damned_institute | 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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"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."

Day 32: Sun Room (4th Shift)

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