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

[markofthebrave]

[Uh. Huh.

Well, let's not ignore the elephant-bear in the room any longer.]

Is this Rikumaru?

[endgames]

Heh, you remembered.

[Rikumaru turns placidly away from the flowers he was looking at, standing further back with his head held high.]

[markofthebrave]

Well, with a name like that, it's hard to forget.

[It sounds an awful lot like someone she knows.]

[endgames]

Tch. It was my old man's idea, not mine.

[markofthebrave]

Sure, blame the guy who's not here.

[A small smile and she approaches slowly.]

[endgames]

Seriously, only he'd do something so corny. [Rikumaru nudges him under the wings, between the shoulders, pushing Shikamaru a few steps forward. He likes his name, thank you.]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara tilted her head to the side.]

It looks like he missed you too.

[And she remembers that the last time they spoke about Rikumaru was with Ikki, and it hurts, a sudden sharp pang in her heart. She looks away and blinks rapidly.]

Shikamaru...

[endgames]

[...] I heard.

[markofthebrave]

[A watery smile, a quick darting glance, to him and away.]

I'm sorry Ikki didn't get to meet him. I think she would have enjoyed that a lot. I know she thought the world of you.

1/2

[endgames]

[He closes his eyes slowly, and turns his head away. ...stupid. He came here to help her.]

[endgames]

Heh. [He quickly smirks.] I'm glad I got to meet her, at least.

[markofthebrave]

Yeah, she's pretty special. [A soft, sad smile.] She didn't leave anything behind, but I happen to know for a fact that she thought you were the best babysitter prospect, even if you hid the candy.

[endgames]

[There's always those pictures in the journal, at least.]

She could've ruined my reputation with something like that.

[markofthebrave]

[Careless shrug.

Or a close approximation of it.]

You'd live.

[endgames]

Heh. [Rikumaru has since tired of this conversation. Shikamaru watches him wander further off to chew on the grass, instead of the flowers.]

So nothing behind at all? I'd think you'd have enough artwork to gift-wrap your fridge.

[markofthebrave]

[She shakes her head.]

Standard sweep. Anything she specifically gave to someone is still here, but other than that...

[endgames]

[Ah.]

She drew you stuff for your birthday, didn't she?

[markofthebrave]

[Katara nods, glancing down and away.]

Yeah.

[She... can't quite bring herself to look at it yet. Or to offer one to Shikamaru.]

[endgames]

Something solid.

1/2

[markofthebrave]

[Nothing is solid here.]

[markofthebrave]

[Deliberately, and abruptly, she changes the subject.]

You missed a doozy of an experiment. Sokka and I got trapped in his headstone. Apparently it's riddled with doors. And spiders.

[endgames]

[He raises an eyebrow, not responding for a moment. Obvious diversionary tactic is obvious. Sure that's what you want?]

[markofthebrave]

Do you know how annoying it is to fight dozens of spiders as big as your forearm? Not to mention disgusting. It was horrible.

[Katara. Talking about a fight being horrible.

That's a yes, then.]

[endgames]

[Sigh. Fine, fine.]

I've been stuck in a giant spiderweb once.

[markofthebrave]

Big you or miniature you, and were you wearing shoes at the time?