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WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK
USERNAME:
LOVECOOK
text ❖ audio ❖ video
[ why. it's the eternal question that sanji keeps asking himself as he boomerangs away from zoro and back again, always back into his orbit and into his arms, somehow pulled toward him like a ball on a string. it's pathetic. being here has unearthed all the loneliness he thought was permanently buried since the moment reiju pushed him away from the vinsmoke mansion and toward his freedom with the command to never return home again. he's a ghost walking these halls without nami's connection tethering him to something, without zeff's presence, without the merry being able to take them far away to the next adventure. they're stuck. and sanji would have thought he'd know better how to deal with being stuck by now, but he's not dealing well at all. ]
Because someone has to take care of you.
[ because you always take care of me.
the scar running jaggedly over his healed eye is proof of that, normally covered, but he doesn't have many secrets from zoro. just his fragmented past, but that's a secret from almost everyone. even nami has just bits and pieces of the story, maybe enough to put everything together if he doesn't start acting normal again soon. his fingertips brush zoro's earrings, a slight metallic tinkle in the air, and then he's rubbing suds behind his ears, traveling down the strong line of his throat to the dip of his shoulder blades. after a moment he comes back up, draping his arms around his shoulders to rest his fingertips at his collarbones. ]
There's something wrong with this place. Nami's gotten too comfortable, and I don't want to scare her. I need you to help me figure it out.
[ he dips his hands into the tub, washing away the suds and scooping up clear water, cascading it over zoro's shoulders. ]
I need you with me. I can't do this alone. This place, it — it scares me worse than where we just came from.
Because someone has to take care of you.
[ because you always take care of me.
the scar running jaggedly over his healed eye is proof of that, normally covered, but he doesn't have many secrets from zoro. just his fragmented past, but that's a secret from almost everyone. even nami has just bits and pieces of the story, maybe enough to put everything together if he doesn't start acting normal again soon. his fingertips brush zoro's earrings, a slight metallic tinkle in the air, and then he's rubbing suds behind his ears, traveling down the strong line of his throat to the dip of his shoulder blades. after a moment he comes back up, draping his arms around his shoulders to rest his fingertips at his collarbones. ]
There's something wrong with this place. Nami's gotten too comfortable, and I don't want to scare her. I need you to help me figure it out.
[ he dips his hands into the tub, washing away the suds and scooping up clear water, cascading it over zoro's shoulders. ]
I need you with me. I can't do this alone. This place, it — it scares me worse than where we just came from.
ok :) i will then
oh yeah
not like all the time all the time but he brought it up to me when he was missing the connection between all of us
he liked that i was part of it even if he couldn't see me
anyway i think most guys think it's harder to go down on girls
( best most patient girlfriend of the year award goes to nami, for not pointing out how easily sanji says he likes zoro. )
and the girls in otherworld
( mission sext sanji has become mission get extremely jealous over absolutely nothing, and she has a 100% success rate. )
oh yeah
not like all the time all the time but he brought it up to me when he was missing the connection between all of us
he liked that i was part of it even if he couldn't see me
anyway i think most guys think it's harder to go down on girls
( best most patient girlfriend of the year award goes to nami, for not pointing out how easily sanji says he likes zoro. )
and the girls in otherworld
( mission sext sanji has become mission get extremely jealous over absolutely nothing, and she has a 100% success rate. )
sanji. what do you think of this place?
( Someone is still trying to wrap their head around things it seems. Luffy has noticed that despite people saying there's no way out, not a lot of people appear to be looking for one either..... )
( Someone is still trying to wrap their head around things it seems. Luffy has noticed that despite people saying there's no way out, not a lot of people appear to be looking for one either..... )
food is okay.
what isn't happening?
koby said you had all been here for a long time and i wanted to ask you about it. does the weirdness go away at any point because i heard the rooms keep changing around too.
( Alas Sanji, your ire for Zoro will need to find another way. )
what isn't happening?
koby said you had all been here for a long time and i wanted to ask you about it. does the weirdness go away at any point because i heard the rooms keep changing around too.
