markofthebrave | [Action] .009

[Action] .009

[Due to Sokka's unexpected bout of sheer win, Katara has been given the gift of free time and she plans on making the most of it... after she was shooed back to bed due to threats from Sokka that made no sense at all.

First, she wants to check in on Sanji at the Strawhat's House. Then she wants to stop by the school and see if she can register to go once things are back to 'normal.' And... she has an idea that is going to lead her to the weapons shop. Finally, she'll go grocery shopping because they're running low on easy-to-cook things. Maybe she'll even get a chance to stand by the bridge and practice with real waterbending! ...although saving her strength to keep healing Zuko is probably a better idea. She'll probably just stare at the water wistfully and talk to Sona.

If you're around any of these places today, feel free to say 'Hey!' or give her hand, since she's not exactly sure how to do what she wants to do at the smithy or the school.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[that is so neat. His attention is riveted to the water until she puts it back in her waterskin]

One of the cooks said something like that. Zeff, too. [it hurts to talk about him when he's not around, but fair is fair. And he doesn't mind sharing this with Katara] If you put a chef on land, on the sea, or even in the air, he's still a chef.

[her salad is about finished. Only thing left to do is sprinkle a little salt and pepper on it for flavor] That's why I really like water! I miss being on the sea... [he misses the way it would lull him to sleep]

It's too quiet here.

I know what you mean. I've never been this far away from the sea before.

[...and this is a maudlin topic! Moving right along, if at all possible.] But it sounds like Zeff knew what he was talking about - you're sure still cooking here.

[Gah! That's a no-go too!] Umm... what kind of salad did you make?

[Katara, you can't escape iiiit. A good thing Sanji is completely oblivious]

Fettuccine and ham! With some added vegetables. [brings his creation over to her] It's not a lot so you can finish it. [see? Even had her in mind.

Once she's been served, he'll go to clean up] And Zeff says smart things sometimes. When he's not being a bastard. [an almost shy pause] He would like you, Katara! You say pretty neat stuff, too.

This looks great, Sanji. Thank you. [Aaaand she blushes at the compliment. She's not used to anyone saying anything like that to her, even if it is a little kid. Have a grin, Sanji.] Well, it takes a pretty neat person to know when someone's saying neat stuff! So I guess we're in good company.

[And with that, she takes on the salad. One bite, two bites, three bites, four. And not hungry. Gah. Come on, Katara, you can do this. Don't disappoint the kid. Five.] This is very good.

[Six, and she starts to feel a little uncomfortable.] Would it be okay if I grabbed some water?

[ack, he totally forgot about something to drink. As for her reaction to the food, he doesn't notice - some just eat slowly]

Sorry! I'll get you some right now.

That's OK! Thank you.

[And meanwhile she will just... set her fork down and stare at the salad. Just looking at it makes her feel less hungry, so she quickly looks away. This isn't right. She should be able to eat. But it tastes like sand.]

[there's chilled water already in the fridge, so he'll grab that. Upon turning around he'll notice her gaze pointedly not on the food. That... worries him. And hurts a little. But if the customer isn't happy, that's his fault]

... Is it not good?

[Crap, Katara. Think of something.] No, it's fine, Sanji! I'm just.. more thirsty than hungry.

...I haven't been hungry a lot. It's not the food.

....

Are you gonna eat it?

[Katara looks from Sanji's face to the salad. She's faced worse enemies than this. She can eat the food. Right, let's try this again. Fork, salad, mouth, swallow... bleck. What is wrong with her?]

Maybe it would help if I had that water.

[with a nod, he brings over the aforementioned glass and places it in front of her. And then fidgets a little in place.]

[Gah! That face From someplace far, far away, Katara musters up the ability to smile. And then takes three more bites of the salad. She reaches over to water now - there, that's good enough, right? ...right?]

[No, actually.

It's not.

Because Sanji's still looking at her expectantly, and there's a very sharp quality to his stare now. Like he's a hawk gauging her. It's an expression oddly seated on the features of a child.]

You're not gonna finish it. [That's not a tone you'd hear a child using either, as it sounds... odd. Slightly hollowed out]

...[Katara lays her fork down beside the salad and stares at it accusingly. She's not quite dense enough to keep from realizing that there's something wrong here, when she'd usually have finished the salad by now and had a happy little boy next to her, instead of one who it sounded like she'd hurt.

Was that it? Was she just going to give up?

...just the thought of eating more made her stomach heave.]

I don't think I can, Sanji. I'm sorry. [And she means it.] Maybe I'm coming down with something.

[His jaw works. There's a flash of anger on his expression that he's working with all his might to control, because he likes Katara. She's always been nice to him and let him stay in her house, and sent her over to Nami's--

If she's sick, that's not her fault, right? And she's gonna eat later, right? She's not gonna stop eating, she's going to be fine.

It's... it's not--]

I'll finish it for you. [With a stiff breath, Sanji pulls the plate away from her. The anger's gone. Or at least well-hidden.]

But you have to promise to eat later, okay? Even if you're sick, you have to eat.

...I promise. [Somehow, even if she has to start small. She wasn't going to let this beat her - whatever it was.]

[That's enough for him now. Whatever emotions he's feeling are being tossed aside because now Katara looks sad, and Sanji wonders if it's partly his fault.]

... It's okay. I don't like eating a lot when I'm sick either. [a bit guiltily] I should've made you soup instead.

[And she finally glances back up at him. ...well, this is just great.]

Don't worry about it, Sanji. Really! [Now that she thinks about it, that was probably the most she'd eaten in one sitting in... days.] Actually, I should thank you. Now I'll know I need to take care of it.

...hey, do you have any sugar? And lemons?

[his eyes widen a little] Really? [well, of course she promised, but even still he's very happy to hear that. And it shows on his face]

And yeah, we do.

[Katara's relieved that he doesn't have that look on his face anymore. So she'll offer him a little smile and ease off the chair.]

I feel like making lemonade. Would you like some?

Sure!

Do you want me to help at all?

Sure! If you want to! It's - [your kitchen. Cough, cough.] - probably a good idea anyway. I don't know where the sugar is.

I know where it is. I looked around yesterday since their cook isn't here. [hurr, his kitchen. Yes, of course. Sanji abandons the salad momentarily to get her the sugar, which is located in one of the top cupboards]

And there are lemons in the fridge.

[See? Happy smiling faces. ...and maybe the sugar would make her hungry. That would be a good thing. Katara goes to retrieve the lemons and sets them out on his cutting board.] Once you have the sugar you can just pour some in a glass.

[Indeed, happy faces all around. Sanji at least has forgotten the previous conversation. Now he follows her orders diligently, bringing over two glasses that are filled with some sugar.]

Okay, done!