[Mark might not be the person he'd thought himself to be, but that's as good of an answer as any. At the end of the day, a man must take responsibility for his actions above all else. That, Sanji thinks, is the mark of a truly admirable person with a good heart.
What's more jarring, on the other hand, is the likeness Mark claims between them. Sanji stares at him before huffing and turning away to study the tranquil landscape around them, senses on high alert for potential eavesdroppers.]
If it's restraint, you're not going to learn it here. You've got time, so why don't you check out the other islands? I'd steer clear of the marines if I were you, though. There's no telling who knows about us, and I'm not on good standing with the World Government.
[The last thing he wants is to pass off his notoriety onto Mark, who's going through it already. He doesn't personally mind the company, but having Mark hide out all the time will do neither of them favors. Even though it's far from home, this is a crucial period for the latter. Not to mention the lack of stability in terms of lodging here . . .
Sanji blinks, then draws a leg up to plant a foot against the branch and hang an arm over a knee.]
If you need a room for the night, you can use mine at the restaurant.
[ The huff... Did Mark say something wrong? He turns to stare at Sanji quizzically, trying to study him the way he's studying their surroundings, eavesdroppers not even on his mind.
Although his stomach drops at the notion of steering clear of marines. That isn't something he'd thought about — having to kind of, well, be on the run from the law? Even though that's not what he's actually doing, even though he's long since gotten past the point where he was wary of Sanji for such things, it still feels off. It keeps him quiet a moment longer, lost in thought and only coming back to himself when Sanji offers up his room.
He blinks. ]
Uh... Oh, thanks. Yeah. [ He tries for a little smile he doesn't entirely feel. ] Um... I think I should steer clear of just about everybody that isn't you, actually. Just to be safe. Maybe that'll help me with the restraint thing.
[ No more rushing into situations where he'll be in over his head, no going after anyone no matter what... Just because he can visit Sanji's world through AYTO magic doesn't mean he's actually supposed to be here, so maybe it really will be for the best if he just hangs back. From everything. No matter what injustice he thinks he sees going on or what.
But... ]
But don't you need your room? Where are you going to sleep?
[ Please, he can't impose more than he already is. ]
The Baratie's back in the East Blue. I have a private room there. Here, I sleep wherever I can.
[The restaurant (and his bedroom with it) is far, far from this place. By now, Sanji's long grown accustomed to stealing naps and rude awakenings amidst nature. It's out of consideration that he extends this offer, although he sees Mark's point about erring on the side of caution.]
But if you want to stay, that's fine with me. Just don't expect to sleep indoors anytime soon.
[ . . . unless he's interested in crossing-dressing, which Sanji, who's closed his eyes to sharpen his senses, isn't. That makes him wonder, though; tough as the people of this island are, Mark is absurdly powerful. What will happen to them if they decide to jump him? Is that what Mark needs right now? Maybe Sanji should strike another deal with Iva and arrange for accommodations.]
[ Wherever he can... Mark looks around them. Sure, all of the pink looks nice, but roughing it in the wilderness like this? With enemies — are they enemies? — about? It sounds exhausting. He doesn't even consider that that level of adaptability might be part of training; he just turns to peer back at Sanji, like, is he not tired? Does he look tired? Is that why he closed his eyes? Is he missing any signs here...
It helps settle things into perspective for him, at least. Recent troubles aside, Mark has had it relatively easy. At least he has a bedroom back home. ]
How far away is it? I mean... maybe I can use it if I need a place to lay low, or something. I can get out of here pretty fast, at least.
[ and hopefully not get lost when traversing. the ocean, he assumes. which might be a problem for him... ]
[He looks a little tired. A year of training has left him with faint bags under his eyes—nigh imperceptible from a respectable distance—and a jaw that's not as shaven as he'd like, but Sanji has grown used to such inconveniences by now. In any case, he believes Mark when the latter talks about speed: It's been a year, and he still remembers how quickly they'd shot up into the sky, as well as the implications of how much faster Mark could have gone yet.
Opening his eyes, he traces an invisible circle between them on the branch.]
