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

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's an autumn fellow. No springtime here. 8|]

Hai. Typically in February, the Malnosso run a love-type experiment. It's as it sounds - residents are made to believe they're in love.

My first time under the influence of that, they made Temari and I think that we had been dating.

That sounds like.. such a cruel manipulation of the heart.

[Snort.] Welcome to Luceti.

I apologize for my prying, Shikamaru-kun. [He turns away, ripping the pages full of rumors from his notepad, then tearing them into pieces and starting to eat them.]

But now I understand, they manipulate the heart as well as any other part. They did... make me sing a song of romance with Rapunzel-san, as well.

[Oh no. And being from Naruto, this is the part that catches his attention instead of that paper-eating.]

...jeez. Was it serious?

[He looks gravely at Shikamaru.]

We held hands, Shikamaru-kun. There was a magic carpet ride and singing of a whole new world. But she... she did accept my apology afterwards. I could just not bare to face her so shamefully.

[Wow that does sound serious indeed. Poor guy's only been here two months too.]

...at least it wasn't at the zoo in front of the giraffes.

[He nods.]

Thankfully so. I am not ready for such a level of intimacy. But... in this scenario, do the giraffes practice ninjutsu? [And they're back to where they started...]

[...patting you on the back, Lee.]

They do whatever you think they do, big guy.

On one hand, it give the scenario a valuable lesson that one should always be on their guard, and it would provide me with additional training against unusual species. [He'll need it to save himself from being suckerpunched by baby kangaroos.] But on the other hand, it ruins a perfectly fine romantic scenario. So I am unsure of my preference.

What do you think, Rikumaru-san?

[The deer blinks slowly. Rikumaru thinks that might actually be facial hair on that boy's face, not caterpillars. He turns to watch a squirrel scitter down the path, sure Shikamaru will appreciate that he didn't try to eat them now.

Shikamaru just snickers at this, and pats the stag's hide with an open-handed slap.]

[He takes a moment to stare at the deer before smiling in good humor and doing a light bow.]

Thank you for your input.

[Shikamaru laughs again, then tries to wipe the smirk off his face before talking to Lee again.]

This girl, then. You talk to her since all that?

[There is perhaps the hint of a blush as he averts his eyes.]

I... have not run into her during any of my daily exercises.

That's what a journal's for.

After the disgrace that happened last time, I feel uncomfortable being the one to open communications.

[Sigh. He folds his arms.]

Lee, I'm gonna share some wisdom with you that I learned after that experiment.

[He leans in closer.]

Yes, Shikamaru-kun? Let me bask in your wise words of youth!

--not too close.

[He backs away slightly.]

Ah! ...Go on, please.

[Good, there we go. He clears his throat, a very severe look on his face.]

Lee, as men it is our duty in life - and relationships - to suffer.

[He nods attentively.]

Of course... the suffering of man is a most noble aspect of romance. I suppose this is a lesson I have already learned in my dedication to Sakura-san.

[Exactly. Shikamaru rubs a knuckle under his nose, sniffing.]

What you don't know is that the same is true even when you have no intentions to pursue a relationship.

When something like a date or what you described occurs, women want closure. We men are expected to take the first step in spite of this.

Ah... I see. [He scribbles some notes down in a notepad. Shikamaru's obviously an authority on relationships.]

So, this closure you speak of, for the incident in which we sang romantically atop a flying carpet... this duty falls to me?

[You're learning from the best, Lee. ~~God help you.~~]

Correct.

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