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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.]
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.]
[ action ] And got it. 8|b
Your choice, huh? It was a good one.
[ action ]
Well, he was right to. And she knew that better than anyone. That kind of power... having it could do things to your mind. Look what she'd done tonight. Look at what she'd felt was all right.]
It was a better one than letting them die. [It was not good. Nothing that came from it could be good.] I'm not sorry for it.
["Congratulations, Katara. You're a bloodbender."
But she was. She didn't regret it. But she was sorry for it. Hama's laughter... she doesn't know that she'll ever forget it.
...
...]
I guess I owe you an apology. I didn't really use it on you, but it was close enough. We said no rules, but all the same... I shouldn't have.
[ action ]
He nearly mentions it then, but then she's apologizing. He sighs. How troublesome.]
Don't apologize. You have my permission to use it on me whenever you think you need to.
[ action ]
I really don't think that will ever be necessary. [...] Why would you even say that?
[ action ]
[Things aren't so terrible when you have a better understanding of it.]
And I make a pretty good practice dummy. [He shrugs again.]
[ action ] 1/2
I'm not going to practice bloodbending.
[She really can not think of anything that would be a worse idea.]
[ action ]
...but thank you.
[That much trust is something she hardly knows what to do with.]
[ action ]
I really think you should. Practice it, that is. It's your choice, though, and I won't argue that. Just come find me if you change your mind.
[ action ]
He sure is taking this whole thing calmly. She frowns in concentration, still feeling oddly vulnerable...
...how could he so easily offer himself up like this? Was it his world making this seem not as horrible as it was or... something else?
She turns over other conversations in her mind and... well, he's probably figured it out, but... since they'd talked about it so many times before, know that he knows she might as well address it.]
...do you understand now why I was scared of your jutsu?
[ action ]
[And he means that sincerely - even if he knows at the same time it wasn't is fault.]
[ action ]
[A helpless half-shrug. She really, really hadn't been expecting it.
Katara leans forward a bit, rests her elbows on her knees.]
There's a lot about it that's not the same. You're not Hama.
Re: [ action ]
Tch. Damn right, I'm not. I've been called an old man before, and I let that slide, but I draw the line at old lady.
[That's a joke, too.]
[ action ]
Oh yes, that's so much worse.
[Her gently teasing tone fades into concern.]
...Shikamaru? Does the shape of the moon look... strange to you?
[ action ] 1/2
Huh? [He directs his attention upwards.]
[ action ]
He'd noticed the odd shape on the edge of the moon earlier today, and again while he was on the other side of the lake waiting for her. Shikamaru hadn't looked at it since then, but...]
...more than the shape.
[Since the last time he's looked at it, the moon has 'turned'. That's a face.]
[ action ]
That can't be good.
[Things that mess with the moon rarely are, in her experience.]
[ action ]
[He really can't help but agree with that.]
C'mon. [Still staring up at the moon, he tears his eyes away to look at her and jerk his head in the direction of town.] We should head back.
[ action ]
Want a ride? Or are you just going to do that really-fast-step thing?
[...trying to ignore the leering moon is not working so well. It is seriously giving her the creeps.]
[ action ]
Shunshin?
[ action ]
[ action ]
Shunshin no jutsu. That's its name. It wouldn't take me all the way back to the village, so it'd be a waste of chakra.
[ action ]
[A quick glance up at the moon again.]
[ action ]
[He doesn't turn to look at it. He doesn't have to.]
[ action ]
[...she really wants to get home and see everyone now. This. Seriously. Cannot be good.]
[ action ]
[He's about as eager to get back to the apartment building for the same reasons.]
[ action ]