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

[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.

You might need to look at a mirror.

[Everything from her face to her stance suggests he's treading into dangerous territory here. He swings one leg idly from his perch in the trees before holding up a bag.]

Want some grapes?

[Way to poke at an open wound, man. She knows she's not exactly Luceti's Prettiest, but insulting her was just uncalled for. Not wanting to draw attention to it or to prolong this conversation, Katara lets it drop. He can think what he wants; she knows how she feels.]

No.

[You've got about five more seconds before she makes a giant ice wall between you and proceeds to ignore you.]

Thank you anyway. Is that it, or can I get back to practicing?

Fine. But the same forms have to get boring after a while. Why don't you practice with me instead?

[And... oddly... Katara really doesn't want to fight with you.

In fact, she'd much rather you left her completely alone.

Please go away.]

They're not boring. They're important.

Bad word choice, sorry. Variety's important too, though.

[...seriously?]

I have managed to practice once or twice before, you know. I know what I'm doing.

[Why do women have to be so difficult? What's so hard about talking about your problems? She won't talk to him now, he knows, so all that's left is this.

Which may not even happen; she's being so defensive. He'll just have to play to her ego.]

If you're really that scared of my new jutsu, all you have to do is say so.

[Oh come on. She has an older brother, you know. You can't really expect that to work.

Flatly:] I'm not scared of your new jutsu.

[So maybe it will work a little. Clearly, she came out here to be alone and to practice. Two hours. Really should have filled that requirement. Especially for Katara. Since when did she turn down a chance to get better like this? Maybe because she's tired of losing? Or maybe it's something else?]

Edited 2011-10-29 02:52 (UTC)

Prove it.

[Oh for crying out loud--]

You're not going to go away until I do this, are you. Fine. Fine.

[She settles into a ready stance.] But I should warn you - it's a pretty big moon tonight.

[That is almost - almost bravado. There's really no point in them fighting each other, not for him. She's halfway surprised he's even offering this.]

Noted.

[With a stretch, he stashes the grapes up in the tree before swinging down.]

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