~ Late Nights ~ [Open RP Thread]

[Ace Detective Nara]

Officer: Detective Tetsu Nara
Badge# 223-D
Location: Konohagakure - Hi no Kuni // Konoha Military Police Administrative Offices
Time: 21:15 Hours

He woke himself up with his own snoring. The flickering lamp light at his little communal desk illuminated all the case files that had been littered about messily. His face was planted to the desk, a little trail of drool having made a pool on a missing person report filed over someone’s lost car Mr.Boat. Some old (80’s) music played quietly on the office jukebox as he slowly raised his head from the desk. His officer’s uniform hung off the side of his desk, freshly pressed and ironed for court. He slowly popped up in his seat and he could hear the clanking on the floor as he knocked over old ramen cups and soda cans off his desk.

“Damn,” he complained as he rubbed his temples. His head was killing him, and he really needed a drink. A photograph sat, lone in the only clean corner of his desk as he stretched and rolled his neck. The glass was cracked and inside was a photo of a much younger Tetsu, smiling happily with a girl with pink hair, clad in armor, and a blond boy who was metallic looking half way down his body. ‘The good ol’ days’ he thought to himself as he gently turned the photo faced down and came to his feet. The white button down and black tie he wore with a beige pair of pants all seems wrinkled as he never ironed them. His police badge was clipped neatly on his breast pocket. He brushed his hand through his disheveled hair and wiped his chin stubble as he decided he was pretty hungry. “Fuck it, I’ll call Kyodai up, I haven’t eaten properly in weeks...god damned desk duty,” he complained, kicking his desk lightly before getting up.

He grabbed his grey suit coat from
The back of his chair and threw it over his arm, dressing himself. He grabbed his Stetson hat and trench coat as the winter nights had gotten colder and colder, especially since no one was waiting for him at home anymore. He strapped his weapon holster onto his right leg, which held 4 Kuni, 3 with sealing tags attached, and 1 slot of Kuni. He made it a habit to not go out unarmed. His armored flak vest sat lonely in his locker as he ignored it and most of his other gear, save for his wallet. His glasses were in his coat pocket along with a pack of cigarettes 14/20 and his lighter 100/150, but he forgot about them. Taking his time card, he clocked out, have clocked in over time anyway, and made his way to the shopping district for a drink.

*One phone call & and a short walk later*

Officer: Detective Tetsu Nara
Badge# 223-D
Location: Konohagakure - Hi no Kuni // Konoha Shopping District
Time: 22:05 Hours
Kyodai Hyuuga

“Where the hell is he?” He grumbled as his coat blew around in the winter wind. He was standing in the light of an old Grill and Beer restaurant, called “The Greener Pasture”, as he seemed to be waiting for someone. His stomach audibly growled as he stood outside alone, a familiar feeling for sure. He pulled out the pack of cigarettes, tacked the bottom and grabbed a cigarette, which He stuck in his mouth. Putting the pack back before grabbing his lighter, he shielded the flame with his hand and brought the cig to life. The gentle smoke and flame stood out as he stood waiting.

[Kyodai Hyuuga]

Hospital Staff: Doctor Kyodai Hyuuga-Li
ID#: 779-E
Location: Konohagakure - Hi no Kuni // Konoha Shopping District
Time: 22:05 Hours

Kyodai showed up behind Tetsu not long behind when he was supposed to show up. He was still wearing a lab coat over his usual shinobi attire. There was some bag under Kyodai's eyes as he dragged himself to the bar and grill. having just completed another double shift at the Clinics Triage unit, it was no surprised he looked this way. Seeing Tetsu light up a cig, made the medical professional grunt.

"You know those are bad for you right?" Kyodai raised an eyebrow at the officer who looked no better than he. His white eyes saw clearly even when he didn't want to. Waving the officer inside, the staff quickly found them a booth. Both of them have been to this particular restaurant enough that they knew the staff. Kyodai shifted his bag enough as he sat as not to sit on it. He was always carrying books around for references.

It also helped that he was a Li and a paper user, slipping into one of his leg pouches he pulled out a deck of cards. "Care to play while we are here?" He quickly gave his order to the wait staff and started shuffling the cards.

