031 -- [Action | Voice]

[endgames]

[Today is an understated awesome day, ladies and gentleman. To everyone? Okay, maybe not. But Shikamaru sure is pleased as punch. After a month's stay in the Battle Dome clinic recoveries from the injuries he got in his fight with Hidan, Shikamaru's finally cleared to check out today.

Before he gets the all-clear, he can be found in - brace yourselves - one of the Dome's simulation rooms. He's actually been using them for the past week for his physical therapy. If he's going to be doing a lot of walking, might as well change up the scenery.

Namely, he's replicated parts of the Nara Clan's forest. At its opening, the sky is more open, but the further in you go the thicker the trees grow together. Wandering will reveal easter eggs - old statues, broken and ruined, or a path of moss-covered stone lanterns. Maybe a young deer if you're lucky.

Other parts of the forest seem to be swallowed by shadow completely, offering nothing but pitch black that no amount of light will ease and the sense you're being watched if you step into them.

He'll try and clear up some stuff with Law before he goes, but after that he hits the journal.]

[Voice]

For those of you who saw that Vaskoth place... I figure it's been long enough. Name something you liked about it, if you can recall.

[Filtered to Molly (NPC) || 100% Unhackable]

You must be made of sterner stuff than I.

[/end voice]

[Feels like forever since he's been back in the swing of things. Shikamaru can be found at CH1 of course, in or around his apartment. Throughout the days following, he'll also be at the place formerly known as Azzip's, getting back to turning it into a convenience store.]

Comments

[endgames]

[HE'S TAKING IT EASY, PROMISE.]

Decided to start up a convenience store. [THAT'S A COVER FOR A SUPER SECRET ORGANIZATION, OH YEAH.] I was getting things underway before... Time to get back on schedule.

[dangerouswind]

[Right. Sure. Okay, she's just going to come out and say it.] Don't overdo it.

[endgames]

[He makes a cross (x-shaped, that is) over his heart.]

Light activity's part of getting back into shape. Gotta "build the core muscles back up", and such.

[...he doesn't look out of shape until you're looking for it. Then you can see he's noticeably thinner, both thanks to having to go easy on his stomach and lost muscle mass. He tries to hide it with the bulk of one of his new flak jackets he got from the Malnosso.]

I'll ask Masaomi or Neji to do the heavy lifting.

[dangerouswind]

[Yeah, she has noticed that. Hard to hide some things from Temari.]

I didn't say don't do anything. I said don't overdo. [Pause] Need a hand?

[endgames]

A man really shouldn't ask a woman to do that sort of task...

[dangerouswind]

[This face.]

[endgames]

[What?? HE'D FEEL BAD.]

I mean, there's probably some stuff that could be plugged in...?

[dangerouswind]

You plug them in. I'll move the furniture.

[endgames]

[This is one of the few times where letting Hidan maim him has felt like a genuinely bad idea.]

[dangerouswind]

[Now it feels like a bad idea?]

What?

[endgames]

[HIS INJURY IS INTERFERING WITH HIS ABILITY TO BE THE MAN IN THIS NOT-RELATIONSHIP. OF COURSE IT IS.]

How troublesome... [He sighs, and tries for nonchalance as he goes to plug in the microwave, walking backwards so she can see him talking.] The chairs are fine where they're at, they just need to be pushed up against the wall about a meter over.

[He jerks his thumb in the direction he means for that to be and turns to watch where he's going.]

[dangerouswind]

[You'd never be the man in this not-relationship and you know it.]

Got it. [And she'll just... go do that. And pretend she wants to. Not because she's concerned or anything. Definitely not because you asked.]

[endgames]

[Can he at least open the pickle jars

So as it turns out, plugging in things doesn't take long. Shikamaru sets up a few things besides the microwave, and cleans up a bar that was set up to the side. They're going to turn it into a counter later. He has a nice view of what she's doing from here.]

[dangerouswind]

[And what she's doing is testing out the chairs she's moved. Most awesome chairs ever.]

These are nice.

[endgames]

Heh. They're like puzzle pieces.

[dangerouswind]

I like them. [And then she nods once. Yes. She likes them.] What else you got?

[Nope, not letting you do any heavy lifting. And never the pickle jars. Ever.]

[endgames]

[PUNCH A LITTLE LOWER, WHY DON'T YOU.]

Just those for now. There'll be more more later, but clutter will be troublesome when we need to move in more necessary things.

[dangerouswind]

[Hey. Just being helpful.]

Then sit down. [She nods toward the chairs she's just moved around.] Awfully convenient.

[endgames]

...is this the part where you beat me over the head when my back is turned?

[dangerouswind]

[She blinks at him.] Is there a reason I should?

[endgames]

[...tentatively moving for the chairs.]

I'm not used to you being so nice, is all.

[dangerouswind]

Then stand still and I can sucker punch you.

[endgames]

That's more like it.

[AND IS ODDLY MORE ASSURING. He takes a seat.]

[dangerouswind]

[She only rolls her eyes and shakes her head. Idiot. If you wanted to be punched, all you had to do was say so.]

[endgames]

[Of course he didn't. It's the sarcasm that assures him she won't.

But aah. These aren't too uncomfortable, though it will take some time to get used to the awkward shape. Either way, he tilts his foot up to point to one of the other chairs with his toe. Have a seat yourself, Temari.]