6th Punch

[medicalpunch]

[Video]

[Sakura opens the journal and contemplates it for several moments before she hits 'record.' She's been trying to decide whether to say anything at all, whether she really wants to mark this particular occasion. But it seems like -- well, why not? Maybe it will help whet her determination to return home. Maybe... maybe it'll mean something.

Finally, she keys for the video and clears her throat.]

It's been a year since I came here. A little more now, I guess. I've been thinking about it for a while -- it just feels really odd to think that I've spent a whole year of my life with everything on pause while I'm here. As much as it's nice not to be in the middle of a war zone...

Well. At least I've got friends here. It would be worse if I were alone.

Anyone want to go for some drinks tonight? I think I could use a little something.

[Taking after her mentor, maybe. But for tonight, Sakura can't fault Tsunade's usual escape. There's nothing she can do about being here, no way to forget about what's going on at home -- so she'll try to distract herself as best she can.]

[Action]

[True to words, Sakura heads down to Seventh Heaven as the sun sets, wrapped in a warm coat against the winter, which she sheds as soon as she gets there. Whether or not anyone's coming to join her, she's planning to drink herself into forgetfulness tonight.]

Comments

[ Voice]

[generalflirt]

I do. Sakura-chan.

[ Is this stepping on Shikamaru's territory?

...

...

Well fuck him ]

[ Voice]

[medicalpunch]

[Territory? She's no-man's-land, that's what she is.]

Well, come on and join me, then! Drinks for all, that's what I say. We're all stuck in a bubble, we're going to do whatever the hell we want.

[ Voice]

[generalflirt]

Do we get some inspirational pop music to go with?

Okay, deal. I'll even meet you in the lobby.

[ Or just out the door. Same building. Though maybe she wasn't, who knows ]

[Video]

[bunsofsteel]

Wait... can we do that? They're not going to kick us out?

[Last time she tried to get herself something to drink was back in Konoha, when she'd gotten picked up by the collar and forcibly removed from the premises.]

[Video]

[medicalpunch]

There's no rules here except what we make ourselves. And I'd like to see someone try to kick out a bunch of determined ninja!

[Okay, it counts less in Konoha because the bartender was probably a ninja too, oops.]

[Video]

[bunsofsteel]

And they'll actually serve us? Actual saké?

[She's still not sure, but do you see the way she just sets the book down and is grabbing her cloak? Yeah she's going.]

[Action]

[niceguypose]

[Rock Lee had actually missed her announcement on the journals. It just so happens that he'd decided to work a night shift at Seventh Heaven tonight. So when he arrives there, he sees Sakura already seated there. And he's quick to make his way towards his table.]

Ah... good evening, Sakura-san!

[Action]

[medicalpunch]

Lee! You're working tonight?

[She's a little surprised to see him here, but hey -- maybe having an in with the staff with ensure that her little underage drinking party doesn't get kicked out.]

We're having a party, join us.

[Action]

[niceguypose]

A... a party? And I am invited? What is the occasion?

[precioustool]

I'm sure that the others back at home are doing okay. There's nothing you can do about that now, right?

[medicalpunch]

Bingo, that's exactly the problem. You in?

action;

[dangerouswind]

[Yes. Drinks. Good. Temari wasn't going to go out but she wasn't about to sit around a suddenly too-empty apartment.

So... drinks. That's a good idea. Best idea she's heard in awhile. She doesn't say anything when she sees Sakura there -- just grabs them both something and sets one down in front of Sakura.]

[medicalpunch]

[Sakura accepts the bottle with a smile that's decidedly lacking in humor.]

Thanks. That kind of night for you too, huh?

voice; filtered 20%

[fantheflame]

[Just as Sakura took her time to make this entry, Sasuke spends a while staring at it before coming up with a response. It's odd, to think that Sakura's been here a year. He's been here half that, and had seen her on the field moments before. He's not new to how strange the timelines here can be... but reminders like this are still sort of jarring.]

[He doesn't say any of that, though. What he does do is put up a filter.]

You know, you never really struck me as the type to drink to ignore things.

filtered forever or until action i guess

[medicalpunch]

It's not my usual recourse, I guess. But tonight, I think Tsunade-shishou's way of doing things looks pretty good.

It's not like any of it makes a big difference in the grand scheme of things, right?

[And Tsunade's still managed to be a hell of a Hokage despite hitting the bottle regularly. And... truth be told, Sakura misses her. Maybe she'll feel a little closer to her absent mentor this way.]

video for nooow

[floralogy]

[Ino snorts at Sakura's invitation. Not that she didn't think of drinking herself every time her own anniversary arrives or during that time she learned of her father's death. Maybe she just has a different way of coping with things.]

What did you eat today for you to give an invitation like this?

[Of course, she doesn't mind her invitation. In fact, she'll most probably join her best friend.]

[medicalpunch]

You think I'm doing this because of something I ate?

[Gee, thanks Ino.]

Tell you what I've been eating -- a year of the Malnosso's crap, that's what! I'm sick of it.

video

[stilldontgotit]

[Riku had already planned on replying, but then he sees that Ino's dragged him into this... Thanks, Ino. Now he's probably got a glowing target on his forehead.]

Looks like I've gotten roped into this whether I like it or not. How big is this thing gonna be?

video

[medicalpunch]

I have no idea, I guess as many people as decide to show up?

[The more the merrier. Maybe she can get a drinking game going. Speed them on their way to blacking out.]

[Voice]

[sharknado_swimmer]

I just got here and I think I could use a drink too. Mind if I join you?

[Voice]

[medicalpunch]

[She has no idea who this is, but hey! New friends, all the better.]

Of course! The more the merrier. Or something.

video for now;

[believeit]

I guess you really are turning into Tsunade-baa-chan.

[medicalpunch]

Right now, her example doesn't seem like a bad one.

[And certain things involving Naruto are part of what's driving this. But that doesn't mean she doesn't want to see him.]

Coming? Maybe you can help keep me out of trouble.

voice

[dolphinsensei]

You know, given the circumstances... ah, well.

[No, really, he can use the drink. But a part of him - although very small because as far as he's concerned, Sakura is a grown woman now (because war does that, make you grow up so fast) - wants to keep an eye the "kids". If they're gonna drink, they at least better do it safely.]

I would like to join you. If you don't mind the quiet company, that is.

[medicalpunch]

[Okay, drinking with her academy sensei might feel a little weird -- but you know what? He's got as much right to come as anyone else. They're all stuck in this mess. She only has to consider a moment before she hits the response.]

Sure, come along. I'm sure Naruto will make enough noise to make up for a few quiet people, Iruka-sensei.