old world blues. ( private flashback )

[Apple]

"A wife and a son."

”…Oh.”

Perhaps I was caught in some kind of translucent haze of sorts- I simply couldn’t fathom what he had said but words escaped my mouth- I didn’t seem too impressed from the way that I’d answered but in all honesty my mind had done its best to wipe whatever he'd said about a wife and a son. But however strong my mind had grown to become I couldn’t restrain the innate jealousy that now seeped through each and every pore in my body. But I felt it deeper than that- Anger rose forth too and collided with whatever little feelings I’d gathered within my mind in the past hour, obliterating them completely. My hands having now lowered to my sides, I found my nails digging furiously in to my very flesh as the deafened words of Chaima rung emptily through my mind- I didn’t know what the fuck she’d just said, but at the same time, I didn’t care about what the either of them had to say any more- In fact, right now I just didn’t want to be speak to the either of them- But the it had to go on and the actress had to keep her role intact until the show was over- It was inflexible on such a scale that I'd rather ram my head through a wall rather than sit here and listen about whatever heartwarming family he had to go home to. I came to wish that I hadn't even asked him about his fucking wife in the first place.

”..How about those shots?"

Words seeped out of my mouth like vomit- I didn’t want to spend one more moment with these people and yet theatrics called and my guise rose once more, having perhaps cracked for a moment, but it was quickly disguised. With my hands around the glass of drink that Chaima had ordered for us all, I'd plan ahead. Hollow thoughts of drinks and gambling flooded my mind as I embraced the woman that I was currently portraying; dissolving what little was left in my mind moments ago. Silence now stood as I called over one of the barmen with the flick of my thin wrist, my icy blue eyes drawing in whoever stood in their path. I’d order a mixture of shots- Normal, of course, I wasn’t the type to put poisons in drinks- and then wait for my order to be processed, my mind slowly catching track of each tiny second that passed- and it was agonizing. Fingers- Carefully manicured but unpainted, tapped against the countertop in a quick, almost organized manner as I waited, waited, waited for the man to come back- Three shots- Not on me, of course. Whether or not they chose to take it, it was up to them, but the moment the sound of my glass resonated against the counter I’d raise it once more and tip it back forcefully to my throat, wiping its contents from existence as it trickled down my throat.

So blissfully unaware his words of poker invaded my mind, as I turned my head towards him in almost an inquisitive fashion. I’d never understood the point of card games except for gaining money- which was exactly why I strived to play it. Truth be told I was unaware of what hobbies I liked by now but surely, reading would be one of them and what wasn’t was definitely card games. I was good- But I wasn’t talented. "Yeah- I’ll give it a go. I'm no good though- Just so you know!” A lie, but I’d speak these words not with the anger that I’d previously been feeling, but with a slight bit of amusement- ”..Lead the way Kumo! Cmon, Chaima, we've got money to make!” Slamming the glass back down on the table perhaps with force that wasn’t meant for me to use, I’d excuse this and slide the shot glass, thankfully still in one piece, back towards the barmen who were still up the top of the counter island. I’d turn my eyes again back towards the register; then to the barmen, and finally back towards Chaima and Atlas- One after the other, before resting them on the red-haired male with my eyes staring dead set at him. Intoxicating to some my gaze was beautiful, if not slightly frightening.

The time was almost coming; I knew it.

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[Estilo]

Her initial reaction was palpable, a constituent to take into account when only moments before I'd managed to grasp the fact that perhaps she... didn't have anyone home waiting for her. It was all a slice of the war that had taken over this world, an actuality that was all too common, especially so in Kami no Shima. What more was this venue than a hotspot for the desperate, greedy and depressed? It wasn't a place of laughter anymore. At least, not real laughter. It was a shadow of what it used to be- a zestful locale meant for the happy at heart. No, it was now a factory that feigned happiness and wealth. And when you returned home? A bitch slap from reality, cold and disheartening.

To be honest, if Kami no Shima was wiped off the face of the Earth tomorrow, I probably wouldn't give a damn. And that, mind you, was most definitely in the cards. Her fleeting moment of lost guard was gone just as soon as it had come. An uncertain 'oh', followed by the proposal that we start back on our shots. Body gestures, facial expressions, a tone of voice like honey. Paired beside her subtle urgency to change the subject, beside the gathered background I had managed to roughly piece together based on current day events and the highest probabilities, it was coming together now. She was good. Real good.

