endgames | 032 -- [Voice || Action]

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032 -- [Voice || Action]

[A ninja walks into the bar.

Okay, that's getting ahead of the story. Let's backtrack then. Not too far. Everything he's been through in the past two weeks doesn't need to be said. At least, this isn't the place for it. What's important to mention is that on March 27, Nara Shikamaru left Luceti, gone back to home and to war. He returned on the same day and got thrown into another, and coming back to day-to-day life in this village after has felt almost unreal.

It's been nearly two weeks, but it wasn't until today that any of it definitively sunk in. All of the deaths. Everything they've lost - that he's lost. That the fighting is over, even if the war isn't.

You wouldn't think moving on with your life would be the scariest thing about that.]

[Voice]

Yo. [The greeting comes after he's gotten a grip on himself, so lackadaisical you wouldn't know the difference.] Some of you might've noticed that old pizza place was being remodeled. It's taking longer than I thought, but I've been working on turning it into a convenience store since November. It can probably open soon.

I'm gonna stock it with the basics. Milk, bread... staples like that for when no one wants to walk all the way to the grocery. So what snacks and drinks do you guys want? I'm not going to the trouble of getting things it turns out no one likes. That way, they'll just sit on the shelf to collect grease and dust. That's gross.

[He waves lazily, like he gave up on the motion halfway through, and reaches over to switch the feed.] Lemme know.

[Filtered to Trafalgar Law || Unhackable]

Hey. Got what you asked of me too.

[/end Voice]

[Several hours later... A ninja walks into a bar, and for the first time orders not Mountain Dew, but Genshu sake. A whole bottle.

Convincing himself to drink is more difficult than ordering it, however. Shikamaru sits at the bar for a while, spending more time staring into his cup than lifting it to his mouth. It's not like he's in a rush. He made a point not to tell anyone what he was up to, just that he would be back late and would get dinner on his own. Eventually though, he does get to drinking. It's a lot easier once he's started, and he loosens up. He won't be at the bar long after that, called away on an errand which leads him down toward House 22.

(ooc: threads with Law and Masaomi will be canonically last for this part)

The next day... he has a hangover. And it sucks. 8|

But he has people to talk to. Sakura and Asuma are both on his list, if they're home. Ino is last, and not without Chouji to go with him. Anyone else in the building is welcome to run into him on this day too, of course.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He is simply unused to harnessing his chakra in the same manner we do. It will work out for him in time.

[While inwardly worried for Shikamaru, he's also aware that he's going through a lot, if not the exact specifics. He will treat him like an adult, as he deserves that much.]

[He will be so grateful for that in the morning. Right now, he doesn't so much as get why they shouldn't.]

Good luck. Sorry I can't do more, you know?

[He's speaking less carefully now, so some syllables slur a tad. He reaches for the cup now, and takes a swig.

It's funny. Genshu sake is strong enough that he about choked when he worked up the courage to swallow the first cup down earlier, at the bar. He can still taste the burn, but it's almost pleasant now.]

Hey, you got me the paper. This way we can confirm whether or not my Haki is cross reacting with anything, as well as my type.

[Eyeing that cup a little.]

Let me know when you want a refill.

You do more than enough, Shikamaru.

[Possibly too much, sometimes, but his cohorts need him.]

[The comment makes him flinch, look cloudy.]

...you guys are so serious.

[He knocks back the rest of the cup in one go, breathing around the burn and holding it out to Law for a refill a moment later.]

[And pouring.]

... and a serious couple, don't forget that. [Throwing that play on words in in an attempt to lighten things just a bit.] It's just in our nature.

[The corners of Itachi's lips quirk upward at both comments, and he's still smiling when he responds.]

...My apologies. I'm not all that good at light-hearted banter.

[Whatever was bothering him about the previous line recedes in time with the pouring of the drink. This is better. Steer away from that stifling tone.]

Uh-huh... [He knocks his glass against the bottle Law holds. Cheers, man.] I'm not either. I hang out with the people I do 'cause of that. Funner that way, you know?

