[Open] Pool Party!

[soul_mods]

Characters: OPEN
Location: Shibusen Rec Center
Rating: Gen
Time: March 7th, 3pm until... Question mark?
Description: Relax, unwind, and mingle with your fellow guests at the pool.

Welcome to the pool party, residents of Death City! In the interests of creating a more unified city and fighting force, Shibusen is sponsoring this gathering. Feel free to tag into the three provided sections, or make your own. Come, swim, eat, and have fun!

Comments

totes Open, shenanigans encouraged

[heavenly_earth]

He wasn't the type to attend parties for the sake of going to a party, but he decided that he might as well go, because the alternative was to be dragged along by one of half a dozen individuals known for dragging him to things.

Dressed in simple black swimming shorts and a light open shirt, Neji commandeered a chair a respectable distance from the pool and spread his towel over it with the intention to do little more than sit to watch and exchange mild bits of conversation while the other guests took to the water.

[spandexisyouth]

Sitting on the chair. Really. Gai arrived at the party and eyed his student who was hanging back. He approached, looming over the chair when he reached it. "Neji! Are you truly considering not jumping in? It is a pool party! What are you doing? The water is perfect!"

[heavenly_earth]

Neji cracked an eye open, frowning up at the figure standing over him and unsurprised to find that it was Gai. He quickly averted his eyes up, lips forming the slightest grimace at the sight of his mentor's rather tasteless wear.

"It's crowded and obnoxious," he stated simply in answer. "It's enough just to come here and watch everyone."

[spandexisyouth]

"You are too grumpy. This is for relaxing and enjoying company! Not for sleeping on a seat! You were not even watching! Your eyes were closed!"

He pointed a finger at Neji. "I want you to try to seize the moment, Neji! You do not do it enough."

[heavenly_earth]

"I am relaxing," Neji pointed out, leaning back to keep that finger in focus as it blurred. "And I wouldn't be able to sleep even if I wanted to with the noise."

He was deliberately missing the point, of course, but he had little to no desire to 'seize' anything. Just showing up and taking time off from work was enough concession for one day in his view. "It may not seem like it, but I'm enjoying myself enough right here."

[spandexisyouth]

"It does not seem like it at all." Gai contemplated his reticent student. "You are staying away from people, and away from the pool, and it is a pool party!"

And then it came to him, the best way to get Neji involved. He moved quickly, grabbing for his student, ready to charge at the pool and yell 'cannonball!' if he succeeded in nabbing Neji. Surely there was no better plan in the history of plans!

[heavenly_earth]

It was a very bad plan; the worst, at least according to one protesting Hyuuga, pulling back in an effort to counteract Gai's strength. He experienced a brief flash of mortification for the situation- the spectacle of his hopeless struggle in full view of everyone- and only had just enough time to swallow a breath before he went under.

The muted crash of water hit his ears, a wave washing over him in Gai's wake, and Neji came up pulling long, soaked locks of hair out of his face. Fortunately, chlorine would wash out easier than sand.

"I suppose that was necessary," he said, flatly disbelieving once Gai was within hearing distance.

[spandexisyouth]

Gai grinned, treading water next to his student. "It was! And now you are in the water and can swim with people and do not have to act like you were even intending to! You can maintain your attitude of aloofness but still socialize! It was the perfect solution!"

He reached over, getting one more strand of hair out of Neji's face. "You can blame me and act grumpy and still have fun! I have finally come up with a solution for aloofness!"

[heavenly_earth]

Unimpressed, Neji's flat expression remained, and he guessed that Gai would pull him back if he swam for the side of the pool.

"I was fine," he reiterated, swimming out of Gai's immediate reach but not for the edge of the pool- not yet. "But I suppose a few minutes will be fine." He's already wet now, after all.

[awokentospring]

Lee emerged from the pool, his dark hair dripping wet but a smile plastered across his face as he made his way over to grab his towel. Lee was in a black speedo (wearing spandex had given him an appreciation for clothing that allowed for movement with the least resistance) but obviously held no shame in his choice. Wrapping the towel around himself poncho-like, Lee made for the place where his teammate sat complacent in a chair, determined to not let today slip by without a challenge.

"Neji! Join me in the pool for a time of manly bonding!" Or a splash war. But manly bonding sounded more mature somehow.

[heavenly_earth]

"No," came the immediate reply, reclining with his eyes closed because he didn't have to look in order to know it was Lee. 'Manly bonding'. What kind of activity did that even entail, he wondered. Probably something ridiculous.

"I'm just fine like this. I'm sure Kiba or Naruto wouldn't mind, however."

