soul_logs | Kick back, knock back a few. [OPEN]

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Kick back, knock back a few. [OPEN]

Characters: The Watch and whoever wants to drop in, especially if they were in the Capture the Flag log!
Location: The Northern Lights
Rating: G
Time: December 31, early evening onwards
Description: Another New Year's party, partially courtesy of Team B. XD

[The city's probably got a lot of parties going on right about now, but it never hurts to have another one, right?

Eat, drink, be merry and welcome a new year in a different world, folks!]

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[ welp, this oblivious derp has been milling about and bouncing from one circle of people to another all evening (and maybe also like, religiously checking his communicator) when he isn't hovering around the buffet. when he spots lain however, a hand goes up immediately- just as the smile and enthusiastic wave do. ]

Hey, Lain-chan!

[She looks up, a smile blooming the second she heard his voice] Naruto!

[Lain greets him happily, the butterflies going crazy in her stomach] I, um-- How are you? Are you enjoying the party...?

[ he falls into step beside her because it's easy and familiar, and in the process somehow manages to misplace his cup of punch for the eleventh time. the boy needs a leash. among other things. he does laugh easily though, and his hands lift to comb fingers through the back of his hair. ]

Yeah yeah. I guess I didn't think it'd be so busy'ttebayo.

[She's trying to get over the pounding of her heart to hold this conversation]

Are parties normally like this? [She's honestly curious] I think this is only the second party I've been to. I don't really get invited.

[Crap, no, that's depressing isn't it quick Lain quick uh--] Bold insisted I had to wear make-up. [It's not much--light blush, eyeliner, lipgloss.]

I hope it doesn't look weird...?

[ he smiles easily at her side, and inadvertently bumps her with an elbow. ] It's only my second party too. I didn't have any friends, back then.

[ he doesn't appear distressed or saddened by the admission however, or at her own confession. how other people have thought of her is never something he's considered. lain is- lain is someone else, and those people, from her own world, they just weren't seeing the real her. ]

Lain-chan, you never look weird. It's kinda pretty.

I didn't really either. [She smiles, though] I had Alice, though. I think you would have liked her--she was like you, in a way. [She doesn't really remember Lain now, but Lain liked to keep an eye on her anyway] She was always trying to take me places and including me in things.

It was... nice.

[The compliment makes her blush happily] Thank you! I was worried, but... I guess Bold knows what she's doing, sometimes. [She giggles lightly into the back of her hand, amused.]

Knows what she's doing? [ the owlish blink that follows is immediately eclipsed by the look of a metaphorical lightbulb blinking on. ]

Oh- [ the grin however, spreads slowly over his mouth, and he leans in a beat later. it's supposed to look conspiratory and instead just- kindof manages to look a little creepy. ] I get it'ttebayo.

[She freezes in place, her eyes going wide. 'Get it'? Does he know, somehow, who she's been doing this for? Her heart beats fast, blushing furiously (and leaning away a bit; way to be a creep naruto)]

You...You do?

It's obvious'ttebayo! I can't believe I didn't notice sooner.

[ he closes the distance enough to gently nudge her, their arms bumping as he tries to lower his voice. again- more creepy than anything else. ]

There's only one guy you'd dress up so nice for, right?

[She can't help but smile--so he did notice! Be still her heart!

She shivers slightly and leans in a little too, unable to keep from smiling; her voice lowers, both shy and confidential]

Yes. Ah-- I'm so glad you figured it out, I- I wasn't sure what to do, or what to say. [Her smile turns a little sheepish now] I'm really not the best with words sometimes, so I never know how to say things in a flowery way like other people can...

[ oh lain, why do you do this to yourself.

naruto's hands fold back behind his head and he sways slightly in place as his gaze wanders. ] That's okay, he's pretty smart. I'm sure Neji's already noticed- actually-

[ the corner of his mouth turns and his wandering gaze turns into a squint at the ceiling. ] I dunno'ttebayo- he doesn't seem like the kindof guy that understands girls very well...

[Wait what]

N-Neji? What... What does he have to do with this? [She's so confused.

You're the one who doesn't understand girls very well! Is what Bold shouts from the back of Lain's mind, aghast.

Lain just feels her heart sinking a little as the realization dawns on her]

Naruto... I don't... Neji and I...

[ his arms wave awkwardly before he closes the distance between them, coming in close to hold a finger over his mouth before winking. subtlety naruto. you're doing it wrong. ]

Don't worry Lain-chan, I won't say a thing!

But-- Naruto! [She reaches out, not thinking and grabs at his shirt, fingers curling into the material]

I-I don't! My feelings for Neji-- they aren't like that...! [She feels panic bubbling in her chest]

The one I like is-- [Lain leans in a little, then seems to hesitate and loses whatever confidence that had been driving her. Her fingers loosen and her hands move away from his shirt]

... I should go.

[ his eyes widen comically. first for the grip she has on his shirt, but then further, for her words. ]

G-go? But you just got here...

I don't like Neji like that! [Lain is not the type to raise her voice. Bold yells. Bold throws things and stomps around and is the one to get angry.

Lain gets sad; she cries and curls into a ball and rarely, rarely, is she the one to take control. It's happened, of course, a few times; high-stress situations, where the anger that burns isn't hot enough to drag Bold out to deal with it]

Neji is my meister, and that's all! I like someone else, a lot more!

[ he takes a step back less because he's afraid or intimidated, but because it is such a sight to see. especially from lain. his smiling expression falls immediately, and his voice lowers. ]

L-Lain-chan-

The person I like-- they're always kind to me and trying to cheer me up! They believe me, even... even when I never believe in myself, before anyone else believes in me-- they...

They're strong. And they make me feel stronger, just by being friends with them! Even if friends is all I can ever be, even if he can't see it...

[The anger drains out of her, leaving only a quiet exhaustion in its wake. She steps back, head bowed. She can't think of anything to say that might make this better, doesn't want to see his reaction--

Lain just turns and runs]

Lain-chan!

[ well. that. that wasn't what he expected at all.

you do realize he's totally going to chase her. ]

[COME AT ME BRO she kind of half-expects it anyway and is trying to make a beeline for the girls bathroom

like it's home base or something and if she can just tag it she'll be safe]

[ thoughts on starting another log/plotting?

i may have considered having naruto wait outside her front door for her >> ]

[totally cool with me!

i'm just imagining Naruto sitting there WAITING INTENTLY and Neji being so unsure of what to do with him.]

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Kick back, knock back a few. [OPEN]

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