We're in the Grand Line, a strip of ocean that runs across the world like a belt. More precisely, we're in Paradise, which separates the eastern and southern seas. [His finger moves horizontally before tapping above and below the unseen line.] It's a voyage that ordinarily takes weeks, if not months, but you can fly. Just don't cross the continent that stretches perpendicularly to the Grand Line—that's the Red Line. [He draws his finger vertically through the approximate center of the previously indicated circle.] If you see it, treat it as a landmark and take a right.
[He pulls his hand back.]
The Baratie is an ocean-going restaurant, so you can't miss it. Just look for a ship with the figurehead of a fish.
[ Maybe if Mark could properly perceive himself, he'd see the beginnings of that same tiredness on his own face. He hasn't been at it in quite the same was Sanji has, and certainly not for a year, but the mirror could be there.
But he doesn't want to perceive himself, and so, Mark puts all of his attention into the invisible map Sanji is drawing, watching intently, nodding when he's done. ]
Got it. So I guess I want to go... east. [ what direction is that actually in. nevermind. ] I see that continent, I turn the other way. I find the ship with a figurehead of a fish and I tell them I'm a friend of yours, and it should all be good?
[ That sounds a lot easier than he's pretty sure it's actually going to be, and maybe the hesitation in his voice is enough to clue Sanji in that Mark doesn't exactly have faith in himself to not get lost. That, or the way he hastily adds on: ] I mean, I'm really fast, so it still shouldn't take me too long to find. And as long as there aren't any other really pink islands around I can always find you again too, right?
[ He definitely isn't planning on ditching Sanji entirely during the rest of his stay in his world. ]
[He nods. Sanji has no idea exactly how fast Mark is, but he'll take the latter's word for it. As for the Baratie, the damn geezer and cooks back there may or may not have watched Mark's season; if not, there will be some explaining to do. Having said that, Sanji believes in Zeff's judgment . . . and there's nothing the old man can really do to someone who's invincible by few definitions of the word.
Anyway, it's probably going to take some time, which is good, because it'll give Sanji an opportunity or two to approach Iva about Mark. A worrywart like him isn't going to stay away for long, and Sanji's not about to let him run himself ragged in a world that isn't his when Mark's got enough on his plate.]
Right. I can't guarantee that there aren't other islands like this one out there, but this is definitely the pinkest I've ever seen. [Not to mention the terrain's shaped like a heart.] If you can't find the restaurant, just come back here and I'll figure something out.
[ A heart... Mark is definitely going to take note of that whenever he flies up high enough to see the island in full when he goes. It'll make for a good landmark. No matter how bad he screws up navigating Sanji's world, at least he should be able to find his way back to him.
... Though maybe less obnoxiously, next time. So he doesn't draw unwanted attention. Stealth... maybe that's something he can focus on while he's here too... ]
Nah, I'm sure I'll find it. [ He nods, more sure of himself. Smiles in what he thinks is a reassuring manner. ] Even if it takes me a bit... I'll get there.
[ A beat. ]
I'm gonna come back here though, okay? So you know it went alright. Maybe in like... a week or two?
[ How long is he going to end up here... he really should have thought this through, but, oh well. All he can do is make the best of it now, a massive part of which is making sure he keeps things as easy for Sanji as possible. ]
[That smile in tandem with those words don't inspire much confidence. Having said that, Mark is a stubborn guy. Sanji hasn't visited others to know how long it takes to return to one's world, but Mark will definitely find his way back here and there sooner or later.]
Sounds good. You don't have to rush if things are going well, but you can send me a message any time.
[He slides a hand in his pant pocket, feeling for his phone. Even now, its sleek design is a novelty. Whether he's answering Mark or Asa, he's going to have to make sure it's properly muted before he does anything else.
[ not sanji needing to learn to keep his phone on silent, like a normal person
Sure, Mark can send messages; he nods, easy. But he's still gonna come back — it'd be weird to have come to Sanji's world and not visit him again, even if Sanji did actually tell him not to come to begin with—
A blink at his question, mind catching up to him, followed by a moment's pause. Is he hungry?