Our shots arrived, a trinity of hands reaching for their amber liquor, then downing it as soon as it arrived. But none of us- not Chaima or I- were as seemingly desperate for the drink as Blanche was. She'd slammed the shot glass on the counter seconds before we'd even managed to recover from the warm feeling running down our throats. And we were veterans, at that. I gave the display a quirked eyebrow, but otherwise didn't bother to turn to her as I set my own glass on the counter. A nice game of poker was next. And to me, that game was more than just making money and fooling the weak of heart. It was a game of secrets, a game of bluffs, just like the one we'd been playing all night long.

I turned to see her staring at me; shot her a smile as bright as the sun. "I trust you're up for a game, too, eh Chaima?" I began, looking over Blanche's shoulder to the giddy brunette over.

"Does a leaf ninja shit in the woods? Hell yeah!"

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We found a poker table at the back of the main floor, a spacious arrangement. After hitting the casino cash exchange kiosk, Chaima offered Blanche five-hundred ryo worth of chips. Not much, but definitely enough to grow on in a good game of poker. And me? One-thousand ryo converted into poker chips, with the rest of the money in my possession enough to pay for my hotel room, their drinks and a good dinner. Our poker game started out with an influx of players, strangers we had yet to meet- a Konohagakure ninja, a merchant, a singer. And as the hour passed by, they slowly folded one by one. Even Chaima, as frustrated and money-hungry as she was, was forced to fold and back out of the game for lack of chips. In the end, it was between me, Blanche, the singer and the dealer himself. The MVP here?

"Your hand, Blanche." I smiled from across the poker table, holding my cards upright as I leaned back on the chair, trying to ignore the fact that the singer was owning both of us. This turn would decide it all.

In my hand: Spades. A king, queen, nine, eight and five. Straight flush.

But what did Blanche have? Would she fall for the 'bluff'? And what of the singer, after her? Whether they raised the ante or folded, I was going all-in. A good three-thousand ryo being invested into the pot before us.

[Apple]

Minutes turned in to an hour- Or at least it felt like it, as the three of us sat around a fairly sized green table. Of course, I wasn’t the best at this game but seeing as a sum of ryo had so carefully been placed in my hands, I felt it my duty to at least use what ryo she gave me. Of course, truthfully I’d have preferred to just have the money and not partake in this game but gambling- It was luck. Adrenaline fuelling the mind that I so lived with at the moment as each person held their cards, and broke away from our little game as they soon found themselves losing. The time for winning was soon nigh and I found myself, unsurprisingly, sitting on the table as one of the victors, victory wasn’t mine yet but it was so close for the taking- The very glint of the chips in the centre of the table provoked my senses- I had to win, by all means necessary. But what had I been doing up until now? Keenly eyeing up the competition. Slyness had been injected in to me over the past few days from being here; and I was ready to bring it up when needed. However unsubtle my baby blue eyes may have seemed; I was quite the deceiver when I wanted to- And when money was in the question, I was as desperate as any other.

And so I’d played; watched and studied. The singer; A pretty female in her late twenties, jet black hair and the deepest coloured eyes you’d ever seen, her appearance complimented somewhat by a pair of shades which just about allowed you to see forth them, an arrogant, almost smug look on her face from noticing that she too had come to one of the last rounds. A merchant; money spilling from his pocket, and if I wasn’t so trapped at the moment between Atlas and Chaima, I’d have easily chose to prey on him. "....." However- it hadn’t worked out that way and I was now faced with the Konohagakure shinobi, surely fresh from battle with the metallic plate shining under the false light of the casino. There were several characters here that I could easily make assumptions about and through the way that they spoke, the way they held themselves and the way that they expression changed so slightly gave me at least some idea of what was going on- But, no matter how good I was, this game wasn’t one of my favourites, and I found that it was all down to luck- Which I could confess, I didn’t like.

"Your hand, Blanche."

Calmly flicking my spare hand towards my hair, running it out of my face with the same character as the singer who sat to my left, I was directly opposite him. Little could pass through my eyes and as I stared on at him, all I could think of was the words that he’d uttered earlier, but with my head now enamoured in the game that I was playing, I strove to win, and accept nothing less. My eyes would close for a few moments before finally releasing the icy blue stare that I was known for, directly towards him..

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[Estilo]

Blanche raised the ante, tossing in another three-hundred and fifty ryo worth of chips onto the table. She was pushing us- the singer and I- trying to throw us off our game. But did she have as good a hand as I was beginning to think she did? I couldn't be sure anymore. The singer called it, as did I. We weren't backing out of this sweet pot just yet.

Next, the singer's turn. She too, raised the ante. Five-hundred ryo added into the pot. Would we fold... or would we call it? In the end, me and Blanche complied to the singer's aggressive play. We threw in an additional five-hundred ryo each, and before I knew it, it was my turn.

