( OPEN )

[mitotic]

Who: Momkura &: fam (Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura-hime), Setsuna, and YOU.
When: 6/7 and onward.
Where: Caissa, Dunyaland, Lasker in general.
What: Adult woman takes water fights too seriously, a "family" outing, and some snooping. General job log, in other words.
Rating: This will be a family friendly log!! we hope.


A - the one with super soakers. (caissa, OPEN)

[ One might think that, once someone's become a parent, they give up their childish whims. They become dignified and adult, either out of a desire to be a good role model or the absence of anything remotely resembling free time. Especially as a... well, she's not a single parent, but Sarada was largely raised by her mother alone, so you'd think Sakura would have grown out of things like chucking water balloons at civilians.

And she did, kind of. That sort of prank was more Naruto's schtick, but while he was almost always the mastermind and instigator, Sakura used to play along, and motherhood had never truly taken that mischievous side away from her. Just because she's more serious than she used to be doesn't mean she's had her sense of humor surgically removed, and she's getting paid to do this. Why shouldn't she have a little fun with it?

"A little fun" for a ninja, though, involves treating it like war games, except with one of these pump-action water guns instead of the sharp steel she's used to. Driven into an alley to reload, her back to the wall and her wet hair sticking to her forehead and cheekbones, she looks up as another hero takes refuge in the same secluded spot, likely chased in there by the same herd of civilian teenagers that had ganged up on her. ]

They got you too, huh?

B - the one with the role reversal. (caissa, CLOSED to setsuna)

[ Later that day — much later — Sakura has relinquished her water gun in order to finally escape the chaos, mostly because she's been at it for hours without rest or food. Hardly a first for her, of course, but this is a street festival, not a literal war. She's soaked, of course, but even in the waning light of early evening it's warm enough that she's no longer dripping wet. She has her arms crossed to keep warm as the night cools, wandering among the multitude of food vendors, stopping occasionally to see what they're offering.

Not that she's that picky an eater, but man could she go for some dumplings right now... ]

C - the one with family trips. (dunyaland, CLOSED to sakuras & naruto & sasuke)

[ Naruto, as she expected, hadn't taken much convincing to come along. She knew Sasuke would be a harder sell, but when she went to his room, she hadn't expected Sakura-chan to open the door instead. Remembering the girl from one of her first days here, remembering sitting in the hall and consoling her in her homesickness and loneliness, Sakura doesn't even hesitate or think about it before she offers for her to come with them to Lasker.

As they walk through the sprawling amusement park, it oddly hadn't even occurred to Sakura that they might be mistaken for being blood related until she heard a passing couple remark that they make a sweet family. It takes her off guard, and she has a brief, sudden pang of homesickness herself. She misses her daughter.

Before anyone notices her pause (she hopes), Sakura distracts herself by pointing out the nearest attraction. ]

Oh, look, they have a haunted house.

D - in which there's detective work. (lasker, OPEN)

[ The flashing neon lighting reflects oddly on hair like Sakura's. She stands in front of the Double Duo arena, looking contemplative, but it doesn't look like she's going in there quite yet. Instead, she absent-mindedly flicks the corner of a playing card.

You do not find her, she finds you sounds like the sort of thing you'd say about someone in Sakura's profession — the profession she had at home, that is. It turns out to be true, and while the brief, cryptic meeting gives her another direction and a reason to be wary, it leaves her with a lot more questions than she went into it with. For example: ]

So what's Double Duo about? [ She says this to whatever hero happens to be nearby, or to herself, it's not really clear... ]

Comments

A

[drawmecute]

Actually, I... kinda fell into one of the water spouts running from those kids.

*Lola was completely soaked, which she'd managed to avoid most of her time playing this game. Which was mostly out of pride because she had dressed with getting wet in mind. Sadly while Lola's reaction time was great she didn't plan ahead when she jumped away from one water fight directly through a geyser. It launched a lot of water up right after she left the ground. And her jumps are high... doesn't mean she can actually redirect in the air.*

...I love your hair!

