026 -- [Voice || Written || Action]

[endgames]

If I see another mountain again, it'll be too soon. Did any of you know that sirry means "ridiculous"? [He snorts.] Explains a lot. Avalanches. Yetis. More freaking snow. Man, that mission was a pain...

[/whine and complain]

Anyways. I'm back. [Technically has been for two days albeit not in town, so he'll make it official.] Anything interesting hap- [His disinterested tone gives way to irritation as he turns his attention to something off-screen.] Oi that's not for you-

[The journal snaps shut with a sigh. He never finishes speaking, but about an hour later the post is transcribed... minus the interruption, and now with complete sentences.

If you're out today now that the heavy rain of the few days is finally letting up, you might spot Shikamaru coming back into the village from the North... closely followed by a deer much larger than Luceti's usual fare ((think five feet at the shoulders, six at the head, and eight feet with antlers)). The stag seems pretty content to follow him around - even into town or just standing around when he sits - despite sticking to the tree-lined paths when he can. Shikamaru talks to him sometimes.

Yes, talks, shut up.]

Comments

[endgames]

...you realize I have no idea what sort of Pokemon that is, right?

[tsuntrader]

[...Pokédex time. Silver pulls out an entry of this guy...

Along with information.

"The curved antlers subtly change the flow of air to create a strange space where reality is distorted.


Those who stare at its antlers will gradually lose control of their senses and be unable to stand."]

[endgames]

[What a big nose.]

Wow. A deer with genjutsu.

[tsuntrader]

Genjutsu? [Go on, Shikamaru.]

[endgames]

Illusion techniques. [He tilts his head back to Rikumaru, with a teasing tone.] How come you can't do that?

[Har har. The stag butts Shikamaru's head with his own gently. Naturally he's still huge, so it has the desired effect anyways aside from putting him on his ass. Shikamaru grunts and rubs his head.]

[tsuntrader]

[...Yeah, that suddenly puts Rikumaru into the cool deer thing zone instead of the stupid Stantler department.]

...What can he do? [He takes a second to glance over at Sneasel after he asks his question.]

[endgames]

Aa... typical deer things. Only he's not a wuss as some of the ones around here are.

[tsuntrader]

[Oh. So nothing... Nothing that seems more normal to him.]

At least he's not a wuss. [Because seriously, the deer- and by extension all of the animals in the forest- are a little pathetic. No offense, guys, but it's true.]

[endgames]

Seriously. I don't like the way they're hunted, but at the same time I feel secondhand embarrassment that they'd die so easily.

[Oh, are they talking about how much cooler he is. Rikumaru seems to bob his head once, almost as if he was agreeing.]

[tsuntrader]

You're telling me. [Pokémon, dude. Wreck anything with minimal effort Pokémon.]

[endgames]

[Gosh, he doesn't want to wreck shit, he just wants his deer to not die so someone could leave half the body to rot.]

Anyways. Seems like he'll be down here for awhile.

[tsuntrader]

[...Man, that is gross and wasteful and awful.]

He seems like he makes good company.

[endgames]

Most days. [Shikamaru rubs a finger under his nose.] He's in a mood now.

[tsuntrader]

Good thing he has you. [You're good at fixing moods, Shikamaru. Accept it.]

[endgames]

[Rikumaru snorts. Please. He's the problem. 8|]

Ha. Yup, I keep tabs on him.

[Don't think he won't impale you.]

[tsuntrader]

And he keeps tabs on you, right? [He speaks Sneasel. He can make educated guesses on Rikumaruese.]

[endgames]

[If a deer could look pleased, Rikumaru would be much so right now.]

Aa. He and I are family.

[tsuntrader]

[...Nod. As they should be. It puts their relationship into quick and understandable terms for him, at least. One of his hands instinctively goes to give Sneasel a pat on the head.]

[endgames]

So what brings you down this path to town, hm? Hopefully you haven't been chatting up trees.

[...Rikumaru turns to look at the trees they just passed. Why'd he come down here again?]

[tsuntrader]

[...Suddenly a moodkiller.] Don't talk about those stupid trees.

[endgames]

Heard enough of them lately, I bet.

[tsuntrader]

People have already been getting worked up over the crap they spouted out.

[endgames]

And still no one saw fit to mention it when I got back. I'd almost wondered if I dreamed it.

[tsuntrader]

It would be better if everyone did, just to sort out fact from fiction. It would save everyone a lotta grief.

[endgames]

Not sure how a dream would do all that...