Week 5: Wednesday

[disclosures]

[It seems like she's trying to reach for something small up on a high ledge. There's a stack of tables arranged in almost a staircase as she grabs whatever it is. She doesn't know who's around her and what the result of touching it is going to be.

But once she's grabbed it, the memory bubble starts with her almost fainting at the edge of the cliff.]

Comments

[concasse]

[My god what the actual fuck was that, the player asks, putting this on her To Watch list-

Meanwhile Sanji is Not Pleased with any of this, having already discovered the consequences of these mystery items and their memory sharing capabilities. But by the time he tries to warn Rebecca--]

Oi--! Careful!

[It's already started, and he gets a front row seat into Rebecca's friend calling Josh and Rebecca's father out for their dickery.]

U-uh...

[disclosures]

[Please watch Crazy Ex Girlfriend it's a wild ass ride.

Meanwhile the memory plays out with Paula holding her, making sure she doesn't fall off the jagged cliff before reassuring her. It's not her fault no man has ever loved her.

Oh no. Oh no Sanji has to watch this? Is this worse or better than her other memories? She doesn't know, but she's not happy about it.]

... She's right, he is a garbage father.

[concasse]

[Given the way Rebecca's father holds himself and responds to his daughter...]

Tch, I can see that.

[... Can he kick him?

Sanji really wishes he could kick him]

The fuck is his problem anyway?

[disclosures]

[Sadly it's only a memory. There's nothing either of them can change about it.]

He didn't want a kid. So... he just left. The only time he talks to me is when he wants money for his other kid in his other marriage.

[concasse]

... Ah.

[Glancing away. That comment seems to have struck a chord.]

If he's gonna be like that, he should just... stay away.

[disclosures]

[Her voice is soft and it breaks in places. She hasn't talked about this often and accepting it? Talking to somebody else about it? That's harder.]

For a really... really long time, way longer than I should've thought it, I wanted him to love me. I wanted him to just, you know, show up. Be there for me.

But he never was. He never wanted to be associate to me or mom.

It took me until that moment to accept he was just... garbage. He's a garbage father. And I should stop caring what he thinks of me.

[concasse]

Tch. A garbage father and a garbage human being.

[Sanji has absolutely no love for these kinds of fathers]

... It might take a while to really feel it, but you'll be much better off without someone like that in your life.

[disclosures]

Do you have an idea how long it might take... It's only been a few weeks since... that. I'd love to just get over him, but I spent years trying to make him love me, his daughter.

[concasse]

... Years.

[Sanji sounds like he knows.]

Sorry... there's no shortcut that I know besides a lot of time.

[disclosures]

[A soft, tired laugh as she closes her eyes and nods. There's no easy solution to a crappy childhood or an awful father.]

I should've figured that was the only cure.

[concasse]

[he really, really wishes there was something he could say to comfort her, but neither is he gonna deal in a weak attempt that would probably hurt more than help.

That's just how the healing process works. At least she's got some anger to shield her.

... Apparently she's got a lot? Because who is this Josh? And what exactly is Rebecca going to do to him?]

-- Did you murder your ex-fiance?

[HE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE HE CARES]

[disclosures]

[The noise she makes is somewhere between a laugh and a snort. She couldn't do that even if she wanted to, and besides killing him wouldn't be viscerally satisfying. It would be over. He wouldn't suffer like she suffered. She still looks angry.]

No, he's still alive and kicking. I was thinking more along the lines of ruin his reputation.

[And then her expression melts into something quiet and lost.]

... But after this I ended up running away. I locked myself up somewhere and I was planning on staying there for a while. To collect myself. Everybody who knew me was there. Everybody saw me humiliate myself.

[concasse]

[Pirates are just Down To Murder when assholes are in their way. Sanji didn't make the rules.

... Oof. Wincing in sympathy, however. He can... imagine, how tough that must've been on her.]

Well... they got to see you stand up for yourself, too, didn't they?

[Shaking his head a little]

Regardless, after all that shit, you deserved some time to yourself.

[disclosures]

They also saw me almost fall off a cliff.

[Her relationship with Josh isn't great and it probably never would be. But that's fine. She can live with that.]

I was really looking forward to being holed up alone for a while. But instead... murder castle.

[concasse]

Ah... so that's when they snatched you.

[Explains the wedding dress, too.]

Once we get you home, you need a vacation, I think.

[disclosures]

I can't remember the last time I actually took an actual vacation. But I didn't like them very much when I was in New York. All my life there was work.

[concasse]

Shit, even I don't work all the time.

[WELL. Sorta. But there are plenty of breaks inbetween, so Sanji counts 'em as small vacations]

I'd try it -- just a week to say fuck the world and take care of yourself.

[disclosures]

[She had nothing else in her life.]

If I get out of here, I promise I'll take a week for myself. I needed one with the whole wedding situation and now I really need one because of the murder castle.

[concasse]

[A slight smile, because... yeah. Murder castle will do that to ya]

Oi, what would be your ideal vacation then?

[Forget that wedding bullshit. HAPPY THOUGHTS]

[disclosures]

Ideal? [... Give her a moment to actually think about the things she likes. Because it isn't something she thinks about much.]

Probably watching a play? Maybe a Broadway musical? The Lion King was really good, maybe it'll have a revival.

[concasse]

[No idea what any of that is (though he is familiar with the term "play" -- not that it matters! She sounds pleased with the idea and that's good enough for him.]

There ya go! Figure out what shows are playing and get you some tickets! Just a nice, relaxing time.

-- oh, and of course dinner!

[disclosures]

I don't think I could find a dinner better than what you make.

[concasse]

... Yeah.

[That's fair.]

That's what I get for raising everyone's expectations, I guess.

[A SHAME]

[disclosures]

[Despite everything they've just watch she smiles and giggles.]

It's not a bad thing. But I'll definitely miss your cooking whenever we're done here.

[concasse]

Do you cook at all? I can give you a couple of recipes of your favorite foods to try making yourself.

[disclosures]

I do. I made an entire meal for Thanksgiving. That was the first time I made it and he couldn't tell because it tasted better.

[concasse]

[WHAT HE IS SO PROUD TO HEAR THIS]

Really? Shit, I should have asked you to teach me some things!

[disclosures]

[Sanji, you're SO CUTE?!]

I could! We're still in the castle together. Dinuguan or noodle kugel? Or do you want to learn both?

[concasse]

[This loser is so excited to learn new RECIPES.

AND HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF EITHER OF THEM?

AAAAAA]

Both, of course! Shit, what even is dinuguan?

[disclosures]

[He's SO CUTE. Rebecca's charmed all over again.]

It's pork cooked in pork's blood! It's a Filipino dish and it's really rich. You might really like it.