Appointment's Post II

[endgames]

This post is for threading with Shikamaru anytime and anywhere. It can be used for action tags or the ping feature on journals (voice or written) to get in contact with him for personal conversations. This will be used primarily for anything that you don't feel like would take place in a regular log or post.

Note: When making a new thread, please title it like such:

[Action, January 3rd]
[Voice, March 8th]
[Written, June 11th]

Old appointment's post can be found here.

Comments

[feistytrader]

...But when that happens, things usually go back to normal in a few days. A few weeks tops. [Not... In four years. More than four years, given that he's still stuck as a kid...]

[middlegames]

You've never met anyone who's gotten stuck?

[feistytrader]

[...He shakes his head. A few people got "stuck" during that time everyone went home and came back different, a few people- himself included- got stuck after that valentine's experiment a couple of years ago...

But nothing like this.

...Right?]

[middlegames]

...wow. That's freaky. [Said very calmly, as he takes another bite of pizza.] It happens all the time.

[Well not to everyone, but often enough that he has a hard time picturing a Luceti where it's not a normal risk after experiments. He might be biased being someone impacted by it.]

[feistytrader]

[...Sorry, Shikamaru. You're definitely the freaky one.]

Who else is stuck?

[middlegames]

Lots of people. You don't want a list, do you?

[He's giving you a look like there's enough people that that would just be really troublesome, like why would you do that to him.]

[feistytrader]

...That's okay.

[That many, huh. That's insane. There's no telling what kinds of shifts they're stuck with, either.

...

The more he asks, the more questions he has...]

[middlegames]

Phew. That's a relief.

[He reaches for the soda can now, carefully popping the top to make sure it doesn't fizz anywhere. He'll sip slowly, swishing around the taste in his mouth with interest.]

[feistytrader]

[...] You haven't gotten stuck on any drafts, have you?

[middlegames]

[And here he freezes mid-motion, every bit like his namesake; a deer caught in the headlights. Where an older Shikamaru's made a craft out of masking and minimizing his expressions, this younger one has no such filter for his fear.]

[feistytrader]

[...Looks like a yes. He shouldn't have asked that.]

Sorry. You don't have to talk about it.

[middlegames]

[It's a little late for apologies, though at least Silver had the good sense to offer him an out. He takes it immediately. There's nothing he wants to talk about less.

The damage is done though, and his attempts to hide it are clumsy: where he was slouched before, now his spine is ramrod straight. His hands shakes noticeably setting the can of soda back down, and he has to use both to make sure he doesn't spill.

Through all of this, frustration begins to bleed into his face more than the previous fear did, though it lingers. Shikamaru's learned to handle a lot of things in Luceti well, surprisingly enough. The drafts though... not so much.]

Sure. [He fidgets uncomfortably, switching his attention to anything else in the room. It fixes on a tree visible from outside the window, where the leaves are suddenly as green as they would be in Spring. That's interesting enough.] Whatever.

[feistytrader]

[...It's not surprising, really. Drafts are terrible and traumatizing for everyone else. Shikamaru's still just a kid.]

Hey. Come here.

[middlegames]

[What? His eyes slide over to Silver, curious at first, but he seems to get the idea pretty quick.]

...un-uh. [NOPE NOPE. Well done - upset is quickly replaced by child petulance.] I'm not some little kid or anything.

[feistytrader]

Being a kid is great, you know. More people let you get away with stuff and care about you. Sometimes they don't even mind if you take their food.

You should take advantage of being a kid while it lasts.

[middlegames]

[...] Well. I'm a kid, but I'm not a little kid. That's what I meant.

[Because all right you got a point, there are some pretty good perks to this.]

[feistytrader]

Good thing hugs aren't a little kid thing, huh? In fact, I usually only give hugs out to my big sis and Pokémon. This is a once in a lifetime offer.

1/2

[middlegames]

[Un-uh, he's not fooled here. Very Unimpressed Look (TM)]

[middlegames]

[...but. In his nine-year-old logic he understands Silver doesn't do this often. His Silver never does, even if objectively Shikamaru can't think of a lot of people who could use a hug more.

So if anything he'd be doing him a favor. Probably. Which means he should do it.

Since it'll only work though if Silver thinks it's the other way around, Shikamaru makes a show of rolling his eyes and sighing loudly, then hesitantly scoots over.]

[feistytrader]

[Yeah, yeah, come here and get your one armed hug. It's less awkward than Silver expected it would be- then again, Shikamaru is fairly Weavile-sized.

...Silver is in the perfect position to ruffle Shikamaru's Pinap hair, but decides against it because that would be a breach of his trust and cool guy little boy pride. You get out easy today, Shikamaru.]

[middlegames]

[Good man, Silver. That definitely makes it easier to swallow. He doesn't move away. but just for good measure he still has to huff. Gotta sell it.]

I guess you don't suck at this, for someone who never gives hugs.

[feistytrader]

It's a secret, alright? Don't tell anyone.

[...Shikamaru isn't going to let him live this down when he's not longer a small child.

...

You know, the mountains really do look nice around this time of year...]

[middlegames]

So long as you don't tell anyone I know about Luceti stuff already. I messed up earlier, but I'm pretending to be a normal kid for today.

[feistytrader]

Go right ahead. I'm not about to rat you out.

[middlegames]

Good.