Meeting a new friend? [Private] Honey

From nowhere, 6 feet of sweaty, heavily dressed man appeared in the crowd, a few of the passers-by jumping back. With a quick step forward he catches the cigarette butt before it hits the ground, and throws it in the trash once it’s extinguished. Exhaling, he looks up at the man who was searching for something to do besides sweat it out in the winds. Watching his gaze, he could tell that he was not a secret presence. He only hoped he saw how cool his entrance was, reckless placement beside the point.

“You looking for your true love too, snakeskin?” He calls to the sand-colored man. He turns his body to one side, and points directly at him. “I’m new around here, and I’m looking for higher stakes than catching invertebrates.” He scratches his chin. [Who can be trusted in battle? How can I put this to the test?]

As he thought about this, he took a good look at their surroundings. It looked like a crowded area, and through the winding crowds, it seemed common for there to be families on the streets. The sight put Honey Bunches at ease. Getting lost in the smiles on the children’s faces, he turned back to the greeting ninja. “We should go somewhere with less people. It feels like the whole world is visiting Sunagakure today.” He senses the tension farther away toward the markets, but unable to see it he’s left anxious, and he begins to tap his foot.

“Look, I’m not great at meeting new people.” Honey Bunches states frankly. “I don’t know what you want me to say to you, I don’t know what color you think I run by, but…” Trailing off, Honey Bunches scratches his chin and feels a headache coming on. Even though it was almost noon and still early in the day, he felt something deep within him stirring in a way he did not recognize. Leaving this thought behind was the same as leaving a loved one hungry, and the more he ignored it the more it tried to take him.

This appeared as Honey Bunches staring into space for what seemed to be almost a minute, unable to hear anything that was said. If there were words, he would respond “YES.” enthusiastically. If not, he would continue to understand this man’s strange scent. Looking to the sky, he knew that if there was one place that they could find time to kill, it was by searching out the sketchiest scenes this side of town had to offer.

NP: 1
AP: 390/400

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Sukotto felt another heartbeat come into range moments before a large man dressed in clothes not at all appropriate for the heat of the desert appeared. It probably wasn't too bad to wear within Suna's barrier, though the clothing was still far too heavy for his taste. "Well that is one way to make an entrance. I guess I did just kinda jump off a building, so maybe that's just the cool thing to do. Bam, surprise person."

Sukotto heard the man speak and paused a bit taken aback. "True love? Wait, snakeskin?" He looked down at himself and considered the comment. He was dressed head to toe in clothes that blended into the desert while also protecting him from the sun so he could kind of see it, but he certainly had never considered that particular comparison. The next thing that the man had said then registered and he was back to being confused as hell. "What does he mean? Was he literally out catching invertebrates? Am I the invertebrate because of the snakeskin comment? I am so fucking lost."

He stared at the man lost as to what to say. His violet eyes passed over him, trying to search out his meaning with the last comment. He didn't know whether the man had been insinuating that Sukotto was weak, or if he was using some colloquialism that he was just unfamiliar with. Finally he decided to ignore it, as he wasn't going to get the answer by just thinking about it. Then the man spoke again, this time at least Sukotto understood him, and seeing as he had just been talking about being bored as hell he could humor the man and engage with him. Maybe even get a measure of him as he tried to figure out what exactly he had been talking about. 

Sukotto then heard him talking about colors and felt more confused than ever. The man seemed to trail off mid sentence, or he had simply stopped talking because he also didn't know what he meant by running with colors, Sukotto honestly didn't know. He finally responded, if somewhat tentatively, "Ummm it wouldn't really be less people, but there is an arena here if you are looking for high stakes. Do you want to maybe check it out?" 

The heavily dressed man responded with an enthusiastic yes, so Sukotto nodded. "Okay then. Let's go." He started off in the direction of the arena, not entirely sure what had just transpired or where this day was going to end up leading him. If nothing else, he couldn't say he was bored anymore. Confused as all hell, yes, bored, no.

