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WHO: Ino & YOU!
WHAT: New Years, bath time, joint training & earthquake response
WHERE: All around Neo Tokyo
WHEN: First week of January
WARNINGS: None yet, will update if necessary

▶002 - LONELY NEW YEAR

[ It feels a bit strange to not celebrate the New Year, though she isn't particularly pleased about spending it here instead of Konoha. But, she supposes, it wouldn't be the first time I've had to spend a holiday or a festival on a mission.

It's strange, nonetheless, to make her way to a temple without Shikamaru and Chouji. She's not doing a terribly great job of hiding it -- it feels lonely to be here without them, and her expression is a bit somber if someone manages to walk by without her knowing or recognizing them. She's got a cheaper purple kimono and coat on, hair done up nicely, and yet she doesn't seem all that thrilled to be there.

She's not one to really linger in misery for too long, though, so she'll also spend some time looking around for folks who are familiar to her. If she happens to spot you in the crowd as the clock ticks down to midnight, she'll rush over, waving as she calls out. ]

Hey! You're here for the celebration, too?

▶003 - NOTHING LIKE A HOT BATH

[ One thing Ino is quite thankful for is that there's a marked similarity between Neo Tokyo and Konoha in a lot of ways. It would have made the transition much harder if not for the little things -- the architecture and style of more classic buildings seem to resemble it quite a bit, the customs and attitude deemed quite similar, and there was just something barely familiar about the way people behaved and went about their day.

That said, it didn't mean her days becoming accustomed to some of the more advanced technology available here wasn't stressful. It was best to think of it the same way she would a mission -- adapt, improvise, and be an efficient tool in order to go home.

And, of course, take adequate breaks so as to not overstrain herself, if possible. She had always been a fan of the post-mission hot spring bath, but given the situation, she had a feeling that satisfying bath was a long ways away. So she would take what she could get in that regard ... and she'd take it pretty often, too, given how chilly it had been on base lately.

It would be fairly easy to find her in the women's public bath many evenings that week, her long hair tied up in a loop atop her head. It would also be pretty easy to bump into her at the entrance of the bath before it separates, a small basket in tow with an array of somewhat expensive-looking bath products.

What? A girl can't fight kaiju unmoisturized. And she might even be persuaded to share, given the effect of the water at this particular establishment .... ]

▶004 - WANNA SIMULATE? TEXT↠ACTION.

[ If there's anything Ino's had driven into her during her time as a kunoichi, it's that teamwork -- and not just any teamwork, but good teamwork is absolutely crucial. She'd had plenty of missions become far more of a pain than she'd have liked simply because someone refused to cooperate with her, or because the unit just wasn't jiving the way they ought to.

Now that they've had some time to settle in, it feels appropriate to start making sure each and every one of her teammates can work well with her and with each other. They were going to need that sort of cohesion if they wanted to go home as quickly as possible.

So, as soon as the celebrations for New Years have been wrapped up, and people can reasonably be expected to have recovered from any hangover or lack of sleep they might have had from the holiday, she reaches out via a text message to the network, hoping for takers from Everlight especially, but also others she'd met from the other teams so far. ]

hey there! is anyone interested in running the current simulation together? i think it'd be good to really start working on how to best combine our abilities in those types of situations!

▶005 - EMERGENCY HEALING

[ She supposes it was only a matter of time before their services were required, wasn't it?

After doing what she can to immediately respond to the disaster as it occurs, Ino takes it upon herself to take point at a makeshift clinic that's serving as a halfway point for those who can't quite make it to the hospital for whatever reason.

005A | Maybe you've come across a civilian who's in immediate need of support before transporting them to the hospital for further care? She'll be quick to usher you inside to place the person in question on a cot to further investigate their injuries.

005B | Or maybe you're a fellow healer? She sure wouldn't mind a little bit of assistance on this most recent addition to the current roster of victims -- her healing works well, but she can't do it all alone.

005C | Or maybe YOU'RE the injured one? Everlight team members especially would have likely been instructed to find her if they needed help, even if it wasn't life-threatening. Lert her give you some first aid!

Or, as always, feel free to come up with some other reason to catch her in the clinic -- she just might be a little stressed and tired :) ]

▶WILDCARD

Feel free to come up with your own prompt as well, if you'd like! Give me a PM if you've got questions! ♥

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The voice is one he knows well even if not one he reacts to immediately, not because he has any desire to avoid her but because it feels so wrong that it should be used to address him. He shouldn't be surprised. From behind his appearance is largely unaltered, dark hair in its expectedly choppy form, dark brown jacket too modern for Uchiha Sasuke but fitting through the lens of what he can acquire here, and posture unchanged. When Ino gets closer, however, and moreso when he turns, she may notice some slight aging in his face, a few inches added to his height, and the careful styling of his hair over his left eye. ]

Ino. [ Said as if there's nothing at all out of the ordinary, both of them backlit by the neon adornments on the temple gates. ]

For the celebration? [ A pause. ] No. I assumed there would be some people here I should see. You're one of them.

