With a long and troubled sigh Zetsume made his way towards the bar. The days seemed to put a strain on him, the constant fighting and killing was not in his nature. He wished everyone could get along but knew that was just a useless thought from his childhood. Deep down the fact was that humans were indeed mostly out for themselves or the ones they cared about. For himself, only the village and his dog mattered. Everyone from other villages made him feel odd when around. The unknown from friend and for was the pure reason of his anxiety towards getting stronger. Also the reason he was oddly indifferent towards people not from his village. As always people were busy within the village, moving around to get jobs done in a timely manner. It was getting to be rather bothersome walking around his village. Due to his recent encounters with threats and how he deals with them, other villagers either highly respect him or disapprove of his methods. Sure Zetsume might have shot a man till he was swiss cheese, but in his defense the man had killed people from his village. It was quite the enjoyment to watch the man suffer and beg for death... And Zetsume would give it to him, but not until the man felt the pain from the innocent loved ones of their victims. One thing was for sure, he was getting more eyes on him than he would like. Since he has always been an archer, it was not uncommon for him to separate himself from others. Even as people would walk up to talk to him he would almost brush it off in a rude manner. Not because he was rude, but because simply talking with others and them being close gives him a serious uneasy feeling. However, to properly represent his village, he would at least wave at them but walk in a rush as if he was busy at work. Repede, Zetsume's dog, was the people person in their dynamic duo. He was charismatic attention grabbing as any dog would be. The dog even would let others pet him and then after a brief moment leave them to catch up with Zetsume. The walk was short, and Zetsume headed inside.

Like always, he would wave to others but not speak as he sat at a booth so Repede could sit across from him comfortably. The people were loud inside but they seemed to be having a great time. That in itself was what mattered sometimes in life. To but for a brief moment, experience joy without the burden of life. Zetsume was not one of those people. He would have a drink or two maybe get something for Repede to eat, but he would not really get drunk. It was not his style to feel like he was not paying attention to his surroundings. Even from where he was sitting he could see the entrance should something happen such as a robbery. It would be easy for him to attack towards entry from this angle and with his speed. Zetsume placed his hand upon his face before brushing the hair back as it feel to where it was. It would not be long until he was served, he knows the place has always had good service.

WC:557

(((Sorry for late reply, I was away for the weekend.)))

Henso was moving about, serving drinks to people and the like, cheerfully laughing and smiling with each of them as they talked and made jokes. He moved back to the bar to refill his tray and drop off empty drink glasses. Henso smiled and nodded to the people at the bar as they talked to him about his involvement in the bar and how it was amazing that someone could always come in to work and have a smile on his face, especially in an environment like this. Henso waved it off and went back to his duties, serving drinks and food to the patrons who came in.  Henso turned his head to watch as a man and his dog entered the building, choosing to sit at a booth away from others, but still with a clear view of the door, as if he was watching for danger. Henso shrugged this off and made to clean off another table, bussing the dishes back to the bar so that someone behind the counter could take them into the kitchen while he went back to said table with a rag. He wiped the table down to clean it completely and smiled at his reflection shining back at him. Once he'd finished with what was needed, he took the rag back to the bar and grabbed the menus for drinks and food, walking towards the man and his dog. He smiled to them and set the menus on the table in front of the man gingerly, pulling out a notebook and pencil from his apron. He twirled the pencil around on his fingers and spoke.


Henso continued twirling the pencil and looked over to see Hanabira enter the establishment. She smiled and waved, looking somewhat flustered, probably from having finished cleaning Henso's small house. He chuckled as she noticed the dog and ran to the counter, reaching behind it to bring a few dog treats out. She rushed over to Henso and shyly handed them off, rushing back to the kitchen a bit flustered. Henso twirled the treats on his fingers, tilting his head as he watched her run back. He was slightly confused about why she'd given him the treats when the dog could have just as easily accepted them from her hands. It didn't matter though, he sighed, placing the treats upon the table in front of  the canine while waiting for the man's order. He chuckled again before speaking, a wide smile on his face.