[Ace Detective Nara]

Ah there he was, Tetsu thought to himself as Kyodai finally showed up. The bitter cold of the winter months froze his finger tips as he took a drag from his cigarette and tossed it on the ground, stomping it out. "Yeah yeah, breathing might as well kill ya too," He grumbled as Kyodai scolded him, like many others did, for smoking. He was waved inside, and Tetsu quickly obliged. The sooner he had a glass in his hand, the better.

Inside the restaurant, it was much warmer than outside. The smell of cooked meet and the sound of jingling glasses made for a merry sound that lifted his heart. He and Team Blitz use to frequent joints like this, enough that he was stung with a jolt of sadness as they sat at a small booth in the corner. Tetsu loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. He turned his radio off and attempted to relax a little bit before passing out on the couch, alone at his dirty apartment. He had been a bit depressed the past year or so.

Kyodai pulled out some cards and began shuffling them. "A card game? I guess we can...this isn't one of those magic tricks are they?" Tetsu asked with skepticism as a waitress came over to take their order. The detective stopped a moment as he was surely dealt cards by Kyodai as the young lady, probably in her early to mid twenties, looked at them expectantly waiting their order. "Oh um...I'll have whatever you've got on tap that's dark and frothy, forget the price...he's on my ticket as well." Tetsu gestured to the doctor who was sitting across from him.

"What do you want Doc? It's my treat," He offered as the pair sat there with playing cards in hand. The room was bustling with activity, but Tetsu's heart remained heavy.

[Kyodai Hyuuga]

Kyodai thought about it for a moment and then ordered a couple of Bratwursts with all the trimmings he liked including a nice non-alcoholic drink. "Get some food with your drink, otherwise neither will stick around long enough to do you some good." Detective Nara is one of his older friends and one of the few who he actually liked. Seeing the Detective in his current state meant that his medical instincts were coming to the foreground.

Starting up their card game it was time to draw out his erstwhile friend. "So what's got you in this state again?" Kyodai for all his education and intelligence was sometimes blunt and not exactly the best speaker. He spent most his time either fixing a broke person or in a lab. But he had been making good use of his time. Using his skills he assessed his friends state to figure best way to improve his condition.

[Ace Detective Nara]

Officer: Detective Tetsu Nara
Badge# 223-D
Location: Konohagakure - Hi no Kuni // The Shopping District - “Greener Pastures” Bar and Grill

“Right...sure thing, I’ll have what he’s having I guess...ooh and some cheese tots!” He added as the waitress wrote down their order hastily before nodding and taking the ticket off to the kitchen. Tetsu watched as her hips swayed as she made her retreat to the kitchen. He remembered when he had a fine woman himself, but life always seemed to treat him like shit. He took his cards and took a peek at what he had been dealt. The 2 of clubs and the 2 of spades sat face down before him as she sighed at his luck. He really wanted that beer about now.

“Oh nothing really, old injuries maybe?” He groaned with annoyance as he avoided the question. He really didn’t like talking about Claire, Gosei, the War with Yukigakure, or his past traumas. He was a good soldier, and good soldiers followed orders. He repressed the thought, instead thinking about how excited he was for his beverage. His mouth salivated at the thought of the bitter beer on his tongue. “To tell you the truth, word is that the higher ups have a case coming my way...it’s suppose to be some high profile type stuff.” Tetsu sniffled as he rubbed his mustache line to scratch his nose.

“To be frank, we might need a medical examiner, are you gonna be available for some field work in the next few weeks?” He asked, the real reason he had invited the examiner out to eat. He knew that this line of work was the type Kyodai preferred. Since the lack of leadership within the department, Tetsu has been the de facto leader of the detective’s Bureau of the KMP. “It’d be paid contest work of course...” he would start as he would show his cards as they played, probably a Loss for
Him.

His beer was placed right in front of him, and his attention instantly changed from the conversation to a vicious swig of the beverage. It was as if he’d never had anything to drink in his life. The fresh and herby taste of the barley, the smooth foam, it was a euphoric experience to again have a beverage in hand. Wiping the foam from his mouth with his sleeve, Tetsu continued. “Yup, I’d be contracted, so the pays good, would you be interested?” He finished as he burped a little bit from all the bubbles and foam.