[ She's had enough time to cool off re: her irritation towards him and their initial conversation upon their arrival, and given how she's feeling, a touch of familiarity feels like the right path to take. Even if Sasuke was going to treat her coldly, at least he probably had some sort of familiarity with this type of New Years ritual, and he'd understand to some degree what she was talking about if she were to bring up how much she missed her teammates.

However, when he turns around and she gets a full glimpse of his face and his new height in comparison to hers, she almost takes a step backwards in surprise. ]

Wh--

[ Her mouth seems to open and close, as she decides where she should even begin. ]

What do you mean, I'm one of them? And what ... I mean, seriously, what happened to you?!

[ What reaction had he expected? None at all, really, as he now looks upon a face that he hasn't seen in years but simultaneously feels that he's seen only yesterday. His memories of his short time in Neo-Tokyo had only just returned to him upon his re-arrival, after all, fresh and aged all at once. ]

Calm down. [ At least this response is familiar. ]

I aged. You can see that, so I'll take your question as "how?" ... I don't remember leaving, but I remember returning here and the years I spent in our world in between.

You're dressed for the occasion. So you really are celebrating... did you come here with Kakashi?

[ As if that explanation was perfect, no notes, we move on. ]

No, I didn't come here with Sensei -- don't tell me to CALM DOWN! What do you mean, you LEFT? And for YEARS?

[ This is the opposite of Calm Down. ]

You can't just say that like you're telling me the weather!

[ Those years away had truly been quiet. Alone, in the forest. Alone, on missions. Alone, in prison.

Solitude... peace... ]

How should I say it? Should I yell and cry?

Explain it better!

How did you leave?! What happened when you went back? How long were you there? When's the last time you had a haircut?!

[ There is no such thing as peace and solitude when you're around Ino, sorry Sasuke. ]

[ Itachi would've accepted this without more questions...,, ]

I don't know how I left. I had no memory of this place while I was gone, and it was for a period of over two years. When I returned here, I recalled that I'd been here before.

If that on its own isn't sufficient, I cut my own hair when I feel it's needed.

...

[ She's frowning, but at least you've quieted her down? ]

So? Did they let you out of prison?

[ Finally there's a pause, a beat as the crowds rush around them and his expression remains as inscrutable as ever. ]

... so you knew I'd been locked away.

Step to the side, here, and keep your voice lowered. [ So he says as he steps back, receding into the shadow of the rock wall lining the path up to the shrine. Private? No, but more private. ]

Of course I knew. It was all anyone was talking about back home.

[ She lifts an eyebrow, confused as to why they'd need to be discreet about it -- was he worried about the crowds around them would become concerned if he explained?

... Was he about to tell her that he broke out of prison and kept causing problems? Was she going to have to slap his beautiful, in-need-of-a-haircut face? ]

... Fine.

[ She follows, though she watches him warily. ]

[ And yet still she'd lectured him for wanting to take steps that took him further away from Naruto and Sakura, and hadn't corrected him on his ability to do so. It would irk if he were closer to it, and if he were a little less in control of his emotions than he is now. Instead, shoulders press to stone in a soft lean and he offers her a quick up-down assessment. ]

Yes.

They let me out. I did what I said I would do, though I didn't choose to meet you here just to discuss trivia like that. I sought you out to discuss this place, and get your read on it.

Trivia?

[ She definitely looks more annoyed now. He did exactly what she warned him not to do. Of course he did. Why would he listen to her? Her irritation about this makes her briefly forget that he mentioned he remembered nothing about this place while he was back home. ]

You are so -- ughhh!

[ Frustrated, she blows a puff of air up at her bangs. ]

What do you mean, my read on it? You don't remember what you found last time?

[ He is so ugh, and judging by his expression he knows it. And has heard it many many times. And has no plans to stop being ugh.

However– ]

You're misunderstanding me. I remember what I discovered before.

I'm asking you for your insights.

You're asking me what I think?

[ It becomes clear very quickly that she didn't exactly misunderstand him -- more that she doesn't seem to believe he could actually care about her opinion. Not that she's ever particularly shy about giving it anyways, but she repeats what he's said nonetheless to make sure he knows what he's asking for. ]

Is this your overdue check-in?