And then, another nod. ] Yeah, kind of... [ He probably hasn't been eating the greatest after the whole, you know. Reason he wanted to talk in the first place.
Trying to thread the needle between not wanting to impose himself, but also knowing that this very much is Sanji's thing: ] You got something in mind?
[These phones don't just go to sleep like snails do . . . What a pain.
Mark can always eat at the Baratie—Zeff will feed him at no charge or for a day of washing dishes, if nothing else—but it's the principle of the matter. Sanji can't send him on a long-distance journey on an halfway empty stomach, so he hunches forward and plants his feet against the branch, crouching to ready himself for a leap.]
Yeah. First things first: we need to find a duck or two.
[They live all over this forest, he knows. It's time to cook a few and rejuvenate Mark.]
[ Mark gives a curious little tilt of his head as Sanji hunches forward, indicating he's getting ready to do something — and then fully perks up at the mention of ducks. ]
Oh, man. I can't remember the last time I had duck. [ He's leaning forward now too, still sitting since it doesn't take much for him to get back in the air, looking over at Sanji. ] Is it part of your training to find them yourself, or can I help?
[ Respecting boundaries... But also, he knows with Sanji cooking them up, they'll be amazing. ]
[Hmm, is it? Technically speaking, the challenge concerns the denizens of this island. The animals and nature itself are mere variables introduced by consequence. Sanji glances at Mark, who's already looking a little better, before eyeing the ground beneath them.]
They're all over this section of the forest. If you can round up a few, I'll begin preparations for cooking them.
[Saying that, he leaps off the branch and lands on the ground in a mild crouch. The sky is much, much safer, but he can't gather what he needs from the earth to create makeshift tools if he goes up—so down it is.]
[ And there goes Sanji. Mark leans over further to watch him land back on the ground, a little fascinated by how his method of flying— landing— all of it works. He takes another couple of seconds to watch him get to work scavenging on the ground before he takes off for himself, disturbing some petals on the way as he elevates, looking for ducks as he circles above.
When he spots a flock he goes flying right into them, nearby enough that Sanji might hear the panicked sounds of ducks making an escape, a bunch of them taking to the sky... Mark can wrestle with ducks for the rest of this tag to give Sanji some time to get some things together. ]
While Mark wrestles with the oddly effeminate flock, Sanji's grown accustomed to bushcraft that he gathers what he needs with ease. Once he has enough supplies in the way of wood and stone, he parks himself in a small clearing surrounded by foliage to start a modest fire, after which he pulls out his switchblade to begin carving out a spoon from a block of wood. A year of practice and his natural expertise at handling a blade see that his hands continue to work as Sanji looks up at Mark's return.]
[ He's too busy trying to grab hold of ducks and actually keep hold of them to notice the qualities they have... They're just ducks, right? They're just ducks, he tells himself as he heads back — floating above the ground, moving somewhat cautiously, with two still-alive ducks, each tucked under an arm and trying to peck at him in lieu of being able to do anything else.
Not that he feels it. Not that he knows what else he's supposed to do except... well... here he is with the ducks, grip secure enough that they aren't going anywhere. ]
Hey. [ Small smile. A fire! Something that looks like a spoon? Mark doesn't know anything about wilderness survival, mostly because he doesn't need to, so he's impressed. ] I got them but, uh... wasn't sure if there was anything in particular you wanted... done.
[ He isn't that naive; he understands that the ducks are very much going to have to die in order to be eaten. It's also just that the last living creature he killed he pulverized, and he wasn't sure what the most... humane... way about going about this was. ]
[Fortunately for Mark, Sanji will handle that part.]
No, that's plenty. I'll take them from here. [He holds his hands out, the partially carved wooden block in one.] Hold onto this in the meantime.
[Once he's got the ducks in his grasp, he'll go back to his impromptu workstation and make short work of them with a precise blow and swift twist. Ducks aren't humans, but their lives are lives still and this is part of his job. Mark's done the hard part, so he should relax while Sanji prepares the carcasses for cooking with efficient motions amid the fire's slow rise.]
