seventeen crows (朱) voice/action

[yourhatred]

[This afternoon finds one CHEERFUL(?) Itachi walking out of the grocery, a bright SMILE(?) on his face and a full bag in his arms. He's HUMMING(??) something under his breath, a light bounce to his step.

He pulls out his journal casually, sending an unfiltered message to his brother.]

Sasuke. Are you recovering well?

[All of this is, of course, completely out of character for the ninja and possibly disturbing to anyone familiar with him.]

Comments

[deathsdoctor]

[... that's a little of an understatement. Aside from him and Sasuke, Law doesn't recall Itachi interacting with any other residents in CH2 aside from over the journal. Not that Itachi would, really - intensely private and antisocial person that he is.

Experiment.

He doesn't ponder it or the motivations for the dinner more. Even though he feels like he's been kicked through a wall by a certain Admiral by the gesture.]

It should be fine. [Waving that off. Itachi's vegetarian after all. And he... can always get more to eat later, and probably will regardless. Curse of his metabolism.]

This is somewhat of a rare treat for me. [He has no idea why he's being so open. But well, why shouldn't he?] Vegetables can get pretty scarce where I'm from. Where I was born, they were considered a luxury.

[Fresh ones go bad fast enough, even in the icebox, and you can only pack so much preserves. And when you're out at sea for weeks at a time, a smart quartermaster stocks what can keep and what the crew requires for nutrition first. Luxury comes second.

Adding to that was the differing amount of bounty each island would provide and how well situated along the trade routes it was. Sometimes you lucked out, sometimes you didn't.

The sea provides the rest. And She's a fickle mistress.]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to provide, then.

[Glasses out, plates set. There's another bag with a few tomatoes in it still set aside on the counter. A glance at it reminds him of what he needs to do after.]

I'll bring some to my brother after we've eaten. I got fresh tomatoes just for him.

[He'd have to start growing some in his garden. Sasuke had always had a fondness for them.]

[deathsdoctor]

[... aww, fuck it. He's just going to roll with this, even though he's certain they've been moved to the Twilight Zone. Pulling out a seat now to sit in it.]

Thank you. It smells delicious.

[We will stop in mid reach for the chopsticks for a moment. Huh. Well... maybe things miraculously patched up some since the last time he was around you two.]

Oh, a favorite of his?

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Yes. I thought it might improve his mood some, seeing as he's been cooped up with his illness. Really I should drop by with food more often.

[He sets down the bowl of steaming rice, the vegetables arranged in smaller bowls around it, before taking a seat himself.]

You should let me know some of your own favorites for when I cook in the future.

[deathsdoctor]

Well, it should at least help him feel stronger. Good food is a key to any recovery.

[This is going to happen again in the future?

We'll see how you feel about that after the experiment's done.]

Uh, well aside from such things as shellfish, fish, seal, whale, and Sea King, I do like dishes made with seaweed, tofu, and ginger. Agedashi tofu, wakame salad, stews, that sort of stuff.

[Scratching the back of his neck slightly, before reaching for the ladle of the rice bowl.] Just plain fruit is very nice too.

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

[He makes note of everything mentioned, though the fish probably won't make it onto his cooking menu. His memory is good, but he might write it down later just in case.]

I don't believe I ever properly thanked you for helping him.

[deathsdoctor]

Aa.

That doesn't require thanks, you know.

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Of course it does.

[Itachi gives the man a serious look, the smile dropping some.]

Telling me you did it because it was your duty as a doctor doesn't change the fact that it was done.

[deathsdoctor]

[His duty? In part - Sasuke did ask for him, something he would likely have not ignored anyway. But it's a little more complicated than that.

He mainly came only for the fact that Sasuke has a brother. And that brother? Has come to...

... matter.

Don't ask him why.

He closes his eyes.]

Mn. Then you're welcome.

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[Itachi watches the other man carefully, his hand paused in the middle of gathering up greens with his chopsticks.]

...Is there something wrong?

[deathsdoctor]

[An eyebrow arches slightly, somewhat surprised, and he blinks.]

No?

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Alright.

[And Itachi just smiles again, the matter apparently resolved, and returns to his meal.]

[deathsdoctor]

[At least for now, anyway.

Law finishes serving himself (and though it is a large portion, he's made sure to leave plenty for seconds for Itachi/a meal for Sasuke), and between neat bites of food, asks:]

Have you ever been on the sea, Itachi?

[A curious thought out of nowhere, and a good subject change from the awkwardness just before.]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[That's an unexpected question, but then he doesn't mind a bit of conversation over their meal.]

I've been to the shore and some ways out into the waters, but not far. I'm afraid most of my duties were situated inland.

[Even what time was spent in the Village Hidden in the Mists.]

[deathsdoctor]

[He smiles slightly, and gives a small shake of his head.] You've missed out then. There's nothing like it, both above and below the waves.

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I'll have the opportunity while I'm here. The ocean isn't too far, after all.

[Even if they probably wouldn't be able to get far. He hadn't even thought about this until now.]

[deathsdoctor]

No, it's not. And it's been too long since I've set sail.

...

[Pondering this.]

I'll just have to borrow a boat.

[And by borrow, we mean rob Jack Sparrow blind for a time unless an alternative comes available. It's what all the pirates are doing.

Because Sparrow is, after all, Blackbeard's nakama.]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

I wasn't aware there were many boats to borrow.

[Which probably means theft, but this idea doesn't appear to bother Itachi much at the moment.]

Though I wouldn't mind having the opportunity myself.

[deathsdoctor]

[Probably. But temporary theft. Or paying off Sparrow. One of the two.]

There's a couple around. I'll have to look into which ones are seaworthy and can be trusted on the waters.

...

If that's so, then we'll have to do it.

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Then I suppose I have something to look forward to.

[One might almost believe the two of them were friends.]

[deathsdoctor]

[One might.]

[Leaning back with a grin.] Guess you do.

[One might.]