[OPEN/CLOSED] We are not alone in the dark with our demons..

[highly_strung]

WHO: Sunalings and various friends.
WHEN: All throughout the month of May.
WHERE: Sunagakure.
NOTES: Rasa is dead, tensions are all over the place and.. Well, at least things can't get any worse?



[ See top-level comments for threads. Feel free to attack this with any other top-level you crave if your character is in Suna at any point in May! ]

Link to War Timeline just in case.

Comments

[abluntwind]

[She isn't unaware of her less than stellar attitude. She's keenly aware of how many people she's snapped at. Aware that she's being looked on warily by those she passes. It takes so little to set her off lately. The angers she's felt since her father died, hot and raw churning in her stomach.

She's made at everything. She knows that too, mad at the funeral arrangements and the coming procession. Mad that she's wearing the most uncomfortable black dress she owns. But it's conservative and respectable. And it's exactly what funeral clothes should be and that angers her even more.

She's pacing the floor as she waits for her brother. He called her to meet him, so the least he could do was show up on time. But that thought makers her feel still, it's too much a thought she could see her father having and she hates that. Kankuro had grown changed, he was the leader of their Puppet Corps. for crying out loud. What more could that empty bag of flesh hope for; want of his eldest son? Why could he have just...

Temari shakes her head. That thought wouldn't help anything. She'd already asked it so many times and she never felt any better. Just more anger churning in her endlessly with no outlet. Hotter than it had been mere moments before when she finally gotten it to cool somewhat before the thought hit her.

No she was in no shape to be at the head of t procession with her brothers just behind their father's corpse. She wasn't sure she could manage an appropriately somber expression in place of the scowl she'd worn since the tears dried up. And don't even get her started on Gaara...how was she supposed to tell him to stop smiling when for him their father's death was a blessing?

She should have done more, something so her father could see just how wrong his opinions were about his sons. Even if he died shortly after recognizing it, that would have been better. And what did it mean that Gaara's sand had taken that form?

She can feel the tears welling just trying to puzzle it out again and hastily wipes them away. She was done crying. It didn't matter that there was heat behind these tears instead of any inkling of sadness.]

[highly_strung]

Temari- [ He doesn't know what to expect, and he approaches her with a steadfast air... only to have it fall as soon as he sees the expression on her face. At a distance she had looked irritable and angry, but up close there is a thread of anguish clear in her eyes. He never likes seeing his sister upset - what brother did? - so he rearranges his tactic. ] Thank you for coming.

[ Polite respect isn't a trait he shows often, but it's one he's very good at -- even if he sounds like he's reluctant to show that kind of grace most of the time... He shuts the door and moves into the room to stand before his sister, giving her a long look before- ]

Something's up with you, and it goes deeper than what everyone thinks. [ The assumption that Temari is acting out at the death of her father and the apparent looming vulnerability of her country is a good guess, but a false one, and Kankuro knows it. ] Tell me what's wrong so we can fix this. I can't have you ostracising yourself anymore.

[abluntwind]

[She turns her head to look in his direction. Her chin dipping in a nod. What else could she do ignore him? Wouldn't that cause a whole different set of problems if she didn't? Sow potential seeds for dissent within the village if she was openly ignoring his summons.

She's careful to keep her expression neutral all the same.

Leave it to her younger brother to know when she was hiding something. If anyone was going to know if she was hiding something, Kankuro would be the one. And right now that was coming to bite her in the backside.] It's not something we can fix, and I don't want to talk about it.

[highly_strung]

Too bad, we're talking about it.

[ He's never been the type to be easily brushed off, least alone when it's over a matter that he'd personally sought out - and worse, one that is affecting his family. He doesn't like having to be harsh with his sister, but right now it's unavoidable. He realises with a tight feeling in his stomach that he has to think of more than just his sister this time; it's the village as a whole and every person in it... and easing Temari's distress might ease theirs too. These were hard times approaching, and Kankuro is sure he's going to need her if they're to pull through.