OOC: No Worries

Zetsume brushed off what had happened and smiled at the person that came to take his order. He was a polite person that tried to excuse the girl that had offered Repede a treat. Repede however, took full notice of this and moved one of his paws up and down as if trying to thank the person. He was enjoying each and every moment of this, like he always would when it came to attention. Quite the drama queen to sometimes. With a friendly tone, he replied to his friendly server, "It is quite alright, the dog enjoys it more than anything even the reason we are here. If I could just get a medium rare steak with a side of potatoes. Just get a large slab of steak for my friend here. Oh yes, if you could also chop it up, would help him not be so barbaric sounding in here. The only thing Repede here likes almost as much as attention is meat. Just cook it medium rare as well if you could. Would not want to lose all the juices now would we? Just some water will be fine for the drink. Oh I am sorry where are my manners, my name is Zetsume Zix, and this fellow here is Repede. Pleasure to meet you Henso."

He smiled handing the menus back and sat back a little in his chair. Repede was looking around with a friendly expression as he hoped people would walk up to him to pet him. Zetsume would never say no to that as he knew what it meant to the dog, but the dog also knew not to just do a thing without permission. Zetsume had told him over and over not to do so to the point the dog did not. Unless the person offered to pet, Repede tried his hardest not to do a sad puppy eyes at people till they pet him. Nothing was out of the books for this dog and his shenanigans. A group of men walked in and one of them recognized Zetsume. He brisk-fully walked to him and spoke to Zetsume, "Guys, this is the jounin I spoke to you about. The one that helped my family from a troll long ago. How has it been man? Hope you're still kicking ass in the name of Kumo."

His group gave a small cheer in approval as Zetsume shook his hand and just told him it was his duty as a shinobi. Really, he would do it over and over if need be. The fact he had no problem killing or trying to kill threats to his village made him question his own morality from time to time. Moments where people thank him were not really wanted due to his unsociable nature, but it reminded him why he does what he does. Even Repede had blood on his hands, well paws. The group left Zetsume after he had to shake their hands. It was a troublesome ordeal, but he already had enough people who looked at him badly with how he took down a criminal. At least he could appease when he could to show the people in his village he was not really all that harmful and cruel as some would like to think.

WC:551
Total:1108

Upon the order of his food and the introduction, Henso bowed to the man, and then the dog. He smiled and rushed off after writing down the orders and made it into the kitchen. In the kitchen he handed the orders off to the cook, watching as choice cuts of meat were pulled from refrigeration and placed upon a heating tabletop. This was an easier way to cook the food as the greases would all drain down off of the top into a catch below and there could be multiple foods cooked at once. Two steaks were being cooked to medium rare while potatoes were being baked in an oven, which would make them easier to mash. The potatoes themselves were being cooked with butter inside of them to make them softer and have a nicer taste. Once the potatoes had finished baking and the steaks reached what was asked, Henso took a large knife and began to chop up the other steak into chunks for Repede, making them as even and cube shaped as possible so that there would be no issues of choking or other problems.


With the food done and the water received, he stacked the items all on a tray, getting a freshly cleaned glass from another busser and placing it with the pitcher next to the food. Henso grabbed a knife and fork for the other male and made sure to put a salt and pepper shaker with the items. After this he walked out of the kitchen, advancing towards the table. He tilted his head as he saw a group of shinobi gathered around Zetsume Zix's table. They seemed to be rather cheery and happy to see him. With how much they were gushing over him it seemed that this man was someone of some importance. Henso himself had no idea who he was, save for the introductions they'd just gone through. He hadn't focused so much on shinobi, other than graduating from the ninja academy and working to perfect his medical ninjutsu. Still, once the group had finally left, Henso made his way over to the table and set the tray down, placing the plate of chopped steak cubes in front of Repede. The other plate was set in front of Zetsume Zix, along with a fork on the left and a knife on the right. The salt and pepper was placed in front of the fork while the pitcher of water was placed in the middle and the glass was placed in front of the knife. After setting up the table he walked off with the tray and handed it to a busser, returning to the table to pour a glass of water for the man with his dog and replacing the pitcher in the center.


