endgames | 030 -- [Action]

Entry tags:

030 -- [Action]

[Shikamaru's a hard man to find after this (on-going) thread.

He doesn't return to his apartment until the next morning, through the spare bedroom and not the front door. It's doubtful anyone else will catch him outside of his own floor for the next several days, though he always has his journal on him.

Those days are also partially spent tracking down Tony Stark, Law, Itachi, Gold, Silver, and a few others in his building to warn them about Hidan. Masaomi will no doubt hear from him when he gets back, and Riku may have learned what he needs to know from Ino before Shikamaru gets to him, but they're both on the list. He'll also be visiting the Avatar house for a few people in particular, but given that's half the house he won't be shunning anyone else he runs into there.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm not here to theorize in general. There are other immortals in Luceti, and they no doubt all have different sources for their power.

For Hidan, it's a religious ritual. Killing people grants him his immortality. The more he sacrifices, the longer it lasts for him.

[That... is already the worst and scariest religion Aang can think of. But he focuses on the more urgent part.]

So he'll be... after people.

[He answers that with no more than a nod.]

Make sure you stay away from him. I'll tell you what he looks like and his mannerisms, so you know who to avoid.

I will. As long as I don't see anyone in danger.

If that happens, don't fight him. Grab whoever's there and go.

[A moment of hesitation before he follows.]

Fine. As long as whoever's [He won't let himself put a face on this imaginary victim.] being attacked ends up safe. So he's... he's really that dangerous. [Not being able to be killed is one thing... but Aang is never aiming to kill in the first place. There has to be something more that has Shikamaru this concerned.]

Yes. Like I said, killing is his religion. And because of the techniques he uses, all he needs is a drop of blood to kill his victims.

[And his eyes widen at this detail.]

Blood? Just... just one drop?

Whatever he can get. If it's enough for him to eat, that's all he needs.

He eats blood? That's horrible. [And he finds himself breathing heavily, imagining this. Especially the conclusions his mind tries to draw about how taking in someone's blood could relate to killing them.] Does it... Does it make him... control them?

[...he's not going to soften this. He can point out every flaw, but the facts are not everyone will be able to take advantage of them. And if they can't, they should be scared of Hidan.

But more than that:]

Are you jumping to that conclusion because of what I can do?

[It's too hard for it to be connected. Blood. Control. Near death.]

No! I- A... [He lowers his head. Shikamaru's technique was part of what made him make the connection, but he isn't daring to mention bloodbending aloud.] Kind of. It's... I- I had no idea you could do that until it was... on me.

[The draft feels like it was a long time ago. Aang's gone and come back to Luceti since then, and that's just the start of it.

He remembers Katara's original reaction to what he could do... and decides he so doesn't need this today. His shoulders sag, and he speaks bluntly.]

I didn't have a lot of time to think or I'd have spared you. But when it comes to me, you better bet I don't do that to my friends unless it's meant to help them.

If you're gonna be scared of something, pick something else. There's worse out there.

[He had thought about it every now and then, even after returning... but he couldn't bring himself to talk to Shikamaru about it until now. But he took in his words and after a brief pause, he simply said.]

I trust you, Shikamaru.

[--that's enough to sap the anger (he's irrationally angry at everything; can't control anything) right out of him.

That was a sensitive subject they unwittingly tripped on, and he was prepared for it to drag out due to whatever misunderstanding. He nearly startles, and has no words to say to that.]

[He looks away over to the landscape beyond their house as he goes on.]

In the past... there was a time when- when I was controlled by... something. It was like it was inside me, and it... I almost ended on Sokka's sword. When you used it on me, being controlled at all, it was enough to scare me. But the way that.... you did it, it was different. Like you... weren't inside me. There wasn't any hurt. And when I think about that time, I remember that you rescued me. You helped that family. That's... That's what matters.

[Aang doesn't realize it, but he has a good idea of what happened. If he was controlled, he knows it would have had to have been by that woman, by Hama.

That was one of the few details Katara was specific with.]

...thank you.

[He feels like he has a better understanding. More than that, he's moved that Aang could make that distinction between those instances so easily.]

[It helps that unlike with Hama... Aang's never had any nightmares about Shikamaru.

He remembers how Katara decided to try to master bloodbending without losing herself. If she could be successful like that... would it be like Shikamaru's ability?

He looks back at Shikamaru with a smile.]

Thank you for saving me. And... and for warning me about that man. I'll trust your judgement on him, too.

[Shikamaru smiles (and maybe it's too wide) and nods.]

Thank you especially for that.

[He's not sure if he's ever seen Shikamaru smile that wide. Despite the seriousness of his thoughts, his own smile brightens.]

Don't worry about it. You're my friend, Shikamaru. It's gonna be hard for me to get doubts about you that'll last for long. And... Are you going to tell the others, too?

I'm not bringing this up on the journals. I'll be speaking with Katara and Ikki, and anyone else I run into in the house. And a few others besides your group.

Besides that, I'll tell you everything else you need to know, and you can warn anyone else you like.

I see. [He nods. He mostly wanted to know if he'd have to pass it on to any of his housemates.] Let me know anyone in the house you couldn't find when you leave, and I'll warn them. But first... right. What else should I know about this guy?

...when you asked if he could control people, you were partially right. But it's not in the sense you're thinking.

Ingesting the blood is how he links his body with his target's. After that, so long as he's standing in the symbol he draws on the ground, any damage done unto himself is mirrored on the other person.

[Yeah. That... still sounds bad.]

That sounds bad. Real bad. Can he... not feel pain, too?

[Shikamaru snorts, finding that darkly funny.]

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