Chapter Text
Sanji pulled the hood of his cloak harder over his face as he navigated his way through the crowded inn until he found himself a barstool, sitting himself upon it whilst pushing away the other slobby, drunk bar patrons. "Give me your strongest." he murmurs, his voice low enough for the bartender to hear.
The bartender, a women in her thirties with forest green hair and an orange bandana questions "So, you new here ?" as she serves him an ale with his desired drink. "You could say that...just not around these parts." Sanji hums as he sips his drink without flinching. "Impressive, that was our strongest and you're sipping on it like it's nothing. "Makino calmly hums as her doe eyes slightly widened. "Name's Makino" she adds, sticking out a hand. "Sanji..." he returns it back, shaking it.
"Are you alone?" Makino questions as Sanji pauses mid-drink, albeit startled "Whatever do you mean my dear ?" "What I mean is that you are far well kept than half of our patrons... you haven't spoken much either..." Makino points out her findings. Sanji pauses for a couple of moments before downing the last of his drink. "I am indeed alone my dear but you don't worry, I am well aware of my intended destination." Sanji reassures her with a small smile.
"I do believe you have but I must warn you. You must beware of your surroundings around these parts." she explains, her voice growing serious and low. Sanji's gray-blue eyes slightly widen, fearing for she must've had an inkling of what he really was. " What are your concerns my dear?" he settles on questioning instead.
"It is rumored that the creatures of the night have awoken and resumed their hunt on innocent animals and people." Ah. So it was about these vampires he kept hearing about. Long before he was kicked out of his coven and before he had met Zeff, he was taught about vampires among many others.
Despite knowing of their existence and how to deal with one if he was unfortunate enough to bump into one, Sanji had personally never come across one before. Even during his time with Zeff before the old geezer had sent him on this month long shopping spree, he had given the younger a few charms to ward the damn creatures off.
"Especially 'The Demon of the East'- Roronoa Zoro" Sanji snaps out of his train of thoughts after registering what she had said. Sanji couldn't help the small smile worming onto his face as he lit a cigarette.
He found Makino's concerns regarding him cute as he was infact not human himself. He was a witch from the powerful coven up north known as "Germa" and has been reigning over the witching world for over 66 centuries. But unlike his famed family-The Vinsmokes, he was by no means magical at all.
Zeff was also a witch and had an inkling from which coven he was from due to the swirls in his eyebrows inherited from his father- Vinsmoke Judge. Zeff was one of the lesser known witches who had no magical blood whatsoever but the power to heal through potion brewery and cooking. Sanji had always had a passion for cooking as his birth mother- Sora, was a lesser known witch and giving birth to magically modified and strong babies took a toll on her weak body.
Sanji's magic had been stronger than Zeff's and he knew it but they still had their doubts because of Sanji's Vinsmoke origins but Makino doesn't need to know that. "I can assure you my dear, I can take care of myself. I appreciate your concerns regarding my safety." Sanji politely smiles, pulling out a few gold berries to pay Makino with.
"O-Oh, none of that sort Sanji. The drink is free." Makino says, refusing the money even as Sanji insists going as far as to even curl the coins into her palm. "That is well appreciated my dear but I wouldn't want to inconvenience a lady. Now, I must take my leave." Sanji bows politely, moving to stand up to venture off into the night searching for the last damn ingredient Zeff requires to brew god knows what.