- Appearance:
The Day:The young girl had her appearance requested, or rather mandated, to attend tonight's party at Iwagakure's "diplimatic" home within the land of Takigakure during the time frame of the Chunnin Exams. At the moment, she had a temporary living space in the center of the Labyrinth, of which she had made her way through in order to continue to the 2nd stage of the exams. It offered a serene living space, away from the crowded grounds within the village.
Iwagakure's House near the festival grounds was a place that those from Iwagakure temporarily visiting for the exams could stay or store things while visiting. She could have chosen to stay their instead of her temporary place, near the battlegrounds as it were, but the Labyrinth was such a wondrous place, and out of the want to avoid large crowds of gawkers or fans that would infest the area. Though it was expected that she would make an appearance at some point to those fans, or rather, those that were placing bets on her. She knew the object of her attendance was just that, a way to advertise herself to them in order to gain some form or manner of transaction. She was to bring her gear with her, her gourd, since this was a defining trait of hers. Though, she didn't like the idea of going to this event, she was young, and the attention would be a new experience for her. She decided to make the best out of such an experience and go for broke as it were. She first visited this housing unit to drop off some of her stuff for tonight, allowing plenty of time to do what ever else before than.
The remainder of her day she spent shopping for something to wear to the festivities. An enjoyable experience in of itself. The young girl visited the many shops that were bustling at all times because of the events of the Chuunin Exams. Fortune smiled on her that no one really recognized her out and about. She choose to leave behind her giant gourd because of this reason, in order to infiltrate the village with the least about of attention. She visited many shops, trying on all manners of clothing but all of it seemed a little out of her price range. She was a genin and very young, her purse wasn't all that grand. Most of the clothing she liked was several times that that would be rewarded for completion of a mission. The idea of having to wear her normal shinobi clothing didn't seem like an option, and all of the new things she was seeing within the village was an enjoyment to her. Maybe she would get lucky at some point and find something to wear.
At some point during her adventure, she stopped by a restaurant that seemed quite populated by locals. Easily recognized through their lack of shinobi headbands. She kept her hidden fairly well for the most part, again keeping in disguise as it were. At one point, they hadn't wanted to serve her, though paying upfront changed their minds quickly. They even gave her a gift of any dessert for their mistake. They had this fantastic barbeque pork that was very different from back home, and a fruit used in the dessert that she couldn't really pronounce was also something else. The day was shaping up from how it was going just prior to her paying upfront for food about an hour before.
She spent a little time watching the comings and goings of those within the village, watching where people were going or coming from, and what the styles of the village were among a few things. The next shop she went to was a little more beaten off the track, but she heard some people talking about it while visiting another dessert shop. She managed to find the place in a less busy area, more for living quarters if anything. She was starting to attract attention here now, since less people were running a muck, and everyone seemed familiar with one another. She entered the shop to find the keeper busy with another customer. Suteki decided to glance around while she waited to be seen to, admiring some of the tastes of style that Takigakurians were into. Their clothing was more bright and open, as compared to her darker colored, lighter feeling, and much more covering clothing back home. It had it's sense of beauty and life, much more captivating than what she was used to.
After about 20 minuets of searching, the keeper was finished with his other customer and started to hobble towards her. He was an older gentleman, around the age of 60, using a strange, vine or root like cane to help him around. He was quite immersed in what Suteki was wearing, naming off features. "So, Iwagakure huh. It certainly is rare to find that style around here. You look quite familiar young miss." I avoided eye contact at that point. "I am visiting here, to...watch the Chunnin exams sir." "Oh, well now it is always good to meet those from other places. Though you found yourself quite in an odd location. This place is definitely off to the side of where most visiting search out. How can I help you." I looked around, trying to avoid face contact, "I am searching for something to wear to a party tonight, and found that most places are a little out of my..price range."
He stepped closer, trying to get a better look at the little girl, "A party huh. Something for the festival grounds no doubt." His voice a little raspy, and his pastern of speach long winded. She spoke much faster than he. "Yes sir." "Such a polite girl." He turned around and started to walk towards the back, "Please follow me young miss." They headed towards the back of the shop. The man pulled out a newspaper and looked at it for a moment than turned around. "So, watching huh." He put the paper back down, open on a the table and sat down on a stool. The paper had her named in bold letters, along with the other contestants.
"Suteki Yaku, an Iwagakure Shinobi hopeful. The youngest participant this year. She will be in the first match of the Second Round facing..." "Well, I can help you find something nice for sure. And perhaps within your budget as well. Let me have a look at you real quick. She stood straight up in front of him, trying to act taller than she was, standing on her toes a little. Her hands at her sides fumbling with her cloths a little. "Perhaps a little big for you, but we can fix this dress I have here." He pulled out a blue dress and held it up in front of himself. "No, no. This doesn't work. Perhaps, something purple." He put the dress back and swirled on the chair to the other side, pulling another dress out. "Perfect." He put the dress on the table over the paper.