[Kyodai Hyuuga]

Kyodai looked at Tetsu with hard eyes for a moment then smiled one of his polite masks that he usually wore. "I always like more work." Then his smile became a bit more real. "Though anything to get me out of rotations of double shifts in the ER helps. I haven't had real work outside the hospital in a long time." This was one of the few times he had been honest and showed real emotion. Kyodai spent most his days making nice because he is a doctor or because the main branch of the Hyuuga required it of him.

Just the reminder of the Hyuuga brought Anger to his face momentarily before it was covered by his doctor's smile and expression. Kyodai was a person who hid most of his true feelings for no one he knew really cared. This was a chance for him to matter so he was happy for the opportunity.

[Ace Detective Nara]

Officer: Detective Tetsu Nara
Badge# 223-D
Location: Konohagakure - Hi no Kuni // The Shopping District - “Greener Pastures” Bar and Grill

“Good to hear,” Tetsu agreed chipperly as he took another big swig of his drink. It head the perfect temperature, chilled but not ice cold. He played the card game quietly in between sips as their food arrived, and he allowed Kyodai to take his pick of the meats he wanted. He ate and drank in silence, going 2 more beers deep before speaking again.

“You know, I forget sometimes, how nice it is to eat at a table with others,” he mused mostly to himself. He use to do this sort of thing all the time, but now he was alone. He could almost smell the the scent of flower petals and static, but the scent faded to a distance memory of long ago. He was coming up on his 10 year anniversary on the police force, one of the few to make it this far after the audits, betrayals, and trials were held regarding the betrayal of multiple leaders within the KMP. He was lucky to have a job at all.

“You get to thinking things are good, that you know what’s right, and then fwoosh, it’s all bullshit. All this righteous morality, and feigned care for civilians...it’s been a while since anyone’s given a shit...leaders are worthless.” He stammered, as he began to feel relaxed and comfortable. The only time he felt anything other than apathy and regret was when he drank. It was the morphine to his suffering. “But I’m glad to hear you’re interested pal, I’ll let the main branch know that you are being excused from your duties until further notice.” He told him with a mouth full of tots. Tetsu was a messy eater, and he certainly didn’t try to hide that fact. He wiped his face wildly with a napkin and tossed it haphazardly onto the table.

“Anyway, what’s going on in your world?” He asked, with a genuine hint of concern. He knew that the main branch had Kyodai under their thumb. The dude was a sadistic fuck, but at least he knew his place in society. Tetsu knew that it was people like him were invaluable for interrogations...and where they were found morals and regulations were gone to the way side.

[Kyodai Hyuuga]

Kyodai ate with a precise nature that was a distinct contrast to Tetsu. For all his food was suppose to be a bit messy somehow, He kept everything perfectly neat and clean. He responded only after he finished his food and gave pause to think about his answer. Not many know his personality well, but Tetsu did have access to his personality profile in his file, besides having worked together on occasion.

"It has been the usual being drenched in the misery of humanity." The constant exposure to humans in their worst state has left Kyodai at best apathetic to most human plight, but few see this as he is unfailing kind to all he is exposed to. It is only when he is able to torture some of his real personality shows. "I have been either studying at the main house or performing duties at the clinic. Even my old team is gone. I missed most of the last few years interesting events as I got buried in duty."

Just the barest hint of his resentment showed in those words, they like most of his actions were carried with the kindly exterior he portrayed. It was often confusing to find where his act ended and where it began. it was due to his branch status that he did things like mix styles if taijutsu which in turned earned him negative feedback from the elders.

[Ace Detective Nara]

Officer: Detective Tetsu Nara
Badge# 223-D
Location: Konohagakure - Hi no Kuni // The Shopping District - “Greener Pastures” Bar and Grill

“So cynical” Tetsu commented with a full mouth as he chomped away at their food. He was feeling much better, now that he had a beverage in hand and his stomach was full. He knew of Kyodai’s disdain for the hyuga as well as about his sadistic nature. He put on a good facade, but at the end of the day he was a cold calculated sadist. Tetsu didn’t mind it, as long as he didn’t break the law. Tetsu has come to not care about a lot of things, really.

He had broken arms and given little compassion on the job, so who was he to judge someone else. ‘Protect and Serve’ what a load of hogwash that was. Her had done neither since he joined the KMP, and he was fairly certain the entire department was the same way. He had some one fire rescue, and that was the extent of him serving the community. “Yeah you haven’t missed anything,” Tetsu admitted as he too had been buried in paperwork, mostly due to his suspension and the internal affairs tribunal. He had been accused of working in accomplice with Amerante and Gosei. He was not wholly innocent, but he certainly had not committed treason like his superiors had.