[WC445] [TWC 965]

Excited to be heading to different parts of the market, he eagerly followed pace with his new friend as they began walking down the Suna streets. All of the surroundings new to him, he breathed it in and ignored the feeling in the back of his head that something darker lurked in this village, and within himself. Clearing his throat he took a good look at their trail, and the bustle was at a point where there were no more children, no more adults, and nothing.

As they traveled down their path Honey Bunches noted that there were more of what looked like real ninja headed in the same direction on a wide stone path.
“Where did you say we were going again…?” He looked to the man he was following, “And what was your name?” He followed him further down the path, quickening his pace. The bustle of life was enough to get him excited about their destination.

As he moved to pass a few more stores, he smelled the reek of explosives and weaponry, and he turned his head. “I’m Honey Bunches. What do you say we get something to eat first?” He points a single, corded finger towards an elaborate sign for a large cooking establishment. There was smoking pouring through the chimney from the main fire, and the smell that came off it mixed with the weaponry behind him made him feel like he had found his home. The shouts and laughter within added to his spirit, and he looked towards his friend for confirmation.

As soon as he started moving towards the dining establishment, his weaponry training kicked in like instinct, his dedicated specialty driving his judgment of what most see as a tool without flaw. He wanted to hold each and every one of the blades in his hands, and to feel the weight of each axe so as to determine the skill of the smith; therefore the price tags would be but idle markings, the handling of each its true worth.

“Did you see those tantos back there, my friend?” Honey Bunches asks, entering the establishment before the one he called snakeskin. “They looked a little… Oooh.”

Gathered around a massive beast on a spit there were numerous ripped, black market type individuals surrounding two small girls, and howling with either delight or despair. Upon closer inspection, it looked almost as if they were spinning tops mixed with dice, and doing strange rituals for each number for each cubed toy.

NP: 2
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“We’re trying to make a damn meal here!!” A man with a chef hat ducks down behind a counter. “What the hell has gotten into you?” Peeking out from behind it, he quickly ducks back down. It looks like this wasn’t a family establishment, something Honey Bunches desperately was searching for. To dine in a place in which the majority of customers are bitter and ungrateful, he would kiss their hands and dance with them through the swept halls.

Dropping a hand on Sukotto’s shoulder, Honey Bunches let out a warm chuckle. “Eager for action, are we Snakeskin? Or, Mr. Sukotto…” His eyes stay measured looking at the man, watching his body preparing to end this establishment. He only hoped he would spare his friendly gesture from the wrath that was obviously bubbling around him.

Honey Bunches moved to push sunglasses up his face, but as he has none, it looked like he was picking his nose. “The truth of the matter is, it smells delicious.”

He scratched his chin and grumbled, looking among the tables. It looked like it was not serving merchants and friendlies after all. Suddenly standing very still and feeling a sting on his cheek, Honey Bunches touched his face and saw blood on his hand. Looking back to the table of games, both young women were gone with the muscular men moving towards Sukotto. From his senses he noticed they were in the rafters, hands full of senbon. As the muscular men approached Sukotto, it was clear they were not happy with him, and Honey Bunches was the prime accessory, dressed like an outsider powdered in sand.

Another scream erupted from the make-shift kitchen. The chef then pulled the kunai out of the beast, and threw it back at Sukotto, with the full expectation he could catch it with ease. Looking closer, two of his assistants went over to him as he began to talk furiously. He started beating the table, and he pushed the beast off its burner, spilling coals and meat all over the ground. As he started screaming, the man began doing hand seals next to the fire and the meat, no longer with sights on the two with four goons to their name.

Looking again at his friend, there was a small bit of excitement in his lycan eye. “We should have come from the roof, huh?”

NP:3
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Doused along with his flame, the man making hand seals sulked, and snatched the pouch out of the air. Handing it to his associates, they quickly ran off for the time being.

Honey Bunches looks at Sukotto apologizing and tilts his head to one side, expecting a conflict. It seemed the people in here were forgiving, but a single man still pushed to the front of the small crowd, as everyone else dropped down and tried to return to normalcy.

