[ OPEN RP ]

[sweet_oleander]

WHO: YOU
WHAT: Happy hour
WHERE: @ Yakiniki Q
WHEN: Nebulous, anytime
WARNINGS: Drinking! Debauchery...? Create your own threads, tag everywhere, tag yourselves in!



[ Sakura sits at the bar, nursing a bottle of sake. She's alone, but she doesn't really mind it or the pathology it implies. She's had a bad few days... months... years... ]

Comments

[verysunny]

[Oh no Sakura don't do that. Hinata's hands flutter a little, not knowing what to do.]

Ah, he's not that bad, really...

[sweet_oleander]

[ Sakura only thumbs to the corner, where Ino and Kiba are engrossed in a chorus that seems to be made up entirely of screaming SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS! ]

[verysunny]

[Pearly irises follow that thumb and--

Oh.]

At least they're having fun.

[sweet_oleander]

[ Sakura (finally!) smiles. ]

You're right. [ She pauses. ] Are you having fun?

[verysunny]

[YAY. It's enough to get Hinata to smile back, a completely sober smile.]

Mm! It's nice to be with your friends, although I'm not a very big drinker.

[blushu]

[sweet_oleander]

[ Sakura doesn't say it, but she's grateful to be here, grateful that everyone is with her here, warm and laughing and alive.

She's sure Hinata feels the same way. ]

A nonalcoholic toast, then?

[verysunny]

[She nods happily.

But Kiba stole her drink. Even if it was beer HOW CAN SHE MAKE TOAST WITHOUT DRINK]

Um, except... Kiba stole my drink.

[sweet_oleander]

I'll buy you another one, don't worry.

[verysunny]

[All the gratitude in her smile.]

Thank you, Sakura-san. [headbow]

[orders that orange drink they always have in fillers THAT ISNT ALCOHOLIC AT ALL]

[sweet_oleander]

[ Hinata, you are definitely the only classy ninja around here.

Sakura orders a refill on her sake, and when the drinks come, she lifts her glass. ]

To us?

[verysunny]

[Lifts her own orange drink and daintily lets to tip touch Sakura's sake.]

And friendship.

[sweet_oleander]

And life.

[ Kanpai. ]

[verysunny]

[Life too, yes.

Takes a sip of her drink. Yes, this is much better than that bitter beer someone had bought her. Probably Kiba, only to steal it back.

She fiddles a bit with her glass.]

If you don't mind me asking, why are you sitting here alone? It seems like everyone is here so--

[sweet_oleander]

[ Sakura smiles sheepishly. ]

On a scale from one to ten, the Ino-Kiba-Naruto trifecta is an eleven -- on a good day, sober. Sometimes I just need a little break.

[verysunny]

[Well, she could understand Kiba but Naruto and Ino she didn't know quite as well and fff how could anybody need a break from Naruto?

She turns a bit to watch them, smiling softly.]

It's nice to watch from the distance too, isn't it? [Hinata knew all about that.]

I wish I could have that much energy.

[sweet_oleander]

[ Sakura watches Hinata watch them. How much simpler -- better -- would her life have been if she could have just fallen in love with Naruto?

Although Hinata probably doesn't think that way at the moment, because Naruto is unfortunately a clueless moron. ]

Sometimes the view from a distance is perfect.

[verysunny]

[It's a special type of charm. Completely shounen.]

Mm.

[Heartfelt agreement while she watches the three leadership personsas of the rookies.]