Sixth Gate: Rock Lee's Springtime of Love [Action/Written]

[niceguypose]

[Action]

[Lee had been going about his daily routine as usual - or seemingly so - on this brand new day. But there were some omissions he had not noticed; he did not check the journal to see if Sakura had any new messages, nor did he look out for her at all as he ran throughout the village. And then? His jog came to a sudden halt as he caught Izumo Kamiki out of the corner of his eye. He found himself collapsing to the ground with the sudden rush of feeling.

Those eyebrows... why had he not noticed how beautiful they were? And immediately, he thought of other things that suddenly seemed compelling about her. The way she cared for her fox, the romance novels she seemed interested in reading... There was no choice. He would have to romance her. So he ran off to the flower shop and the library to make preparations.

Later that day, Lee could be found jogging through the village in search of Izumo. The difference? He is now balancing a titanic vase on his head, which is filled with dozens of flowers. On top of that, there's a romance novel sticking out of the pocket of his flak jacket. He is young and in love, and he couldn't feel better.]

[Written]

[And at some point in the day, Lee sees fit to write a simple message in the journal.]

Youth is love.

[ooc: Lee's triggers can be found here. Some of them are tentative to a degree but he's primarily open to be bounced off of!]

Comments

[Action]

[medicalpunch]

[It's nice and early, and Sakura's out on the way to do some training of her own when a familiar flash of green and orange catches her eye. She pauses, though, giving Lee a bit more of a thorough look than usual.

Okay, so that bodysuit is never going to be stylish. But she's never taken note before that what it does, and very well at that, is showcase Lee's powerful body. He's not a brick wall, but he's a completely physical fighter and it absolutely shows in how honed and trained his body is. And what ninja wouldn't appreciate that? Peak physical prowess...

She should go say hello. Maybe see if he's willing to join her for a bit of training? And maybe get a bite to eat afterward or something. Hang out a bit. Spend some time...

She's blushing slightly as she approaches him.]

Lee! Good morning!

[Action]

[niceguypose]

[He couldn't tell why, but somehow, at a first fleeting glimpse of Sakura... for once, he felt no compulsion to stop and talk to her. But one she called out to him, he came to a halt, then he slowly turned to face her.

He blinked, and a look of disgust crossed his face for a moment. Was her forehead always that... disturbingly immense? And her hair... why had he seen appeal in that color? It was like that infatuation had been decided by another man. Lee could barely stand being near her.

After a moment, his politeness compelled him to look less disgusted. But he could not manage a smile at all.]

Ah- Good morning. S- Sakura.

[Action]

[medicalpunch]

[The flicker of distaste that crossed his expression wasn't lost on her, and she felt her heart sink. Maybe they hadn't always had the best history (and she has to admit, internally, that most of it is her own fault) but she didn't think that he held actual dislike for her because of it!

But maybe she was overthinking, and it wasn't to do with her at all. Maybe she could keep going. But even after the look of distaste was gone, he still didn't look even remotely pleased to see her.]

Are you on the way to do some training? [Look at that hopeful face. Please say yes?]

[written]

[not_a_troll]

Like long cat is long, oracular message is quite oracular.

Please enlighten me.

:-)

[written]

[niceguypose]

Is your cat diseased? I am concerned. However, I shall tell you that my message is simple yet beautiful in meaning.

Youth is the most fragile and precious period in one's life, and one from which countless reserves of energy may be drawn. But youth can only truly be enjoyed in its maximum potential when fulfilled by love.

[written]

[not_a_troll]

I do not own a cat. I do know long cat has been quite a long cat. I never knew you could be so poetic.

I do not support such a theory. Yet I think I am correct to presume you are in love.

Therefore I shall bestow great advice upon you.

[Written]

[fierybluebird]

Oi. Age can be love too.

[Written]

[niceguypose]

But powered by the lingering remnants of youth. "Youth" and "love" have so much purity and potency, they cannot help but intersect.

[Written]

[fierybluebird]

What are you even talking about?

[action]

[bossybrows]

[Izumo's near the fountain when she spots Lee and...why is her heart racing like this so suddenly?

