new_world_dr | [Action] HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUFFY!

[Action] HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUFFY!

[The Sunny is docked at a spring resort island that has a village within a short walking distance. It holds enough population for an easy access TRAVERSE point to be there, but isn't so crowded that it attracts large crowds of the rougher sort of people. The entire island is on the small side, but manages several decently bustling villages with restaurants and shops due to it's infamous spas. So there are options if somehow food runs out, no one will be without options as long as someone is willing to stop partying long enough to run out for more supplies.

And the plans are set for partying, there's enough food for every known Luffy in the contacts to enjoy and then the guests too, a treasure chest cake that is sized correctly and a whole hoard of cupcakes to go with it, fireworks planned for once darkness falls, live music, and enough alcohol to start up a liquor store and then some. Tents have been set up, tables arranged, and everything is ready for the celebration of the year.

Friends, allies, family and all Luffys have been sent the information to access the TRAVERSE point, and information on the islands location for those who wish to sail there instead of relying on the TRAVERSE SYSTEM. And no detail has been missed, no potential whim unseen to. Their treasured captain's birthday has to be perfection. And nothing less than outstanding and spectacular will be tolerated by the planning committee.

A future king deserves nothing but the best.]

((OOC: OPEN POST, Come celebrate, tag around, make toplevels, whatever. Time for one hell of a pirate party.]

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[WOW YEAH COOK WHAT

Zoro sits there for a long moment glowering at him past the bottle before slowly and deliberately tipping it up for a sip. Yeah you know what you did.]

If you say that again I'll kick your ass, how's that for work?

[Oh, that gets a firm look and a growl from Sanji, and a massive feeling of relief. Banter, bitching, and threats are way easier to deal with that the sheer amount of emotions that he's having. And while he had been set on not fighting on Luffy's birthday, it's not like anyone expects less out of the two of them anyway.

Back to what's easier to deal with than years of internalized homophobia and coming out to Zoro.]

Like you could, bastard. I'll stomp you down any day.

Keep tellin' yourself that. You haven't beaten me yet and I'm not about to let it start now.

[he sits up rather than hunch there scowling, getting all manly and tough as he do. Hey cook let's fight, it'll be great]

[Sanji leans in, shoulders hunched, glaring now.] You think you're really any better? Neither of us have gotten serious, you moss-headed muscle brain. If I really tried, you wouldn't stand a chance.

[It's easier to beat the hell out of your buddy/rival and get battered in return than to actually deal with things. More fun too, honestly. There's been one too many breakthrough already today. And he's got to make himself feel more masculine through the ancient manly rites of a quality fight.]

[so familiar and comfortable, this bristly thing. Zoro gets right up to him nose to nose]

And if I put my all into it, you'd be dead. But if you want it I can make it happen, just say the word.

[whoops didn't mean to accidentally admit to holding back but...it's true, they both know it. If they both actually tried to kill each other they'd both be dead]

[Just... uncomfortably close. Glaring and dramatic. Totally like bros do when they're not comfortable with feelings. Especially when they've admitted to each other that they're always holding back and it's not quite the violent death battles they'd like everyone to think they have.]

I'll take you on right now, and I'll make you regret those words. [Just gonna set the wine glass down, this is serious-ish now.]

[he puts the bottle down next to the glass]

Bring it on, give me everything you've got.

[and he certainly implies more than he lets on with words like that, but that's for another discussion later. Good time to get some energy out, let's fight. He stands up and stretches his neck this way and that, man he is so ready.]

[Sanji stands, and steps away from the table. While he's absolutely fine with attempting to beat the shit out of his friend/rival/who the hell knows what to call their relationship, he's not going to do it so close to women and children, some of who are literally within reach of the other side of the table. And that cake, he knows that Luffy is going to inhale it and that the effort is a lost cause, but he's not going to be the one to destroy it. He'd never forgive himself for the waste.]

