030 -- [Action]

[endgames]

[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.]

Comments

[Action - 20th]

[endgames]

[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.]

[Action - 20th]

[savedtheworld]

[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.

[Action - 20th]

[endgames]

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

Thank you especially for that.

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[savedtheworld]

[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?

[Action - 20th]

[endgames]

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.

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[savedtheworld]

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?

[Action - 20th]

[endgames]

...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.

[Action - 20th]

[savedtheworld]

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

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

[Action - 20th]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru snorts, finding that darkly funny.]

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[savedtheworld]

[That's a confirmation... right?]

He does all that to himself, and it doesn't even hurt. [This gets creepier and creepier.] He just keeps getting... worse and worse.

[Action - 20th]

[endgames]

You have it backwards. He lives for pain... He gets off on it, feeling what his target feels.

[Asuma's burns. Asuma's leg. Hidan's laugh. How he trembled with excitement.

"As the other dies, their pain radiates through my body. And living through it is pure ecstasy!"

If Shikamaru could forget any memory, he wishes it would be that one.]

[Action - 20th]

[savedtheworld]

Oh, then that... [He doesn't think he's ever faced anyone like this. Sure, Azula seemed to relish others' pain, but never when it hurt her, too.] That is even worse. [He looks up at Shikamaru in concern.] And you've... fought this man in the past?

[Action - 20th]

[endgames]

Yes.

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[savedtheworld]

[Aang tenses. He's not sure how much he wants to know, and with how serious he is... the memories must not be pleasant. Tobi had been one thing, especially since Aang knew nothing of his abilities. Just some mysterious threat. But this Hidan guy... he seemed like horror personified. This is the kind of threat Shikamaru faces?]

I had no idea you faced enemies like this. It must have been... horrifying.

[Action - 20th]

[endgames]

[The hand over his knee clenches into a tight fist on reflex, nails digging into his palm. Fuck. Don't put it to words.

He forces his fingers to relax.]

[Action - 20th]

[savedtheworld]

[And he immediately feels guilty from seeing his reaction.]

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that out loud.

[Action - 20th] 1/2

[endgames]

[...]

[Action - 20th]

[endgames]

Aa. If you're worried about him, it doesn't matter. I'm warning you to play it safe, but if I have it my way you'll never have to see it. No one will.

[Action - 20th]

[savedtheworld]

What do you mean, Shikamaru? [The way this guy was built up, it seems like he's impossible to deal with. That Shikamaru now has some kind of solution... something doesn't sit right.

Why does he find himself trying to remember when the trees talked to him?]

What are you going to do?

[Action - 20th]

[endgames]

I haven't decided yet. I always understood this was a possibility, you know? So there are options.

For now, I'll just be tracking his movements.

[Action - 20th]

[savedtheworld]

That sounds smart. [And reassuring, that he's not rushing off to fight him. The "options" part does still make him feel a bit uneasy.] Making sure he doesn't do anything bad without having to fight him.

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[endgames]

Mm. [Oh, he did that on the first day.]

We'll see how long that lasts.

[Action - 20th]

[savedtheworld]

[Oh, the things he doesn't know.]

Hopefully it lasts for long. But if doesn't, and he tries something... I trust you'll be careful.

[Action - 20th]

[endgames]

Like I said... [He smiles as reassuringly as he can as he stands.] Don't worry about it.

[Action - 20th]

[savedtheworld]

[He stands as well.]

It's kind of hard with - with everything I've heard, but... I'll try not to.