To fold, or to go all-in? Well, I was a man of my word, wasn't I? With a wolfish smirk, I pushed all my chips into the center of the table. I didn't have the best hand in the book... but I had a pretty good chance it was better than any of theirs. "I'm all in. You ladies ready to lose?"

The singer took my taunt with a mere quirk of her lips, eyes hidden behind those obsidian shades. She was, however, still in the game. The fact that she had more ryo than I did meant that she could match my bet and still have some chips leftover. Blanche, on the other hand, only just barely managed to meet my ante. It was time to call in.

I revealed my cards: Straight flush.

The singer next: Full house. She groaned with displeasure.

And Blanche: . . . What did she have, exactly? An ace, king, queen, joker and ten- all the same type- meant that she held a Royal Flush. That alone, would beat my hand. Granting her a little under ten-thousand ryo worth of chips. Anything lower than a Royal Flush, such as a Full House or Four of a Kind, would mean she lost!

[Apple]

Tension flooded the air. What connection I’d made with Atlas at the moment was diminished ever so slightly by the heat of battle. This wasn’t exactly an average type of feud, no- It was a game, and it was justified to think it of that but to some- To me, winning was so much more than that. It gave those who were blessed by it a strong feeling of elation, and enough adrenaline to keep you working for at least a day or two. At the moment with my heart beating far out of my chest, I absorbed myself in to the game that we were playing and kept my eyes focused on my opponents, blue orbs moving from person to person as each go was drawn. I was unsure if I would win of course- But at least if I did lose, I’d walk away with everything I had before this game, bar my dignity, perhaps- But that was easily relinquished by another perhaps more successful night on Kami no Shima in search of money and enough dimwits to fall for the traps that I crafted for them. Atlas however seemed to be intact as far as the contents of his pockets went, but I wasn’t planning for them to stay intact- If I didn’t win this, of course.

By now the amount had doubled- Tripled even, thanks to the contribution of the stuck-up singer who graced our presence. I hadn’t doubted that a woman of her class wouldn’t bet so much in a match, but I hadn’t assumed that I’d end up in a situation where I’d be close to winning this much in a card game- Sure enough it wasn’t all that much but then again, it would see me through a few days and maybe then some, so what was pocket change for the rich, ended up being more than enough for people like me. And for Atlas? Maybe he’d gamble it all away later on. However right now I was more engrossed in the final round that was soon coming, initiated by the revealing of Atlas’s cards. I’d scan over the symbols and images that graced the cheap, papery cards that he had, and then switched my gaze to the singer’s, which left me in the spotlight, as the third and final member of this game. I’d take my time, turning my gaze, as attractive as it was, from Atlas, to the singer, then to the dealer, and back towards my own hand, which I carefully spread in front of me. Royal flush a wide, stretched grin on my face, I found no guilt in taking this money away from the both of them. Perhaps being a lady and buying him a drink later on would justify my cause- But I couldn’t afford to give too much of it away.

”……..”

I didn’t say anything but the look on my face spoke it all for me, or I assumed it did anyhow. I didn’t look overly smug, but moreso quietly content with the winnings that I’d made. Unsure of exactly how much was there I’d have to guess- Around a high eight thousand or somewhere in the nine thousands- Frankly I didn’t care how much it was, as long as it promised me some money. Exchanging brief words with the dealer the chips will be cashed and I received the money which I’d so fairly won, quickly stashing it in to my pocket- Of course, I did have a purse on my person but seeing as I’d said a little white lie earlier to my beloved guests, I assumed that it would be best not to show it to prevent any confrontation about it. So; In with the money and I’d then raise from my seated position, stretching ever so slightly as I shot the singer an equally focused glare, as I’d noticed her doing so in my direction for the past moment or so. It wasn’t that I had a problem with it, but I didn’t really like being stared at. Turning my gaze back towards Atlas and the ever present brunette who no doubt had been stalking around me whilst playing, I’d swing them a pleased grin whilst saying ”I’m starving!” suggestively.

”A match well played- But you might never get as good as me, Kumo!” I’d say- If he couldn’t take the banter, well, he might as well leave now, because if I saw any potential money to be drained from the guy then he’d be receiving playful banter all night as far as I knew it. Moving over to the two Kumogakure shinobi I’d cross my arms, hips swaying from side to side as I walked, my black boots hitting the ground softly, yet also grandly- I was happy, and it showed. Of course, I owed Chaima some of the money that I’d won from this game but in the end; It was her who volunteered to give me those chips, right? No harm done- If anything, she was more than happy to just be around me, so it was a fair exchange. Eyes swirling from blue to a light green met with darkest shades of emerald, as I then, with undoubtful pride, shook my head to the left, causing a wave of blonde curls to seethe from my head and land gracefully well below my shoulders. ”Perhaps we could get a bite to eat?” I’d suggest this, looking from one to the other- ”Maybe at th-” ”I saw you guys play- I never lose- I NEVER lose-” Turning, my attention would be drawn by the sound of the apparent singer, who had previously stayed mainly silence for the most of the match, now allowing us to hear her shrill, bubblegum-sounding voice which was as bright as the pale pink lipstick she wore.