*Lola's pale pink didn't reach the root anymore, dark brown for approximately half an inch at her scalp. Made more obvious by how wet her hair was. And while she was clearly health conscious and fit... she hardly had the physique of a proper fighter. Nor the awareness as Sakura clearly surprised her and Lola's little exclamation was not at all stealthy.*

[mitotic]

Oh. [ Lola's exclamation startles a laugh out of Sakura, and she pushes said hair back off her forehead, exposing the now-dormant seal on her forehead. ] Well, thank you, although I didn't have much to do with it.

[ Aside from, like, the cut, I guess... but when people comment on her hair, it's almost never on the styling. And the color was hereditary. ]

[drawmecute]

*Hard to comment on styling while both of them are styled like drowned animals. Lola's commentary on cut and style will wait for when they aren't in a water fight.*

And you got a tattoo, did you get it when you were younger? Or is it a religious thing, if it is is it rude for me to ask that? Or is it just a natural thing people have in your world?

*Lola is bad at politically correct, self filtering, and people from worlds with weird stuff. Which was basically everyone but her.*

[mitotic]

[ Wow, she certainly has a lot of questions... but Sakura's used to those types of people, really. When she pauses, it's because she's confused. ]

I don't have a — [ And then it clicks. She lifts a hand to her forehead. ] — oh, you mean this? It's not a tattoo, really.

[ How to explain seals and all that nonsense to someone who probably doesn't know anything about chakra... ]

It has to do with a power I had back home.

[drawmecute]

*When you don't know a lot of things, you end up with a lot of questions instead.*

Oh. That explains it, most respectable people don't get tattoos on their face. I don't understand it, as long as it feels right for you.

*Lola is a very odd one when it comes to self expression. On the one hand she is all about proper appearances... and then her hair is the color of bubblegum.*

So many people had special powers that influence how they look...

C!

[acknowledges]

[There's so much to look at here. Naruto spends at least half the morning gawking- taking in the sights and watching visitors to rushing by from one attraction to another. He's been to festivals back home and he's seen celebrations before, but he can't remember ever seeing something quite like this. Naruto ends up trailing behind his companions a number of time, looking back just in time to realize they've gone ahead without him and jogging to catch up.

And that's when Sakura-chan points out the ride where people are screaming.
In line, some of the people are holding onto each other.]

A-ah...

Yamato-taichou's face comes back to him, lit up by flashlight.
No... nothing can be scarier than that. This'll be nothing. Right? It's not like there's real ghosts inside, and he doesn't want to look uncool in front of everyone.]

There's not even a lot of people waiting. [Because they know what's in there NO DON'T FREAK OUT] So we should get in line, right? [Someone please say no. Please. Save him from himself.]

[passtave]

[ Much like Naruto, Sakura spends most of her time gawking at everything—the roller coasters, the ferris wheel, the carnival games, the lights and sights and sounds. Like most things in this world, everything is new and fascinating to her—they don't have anything like amusement parks in Hoshido! There's so much going on...

And there's so many people too. She sticks close behind Sasuke and Sakura, anxious about getting lost in the crowd. She's so glad that Miss Sakura decided to invite her along, even though she felt a little awkward playing third wheel... at least until she found out Naruto was coming too. She still kind of feels a little like a fourth wheel, considering the three of them know each other so well, but... it's still a lot of fun.

(She also had no idea Mister Sasuke and Miss Sakura were married?!)

