[Open]

[heavenly_earth]

Characters: The Watch & OPEN to everyone
Location: Death City
Time: May 10th-13th
Rating: PG-13 for now
Warnings: Potential violence
Summary: The city is in chaos and the Watch is trying to do their job, but it's a little more than they can handle on their own.


The civilians have taken to the streets in a formal march of protest, holding signs both insulting and critical; some simply vulgar while others call for action- for change. They come from everywhere and don't stop until they reach Shibusen's stairs to rally with a growing mob of protesters. Shibusen agents gifted with Calming Wavelength stand by to allow attempts at mediation, but while they aren't violent, the protesters remain unyielding in their convictions.

In other parts of the city, trouble-makers work tirelessly to disrupt or sabotage businesses, paint graffiti over any untouched wall of known guest establishments, and harass the unusual-looking passerby. Don't go out alone, or you might find yourself cornered by these troublemakers with unpredictable temperaments.

The Watch is on the move in every district, working to protect its citizens and try their hand at peacemaking, but they're stretched pretty thin...


[OOC: Coordination post is here and as always, feel free to make your own threads!]

Comments

[heavenly_earth]

Neji nodded again, picking the sheet of paper back off the desk, reconsidering the rest of the work before him.

Be careful, Lee.

[awokentospring]

'I will be.' He had no worries of that. Despite the dark looks he received from some of the other civilians they passed, none dared to confront him with the two delinquents tossed over his shoulder.

Lee went through all the necessary protocols once he arrived at the jail. It was uncomfortably full lately, but the three young men had earned themselves a night of discomfort. Having filled out the proper forms, Lee left to grab a few sandwiches and lemonades from a shop that was close by and headed towards headquarters. He took the stairs up to the main office two at a time then reached out for Neji as he neared the door.

'I am here, Neji. Coming in.' And knowing he wouldn't need to wait for an answer, Lee reached for the handle and entered.

[heavenly_earth]

Neji glanced up, feeling a frisson of nerves although he knew it was Lee. He imagined this was how a Kage might feel, with shinobi walking through the office door to report and receive further instructions. He'd managed to complete and set aside a small stack of papers before Lee arrived outside the door.

Catching sight of the bruise forming on Lee's cheek, his partner didn't seem otherwise injured.

"You'll be my Second, of course, if everything happens this way," he said after a moment, leaning back "One of them, at least. Since you'll often be absent along with me as my partner, we'll need someone else to handle the Watch while we're on missions."

[awokentospring]

Lee's brows rose, and he closed the door behind him and approached the desk. "It is nice to think ahead, Neji, but do not over-think things so quickly. You will only add more stress than necessary."

He placed a warped sandwich and bottle of lemonade in front of Neji on the desk. Then he moved away some of the unread papers to the side and sat on the edge so he could eat his own lunch. "Eat. You will feel better."

[heavenly_earth]

Neji sighed, nodding. He really was overthinking everything. But with Sarah's disappearance and few others with his experience, it seemed as though he had a short amount of time to pull everything together. But he had time to eat, at least and offered Lee a faint smile as work was moved aside in favor of a small meal.

"Thank you." Reaching for the sandwich, he unwrapped it and took a bite. "..I just don't want the organization to fall further apart."

[awokentospring]

"You are welcome," Lee said softly, glad to see Neji wasn't going to turn his nose up at food. Neji needed to eat to stay strong. He needed sleep, too, but one thing at a time. Lee wouldn't push until it became necessary.

"I understand your worries. Perhaps we need more advertising. Or we should attempt to reach out to the newer guests earlier." He took a big bite, chewed and swallowed. "At the moment, it is not feasible, but once this is over we should attempt to come up with better advertising strategies."

[heavenly_earth]

Neji hummed in consideration. "We had liaison officers in charge of promoting the organization when Roy was here. He also addressed the network semi-frequently."

Which he could do, but perhaps not as well as Roy had done. Maybe he'd need to find someone else to be the face of the organization.

"It's also gotten more difficult to tell when new Guests arrive, as BREW is bringing in much smaller groups of people now and more frequently by the reports I've heard."

[awokentospring]

"We can always appoint new officers to take care of it, then," Lee said mildly, but obviously not too worried about the problem. Things would sort themselves out when they became more important.

The BREW situation was a little more imperative. If they didn't get enough guests, there would be little blood to add to their ranks. "Hmm... Then maybe we can introduce ourselves through the Demise Network more often and that might help. Possibly."

[heavenly_earth]

Neji frowned, but nodded and took the time to eat more of his sandwich while he mulled it over. Who would be ideal, and among them, may willingly take to the position? There were a lot of changes and promotions that needed to go around.

Lee had a lot of spirit, but tendency to be overzealous and a bit strange to those that didn't know him. Liaison officers needed a certain amount of subtlety and tact.

"We can try," he said at length. "It's the most we can do on our own."

[awokentospring]

Lee was patient as he waited for Neji to digest his words. He spent the time eating his own sandwich and enjoying the sweet and sour taste of the lemonade.

