♡INBOX (GOLDEN PEACOCK)

[dilettante]

@reira

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[chiffonades]

[ Her uncertainty over the term doesn't necessarily take him by surprise, although it's perhaps a bit unusual that she hasn't heard it before as a royal herself. A hard lesson he learned when he first arrived here was that everyone takes different lengths of time to adjust and learns different things. While many of his fellow new arrivals had been indulging in the pleasure this place had to offer, he'd stubbornly been looking for his crew and suffering the ill side-effects.

Different people, different adjustment periods. ]

Ah, right. It just means anyone with a rank of Jack, Queen, King, or Ace. They all get special treatment and fantastical suites, like yours. This place is a little less likely to fuck with you when you've got that kind of status. [ But they're obviously not fully safe, either. Everyone's subject to the House's games, after all, and whatever whims it might have. ]

Huh. It could be either. You'll see eventually, but the crap this place can pull off is pretty unbelievable. I think they do stuff like that for everyone. Both my Captain and I got fruit baskets when we first showed up, but I've heard of lots of people being given different things.

[ A pause, and then he laughs softly at her question and shakes his head. ]

And nah, not a royal here. [ Something he's still a little grateful for, even knowing the benefits. ] I'm pretty good friends with a few, though. When I got here, they ranked me as “Four of Diamonds”, but a friend got it raised for me to “Seven of Diamonds” a few months ago. It's not a bad rank. Enough that they don't over charge for crap, anyway. [ There's another pause as he reaches for the bottle of wine and pours another glass, eventually looking back up at the partition and smiling at it. ] Anymore questions? If I can help make this shitty place less confusing, it'd be my pleasure.

[dilettante]

( that was...certainly quite a bit of information and as much as she appreciated being told all this, a good portion of this ended up going right over her head as she set her own glass down and leaned down into her knees. this was all far too involved and confusing, far more than someone as care free as her cared for. she was sure she didn't need to ask this—

but she had already assumed that given her rank, all eyes were on her. she most certainly needed to behave, or at least it felt that way. )

No that's enough for today. I think I can understand the gist of things and what's expected of me.

( but there is something in what he said that caught her attention. )

It sounds like you arrived here with other people from your world huh? At least...I think that's what people were saying, about different worlds and places. I have yet to run into anyone I know, so I guess I'm all alone here.

( a biting reality, truly the one thing she detested the most was being alone. )

[chiffonades]

[ It isn't really surprising when she says no to his question. Although he's certainly gotten used to this place– too used to it, really– he's fully aware of how much there is to learn about the Peacock after arriving. She can't see the sympathetic smile on his face as he looks at the partition, just following the sound of her voice.

Still, even if she's had enough for now, there's no telling when she might have other questions. And while he knows that most people here are friendly and willing to help, he still feels compelled to offer his help. ]

They aren't really subtle with the expectations. [ He mutters, just low enough that maybe she didn't hear it. And then he sighs before speaking with his friendliest tone of voice. ] You ever think of any other burning questions you need answer, feel free to send me a message or call. Always a pleasure to help out a lady.

[ Her follow-up, though, has him laughing softly. ]

More like when I arrived here, there was already a member of our crew here. She'd been here nearly a full year before I stumbled in. Helped me get settled. [ There's a hint of fondness to his voice as he talks, both about Nami and then about Luffy and Zoro. ] And then a couple more showed up after I did and we helped them, too. [ He's lucky, in that regard, that three of the five most important people in his life are here. That's more than most people can say. ] So even if you are alone… you never know. Next time people check-in, a friend of yours could come walking in the door.

[ Hopefully, that's a comforting thought. ]

[dilettante]

( on the other end, what he couldn't see was her just reveling face into the palm of her hand, head still hung low as she heard him go on and on about his happiness. really she had nothing against him personally—

but his words didn't really serve to make her like him or want to go out of her way to be too terribly close to him. he was happy, not alone, and had people here he liked and that could provide him with all the attention and companionship he could ever want.

she had nothing, whether here or back home. what little bonds she had were ruined by both herself and forces outside of her control. to be reminded of it, even if he was being nice was an uncomfortable feeling for her—

but she remained silent, forcing a smile as she set her mind to keep things a bit more tempered with him, opting not to lash out at him again. )

That sounds really nice, good for you. I'll make sure to do that.

( really because anyone outside of ren walking through those doors would be a nightmare. her only friend, who had his own struggles. )

Thank you for your advice and help, really.

[chiffonades]

[ She does a damn good job of hiding exactly what she's feeling. If he were anyone else, it would probably be good enough to fool him. But Sanji's always had a sense about women– about when they're hiding things, about when they need help– and it tingles when Layla speaks. Maybe it's something subtle about her voice or what she says– that sounds really nice, good for you– but at the very least, he can tell something's wrong.

Not knowing her well means he can't piece everything together, but all he has to do is take a step back and review what he's said to realize that he's misstepped. Damn.

It's one of those moments where Sanji needs the familiar comfort of a cigarette– the taste of it, the sweet burn as smoke fills his lung– and wine is an inferior replacement. But he makes do for the moment, swirling the purple liquid in his glass, letting his thought coalesce as it swirls around and around. ]

Shit– sorry, Layla. You're here on your own and here I went on and on about my friends. [ He sighs, and shakes his head. Even though they've just met, making her feel– what, lonely? Isolated? Something else?– is the last thing he meant to do. ] Just– don't worry too much, yeah? We all know we gotta look out for each other. People are gonna have your back, me included.

[ Maybe he should have just pretended like he didn't notice, but that's not something he can bring himself to do. ]

Hey, helping's my pleasure. Honest. [ There's a pause before he adds: ] And like I said, you think of any questions or realize you need something, just let me know, okay? I'll do whatever I can to help.

going to wrap this one up here ♥

[dilettante]

( there’s a part of her that wanted to say ’how can you have my back when you don’t even know me?’ but she decided to hold back—

after all, when she first arrived she got roped into comforting someone when she herself was terrible at it. she had told them exactly what sanji was telling her and if she were to refute it, well she’d be a hypocrite.

so with a soft sigh she looked up at the partition before her, wondering what kind of man sat on the other side and what he looked like. the accent was strange, he seemed to curse far too much and really enjoyed cooking. )

Alright, alright, I promise to keep you in mind.

( her voice is softer now, but through a combination of the free alcohol and generally being exhausted from this conversation, she looked at the time and it was almost the thirty minutes they needed to be in here.

each second felt like a drag and when it was finally almost time she nearly clapped in joy. )

Well Sanji, it looks like time’s coming to an end. Thanks for the conversation, I guess you can get back to your friends and your cooking.