endgames | 020 -- [Various Filters || Action]

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020 -- [Various Filters || Action]

[ooc: dated to... idk. When the moon is not noticeably freaky. ALSO. The cut below is there because there are over 30 filters beneath it that take up a ridiculous amount of space, wow. I think I got all of the characters who were dropped, but just PM me if I didn't. After the event is done, there will be an ooc post regarding this, but I needed to get this part out of the way while my character would think to do so.

A note on the filters below - italic text represents breaks in the filter.]

[Early in the morning, long before the sun has risen and while most people are likely to be asleep, several filters start going up one-by-one. The journal window is covered with cloth; the handwriting not recognizable. Almost immediately after each one has been made, they're either deconstructed or disappear behind a private filter, viewable only to himself. He has no interest in talking to any of these people - he's just checking for breaks in the filters, which are visible for a minute until they're quickly taken care of.]

[Private to Shikamaru || Fake Cut to spare your f-lists and eyes]

[Two hours after this ends, a certain entry disappears behind a private filter as well. Then Shikamaru rolls over and goes back to bed. Damn, that was troublesome. He'll deal with the rest later. With the stuff that new Malnosso guy was talking about, he had a lot of other things to think about....

The next afternoon, he writes a couple of quick messages before heading out of the apartment.]

[Filtered to Raine Sage || 100% Unhackable]

What we talked about - it's done. Figured you'd want a heads-up.

[Filtered to Konoha Shinobi, Gaara, and Temari || 100% Unhackable]

Looks like we don't have to worry about Sasuke. At least for now.

[Filtered to Tony Stark || 100% Unhackable]

I have something to give you. Where you want me to drop it off?

[After he's taken care of that business, Shikamaru decides to take the rest of the afternoon to train. Not his shadow jutsus, however. Those close enough to the southern edge of the village at the time may hear something a few times throughout the evening. Maybe like thunder, but definitely a-

BOOM.

...but don't worry, everything is under control. And for once, he isn't even joking. It's taken months for him to get this jutsu down - a lungful of ash just is not pleasant - but he's finally managed it.

If for some reason you're close to the Southern Lake at this time, or choose to investigate, you're bound to find one (1) Shikamaru Nara taking a break by the water and unable to wipe the smirk off of his face. The air still might smell faintly of ash, but he cleans up well. And nothing has been destroyed but the targets he brought out here himself.

It makes up for all the weirdness going on. Just a little.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah. [Unlike some others she could mention, who she misses, there are plenty of people - or THINGS - she's glad she no longer has to deal with. Aku tops the list. Yuber and Kefka follow. All the same, it's very easy for a shadow to fall over Katara's face these days, especially when the topic of missing people comes up.

She stands, about ready to climb out of the canoe when - sensitized as she is to fire and all its forms - Katara suddenly tenses and sniffs the air.]

Was something burning here?

Ahaa... [A sheepish grin. He's proud of himself, but he remembers she has issues with fire. This jutsu isn't your typical fire jutsu, but it is one all the same.] I'm surprised you missed the boom.

[Sound carries over water, as she has call to know...]

What boom?

[It must've been a while ago, or she must've gone deaf.]

A few of 'em. I was doing some training out here for a couple of hours. Explosions and stuff.

[Boys and explosions. Sigh.]

Are you planning on sticking around to do more practicing? I can go to the other side of the lake, if you want. Or just head back and take the teleporter to the ocean.

S'all yours. I was just gonna kick back for a bit.

[Katara doesn't really like being watched as she practices. It's a strange feeling. Although Shikamaru probably wouldn't pay that close attention anyway... and it's not as if he hasn't seen her fight...]

Maybe I'll head to the other side anyway. I'll have more room that way.

If you want.

[A shrug. He sees no problem with that. He doesn't know what she's practicing, and far be it for him to get in the way.]

[Right then. She'll just be shoving off and continuing her extremely healthy pattern of avoidance and training alone.]

Later, then.

Oi, I didn't say I was going anywhere. [Shame on you.] I'm still on break.

[She's just not anticipating you still being there by the time she leaves.]

Well, enjoy your break!

[She starts paddling across the lake.]

[And he wasn't anticipating how long she'd be out here.

After waving her off, Shikamaru spends about two hours on the other side of the lake just kicking back and relaxing... and idly wondering what that weird shape is by the moon.

When she still hasn't come back, though, he gets bored and decides to investigate. Sticking to the trees, he heads for the other side of the lake.]

[Just practicing, man. The same fluid movements, over and over again. Although. She is handling an awful lot of water for someone who's been practicing for two hours on the inside of the barrier.

Go stamina-increasing-exercises go?

...also, you may have noticed that the moon is big. Katara certainly has. But she won't let the extra power she feels stop her.]

[That observation may have struck him, yes. Both of them, at that.

Once he's in range, Shikamaru finds a nice seat in the branches of a tree and watches. But watching is boring. Training is also boring, though useful. He can tell she took his advice on stretching her limits... though maybe it has something to do with the moon too...

Either way, he's tired of sitting around. Since she's going through the same routine, it's easy to notice when an opening is going to appear. 3... 2... 1...

Have a grape lobbed at your nose, Katara.]

[The most wonderful thing about waterbending? It's adaptability. One minute she's going through a form, the next there's a waterwhip slicing an incoming projectile in half.]

[Oh. A grape?]

[She falls into a loosely ready stance, her arms still coated with water.]

Hello?

It would've been cooler if you caught it, you know.

[Hi. Just. Chilling up here.]

[Frown.]

I wasn't trying to be cool.

[Why are you interrupting, man? She was in the zone.]

That was a joke.

[You know. The kind not meant to be taken seriously. As he thought was evidenced with the grape too.

He was right, though. Her behavior here, and days ago when he asked her to watch clouds. The more he sees of her lately, the more she doesn't seem to be acting like herself.]

[Jokes are supposed to be funny. Irritation aside, her tone is just courteous, curious.]

Did you want something?

[If not, could you go away?

She's kind of busy here.]

You've been practicing a while.

[Yes, continuing the conversation is an answer to your question.]

[No, it isn't.]

I came out here to practice.

[So... what's your point? Moreover, why are you interrupting?]

You look tired.

[He's getting to it.]

If I was tired, I'd stop. [She hasn't been anything less than weary for over a month now. But there's no way she can feel anything other than fully awake and energized with the moon so full and so close.]

You might need to get your eyes checked.

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