The sand in the hourglass eventually meets its end

[voidseeing]

Who: Gai, Law, Shikamaru, Sheena, Itachi, and anyone else who ends up being called into this.
What: An important discussion about keys, Davis, the tunnels, and other such matters.
When: Around noon on the 24th
Where: House 22
Summary: When Gai discovers that Specialist Davis himself is paying a visit to the village, he decides it's time to discuss a few things with several people.
Rating: Shouldn't be more than PG-13 at most.

[It didn't take long for word of Specialist Davis and Carol being in Luceti to reach Gai, given how nosy he is about the goings-on in the village. He's not entirely surprised; Davis does seem to have almost a personal stake in this enclosure given some of the things he's said and done before, but at the same time the fact that he's here (and injured, to boot) sets off a few alarm bells in Gai's mind given what he's learned about the man from Law.

He isn't going to approach them, not yet. Instead, he just tails them quietly for a while, observing what they're up to, noting the distance that they keep between them. They seem calm rather than in a hurry, almost as if they're just killing time. Perhaps they are. When a half-hour or so of following them around doesn't net any results, Gai decides that it's time to go drop in on someone who might have more of an idea as to what is currently going on.

It's only a matter of fifteen minutes or so after that before he's knocking on the door to House 22, hoping that Law isn't off on a shift at the clinic right now.]

Comments

[endgames]

[We don't have polar bears in Konoha.]

[deathsdoctor]

[You've seen Bepo, don't give him that.]

[endgames]

[FINE, FINE. Still waiting for Albert though.]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Your non-conversation makes a great segue, guys. There's more knocking at the door.]

[voidseeing]

[Gai will answer the door this time, because apparently he is the only one not having deep thoughts about furry hats.]

Come inside. Shikamaru and Sheena are already here.

[And yes, those are crystals on his face, and no, he doesn't mind if you ask about them.]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert's initial reaction is to blink twice at the obvious ... additions to Gai's face. Then he raises a brow, tilts his head slightly, and steps inside.]

Thank you for the message. Are the crystals a recent development?

[voidseeing]

[Gai steps aside to let Albert enter before closing the door behind him.]

Yes and no. The crystallization itself is, but the underlying cause isn't. It's just a more advanced stage of something I've had for a long time.

[This isn't like back at home, where he needed to hide it from the rest of Funeral Parlor. Besides, it's not as though he can conceal it anymore as it is.]

[chikaidestroyer]

I see. It does not seem to be hampering you yet. [And that was really all that mattered to him. Gai was capable of taking care of himself.

He looks to the others as he steps further into the house, nodding in greeting.]

How many more are coming?

[corrinesbell]

I'm surprised you didn't bring the uniforms.

[Just don't ask.]

[deathsdoctor]

[PFFFFFFFFFFFT.

But keeping a straight face here.]

Just Miss Raine.

[chikaidestroyer]

I see.

[He gives Sheena a look, as if considering how she had decided to greet him, before making a dismissive gesture with one gloved hand. His tone is dry.]

I was not aware it was that type of meeting.

[corrinesbell]

Me neither, until I got a good look at everybody. This really is the "we're completely sick of this stuff" club.

[endgames]

Eh. I wouldn't call it that.

[chikaidestroyer]

Perhaps the "We focus on others' political fallout" association.

[If they were just waiting now, he could do this 'shooting the breeze' thing.]

[deathsdoctor]

I'd say that works.

Help yourself to the tea and the food, by the way. We have plenty.

[voidseeing]

Don't worry, you aren't the people I would invite to that type of meeting.

[Is he joking, or being serious? THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW.]

[yourhatred]

[Itachi gives Gai a rather deadpanned look, not speaking up but getting in a silent "Are we really going there?" while sipping his tea.

Of course, given some of the humor found with the last group he'd shared a uniform with, this is still vastly preferable.]

[deathsdoctor]

[....

PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT. HELP. STRUGGLING TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE.

QUICK, SOMEONE KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND SAVE HIM!]

[chikaidestroyer]

[While Law attempts to not go the way of a puffer fish keeping in his amusement, Albert will do as he suggested and help himself to the tea.]

Thank you for clearing that up, Gai.

[wise_maiden]

[And that's when Raine's knock at the door can be heard. What, she's a busy woman.]

[corrinesbell]

[Far be it for Sheena to answer someone else's door. She's giving Albert and Itachi some looks. This is what we're talking about, people? Really?]

[deathsdoctor]

[No, no, Law will get it. He needs the rescue after all.]

Hello, Miss Raine. Come in, come in.

[voidseeing]

[Hey, someone had to make the joke, man, and he is not the sort of person to let an opportunity go to waste.]

[wise_maiden]

Afternoon. [She smiles, allowing Law to lead her to where the others were assembled.

How interesting.]

... Goodness, what a gathering. Am I the last one?

[yourhatred]

Possibly.

[Itachi can't really say, though all the mentioned people seem to be here.

He offers her a tray with tea.]