Regrouping [Completed]

[weeatbodies.livejournal.com]

Character(s): Zetsu and Itachi, plus anyone else who wants to harass join them. :D
Content: Talking and heading for the hotel, unless they happen to get sidetracked.
Setting: Vanaheim area, between the gate and E2's Actua Are.
Time: Late afternoon/early evening
Warnings: None yet.

 Itachi was right--a stationary ninja was a dead one. Nevertheless, without a secure base of operations to retreat to, they might as well be dead, even if it was only a hotel room. They would need a place to rest eventually, and at least a modicum of privacy and protection. He was used to making do in forests and such for that--who would dare to attack him, when the forest itself would rise to his aid?--but he wasn't sure what Itachi's experiences were with that. Besides, he wouldn't dare to do it in here, not when he couldn't sense a single plant in the vicinity. It was profoundly unsettling to him, enough so to prompt looks of veiled disgust at the so obviously fake plants they passed, even if they were beautiful. A twisted mockery of life made from lifeless things, a substitute for the lives they refused to let flourish within their precious painted domes.... It made him angry, even if he didn't show it. He would rather the most gnarled and dead tree made of real wood over a gorgeously wrought tree of gold--he could at least revive the former and breathe new life into it.

He efficiently typed out a message board post, having figured out how to use the camera feature on the journal; that let him pull out a few Bingo Books to capture the pictures of his partners included with their descriptions, last but not least pulling out a glossy photo of Sasuke to finish the list off. He gave it a thoughtful look as the message was posted, before offering the picture to Itachi as they walked. "You can keep it, if you'd like--he's 13 in this, like you." He figured it was a nice thing to do--whether or not Sasuke was actually here in Paixao, at least Itachi would have some little token of his presence. And it would be interesting to hear just what the young man had to say about Sasuke's growth, considering the age difference.

Comments

[redeyesatnight.livejournal.com]

Itachi nodded as they headed up to the room that they were staying in. The young Uchiha was exhausted from the strenuous day, far more tired than he thought he should be. Naturally, he didn't count emotional and mental exhaustion into the mix and therein lie his problem.

Itachi barely had enough energy to make it to the bed and he collapsed upon it. Really, he probably should have felt bad for not thanking Zetsu or at least saying good night. However, by the time he would have realised such a mistake, he was already asleep.

[weeatbodies.livejournal.com]

Zetsu shook his head at the collapse, smiling wryly to himself. Emotional upset strong enough to override all else, even the danger instinct..... He could barely remember the last time he'd been thanked for something, or traded good nights with anyone. Sometime in his youth, before the change.... Either way, it hardly mattered. What mattered was that he was still alert and active, thankfully, enough so to keep both of them safe. He made a few silent handseals, watching a clone appear, a few wisps of smoke rising as the form solidified, and indicated the door and window. "Guard duty." The clone nodded its understanding, and simply sat to watch the entry points, as it would for the rest of the night.

For his part, Zetsu took a moment to lift Itachi into his arms, long enough to get him settled onto the bed in a more comfortable position and pull the covers over him. At least now his sleep should actually be restful.... The plant-nin sat on the other side of the bed, flipping open his journal to glance at the message board for any new information, and perhaps update his private journal with another entry. He doubted he'd spend too long at it, though; it promised to be a long day tomorrow, and he fully intended to get some sleep as well.