[ After the handoff he's turning the beginnings of a spoon over in his hands, admiring the craftsmanship, the skill it takes to make something like this. He doesn't have that. Punch a tree to splinters, yeah, sure, he can do that; take the wood and make something new out of it? He's lost.
Maybe that's also something he should take advantage of while he's here. Not necessarily wood carving, but trying to be productive instead of outright destructive. It's... the latter isn't good.
He also does not look up until it's quiet again, not really wanting to watch. That isn't something he needs to learn. He'll just take a seat by the fire instead, watching the flames, idly turning the block over in his hands.
For lack of anything else to fill the silence, ] Have you been eating a lot of duck? Since you've been here, I mean.
[Good. Mark's made himself comfortable. It eases something in Sanji, who works with more comfort in his grip and motions in the following silence—as he always does when he cooks, because that's when he's truly at peace, challenge or not.]
More than usual, but not for lack of options. [He keeps his eyes on his work, bowing his head at a slight angle to focus.] There are ingredients all around us; you just have to know where to look.
[It's half the reason he hasn't accidentally poisoned himself, which makes him wonder if Mark has to worry about such things. Well, he's not about to test that.]
[ Mark looks around, as though he's going to know what the edible ingredients are just from Sanji saying that alone. (I also regret to inform you that he can eat basically anything, but he doesn't know that yet.) ]
... What's been your favourite thing to eat here? [ Duck is good, but through lack of imagination, he's at a loss as to what else there could be. The petals, maybe? Are they edible? Something about "pink" feels edible. ] I wouldn't even know the first thing to look for.
[ He also doesn't know the first thing about cooking what's basically the freshest meat possible, and with that thought in his mind, he looks up at Sanji again. Not that he can really make out or understand each individual action, and not that this is something he's ever likely to learn, but he's vaguely curious now — not to mention a lot more relaxed, now that he's unloaded at least a part of his soul, and is at the point where he can just sit with a friend. ]
[Let sweet Mark remain blissfully ignorant to his inhuman immune system so that he feels more like a human being during his stay in the Blue Sea.
Sanji is in the process of plucking the duck in his grasp. His hand moves swiftly, pinching and pulling upward to discard the feathers at his side while his other hand keeps the skin taut. Practiced as his movements are, he gives the task his full visual attention. Mark's meal shouldn't be sloppy or it'd be an insult to the craft.]
So far, everything I've made. [Never mind that he's been eating nothing but his own cooking ever since the challenge began. There's an easy explanation for this, however:] The recipes guarded by this island's people are something else. Not only are they packed with flavor, their health benefits are practically unrivaled.
[For surviving out in the wild as long as he has been, Sanji's bulked up over the past year. That's equal parts due to the grueling training and the recipes he's been sampling along the way. He doesn't have the exact ingredients most of them require at this moment, but that just means he can utilize what he's learned in the way of technique to feed something equally beneficial to Mark, who can use a meal that's at least rejuvenating.]
Watching Sanji at work, even from his limited view, really does give Mark the chance to see the changes in him over the course of a year. The care for food, meticulousness in preparing it, the easy friendship despite any gruffer demeanour — all of that remains, stays obvious to him. But the health benefits involved, really looking at the way his body moves now (respectfully)...
There's little different about Mark, who really has just been coasting along on natural gifts (for however much he has to learn to control them and himself both now). He's just kind of. The same, which at least keeps the earnest friendliness intact, too. ]
Health benefits... [ Listen, flavour is one thing, but pretty much everything he's had that Sanji has made has been incredible. He doesn't doubt that this will be too, secret recipe or not. He leans forward a little. ] Like... they'll keep you full, give you greater endurance, more energy? Keep you from getting sick, that kind of thing?
