55 → Action/Voice

[oda_hates_me]

Usopp's been sent home.

[That frank delivery comes from Sanji, on the afternoon of the 26th. The journal can't see his voice; just hear what he has to say, flat voice and all] Which means the shitty item shop's unmanned again.

[There's a lengthy pause as he briefly entertains the idea of letting everyone know Vivi's been taken, too, but figures

Comments

[Voice]

[markofthewise]

[First Brook and Zoro, now Usopp... is it just a matter of time before the whole crew is gone?]

Kind of hard to believe, huh... [Usopp was one of the first people Sokka ever talked to, after all.]

[Voice]

[oda_hates_me]

[Much later, Sanji isn't sure how to reply to this - or if it's necessary. But he can't muster up the required anger to be in a bad mood, so at last he responds with a very lackluster]

Guess so.

[Video]

[boomchucka]

[Selphie had only ever talked to Usopp a few times but he seemed like a really nice guy. The lack of emotion in Sanji's voice however, has her looking at the journal in concern as she flips on the video feed on her end. She doesn't have the words right now and "I'm sorry" doesn't seem to cut it in this situation. It's always hard to lose your friends in this place. She flashes a sad smile at the feed before shutting it down.]

[mikangirl]

[Nami spends most of the day home herself, curled up in the living room and reading her journal. Or... staring through the journal, as the case may be. She's having difficulty paying attention.

She does hear Sanji's announcement-- in stereo, even, through the journal and in the house-- and that's when Nami quietly closes the journal and lets herself out the front door.

It's okay. She'll be back in half an hour with a bag full of necessary supplies.]

[oda_hates_me]

[When she returns, Sanji won't be difficult to track down: in his room smoking off another pack of cigarettes, where he's been for the past three hours. Occasionally Brook's dial sets up a little background music, the extent of Sanji's movements.

On the hour, every hour, he entertains the idea of cooking, but there's no point when no one's hungry. And he just doesn't care.]

[mikangirl]

[He may hear the dull clink of many, many bottles in a bag being put down on the table. And then, dammit, Nami is rousing her crew. Here she is walking into your room without so much as a knock.]

Hey.

[oda_hates_me]

[Well, damn it, if he can't smile for himself he can try and smile for her. Which is what she gets, after barging into his room. He lifts a hand in greeting, slowly dragging himself to his feet]

Nami-san, do you need something? [You look like you're on a mission]

[Action]

[chiisaichou]

[Long after hearing Sanji's message, Miyabi remains quiet. She does nothing but stare at the pages of her journal, without a single thought in her head. All she feels is emptiness. First Brok, now Usopp...it isn't fair. She shuts her journal, stares dimly at the cover, then looks over to the tone dial she kept beside her bed - from Brook. And the very house she was in right now - from Usopp. There was no way to escape the emotions and memories by staying here.

So she left.

In no time at all, a small and familiar glowing light taps softly at the glass of a window at house six. She...really doesn't know why she's here, or what she could even say other than sorry, but she just wants the company of her pirate family. Good company is always nice, especially in hard times.]

[Action]

[oda_hates_me]

[He almost mistakes the insistent taps for rain - which would be oh so fitting now, wouldn't it? - but the sound is too regular to be that. He looks to the window.

... Miyabi. Heh, well, he isn't completely surprised she's here. He slides the glass up and open to let her into his room, and somehow finds a smile to give her]

Hey, Miyabi-chan.

[Action]

[chiisaichou]

[It's obvious just from how she doesn't hop inside, but walks slowly and casually that she's...not her usual, chipper self, but she does spare a smile for him, albeit a small one.

She really doesn't even know what to do or say, but she wants some company, and it seems everyone here could use some company too, so--]

Hello, big brother. Uhm...i-is it all right if I stay here for a while?

[Action]

[oda_hates_me]

[As if he'd ever turn her down at the door -- or window. The crew aren't the only ones allowed to mope and grieve over this loss. And he knows Miyabi cared much for Usopp.]

You're welcome anytime. Come on in.

[one_green_eye]

[Maybe it shouldn't have been. But this was a surprise. He sorts through his own thoughts in silence for a while, before listening again-- this time to Sanji's intonation. Closing for a few days, huh. Ginko's had enough of pensively sitting in dark rooms. It's been just enough hits now, to move him from surprised to coping. And coping is something he does pretty well.

That's just what this place is.

That's what this place has always been.

It isn't home. It isn't where they're supposed to be.

But, as with death-- the ones who need comforting are the ones who get left behind. Or company, at any rate. Later in the day, a light rap sounds on the front door of House 6.]

[oda_hates_me]

[With so many of their friends gone, kidnapped, or worse, Sanji's surprised by the amount of traffic they're still getting at this house. He shuffles irritably in front of the door before opening it.

... And stares dumbly]

-- Ginko? [He pauses, then follows up helpfully with:] You're back.

[one_green_eye]

Yeah. [tired, but voice smile-warm] They left me near the mountains-- it took a while to get back.
[and he hasn't said it yet, but everything from look to tone is asking the same thing-- Are you alright?]

[oda_hates_me]

[The tone and stare are noted, but discarded as Sanji tries to work through dead relief and the numbness Usopp's departure has instilled. Ginko's return is cause for celebration... and yet it almost smells of a terrible joke from the Malnosso again. Give him one best friend back and take the other away, eh? Fuckin shitheads.

But after another moment he rouses from his sudden bitterness, irritated with his reaction. This isn't the time for it.] Tch. They would. [He moves to the side so Ginko can step in] C'mon, you must be dead on your feet.