When the older Sakura suggests the haunted house, Sakura is far too shy to admit that she'd be absolutely terrified, even though some of Azura's scary stories have legitimately made her cry. Then Naruto suggests they get in line... and she's still too shy to say anything. ]

U-Um... if you want to go. [ Sorry, Naruto... ]

[mitotic]

[ Naruto..... A for effort, but she's known him for twenty years. It's really not that difficult for her to read him. She, too, remembers how effective Yamato-taichou's dumb trick was on him. It's funny that this is the sort of thing he wigs out about, when he has, even at the age he's at here, fearlessly faced monsters and demons and zombies and all manner of things that would make lesser men run for the hills. Yet it's the fake stuff that freaks him out. ]

Are you sure? [ She's giving you guys the out... ]

[penitents]

[ That Naruto suggested it at all in pretty funny, and Sasuke eyes him dubiously after her pipes up. Trying to sound tough, huh? He doesn't know the younger Sakura well enough to judge if she's unwilling or simply shy, but since neither of them voice an immediate reluctance Sasuke is more than willing to embarrass Naruto as much as possible. He put himself in this situation, after all. ]

Let's go. [ Deciding for everyone, Sasuke heads to the front of their little group and leads them toward the haunted house. ]

[quaria]

[ As the dusk nearly passes, less and less people are playing. Instead, lamps of all shapes and sizes are multiplying in place. It's the indication that night is here, meaning everyone will soon unwind if they're not already. True enough, people have begun to settle down, returning home or heading down to the food court for dinner.

But for the busy workers, the day isn't quite over. Restaurants, cafes, stalls... Every one of them become brighter in order to catch attention. A particular Ma Jiang-themed stall has Setsuna as a volunteer tonight, and he's been tasked to help draw customers in. In front of his designated stall, he roams, trying to invite passing Heroes and locals to try the food.

Eventually, he comes across a particular someone. Although the passing female Hero is no longer soaked, Setsuna notices that her clothes are still rather damp. That must feel uncomfortable... So rather than advertise, he ends up offering something else. ]

Are you all right?

[mitotic]

[ It's a little uncomfortable, yeah. But Sakura's been in a lot more discomfort in her life, and as a ninja she'd had to get used to roughing it in the woods, cleaning up in streams and waiting for things to air dry.

Truth be told, a part of her misses that. She's content with her life, don't get her wrong. She wouldn't have willingly traded it for anything. But there will always be adventure thrumming in her blood.

So, could be worse. She is starting to notice the chill, but something distracts her: or rather, someone approaching her. ]

Hm? [ It takes her a second to process the question — not because she doesn't understand the words, but because she didn't think she looked injured or anything... She's a medic, of course that's where her head goes. ]

Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just looking for something to eat.

[quaria]

Ah...

[ Quieting down for a second, Setsuna wonders how he could convey that he meant something else. He isn't someone good with words, so he has to think about how to say it. But before he could ask further, the local in-charge of his assigned stall is quick to notice their conversation and doesn't hesitate to urge Setsuna to continue with his job. The local visibly yells at him, "Young man! What are you doing? Offer the lady a seat!"

He looks back at the local for a moment, trying to signal that he already knows. It's just that he couldn't ignore her state, especially as the colder night is beginning to awaken. Though, he'll just continue his clarification after he seats her. To avoid more scoldings. ]

Would you be interested in Ma Jiang food? We have fried rice, noodle soups, dumplings, savory buns, among others.

[mitotic]

[ Jeez, this guy is impatient... not Setsuna, obviously, the shopkeep. Sakura frowns in his direction, before turning her attention back to the other Hero. ]

I was just thinking I'd kill for some gyōza.

[ Which is true, but Sakura also partially agrees in order to get the manager off his back. ]

D

[burlyheart]

[Potemkin is about as contemplative, but looking down at something in his hand instead. He turns to Sakura when he hears her question.]

It seems to be a competitive game played with trading cards. People come to spectate it like a sport.

[He's flipping one over in his hand right now, too. Sakura might notice that the illustration (of a hulking, roaring giant) is actually the man she's talking to. No wonder he was examining it curiously.]

[mitotic]

You got one too, huh?

[ Of course she notices. She holds up her own card for him to see, and sure enough, there she is, battle ready and probably at least a little objectified. These are gamer nerds, after all. So there are multiple levels on which she's unhappy about this.

