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

[Action]

[screw_fate]

Nothing worth mentioning.

[Which is still leaving him adrift. It's something he's at least getting more settled with, starting to find coping strategies for.]

I can't exactly walk out and find an old friend in the forest, after all.

[Action]

[endgames]

Nah, but there's the item shop.

[Action]

[screw_fate]

Possessions...

[Neji just shrugs.]

I don't know how much they really mean.

[Action]

[endgames]

But you said it yourself? "Anything familiar is a blessing."

[Action]

[screw_fate]

[Got him. Neji dips his head, acknowledging the point.]

Possessions aren't the same as companions. However....

[Action]

[endgames]

[Go on.]

Re: [Action]

[screw_fate]

[If you weren't a ninja, you'd be an excellent psychotherapist, Shika.]

I suppose it would not hurt to look for... sentimental items, as well as practical ones.

[Action]

[endgames]

[No way, he'd hog the couch.]

Wanna make a trip out of it?

[Action]

[screw_fate]

[That he would, indeed.]

I don't see any reason why not.

[And company is nice.]

[Action]

[endgames]

All right. Let's have a look...

[The shop is just down this way, further removed from the center of town. Once they're there, Shikamaru pats Rikumaru's side with an open hand. The deer immediately stops following, and goes to chew on the grass behind the building.]

[Action]

[screw_fate]

[Neji gives the deer a quick glance, as though apologizing for taking Shikamaru away.]

I'm not certain what I expect to find, though...

[He's never been big on possessions, really.]

[Action]

[endgames]

Expect? You can't go in for something particular, man.

[Action]

[screw_fate]

Fair enough.

[Neji shrugs; he's a little dubious, but trusts Shikamaru.]

[Action]

[endgames]

[Hmm. He looks around. He only strolls through here every once in a while; it's not like he's a huge fan of shopping.

Eventually he gives up and makes it easy for himself.]

Let's start on this half of the store. See if anything stands out.

1/2

[screw_fate]

[It's a reasonable enough proposition; Neji nods agreement and moves to the half of the store Shikamaru indicated. His browsing is halfhearted at first; nothing speaks to him, nothing looks familiar, nothing says home.]

Shikamaru, I don't think...

[screw_fate]

[But then he stops, a small bound scroll catching his eye. That... the endcap on it looks like something familiar, although he can't place from where.]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru was looking at some books on a shelf over here, picking out odd titles on the spines. Sai was here once, and he remembers him finding a book that seemed important to him off of that...

He blinks, realizing he was distracted, and turns back to Neji.]

Hn?

And then I failed at html.

[screw_fate]

[Neji draws out the scroll, handling it delicately.]

This... I think I've seen it before.

[Though rolled up and tied, it's hard to say. He loosens the ties and unrolls a few inches of it, showing the delicate sweep of calligraphy.]

It's all good!

[endgames]

[Shikamaru steps back, looking over Neji's shoulder.]

What is it?

[Scrolls have so many uses in their world... all important though. He makes a fair assumption that whatever Neji holds, it's valuable.]

[screw_fate]

[Neji unrolls more of the scroll, displaying it; it isn't an informational or technical scroll, but rather a piece of artwork, painted with a delicate, flowing hand.

Neji stares at it in silence for a long time before speaking.]

This was a gift to me.

[endgames]

[Shikamaru's no appreciator of fine art, but he's able to tell from a technical standpoint the quality of the piece.]

Looks like an original.

[screw_fate]

It is. An aunt painted it for me when I was a child.

[He rolls it up again, tucking the little scroll into his bag.]

[endgames]

Huh. Fancy that. [He grins wide.]

[screw_fate]

[The grin earns Shikamaru a sideways look from Neji; be more smug, why don't you?]

Indeed.

[endgames]

[WELL HE COULD TRY

But he won't. He puts a hand on Neji's shoulder to lean in and get a closer look.]

So what's it supposed to be?

[Feel free to make it a painting of something completely obvious.]