“I’m just back on duty myself...life can be a real bitch sometimes,” He grumbled as he finished another glass whole heartedly. He was steaming at the thought of Amerante and how she had manipulated him with her charm and position over him. It was frustrating. He respected the law, but authority be damned. The way Kyodai said duties made him sound like a plastic soldier or an automation with a proper tone. “So I guess you don’t get out much do you? No dinner dates for the good doctor?” Tetsu teasingly asked as his cheeks grew rosey with the liquor. The statement was ironic, calling him the “good” doctor...Kyodai was far from being that.

[Rokudaime Mamimi]

Twirling a cigarette of whitleaf between her fingers as she strolled through the bustling downtown of Konoha it was a familiar face that caught her attention. She'd donned a pink kimono with the letters "Rokudaime" across the shoulder sleeves in small black letters.

The usual stand was closed and that'd led her to a little keepaway spot. A hole in the wall. Not hidden but certainly not flashing it's signs. The moment she stepped in the world changed a bit for the brighter.

She did a doubletake for sure just for assurance and immediately broke into a kind of smile that hurt so good. "TETSU!" She hadn't smiled at the sight of an old face for awhile. One of the few souls she hadn't touched and tainted in her spree of war and conquest when spurred along by that deceitful Gosei and his tactful manipulations of the thin lines of war between already hostile countries.

No time for pity.

Skirting over, she hardly even noticed he had company till she was right up on them and even then she threw herself on his side with a cacophony of laughter, knocking some cards askew on the table. "You old work horse! Are you still working for the Police Force here? Goodness it's been... a million years it may as well be!" She was just relieved to see this little glimmer of hope again. The diligent Tetsu working and wiling away at his tasks as a junior officer, sniffing for that promotion.

Her three utility belts were still around. One had her listening devices in it. Another had a holodisk in it running, her hoverboard was strapped to her back, invisible along with her custom goggles which were also invisible. Relics of the war. She'd been so caught up in the moment she forgot to introduce herself to Kyodai.

[Kyodai Hyuuga]

Kyodai was responding to the jab by Tetsu, "Not really. not much time in ---" When suddenly a lady shouted for Tetsu. Kyodai merely raised an eyebrow as she bustled into the booth with them, disrupting the conversation and the game. He mentally shrugged at the disruption for he didn't have much he wanted to talk about his own past. He knew he was a fairly boring person when under the thumb of his oppressors.

Kyodai did however bristle at the jab of good doctor that Tetsu had made but quickly calculated it wasn't worth the energy to keep any emotion on it. He and most people in the clinic knew there was very few who had his talents in the medical field. He was an excellent doctor even if cutting up the dead or torturing the living was more to his liking. He wasn't the necromancer that few use to better their shinobi skills but unlike most who heal with chakra he actually certified in healing in more mundane ways as well.

Breaking himself out of his self reflection he took time to carefully gage the newcomer. Kyodai was slightly impressed that a former Kage was such close acquaintance of the good detective. At least in his mind this one was in a more put together state that was less likely to end up in his ER or on his examination table. That was the fate of too many leaf shinobi and not enough of the other villages.

[Ace Detective Nara]

Officer: Detective Tetsu Nara
Badge# 223-D
Location: Konohagakure - Hi no Kuni // The Shopping District - “Greener Pastures” Bar and Grill

Tetsu was in a good mood now that he was 4 drinks in. He could see that his comment had skimmed the broadside for Kyodai; however as he was responding, Tetsu heard a familiar voice call out his name...loud enough that the few restaurant patrons there were there were looking at them with a curious gaze. Tetsu, already on the inebriated side, immediately ignored them, without a second thought.

“Andromeda, ANDIII?!, what the hell are you doing in a place like this!” He sputtered as she leaned into his side, knocking cards and napkins about on the floor. This wasn’t her usual dive, and Andromeda, as free spirited as she was, was a creature of habit. He was truthfully, surprised to see her. His face read that of genuine excitement as he welcomed the sideways embrace from an old friend. He took his free hand and grabbed around her shoulder, like an old pal, and joined with her almost thunderous laughter. The drink helped him with feeling relaxed...in fact he could ironically remember the first time he had met the Rokudaime, which was also polluted by the haze of drunkenness.