And then up to atlas, she’d stride, removing her shades and rising them up so they lay carefully on the top of her head as she stood barely a meter away from him, up in his face as she’d speak; ”You! you dare cheat me from my money- Don’t you know who I am? I’ll sue you from your fucking home!” she’d say, which, perhaps made me feel a bit bad- Cheating was my speciality and maybe I’d pulled one or two- or more from this game but the main problem now wasn’t that I could potentially land in trouble, but the fact that this bitch thought that she deserved to win the game. And the fact that she was currently shouting in his face, which was always not a very good thing. ”Ya hear me? I’ll get my boys on you! Just you watch! Don’t you ever come here again!” she’d say with one final movement as her left hand rose and so articulately slapped him across the face from his left cheek to his right with an iron hand- Before soon leaving high tailed, followed by two men who could but be described as thugs in suits. And after all this, I’d move closer to him, a perplexed expression on my face.

”-What a bitch! Atlas, Chaima you take no notice of her- People like her are scum.”

SPOILER: Click to show

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[Estilo]

OOC: ROFL.

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Royal flush...

"Ah... o-out of all the cards you could have had!" I groaned, my previously composed state shattered by the visage of that hand. That dreadful hand! I couldn't believe it. I was so damn close to attaining the wealth gathered there at the center of the poker table, so close to making my life just a little bit richer. Then poof. Like a bad bunshin, it was all gone. To be honest, I hadn't been expecting a challenge from Blanche. She played the ditzy blonde card well, and although I was aware it was just a cheap facade, I had miraculously still managed to underestimate her skills at the poker table. That, in turn, had caused me to lose a couple of hands. Fall into her bluffs, and at times jump into a pot thinking I had the best cards out of them all. How foolish!

I leaned forward over the table, clenched right fist banging against the surface, burying my face in the consolation of my left arm. In the meantime, I'd tried to ignore the distinct sound of chips being cashed in and ryo being given in return. My wife was going to kill me. Half of the money I'd spent there was for our new washer! But, after a while of releasing my qualms and frustration, I figured it'd be best not to cry over the already spilled milk. As I looked up, Blanche would quite conceitedly express her desire to eat. Or at least, that was the way I saw it. I wasn't exactly a good loser, after all. But at least I kept it to myself... most of the time. A match well played- But you might never get as good as me, Kumo! I laughed, appearing cheerful but at the same time only barely forcing myself not to speak through gritted teeth. "Yeah, yeah. Lucky win, Kusa. I'll get you next time." I smiled sheepishly.

I'd gotten up from my chair by the time Blanche suggested- officially- that we go get something to eat. But before she could continue with her idea, the unmistakable voice of the singer came to being. Apparently, she was even more of a sore loser than I was- a not very well in concealing it, either. Me? I was bound to grow out of it in a few years or so. Her? I wasn't so sure. The sheer fury in her body gestures and eyes attested to the fact that it probably wouldn't be in "a few years or so". Hands in my pockets as she rabbled on, I barely heard her speak as my gaze turned elsewhere. Was she done ranting on yet? I was already getting tired of this belligerent mouthing off of hers. It was only when she approached me that I dared to raise a brow. What the fuck?

Slap!

"Ah-ow!" I hissed, not necessarily in intense pain, but just a reaction to the sharp sting on my left cheek. I rubbed said cheek gently with my gloved left hand. "What're you hitting me for, lady? I didn't even win!" I growled slightly, my words falling on deaf ears. Stupid tramp. I was, of course, more worried and distraught about the washer I owed my wife this month. And how I would scrounge up the ryo to afford it once more. Compared to the berating Vera excelled at, the singer's slap was but a pleasantry. What a bitch! Atlas, Chaima you take no notice of her- People like her are scum. I tossed Blanche a smile. An interesting way of putting it- scum. "Kami no Shima... Kami no Shima has plenty of scum." I answered, trying to ignore Chaima's incessant laughter.

"Ha, ha! I'm sorry, At- but that... that was just hilarious."

