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

[niceguypose]

Ah, then I apologize, Shikamaru-kun. I am being insensitive. I know how bad it felt when Sakura-san first turned me down. But I am sure you will be able to find your own true romance of youth one day, regardless of any rejections along the way!

[endgames]

[What no-]

I wasn't rejected!

[niceguypose]

You mean... your broke that poor girl's heart?

[endgames]

No! We were never toget- I mean... We were, but that was something different-

[Lee why you do this]

[niceguypose]

There is no need to explain further, Shikamaru-kun. [He rests a hand on his shoulder.] I can drop the matter so that you can meditate on your feelings without any pressure. It is one of the most natural parts of being a youth, after all!

[endgames]

[NO LEE IT'S STILL NOT LIKE THAT. Shikamaru sighs heavily and deflates, voice heavy with sarcasm.]

You're a pal, Lee. A real pal.

[Feelings... what feelings... /grumble, grumble.]

[niceguypose]

[Will Rock Lee ever learn sarcasm?]

Thank you, Shikamaru-kun! I do all I can to be the best comrade I can to all of my fellow youths of Konoha. Do not be afraid to talk to me if you need more advice about your romance, or if you need a third person to sing with you and Masaomi-kun whenever you are ready to move beyond your bathroom practice sessions!

[endgames]

[asdfgh]

The hell?! You've got that one wrong too!

[niceguypose]

I do? [He flips back several weeks' worth of pages in his notepad to prepare for revisions.] Tell me, is it somewhere other than the shower that you hold practice?

[endgames]

[Lee, he is grabbing you by the shoulders.]

There is no practice! I know there was a rumor about me singing and all, but how the hell did you get to that conclusion?!

[niceguypose]

Ah... would you like to see the tree's exact words?

[He holds the open notepad in front of Shikamaru's face. Written neatly and in precise wording is:

"That Suna girl finally came back, did she? I wonder how Shikamaru feels about it. She was his first, after all... if you know what I mean."

"He can carry a tune quite well, even if he only sings in the shower. His roommate too! They could make quite the duo-- so long as Shikamaru is the one picking the songs."

Some other rumors could potentially be visible on the page.]

[endgames]

[For now, he sticks to the one about the shower, pointing his finger down on it. ...he'll touch on the rest later.]

Where here does it say I sing with him, Lee.

[niceguypose]

Well... it mentions that you sing in the shower and then follows that with "his roommate too". I suppose the wording could just be indicating that you are both talented singers...

[endgames]

No, you think?

[Heavy on the sarcasm there, but Shikamaru looks over the other rumors here. He heard some of those.]

A lot of these are vague. Don't just assume shit.

[niceguypose]

I am sorry, Shikamaru-kun. I am sure that Gai-Sensei has warned me about the errors or making assumptions, but I have failed that. [He grabs Shikamaru's shoulders.] Please! Forgive me!

[endgames]

Lee- [ASDFGH STOP THAT. Sigh. Deflating. B| He brings an arm up to put some space between the two of them, sounding less irritated.] Whatever. C'mon. Get off already, will you.

[niceguypose]

Very well, Shikamaru-kun! I shall honor your wishes and perform five hundred push-ups as my penance - no, six hundred!

[He releases his hold and immediately drops down to begin push-ups.]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru just stares in baffled amusement.]

I don't remember saying that.

[niceguypose]

Not directly, but this is the alternative to apologizing through physical contact!

[endgames]

Maah... It'd be simpler to get your facts straight.

[niceguypose]

I shall! In the future, I will run any such rumor by you first in order to ensure its accuracy! I suppose it is fortunate in this case that I spoke to you before Temari-san, so that she has not received any inaccurate information.

[endgames]

[...he sighs.]

That's... more a half-truth.

[niceguypose]

Would I be overstepping my boundaries to inquire the whole truth?

[endgames]

Yes. [/deadpan] But those trees shattered any illusion of a boundary for this matter, so I can tell you.

[niceguypose]

You... you can?

[He pauses his push-ups and stares intently into Shikamaru's eyes.]