recolle | [OPEN]

WHO: Sanji and you poor fools
WHERE: Various (pretty much any district of your choosing + subway)
WHEN: Mid January
WHAT: Retrospec gave him back his super strength and his ability to set himself on fire. It goes as well as expected. Also, tunnel shenanigans.
WARNINGS: His potty mouth. There's a looot of curse words under here.

I. I came in like a wrecking ball

[So, Retrospec.

Ever accidentally kicked your foot through a wall? Yes? Then you’ll know how messy that shit actually is, how it's not nearly as cool as the movies make it out to be. Imagine all the bits of plaster on the floor, the dust and debris spattered at the bottom of your expensive slacks, or the sudden draft blowing up your jacket because it’s chilly as hell outside -- and never mind the stares you get for your abrupt use of property damage.

And before you say shit – because you are probably gonna say shit, aren't you? -- Sanji holds up a hand to stop whoever is nearby, dead-eyed and staring like he’s already seen this play out three times already:]

I don’t wanna hear it.

[Yanking his leg back out, yes, as a chunk of the wall of this random building crumbles like a wet cookie.]

II. Flambé

[Sanji’s been angry before. That’s nothing new. But life has taught him it’s better to boil under the lid rather than erupt like a volcano. So he tries, alright? Despite his feet finding new and inventive ways to break everything they come in contact with, he fuckin tries to keep it together.

But in the end, all it takes is one too many times tripping into wanton destruction before he loses it. The dome's eternal darkness makes it too easy to lose his footing, and be it a stray cat, or tree root, or some unfortunate soul that runs into him (possibly you), Sanji yelps during the collision with his legs twisting for purchase –

And accidentally punches his leg through a... tree.]

-- For shitty fuck’s sake already--!

[It’s with a guttural howl that he erupts, heat and flames bursting forth in tribute at the hidden moon, bright enough that he could be seen for miles in the dark if there weren’t so many buildings surrounding him. He is done. He has had it. He is--

He is on fire.

-- Holy shit he's on fire, immediately patting himself down to tame the flames and screeching in terror--]

O-oi! Are you fuckin--!! S-someone help me out here!

[Please help before he burns down the city.]

III. Tunnel Entrance

[One would think after losing both his phone and wallet to the subway gods, Sanji would know better than to trespass here. And you'd be correct --

Except this time he, uh, lost one of his shoes.

So fuck it, back in he goes, wincing in disgust each time his uncovered foot touches the grime and rat piss he knows he's stepping in. The only positive here are his kicks can make meat pies out of those overgrown rodents, and they must sense it -- the vast majority refuse to approach him.

To any companion he suckered into helping him with his search:]

How much hush money I gotta pay you to keep quiet about the shoe?

IV. Wildcard

[ooc: Got a certain idea you want played out? Hit me up at ignitible or PM this journal.

Also of note is despite the shits and giggles, let's keep the property damage low (that poor abandoned building and tree notwithstanding). I'm not actually looking to set the entire city on fire.

It's also cool to use pretty much any method to put out Sanji's fire. Do you see who I play? I've long since abandoned my sense of shame.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... I don't know. Being able to use an element at your will is fairly handy. I wonder if it'll be easier for you, as you seem to be doing that directly.

[ Summoning Goemon fully is a tiring job m'dude. ]

But super speed would be helpful. I could do twice as much during the day if I had super speed.

... But could you paint faster?

[This, apparently, is the question Sanji decides he should dedicate his time to, as he not only looks intrigued, but is mentally going through the calculations in his head]

[ This ... ... Yusuke looks like a man who has just had a world of possibility opened up to him. ]

... If I could paint faster... [ He could do double the commissions, finish his coursework twice over and decide on which of his finished ideas he liked the best, and he would't be up until the early hours of the morning finishing things. ]

That would be a marvellous skill. Definitely one worth having.

[... He kinda feels bad now. Yusuke latched hard onto that impossible dream]

I mean, probably not a guarantee. You'd have to find a medium that dries fast enough to match your speed.

[And imagine drawing so fast you keep burning a hole through the paper]

... pencil would be fine for sketchwork. And there are different thicknesses of paper.