[Apple]

[OOC: Apologies in advance, this is a bit of a derp post]

And then with the everlasting - Or perhaps not that bad- red patch now embedded in Atlas’s skin, she’d hastily made her leave as quick as she had confronted him. Now leaving the three of us, me, Chaima and Atlas, as we had been before we even started that game. The only difference now? I came back considerably richer than I had been at the start of the night, which despite the fact that I was trying to cover up for my own sorry ass after that game, Atlas having literally taken a hit for the team, I was still happy that I’d managed to make that much. But however grave the situation was and the fact that I’d stayed primarily stoic and serious for the majority of the singer’s aggressive attack on Atlas, I was dying to laugh simply because of the way that he had reacted to her. However- This was undoubtedly a time for professionalism and to laugh in such situations wasn’t what I was aiming to do seeing as-

"Ha, ha! I'm sorry, At- but that... that was just hilarious."

I’d turn my head towards Chaima, who had obviously given in to laugh at the situation which Atlas had been placed in, which resulted in him having quite a sore red mark from his face where his skin and her hand collided in a loud slap. Taking my mind off what had happened and back towards what Atlas had to say, I’d chime in to the words that he’d said, relaying them, and then responding with what I had to say about the matter of there being scum in Kami no shima. ”I’ve only come across one or two on my travels.” I’d say, contributing to what conversation we had going at the moment. It was perhaps a little bit awkward between us since I’d come up as victor in the little game that we had going- But for all of the wrong reasons, unfortunately for him, Chaima and the rest who had been playing at the time. Little details picked up and tricks taught by others helped me along the way- But not to say that a lot of it didn’t have to do with luck. With the weight of nearly ten thousand extra ryo to my pocket, it was a strange feeling to have- But nonetheless an inviting one indeed.

Swooshing my blonde hair to the side again I’d then equally divide my attention between Chaima and Atlas; ”I’m sure she has hundreds of thousands of ryo hidden away somewhere, At.. It surely isn’t much of a loss to her.” I’d say with my arms now crossed as I then turned towards the blue eyed brunette, her eyes the shade of the sea, but not as pale as mine. ”Do you know if they serve cheap food here? If they sell flah de dah food with a humongous pricetag then I’m going to kick off.” It was what I figured was a fun way to look at the situation- Of course I was aware that in these places they did sometimes raise the price of nice food slightly. After all, some people spent days here gambling mindlessly. What money they couldn’t take from them on the entertainment they would try to take away from them with drink and food- And if they couldn’t take money from either way, the exit sign was clearly marked by a luminous blue light, mimicking the one that advertised the place outside, blaring out against the darkness that tinged the place- Of course, with all the light however, one would be forgiven if they mistook it for day. It was just one of those places, I guessed.

Of course sometimes I did have the urge to just spend all of my money in one go and splurge on something but I didn’t have the money to do that. Now that I did the urge itself grew stronger but common sense managed to reign victorious and I found myself spending my money wisely. Offering to pay for a certain amount of the total bill was a way of showing my ”friendship” proposed to them, and seeing as despite the fact that he kept it subtle, I could tell that secretly, Atlas was pissed off. Perhaps not to an extensive degree, but he was a little. But lobster thermidor, baked Alaska, caviar; Such foods I didn’t want to eat nor try; After all, food was food, and even if it isn’t expensive surely it would all do its job. Only the wealthy had enough money to eat for pleasure rather than survival- Or at least, after the war stripped us of most of our belongings and money it was only the lucky that managed to at least keep what funds they’d collected over the years- It made me wonder what situation Atlas himself was in; A soldier, a wife and a son, his family in Kumogakure whilst he trotted on outside the village, surely protecting it from the forces that worked against them daily. Stress was surely the least of his concerns.

Time had erased most of my worries or at least I liked to think that- What had it been.. A month? I wasn’t sure of the date, the day, the time, but with so little to live for and so much to do the possibilities were endless. Moving my arms a little by dropping them to my sides after having tightened the headband around my neck a little, I’d suggest; ”We could check the prices here but I’m sure that if it’s too expensive there’ll be somewhere on the strip that sells decent food for a good price- I don’t want to spend all of this money after all.” I’d say with a sneaky grin at the end, once again bolstering the fact that I had just won the game of poker we’d been playing, crowning myself as winner once more- Not that Atlas and Chaima weren’t aware of this, of course. Maybe it was called rubbing their faces in it; But to me it was just banter. Moving from one heeled leg to the other I'd let my frame hang almost lifelessly between the both of them as we formed a triangle formation, I'd wait for a response, hoping that they agreed with my idea.

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[¤ Tenkai ¤]

+ 110 Estilo & Apple.

[¤ Tenkai ¤]

+ 220 for Apple for Jan 2012 contest.

[Estilo]

Ring-A-Ding-Ding!

