Pearls of Wisdom
Pearls of Wisdom
Fandom: Naruto
Characters: Inoichi, Shikaku, Chouza, Shikamaru
Theme: Three wise men
"Oi. You're here again?"
Black-brown eyes flickered to the lanky, ponytailed figure of his son as Shikaku blinked at Shikamaru, watching the teenage Chuunin shove hands in his pockets and shift his weight in the only outward sign of irritation aside from the way black eyebrows were drawn together over eyes the same shade as Shikaku's own.
Pursing his lips in a slightly churlish manner, the Jounin raised one hand to scratch at the back of his head with something that sounded a bit like a grumbled assertion of the simple fact his son had just stated before turning his attention back to the half-full cup in front of him. Of course he was here again. He was here every night, there wasn't really a point to his son pointing that out. Taking a long swig, Shikaku turned his attention from his offspring and resumed his previous activity, that of getting comradely drunk with his two teammates.
Chouza and Inoichi watched as Shikamaru waited for a moment before rolling his eyes and heading off, muttering something about shinobi and troublesome. Chuckling to himself as the spiky ponytail and green flak vest vanished around the corner, the Akimichi shook his head and clapped his lanky friend on the shoulder.
"Kids these days, eh? They just don't get it, afterall."
Leaning back in his chair, Inoichi nodded, lifting his own drink to his lips, pale blue eyes thoughtful as Chouza continued, the big man pausing only long enough to order a second helping of "everything on this side of the menu". The Akimichi patriarch was right, when you thought about it. The kids didn't get it. Setting the ceramic cup down on the edge of the bar, the blonde traced one finger around the rim for a moment.
"You know, you're right. They don't understand at all."
He didn't have to explain, to detail exactly what the younger generation couldn't fully comprehend, any more than either of the three wished for their children to one day understand. They knew already. Their lives were their own, but in so many ways they weren't. Each day brought new risks, new opportunities for chance and circumstance to swoop in like a phantom of the night and steal away the breath of life within their chests.
Another mission, another goal. Another lucky break that meant they were gifted with another day to spend with those they loved. Another night to bed down beside their chosen person, another morning to see their children's faces and relish the simple pleasures. Like the warmth of a friend's smile. There was wisdom to be had in such small, seemingly trivial things as a good drink, a smile, a warm greeting.
Their children didn't understand that, at least not in the same way. They understood the value of friends, the worth of their time spent together. They knew how precious a life was, but at the same time lacked the appreciation for it's fragility. In short, they lacked the wisdom of the three men sitting side by side at the bar.
Snorting slightly in amusement, Chouza replied around a mouthful of his second -- or was it third? -- helping, nodding as he reached for the mug to wash it down.
"Ah, they'll learn one of these days, Inoichi. And then we'll wish they hadn't had to get as wise as we are."
He downed the mug as Shikaku's shoulders shrugged in a chuckle. Sure, their offspring might see them as just a trio of drunk old men, but it would be all too short a time until those three would understand the wisdom their fathers already knew.
Fandom: Naruto
Characters: Inoichi, Shikaku, Chouza, Shikamaru
Theme: Three wise men
"Oi. You're here again?"
Black-brown eyes flickered to the lanky, ponytailed figure of his son as Shikaku blinked at Shikamaru, watching the teenage Chuunin shove hands in his pockets and shift his weight in the only outward sign of irritation aside from the way black eyebrows were drawn together over eyes the same shade as Shikaku's own.
Pursing his lips in a slightly churlish manner, the Jounin raised one hand to scratch at the back of his head with something that sounded a bit like a grumbled assertion of the simple fact his son had just stated before turning his attention back to the half-full cup in front of him. Of course he was here again. He was here every night, there wasn't really a point to his son pointing that out. Taking a long swig, Shikaku turned his attention from his offspring and resumed his previous activity, that of getting comradely drunk with his two teammates.
Chouza and Inoichi watched as Shikamaru waited for a moment before rolling his eyes and heading off, muttering something about shinobi and troublesome. Chuckling to himself as the spiky ponytail and green flak vest vanished around the corner, the Akimichi shook his head and clapped his lanky friend on the shoulder.
"Kids these days, eh? They just don't get it, afterall."
Leaning back in his chair, Inoichi nodded, lifting his own drink to his lips, pale blue eyes thoughtful as Chouza continued, the big man pausing only long enough to order a second helping of "everything on this side of the menu". The Akimichi patriarch was right, when you thought about it. The kids didn't get it. Setting the ceramic cup down on the edge of the bar, the blonde traced one finger around the rim for a moment.
"You know, you're right. They don't understand at all."
He didn't have to explain, to detail exactly what the younger generation couldn't fully comprehend, any more than either of the three wished for their children to one day understand. They knew already. Their lives were their own, but in so many ways they weren't. Each day brought new risks, new opportunities for chance and circumstance to swoop in like a phantom of the night and steal away the breath of life within their chests.
Another mission, another goal. Another lucky break that meant they were gifted with another day to spend with those they loved. Another night to bed down beside their chosen person, another morning to see their children's faces and relish the simple pleasures. Like the warmth of a friend's smile. There was wisdom to be had in such small, seemingly trivial things as a good drink, a smile, a warm greeting.
Their children didn't understand that, at least not in the same way. They understood the value of friends, the worth of their time spent together. They knew how precious a life was, but at the same time lacked the appreciation for it's fragility. In short, they lacked the wisdom of the three men sitting side by side at the bar.
Snorting slightly in amusement, Chouza replied around a mouthful of his second -- or was it third? -- helping, nodding as he reached for the mug to wash it down.
"Ah, they'll learn one of these days, Inoichi. And then we'll wish they hadn't had to get as wise as we are."
He downed the mug as Shikaku's shoulders shrugged in a chuckle. Sure, their offspring might see them as just a trio of drunk old men, but it would be all too short a time until those three would understand the wisdom their fathers already knew.