Sure do. [Cheers. A smile as he sips from his own glass.] They can drag you along into things you wouldn't get into just by yourself.

Hm...

[Itachi hasn't hung around anyone like that in... Well, ever. No one in Akatsuki really counted. The conversations he has with Law are as light-hearted as he's used to.]

I suppose I don't generally go looking for fun either.

Do it. No reason not to anymore, yeah?

[He makes as if to motion to Law, but it's stopped halfway through so he can keep from spilling his cup.]

He gets the reasons, y'know? Go with him like that and do that and that won't make you feel down all the time. It feels nice.

[He brings his cup to his mouth again, grinning over it before a thoughtful expression passes over him.

He glances to an empty space at his side... smiles again. This time he drinks slower, actually tasting it.]

[Aside quietly to Itachi, as he lightly leans into his partner.] You know... I can think of a couple of things to drag you along into later tonight if you're up to it, now that it's been brought up. [And then he whispers into the ninja's ear about a shogi game... although observers might wonder if the content was a little less innocent.]

[The amused look on Itachi's face only grows stronger, and he ends up clearing his throat a little louder than he'd intended.]

That... could be something to do, yes.

[...

DRINKING...

Looking intensely bothered by the display, he lowers the cup to say something...!! But then no. Nope, nope, just gonna keep drinking. And side-eying.]

[Slowly a pleased little grin works its way across the pirate's face and he lightly brushes his partner's fingers with his own. Like Itachi, he's mentally snickering.

Then he turns to Shikamaru, casual as a cucumber, and politely holds up the bottle.]

More sake?

[Itachi does give him another look at that. He's still smiling, but the brief look is cautionary.

After all, if anyone has to help Shikamaru get home it will be Law. Itachi can't exactly walk up to the front door of ninja headquarters without raising suspicion.]

We aren't about to make out in front of you, Shikamaru, if that had you concerned.

Oh thank god. [Any tension that might have been stubbornly remaining goes out of his shoulders with a whoosh. He slumps there happily in relief before remembering Law's offer.] PDA's gross'n'ough when it's parents.

[Definitely more, please. He holds the cup out to Law again, the motion simultaneously urgent and lackadaisical.]

[Returning the look to Itachi. Don't worry. He's got this. He'll be able to walk back.

Slowly refilling.]

Oh geez. [Shaking his head.] It's worse when it's the kids. Trust me.

[The first image that comes to mind at that comment is Itachi's younger brother. While he has nothing against Sasuke being in a relationship (would hope for it to happen, actually) the idea of walking in on him and his significant other is the most awkward thought in the world.

He frowns over his cup.]

...I agree.

[He watches, intently, the pouring of the glass.

"Hey, old man."
"What is it?"
"Why did you marry such a strict woman?"
"Let's see... She may be like that, but your mother has times when she's happy and smiles kindly too. That's probably why."
"...that's it?"

The flow of booze stops, and he looks up from it with a quiet startle, thoughts slammed back in the present. His brain's on playback, and a sly grin follows as he processes both comments.]

Hah...? Perhaps you've both been on the other side of that fence?

The grass ain't greener there. [Musing. Thank you, Luceti.] But yes, I've visited.

Edited 2013-04-13 03:15 (UTC)

[Shikamaru gets a deadpanned look with a raised eyebrow at first, as his mind is still on his brother. Have you seen his brother? What were the chances of him ever walking in on anything?

His gaze quickly shifts to his partner, however, as the other brow goes up as well. Really, Law?]

[ <-- a person who's seen Sasuke making out with someone ]

[Gosh, so depressing again. Law's talking about it like his own kids--]

Wait wait wait... That stuff made me think of my parents doing stuff like that. [...point!] What were you thinking of?

... [Glancing at you both, eyebrows UP in turn.] I've been a father in a couple of experiments. [Luceti Valley.] And I have family. I've been present for a few things...

[And that's all he's saying. Yup.

Okay. One more thing. Because he can sense this question on someone's mind.]

... not actually had kids, mind.

[Can't. Won't. Should not.

So many reasons.]

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