( Alas Sanji, your ire for Zoro will need to find another way. )
i wouldn't say it's been a long time here. we were somewhere else before. less amenities, but it didn't feel like we were as trapped. this place feels like a prison.
and yes, the rooms keep changing, so i don't think it's possible to keep an accurate map. at least not yet. i suspect there has to be some kind of pattern if we just keep documenting the changes. nami's mapping the place, but it's hard work to keep up when the rooms don't stay still, so we could use some help.
and yes, the rooms keep changing, so i don't think it's possible to keep an accurate map. at least not yet. i suspect there has to be some kind of pattern if we just keep documenting the changes. nami's mapping the place, but it's hard work to keep up when the rooms don't stay still, so we could use some help.
feels like? it is a prison. i don't think anyone asked to come here. i just need to find who's in charge and sort them out! can't find the one piece sitting here. i even asked the library for something from home and got it so there's definitely a path somewhere.
just not the gate. it's a horrible gate, ugly.
i know there are other people taking notes too but i don't know if they want to share but i can ask.
just not the gate. it's a horrible gate, ugly.
i know there are other people taking notes too but i don't know if they want to share but i can ask.
luffy, if you find out who's in charge, you can't just go charging at them with your fists. you don't have any experience with how these kind of places operate.
nami's better at asking people for things. she's more likely to get information than you are. people love talking to a pretty girl.
nami's better at asking people for things. she's more likely to get information than you are. people love talking to a pretty girl.
no i don't have experience, do you? anyway if they wanted to TALK they wouldn't be hiding or staying out of our way much. they know this is wrong.
nami's pretty? ( Give Luffy a moment. See, Nami looks great but he's pretty sure if he called Nami pretty there'd be a smack for saying it. Confusing. ) i talk to people at breakfast and they tell me things too, it's a skill a captain needs. where do you think i heard of a BLT?
nami's pretty? ( Give Luffy a moment. See, Nami looks great but he's pretty sure if he called Nami pretty there'd be a smack for saying it. Confusing. ) i talk to people at breakfast and they tell me things too, it's a skill a captain needs. where do you think i heard of a BLT?
[ dead silence for a good several minutes. ]
i have some experience, yeah.
you're better off keeping your head down until we know more.
nami's obviously the prettiest girl here.
all right, fine, you get information at breakfast since there's never a chance in hell you're going to miss breakfast anyway. zoro is useless at helping us with the map unless someone goes with him, so now that you're here, we can cover more ground in mapping out the place.
places like these usually have a level underground. beyond just the otherworld. oftentimes they use it to hide people.
there could be a way out from there.
i have some experience, yeah.
you're better off keeping your head down until we know more.
nami's obviously the prettiest girl here.
all right, fine, you get information at breakfast since there's never a chance in hell you're going to miss breakfast anyway. zoro is useless at helping us with the map unless someone goes with him, so now that you're here, we can cover more ground in mapping out the place.
places like these usually have a level underground. beyond just the otherworld. oftentimes they use it to hide people.
there could be a way out from there.
( Luffy needs at least five minutes to digest all of that. And for once he knows better than to ask about it over texts. )
i'll keep my head down until we know what is happening.
i didn't really look. should i be?
between all of us we can cover a lot of ground. hiding people. like ones who step out of line you think? you're right there should be a way out, how can there not be when there's a way in? and where does all the food here come from? is it delivered?
i'll keep my head down until we know what is happening.
i didn't really look. should i be?
between all of us we can cover a lot of ground. hiding people. like ones who step out of line you think? you're right there should be a way out, how can there not be when there's a way in? and where does all the food here come from? is it delivered?
Edited 2024-07-27 18:44 (UTC)
it won't be easy to find. that's the whole point of a place that hides things. [ did he say people? anyway. ] we had shipments of supplies to the baratie once a week. we'd go under without them. with the way they're feeding us, they have to be getting supplies from somewhere, but i've never seen any deliveries being made. the kitchen is always stocked, too.
luffy. if you find a place that looks dangerous, don't go off on your own. we can't help you if we don't know where you are.
luffy. if you find a place that looks dangerous, don't go off on your own. we can't help you if we don't know where you are.
we just got to follow the trail when we find it, and there's got to be one with things getting in! maybe i need to spend more time in the kitchen.
right, we need to deal with this together and leave no-one behind. i'll talk to the others.