“Hey, didn’t you hear him? We didn’t want any trouble. He paid your boss, and everything will be taken care of--”

“Don’t you understand!?” The huge stranger bellowed, pounding his chest. “I’m not a damn cook! This was supposed to be our anniversary dinner! We were separated for years wandering this damn wasteland and now that we finally have our peace, you come in here and wreck the juiciest beast we could find, hauled by ninja from the Land of Fire?” The man shakes his head. “There’s going to be hell to pay.”

Honey Bunches holds up a hand in his friend’s defense. “Now, it was a big misunderstanding. We aren’t trying to ruin your evening, but we have to be adults here and settle this rationally and with reason.”

Growling and towering at 6’7, the man glared down at Honey Bunches. “The only rational thought I have is every reason I have to kick your ass.” The tall man roars and brings his right arm down to crush Honey Bunches’ shoulder without further hesitation.

With Honey Bunches easily dodging it, the few punches he could land against his enemy’s head was without effect. This however caused the enemy switch his guard, kicking over a table behind him and taking a fighting stance. Lifting a chair in his hand, he tossed it once, and threw it directly at Sukotto, roaring and beginning to throw cups and chairs at the both of them, about 2 set tables worth.

His reaction time causing the cups to float towards the wall behind him, he felt himself duck down and brace his legs. Duck, and step: clearing the short distance between himself and the enemy in a moment. Beneath the tables, he kicked himself up behind the enemy. In this moment, he pulled back his hand and punched with all his strength.

Honey Bunches was ready for the impact to crush his opponent, but his opponent’s block only served to bring him agony. Jumping back, he roars, dropping his hat and jacket to the floor. “Damn that smarts.” Another kick to the chest sent the rusty fighter back again, being thrown on top of a table onto his back, his jacket and hat being thrown into the dirty, charcoal water behind the kitchen limits.


NP: 4
AP:400/400
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A single bead of sweat trailed down the man’s forehead, and he took a slow, shaky step back. “Fine!” He puts a table back up, leaving the broken or thrown chairs on the ground. He refused to ask for money or a replacement meal, and he leaves alone. Watching him go, Honey Bunches shakes his head and gives a weak smile. [It looks like some people have been on the run longer than he has...]

He looked to the ground, and began picking up and placing chairs back in their correct spots, before becoming overwhelmed with the urge to throw it through the wall next to him. Holding the side of his head, he took a shaky breath, and pinched the bridge of his nose as blood began to flow. Opening his eyes, he saw his friend, and the room around him began spinning, before slowly coming back to a stop. Bent over, with his hands on his knees, Honey Bunches lets out a howl, and then returns to what seems like normal.

“So,” He puts a hand on his chin, talking in his usual measured droll. “A man willing to kill over…” A face of pain flashes across Honey Bunches, but again it fades. “Over a serving of ribs? I think he had something else going on already…” He shakes his head lazily, then points outside the building towards the arena. “It smells like they have something else in store.”

Through the door, a few workers hauled bags of wood and charcoal while a larger one brought in what looked to be a takeout bag full of portions of pulled meat. Dispersing it amongst the crowd, there didn’t seem to be any ill intent, except for from the boss. Said boss now approaching, Honey Bunches started to walk out the door, feeling the chakra in his body becoming too much for him to control.

“Wait now!” The small man called, coming back over. He holds his hand out, the hand full of ryo, as he beams at them. “You were short! I need more!”

Tossing a fistful of coins at the boss with no regard, Honey Bunches turned his head and snarled his teeth, his eyes and body no longer carrying their usual carelessness.

“If you value your life…” Honey Bunches lets out a pained cough. “Don’t follow me.” He glares dead at Sukotto, but speaks quietly enough that he could reasonably not be heard, unless one was really listening.

With this, he gave a quick thumbs up to the water clones, examining them so that he may be able to learn something about them himself, his mind started run circles and his legs followed suit, sprinting at his full speed through the village, jumping over barriers and dodging through people. Anything to get somewhere where he wouldn’t unleash what he knew was waiting for him.

NP: 5
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