Hospital work was a chore, especially considering Rei’s own extensive research into the disease threatening to maul her DNA, but it was a necessary one. Getting back into a work life routine was aiding her mind more towards recovery from the three years trapped under a fae god’s thumb. Far more than pouring over countless lines of math to find that perfect formula was, anyhow.
It had surprised her how alien and yet, same, Kumogakure had been in her three years away. The buildings seemed taller. Roads were a thing she was getting used to dodging as the kunoichi darted between them as she preferred leaping across the city far more than riding. Since coming back she had already nearly caused five wrecks and been hit about a dozen times, but managed to just, keep accidents from happening. The one thing that hadn’t changed, thankfully, was the people themselves. Still wired from living under samurai rule there continued to be a social hierarchy that just refused to break; but, despite it being weird to her, she was glad one thing remained from the Kumo she left.
Even the slums were far less…slummy. The downtick on homlessness was almost nil save maybe a hundred people give-or-take that either refused to seek shelter or were there illegally and trying hard to not be caught. At least, what little reports she got back from loyalists in the KIA stated those things. Rei herself never witnessed a single person looking downtrodden due to lack of shelter. She did see the faces of poverty though. Working in the hospital she beheld rampant diseases that still plagued them. New ones that were from the shock changes to the climate and infrastructure, people coming down with illness due to finally getting a chance to relax; which was weird but, prevalent. Food poisoning from improperly cooking the cheaper meats, illness borne of immigrants from the coast moving to the mountains, and the occasional chemical weapon created by accidentally mixing the wrong cleaning products.
She carried all proudly as Rei always had. Happy to be a kunoichi, happy to help her fellow man.
Today, however, had been especially draining. A flu outbreak from the previous colder seasons had resurfaced in the advent of a freak blizzard that had closed down the Dragon Tooth pass temporarily. Not that blizzards at any time of the year were uncommon in their mountain home, but this one struck hard and fast. It was just the same kind she had dealt with a scant ten years ago when metal had been a part of her body. It made her wonder if it was just one of those weather cells that build up over a decade and swung in all at once, but either way it shocked immune systems hard. She had guesstimated that at least fifteen-percent of Kumogakure was dealing with the flu now, and it made the hospital work she had been using as therapy stressful.
Which is why one would find her at that pub today; beer was a backup therapist. Sitting at the bar with a half eaten burger, she downed her third beer and called for another refill. The man behind the counter started to protest but, the jaded look with tired bags beneath Rei’s eyes made him second guess his suggestion - so simply fill back her up glass he did. Reaching into the cooler under his side of the bar, he produced a brown bottle with the image of an equally brown dragon wrapped around the image of a hop flower on a crisp white background. The name of the beer, scrawled out in Kumogakure’s native Vulgar, said ‘Esō’s Grace.’ The name of a dragon, allegedly. All Rei knew or, even care to know, was that the beer was her own clan’s second farming venture after their cabbage empire; and that it was damned delicious.
Cracking the bottle cap against the edge of the bar, the grizzled drink-slinger grabbed the glass and tipped it before gently pouring the golden beer into the cup. As it neared to filled he tilted it back down and finished the top until it fizzed up a nice head that threatened to run over the edge of the glass. He turned away, and tossed the bottle into a recyclables tin for glass, and left the medical shinobi to nurse her stress with the fourth bottle of beer that evening. Grabbing the glass and holding the liquid steady with a gentle stream of chakra, Rei leaned her head back and drained a fourth of the beverage before sighing happily and releasing an audacious belch. It had gathered the attention of a male down the bar who smiled as if he suddenly saw an opening; Rei did not miss that look in his eyes.
He hopped up off his barstool and sauntered down to lean against the bar before reaching into his white jacket to produce a pack of cigarettes. Rei’s red eyes glanced over at the audacity as he shook the pack to produce a single cancer stick, his eyebrows raised and his smile wistful. Three years ago, the ex-Sennin would have taken the advances as a challenge. Downed her beer, grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him into a nearby closet to have her way with him - but there had been a stopper placed on that nonsense. Shirokuu provided enough intimacy both physical and emotional, she didn’t feel that odd craving for attention she once had been nothing but a willing victim off.
“No, I don’t smoke,” she lied, pushing the cigarette back down with a smile. The medical shinobi did, in fact, smoke, just not that brand - and she didn’t want to feed any of the man’s shallow needs.
“Oh? Well, maybe I can buy you a proper drink then? Something with a little more…” his hand slid across the bar to touch her hand, “…edge?”
A flurry of emotions rolled through her. Anger was the probably the first, followed by fear, recurring anger once more, and then a simmered annoyance; the latter at a wondering if she had been this bad. Rei snatched her hand back,
“Do not,” she warned simply before lifting her beer back to lips to gulp down to a remaining quarter. Her head was getting a little swimmy from the mix of alcohol and raw emotions she had been enjoying slowly since returning from a waking nightmare. Probably best to call it a night and head home. Reaching into her back pocket she pulled out a simple folding wallet and placed down a large bill,
“Keep the change as a tip,” she stated, knowing it was worth at least twice what she had bought but there was a deep gut urge to get out now. The man had not taken the hint and kept smiling at her. Picking up her white labcoat from the stool beside her, Rei shrugged it on and moved towards the door only to find the male continuing to stalk after her. He called out, trying to get her attention once more,
“Oy, hey wait! Sure you don’t want to head downtown? I know a much better bar whe-” A single finger interrupted him. She placed it against his lips and shook her head without a smile this time before silently exiting out into the snowy night. The man let out a small chuckle before pulling out a comb and slicking his hair back. There was a certain look in his eyes that said ‘I ain’t giving up that easy,’ and after waiting a full minute, stepped out into the blizzard after Rei…
It had surprised her how alien and yet, same, Kumogakure had been in her three years away. The buildings seemed taller. Roads were a thing she was getting used to dodging as the kunoichi darted between them as she preferred leaping across the city far more than riding. Since coming back she had already nearly caused five wrecks and been hit about a dozen times, but managed to just, keep accidents from happening. The one thing that hadn’t changed, thankfully, was the people themselves. Still wired from living under samurai rule there continued to be a social hierarchy that just refused to break; but, despite it being weird to her, she was glad one thing remained from the Kumo she left.