( Sooner or later the fact there's no way out may sink in. )
are you okay? as captain i have to check in on all my crew especially with the weird time stuff. koby mentioned things had been bad at some point but he didn't want to go into details.
right, we need to deal with this together and leave no-one behind. i'll talk to the others.
( Sooner or later the fact there's no way out may sink in. )
are you okay? as captain i have to check in on all my crew especially with the weird time stuff. koby mentioned things had been bad at some point but he didn't want to go into details.
really, more time in the kitchen? funny how your road somehow always ends up there.
me? of course i'm okay. [ what the hell did koby say. he'll kill that shitty marine no matter how much he cares about him now. ] whatever happened is over. you're here now, and that's all that matters.
me? of course i'm okay. [ what the hell did koby say. he'll kill that shitty marine no matter how much he cares about him now. ] whatever happened is over. you're here now, and that's all that matters.
it doesn't look suspicious if i'm there :)
okay. ( Something about people and cake. The few little bits Luffy heard was bad enough to have him looking twice at any cakes in future. ) i should have been here sooner, but you're right i'm here now.
we really need to get home.
we've left usopp on his own.
okay. ( Something about people and cake. The few little bits Luffy heard was bad enough to have him looking twice at any cakes in future. ) i should have been here sooner, but you're right i'm here now.
we really need to get home.
we've left usopp on his own.
you look suspicious everywhere you go.
it's not your fault. you would've been here if you could. and anyway, it's for the best that you weren't.
i know. we've been... me, nami, and zoro — koby, too — we've been trying to get home for a while now. we ended up somewhere else before this house. it was some kind of village. that's over now too, but we've been looking for a way out for months.
i left someone behind there, too. you didn't know her. she was just some shitty little kid i met.
anyway, it doesn't matter. just be careful or my foot'll find your ass.
it's not your fault. you would've been here if you could. and anyway, it's for the best that you weren't.
i know. we've been... me, nami, and zoro — koby, too — we've been trying to get home for a while now. we ended up somewhere else before this house. it was some kind of village. that's over now too, but we've been looking for a way out for months.
i left someone behind there, too. you didn't know her. she was just some shitty little kid i met.
anyway, it doesn't matter. just be careful or my foot'll find your ass.
i am a master at blending in.
( They both know that's not true, but at least Luffy can laugh about it. )
all did good, i've only been here a week and my head is still spinning. thank you for looking after koby. it must be hard for him without his haircut friend or grandpa around to support.
yeah? you should tell me about her sometime.
and wow careful i've seen what those feet can do.
( They both know that's not true, but at least Luffy can laugh about it. )
all did good, i've only been here a week and my head is still spinning. thank you for looking after koby. it must be hard for him without his haircut friend or grandpa around to support.
yeah? you should tell me about her sometime.
and wow careful i've seen what those feet can do.
( there's a part of zoro that wants to bristle at sanji's answer — nobody has to take care of him, which might be true, but nami and sanji still find ways to do it anyway. maybe it was more true in the village than here, where almost any need can be met at the snap of fingers, but —
it's obvious that they still need each other, because sanji's right. there is something wrong with this place, and zoro won't admit it, but with luffy here now, there's a part of him that's gotten a little comfortable, too. he's stuck following the tedium of his daily routines, bookended so nicely by daily egg breakfasts and nightly black tie dinners. he lets out a long sigh, chin tipping up a little as sanji's fingers toy with his earrings, trace over his collarbones, linger there. the last time sanji touched him, it was his hands gripping his shoulder blades, tips of his nails indenting into his skin, thighs tightening around him, gasping against his mouth —
i need you with me. he's said it before, zoro's said it before, and they'll both probably say it again. it's the truth, and right now, it's probably as close to an apology for ... whatever the fuck happened that first weekend in sanji's bedroom. puke. cake. tears and harsh words. a sealed bottle of wine. the warm water courses over his shoulders, and he hums his assent. it's pretty fucking worrying that sanji finds this place more terrifying than the last, but zoro's learned to take things one at a time with the cook. it's a thought that he's holding onto for now, though, not remotely done with it.)