He knows Temari is used to bottling things up in the face of her father, keeping emotions on a shelf till she can take them down and sort through them, but.. That won't fly now, not with him. The last thing he wants is for his sister to be reluctant to talk to him, regardless of any position of power. ]

Even if I can't do anything, I'd feel better just knowing so I can work with it. At the moment you're being pretty impossible.

[abluntwind]

[She shoots him such a look, just bordering on openly rolling her eyes at him. There's nothing he can do about it. And she'll try to be less abrasive to the people.] Look I'll try to stop being abrasive, happy?

[Don't push Kankuro. She's only mad at you in a tangential sense right now, it might be best not to have her actually throw the full force of her ire at him.]

It won't help knowing. You have enough to worry about without taking on my issues.

[highly_strung]

[ Honestly at this point he would rather her be angry at him than shut him out - at least that way she'd be showing him some kind of reaction other than brushing him off and continuing to hurt in silence. Kankuro isn't especially sensitive, but he won't sit back and let his family swim in discontent. ]

That's not good enough, Temari. [ He folds his arms as he stares her down.. The pose is similar to the way his father used to stand - but rather than a sharp scowl and cold voice, Kankuro looks.. more determined than angry. There's a certain empathetic pull to his eyebrows as he watches his sister. ]

I'm not going to leave till you tell me what's going on. Even if I have to delay the proceedings, I will. All my other worries can wait, right now I'm worried about you. I need you, Temari. I can't do this alone.

[ And he really can't, he knows that much himself even without the uncertain looks from the council. ]

[abluntwind]

[Her mouth tightens at the stance he takes. If she were actually clear headed she'd notice that she isn't being stared down with anger, but she isn't and so she can't see the difference between her brother now and her father then. It doesn't help that Kankuro already looks so much like their father anyway.]

It'll have to be good enough. I'm not talking about something I don't want to. And delaying the procession will just prevent the rest of the village from saying goodbye. Not to mention it will break tradition. Not the best way to instill confidence in your ability to run things with the council.

[And isn't that a bitter pill to swallow. If he delays the procession because of her, it would be her fault for difficulties down the line. On the one hand she's touched because he would do that for his sister, on the other she's really pissed at him for it.]

[highly_strung]

[ At that his expression steels, a twitch of something -- Anger? Hurt? -- flashing on his features before he's tucking it away, back beneath the same firm expression. That hit him directly in every insecurity he's been feeling since the village had started looking to him for answers.. and the very last person he would have ever expected to be poking and prodding at already sore wounds was his sister. She's the person he'd huddled with when they were young, when Gaara's attitude had gotten to him, when the threats had become too much, when something had gone wrong and he'd needed someone to tell him it would be better in the morning. Temari had always been the strong one out of the three of them, she was always right, and Kankuro can't ignore the looming possibility that she has as little faith in him as he does.

He pushes that to one side for the time being.

Sure, he might not be cut out for that particular role, but he is very good at being a little brother. ]

They can stand to wait a few more minutes. It's still early. Besides, we have to lead the procession together, and right now you look like you'd rather chance sunstroke. [ His pose slackens, his usual slouch peeking through as he rests his hip against a nearby desk. ] ....Is it Neji or something? [ Worth a stab in the dark, he supposes. ]

[abluntwind]

[If anyone was going to know just how to use his insecurities against him it would be her. It isn't her most glorious moment hitting him where she knows he's already hurting, she needs his focus to shift from her. She understands that he's trying to help, but she's still feeling raw. And she knows exactly how it sounds to have her point it all out; to spell out just how shaky his footing is right now. He's never worn his future as Kazekage comfortably, and that had always been what made her sure he was the right choice.

She had too much experience with their allies and trade partners for her to ever be a good fit. And her brother was going to need her exactly where she was to keep things smooth at first.]

I'd rather take on a swarm of giant scorpians than fake being somber and convince Gaara to do the same.

[The mention of her boyfriend makes her snort and turns a dark look on her brother] If it was something with Neji I would be much louder in my displeasure.