16autumnroad | [Voice / Action: CH1 Floor 4, 5/1] Birthday Party (Joint post with Ino)

[VOICE, INO]
[A loud, familiar voice would be heard throughout the network today. Good thing it's not so early in the morning when it hollers or there'd be a lot of ruined mornings today despite the important announcement.]

Hey, Luceti! We've all had a lot of drama these past few days so, what do you all say about a little party? It's Chouji's birthday today and, of course, that needs celebrating!

Come by the first community building and you'll find the happenings on the fourth floor. See you there!

[With a little giggle, the announcement ends there.]

--

[ACTION]
It was only a little bit of a surprise to Chouji when he received an invitation to his own birthday party, delivered to the apartment door. These were things you just had to expect and accept with Ino as a teammate. Everyone on the floor along with Kiba and Asuma received paper invitations. Then he heard her network post, inviting pretty much everyone in the village. Ino.

He'd laughed and grinned when he woke up to a knock on the apartment door and the smell of chips that morning, a purple whirlwind demanding entrance to the apartment so she could decorate it. A glance down the hallway showed a trail of butterfly decorations, marking the path of Hurricane Ino.

Chouji gladly spent half of his birthday in the kitchen, likewise decorated with butterflies, cooking for his own party. He'd always been the team's cook, and there was no reason for that to change just because it was his party.

By dinnertime, the common areas as well as Chouji, Shikamaru, and Masaomi's apartment held enough potato chips to feed an army even without all the food Chouji cooked. Barbecue, of course, along with vegetables, rice, fish, chicken curry, miso soup, and one or two desserts. He made sure to include pudding, his thanks to Ino for her thought and effort.

Now they just needed some guests to help eat it all.

((OOC: I am very close to done with the semester and will be back to full tagging speed ASAP! I'll match whatever format you tag me in, prose or brackets.

Open to anyone! Threadhopping and mingling highly encouraged! It's a party.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I am glad for that as well. [He thinks. It's good to be around everyone again. And bittersweet, with the last time he could remember so many of them being in the same area.] It is very kind of you, Ino-san.

[And he adds on, hesitantly.] How... have you been, Ino-san?

Thanks! [For the compliment, even if she knows she's such a kind person. (Forgive her, she's so full of herself.) His question only diminishes her smile a little, though, but not enough to completely erase it.]

I've been doing well. You know, as well as I can be considering everything I learned. [She tries to keep the smile on even it turns a bit poignant.]

[But his smile fades at that question. This is the wrong place - it definitely is. But he can't help just to ponder.]

What... what you have learned?

[Her own smile fades too but her expression doesn't reflect any sadness. She had looked incredibly sad for days that she doesn't know if she can look sad again. Instead, Ino remains neutral, if not a bit thoughtful.]

That Dad died - or at least will die - in the war back home. [Even her voice remains neutral even if it's soft to the ears.] Shikamaru showed when he let me read his mind.

[He tries to keep up the strong front himself. Trying to keep emotions from flowing at hearing that. He sniffles slightly and tries to give a rigid nod of confirmation.]

I... I see. So... You are aware of that.

[He doesn't know if she knows about Neji. But this would definitely not be the time or the place to pry.]

I am.

[There's a pause on her end. This sadness he's displaying isn't entirely because her father or Shikamaru's father died. No, it's something that hits closer to home and it grips something within Ino because she, too, can't believe it and she doesn't know what she's going to feel if it also happened to her. Does Tenten know now, too?

She hasn't seen Neji in days, primarily because she's secluded herself inasmuch as Neji might have done the same thing. If she knows Lee, it wouldn't be a secret kept from Neji for long.]

I'm aware of some other things, too, and I think you already know what I mean.

[She's not going to say it out loud here, in a party where everyone's having fun.]

[It's hard to say. He raises his eyes to meet hers - some of his youthly fire gone from his pupils. He knows he has to keep positive, here and now, for Chouji. But he can't help but feel vulnerable.]

I understand. I-Ino-san...

[It hurts something fierce seeing those eyes devoid of their youthful passion. It's almost like seeing Naruto in despair. It's something Ino doesn't want to see, but can she blame him? She'd feel the same way if either Shikamaru or--

She doesn't even want to imagine it. Here in Luceti, Shikamaru was too close dancing with death and the memory stings. Inasmuch as knowing Neji, the one who helped him alongside her that fateful day, was the one in that place. It's sickening and she almost wants to throw up.

But Ino shakes off these images and gives Lee a lopsided smile.]

Now, wipe off that gloom on your face and let's have a good time, okay?

[They can grieve some other day, but not today. Today, there's no other choice but to be merry and drive away all anguish. Today, they forget.]

Yes. [He looked at Ino - being so stable despite what she had lost. Her own father. It was inspiring.

It got him to smile again.]

Thank you, Ino-san. I anticipate having... a wonderful and youthful time.

[But he can't help stepping forward to give her a hug.]

[She keeps a steady smile this time. It's not as bright as the ones she previously wields before this whole thing but it's a smile nonetheless.]

That's the spirit. How do you like the-

[Then, he goes in for a hug and the sudden movement freezes her in place. Ino didn't expect the sudden show of affection from someone she's not very close to.]

Edited 2013-05-11 18:08 (UTC)

[But Lee is a comrade and someone Ino treasures too. It's good to know that outside the people she holds dear, she has friends that, like Lee, are willing to comfort her as well.

She returns the hug, then, and the steady smile earlier turns into a softer, more wistful one.]

-Hey, we're all going to get through this. Even you. [Then softer:] Even Neji.

I... [He couldn't help it. Seeing Ino be so strong in providing joy and care with what she had lost, Lee couldn't help but hug his comrade in such a way. Her words strike at him, and she smiles warmly while pulling back to keep tears form starting. He refuses to - not at Chouji's birthday.]

Thank you, Ino-san. Your words... They shall be reality! I wouldn't believe otherwise of us. We comrades of Konoha!

[His words pull out a bright smile from her as she pats his shoulder reassuringly.]

Good to know! I mean we're indestructible that way. Come on, enjoy the party!

Indestructible? Yes! I will enjoy this party in such a manner for sure!

[And he immediately channels this new dose of youthly energy by turning in another direction to pubch and kick at the air. But one swift kick, instead of hitting the air, destroys a lamp.]

[.....

Sometimes, Ino doesn't know why she tries.]

A manner that won't destroy half the furniture here, hopefully.

I... I am so sorry! The rambunctiousness of youth has proven to be too much once more! Please forgive me!

[Ino feigns being exasperated by all this.]

Alright, alright. It's not as if I have any other choice.

Thank you, Ino-san! I will do anything to make up for this blunder of youth.

Good. I wouldn't expect anything less.

Then how should I atone?!

Just enjoy the party and avoid breaking any more furniture, okay?

[He stands about-face and salutes.]

I solemnly swear to do so, Ino-san! [From anyone else, this would look sarcastic. But coming from Lee, it's completely genuine.] I shall channel my youth less destructively!

[Voice / Action: CH1 Floor 4, 5/1] Birthday Party (Joint post with Ino)

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