endgames | 031 -- [Action

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Good to know. [Now she's excited.] Maybe Sakura can also sell some of her medicines or something. [Is this her thinking of what everyone else will sell? Yup.]

[Pfft.] Maybe if we actually had currency.

Hey, it doesn't matter. I mean you're opening a grocery store despite this fact.

Convenience store. None of that healthy stuff.

You're still opening a store.

What else are we supposed to call it? Freebie shop isn't catchy.

"Shikamaru and Masaomi's Free-For-All"?

[That didn't sound right, but oh well.]

[He makes an 'x' with his hands.]

Like hell!

How about "Everything for Free"?

[Hmph.]

A store's a store. But we were gonna call it "Puzzles".

[...]

Eh...?

[She looks around.]

So, you guys are gonna sell puzzle games here, too?

...no?

Then, why the hell would you guys even name it 'Puzzles'?

A name's a name. Don't read too much into it.

Yeah, I'm sure people will go in a convenience store named 'Puzzles'. It's as if naming a clothing store something like 'Pen Shop'. [Get it?]

I'd go. Sounds less girly.

[Hands on hips.] That's not the point!

It's not a big deal, you know? Most people will just think of it as the convenience store anyways.

Name's a big deal. 'Puzzles' is a weird name for a convenience store. I demand you guys change it. [Nag, nag.]

Too troublesome. [Siiiigh. He walks back over to the puzzle piece shaped furniture already linked above and nudges one chair back into place with his foot.] It's either that or no name.

[She had already seen the furniture and already guessed that's why they wanted the store to be named 'Puzzles'. Or at least, one of the reasons, but it still doesn't sit right with her.]

You're so stubborn. If this doesn't turn out to be successful, don't say I didn't warn you.

I'll survive one way or another.

[He smirks, plopping down in one of the chairs. It's only meant to be a cover for the intelligence agency going on in the basement anyhow.]

...and thank you, again.

[A hand on her hip.]

For what?

[For nagging you to change the name?]

[He doesn't so much answer in words. His arm comes up to rest in his lap, the forearm resting against his stomach; cloth covering the scars.

By coincidence - or maybe not, since you can never tell with him - he's sitting in the same spot she found him in over a month ago.

Where he killed Hidan.

Where he almost died.

He smiles, small, and shrugs.]

[Good god, Shikamaru. Is this your way of making her weak-kneed or something?

Because, well, the instant she notices that arm resting on his lap, her gaze lingers on his stomach, fully knowing that beneath his shirt lies the scars to prove one of their greatest ordeals as of late.

Then, almost like being struck by lightning, she remembers. The furniture gone, she was transported back to that moment - the same distance, the same spot, but a different image.

Though instead of feeling fear for going back to that exact instance, she feels relief because the unknown she dreaded had a good result now. And just like the scars on his stomach, the same ones were the only ones that remained in her heart.

As she approaches him closer, a soft, wistful smile curves up her lips. The steps she's now taking are firm and reassuring, a far cry from the trembling ones she did that fateful day. As though it's second nature for her, once she's behind his seated form, she crouches down and loops her arms around his shoulders from behind in a loose hug.]

We're teammates. No need for thanks.

[A tighter yet gentle grip as she rests her chin on one of his shoulders.]

I'm just glad you're safe.

Edited 2013-01-31 17:48 (UTC)

action

endgames - 2013-02-01 12:23 (UTC) - Expand

floralogy - 2013-02-04 14:29 (UTC) - Expand

endgames - 2013-02-06 20:32 (UTC) - Expand

floralogy - 2013-02-06 20:49 (UTC) - Expand

action 1/2

endgames - 2013-02-06 20:57 (UTC) - Expand

endgames - 2013-02-06 20:59 (UTC) - Expand

floralogy - 2013-02-10 18:29 (UTC) - Expand

endgames - 2013-02-14 21:59 (UTC) - Expand

floralogy - 2013-02-23 15:58 (UTC) - Expand

endgames - 2013-02-24 07:35 (UTC) - Expand

floralogy - 2013-02-24 08:12 (UTC) - Expand

endgames - 2013-02-24 08:18 (UTC) - Expand

floralogy - 2013-02-24 08:25 (UTC) - Expand

endgames - 2013-02-24 08:27 (UTC) - Expand

floralogy - 2013-02-24 09:06 (UTC) - Expand

endgames - 2013-02-26 04:12 (UTC) - Expand

floralogy - 2013-03-03 18:53 (UTC) - Expand

endgames - 2013-03-03 19:48 (UTC) - Expand