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031 -- [Action | Voice]
[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.]
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.]
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You're so stubborn. If this doesn't turn out to be successful, don't say I didn't warn you.
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[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.
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For what?
[For nagging you to change the name?]
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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.]
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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.
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[Maybe an apology would be better. But the only ones who weren't furious with him were the ones who'd found him half-dead, ironically: Neji and Ino. Maybe it's just an understanding of how things work in their world; their other comrades seemed to have understood it.
But it'd created so many problems with everyone else. Law, Katara... Masaomi hasn't so much forgiven him as he's tried to sweep things under the rug. Not even Tony let it go. And after some thought into it, he can't blame them. He treated their friendship like crap.
So maybe he just wants to keep his bases covered. If they don't get it and forgive him, it's one thing, but if it's Ino...
He tilts his head back enough so he can better see her, and smiles more sincerely. They've kind of taken to doing their own things here, but the fact remains that she's the only other member of Team 10 here besides himself. Where it matters, through the bonds of their team, the three of them have always been able to understand each other perfectly. Even with Chouji gone, even out of combat for so long, he's come to rely on that like water and air.
Even by accident, it's a bond he never wants to belittle. And even if Ino holds nothing against him, he knows he gave her a scare she didn't deserve.]
But that 'thanks' is for everything.
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Maybe they do warrant some grateful words, but inasmuch as Ino nags them for the littlest things, she understands she shouldn't do the same for the big ones. Shikamaru's right in assuming that they understand because in their world, they have no choice but to. Ino knows where to stand.
And even if she doesn't, they're teammates and the only ones left in this world. If there's one thing that they will forever be proud of as a team, that is they have excellent teamwork and Ino likes to believe it holds true even outside the battlefield. After all, she promised on the deathbed of their sensei. Shikamaru and Chouji should consider themselves lucky they have a teammate like her to keep them in line.
So, even if she knows she doesn't need a simple 'thank you' for an action she wouldn't hesitate doing, hearing it still leaves a warm smile on her face and a warm sensation in her heart. Yes, she was scared shitless that fateful day, yet time and again she knows she will be placed in that situation once more. Hopefully not, but they're ninja.]
You're welcome.
[She tilts her head to meet his face as she continues to smile.]
Even if we all know you deserve to get thwacked than to get hugged like this.
[A giggle. She's just kidding, okay.]
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How much mileage can I still get out of "Go easy, I'm recovering"?
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action 1/2
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Yes. Yes I did. That's a solid point.
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Never knew you were the type to let a girl lift all the heavy artillery, Shikamaru.
[A smirk as she sits on the chair beside him.]
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I may be lazy, but I'm not the kind of guy who lets a girl do all the hard work. I got the furniture in here fine on my own.
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[Yes, there's no winning with this one.]
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