She flips the card back to face her, frowning. Mostly, it's just perturbing. She's hardly been here a month. People know who she is back home, but this is a different sort of celebrity she's not sure she's comfortable with. ]

What I'm wondering is what we've got to do with it.

[burlyheart]

[He makes a small frown when he sees her card. The accuracy of these leaves a bit to be desired.]

Some other people I know have had experiences with the locals expressing a fascination with them. So we might have people observing us even if we haven't made their contact.

[Stalkers. They have stalkers.]

Most of them have been keeping their distance from me when I'm not in rescue missions.

[mitotic]

I noticed that too. [ From the look on her face, she obviously isn't amused. ] The first day I got here I had a pile of fan letters.

[ It might be a little flattering if she'd done anything to earn it, but as it is it borders on being a bit cultish. ]

Did you meet our contact?

[ Black Lightning, but she won't use her name. ]

d!

[hoasen]

[You know what...she doesn't really know either.]

I was just given these Double Duo cards myself...[She looks around to see if there's a help desk.] Perhaps knowing how to play will help us investigate further, all I know is that it looks like people collect the cards as well?

[mitotic]

Did you get those from our "contact," too?

[ Honestly, she's not sure this game would catch her interest much otherwise, beyond being aware that it's a Thing. ]

[hoasen]

[She nods as she sorts out her cards.] I did, from Black Lightning. [Although she's not even sure if she's meant to reveal her name over here, so she'll stop using it after this.]

I suppose this counts as our starter deck.

[mitotic]

[ Yeah, Sakura's not going to use her name either. Anyone who skulks around with that cloak and dagger vibe probably values anonymity. ]

Yeah, I think so.

I'm sure they're supposed to be some sort of clue, but I don't know the game well enough to figure out what it's supposed to mean.

A

[powerdriven]

[ Yes, to be fair to such late bloomers as Sakura, even the cheap price tag of 200 colle per hour might be worth a longer perusal to most. Moreover, their situation so often called for representing Blanc's Hall of Heroes in ... such similarly interesting ways that those needing the extra income are not necessarily so unused to getting their hands dirty. Either literally, or stooping to the level of adults playing the games of brats.

In this case, it's the latter. Levi, unable to quantify shooting people with water games as good 'ol screwing around, has taken the helm with... maybe alarming seriousness. Unfortunately, he's not the only one, though one might argue that he asked for the reprisal when talking down Blanc elites. (That's okay. He got that pig good before he fled for cover. He just didn't manage to avoid the water-squirting robots.)

—so now he's here. Crouching in the corner with another damp Hero, by chance. He sighs. ]

It's a mess out there. I'm sure you already know that.

[mitotic]

[ Levi you are 2 intense 4 life. ]

Oh, I noticed.

[ Even though she's not taking this whole thing like a proletariat rising up agains the bourgeois, there is one thing Sakura can't help but take seriously every single time: competition. She hates losing. She can accept it when it was the obvious outcome, but a bunch of punk teenagers? Grown men have cowered before her, there's no way she's taking this lying down.

Glancing back out towards the street (mostly to make sure no one's decided to follow them in here), she swipes a hand over her brow to stop water dripping into her eyes. ]

I've got a proposition for you.

[powerdriven]

[ He's not good at this fun and games thing...

Besides, some kind of payment is resting on it, even if it's not much. Whatever her reasons are, if their goal is the same—which he assumes it is—they just may be able to fight their way out of the waiting crowd with a bit of tact. That's what comes to mind, hence the way his eyes flick towards her curiously. ]

What's that?

[mitotic]

You get my back, I'll get yours. They won't be expecting two of us.

[ With rare exception, ninja almost always work in teams for a reason. In an all-out assault (???) like this, it's easier to get caught off guard if you're alone against a bunch of others. Even though it doesn't seem to matter if they "win" — and it's not clear what the parameters would be even if it did — there's no reason they ought to get their asses kicked alone when they could work together. ]