Come on. Over here. [Sanji grins, a sort of twisted version of his usual smile that shows just how high his emotions are running and how badly he needs a fight to get all of those feelings out of his system.] I thought you were going to kick my ass? [He's just out of the way enough to not involve anyone but Zoro, and he's pretty sure that this is going to get rough.]

[must also protect the precious booze, so of course Zoro steps aside to match his movements, herding him away from the congested areas and people over to the nearest clearing. And that's when the first sword comes out.]

Damn right I'm gonna kick you ass, don't even bother standing still for it.

[it's a good time for ye olde flurry of slashes in attack mode, nothing special, just a lot of hack and slash. Come get, cook, he's got enough for everybody.]

[Gotta keep the booze safe, priorities man.]

You talk a big game for a pile of moss. You don't stand a chance.

[And Sanji dodges and counters, feet flying with that same speed that's expected of him, but there's nothing all that special in his technique. It's just what they always do, he does what's good enough for sparring against Zoro so they can bitch and bicker and get some of the restless energy and aggression they have out of their systems.]

[there's still quite a bit of savage power and energy behind every one of Zoro's swings, as he pulls Shuusui to match Kitetsu and launches his usual fast-and-hard attack without any fancy moves. Always aiming for a foot, or where he anticipates a foot will be, certain that for anyone else he could easily sever that limb but when it's Sanji on the other side, it's going to be blocked. Oh well, that's why they spar - to push each other to the limit.]

Don't see you knocking me down yet, cook.

[smack talk is so beneath him but he might as well, in case anyone wanders past to overhear. Zoro hacks away as fast as he can, arms flexed, hoping that sooner or later he'll be able to not just block but parry and throw a foot wide enough to get an opening.]

[Sanji would be angry if Zoro didn't do at least this much, he wants at least the usual challenge between them, he's not going to tolerate being coddled in a fight. He wants Zoro to have that fierceness, that power, that skillfully harnessed energy behind every slash and swing. It's something that's an important part of this, and when Zoro launches at him Sanji's speed increases. The Black Leg Technique is absolutely dulled down here, this is a friendly enough fight and not something that's actually meant to end someone, but Sanji still wants to see how much Zoro can take, and the acrobatics are in full force.] And you're nowhere near that promised ass kicking. You might as well give up if this is the best you can do.

[Sanji moves faster, kicking harder as a block to those violent hacking motions with the added intention of pushing Zoro back. He wants to win, wants to see himself surpass Zoro, he wants to kick the blades away and overcome and yet...

It's just the same thing over and over. No matter how many times he kicks, or how many times Zoro slashes, neither of them comes out on top. Quasi and Queue mean little in the face of those blades, and he wonders if they'd actually have the same result if they were both trying.

It's a bit of a frightening and exciting thing to think about.]

[Yeah, he's aware of that, and grits his teeth in annoyance]

Maybe if you'd fucking stop flitting around like a butterfly!

[except no, because that wouldn't be any fun. Sanji is much more of a challenge and an entertainment when he's moving, and Zoro would hate to have him just stand there to be hit. So he keeps pressing, chasing after him, whipping out an Oni Giri here and there even when it gets dodged. He'll keep going until...until what? Usually something happens to distract them and that's when they stop. But this is a party where everyone else is up to their own things, what's to stop the two of them from going until they fall over in exhaustion?]

Maybe you're just too slow to keep up.

[They want a challenge out of this, both of them pushing further and pressing their luck in the name of what? It's not even a traditional fight. It's sparring sure, but it's more than just that. It's a ritual for them both at this point, because who's going to be able to take what they can dish out besides the other? But it usually ends before it gets too far, before they manages to wear each other out or actually hurt each other. And now, with the party away from them and people focused on Luffy rather than two bickering battlers, they're alone to deal with their nonsense together and unchecked.

It's the same old story, mixed up with different banter and moves, but still it feels good for Sanji somehow. Even if they end up passed out next to each other, still dreaming about who's going to win, this is something of a language that they actually know how to speak. When words fail, swords and kicks don't. And he doesn't have to think beyond his next move when they're fighting this way.

