So We Meet Again (NK, Kozachi)

Oh boy. The adventure was just getting started. Where would the day take them? There would be only one way to find out. With a smirk, Suzume said, "I'm in." Though, she never had so little as a drop of alcohol to have ever dance on her tongue. Not to mention it was a bit intimidating being that it was a duo of drunk kooks the frightened her some time ago. Though, since she had a buddy, what harm could be done? Kozachi was already fun in a normal state, that could only mean she would be yet more fun in an intoxicated state, right? Whatever it even meant to be intoxicated, as Suzume thought once they left the ice cream store. She opened the door wide for her gal pal, performing an over dramatic bow announcing, "After you, my lady!"

[WC: 141 and Yeah, same]

My lady? Kozachi hid a frown. Even in the clan compound, nobody addressed her like that. The "young princess" and whatever other titles were supposedly fitting for her were simply formalities of the past. It then dawned upon her that Suzume might just be joking. Well, maybe she really did need to get out more. Assuming Suzume was still following her, Kozachi got onto the trolley and went some distance across the village. Public transport, haha. It was certainly an excellent option when compared to the alternatives, and she didn't feel like hopping across the rooftops like the rest of the genin in town.

They soon arrived in the more affluent, millennial portion of town. She didn't like the bars in the poorer area, they didn't keep her dad's tab and were often filled with all kinds of unsavory characters. That certainly wasn't a way to treat Suzume out on a night like this, when the rain was just beginning to weaken and the moon was just starting to peek its way timidly out of the array of clouds. No, her family went to this one pretty frequently, so she could just put the drinks on her parents' tab and get off scott free. They never really seemed to mind one way or the other.

They disembarked at their destination. A nice-looking establishment, the interior revealed a sort of plush, lounge-like environment. She seemed to recall a similar ambient feeling being described in a book she'd read at the library, but couldn't recall it at that moment.
"Well, this is the club. Wanna order something to drink? Don't worry about the cost..." Kozachi quipped as she sauntered towards the bar. Not too many people around, that was good. The general club feeling was already settling into her, giving everything the air of cordiality and general propriety and comfort.
[TWC 2104
The book is "Anna Karenina" by Tolstoy.]

Once Kozachi made her way out the door, Suzume followed a few paces behind. The other girl knew where she was going, so it was just easier to take after her footing. Although, upon reaching the station to board the trolley she would link arms as to not get separated in the crowd. Once seated, Suzume started up some chatter to pass the time on the ride. She'd even go to pointing out that the rain lightened up, since she wasn't the best at conversation but sure did try to be. Kind of lame, but what else could she do keeping herself in her supposed homely cave so often? It was odd going out like this, certainly not something Suzume would plan herself...but it was fun so far. 

"Oh really? Well...if you say so," she responded to Kozachi's statement not to worry about the cost. She scanned the menu for something that looked interesting...which she hardly knew how to choose due to never doing things like this before. So, Suzume paid more attention to the ingredients. "Hmmm..." she'd mumble, taking some time to get familiar with it all. But, once she came across a certain limey cocktail, Suzume would tell, "Hahah, well, how about a Kamikaze?" 

The environment was good for a first club experience. Sitting at the bar, Suzume would smirk thinking, "I could do this more often". Of course, that was during a calm hour at the club. The music wasn't so crazy yet, it felt cozy in a sense. But Suzume couldn't help but feel nervous. She'd give a tiny giggle, trying to hide it to not seem weird. She would turn her attention to Kozachi, maybe staying focused on her would ease the odd feeling. 

[WC: 289]

Taking a seat next to Suzume, Kozachi sighed and ordered "her usual" from the bartender. As it turned out, this was just a garden variety Bloody Mary. As they waited for their drinks to be delivered, Kozachi thought carefully about what she was about to do. Right, so Suzume had ordered something that was evidently higher in alcohol content than what Kozachi had asked for. She could win this! Sure, it kinda felt like cheating? The girl briefly reconsidered. Should she have ordered something else? Agggh! Wait, why the hell was she making this into some kind of drinking contest in the first place? Man, this was confusing.

Well, she thought, as she started sipping her drink, at least this tastes good. The club atmosphere made her anguished mind appreciate the taste far more than she would have otherwise, and her worries faded into the background of her mind as if drowned in a sea of winter duvets and pillows. Ahhh, now that's what she needed. Something to take her mind off of Ken and other serious matters. Now was the time for relaxation. She could almost feel the exhaustion and fatigue evaporating from her body. Whew. Not too bad.

"Yeah, it's not as bad of a habit as people would have you believe." She responded to Suzume's quip nonchalantly. "This place is a little old fashioned, but that's the kind of person it caters to, y'know?" The girl grinned a little. Right, the whole Uchiha clan, herself included, was living decades in the past. Not always a bad thing, she thought, as she remembered the clan laws that bound her and kept her safe. The system was something to obey, and to work within, not to rebel against. Why couldn't her brother see that....? And the protesting thought was drowned in a sea of delicious fresh drink.

"So, have any exciting stories? Maybe something exciting at work? My life is a lot more boring than you'd expect..."

[TWC 2432]

This would be the first time Suzume ever had any kind of drink like this. The next closest experience in flavor would probably have been a juice box while in the academy. She took a first sip, knowing that some people describe alcohol as being a particular foul tasting liquid. She did recall one time, how a much more experienced shinobi told her that once she was older and had her heart broken a few times to go to a bar and drink straight rum. What a suggestion...but Suzume preferred to just not have her hear broken in the first place. Yeah, it was much better to be sitting here in good company enjoying a fruity mix than to be drowning in sorrows with bitter tastes. That shinobi was pretty messed up, she would think, as she swallow that first sip. 

It wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. After all, it was a mix. She didn't even truly know what was in it, other than the limey flavoring. Once her taste buds no longer absorbed the sensations from her drink, she once again turned to Kozachi who had just asked her to talk about something entertaining. There wasn't much going on in her life either, other than the typical training routine she sometimes stuck to, and other times didn't. Ah, but...she did just get a new horse familiar! A huge one. Maybe that would be something to talk about? 


"Well...there's this huge black as night horse I just got. He's my new familiar of sorts..." She had only recently just bonded with the creature, but it was quiet an adventure coming across him. It could make for a story, for now, if Kozachi found it to be interesting enough to hear about. 

[WC: 295]