[awokentospring]

Lee immediately fell into a pout. This wasn't going to be any fun without his rival!

"But... but this could be a very good way to boost our resonance!" After all, if just being together made resonance great, then having run in a pool had to impact it like Whoa~, or at least, that's how Lee rationalized it in his head.

[heavenly_earth]

Neji cracked an eye open at that, regarding Lee with a measured look. It was only natural that Lee would see even something like this as a way to train in some form or another. But other than just swimming around and being near one another, he couldn't really see how it was any different than usual.

"We can practice any time, Lee. For now however, I'd rather not attempt something like that in a crowded pool."

[awokentospring]

Neji wasn't getting out of things that easily! Lee waved his hands in an exaggerated motion, brows drawing together. "No no no! Working on it together is one thing, but having a crowd will add another dimension!"

Lee moved a bit closer as he spoke, edging inch by inch. "It will mean requiring more focus! And..."

Come on, Neji! If he was going to keep up being a stick in the mud, then Lee was going to be faced with very few choices left on the matter. Because Neji was getting in that pool. Whether he wanted to or not.

[heavenly_earth]

Well he certainly didn't want to. He was perfectly happy reclining right there on the towel he didn't really intend to need at any point, thank you very much. Closing that eye and leaning back again in a typical dismissal.

"You just want me in the pool, Lee. It has nothing to do with our resonance."

[awokentospring]

Well, then. Neji left him no choice.

Lee sighed.

Then made his way over on quick feet to scoop Neji up into his arms, hoping he was quick enough to make the move before Neji could react. Then, if he was fast enough, he could probably toss Neji into the pool before he managed to wiggle free!

[heavenly_earth]

"Lee!"

The struggle was immediate, but Lee had always been faster- stronger even, on a purely physical scale- and Neji hit the water, making absolutely certain to drag Lee down with him in the process.

uses action like a boss. REBEELLL

[wiredgod]

[Don't look now Neji but there might be a Bold trying to sneak up behind you with a bucket of water.

But surely it's just your imagination]

[kuramaless]

[Heeeeeey. He'd totally been thinking of doing that! Where'd you get that bucket from, huh?

Rather than make a big deal out of it, he waited - some few meters away, waiting, watching. This was going to be hilarious.]

ahhhh

[heavenly_earth]

[Bold, you're not a great ninja :| So have a nice, silent white-eyed look, glancing at the water in hand with a skeptical wariness, watching you like he's trying to gauge whether or not you'll actually try it when he's watching.

Don't think he doesn't see you there in his peripheral either, Naruto. Did you help her with this? :| Cause he's pretty close to assuming so]

muwahaha

[wiredgod]

[SHE'S TRYING OKAY.

Bold glances away, spotting Naruto with a jolt of surprise. That was the last thing she'd expected to see, but this could work in her favor. She then looks at the bucket and then to Neji.

Was she going to?

...Think of who you're talking about, Neji. She tosses the water towards him and then points off to Naruto]

His idea!

[kuramaless]

[Oh hey wait--

This...

Oh boy this might not have been a good idea at all.

The minute the water drops over Neji he's up on his feet, bouncing over a few people to catch up with Bold.

He'll be having words later but for now--]

Run!

[heavenly_earth]

[Neji's up as soon as he sees her arm start to move, but it's not enough notice to save him completely. Water splashes against his back as he turns, soaking most of his hair and draping over his shoulders.

But he doesn't spare the time to mourn the sudden see-through quality of his white throw-over shirt, instead reaching out in an attempt to grab hold of one or both of them before they can make good on Naruto's suggestion]

[wiredgod]

[Bold squeaks in surprise, not expecting both of them to suddenly try to make a grab at her--at least Naruto seems more interested in helping her than Neji did.

However the rule put in place to not run around the pool was one of good intentions. As Bold dropped the bucket and scrambled to dodge Neji's grabbing hand, the water offered little traction.

Which is how Bold found herself falling over backwards, grabbing for Naruto as she goes--if she's going down, she's taking him with her]

[kuramaless]

[Usually, seeing everything before it happened was something that a skilled shinobi was supposed to be good at--

Seeing it as it happened, and knowing that there was nothing he could do about it tended to be more Naruto's style though.

Had it not been for Bold's hand on him he might just have made it clear of Neji - but, hey well wait a minute Nej' there, weren't you just going to grab the both of them?

The tug is enough to drag Naruto right back, scrambling for his feet a second later, chakra that isn't there doesn't help in the slightest and he's left falling in a southward position.]