He had been pitted up against the rain village in a drinking contest. Back then, he always though the leaf was doing the right thing, that we were the ‘good guys’. It was pure naïveté. If he had known better then, and maybe if Andromeda had too, lots of lives could have been spared. To the very least, he was grateful for the mentorship and friendship she had offered him all these years.

She asked about his work, and he quickly replied, “yeah yeah, in that case, you’re stills pretty brainy and beautiful for someone whose hit their millionth birthday,” he chided back, playing along with her welcome with a joke of his own. There was no spite in his words, only the playful shouldering of someone who had suffered through the same trauma of the KMP and lord Gosei’s games. “Come, sit with us, have a drink, it’s on me... WAITER, WELL HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OVER HERE!” Tetsu shouted as he scoot over to make room for the Kimono clad Kage in their booth. He was so occupied laughing away and thinking of catching up with his old pal, that he completely forgot about poor Doc Hyuuga for a moment.

Tetsu stopped himself and lightly bumped Andromeda with his elbow. “How rude of me, I totally forgot to introduce you guys. Andromeda, this is Dr. Kyodai Hyuuga, of the Branch house...he’s one of our medical examiners that we contract from time to time for cases,” He shared with her as gestured towards Kyodai with his far hand and leaned his near arm back across the top of the booth as he introduced them. “Kyodai, this is the Honorable Rokudaime Hokage, Andromeda Omega.” He finished, gesturing to the former Hokage, reading out the official title with a tone of genuine respect. She was about the only leader that still held held any regard in his mind. After she’d helped him while he was under investigation for the disappearances of Gosei and Claire, she had his loyalty. She was one of the few people in the village he still trusted.

[Rokudaime Mamimi]

Snagged up by the shoulder she couldn't help but laugh at the top of her lungs. Free of duty. Free of obligation. There was a time she was just s ditzy healer who didn't know how to actually heal and now she was an honored Kage of arguably one of the most reputably villages. These were the weird ways life works. At his behest Andromeda tipped that non-existent hat at Kyodai and couldn't keep from beaming.

"The medical field can never have enough doctors in them. I am a doctor myself. I do my own herbal practice now and I actually do a podcast about harvesting and alchemy. It's been a niche thing but I digress." She digressed to shoot Tetsu a stink eye! "Keep that up and we'll be reading your coroner report, mister!"

Drinks. Drinking hadn't been her vice so much as smoking had and even then she'd cut back but the urge still kicked in every now and then. She still carried them around now out of habit. "Doctor! Tell me a bit about yourself. I don't think I ever had the pleasure of even getting to hear your name whispered around the branch house. What got you into medicine and such and has the Leaf been kind to you in your endeavors?" This wasn't a hard read or an attempt to breach she just wanted to know this new face.

No facades and no masks. Just those same bright hopeful eyes she'd lost once and was just finally learning to see the world with again.

[Kyodai Hyuuga]

Kyodai decided to respond to the inquiry, it didn't surprise him that the Hyuuga Branch members even don't really talk about him. He knew that he wasn't on anyone's mind since his parents had died but that was long ago and he was an adult now. "It is quite simple, it is what the Main Branch wanted. The village has treated me as it wills. I am a tool in the hands of those who have the vision for the village." The small speech was delivered in a kind of flat tone of someone who has memorized those words from being told it so many times. 

Kyodai's time in the village wasn't the most tragic but nor was it a good story. He was talented in his field being known in the clinic as one of the best Triage Shinobi and field Medics. With his near perfect recall, and access to a personal library Kyodai has most information of medicine on the tip of his thoughts. Though he was now looking at the Kage as someone slightly interesting. "So you are the host of that alchemy show. Interesting, I never put two and two together." Not quite accurate but it made a good point of conversation. 

Kyodai too was a alchemist though sadly he isn't quite the maker of herbals yet. But he could identify most easily enough, what he is better at identifying was poisons. "I am just now getting in my studies to harvesting and alchemy myself. I always did believe in efficient use of chakra in the field and mixing more mundane healing in." If one cared to look at his bag that he always carried it was a full medic's kit plus several books. 

