[open] all is lost again

[deviledlegs]

Who: Those who helped build the ice cellar (Sanji, Law, Rey, Scott, Lup) + anyone who wants to check it out
What: High-fiving over a job well done
Where: As close to Sanji's kitchen as possible while still being located in the permafrost
When: Backdated to the day after the planet switch
Warnings: None

Also: Feel free to write your own prompts mingle-style.


It hasn't been easy, and they haven't exactly been the most cohesive team. But the moment that last nail is hammered into the last support beam, Sanji grins whiter and brighter than he has in days. Their underground permafrost ice cellar is complete. That means they'll be able to store his previsions as well as whatever their illustrious hunters catch from now on.

There is still a food shortage. Connor is right. He can't feed everybody in this town for long. It's just not feasible. But a food shortage is better than a complete lack. These people will never have to experience his months on that god forsaken rock for themselves. Not while he's around to prevent it.

He wants to shout to the heavens about their victory. Instead, he raises his hand for a high five. "You all get your favorite food for dinner tonight!"

Comments

[hot_mes]

"How very altruistic of you," Law says with all due sarcasm. How dare these Straw Hats be so nice. "Do as you like, then. Maybe if we stock up enough we'll be prepared to journey out further." He tosses his head toward the mountains and the tantalizing glint of metal structures somewhere out there. "It's not like we'll be any less well-off out there. But it's going to take a lot more preparation than building a ship."

Not that that hasn't already angered so many. Sigh.

[deviledlegs]

"I swear I won't let anyone else touch your precious supplies unless they are starving and/or a gorgeous woman who deserves them more than you," he offers sweetly, butting heads with Law's sarcasm.

Law really does raise an important though, and Sanji can't ignore it just for more playful ribbing. He surveys the innards of the completed cellar once again, as if memorizing every inch. Can something like this really be useful for travel preparations? There are a few ways it could be. Law's devil fruit abilities might make it even more workable, depending on his range.

"We'll have to put together a whole shitty army of portable ice boxes."

[hot_mes]

Law just gives him the deadpan look in return. Yeah yeah women blah blah.

He contemplates the cellar, not wanting to get his preparations mixed up with regular supplies but not sure there's a better alternative. "Trekking out there to see what the gods are hiding from us is going to be rough," he sighs. "Carrying additional clothing, bedding, food, clean water, maybe even firewood on top of just matches..." It's looking more and more like they're going to have to beg assistance from the gods again. If not vehicles then at least sleds to drag all those supplies along. It can never be easy, can it?

[deviledlegs]

Sanji is sorely tempted to reach out and tug Law's line face into a deranged smile. But no, now isn't the time for Straw Hat Shenanigans. They're Straw Hat Shenanigans precisely because they are only possible when the Straw Hats are together. As long as he doesn't have the others here to cover for his faults, he needs to take this shit seriously. Not as seriously as Law, but still. He shoves his hands into his pockets instead.

"We could manage for ourselves, and I could carry anything the ladies can't, given we find any packs big enough." Or at all. "Scouting shit should be fine, but we can't go the actual trek alone. Damn, you're right. That means a shit ton of additional supplies. Temporary shelter and plenty of tools too."

[hot_mes]

"It's going to have to wait." That's his only conclusion, after everything that happened with the ships and knowing what the gods can and can't manage when you ask them for a thing. Crappy run-down ships was never a good look. It clearly frustrates Law that he can't whip up a plan and implement it right now, but he has no choice. "It's like when we were in the desert. Surviving comes first. Exploration will have to come later."

He turns away, since there's not really much more he can do here besides stare at a hole in the ground. But he pauses, lurking alongside Sanji facing the opposite direction. He drops his voice like he doesn't want anyone catching him giving compliments to anyone. "Good work. It's a pretty good idea."

[deviledlegs]

Sanji wasn't around for this desert planet, but he's run enough circles through Alabasta to imagine what it might have been like. A tundra like this isn't all that different, really. The cook sighs, resigned, hoping to loosen the tension from his shoulders.

That's when Law decides to be a decent guy. Quietly, secretly decent. Sanji snorts.

"Right. Surviving," he reiterates with a grin. "I'll use this place to keep everyone fed. You focus on getting us the hell out of here."

[hot_mes]

"That's the idea." Shh, Sanji, don't tell anyone about his moments of not being an asshole. You'll ruin his reputation. Law shoots him a vague smile and then brushes past on his way elsewhere. Clearly, the others handled the work fine without him, he's no longer needed. At least, until dinner-time. He'll be back later.

[deviledlegs]

Everyone comes back for Sanji's dinner. It's an immutable law of the universe.