♥ 8th Flower Picked

[floralogy]

[Action;]

Oh goodness, it's so cold!

[There's a shriek that follows that and the intense shielding of oneself from the falling snow. Ino trains her eyes around her surroundings. It's obvious she's in the forest, but where exactly? Grumbling, she focuses on staying warm, at least as warm as she can get when she's dressed for a humid forest.]

It's really typical of this place to send you on a mission to a perfectly humid jungle only to dump you back into a freezing forest.

[Ino rambles, teeth starting to chatter amid the frigid air. A certain location looks different when covered in snow but she hasn't been in this place for two years not to know her way around. Two years, Ino recalls, come to think of it, this is my third winter in this place.

She sighs, her expression falling a little, as she focuses on finding her way to the village. Probably by the time she does reach its outskirts, she's freezing and looking ready to fall any moment.]

[Voice; much later]

So, I'm back.

[The voice behind this post, which obviously belongs to Ino, is tired and a little hoarse from sneezing a lot.]

If anyone ever needs me, I'll be available next week.

Or the week after that.

Or the week after that.

[There's a long sigh.]

I think I won't be going on any missions for a while.

[Not that she can promise that, but a long hot bubble bath and some well-deserved rest and relaxation for days are probably in order.]

Comments

Action

[medicalpunch]

[How lucky that Sakura picked this particular edge of town to engage in some tree-punching!

She's not using chakra, so the trees are still standing; she's just working on form and simple muscular strength. But when she hears Ino's approaching footsteps and grumbling, she breaks off and hurries toward her.]

Ino? You must be freezing!

Action

[floralogy]

[Upon hearing Sakura's voice, Ino looks up and pulls out a lopsided smile. What good fortune! And here she thought she'd have to walk to their building freezing.]

Freezing might even be an understatement.

[When you're running on low chakra and just overall tired from two weeks of nonstop healing, being out in the snow dressed for humidity is probably on the bottom of your to-do list.]

[medicalpunch]

Might be! Ugh, come on, let's get you inside and warm. [And just because she really is a good friend when you dig past all their usual quibbling and quarrelling, she pulls off her coat and offers it over.]

Here, I think you need this more than I do right now.

[floralogy]

[Once Sakura offers the coat to her, Ino wears it around her securely.]

Thanks. [There's a soft smile on her red face.] What in the world are you doing out here, by the way?

[Action]

[imonashark]

[Luffy was just wondering about doing his usual Luffy thing when he manages to spot Ino on the outskirts of the town. Right now he's not in anything incredibly warm himself. Just a vest and some jean shorts with sandals. He blinks a little in confusion at her shiverings and what not. Geez what's wrong with you lady?

Also, he hasn't even noticed how cold it is. He's that slow.]

Hm...? Hey are you alright? Why're you shivering like that?

[Action]

[floralogy]

[The last thing she ever needs while shivering from the cold is obvious stupidity. She remembers Luffy going home months ago but she probably didn't notice he's back.

Looking up at him, Ino notices what he's wearing. Oh great, make it look like it's easy, why don't you?]

I don't know, maybe it's because it's freezing out here?

[Action] 1/2

[imonashark]

Wha...?

[Actually... now that he thinks about it--]

[Action]

[imonashark]

[And then all of a sudden he's hugging himself to keep warm and shivering also. Oh god. IT'S SO MUCH COLDER THAN IT WAS BEFORE.]

IT'S COLD!!

[...]

You just had to say something...! [If you hadn't he would have still been warm! Don't you know how cold works?]

[Action]

[floralogy]

Seriously, now it's my fault?

[Shivering and teeth chattering from time to time, Ino sighs and gets a move on while still hugging herself.]

I don't have time for this.

[A beat, then at Luffy:]

You better go and find shelter, though.

[Action]

[fashionably_strong]

[Bulla doesn't live too far away from the forest, and she happens to spot Ino while she's out flying through the trees.]

Oh my gosh! Ino!

[She hovers low to greet her.]

You should come over to my place. You can have something warm to eat and borrow a sweater.

[Action]

[floralogy]

[WATER U DOIN' FLYIN' BULLA LKJASDLA

Upon seeing the other girl, though, Ino wields a small smile.]

Thanks, Bulla, but I'll be fine. [Then, this smile turns a tad amused.] That, and your dad's scary, you know.

[Action]

[fashionably_strong]

Well, he's actually on a mission right now, so no worries there.

[With a playful wink, she adds,]

If you think he's scary, just imagine what he's like with boys who want to date me.

[Action]

[floralogy]

[She snorts, hugging herself more tightly.]

I think I'd rather not go there.

[In a way, she's a little jealous of their father and daughter relationship that she misses her own father greatly. Somehow, it got much, much colder.]

[Voice]

[twinlionfists]

[Hinata is glad that Ino is back and that she wasn't as rude to her as she was to many others in the village.]

It is good to hear that you are back, Ino-san. I...am happy to see you are safe.

[Voice]

[floralogy]

[It's okay. For the record, Ino sort of liked that other Hinata.]

Thanks, Hinata. I'm happy to hear you seem to be back to your usual self, too.

[Voice]

[twinlionfists]

[She is one of a small group then. Poor Hinata.]

Y-yes. It seems that I was...Mallynapped? I believe that is the term that I've heard used before...and allowed to return to myself.

[But not without the nightmares. Oh, no, gotta have those, right?]

Action

[niceguypose]

[Suddenly Rock Lee.

He's hopping out from a pile of snow, wearing his usual jumpsuit and flak jacket, and he greets Ino with a daredevil grin.]

Ino-san! You've returned at last? I see you've already begone special winter survival training!

Action

[floralogy]

[What is even up with that grin, Rock Lee?? Does she look she's training?

Ino just rolls her eyes at him and continues walking.]

No, Lee, I'm freezing.

Action

[niceguypose]

[And Lee spryly jogs alongside her.]

What do you mean by that? Do you - require assistance?!

[stilldontgotit]

[By the time Ino makes it back to the village, she may find a black coat being draped over her. If she turns around, she'll find none other than Riku, smiling warmly at her.]

Just my luck that I brought my coat. You doing okay?

[Of course, in giving her his coat, he's left with nothing but a T-shirt, but he'll deal for now.]

[floralogy]

[Upon finding out who's the Good Samaritan who decided to help a poor, freezing young woman, Ino gives an equally warm (or at least, the warmest she can muster in this state) smile.]

I am now, at least.

[She pulls the coat closer to her with one hand while she goes to hold his hand with the other. He feels so warm, but without his coat for long...]

We should hurry back. You'll be the one freezing if we don't.

[stilldontgotit]

Hey, don't worry about me. I'm not the one who was out on a mission for the past few weeks.

[He shakes his head, but nonetheless, he'll turn towards the direction of the Flame Building.]

Still, the cold's not really my style. Wouldn't want to become a human popsicle out here.

[voice]

[dangerouswind]

That bad, huh?

[voice]

[floralogy]

[She snorts at Temari's question.]

It's not as bad as it was tiring. I'd have to deal with so many wounded soldiers for two weeks. [Two weeks at the very least. Time escapes you when you're out there. If Ino here is from the war, she'd probably understand the gravity of dealing with wounded people here and there, but she's not.]

[voice]

[dangerouswind]

[Neither is Temari, but some things are universal. Do it enough and-]

You'll get used to it.