She's never noticed Lee this way before, wow. It's surprising and overpowering enough that she isn't even bothering to get weirded out by the vase he's balancing on his head. In fact, she's realizing that when he does stuff like that, it's kind of endearing. Everything about him is...

She has to talk to him.]

U-um, Lee?

[action]

[niceguypose]

I-Izumo-san!

[He cries out as he sees her, his face turning red and the vase quavering on his head while his heart was doing crunches.]

I must tell you... about my passion!

[He grabs onto the vase nervously with trembling hands and raises it up. ...And the shakiness tilts the vase so that many flowers will come raining down on Izumo.]

[action]

[bossybrows]

[Izumo does her best to try and catch them--it hasn't hit her that they're for her yet, but there is a part of her that's hoping as she gathers them up, intending to hand them back to him. Her face also growing bright red.]

Your passion...?!

written;

[etudes]

... Those two words don't mean the same thing, right?

written;

[niceguypose]

No, they do not. That is a very profound observation, Kotomi-chan. However, the ideas connect in a way which is profound.

[etudes]

I see. So the idea of love is connected to the idea of youth? .. But I thought old people could fall in love as well.

[Written]

[uccellodifuoco]

Depending on how much youth there is that love may get you in trouble, you know.

[This is Ikki deciding to be polite enough to not say directly how stupid the idea is.]

[Written]

[niceguypose]

[Oh, it's Phoenix Ikki. He hasn't heard from him in some time... although on Christmas he did leave or try to leave him a punching bag full of bricks addressed from Santa.]

Do not misunderstand! I will seek no love that is forbidden, Ikki-kun.

[Written]

[uccellodifuoco]

[Not even the guy who lives with Ikki hears from him that much anyway, Ikki tends to prefer to be the silent guy who stalks others and knows what they are up to but never gets involved. The punching bag was delivered but the mun sucks at remembering to tag things so it wasn't played out Ikki has never cared much about Santa and gifts (actually he would prefer to avoid them) so it had little impact on him.]

You're lucky there are so many people here under the age of twenty and above the age of ten. I feel sorry for the old hags and geezers over twenty though, no love for them for being too old.

action

[weaponry]

[ Tenten has basically assumed the role of the Naruto Cast's Local Mckalya Maroney with her legendary unimpressed face. And Lee's display of a giant, flower filled vase, and the additional romance novel in his flak jacket (that did not go unnoticed with your teammate's sharp eyes, Lee!) has proved itself to be unimpressive to Tenten. It's also given her a simple conclusion.

She hates valentines day. But, still, Lee could be doing intensive training for Sakura's affections or some other side-chapter worthy story, so, just have Tenten staring Lee down. ]

Lee? What the hell are you doing? [ Normally, she'd ask without the use of the word hell, but that romance novel.... 8|aaa ]

action

[niceguypose]

Tenten! [He grins like a loon and with the vase kept balanced on his head, he reaches forward to clap both hands on her shoulders.]

Tenten. I am in love!

action

[weaponry]

With Sakura? Yeah, I know that, but what's making you go all out for this! You've tried this before, remember? [ She's going to try to lean back from his grasp but will eventually give in.

She might burn these shoulders and get new ones when she gets home. ]

[Action]!

[tsuntrader]

[...There is a guy in spandex jogging with a huge vase filled with flowers on his-]

...Do you need help with that? [...But he has his hands so obviously not- so why is he balancing it on his--]

[Action]!

[niceguypose]

Ah!

[Lee was so focused on his ordeal of love that he almost ignored this youth's call. It's probably good for Silver that he currently has a thing against only pink hair.

But Lee turns and gives him a nice guy pose - thumbs up and a shining smile. The vase only jostles somewhat atop his head. One flower does manage to come loose and slowly fall towards Silver.]

No thank you, fellow youth! I am OK! [Even with the automatic translations, the "OK" sounds very gratuitous English-y.]

[song_princess]

Shouldn't it be, "Love is best obtain in youth"?

[niceguypose]

That is one way of interpreting it, to be sure. I only wrote the words found in my heart!