Henso gave a light hearted chuckle and smiled. He reached over to place a hand on repede's head, petting the canine before turning his attention back to the other male. Henso's forehead still had the hitai-ate upon it, a light catching it to give it a nice shine. He kept it very clean and took good care of it. It was his mark as a shinobi of the cloud and was one of the best things to happen to the young genin. Currently he was not in a squad, but he hoped that would soon change. Looking around, the male grabbed a chair from a nearby table and pulled it up, turning it around so he could sit and talk to Zetsumei Zix, hopefully learning why others regarded him so highly.

OOC: Sorry it took so long!

After the mini distractions of unwelcomed people walking up to Zetsume, his social anxiety seemed to peek. Repede, did not feel most of those kinds of feelings. The feeling of always trying to impress and show a good view of the Kumogakure Ninja force. The dog always had a way with people that not even Zetsume could hope to achieve. While the man was a social mess that kept his distance, his dog was the counter balance towards his often rude behavior. If it were not for this dog, he would have surely done things that would have led him down a dark and gloomy road. Zetsume organized his table in a rather orderly fashion, making an almost obsessive compulsive disorder out of it. The condiments and such were neatly placed almost like he had worked here before. It was his way of coping in the village, since he did not come through this way often. He had to do something to distract himself from the looks of others. Even though he was just complimented, he knew that some in this place did not see Zetsume in the same way. Some saw him as a heartless monster that seemed to enjoy killing, when that is not the truth. For him, it was far more pleasant to kill someone that intends to do harm to his village rather than waiting for the harm to happen. A criminal recently was causing trouble in his village and Zetsume made sure he would never harm again by shooting him repeatedly in the body in non vital areas until he eventually bled out. The memories of such a time soon passed as Henso came back with the much needed food. Placing it rather gracefully on the table with a pleasant aura, Henso then tended to the drinks. With a pleasant tone, it seemed that this shinobi wanted to make a small conversation with him. Something that was not wanted by Zetsume, but how could he not agree. Even though he was distant by nature, he did not want to come off as rude to this person especially since he was nice and was a shinobi like him. His headband gleamed with ever so brilliance that only came from mostly new shinobi, or Those that have not seen combat. Zetsume never wore his, not out of disrespect at all to his village, but more of the, I don't want a target on my back. The more harmless he looked the better his fighting chances were. Zetsume took a few small bits giving the thumbs up of approval on the taste watching Henso sit near him and pet Repede who was wolfing down his food faster than it was made surely. After finishing his first bite, he formulated what he wanted to say. In his clan, its better to think before speaking to make sure your words are right.

"Famous? I surely hope not. Personally I would rather remain unknown but, as you do more impressive tasks it seems that people will notice regardless of how well you hide. It is nice to see a fellow shinobi, though don't you get paid enough not to work here? Do you just do it for the fun of it?"

Zetsume began to eat his food again in a rather formal matter making not a single spec of mess on the table. Repede.... on the other hand did not necessarily have the table side manners Zetsume did. His devouring of food made a fair mess on the table and when the dog was finished he just smiled as though he did nothing wrong. Zetsume decided he should appologize for the dog, "Sorry about Repede, I will clean up his mess don't worry. So tell me about yourself Henso, since you're not eating it would be easier for you to speak while I eat."

Zetsume began to eat again elegantly. His eyes and ears were open to this fellow named Henso. Zetsume was not intentionally looking to befriend anyone but he was never apposed to the idea. It also helps they were both part of the shinobi force, so surely they could have some laughs about the past. For Zetsume though, most of us past was dark and gloomy. He would try to refrain from talking about such things like how he got his scar from his fiancée or how he seemed to enjoy torturing those that mean Ill will towards kumogakure. No, he would try to only speak of good things. Repede looked around for anyone to show him attention, he was finished eating and got away from the table and walked around to people in hopes to get attention. The dog would not leave the building as Zetsume was still inside, but he would be a tad nosey while looking around for affectionate hands to pet him. It was also how the dog would check for threats, oddly enough those that would decline the dogs need for attention would be under further surveillance from the pooch.