[ Recipes being guarded by people sounded kind of silly to him at first — be like Sanji! Share food! — but thinking about the other secrets they may hold... Okay, he can maybe get why Sanji has to work so hard for them now. ]
Any dish that takes nutrition into account can manage all those things. [For all the snacks he whipped up for the ladies back at the house, Sanji did calculate the nutritional values of the meals he prepared for everyone on the show. He's never been sick a day in his life, though, so he can't promise anything on that front; at least he knows how to soothe an ill body with the correct dishes.] But something like that. Those recipes strengthen the body of the person who tries them. I could actually feel power coursing through me after a single meal, but it's supposed to show through physique, too.
[Imagine if he fed these recipes to Nami and Robin and Asa and Anna and Ritsuka and Dorothea and Kat and Wednesday—oh, his face is straining against a wobbly smile! No, no. He presses his lips thin. Focus on the ducks. Mark needs food. Cooking is love, and Sanji's heart will not be sidetracked.]
[ A little tilt to his head, since it kind of seemed like Sanji's mind went elsewhere for a second there, but Mark isn't going to question it. Especially when he's not exactly well-versed in food prep, which is where he assumes Sanji's mind still is.
Rather, he's going to turn his focus back to recipes that strengthen the body. (A mental note — oh, maybe that explains Sanji's physique nowadays. Okay, that makes sense.) That he could feel power coursing through him...
Mark worries at his lip a little before answering. ]
That sounds like it'll be good for your crew... I mean, it'll be good for all of your friends, right? So that's pretty cool.
[ Though there isn't exactly a lot of enthusiasm in his voice. On one level, Mark knows he actually does need to get stronger, but while he's here, effectively on a kind of vacation, after what he's come from... he kind of doesn't want to.
So he's definitely hoping for some nice, normal duck. ]
Sanji plucks the last of the feathers, sets the ducks down on a small slab of stone, and moves on to preparing the seasoning with the native herbs and some rocks. This meat is going to have flavor.]
Yeah.
[It's the coolest thing, really. Not only will it enhance their looks, it'll also keep them safer by making them stronger. There's nothing more torturous than the crushing weight of helplessness . . . though strength probably isn't a concern in Mark's case (except for when it is).]
But for you, what's important is that you don't get lost on an empty stomach.
[As such, Mark is getting some kind of duck, because most (if not all) the animals of this nation sport luscious locks and the occasional stubbles for reasons. All of that's gone now. It's just meat here; granted, it isn't much, but surely Mark's sense of direction isn't as awful as Zoro's.]
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no subject
What's more jarring, on the other hand, is the likeness Mark claims between them. Sanji stares at him before huffing and turning away to study the tranquil landscape around them, senses on high alert for potential eavesdroppers.]
If it's restraint, you're not going to learn it here. You've got time, so why don't you check out the other islands? I'd steer clear of the marines if I were you, though. There's no telling who knows about us, and I'm not on good standing with the World Government.
[The last thing he wants is to pass off his notoriety onto Mark, who's going through it already. He doesn't personally mind the company, but having Mark hide out all the time will do neither of them favors. Even though it's far from home, this is a crucial period for the latter. Not to mention the lack of stability in terms of lodging here . . .
Sanji blinks, then draws a leg up to plant a foot against the branch and hang an arm over a knee.]
If you need a room for the night, you can use mine at the restaurant.
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Although his stomach drops at the notion of steering clear of marines. That isn't something he'd thought about — having to kind of, well, be on the run from the law? Even though that's not what he's actually doing, even though he's long since gotten past the point where he was wary of Sanji for such things, it still feels off. It keeps him quiet a moment longer, lost in thought and only coming back to himself when Sanji offers up his room.
He blinks. ]
Uh... Oh, thanks. Yeah. [ He tries for a little smile he doesn't entirely feel. ] Um... I think I should steer clear of just about everybody that isn't you, actually. Just to be safe. Maybe that'll help me with the restraint thing.
[ No more rushing into situations where he'll be in over his head, no going after anyone no matter what... Just because he can visit Sanji's world through AYTO magic doesn't mean he's actually supposed to be here, so maybe it really will be for the best if he just hangs back. From everything. No matter what injustice he thinks he sees going on or what.