Even the slums were far less…slummy. The downtick on homlessness was almost nil save maybe a hundred people give-or-take that either refused to seek shelter or were there illegally and trying hard to not be caught. At least, what little reports she got back from loyalists in the KIA stated those things. Rei herself never witnessed a single person looking downtrodden due to lack of shelter. She did see the faces of poverty though. Working in the hospital she beheld rampant diseases that still plagued them. New ones that were from the shock changes to the climate and infrastructure, people coming down with illness due to finally getting a chance to relax; which was weird but, prevalent. Food poisoning from improperly cooking the cheaper meats, illness borne of immigrants from the coast moving to the mountains, and the occasional chemical weapon created by accidentally mixing the wrong cleaning products.
She carried all proudly as Rei always had. Happy to be a kunoichi, happy to help her fellow man.
Today, however, had been especially draining. A flu outbreak from the previous colder seasons had resurfaced in the advent of a freak blizzard that had closed down the Dragon Tooth pass temporarily. Not that blizzards at any time of the year were uncommon in their mountain home, but this one struck hard and fast. It was just the same kind she had dealt with a scant ten years ago when metal had been a part of her body. It made her wonder if it was just one of those weather cells that build up over a decade and swung in all at once, but either way it shocked immune systems hard. She had guesstimated that at least fifteen-percent of Kumogakure was dealing with the flu now, and it made the hospital work she had been using as therapy stressful.
Which is why one would find her at that pub today; beer was a backup therapist. Sitting at the bar with a half eaten burger, she downed her third beer and called for another refill. The man behind the counter started to protest but, the jaded look with tired bags beneath Rei’s eyes made him second guess his suggestion - so simply fill back her up glass he did. Reaching into the cooler under his side of the bar, he produced a brown bottle with the image of an equally brown dragon wrapped around the image of a hop flower on a crisp white background. The name of the beer, scrawled out in Kumogakure’s native Vulgar, said ‘Esō’s Grace.’ The name of a dragon, allegedly. All Rei knew or, even care to know, was that the beer was her own clan’s second farming venture after their cabbage empire; and that it was damned delicious.
Cracking the bottle cap against the edge of the bar, the grizzled drink-slinger grabbed the glass and tipped it before gently pouring the golden beer into the cup. As it neared to filled he tilted it back down and finished the top until it fizzed up a nice head that threatened to run over the edge of the glass. He turned away, and tossed the bottle into a recyclables tin for glass, and left the medical shinobi to nurse her stress with the fourth bottle of beer that evening. Grabbing the glass and holding the liquid steady with a gentle stream of chakra, Rei leaned her head back and drained a fourth of the beverage before sighing happily and releasing an audacious belch. It had gathered the attention of a male down the bar who smiled as if he suddenly saw an opening; Rei did not miss that look in his eyes.
He hopped up off his barstool and sauntered down to lean against the bar before reaching into his white jacket to produce a pack of cigarettes. Rei’s red eyes glanced over at the audacity as he shook the pack to produce a single cancer stick, his eyebrows raised and his smile wistful. Three years ago, the ex-Sennin would have taken the advances as a challenge. Downed her beer, grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him into a nearby closet to have her way with him - but there had been a stopper placed on that nonsense. Shirokuu provided enough intimacy both physical and emotional, she didn’t feel that odd craving for attention she once had been nothing but a willing victim off.
“No, I don’t smoke,” she lied, pushing the cigarette back down with a smile. The medical shinobi did, in fact, smoke, just not that brand - and she didn’t want to feed any of the man’s shallow needs.
“Oh? Well, maybe I can buy you a proper drink then? Something with a little more…” his hand slid across the bar to touch her hand, “…edge?”
A flurry of emotions rolled through her. Anger was the probably the first, followed by fear, recurring anger once more, and then a simmered annoyance; the latter at a wondering if she had been this bad. Rei snatched her hand back,
“Do not,” she warned simply before lifting her beer back to lips to gulp down to a remaining quarter. Her head was getting a little swimmy from the mix of alcohol and raw emotions she had been enjoying slowly since returning from a waking nightmare. Probably best to call it a night and head home. Reaching into her back pocket she pulled out a simple folding wallet and placed down a large bill,
“Keep the change as a tip,” she stated, knowing it was worth at least twice what she had bought but there was a deep gut urge to get out now. The man had not taken the hint and kept smiling at her. Picking up her white labcoat from the stool beside her, Rei shrugged it on and moved towards the door only to find the male continuing to stalk after her. He called out, trying to get her attention once more,
“Oy, hey wait! Sure you don’t want to head downtown? I know a much better bar whe-” A single finger interrupted him. She placed it against his lips and shook her head without a smile this time before silently exiting out into the snowy night. The man let out a small chuckle before pulling out a comb and slicking his hair back. There was a certain look in his eyes that said ‘I ain’t giving up that easy,’ and after waiting a full minute, stepped out into the blizzard after Rei…
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