adstringendum | [video]

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[Sanji arrives, and it smells of ash and death - not like the sea, not like gun powder or salty wind. He blinks his eyes open to a landscape of gray. The lack of sunlit sky hits his senses like a knife wound, and that would be disorienting enough, if not for the added déjà vu that leaves him unnerved.

The feeling that he's been here before.

But this isn't the time to be following that shitty feeling down the rabbit hole. Sanji picks himself off the barren patch of dirt, absently wiping the soot off his jacket. He's not prone to panic (at least not yet), but after fanning out Observation Haki, the chef comes up dry - and he's suddenly thinking he really doesn't like this new hellhole he's found himself in.

He's down at least four crewmen, and a ship, and goddamn it, if they've all been kidnapped again--

The PCD on the ground nearly misses his attention; lucky him that he steps on it, then, and the crunch of protesting plastic draws his stare downward. The fuck is that? Something he probably doesn't want to go touching, but he's a little short of clues at the moment. Mystery devices get a free pass today.

And thirty minutes later (which might have been spent cursing at the clouds):]

Oi. Who's still here? [Nami, Chopper, Sam... do respond so your chef doesn't attempt to burn down what's left of this place.]

And who the the hell is that shithead wanting to kill everyone?

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[It's within those thirsty minutes that Sanji's haki might pick up a dot on the very edges of its reach, slow moving and spotty. The presence swerves and stops every few seconds before it picks up again, and in little time at all, the source comes into view a small distance away. It's...probably the shabbiest looking canine he'll ever see in his life, bar none. And looks like it's on it's last legs. Closer inspection, or at least once the animal perks up its head after catching his scent, will probably jog his memories...though not at first glance.

Ammy, white fur turned gray-black from the ash and dirt - missing in some places due to her poor diet - limps slowly from the brush. She's extremely thin, her tongue hanging from her jaws as she labors for breath. Her nose is dry and cracking, eyes misty with fatigue, but the most painful thing is that she greets him with just as much excitement and happiness as any friendly pup would, her tail swishing happily, but feebly, behind her.

Hello, you. ♥]

[... No.

No, this is... this isn't right. That is not an animal; it's a walking corpse with a smile too bright. Why the damn hell does she look so thin? So unhealthy? Because yes, Sanji recognizes the dog from his clouded memories - dirty fur or no, that's not enough to mask the stirring of remembrance. He feels like he's been shot.

What did Chopper call her? Something kinder than Sanji had. Guilt weighs on his heart as she approaches, the chef not moving an inch from his post. He hasn't gotten the full disclosure yet, but looking at the desolate landscape, and then back at her... he remembers her power, the ability to give life, and can't help but wonder how hard she's been trying.

The PCD held in his hands slips finger by finger, until he at last pockets it for later reading. He doesn't feel like splitting his attentions.]

Hey, you... [His voice is far gentler than it ever had been. He holds out his hand] C'mere. Keep me company a bit.

[Instinctively, Ammy presses her face into Sanji's palm, rubbing her head and nose against his fingers before giving them a few affectionate licks. She's missed him, but it's a little bittersweet to see him again, all things considered. This land is dying, and the people herein are slowly passing away as well. Ammy has been giving it her best effort, but even she is running on her last leg now.

And while she normally would have declined the offer, Ammy's foresight has shown her that the end of her life's road is swiftly approaching, and she ought to just spend a few brief moments with those she cares about. Past grievances or no, she closes her eyes and leans heavily against Sanji's side, her breath quick and ragged, but she settles against him comfortably.]

[Sanji shifts a bit, letting Ammy's weight - what little of it he can feel - settle by his side. This close, the chef can't hold onto any past illusions; she's all bones and matted fur, barely seeming to breathe unless he sits still to pay attention.

Starvation, exhaustion... Sanji has seen this before. Experienced some if it, once upon a time. The cold reality is that she'll probably die soon. And the realization sets Sanji's throat a little too tight, making it that much harder to force words through.]

You-- [He clears his throat, closes his eyes briefly for strength, settling his hand on top her head.] You've been trying hard, eh? [Not much to show for it, judging by the barren landscape, but that's not a mark against her; whatever they're dealing with is that much of a shitty prick, and when Sanji opens his eyes again, they blaze with hatred at the clouds]

Sorry. [A pause. He begins stroking her muzzle, then against her ears] About up and leaving like I did.