But... ]
But don't you need your room? Where are you going to sleep?
[ Please, he can't impose more than he already is. ]
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[The restaurant (and his bedroom with it) is far, far from this place. By now, Sanji's long grown accustomed to stealing naps and rude awakenings amidst nature. It's out of consideration that he extends this offer, although he sees Mark's point about erring on the side of caution.]
But if you want to stay, that's fine with me. Just don't expect to sleep indoors anytime soon.
[ . . . unless he's interested in crossing-dressing, which Sanji, who's closed his eyes to sharpen his senses, isn't. That makes him wonder, though; tough as the people of this island are, Mark is absurdly powerful. What will happen to them if they decide to jump him? Is that what Mark needs right now? Maybe Sanji should strike another deal with Iva and arrange for accommodations.]
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It helps settle things into perspective for him, at least. Recent troubles aside, Mark has had it relatively easy. At least he has a bedroom back home. ]
How far away is it? I mean... maybe I can use it if I need a place to lay low, or something. I can get out of here pretty fast, at least.
[ and hopefully not get lost when traversing. the ocean, he assumes. which might be a problem for him... ]
no subject
Opening his eyes, he traces an invisible circle between them on the branch.]
We're in the Grand Line, a strip of ocean that runs across the world like a belt. More precisely, we're in Paradise, which separates the eastern and southern seas. [His finger moves horizontally before tapping above and below the unseen line.] It's a voyage that ordinarily takes weeks, if not months, but you can fly. Just don't cross the continent that stretches perpendicularly to the Grand Line—that's the Red Line. [He draws his finger vertically through the approximate center of the previously indicated circle.] If you see it, treat it as a landmark and take a right.
[He pulls his hand back.]
The Baratie is an ocean-going restaurant, so you can't miss it. Just look for a ship with the figurehead of a fish.
no subject
But he doesn't want to perceive himself, and so, Mark puts all of his attention into the invisible map Sanji is drawing, watching intently, nodding when he's done. ]
Got it. So I guess I want to go... east. [ what direction is that actually in. nevermind. ] I see that continent, I turn the other way. I find the ship with a figurehead of a fish and I tell them I'm a friend of yours, and it should all be good?
[ That sounds a lot easier than he's pretty sure it's actually going to be, and maybe the hesitation in his voice is enough to clue Sanji in that Mark doesn't exactly have faith in himself to not get lost. That, or the way he hastily adds on: ] I mean, I'm really fast, so it still shouldn't take me too long to find. And as long as there aren't any other really pink islands around I can always find you again too, right?
[ He definitely isn't planning on ditching Sanji entirely during the rest of his stay in his world. ]
no subject
Anyway, it's probably going to take some time, which is good, because it'll give Sanji an opportunity or two to approach Iva about Mark. A worrywart like him isn't going to stay away for long, and Sanji's not about to let him run himself ragged in a world that isn't his when Mark's got enough on his plate.]
Right. I can't guarantee that there aren't other islands like this one out there, but this is definitely the pinkest I've ever seen. [Not to mention the terrain's shaped like a heart.] If you can't find the restaurant, just come back here and I'll figure something out.
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... Though maybe less obnoxiously, next time. So he doesn't draw unwanted attention. Stealth... maybe that's something he can focus on while he's here too... ]
Nah, I'm sure I'll find it. [ He nods, more sure of himself. Smiles in what he thinks is a reassuring manner. ] Even if it takes me a bit... I'll get there.
[ A beat. ]
I'm gonna come back here though, okay? So you know it went alright. Maybe in like... a week or two?
[ How long is he going to end up here... he really should have thought this through, but, oh well. All he can do is make the best of it now, a massive part of which is making sure he keeps things as easy for Sanji as possible. ]
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Sounds good. You don't have to rush if things are going well, but you can send me a message any time.
[He slides a hand in his pant pocket, feeling for his phone. Even now, its sleek design is a novelty. Whether he's answering Mark or Asa, he's going to have to make sure it's properly muted before he does anything else.
But before even that:] You hungry?