But no matter how much harder he kicks, or how much faster, it's not getting Sanji anywhere. And unless one of them really wants to hurt the other, or something happens, they're just not making any progress or change.]

Edited 2019-05-27 01:52 (UTC)

[Zoro knows it, too, he feels the same and while he understands their eternal dance on some level, on the surface it never ceases to frustrate him that he just can't beat the cook without killing him. And he would never, no matter what he mutters in moments of annoyance. At this rate, if he wants to pull out something flashy, it might end the fight but not necessarily the way he would like it to end. Ah well, at least it would be different.

He waits until the next time Sanji comes in high and crosses all three swords together into a triple block, catching the momentum of the kick and holding, unyielding for the briefest second. When he cuts outward with all three, it repels that motion, though the path of each sword is its own, leaving him exposed. If he's unlucky, Sanji will recover and kick him again while his shoulders and chest are wide open. The next moment should decide this.]

[Sanji sees the chance, that short opening that would allow him a chance to actually come out on top of things. It's just one moment, one potential opportunity to push through and try to defeat Zoro. Not that he's sure if that's even the goal in the end, even in his mind it's not about winning but proving. Even if he's not sure what he's trying to prove half of the time.

That he's good enough? That he's better? That he's stronger? None of that really fits. And even in his mind and without the worry of judgement of others there's not an easy fit for the mess of friendship and rivalry and feelings between them that are better worded with a slash and a kick. Those things rarely get messed up in translation. He can respect Zoro, believe in his strength, care about him but saying it? That's a lot to ask.

And that respect means that he's not turning down this chance. Not just for himself, but for Zoro too in a sense. He'd be so furious if Zoro had the chance for victory and didn't take it. So Sanji goes for it as soon as he's recovered enough to, kicking with as much strength and speed as he can safely afford for this.

Sanji knows what Zoro can handle, what he can take, and his heart is racing and his stomach is tied up in knots. He's excited and it's all adrenaline and motion when he closes in and makes contact. ]

Edited 2019-05-27 03:07 (UTC)

[as far as Zoro's concerned it doesn't count as defeat, if it's that close a finish. His left arm is coming in again for a follow-up but Sanji's foot is a fraction of a second faster, striking him in the chest hard enough to send him skidding back a few feet and for his swing to just miss. He keeps his swords, and his balance, and when he lifts his head, there's a moment where it looks like he's just going to keep fighting. But this is the first contact they've made that wasn't just blocking. Fair hit. Point to the cook.

Zoro abruptly straightens up, talking around the sword in his teeth]

I'm hungry. Think Luffy's left anything for us to eat?

[And just like that, it's over. And Sanji doesn't know how he feels about that, he expected more and further and it's amazing and anti-climatic all at once. He thought that there'd be more, a bigger fight after this, he didn't think that Zoro would just be done.

Shit. It's not hollow, it's not even a finish for Sanji, it's not anything but the end of it. Like a shift in conversation, with a lot more in the way of emotions rushing through. And Sanji's heart is still beating hard as he stands on his toes for a moment to get a better look at the food table.] He's still talking to Ace. Keeps reaching to grab at things but this is the fullest I've seen a feast stay with Luffy in the area. If we want something for ourselves we'd better get there fast.

[honestly he could go all night, but it's probably for the best that he's actually hungry. Must have worked up an appetite by fighting.]

Yeah, all right. Maybe he won't even notice us if we come up behind him. There'd better be more than vegetables left.

[like, come on, leave some meat for the rest of us, Luffy. He sheathes his swords one after the other and rolls his neck, feeling all nice and loosened up now. He might swing past to grab the booze on his way, too. Or just come back to it, either way.]

I doubled up on the meats, so there's a chance.

[Sanji can't actually see what's available from here, just that there's enough to look impressive still. There's a chance that Luffy's had most of the meat at this point, but there's more where that came from. It's just not all out at once, because Sanji knows that's asking for Luffy to eat it all. And Sanji is prepared for the appetite of not just their captain, but multiple versions thereof.