C'mere.
( and it's certainly less than graceful, but zoro uses the lip of the bathtub to push himself up and onto his knees, definitely sloshing bubbles and water onto the floor in the process, turning around to face sanji. placid as ever, zoro's wet hands reach up and cup sanji's cheeks to guide his face down, his chin craning up so he he can place perhaps the softest, gentlest kiss against his lips. lingering: )
It's still warm — you should get in.
it's obvious that they still need each other, because sanji's right. there is something wrong with this place, and zoro won't admit it, but with luffy here now, there's a part of him that's gotten a little comfortable, too. he's stuck following the tedium of his daily routines, bookended so nicely by daily egg breakfasts and nightly black tie dinners. he lets out a long sigh, chin tipping up a little as sanji's fingers toy with his earrings, trace over his collarbones, linger there. the last time sanji touched him, it was his hands gripping his shoulder blades, tips of his nails indenting into his skin, thighs tightening around him, gasping against his mouth —
i need you with me. he's said it before, zoro's said it before, and they'll both probably say it again. it's the truth, and right now, it's probably as close to an apology for ... whatever the fuck happened that first weekend in sanji's bedroom. puke. cake. tears and harsh words. a sealed bottle of wine. the warm water courses over his shoulders, and he hums his assent. it's pretty fucking worrying that sanji finds this place more terrifying than the last, but zoro's learned to take things one at a time with the cook. it's a thought that he's holding onto for now, though, not remotely done with it.)
C'mere.
( and it's certainly less than graceful, but zoro uses the lip of the bathtub to push himself up and onto his knees, definitely sloshing bubbles and water onto the floor in the process, turning around to face sanji. placid as ever, zoro's wet hands reach up and cup sanji's cheeks to guide his face down, his chin craning up so he he can place perhaps the softest, gentlest kiss against his lips. lingering: )
It's still warm — you should get in.
(The next time Sanji leaves his room he'll find a small bag of rough-shaped sugar cookies in a bag on the ground by his door. The label says Sanji. Only fair as captain that I make you something! Luffy.
Said cookies look passable and probably would have been, had Luffy checked the ingredients and used sugar rather than salt. It's the thought that counts, right?)
Said cookies look passable and probably would have been, had Luffy checked the ingredients and used sugar rather than salt. It's the thought that counts, right?)
[ it's not the captain's job to feed him. and yet. ]
i find it's actually less work if you use cookie cutters, but i prefer the look of every single cookie being mismatched. makes for good, uneven baking, too.
i ate the whole bag!
[ he sends luffy a picture of the sugar and salt dispensers, which now have sanji's neat scrawl on the bottom in marker labeling which is which. ]
i've never seen you bake before. new hobby?
i find it's actually less work if you use cookie cutters, but i prefer the look of every single cookie being mismatched. makes for good, uneven baking, too.
i ate the whole bag!
[ he sends luffy a picture of the sugar and salt dispensers, which now have sanji's neat scrawl on the bottom in marker labeling which is which. ]
i've never seen you bake before. new hobby?
it was more fun seeing how they would turn out without using the cutters. i didn't know if they'd be round or square shaped!
you did? not a new hobby, i thought i would give it a try, see if i could understand your dream a bit better.
salt and sugar look the same....
you did? not a new hobby, i thought i would give it a try, see if i could understand your dream a bit better.
salt and sugar look the same....
[ none of them are round or square shaped. all of them are blob shaped. ]
how do you feel about it? gonna give up on becoming the king of the pirates to become the king of sugar cookies instead?
well, no one wants to eat a handful of salt. so i'd recommend checking the labels first.
how do you feel about it? gonna give up on becoming the king of the pirates to become the king of sugar cookies instead?
well, no one wants to eat a handful of salt. so i'd recommend checking the labels first.
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