"Yes. And there are certainly others that would not mind becoming spokespeople for the Watch." Lee thought so, anyway. Worse came to worse, they pulled in a third party to speak for them. Perhaps get Cupid and Rise to endorse the Watch through their show.

"Just do not push yourself too much, Neji. You can always ask me for help, even if no one else is available." Lee felt it was important to remind him.

[heavenly_earth]

Neji tipped his head, interested in who Lee thought might readily accept the position. It wasn't a particularly appealing job title, with little power or authority associated with it.

"I know, Lee." And he did. Lee would do almost anything for him if he asked. "There will be a lot I'll need you to do for me if I take command."

[awokentospring]

"Well... I am certain, at least." Lee didn't have any names, really. But there had to be at least one person willing to take the job.

"It sounds like it could be very stressful." Lee put down his half-eaten sandwich, his gaze falling over his Meister to check for signs of stress. He already looked so tense and yet...

[heavenly_earth]

Neji lifted a shoulder in a mild shrug and took a drink of lemonade.

"I've never managed a group this large before. Being a Zone Lead is close to what we're accustomed to as Chuunin. I'm not a senior Jounin, so I haven't led the leaders of other teams before, but.. I'm sure I'll manage. I know how they should work, at least."

[awokentospring]

"I know, but I am still..." Lee frowned. He trusted Neji, but that much responsibility was quite a bit. Especially considering they were the head organizers of Morning Training on top of their Watch responsibilities and, of course, field missions.

Lee slid off the edge of the desk and back to his feet. Without giving it much thought, he moved to stand behind Neji and reached his arms over the back of the chair. His palms came to rest on Neji's shoulders and he moved his fingers to knead at the muscles there, feeling the tension gripping Neji's body.

[heavenly_earth]

Neji watched him move out of his peripheral and it was his trust and faith in Lee built over years together as teammates that he didn't so much as twitch as his partner came behind him and rested hands on his back where he couldn't see. He felt where the dead angle of his Byakugan was in relation to his thumbs, but instead of tensing further, Neji slumped against the desk and simply let him work his hands over him.

"...You don't need to worry so much, Lee."

[awokentospring]

"You are wrong. I should worry more..." Lee let his hands slide down the shoulders to Neji's back and then back up, then rolled his knuckles in tight, sawing movements along the trapezius muscles. A few minutes of that, then Lee's fingers trailed up his neck.

His voice lowered until it was soft, nearly a whisper. "You are my partner, my Meister, my rival, and my last teammate and friend here. Of course I will worry about you. More than anything or anyone."

[heavenly_earth]

Neji swallowed the embarrassing sound that almost bubbled forth and instead breathed as Lee's knuckles worked the tightest areas. It was like Lee to worry, but his eyes widened as his teammate's voice dropped, listening to the heartfelt confession. Of course, he knew he was important to Lee and vice versa, but to hear it said like that, aloud...

Neji turned his head to catch a glimpse of his Weapon behind him. "..You're important to me as well, Lee," he said eventually, glancing back to the desk. "But save your worry for the field. I can handle paperwork and coordination."

[awokentospring]

Lee let his fingers linger, a few of the pads resting just over the pulse point. Then his hands moved lower again, back to the shoulders and back.

He had a sudden urge to lean close and press a kiss against the back of that pale, slender neck, but common sense held him back. He wasn't sure where that thought had come from, but he didn't spend the time to question it, either. Just let his mind stay on the present and on taking care of Neji.

"I will not fret, but I will continue to worry. When this is over, you are going to get a full night of sleep, plus some."

[heavenly_earth]

Neji smiled faintly and shook his head. He had been sleeping, though perhaps not for as long as he should. But emergencies called and with the city in chaos, that wasn't surprising.

"Once it's over," he agreed. "I suppose I won't get a choice either way, however."

[awokentospring]

"That is the truth of it," Lee said with a smile. He rubbed his hands up and down Neji's back then gave his shoulders a last pat before backing away and returning to his sandwich.

"And I hope that was good for you," Lee said before taking a bite of his sandwich. Feeling the tension leave his Meister's muscles had certainly been good for his heart.

[heavenly_earth]

Neji sighed, moving his shoulders and straightening. He did feel more loose and relaxed.

"I appreciate it," he said simply and went back to his lunch. "You've been doing a lot of work, as well."

[awokentospring]

"My work is nothing compared to the training I went through every day back home." Lee was probably exaggerating. Just a little. "I can handle a little footwork."

[heavenly_earth]

[A snort as he takes another bit of his sandwich] So you can handle more footwork, but I can't handle paperwork.

[awokentospring]

"It is a different kind of work. If it were just physical, I know you could handle it, too."

Lee glanced over then glanced away. "As it is, having to watch everything is a strain on your eyes. While I am sure you are highly trained in that, considering Byakugan, I will still worry about you over-extending yourself."

[heavenly_earth]

Neji grunted reluctant acquiescence and swallowed. "I suppose. But don't think your reserves of energy are inexhaustible either, Lee."