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mamaterasu - 2015-04-22 02:32 (UTC) - Expand

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[Action forever] - CRIES GROSSLY ALL OVER THIS THREAD

mamaterasu - 2015-04-26 14:02 (UTC) - Expand

[Action forever] - LITERALLY EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED AND IT HURTS

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[Action forever] - THIS THREAD IS RUDE AND I HATE YOU.

mamaterasu - 2015-04-26 22:29 (UTC) - Expand

[Action forever] - I LOVE U TOO >8D

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[Action forever] - LIES AND DECEIT BC

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[Action forever] - BUT I HURT BECAUSE I LOVE??

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[Action forever] - WELL SO LONG AS IT'S OUT OF LOVE...

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[Action forever] - YES 8D /HURTS YOU SOME MORE

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[Action forever] - /WOUNDS YOU RIGHT BACK x(

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[Action forever] - fUCK THIS TAG OH NO

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[Action forever] - AND FUCK YOU TOO, GOOD LADY 8D7

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[Action forever] - I HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT THIS, HOW DARE YOU

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[Action forever] - JUST RETURNING THE FAVOR 8')

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...Sanji?

[This is a voice so bewildered and hopeful, you almost can't hear the edge of exhaustion. A moment later the video feed syncs up to the sound, and Chopper peers into the camera, his eyes wide with disbelief.]

[He remembers almost not wanting you to come back, once upon a time - your nicotine withdrawal was hard for you, and there's even less he can do to help now than he could back then - but his heart jumps into his throat anyway at the swirly eyebrow and head of blond hair. It can't be. It still feels like Luffy being here is too good to be true, and now this?]

Oi, Sanji! Is that you?

...Nn?

[ Just entering the viewscreen is another familiar face, leaning backwards as Chopper addresses his PCD. He's got one of those too, but honestly hasn't tried to figure it out. His eyes go wide too, but with recognition, with joy, with all the things that usually make his smile overtake his face and light him up like sunrise.

And all at once he's tumbling down on knees to shout around the reindeer-man's antler at him, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. ]

Sanji! Sanji Sanji!! It's Sanji!!

[ Excuse him a moment, he might need to catch up Chopper in his arms and give him a squeeze, just for some way to properly vent off this upwelling of unbridled happiness. Chopper, you're getting too light, what gives. ]

[ Sanji has been cordial enough with his other conversations, but here is where some of the tension finally bleeds out of his voice, and he regards his nakama with sad relief. Chopper, at least, is still around -- he fucking shouldn't be, but the chef would be a liar for not missing a familiar face]

Chopper. [A brief smile] Oi now, of course it's me! Couldn't let you and Nami-san alone in this--

[And just like that, before he can get anymore guilty posturing out of the way, there's suddenly another face peeking out between Chopper's antlers and proceeding to clammer up the PCD with noise. A face he was not expecting to see, goddamn it. Sanji's tongue freezes somewhere against his cheek and stares with horrified awe]

-- Luffy?

[Jesus no. Not his captain. Looking at Chopper now, brokenly, caught between excitement and a moment's panic.] Luffy's here?

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video; BREAKING ORDER But I had to

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video; lmlFLfls WHAT IS ORDER, THIS IS OP

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[Excuse him as he sliiiides in here.

Nothing to see, nothing to see. Sam is just a mildly depressed lump, but he's trucking through everything like usual. Just... one dog short. And a few dead friends short. And a few pounds lighter. And... yeah, it's been rough already. He clears his throat, in the middle of the woods with his machete, seeking out certain hidden people with special talents that may give them a shot at surviving this mess.]

I'm here.

You came at the worst possible time, hate to say it. But man, is it good to see your face.

[Ah, there - that's one down. Sanji carefully scrutinizes whatever the camera will show him before a proper reply]

Yo, Sam. [He'd call him his favorite sack of feathers, but the timing's off and his heart isn't in it.] You're looking... [pause, frowning.] thinner.

[In a flat voice] But I'm guessing that's the new look in this shithole, eh?

I'm doing fine. Still alive, and that's the best I can ask for right now.

[So don't do that whole grumpy chef thing at him; it's the norm here right now!]

You see that giant blanket of cloud above you?

It's an entity that wants to consume your soul.

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