Call it what you will. For me it's more than overdue.

[ And while there's hardly anything soft around the edges about Uchiha Sasuke, it feels metaphorical. As if there's a hell of a lot more than a check-in that he's overdue for with her, with anyone in his life. ]

We're in a situation now where it doesn't make sense for us to avoid one another. You, me, Kakashi... and Itachi.

[ She's considering what he's said, surprised to see this peace offering coming from him -- what the hell had happened while he had been home? -- when she seems to fully register the end of the last sentence. ]

Wait. What? Itachi?!

[ She had heard that people who were dead could come back here, but for it to be him, of all people ... ]

( kakashi arrives at the makeshift clinic in the small hours before dawn, civilians in tow. twins have assigned themselves to each of his pant legs, making his approach a slog when he's already wet and tired. his stamina has been improving, but to run operations all day—maybe he'll opt in for a pick-me-up, too. )

Lespedeza. I should've known you'd have a knack for healing...

( the unmistakeable blond is addressed at a time she's busy at work. so that ino doesn't have to break her focus to delegate, kakashi's hands seek the children's to walk them to a free cot. )

C'mon, you two. Let's wait our turn, ( he says, softly so that they'll emulate him. they whisper loudly back, unable to grasp the concept of quiet fully, but they're better behaved than a couple of adult men at the opposite side of the pop-up site. )

Take your time, it's not urgent. Just scrapes and bruises.

[ She doesn't look back just yet, but there's a little shake of her shoulders as she can't help but laugh a little at Kakashi's approach. She'd grown somewhat accustomed to that name being used to refer to her by others, but it was a little strange coming from such a familiar voice.

It takes another few moments of concentration for her to finish the task at hand, the soft green glow of her chakra lighting her face as she closes up a wound to the point where it can be more easily treated by regular first aid. As she finishes the final movement to close off the end of the wound, she'll turn to another worker beside her, instructing them quietly to finish cleaning and bandaging what remained. Much as she'd like to finish the job herself, it was important to preserve her energy for whatever might still be coming their way, if there was something to be done to save any other lives.

She turns to face Kakashi and the children now, a small smile on her face, though she does look a little tired by now. ]

Thank you for waiting. [ That was addressed more to Kakashi, who she quickly visually sweeps for any sort of injury, before looking down at the twins. ] And thank you for being patient. Why don't you show me where you're hurting?

( ino's helpers attend to the injured at her command. kakashi monitors them out of habit, left eye squinting open a millimetre to spy on where their hands go and what they do with them. trust isn't easily given, but he places his in ino now. she's got this place militantly in order, which enables him to finally relax.

sinking onto a cot with a nod, his elbows find his knees in a deep, tensionless sag forward. )

I got hit on the head! ( the female twin announces as though it's a point of pride. kakashi sighs, knowing that the precocious kid is parroting what he told her during her initial triage in the field. )

My hand hurts... Uncle says it got sprayed...

Sprained, ( he corrects the male twin who sniffs defeatedly and stares at his wet shoes. with a glance at ino, kakashi adds clarification: ) He fell on his wrist. Other than that, I can't find anything to be concerned about. But that's why we're here; you're the expert.

[ She can't help but let a little smile slip onto her face when they explain what happened. ]

That's right. Don't worry, you'll be as good as new by the time you go home.

[ She focuses on the female twin first, given that a potential concussion is more of an immediate concern than a sprain. She crouches a little to be on eye level, and holds up a finger in front of her. ]

Can you follow my finger? Just keep your eyes on it 'til I say to stop.

[ She'll move her finger around in some circles and loops, watching the girl carefully to see if she struggles with keeping up. ]

( signs of concussion are visible in the girl's eyes, pupils struggling to respond to both a change in light and the appearance of stimuli—ino's finger. her reactions are a bit sluggish, but not severe; luckily, kakashi was able to pull them from the wreckage before she was struck a second time.

the boy hunches into a seat next to kakashi on the cot, shy and leaning into his side. trauma creates bonds, but he didn't expect it to happen so quickly. uncertain what to do, he allows it, staring forward. )

I couldn't find their parents.

( by the twins' reactions, kakashi made their mother's and father's uncertain fate clear to them before arriving. it's brutal now but it'll be a mercy later. if they're dead, it'll be more real. that'll allow them to move forward with greater ease. )

But I haven't finished searching this sector... Once the kids have been taken care of and transport to a shelter has been arranged for them, I'm heading back out. Have you heard anything from the other teams?