The man took my measurements and altered the dress for me to wear. He avoided mentioning my name and to my dismay the price of the dress I was going to buy. As he was altering it, I spoke up fiercely, "How much is this going to cost me sir. I don't have a lot of money on me, especially for something this nice and costumed." The man didn't turn his attention away from his job, still working as he spoke, "Perhaps you can show this off for me at some of the ceremonies that you will be attending while here young miss. Even than, maybe back home someone will ask you about where you got this and you can mention my name. I always wanted to sell my clothing internationally. What better way than with such a cute young girl from Iwagakure."
About an hour passed and he held the newly sized dress up looking at it. "This should do it. Sorry for the long wait, but it is rare to find someone so young in my shop." He handed me the dress and pointed to a room in the back. "Go ahead and try it on." The dress fit perfectly, and seemed like something that I had seen in a movie. Even back home, a dress like this would have been way out of my capabilities to buy. Something only the rich or royalty would wear. Something that I would never have had, let along a use for. I reached into my other dress and pulled out some money giving it to the man. He declined it at first but I insisted and he thanked me. I knew it wasn't enough, even thanking him felt somewhat absurd. I would have to visit him again before I left, to find some form of payment deserving for such generosity.
The Party:The night was coming on quick as Suteki entered her squads given room and board for the exams. Her squad hadn't followed along with her, no reason given but she hadn't cared about that fact. She didn't need a cheering section or her newly formed squad, that she only met once really, to keep her going. She was in this for herself for the most part. It would have been nice but she hadn't expected them to join her in Takigakure. Though that reasoning could easily change based on situations given.
The party had already started and she could hear the frivolities below on the ground floor. She wasn't in a hurry to join in with the party, as she was now starting to feel the edge of the knife as it were with the chuunin exams. It was only the day before that she had moved onto the next round, and the short period of rest after it, and now this event were slowly taking it's toll. She looked at herself in the mirror, gathering herself and sighing, releasing the stress that had momentarily built up. Now another form of stress was taking the place of the exams, as it now felt like the party was ramping up, the walls shaking every other second. She exited her abode and looked down at the opening portion of the house below, seeing it was pretty crowded. She again breathed in than out heavily, now making her way to the party.
Her entrance was announced, momentarily freezing the pounding music to introduce her. It was an unexpected event that kept her frozen in place for a moment, unsure of how to continue on. The introduction was short fortunately,
"Please can we have a round of applause for one of our champions at this years Chuunin Exams. One of the few who managed to make it trough the Labyrinth of the First Stage, and one of two from Iwagakure's representatives this year. Welcome Suteki Yaku. Stand strong and continue your reign over the exams." The crowd clapped and she watched on for the moment of attention. The music made a swirling sound than continued on, once again bringing the party to it's fullest. She gripped her gourd and pulled it up and made her way to a side portion of the room before someone from behind came in front of her.
"Welcome Suteki Yaku. I am your escort and body guard while your here. It is requested that you meet a few selected dignitaries real quick. Than afterwards you can enjoy yourself." The man had a grimace on his face, obviously finding what he had to do a little below himself. I looked up at him as he towered me, my look not much different from his, "If we must." He looked behind himself for a moment than continued on,
"After the PLEASANTRIES, have fun. This party is in part for you." He smiled as he said pleasantries, making it obvious of what was to be expected, signalling for her to do the same. She put on the smile and was introduced to several ill characters that had great interest in her success at the tournament. Making references to betting everything or some such on her or Iwagakure to steal the show this year. A few people seemed nice enough though. Most of them made a reference to her large gourd, wondering how she managed to lift such an object that overshadowed the small girl. It was her most obvious definition usually, though most seemed quite captivated at her beauty and dress, wondering how she managed to move on in the exams.
After an hour of that, she was released and headed to a more secluded section of the party hall. Her bodyguard kept his distance
and made himself scarce, seeming to join in the festivities now as well. She pulled her gourd off and put it down next to her, thank watching as the party continued. She hadn't known anyone at the party, searching for some form of a familiar face. It was one of those moments that she kind of wished for a familiar face, even if it was from her new and unknown squad.
Than she noticed someone familiar heading towards her. Kurai, a genin she half expected to see in the tournament. He was her squad captain for a two man mission that ended exceptionally well. He was more deserving than her perhaps to participate in this years exams. It had been a while since they talked, and his clothing was fairly reminiscent. The music made it a little difficult to hear Kurai as he spoke to her, but she made it out fairly well. He asked if she was enjoying Takigakure and the exams thus far. "It is a fantastic country. Very different from back home. I am glad I was chosen to go to the chuunin exams.
He than spoke of someone she wasn't familiar with, at least not yet. The first round of the exams she would run into this Motoichi that he spoke about, but what would come of it was another story entirely.
"Motoichi? I don't know him." That must have been the other person that the announcer DJ guy was talking about.
"What do you know about Motoichi?" She was interested in her 'companion' that was in the exams as well. Though the interest was in more of a competition manner than anything.
She was thrilled that someone she knew and liked showed up at the party. At least now she was certainly enjoying herself.
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