If Zoro stops for the booze, Sanji will grab his wine too. If not, they can just go back to the spot to eat. It's just barely out of the way of the bulk of the party and quieter, and he can see almost everything from the area.

It's not a particularly hard task to get past a meat and brother distracted Luffy, although Sanji has to jerk back suddenly when an arm stretches out violently and nearly knocks him over on the way to grab at another large piece of meat on the bone.]

[thank heaven for haki, really, it's about the only thing keeping Zoro from getting accidentally punched in the face right now. He flails a bit in the opposite direction to avoid that arm and then ducks, going in low to sneak at a plate. What did he get? Hm, fish. Eh, that'll do. He gestures to Sanji, though it's hard to tell whether his pointing means "do you want some of this?" or "can you grab the onigiri while I do this?"

Whatever, as long as they have food at the end of this valiant charge and can slip back to the bench with the booze to enjoy it.]

[It really is hard to guess at gestures, especially when they're trying to stealth mode snag food from right behind the back of the most dangerously enthusiastic eater possible. Sanji finally just grabs a tray, and makes good use of his fancy footwork, quick steps getting him around the table to grab at things they both might enjoy. It doesn't take him long to get a decent selection for them. And he's finished not a moment too soon, this time one of the other Luffys that have shown up for the party actually slingshots himself towards the table.

Honestly Sanji is lucky to escape with the food he has. But he makes his way back to the table after that, the cuisine carnage now in the distance.] Shit. [He's honestly surprised that worked. Their food run was a success.]

[Shit yeah it was, and whew, their timing couldn't be any better. Eesh, more than one of him? Zoro looks back over his shoulder as he follows Sanji back to the bench] ...oh boy, now we're really in for it. One's bad enough, then you multiply it by Ace...

[right, so he got grilled fish and...cheese? So they don't taste good together but eh, it's food. And hey, the booze didn't get knocked over or stolen, so bonus! He flops down and reaches for the bottle, taking a swig.]

'Bout time you sat your ass down and ate like a human being with the rest of us. [with a smirk, as he picks up a fish to gnaw on. He will never not look for something to needle the cook about]

[Sanji knows he made enough, he made what borders on too much honestly, and when he sees Luffy's mouth stretch over a tray that Sanji couldn't hold easily with both arms spread out he still wonders if it's possible that he miscalculated how much to cook.] How many of them actually made it here? No. Never mind. Don't tell me. I don't want to know.

[Once comfortably seated, Sanji pours himself another glass of wine, to go with the hodgepodge of food he managed to snag, the tray pushed to between them so they can both grab things off of it. It's not all for him, after all. He eyes what's closest to him, within easy reach, to see his prospective snacks.

Mmm, onigiri, cured meat, and stuffed fish. What a combo.

Whatever. He knows it all tastes good. So if nothing else, it's an issue of eating it separately and enjoying the fact that he managed to get a pretty good spread despite more than one Luffy and Ace within view.

Sanji rolls his eyes at Zoro's comment, but there's really nothing behind it. He's too busy stuffing his face with what might be the best onigiri he's ever made. Sanji is consistently skilled, but sometimes he manages to do better than even his standards would normally allow depending on the ingredients available. And this mess of a place they're in at least pulls together some of the best food he's managed to try. There's that going for it, if nothing else.

Chew. Swallow. Drink of wine. Continue.] I should have left you to fend for yourself.

You can't let me go hungry and you know it.

[he shoots that smartass comment back easily, while likewise grabbing some of the onigiri and devouring it. Goes good after a workout and god yes how can he manage to top himself with something so simple as rice with a little topping and a stuffed center? But the cook sure has. Mmm. Zoro's silent compliment comes in the form of sitting there licking his fingers to get every last touch of salt and nori]

I see you managed to grab my favorite before I could get to it.

[AHEM]

[Action] HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUFFY!

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