Edited 2024-01-24 02:01 (UTC)

I would be interested.

Before we start, it would be good to know more about each other's abilities first.

[ Yay, a taker! and with a cute username, too ... ]

of course, makes sense. well, admittedly i'm more of a supporting role than front lines. i can heal most injuries, and i have a pretty good sense for what's coming and how strong the enemy is, even if they try to mask it. i'm well versed enough in hand to hand and using smaller weapons to defend myself, of course, but not exactly a heavy hitter.

[ Among other things, but she's still trying to be careful about who finds out about her family secret techniques for now. ]

how about you?

Healing itself makes you the most valuable person on the team.

[ it's a high level skill where he's from and very important ]

I have several shikigami I'm able to summon that have a variety of skills. I wouldn't say I'm a heavy hitter either, but I can take the offensive role for us. It sounds like a good match.

[ Aww. Compliments will go far with her, thank you, Megumi. ]

cool, i cant wait to see them! i don't really do summons myself but i've seen some pretty powerful ones :)

when do you want to meet? i'm free pretty much any time today.

I have a shift today at the vet clinic, but I'm happy to meet you in the evening if that would be convenient for you.

that works perfectly! i'll see you later -- i'm the blonde wearing purple!

[ And, true to her word, she is waiting in front of the simulation area in the evening. She seems to be reading a book about plants to pass the time between simulations. ]

[ There's no response to that text but it's 'seen', so Ino knows he saw it. Megumi will make his way quietly to the simulation room. He probably should have at least told her what he looks like? Oh well.

It isn't a busy hour, so he doesn't have to sieve through many people to find her. Ino will run into a serious-looking young man with black, spiky hair. ]

You're the one who wanted to try out the simulation, right? [ Probably should have exchanged names too but oh well. ]

[ A serious-looking young man with black, spiky hair? Yeah, she definitely does a double take when she looks up to see him -- she also knows a serious looking young man with spiky black hair, after all -- but after a moment she seems to shake it off and greet him with a smile. ]

That's me. And you must be Mister Rabbit, hm?

Fushiguro Megumi.

[ He does have a girls' name. Pay no attention to that fact. Despite appearances, his voice is soft and his tone is polite. ]

You are ...?

[This is the life! Hot waters to relax in, a trusty basket of skincare and hair products, and great company! Nobara sinks into the steamy waters with her newfound friend, letting out a relaxed sigh.]

Ahh-! Finally! The air around here is so shitty thanks to the cold, I can't believe what it's doing to my pores...

[She knows you understand the issue too, Ino. :c ]

Ugh, no kidding!

[ She is more than happy to complain about this with you, friend. Winter is not your friend when your usual outfit is a crop top and a miniskirt. ]

Though it doesn't show on you at all, Nobara-chan. But I've been going through lotion like crazy. It almost never gets this cold at home ...

I wasn't able to experience winter in Tokyo, but in the countryside where I lived it was always cold and covered in snow.... just another reason why I hated it!

[Bluhhhh why must they suffer so! At least this hot bath is a welcome respite.]

I thought back in my time they were always yapping on about global warming, anyway. What happened, I thought everything was going to melt away.

"Global warming"?

[ She looks over curiously at that. If that's happening in her world, nobody's discovered it. Or at least, no one's told her about it! ]

What does that mean? Like, the whole world is just getting hotter and hotter?

[ Wouldn't be the first near-world-ending crisis she's heard of, but ... ]

Isn't that super dangerous ... ?!

Uh..

[Oh whoops, has she accidently let on how awful Earth actually is?]

Something like that! Too many humans with too much fumes coming from their technology. It used to be a big deal and people would say that centuries later some countries would be too hot, or the sea levels would rise and flood over places, but I don't know if that ever happened here. I guess other stuff happened which was worse....?

[No global warming but yes kaijuu? Silver.... linings???]

Well! There's no point in us worrying about that now, right! I guess it wasn't a problem in your world though, huh Ino-chan?

[ holidays didn't exactly mean a whole lot to yuwon. his life prior to the tower was fairly devoid of the typical cheer and company people would expect for events like these. hence, he didn't think much of celebrating as much as he wanted to simply explore. he figures understanding the culture and other details of this world would only be a benefit to him. besides, it was a simple fact that they were encouraged to head out, and he presumes there'd have to be a clear reason for that.

it can't just be to help out, can it?

it probably can. regardless, he supposes he should make the most of it. he's about the check out one of the stalls, but finds that he's in the way of someone. he tries to step aside, but it's in this moment he recalls seeing her face around. he thinks?

so he starts with: ] Hey, do I know you?