[Ace Detective Nara]

Officer: Detective Tetsu Nara
Badge# 223-D
Location: Konohagakure - Hi no Kuni // The Shopping District - “Greener Pastures” Bar and Grill

“Ouch, Touchy touchy,” he remarked. It was bad class to comment on a woman’s age, let alone joke about it. Tetsu of course, had no class to begin with. It seemed like Kyodai and the Hokage would get along swimmingly. They were both doctors, in their own fields respectively. He sat quietly while they spoke their opinions and thoughts on certain regards of medicine. Eventually the Hokage brought up the alchemy podcast that She hosted on the radio.

He had heard it a few times, and was mostly interested in listening for learning how to make his own booze. It was a selfish interest, to be sure. The waitress placed fresh glasses in front of the group and Tetsu was quick to work on his next beverage. In between aggressive sips, he would stammer. “Efficient chakra usage, alchemy, blah blah, Kyodai is a real scholar that one” he quietly grumbled as he has little interest in the matter. Alchemy, to Tetsu, was mostly about defusing bombs, neutralizing explosive agents, and forensics. The treatment of a patient was far beyond his scope. These two were the foremost experts in that field.

“Well Kyodai, is you have any questions, you’ve got a great resource right here,” Tetsu remarked as he finished his glass and leaned back in his chair. Tetsu noticed the medicine bag and the square shaped bulge of hard cover books that seems to fill them. ‘That’s just like him to bring books out to a bar’ Tetsu thought to himself with amusement a she weaved his hands behind his head and reclined. The room was spinning a little bit; however, it was almost a daily norm for him at this point. He didn’t say much more, letting the two doctors get to know each other while his food and drink settled in his stomach.

[Rokudaime Mamimi]

In amiable silence she listened, shooting Tetsu only SLIGHTLY less dirty looks out of the corner of her eye when it was her turn to interject with commentary. "Certainly you must have some interest out side of whatever the village has planned for you, no? We are all tools in the hands of our village but that does not mean we aren't allowed at least a little slack in the leash in that same regard."

There weren't any wars going on. No coups either. This was arguably some of the most peaceful times they'd born witness to in a long while. Especially Andromeda. While Tetsu chased the bottom of the his glass to no avail she leaned forward and planted her elbows on the table between the three of them, plopping her chin into her palms with a pout of sorts.

"I forget how dogmatic Konoha inhabitants can be." She wasn't bored but maybe just a touch less excited. At least in the way her enthusiasms weren't as matched. There was no vibrancy between the two! Maybe they were just business casual friends.

Plucking the whiteleaf cigarette from her pocket she struck a match and lit it, the cherry blooming bright and red from a deep pull. Smoke covered the air between them all. "The life of career shinobi, am I right?" Her smile was rueful and crass. "Tetsu... is that grey hair I'm starting to see over there?"

[Kyodai Hyuuga]

Kyodai shrugged a little and sat back as he chose his words carefully responding to this former Kage. He didn't want to seem disloyal especially since he was actually very loyal. Ever the dog of the Main House, even with disgust and anger in his heart, rules and order keeps his heart in check. Very little came across his doctor's smile that closed up on his face that was ever present.

"The hobbies and allowances I have had from the elders vary. Mostly I have been happy in my work space at the clinic or in the field. Both have been the life I have known, and I haven't stepped out of the elders wishes since I was a child. The consequences have been made known of that." Statements of fact without inflection but with a dose of sense that it wouldn't stretch the imagination what impressions have been left on him.

As a Hyuuga-Li he had an interesting lineage to begin with. He was a lesser branch of a lesser branch, so far down the totem pole was his family that it is a open wonder he had enough Hyuuga blood to possess the talents he has. His degree of precision was expert enough that earned him praise at certain times, but always has been caveted that it was only because of his being a Hyuuga and not that surprising, anyone of the Main branch should be able to out do him.

[Ace Detective Nara]

Officer: Detective Tetsu Nara
Badge# 223-D
Location: Konohagakure - Hi no Kuni // The Shopping District - “Greener Pastures” Bar and Grill

Tetsu looked at his now half empty glass. it was a testament to how he felt, about life and most anything else. Andromeda shot him a few glances that were slowly decreasing in agitation from his previous slight. Tetsu shrugged with a weary gaze that, knowing that Andromeda couldn't hate him that much, not after all that had happened over the years. They were survivors of a dark chapter in Konoha's history, one that was thankfully closed. Or to the very least, Tetsu hoped that it was closed.

