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))

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[At first, Sanji thinks he's made the wrong choice when the other does nothing but stand still as a grave, as if it's beyond him to accept a simple hug. And maybe it is; he still needs time to find himself in his grief. Rejection might slump his shoulders, but the chef can understand where it comes from this time, without bitterness, and prepares to pull back. It's okay. He can give the other space, too.

But then Kotetsu suddenly clamps his arms around him, leans forward, and Sanji staggers a little from his own surprise and the added weight. He's not hugging the older man for that brief second.

He's holding him up, making sure he doesn't fall.]

... 'M not gonna. [A soft little thump, and his forehead finds itself on Kotetsu's shoulder. The tense energy drains down his legs, and he relaxes back into the hug.] Like you gotta ask for something like that.

We're friends, aren't we? [No, more than that now. Family. Nakama.]

Just depend on me for a while. Shit'll get better.

[He nods, swallowing hard and trying to keep his emotions at bay, even if he's already got an escapee tear finding its way down his face.

Okay... So he wasn't all back together, however... the big tear in his chest feels more closed up than it had moments before. For that, he's grateful. Got a ways to go, but--he smiles (a real one, even if it's a little sad, it's a real one) and puts a hand on the crown of Sanji's head, mussing the blond hair business as usual.]

... 'course we're friends.

[If Kotetsu thought hard enough, maybe he could picture that Sanji's a mirror, too. A mirrored person with that same grumbly voice, telling him things he should be telling himself.]

We're great friends.

[That much, he doesn't hesitate on.]

[............

Oh.

There's a hand-shaped blood print on the back of your very nice vest.

Look at that perfect shape.]

[BACK TO VICE-GRIPPING WITH A HUG]

It'll... get better...

Things get better, naa?

Aaa... they do.

No where else to go but up.

[... Now that we got that crap out of the way.

Let Sanji slide right out of the hug and introduce you into a headlock, Kotetsu]

So. Wanna discuss how you're gonna pay for that broom you just broke, eh?

[W-what

but

serious situation--!!

GHK!]

O-oi, but there's--no cash in Luceti, though!

Then you get to work it off, asshole.

-- After we've cleaned up your hand.

[Oh....

He winces, pulling his hand back into the shielding care of the other.]

It's not that bad... Just a little ointment and it'll be good as new.

[Also he doesn't want you to poke at it because you have no bedside manner.

NONE AT ALL.]

[What are you talking about, Kotetsu? As if Sanji would handle your poor, injured hand with anything save tender delicateness.

... Your windpipe, however, is free game for squeezing. HOPE YOU DON'T MIND.]

"A little" my ass. C'mon, let's go wash it. [NO ARGUING. Sanji will drag you to the sink of he has to]

[There's a sigh cut off by being yanked to the sink, and he walks casually with the other like he's totally not being dragged by the neck. Still totally not going to tell you about the blood on your vest, either, asshole.]

Mooou--

I guess--I should watch what I do. It's already kinda...

[hmmm... well.]

It's harder to make a fist. Kinda' shakes a lot.

Edited 2013-01-11 04:06 (UTC)

Idiot, you've still got pieces of wood stuck in there! Stop trying to make a fist!

[He runs some water, though before dunking the injured hand in (and possibly Kotetsu's head for the hell of it), Sanji grabs it by the wrist to inspect it himself.]

... Jeez, how did you do all this with a shitty broom?

[Hey, not all of it. Some of his hand problems is from Nami's staff bludgeoning his hand! Or from Tony shooting his wrist. Either/or. It was a traumatic time for Kotetsu's hand--and why he didn't bother healing it is his own sad bottle of secrets.]

With lots of practice.

[Grumbled and soggy, of course.]

Just clean it up properly and then I'll take care of the rest.

[He's assuming Kotetsu knows how to do that much, given how... Hero-prone he is]

Aa, alright, alright.

[Yeah, he's particularly okay at that.

... Crusher of justice, huh... If only he realized he really does break everything he touches, he'd be even more depressed.]

Thanks.

You can thank me by sparing the rest of my cleaning supplies.

[Honestly, at this point, Sanji sounds amused rather than grumpy]

[grumble grumble sigh]

I'll do my best.

[Surely you should expect him to break shit by now.]

[That's never stopped Sanji from bossing Kotetsu around before. 8Db

Once he's certain the man has started washing his hand, Sanji retreats a few paces, fetching the destroyed broom handle off the floor and surveying the damage. Technically, it's still usable - as long as nobody minds splinters - but he'll probably throw it out for good measure. A good thing everything's free in this shithole.]

... Neh, Kotetsu. [He speaks up suddenly without turning around] You live alone still?

[Now that throws him off. As he starts with the bandaging, he turns a little in place, eyebrow raised.]

—ah. Yeah. In the apartment.

Aah... [Rather than immediately follow through on that, Sanji dims back down into the silence, immobile, and staring at the floor. His chest puffs up as he holds his breath - like he's gearing up for something]

If you ever wanted to... no one in my house is gonna mind if you stay over a few days, here and there. [He finally moves, wandering over to one of the counters where he leans the battered remains of the broom against the side] I'm not saying you gotta take me up on the shitty offer, but-- [He shrugs. Incidentally, he has yet to turn around]

It's something, right?

[God, his apartment is so lonely. It's been lonely for a while, even before Luceti. Worse off now, since he's trapped with his own thoughts. Even so... the idea of coming into another house and taking up space there... hell, even Kotetsu--nosy and oblivious as he can be--feels like he'd just be intruding.

...]

I'll... keep it in mind...

[Right, that doesn't sound very sure. He speaks up quickly, like the other has already scolded him for the less-than-enthusiastic reply:]

I mean--really, I'll remember that! It's just, I wouldn't wanna intrude on anything. Maybe if it's a bad... week...?

[Basically a way for him to weasel out of it, duh.]

You know damn well I wouldn't offer if you were an intruding shit.

[He responds to the other's answer by retreating into the grumpiness, though the source of his mood is't one of surprise. He expected as much of a reaction, and really, should be glad Kotetsu even offered to think about it]

And I'm holding you to that, got it? [He thinks it fair game to bodily drag the Hero over if he starts regressing into the pit of depression]

[SIGH. Why you gotta be so verbally scary? But it's good, that you're that way. You're just yourself, and--you're the most help that he's had in a while, other than Nami, and the poor woman has her own problems to deal with too (especially the draft--he knows she has to).

For now, when it comes to Sanji's grumpy reply... he's grateful.]

... Aa.

I know.

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14 • Working Ethic • [Voice/Action]

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