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Sure, Mark can send messages; he nods, easy. But he's still gonna come back — it'd be weird to have come to Sanji's world and not visit him again, even if Sanji did actually tell him not to come to begin with—
A blink at his question, mind catching up to him, followed by a moment's pause. Is he hungry?
And then, another nod. ] Yeah, kind of... [ He probably hasn't been eating the greatest after the whole, you know. Reason he wanted to talk in the first place.
Trying to thread the needle between not wanting to impose himself, but also knowing that this very much is Sanji's thing: ] You got something in mind?
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Mark can always eat at the Baratie—Zeff will feed him at no charge or for a day of washing dishes, if nothing else—but it's the principle of the matter. Sanji can't send him on a long-distance journey on an halfway empty stomach, so he hunches forward and plants his feet against the branch, crouching to ready himself for a leap.]
Yeah. First things first: we need to find a duck or two.
[They live all over this forest, he knows. It's time to cook a few and rejuvenate Mark.]
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Oh, man. I can't remember the last time I had duck. [ He's leaning forward now too, still sitting since it doesn't take much for him to get back in the air, looking over at Sanji. ] Is it part of your training to find them yourself, or can I help?
[ Respecting boundaries... But also, he knows with Sanji cooking them up, they'll be amazing. ]
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They're all over this section of the forest. If you can round up a few, I'll begin preparations for cooking them.
[Saying that, he leaps off the branch and lands on the ground in a mild crouch. The sky is much, much safer, but he can't gather what he needs from the earth to create makeshift tools if he goes up—so down it is.]
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When he spots a flock he goes flying right into them, nearby enough that Sanji might hear the panicked sounds of ducks making an escape, a bunch of them taking to the sky... Mark can wrestle with ducks for the rest of this tag to give Sanji some time to get some things together. ]
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While Mark wrestles with the oddly effeminate flock, Sanji's grown accustomed to bushcraft that he gathers what he needs with ease. Once he has enough supplies in the way of wood and stone, he parks himself in a small clearing surrounded by foliage to start a modest fire, after which he pulls out his switchblade to begin carving out a spoon from a block of wood. A year of practice and his natural expertise at handling a blade see that his hands continue to work as Sanji looks up at Mark's return.]
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Not that he feels it. Not that he knows what else he's supposed to do except... well... here he is with the ducks, grip secure enough that they aren't going anywhere. ]
Hey. [ Small smile. A fire! Something that looks like a spoon? Mark doesn't know anything about wilderness survival, mostly because he doesn't need to, so he's impressed. ] I got them but, uh... wasn't sure if there was anything in particular you wanted... done.
[ He isn't that naive; he understands that the ducks are very much going to have to die in order to be eaten. It's also just that the last living creature he killed he pulverized, and he wasn't sure what the most... humane... way about going about this was. ]
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No, that's plenty. I'll take them from here. [He holds his hands out, the partially carved wooden block in one.] Hold onto this in the meantime.
[Once he's got the ducks in his grasp, he'll go back to his impromptu workstation and make short work of them with a precise blow and swift twist. Ducks aren't humans, but their lives are lives still and this is part of his job. Mark's done the hard part, so he should relax while Sanji prepares the carcasses for cooking with efficient motions amid the fire's slow rise.]
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Maybe that's also something he should take advantage of while he's here. Not necessarily wood carving, but trying to be productive instead of outright destructive. It's... the latter isn't good.
He also does not look up until it's quiet again, not really wanting to watch. That isn't something he needs to learn. He'll just take a seat by the fire instead, watching the flames, idly turning the block over in his hands.
For lack of anything else to fill the silence, ] Have you been eating a lot of duck? Since you've been here, I mean.
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More than usual, but not for lack of options. [He keeps his eyes on his work, bowing his head at a slight angle to focus.] There are ingredients all around us; you just have to know where to look.
[It's half the reason he hasn't accidentally poisoned himself, which makes him wonder if Mark has to worry about such things. Well, he's not about to test that.]
