V-Day Means Work Day. [OPEN]

[thewarisover]

Characters: Roy and other Workaholics
Location: The DOGS Office
Rating: G for now!
Time: February 14, after training until whenever!
Description: What do you do while love is in the air and a chocolate craze has hit Death City? Work like nobody's business.



Even with all of the buzz and the excitement, Valentine's Day was just another day, wasn't it? That meant that people got up, people trained, and people went to work, especially if they happened to be employed with DOGS and the Watch.

Of course, Death City had a way of making things stop being normal pretty quickly...




ooc: Make your own threads and do your own thing in here, guys - do action or prose, whatever you're more comfortable with! Just specify a time, whether your thread's open or closed and maybe a general location as needed. ♥

Comments

[heavenly_earth]

It's a long story. [And not a very nice one at that, but now with Hanabi and Hinata here, it would have come up eventually. Still, where to even start?]

My life.. is devoted to their protection. Specifically, I am Hinata-sama's guardian- and Hanabi-san's as well, as there is no one else to protect her, here.

[Maybe when she found a strong Weapon, but even then, he'd still habitually watch her]

Not only are they my cousins, but they are the prized children of the Hyuuga Head. And as a member of the Branch, it's my duty to ensure their safety. Neither of them should be in a position where they take orders from me.

[thewarisover]

[Lifting an eyebrow.]

Aren't you older than them?

[heavenly_earth]

Yes. [Stronger and known as the genius of the clan to boot] But things like age and inherent capability aren't considered within the structure of our clan.

[His fingers clench within his sleeves, but he does manage to keep any lingering bitterness out of his voice, because it's just a smokescreen for the real problem here] The only thing tradition recognizes is birthright, and as a result, I am technically their subordinate.

[thewarisover]

[He caught that gesture, caught that tone. Roy watched the other for a moment longer, and then set his work aside.]

Why don't you sit down with me for a bit?

[heavenly_earth]

I- [am fine, busy, don't need to, can't are all things he tries to say in some form or another, but in the end he sits because he's not sure what else to do and grasps for something else to say]

It would probably be fine normally, but our relations are.. strained, at the moment.. They don't need to be worsened.

[thewarisover]

Strained? Why?

[Patient as ever. It is odd that Neji would open up like this. Might as well make the most out of it.]

[heavenly_earth]

[A hand absently goes up to rub at his forehead where the protector lies, covering his seal that had deepened to a dark red like a bloody reminder of recent events]

I hated them for ten years. [It's like he can't stop the words from coming] I almost killed Hinata-sama three years ago, then attacked Hanabi-san during my capture more than a week ago, even though I'm meant to protect them.

[thewarisover]

To my understanding, the witches did something that made a lot of people act out of turn. That could not have been helped.

[It's the plain, simple truth for Roy, and nothing for anyone to blame themselves for.]

What happened three years go?

[heavenly_earth]

[But he'd experienced that very same hatred again and that shook him more than the attack itself]

I met Hinata-sama in the preliminaries of the Chuunin exams. [A single match-up that could not have been more ill-fated, and Neji's eyes fix on a point away from everyone else] I blamed the Head Family for my father's sacrifice, and resented my position in the clan as a prodigy bound by their traditions, subservient to a girl I had long since surpassed. ..She would have died, if not for the medics nearby.

[Almost the same way Gai would have died, if the rescue teams hadn't shown when they did]

[thewarisover]

[Listening quietly, one good eye never turning from Neji.]

But she didn't die. What happened?

[heavenly_earth]

We fought. In the end she was suffering too, as Hiashi-sama set his sights on Hanabi-san as heir.

[thewarisover]

And how did that make you feel?

[heavenly_earth]

[Have a blink, Roy, then frowning cause feelings]

..At the time, I felt that my father should have been born first.

[thewarisover]

[Ah, well. There's the rub, eh?]

Is there no way to change the traditions that you have in place?

[heavenly_earth]

[Again with the rubbing forehead, though he looks stressed this time, like he's thought of it a million times and no closer to a solution]

Possibly, but it's out of my hands... The traditions in place are meant to protect the Hyuuga's valuable bloodline limit, and have worked to effectively keep the secrets of the Byakugan from falling into enemy hands. All I can do is hope Hinata-sama or Hanabi-san will work for that change when either of them succeed Hiashi-sama.

[thewarisover]

[Eyeing you for a moment.]

So why don't you help them do it?

[heavenly_earth]

I've been doing what I can.

[thewarisover]

But...?

[heavenly_earth]

The thing that binds the Branch family to the will of the Head family can never be removed.

[thewarisover]

What are you talking about?

[heavenly_earth]

A seal. [And several moments are spent in consideration of leaving it at that despite the fact that Roy couldn't know what it was] ..It's a mark placed on members of the Branch family that extinguishes threat of rebellion, and locks away the Byakugan upon death.

[thewarisover]

...That's a terrible practice.

[heavenly_earth]

..Yes. [It had torn his family apart and left him leashed to the remainder like an unwanted ghost] I will not rest until I see it's changed.

[thewarisover]

I'd do the same thing, if I was in your position.

[heavenly_earth]

[He spends a few moments in silent contemplation- once again considering that distant future until he stands] ..In any case, we need to survive both wars first, and considering recent events, I don't think I can promise to be able protect her as I am now.