no, no, not the usual airheaded-ness. Something considerably more worrisome and depressing. Well, it's fine. We all go through our moments, right? Yeah.

Still, he's not sure why he ends up standing in the middle of where Bunny had died many months ago, in broad daylight. Can't really even see it, technically, it's all under snow. Not that there'd be any reminders of it now...]

It's not like you're dead; I dunno' why, but I considered bringing flowers... You'd really have hated me for something like that, huh? Because you're not dead. Everyone says you go home and you can't really die here for real. I just... y'know. Christmas makes me think of you. [A shrug] Makes me think of everyone at home, I guess... but especially you. It was Christmas time when I was last there. When we fought and all that... I know it's not a good holiday for you, but I always hoped maybe you'd find something good in it someday. I don't know.

[After a long, lost pause, he shakes his head, rapping his knuckle on his forehead in frustration.]

Pao-lin's gone, too. I never even got to make it up to her. I know I failed her like I did the others here, back when they needed me most. And like I failed with you. I'm trying to make up for it—this thing Crapbeard's doing... It's what you'd do, right? You'd hop right to it, huh, Bunny?

[rubs at his eyes, scoffing-]

... You'll be okay, back home... I don't know why I'm talkin' to you like this.

[Kotetsu only talks to Tomoe like this. It's cruel to act like this is a grave site, because it's not; he's alive, he's fine.

Voice watery, he continues—]

Na... Merry Christmas, Bunny.... Sorry I'm taking so long to say it to your face. But I'll keep doing the best I can.

[Alright, enough of this, or Barnaby really will break through time and space to kick you. He shoves his hands into his coat pockets and starts off quickly, not letting his gaze linger for another moment on that spot.]

((ooc: basically a catch-all for kotetsu! he's been gone for a bit, but now I'm ready to drag him back into the fray; lemme know what your character's up to and I can have kotetsu pop in, if you're not too sure where to place 'em in his post! any even slightly positive CR will probably get some little gift. o7))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hey who's that voice on the journal?

Listening for a minute...oh right it's that guy who explained how much this place sucked. Wait he was gone for awhile? Huh...no wonder he couldn't find him.]

Well, least your back now, Mr.Kotetsu. Merry...uh not Christmas!

[Oh! He has a hard time with remembering names with faces or voices, though--especially with all the work he's been doing--so he hesitates for a moment. It's good that he doesn't sound particularly upset or anything, since this place likes to mess up the holidays. More often than naught.]

Ah... Thanks.

[... Just to be sure--]

Anything happen while I was gone?

[That's okay Kotetsu, he's pretty forgettable. ~~sob~~]

No problem. But, you didn't miss much. There were a bunch of elves around Luceti telling people to do good deeds if they wanted Santa to visit. But nothing dangerous.

... Elves?

Like--red and green, short, all that?

[well, at least 'dangerous' really doesn't match up with elves, so he can believe that much...]

Pretty much. Though I heard some people got some weird requests. I know mine asked me to wear a lemon pie on my head.

[..........]

But...

Why?

[Was the elf just hungry and using you for its own fiendish games?]

I dunno, he just said I had to do what it asked if I wanted a present for Santa. It wasn't too bad.

[Yup...he did it all right. ~~But secretly the elf was plotting to do exactly that.~~]

Presents, huh...? I guess that's not too bad...

Still, dunno why they'd ask for stuff like that. What good does that do them or you?

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[Rest assured, Kotetsu's eagerly welcomed by the restaurant staff when he returns. Everyone's missed their favorite, scatter-brained dish washer, and even Sanji deems it necessary to break into a grin. He hasn't seen the guy for well over a month on his end.

... Of course, grins only last so long before the chef takes to careful scrutinizing, watching Kotetsu's airheaded gestures and remarks. Because it's been over a month and Sanji hasn't forgotten the state they were both in. Only now, after he's forced his way out of his own pit of depression, does he get a chance to see where his friend stands.

The truth doesn't bring him comfort. Now that he's no longer in a position of self-pity, he's obliged to do something, too.

He'll try and start off easy, though. No cornering him in the kitchen just yet, though the next time the Hero darts in with a load of dishes, Sanji pipes up from his corner]

You sure you wanna be working so soon after getting back, shithead? [Not that he doesn't already know the answer to that]

Of course I do!

[Yeah, it's a pretty obvious answer, huh... He really likes working right now. Work is good; it means he's busier. Back home, he was always being dragged back into work. Before he'd met Bunny, he thrived on being able to go out and do his job, because it distracted him from the fact that he was failing at everything else. Pretty sad, right?

Doesn't matter. What matters is--these dishes need washing, and things need to be put away. (But what's with the mild concern, Sanji? It's not like you've had other workers who've overworked themselves into illness or something.)

oh right-]

Christmas musta' made everything pretty busy, huh...? Sorry I was out for it.

Tch, don't apologize. I was almost out for it, too. [It's the usual back-and-forth banter, despite the lingering glances Sanji sends the man's way between moments of work]

Just so long as you're getting enough sleep...

Still, it was busy. Shouldn't have forgot like that.

[It's mostly a mutter as he works, and for a moment it seems like he's going to just ignore that last bit--which is unusual enough, because there's usually a part of him that is immediately defensive--obnoxiously so. But as he's putting plates down, he's far more reserved about Sanji's prodding.

He huffs at last.]

I'm not that old, y'know... I can handle a few less hours of sleep...

[#missing the point]

[Is it missing the point, or just dodging it? Sanji pauses in his movements, unable to tell right away.

Either way, he turns and graces Kotetsu with a level stare, bordering on discontent.]

Shithead, you're old enough. [And he's not talking physical years, either.] I'm sure you can handle a few more hours, too.

[Are you mothering him? He doesn't need mothering. He returns a look, brow furrowed, before finding himself inexplicably guilty enough to look back down to his work. If there's any time for him to feel like a 8-year-old in Sanji's presence, it'd be right now. If he'd recognize the signs, anyway. Hell, he's hardly considering the light scrapes and bruises he's got from his week away at a mission--for him, those aren't that out of place. He had a pretty active job back home.]

I pulled plenty of hours working back home. If you're worried, don't be--I can handle it just fine.

[He may or may not think you're underestimating his work ethic.

Just a little.]

[Jesus, Kotetsu. Sanji nearly throws his towel at your head.]

Idiot, that's not what I meant! [A sigh and-- oh fuck it, he's not in the mood for subtle. It never works with this guy, anyway]

I meant how are you doing? Not your work-- [Said with a pointed look] Other shit.

... [And then he follows up more softly] I know these past months have sucked for everyone.

[He freezes for a moment, considers what to say. Did Nami tell him what had happened, back there? How he'd... lost it? Almost killed her and Tony, if not almost infected? The last time they'd seen each other, he told him it'd be alright and he'd fight it--he's not sure if Sanji believed him... Yeah, he's nervous. Because he'd failed not only Nami and Tony, but Sanji as well.

He's not sure what to say. He could be honest, like Bunny had always wanted him to be.

Could be.]

I'm doin' just fine.

[no he's not]

Maybe I'm just a little restless.

[just a little?]

voice; he's been meaning to give you your gift Cat beard man.

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