[ TOO LATE, HE'S ONTO THIS. ]

At the very least, I would get a lot of prep work down. That would leave more time to paint.

[ Either way is good?? ]

Damn, you got that all thought out.

[Sanji looks so fuckin amused right now.]

Maybe one day we'll be able to appeal for superpowers. These bastards can apparently bring us back to life, so.

[What can't they do? Kinda creeps Sanji out, actually, for all his smile suggests otherwise.]

[ Yusuke goes a little quieter at that. Hadn't there been a post about that topic only recently? ]

That's an uncomfortable thought. I wonder what lets them revive some people, and not others.

[ But... that's a dark and uncomfortable thought. After a moment he shakes his head. Topic shift. ]

... Maybe speeding through the art process would take the joy out of it.

[Topic shift? That's fair. Sanji jumps back on that previous line of thought with no qualms]

Yeah, like -- half the fun's the journey.

[Spending ten hours on an art-piece? Can't relate, but then again, Sanji doesn't need to. It's obviously something Yusuke enjoys doing]

Your way's probably best.

[ Maybe ... talking about death and the lack thereof is a little heavy right now. ]

You learn about how you work when you take your time as well. Sacrificing that for speed and money--[ ~~is no better than his other self's mentor, with his plagiarism and manipulation~~ ]-- would have personal consequences, I think. Further down the line.

[Oh yes, Sanji agrees, and hums in his throat. Not with speed, he thinks, but he's seen what money will do to a person, especially the dogged pursuit of it at the expense of everything else.

If there's a God in this world, hopefully those "personal consequences" will be tearing up hides for years to come.]

Eh, probably.

[A shrug, a grin, returning to his nonchalance]

Can't relate; it's not like I work on shit in the first place.

...

[ That's... actually quite sad to hear. ]

Nothing at all? Surely there must be something that makes you want to put all your effort in to.

[Sanji's smile loses some of its flavor until eventually it dies completely, traded for a blank look. He regards Yusuke, measures the length of him, before the shrug -- and then, with nothing else to offer, the simple truth.]

No, nothing.

[Once, certainly, but it hadn't panned out, and Sanji prefers not to repeat mistakes if he can help it.]

[ The... fading-to-blank expression doesn't exactly sit well with him, and almost makes him want to leave it there but. Yusuke's lucky, he's aware of this, that he was almost born knowing what inspired him. It might be stifling to some, but it had just felt lucky to him.

And the idea of not having that sort of outlet, or something that inspires him to do his best just feels lonely. Upsetting, even. ]

Never?

There must be something out there that motivates or inspires you. Even if it seems small.

[Inspires

He'd probably sneer if anyone else lobbied that inflated, overdone word he's heard so much about, but instead his expression softens into something patient. Of course someone like Yusuke wouldn't get it -- that's the punchline.

That's how Sanji prefers it.]

Nope, never. [He's using the same verbal cues that comedians do, and keeps his tone airy as he sticks his hands back in his pockets] I'm an empty husk of a shitty human being, what can I say?

[... It's a joke. Relax, Yusuke.]

But seriously, just haven't found anything like that. Maybe I will one day.

[ ... Yes. Sad is a better word for it. Not in a sneering, judging manner. Just in an empty, small way. Sad. ]

I hope so.

[ A lack of creativity, or outlet, or direction would never be a joke to him, sorry Sanji. ]

... Not everyone knows exactly what works for them, immediately. But trying and finding out is half the process for some people.

Oh I bet.

[Doubly so for assholes who rarely bother to try at anything.

... But enough of it. Sanji's about to choke on this atmosphere and tries to wave it off like no big deal]

If I find anything, you'll be the first to know, alright?

[Since Yusuke looks so goddamn sad about it.]

[ > You made a promise to Yusuke.
> Yusuke will now ~~die for you~~ be sure to hold you to that promise. ]

... Yes, please do. I would be interested in knowing what inspires you.

[ sanjI LEGITIMATELY KEPT DRAWING HIS EGG COMICS without being nagged, there's got to be SOME creative energy there looking for an outlet. ]

[OPEN]

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