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... What's been your favourite thing to eat here? [ Duck is good, but through lack of imagination, he's at a loss as to what else there could be. The petals, maybe? Are they edible? Something about "pink" feels edible. ] I wouldn't even know the first thing to look for.
[ He also doesn't know the first thing about cooking what's basically the freshest meat possible, and with that thought in his mind, he looks up at Sanji again. Not that he can really make out or understand each individual action, and not that this is something he's ever likely to learn, but he's vaguely curious now — not to mention a lot more relaxed, now that he's unloaded at least a part of his soul, and is at the point where he can just sit with a friend. ]
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Sanji is in the process of plucking the duck in his grasp. His hand moves swiftly, pinching and pulling upward to discard the feathers at his side while his other hand keeps the skin taut. Practiced as his movements are, he gives the task his full visual attention. Mark's meal shouldn't be sloppy or it'd be an insult to the craft.]
So far, everything I've made. [Never mind that he's been eating nothing but his own cooking ever since the challenge began. There's an easy explanation for this, however:] The recipes guarded by this island's people are something else. Not only are they packed with flavor, their health benefits are practically unrivaled.
[For surviving out in the wild as long as he has been, Sanji's bulked up over the past year. That's equal parts due to the grueling training and the recipes he's been sampling along the way. He doesn't have the exact ingredients most of them require at this moment, but that just means he can utilize what he's learned in the way of technique to feed something equally beneficial to Mark, who can use a meal that's at least rejuvenating.]
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Watching Sanji at work, even from his limited view, really does give Mark the chance to see the changes in him over the course of a year. The care for food, meticulousness in preparing it, the easy friendship despite any gruffer demeanour — all of that remains, stays obvious to him. But the health benefits involved, really looking at the way his body moves now (respectfully)...
There's little different about Mark, who really has just been coasting along on natural gifts (for however much he has to learn to control them and himself both now). He's just kind of. The same, which at least keeps the earnest friendliness intact, too. ]
Health benefits... [ Listen, flavour is one thing, but pretty much everything he's had that Sanji has made has been incredible. He doesn't doubt that this will be too, secret recipe or not. He leans forward a little. ] Like... they'll keep you full, give you greater endurance, more energy? Keep you from getting sick, that kind of thing?
[ Recipes being guarded by people sounded kind of silly to him at first — be like Sanji! Share food! — but thinking about the other secrets they may hold... Okay, he can maybe get why Sanji has to work so hard for them now. ]
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[Imagine if he fed these recipes to Nami and Robin and Asa and Anna and Ritsuka and Dorothea and Kat and Wednesday—oh, his face is straining against a wobbly smile! No, no. He presses his lips thin. Focus on the ducks. Mark needs food. Cooking is love, and Sanji's heart will not be sidetracked.]
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Rather, he's going to turn his focus back to recipes that strengthen the body. (A mental note — oh, maybe that explains Sanji's physique nowadays. Okay, that makes sense.) That he could feel power coursing through him...
Mark worries at his lip a little before answering. ]
That sounds like it'll be good for your crew... I mean, it'll be good for all of your friends, right? So that's pretty cool.
[ Though there isn't exactly a lot of enthusiasm in his voice. On one level, Mark knows he actually does need to get stronger, but while he's here, effectively on a kind of vacation, after what he's come from... he kind of doesn't want to.
So he's definitely hoping for some nice, normal duck. ]
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Sanji plucks the last of the feathers, sets the ducks down on a small slab of stone, and moves on to preparing the seasoning with the native herbs and some rocks. This meat is going to have flavor.]
Yeah.
[It's the coolest thing, really. Not only will it enhance their looks, it'll also keep them safer by making them stronger. There's nothing more torturous than the crushing weight of helplessness . . . though strength probably isn't a concern in Mark's case (except for when it is).]
But for you, what's important is that you don't get lost on an empty stomach.
[As such, Mark is getting some kind of duck, because most (if not all) the animals of this nation sport luscious locks and the occasional stubbles for reasons. All of that's gone now. It's just meat here; granted, it isn't much, but surely Mark's sense of direction isn't as awful as Zoro's.]
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