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Almost penniless, I felt obligated to keep my smile prevalent and wide. Lest Chaima or Blanche take the opportunity to josh further upon seeing any indication of a frown or grumble. I was typically a 'glass half-full' kind of guy to begin with, but this recent loss of funds had surprisingly hit me hard. Not only was I knocked down a peg, forcing me to ponder whether I'd been getting a bit rusty with the game of cards, but I would have to explain it all to my wife later. Which, I was almost certain, was going to be difficult.

That was not to say, however, that she wasn't an understanding person. She knew that I was risking my life out here, that I dealt with massive amounts of stress on a constant basis. Under the supervision of my commanding officer- Garin "Sickle" Yagataki- I rarely had a day to myself. And when I did, they only came about three in a time- often separated by an entire month. So she knew- thankfully- that getting in argument wasn't worth it. I was more disappointed in myself, than I was worried about the washer we had yet to buy. This one time, it might have been pride that had gotten the better of me. Or Lady Luck had just been cruel, after all this time.

We could check the prices here but I’m sure that if it’s too expensive there’ll be somewhere on the strip that sells decent food for a good price- I don’t want to spend all of this money after all. At the sign of her grin, I nodded with a smirk. "Best platter of burger and fries you'll find in Kaminari no Kuni, right across at the other end of the strip. If you're not worried about keeping your figure, I'd suggest we got there." I added, my face the epitome of merriment. Cheap prices? Why, of course! Thank KAMI. I was broke!

"YES." Chaima said in what was categorized with a hungry groan, opening her mouth wide and feigning to drool to prove her point. She then flashed a grin and slapped both her hands on Atlas' shoulders from behind. "Let's go, Kusa! You're gonna love it." She said, bright eyes directed towards the blonde. Her smile playful and expectant. This was getting to be quite the eventful night. And I hadn't seen Chaima this happy for so long. Too long. Not since...

[Apple]

Lights. My attention was suddenly drawn by the large influx of bright lights that I had began to notice around me. Back home, it wasn’t like this at all. There were streetlamps which glowed bright in the winter nights but such neon coloured lights of such amount was unheard of back in Kusagakure- Which rendered Kami no Shima a place of interest surely for several other villages similar to Kusagakure which hadn’t the populace of the kind that this place harboured. Bright lights; Showgirls, gamblers and thieves. The latter category I found myself placed in shamelessly. Or at least- I’d grown to believe that if I wanted to survive, I’d have to steal; I had skills, I knew that, but not enough in this day and age that could render myself safe with a stable salary. After all; Kusa had made its name known through the ill deeds of some of its shinobi in the past, and its destruction. There was no use for a villageless shinobi without a true allegiance left after its last having been turned in to dust from the claws of war. I pitied myself, and that was the saddest part of all of this. But here- My memories were forgotten and drowned amongst the lights and the noise that plagued this hell-hole, making me concentrate on other things.

But however much I fled to this place in the hopes that I forgot; I found myself brought back to the place that I was born- The place that we had all been born through the nickname that the two had given me; Kusa. Of course it wasn’t something that I was going to break down about; There was no worth crying over spilt milk, and seeing as food was now in the question, my mind would flicker back to the current time, and I’d find my blue eyes having previously been staring at the lights around us, now directed towards Atlas’s blazing hair as he spoke, speaking of a place in this place which we could go to- Of course, the golden lie; ”Could you direct? I’m not that good with directions about this place- I'm starving..!” I’d tell them both with a sheepish grin as my hand rose, rubbing the side of my neck in an equally embarassed manner with my eyes partly closed, a wide grin on my mouth. Simply the idea of getting something to eat was desirable, even if the food in question wasn’t all that truly nourishing- But it would do, although this place was a cesspit for grease and calories and I’d lost most of my appetite for what seemed like forever now, there were times like these where a girl had to eat. Whipping my blonde hair to the side so elegantly, I’d look towards the short-haired and boyish Chaima, and then back to Atlas and his mane of wild red hair, before turning to the female again-

-Chaima then seemed to turn her attention towards me, I’d give her the same wide grin which I’d given Atlas previously after requesting for him to lead us to wherever he was speaking about. Of course- I’d been here for a while now and I knew most of these streets and I had a general inkling of where he meant, but I couldn’t be exactly sure. ”So- When are you two thinking of leaving this place? I’m sure Kumogakure is missing two of their favourite shinobi! This place is very different- But albeit draining! I’ve never seen a city that’s so energetic 24/7!” I’d tell them with the same grin on my face; Chances are if they were leaving tomorrow then I could easily dupe them and then expect never to see them again- but if they were going to be here for a few days.. then the outcome would need to be changed. Just how was I going to do this? I scolded myself- I was spending too much time on these two. Time was ticking- But the positive?