She leaned forward and asked about hobbies, and Kyodai answered as Tetsu would have expected, like a wooden puppet. The Main branch must have kept him on a tight leash after all these years. It was a shame really. Kyodai was ambitious, but he was conditioned to follow orders and command structures. Tetsu thought of someone else who was very similar to Kyodai, from his early days with the police force. Hopefully, his fate would be different. "I've got some hobbies I guess," He replied, with a chuckle that seemed almost forced. "I picked up knitting a long time ago. I use to make my squad Christmas Gifts each year...I really loved doing it," He continued with a sad smile. He had made Claire a pink woolen Scarf before her disappearance, and even now, he thought about how stupid a gift it had been.

All he did now on his down time was drink and sulk, only finding enough strength to go into work because he wouldn't be able to afford to drink otherwise. He had definitely not aged well, and the tumultuous past of Blitz Squadron and their involvement in the many conflicts and coups of the past had done a number on his psyche...that and the loss of his only loved ones. "Now I'm all washed up, the paragon of mediocrity" He sighed as he finished his glass in a singular gulp and clanked it back to the table.

Kyodai's scripted response struck Tetsu's heart strings. "Kid, no offense, but fuck your elders...it's not a crime to want something other than what they want," Tetsu grumbled as he shifted to the side as Andromeda leaned front and center between them. He rested his cheek on his knuckles and looked at them both in profile.

"Career shinobi...I guess that would be us." He sighed as his gaze grew distant, back to the past once again. He was so caught up in the past that the future seemed so dull and monotonous. Andromeda's twinge of sadness in her smile reminded him that he wasn't the only one that felt this way. They had both been leaders, that had been responsible for the harming their subordinates unknowingly. Andromeda had the greater weight, as the former Hokage, and was even better at hiding that sadness than he was. He took out a cigarette of his own, taking the Hokage's smoking as permission to do so himself. "Mind giving me a light?" Tetsu asked, mostly out of laziness, not really wanting to shift his weight to find the lighter in his coat pocket.

Surely Andromeda would share her match, and a long drag, Tetsu would suddenly be reminded of his age. "A grey hair? I guess the years haven't been kind to me..." he grumbled as his hair and stubble beard had specks of salt and pepper here and there. He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of him getting old, suffering for as long as possible was what he deserved. "Not everyone can stay as youthful looking as you boss, I guess I need to start dying my hair or something," commented as he absentmindedly played with his hair as if he didn't already see his ageing in the mirror every morning.

Tetsu slowly pushed himself free of the booth after they had eaten for a while. He was well past being hammered, and feeling sorry for himself. He looked at the pair, two people whom he'd bonded with through trauma and circumstance, and he loudly cleared his throat. "You look bored Andromeda, What do you say we go do something fun? It's like what...2300 Hours? The night is still young! Look at Kyodai, this poor lad is as stiff as a board, why don't we take him out and show him a good time?" He suggested to the pair as he gently elbowed Andromeda, who was the master of excitement. Her sporadic and lofty nature came in handy when it came to having fun. "Look Kid," Tetsu began, now looking at Kyodai. "We've got a dangerous job ahead of us...and I know better than anyone that we might not survive to see the next one, so why not enjoy life while we still can?" He offered a little less ethusiastically as he dug through his wallet and left 3,000 Ryo on the table. [Someone can subtract this later T_T]

[Rokudaime Mamimi]

This was the great Leaf Village.

Painful smiles and addicts to anything that ended with -ine:

Caffeine.

Nicotine.

Doctrine....

There was a part of her right here in the now that remember PRECISELY why she didn't want to come back into the village and rather live like the hermit she'd become. The reality here. Now. This exact moment and it could have been ANYONE else. Period. Any nameless face could replace these two with the same exact story and it'd tug the strings of her morality all the same.

This was a ghastly price for freedom. Surviving.

"He's right, yanno? That is a terrible way to live but I understand the Hyuuga traditions on the surface." She didn't want to call his whole way of life garbage or anything of the like.

Lighting up Tetsu's cigarette she waved the match out and pushed away from the table. "Alright you spoil sports. Have either of your ridden an invisible hoverboard before?"

Her grin was full and toothy as she waggled what could have been perceived as nothing but air at them but in fact... as he hoverboard.