WC:842
Total:1950

OOC: I'm so sorry, I've had other things on my plate.

Henso listened to Zetsume Zix, tilting his head as he did so, mainly watching the dog. He was rather humble about people thinking highly of him, which was fine as Henso understood that sometimes you don't feel as though you've done enough. The young cloud genin watched Repede as he wolfed down his helpings in a timely and rather dog-like manner. He seemed to really enjoy the food that was set before him, which would make the cooks very happy in the back. Henso's gaze turned to Zetsume, who had said it was nice to meet a fellow shinobi. It confused Henso for a moment as he didn't realize he was wearing his headband. It was a habit of his to wear it to work since he earned it in the academy, but completely forgot about it. When asked if he was paid enough as a shinobi, to not have to work here Henso sighed. In truth, he was paid very little. That was only because he was not doing missions like everyone else. He was a medic and wasn't used to doing much or fighting.


Henso sighed and looked back towards the bar. He gave the two a 'one moment' sign and took a few more orders. With dexterity and a soft smile, he quickly served out more drinks and food, taking a few tips that people held out for him and laughing at jokes that were told. It was a simple life, but it was his and it wasn't something he wanted to give up anytime soon if he could help it. When he returned to the table with his new companions, he listened intently to Zetsume once more, mentioning that he would clean up after Repede, who was making a mess from wolfing his food down. Henso waved it off, thinking nothing of it. It was his job to clean up after the customers and he had no problem doing so. He was asked to talk about himself while he reached for a rag, Zetsume saying it would be easier since they were eating and Henso was not. Henso thought quietly on what to say while he wiped food bits onto a tray brought to him and handed the rag and tray off.

((OOC: Sorry for the even later reply D:))

Zetsume and Repede chowed down on their delicious food as Henso spoke to them. His story was saddening though it had meaning to him. Zetsume too knew what it was to lose someone you love, just in the difference between the two, Zetsume killed the one he loved. His mind tried not to focus on that as he was not trying to make it apparent that he held some pity for him that he thought he was a bad shinobi. Zetsume too at one point felt how he did, feeling inadequate and he still does. After finishing one of his bites, he wiped his mouth and took a drink before replying to Henso in a friendly manner, "That feeling of wanting to help people will make you go much further in life than you think. Before people knew who I was and before some of my deeds, I felt like you did. As if what I was doing was not enough.
You just need to focus on what you want, and as you said to heal people, which is an admirable thing. Maybe one day you're the one that saves my life. Haha"

His laughter was hearty and short as he went back to finishing his meal while he was thinking of something enlightening to say but he always failed at inspiring people. That perhaps was why he never strive for becoming Raikage. How could he lead people into battle if he can not even find much of a motivational speech. At this point in time he cursed his anti-social self, as Repede went off to find attention from people mainly aiming for the girls. He was finished with his meal and now he wanted attention and his belly rubbed. Smiling a bit, he spoke again in his same friendly manner, "To tell you the truth, this world needs more people like you. I do well as a shinobi only due to my nature of remorselessness. I will kill someone in a heartbeat and not think twice, while you on the other hand want to help people. Sometimes I wonder, is it better to smite your enemy down or try and help them. That conundrum always alluded my mental prowess as it just seems easier to smite them before they can hurt those you care about if you have any."

In his life, he only knew killing. There was enough blood on his hands to fill a pool. Not often does he question his methods, but maybe at this point he did for a moment. Though that was soon gone as the ones he killed he began to have flashes of why he killed them. Most of them hurt and killed people from his village and he could not let that go, not in this lifetime at least. Until the day he died, he would try to protect his village from any and all harm if he could.

WC:490
Total:2440