damned_institute | Day 32: Sun Room (4th Shift)

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Day 32: Sun Room (4th Shift)

It was rare that Homura's nurse try to persuade him to a scheduled activity, but then, it was rare that Homura didn't go. But the demi-god had plans, and the poor woman had little other choice but to leave in a huff as he once again settled himself near the bulletin board in the Sun Room.

His conversation with Kenren the previous shift had left the demi-god with a lingering sense of anxiety. Perhaps it was something only those from his own world could do, but none the less, he was all the more ready for night to begin now. Goals and memories, the truth of his past and the possibility of the future: all thoughts lingering on the forefront of his mind, more than enough motivation to move forward.

Impatience was something of a rush for an immortal, he'd discovered. Homura liked the feeling, the excitement even before he had arrived in this prison. And now while he waited, he savored it again, a yearning that shone so much brighter than the boredom of Heaven.

[Waiting for History Club Q&A time.]

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Sanji entered the Sun Room and at once went about finding a good place to sit where Nami could see him easily once she came in. (Not that he was all that hard to miss to begin with, but he wanted to make extra sure...

Standing on a chair again wasn't an option, of course. His wounds still ached a bit from the last time. He was sure she'd be drawn right to him, anyway. His persona was just that magnetic.

The Sun Room found Nami somewhat bewildered today. What a strange girl she'd spoken to, saying pirates were a thing of the past. Of course, it hadn't seemed as if she was from the Grand Line, but no matter.

She'd said she'd meet Sanji today for a quick rundown of all that had happened, though, so she left the lunch room quickly, having eaten her fill, and entered the Sun Room. She'd get her answers with a side of flattery.

Of course she spotted him quickly ~~it was easy, what with the hearts in his eyes~~ and approached, stride businesslike as always, greeting her nakama with a friendly grin and a wave. "Nice acrobatics earlier, but we don't have time to jump around and get injured during the day."

The chef's face turned momentarily pink and he had to turn away to hide his embarrassment. Of course, the one time she had been paying attention to him... "I was so overjoyed to see you," he chuckled lamely, "that I couldn't even stay on my feet." The weak laughter trailed off pathetically at the end and he cleared his throat instead.

"A-anyway! I should have a word with the staff!" The subject required an abrupt change. "You can't have gotten good enough treatment to have been laying up in bed so long. You really are feeling better, aren't you?"

The man reached forward suddenly, intent on feeling her forehead for any remaining signs of fever.

The problem with his first statement was that it was painfully true. So true, in fact, that all she could do was nod, a little bit of pain in her eyes. So easy to take advantage of, but that was necessary once in a while, wasn't it? Oh, Sanji.

She crossed her arms when he started worrying over her sickness, then leaned in to let her cool forehead brush his hand. "I'm feeling better - of course, I would have improved a lot faster with Chopper around, but I take what I can get." They seemed to get injured so much in this place, even more than on a daily basis here on the ship, barring the occasional spar between Sanji and Zoro.. and the occasional explosion from Usopp. She really did miss the reindeer.

The navigator settled down on the couch beside him, getting right down to business - but what did he expect from Nami, really? "Have you met this nakama Luffy was talking about on the bulletin board? I'm rather skeptical.."

"That's Brook," Sanji answered quickly. At least Nami should have to be the last person he explained this to. "He must have been brought from a little while after I was." Which still bothered him. "As far as I can tell, he really should be our musician then. Luffy'd already asked him, but there were some circumstances... I'm sure we fixed them with little problem, though."

Maybe with more than a "little" problem, but not actually knowing much of what had happened after he'd woken up here he'd rather assume the best. It would appear that they'd at least gotten their shadows back, and that was important. (Should he mention what Brook had said about his rescue of Nami later? No... probably best to save that...)

"Brook," Nami repeated. An interesting name. She wondered which Blue he was from? Likely the Grand Line, since they were really that far in. What did someone that far toward the center have to say about the area? As a mapmaker, she was admittedly interested. As a nakama... If Luffy said so, then his word was law. "Well, as long as he pulls his weight around here, and if Luffy accepts him, I've got no problem accepting him, too." She nodded, as if this was final.

Though Sanji had said that there were circumstances? She might end up having to ask Brook herself.

"Hmm. If they're taking us here from different time periods.. do you think Vivi might show up, if they went back enough?" The thought made Nami both excited and a little sad. Vivi's country needed her, now more than most, but the wound of leaving Alabasta was still fresher in Nami's mind than anyone else's.