Hmm?

[ She blinks, looking Yuwon over. He does look familiar, though she's sure they haven't talked -- she'd remember that, given how, well, tall and good-looking he is. Still, where has she seen him before ... ]

Oh -- you're over in Revelations, aren't you?

[ She's been over there a few times to bug Sasuke or Kakashi, and now that she thinks about it, she probably saw him walking by over there ... ]

[ there's a bit of relief that comes with her response. while he doesn't necessarily care about how he's perceived, he's not exactly looking to be thought of as a weirdo right out of the flood gates. ] Yeah, I'm surprised you knew. I'm Kim Yuwon.

Are you also...? [ he pauses, patiently waiting for her response...

since he could be wrong. (he is). ]

Some people I know from home are in that section, as well.

[ She offers this in explanation to his surprise. But she shakes her head at his question. ]

I'm in Everlight, actually. It's nice to meet you, Kim-san. I'm Yamanaka Ino.

From home? [ he looks a bit surprised at that, albeit it's a bit difficult to discern since his overall features don't shift all too dramatically. as far as he is aware some others have a similar ... set of circumstances, being brought from the same "home." it's an intriguing concept, but he supposed depending on their abilities and what they've been through, it could be seen as an effective method.

but, he tries not to ponder on it for long, before nodding his head at her name. ] Can I call you Ino? [ he figures that's easier since everyone at the tower had the habit of using people's first names. but, he knows customs in every world was pretty different. ]

Mm, we're from the same village. So we already knew each other before arriving.

[ When he asks if he can just call her Ino, well. It feels a bit forward of him, but he's not the first person who hasn't followed that standard since she's arrived here -- so at the very least, she knows it's likely not his intention for it to come off that way. ]

Ah ... sure, if that's what you'd prefer ... [ She seems a little shy about it, but certainly not unwilling. ] Would you ... prefer to be called Yuwon, then?

You all must have pretty impressive skills. [ is the only logical conclusion. it does make him curious, but he knows better than to ask so many questions about someone's abilities— at least unprompted. or, he does in theory. that isn't to state he hasn't ever asked before, but he comprehends that now probably wouldn't be an apt time. there was no looming threat over them at present, and ... it was a celebration, wasn't it?

at her initial discomfort, he's about to say it's fine, but ... she seemed to okay it, and he's not about to argue with that. ] Yeah, you can call me whatever you want. [ okay, maybe not whatever, but she didn't exactly seem like she'd take advantage of it. ]

(When Tsurumaru arrives at the clinic, it's with the assistance of another LILITH member who has the swordsman leaning on him. He hobbles over on one foot. He doesn't appear to be bleeding but he's covered in dust and dirt, superficial cuts on his face and bruising peeking out from under his collar.

And now he's being dragged into the clinic to be cared for. All the while, he laughs,)

These uniforms are really impressive, right? Better than most armor— ow, be gentle!

(They'll drop Tsurumaru off in front of Ino and just explain he'd been pulled out from some rubble. Not far behind, another agent brings a child also covered in dust. They seem largely unharmed despite their crying and they get taken away for a quick check up.

Tsurumaru raises a hand and waves at the kid. But now that it's just him and Ino, he smiles, )

Don't worry, don't worry. I'll heal.

(Eventually.)

[ Despite his insistence to not worry, it's clear that she's fretting anyways. Once he's sat down and she sees the child taken into proper care, she's looking him over as well, clearly very concerned for his well-being. It just won't do to have one of her teammates in a bad way! ]

Jeez ... telling me not to worry! What did you expect, coming in like that? [ She does seem to relax once she confirms with her own eyes that his injuries are minor, though. ] So what happened?

I took a tumble.

(That's it, that's all he really says and he settles down in front of her. )

Haru-kun was stuck in a store. When we tried to run down the stairs, everything shook and part of the building collapsed on our way out. (And judging by how the boy had gotten out largely unharmed, it looks like Tsurumaru had covered him. He points to his leg,) I think it's sprained.

(From falling down the stairs.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

open tl

▶002 - LONELY NEW YEAR

▶003 - NOTHING LIKE A HOT BATH

▶004 - WANNA SIMULATE? TEXT↠ACTION.

▶005 - EMERGENCY HEALING

▶WILDCARD

002, how can I RESIST

WEEPING

1/3

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3/3

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005a!!!!!!

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4 @rabbit

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003 baths

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002, wildcardish! sorry, i hope this is okay!

absolutely!!

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005C

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