I was slowly luring them in to a false sense of security.. surely?

But was there really a need for all of this?

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[vegapunk]

@ Estilo 10 EXP + Jan OTM Bonus! 110 = 120 EXP

@ Apple 10 EXP

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[Estilo]

Burgers, Baby Doll, Burgers!

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An old track played over the speakers perched upon the street lamps, its enchanting melody mingling with the sound of laughter and conversation in the background. Neon lights painted the boulevard with brilliant hues of color, ticking on and off, alive and beautiful. It just so happened that a rogue streak of rosy red would tint the color of my countenance as I turned to acknowledge Blanche. "The burger joint's right across the street there," I'd say, my smile widening as I inhaled deeply. Though my gait was cool and collected- hands nestled in the warmth of my pockets, shoulders relaxed- the expression on my face was simply bursting with enthusiasm. It seemed Chaima's optimistic attitude was rubbing off on me. "Ah! You can smell the meat cooking, can't you? It's so thick you can almost taste it."

As we strolled past a street lamp, Chaima would playfully hop onto it. With her feet placed firmly on its oblong-shaped bottom section, and a single hand gripping its mid-section for balance, she would inhale and reach for the night sky with her free hand. "Oishii! Let's hurry!" She would exclaim, jumping down from her perched position beside the street lamp and locking arms with me and Blanche. What followed was a brief tug-along towards the illuminated diner ahead: the TICK TOCK- in all its large, neon red glory- awaited us afar. Though its sign screamed retro, the diner itself was more along the lines of chrome, classic art-deco. The style had come from Kami no Shima long ago, and was quite the rare find nowadays.

"Tch, Chaima. Slow your roll, yeah? We'll get there on our own time." I would grumble, slightly displeased with being tugged along like this- again- and wanting to go back to my unruffled stride once more. But we were, I supposed, cutting out "walking" time and substituting it with "eating" time. So that was good... right? Stumbling over my feet a couple of times as Chaima tugged us along, I'd toss Blanche a chagrined smile. "We're far from two of Kumogakure's 'favorites'. Just two more grunts in the military, really." I'd respond, referencing her previous inquiry. "But we'll be headed back tomorrow- as long as this one," I added, tossing my head towards Chaima. "Wakes up early for once."

Chaima, of course, was too preoccupied to acknowledge what I'd just said. Her countenance glowed with an aura of ravenous hunger, a hyena on the verge of devouring a fresh and unguarded deer carcass. It was childish, but scary in a weird sort of way. The sort of thing that made me wonder exactly how she had attained the disciplined rank of Chuunin. In a matter of seconds, we would reach the double-doored entrance to the Tick Tock diner. It was then that Chaima would finally 'release' me, skipping ahead buoyantly to open the door for Blanche. "The lovely first, madame!" She'd bow, propping the door open with a foot and offering Blanche her hand. "Followed by the grouchy." She'd then continue, her witty smile present as she narrowed her eyes at me. I rolled my own in reply.

---

Theme: "I've Got The World On A String" Performed by Frank Sinatra.
Author's Note: Had a lot of muse today, decided I'd dish out this looong awaited post. As I understand, you're busy at the moment~! So take your time replying, Manzana. :rose: My patience is 'SS' Ranked.

[Apple]

[OOC: Extremely sorry for the long awaited post! Really low on muse when it comes to starting a thread back up, haha! Back on the ball now though!]

Although the enthusiasm, all of the friendliness which they displayed, it soon drew to me that I couldn’t hang about for much longer. Or could I? I was being sucked in, sucked in to whatever haze that the Kumogakure shinobi had induced, and as I walked the streets of Kami no shima with them, I found myself thinking less of the goal I’d set for them, and more about.. nothing. It had to change. Pushing back a thick strand of blonde hair from my face, I’d look at the ones to either side of me as they spoke, the words they uttered becoming more and more undistinguishable as time went on. Mindless chattering echoed through my head although I could only turn to look at those who had emitted it and grant them one of my ever present smiles as if I’d taken in each thing perfectly. I could make out the smell of food- and the words of Atlas as he described such items. Stomach rumbling in response, it soon struck me that I felt ill from hunger, an unwelcome sensation deep in the hollows of my chest which resonated such a sound. Chaima’s enthusiastic display on the lamppost provoked another grin from my face, but it wasn’t involuntary. I’d felt almost a part of the little gang that they had going on for perhaps a moment, but with my head beginning to hurt and my thoughts becoming what I would perceive as less clear, I just wanted to run. I-

jumping down from her perched position beside the street lamp and locking arms with me and Blanche. What followed was a brief tug-along towards the illuminated diner ahead