"Vivi??" Sanji looked momentarily excited at the prospect of having another lovely female member of the crew here with him. He was soon shaking his head, however, and trying to snap himself out of it. "No, no. She shouldn't be here! This is a terrible place!"

It would put her in danger, and he wouldn't be able to stand seeing her come to hard. As tough and genuinely awesome as Sanji was, he might not be able to keep a constant eye on, much less protect, both Vivi and Nami.

"It's best not to even think about it. Who knows how this place decides to drag people in?"

"Do you think so?" Nami crossed her fingers in front of her, staring down at them. "You know, Sanji-kun, I've.. long since given the hope of us all getting back to the Grand Line. And even if it ended up happening, I know I'd lose all my memories of here.. That's something I'm not sure if I'm all right with. Even these memories are precious, you know? I'd rather just continue our journey with where it's put us now."

She'd done a lot of thinking during that time she was sick in her room, and not all of it had been obviously beneficial. But she'd decided a few things: she wanted all of her nakama here, not just the ones she knew, or just the ones she was traveling with right now.

"I'm not entirely comfortable with escape until we've got everyone gathered up, you see." And Vivi.. she counted.

"What are you saying?" Sanji frowned, her words not entirely registering. "It's too early to be giving up hope." In fact, it was always too early as far as he was concerned. He himself had no doubt that they'd make it out of this place eventually. He had memories of them all from after theirs stopped, so that meant they had to have gotten out. "If it takes losing a few memories of this place to get out, then I'll gladly give them up.

Perhaps she was right about waiting for the others, though. What happened if they escaped only to find that Robin and Franky were still trapped here? Then again, what if they were worried sick waiting for them back at home? It was a terrible conundrum, and Sanji could only sit and cross his arms over his chest, brow deeply furrowed.

Whatever the case, they all had goals and dreams, ones that they were determined to see come true. They couldn't stay here.

Maybe she'd used the wrong words, but Sanji was replying negatively. Nami wasn't one to backtrack on her words, but she could at least explain better: "Not giving up hope. Changing. I have no doubt that the Nami back home is still out there... but I'm different. I was taken here from before all of you, and you all remember Nami being with you, much later than I do."

She swallowed. "Time's continuing - you all are going to that sky island you were talking about - without knowing that there's a Nami in Landel's. We all left Luffy here alone for so long without even knowing he was gone." They'd been over this already, and Nami hadn't budged on her position.

The navigator turned to look at her chef, eyebrows creased seriously. "Of course I want to get out of here. Don't be stupid. I just don't want this time to be wasted." That seemed intrinsically wrong to her. And she knew that if they didn't gather everyone here before they left, they might never see them again.

Listening carefully to what Nami was saying, Sanji couldn't say he understood all of it. He thought he knew where she was coming from, but he was still so confused about how everyone came from different times. Perhaps he would have felt similar to her, had he been from the furthest back.

He didn't want to upset her, in any case.

"Well, we're all meeting up tonight, right?" He reached over carefully and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you tell Luffy and the others about it?"

Nami seemed to welcome that hand. The words she'd been saying had unhinged her a little bit, though she'd never admit such a thing. And a few minutes away from this topic would do her wonders.

She smiled at Sanji, meeting his eye for a moment before she shook her head. No.. Luffy and the rest couldn't know. Luffy wouldn't understand the conclusion - Zoro would go with whatever Luffy said. Usopp? She could talk to Usopp, but the times they got to see each other these days were rather few and far between. No... Sanji was the best person to talk to right now about whatever was worrying her. As soon as he turned off the doe-eyes, anyway. What she really needed was a confidant. Where was Robin when she needed her?

Then that smile turned truly genuine as she thought of the goings-on tonight. "Maybe someday I will.. but tonight is a night for celebration. Luffy really wants a party, so we're going to party. Captain's orders, remember?"

Sanji nodded, but he wasn't sure how to take this, either. She didn't want to say anything? That meant she wouldn't want him to say anything, which meant she was keeping her thoughts a secret from the others. Keeping secrets from the crew? Well, all women had their secrets, didn't they?

Or wait - was she opening up to him? If she wasn't telling anyone else these thoughts, just him, she must be feeling more confident around him!

Shit, he'd take it.

The chef grinned. "Right, Captain's orders! ...Shame we don't have any booze, but we'll manage somehow."

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Day 32: Sun Room (4th Shift)

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