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

"Variety is the spice of life", she says. Can't believe you had to stoop down to me for company.

[Juuust about done with his glass here.]

What can I say? I'm a stooper.

[ she eyes his drink; waiting to see if she should refill it or if they were done for the day. ]

[Nah, he thinks he'll leave it be. He's taking his time with it, enjoying it, but he's not after another refill like he was the last time.

Still, there's something contemplative. It's been brewing.]

...what is it that you think of me?

[ buffy has no issue slipping from casual jokes to just-as-casual observations. only the slightest addition of a steely edge suggests that she's approaching business: ] You have more than enough charisma to hide the fact that you're probably very dangerous. I'm not sure I buy the whole lazy shtick -- you go on too many missions and make way too many secret little posts for that.

As uncomfortable as all that makes me? There's gotta be something trustworthy somewhere amongst all the deceit. Katara trusts you, after all.

[ and evidently that kind of a character witness speaks a lot to the slayer. ]

[So noted. He likes to think Katara is a good judge of character herself, even with people like him. His voice is a little flat when he talks again.]

So you've been trying to feel out what kind of person I am for yourself. For some reason. Can't just be because her and I are friends, because I think you trust her more that that.

[Some goal then, maybe. Or a question that's a long ways off from being asked.]

[ buffy pushes off the counter and stands straight on her own merit. short? yes. but there is that undeniable steel rod of slayerdom struck straight through her spine. a pride and a capability. it's not threatening nor is it even filled with particular presence.

she just looks...strong. of character, if not of body. ]

And here I thought the reason should be somewhat obvious. [ despite this posture, her voice remains light. almost insouciant. but don't mistake her tone to mean she's not incredibly serious right now. ] But if you'd like some deduction-help...

If it's the time for it.

[Because she's been poking for a while now. This invitation here is a couple steps up, but he could've just as easily left like it was a casual chat, and waited. She might've let him.]

[ she starts slow -- feeling her way through her explanation in a way so gradual that she could pull out and shut the conversation down if she prefers: ] There's Katara, of course. But we've both had many a conversation by now about how she can look after herself. I'm not trying to protect her. But she did make me curious...

After all, I've been in this town for a very long time.

You're a vet. People like you and Albert.

[Something goes unsaid there.]

I don't rock the tunnel keyboard but I do keep an eye on things.

[ alongside albert. but it also goes unsaid. buffy doesn't often verbalize her deep commitment to the man. ]

Things? Or people?

Maybe goings on is the better term.

[He raises and eyebrow. But all right.]

What? A girl can't pay attention to her surroundings?

Sure she can. Conversations like these just lend themselves to specifics.

If you want specifics, you should ask for them. You're charismatic enough but...let's just say I'm not naturally nor habitually inclined to share. Not outside my Scoobies.

That's fair.

[And actually sets him at ease, for the moment. Unless he's just so far off-base he understood it completely wrong.]

Means you're still evaluating me for whatever it is that made you curious, yeah? Nothing today.

[Because while you can throw him in a situation blind, he won't be as effective. Not at the peak of it, anyways.]

Evaluating is kind of a cold way to put it, y'know.

Is it? It inspires a lot of warm, friendly feelings in me.

[And despite the sarcasm, he means that.]

I just...like knowing who's planning to be both a mover and a shaker.

To be honest, it sorta just happened.

...To be also honest? That's how most things seem to go.

[He shrugs. That's true enough. He's starting to strongly assume that's how things were for Albert too. People work like that.

He knows this. Well enough that it shouldn't bother him like it does.]

[ and so the conversation slows. buffy glances over her shoulder. ]

I've got inventory to, uhm, do. But I'm glad you decided to come around.

Yeah. It worked out.

[Shikamaru finishes off the last of his lemonade, sliding the glass over in a silent 'thanks for that', before hopping off his seat.]

...I'll think about that. And the other thing.

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