My arm linked surprisingly but at the same time, numbly with the short-haired kunoichi, and I watched as the gargantuan neon sign made itself apparent in the night of Kami no shima, like some fiery beacon promising warmth and food. Of course- here, everything came at the price, but I’d long become accustom to the price of junk food. It was as common as the rats that plagued at the alleyways of this place and even more common on the ground, greasy papers floating gently in the midnight wind. For a few moments, I’d zoned out, not taking in what Atlas had started to say, although thankfully I’d managed to catch him at this third word in, allowing myself to hear him as I was involuntarily dragged towards the burger joint by the overly excited Chaima. ”I’m sure you’ll be given a great welcoming back! I hope you do, at least.” I spoke the same mindless droning with the grin on my face as I directed it towards the red-maned man. Of course, I was as ravenous as any other at the moment, but it wasn’t something that I’d honestly admit to. As we drew closer and closer, the scent of frying beef, pork, onions and other assorted meats and sides grew pungent. I’d been in Kami no Shima for too long. Entering the joint much to the courtesy of Chaima and her door opening skills, I’d glide through in my heeled shoes, such footwear beginning to make clicking sounds as they hit against the cheap tilted floor with each step. Approaching the till, I’d look up at the various boards listing the options, before a slight amount of déjà vu hit me straight in the face, as I quickly tilted my head to look at the staff who were working in the kitchen. No sign of him.. I then happily exhaled, before beginning to project my voice to get the attention of one of the staff members.

”I’ll have a quarter-pounder with cheese, please! Don’t skimp on the relish!”

Again, I wasn’t quite sure what I was saying, but it just came out.

”..Alright; wait a seco-"

A voice from the back of the kitchen emerged, but prematurely silenced as he came in to view, locking eyes.

"Hey! Hey lady! You gonna pay this time huh?! Didn’t I tell you to stay clear of this place?!”

A voice echoed through the kitchen as a too familiar man in his mid 40’s seemed to make himself apparent with his slicked back, burly appearance, drawing up close to the till itself and making an ample amount of eye contact with my own blue eyes. Unfazed, I smirked. ”..I’m sure you’ve mistaken me for someone else.” simultaneously as I spoke the word mistaken, I too would open my purse subtlety , allowing him to view the earnings. "Here." With his eyes soon relaxing along with his expression, he’d then slap the cloth he was holding on the table, as he took my order, I handing over perhaps a little bit more than the required price – and the both of us were in clear understanding of why.

I couldn’t let him botch this operation.

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[Estilo]

The Joker & The Thief

---

We walked inside, and found that the place was moderately busy. But, clearly, not enough to dissuade us from ordering our much needed meals. Standing on Blanche's left, with Chaima at her right, I pretended to look up at the menu board above with them. I knew what I wanted, I always knew. But I didn't want to make them feel rushed in any way. That, and I found it curious how Blanche reacted after skimming through the menu with her eyes for a moment. A sideways glance showed me that she was eyeing the staff for some reason. She promptly, however, ordered thereafter.

Whilst Chaima was hypnotized with hunger at the sight of all the options, practically drooling once more, I gauged the reaction on Blanche's face as one of the cook's made his appearance from the back of house. Then, I took into account the seriousness in his voice, the slight tinge of anger on his face. I tried not to show the suspicion in my eyes, but I wasn't entirely sure I was doing a good job of hiding it. My friend from Kusa no Kuni, it seemed, was unruffled by the yelling. She even dared to smirk at the man.

Her excuse, though plausible, didn't quite meet my trust. I had suspicions of this kunoichi since the moment we had met her... but now, the accumulation of this suspicion was culminating into something I could not be bothered to hold in any longer. We took our seats on the stools before us, in the same positions in which we had been standing- from right to left, Chaima, Blanche, and I. And we ordered our meals cheerfully. Though, the almost clandestine payment- via Blanche's wallet- did not go unnoticed.

"I'll be right back!" Chaima voiced cheerfully, immediately after ordering. "Save my seat, and don't eat my fries!" Having excused herself, most likely to the ladies room, she hopped off. Leaving the two of us alone.

". . ."

The ruckus that came from the crowd within the diner was the complete opposite of the silence that briefly reigned between us for a moment. I had my arms on the counter, tapping its surface soundlessly with my gloved right hand. It was only when the server brought our requested drinks, handing me a glass of strawberry soda as I thanked him kindly with a smile, that I snapped out of it. I gazed at the bubbles within my soda for a moment, abandoning the chance to have a sip, and instead turning towards Blanche in my seat. "You're much more than you appear to be... aren't you?"

---

Author's Note: Nah, don't worry about it! Your post was sublime.