033 -- [Action]

[endgames]

[In anticipation of a witch hunt, Shikamaru left the village a solid week or more ago for a spot he could wait things out and do as he liked. After John's report to the village, he trained with Twila's powers some and checked out the barrier. He never forgot that looming detail - that a deadline was approaching - but it wasn't the loudest though to linger in his mind.

"I've let your new attitude and wings slide, because we're friends. But it's starting to make you do things you wouldn't normally in a bad way. You should get it together."

It's troublesome but not untrue, which means that comes before anything else. Control is the name of the game here. Twila catered to his apathy, and while there's something nice about not feeling sad or anxious anymore, until they split ways he's going to be the one calling the shots. And after that week... he is for the most part, and ready to take care of things.]

[Since it's hard telling over the journals how much things settled in the village, so on June 9th he makes his way back on his very best behavior. Best. Maybe. PROVOKE HIM AND FIND OUT. He's still possessed by the start of the day, but in general, Shikamaru can be found attempting to mind himself while doing any of the following:

1. Observing people from high up places and making weirdly realistic shadow puppets to pass the time
2. Exploring the new parts of the tunnels
3. Searching out anyone he might have been an ass to, because he should make up for that 8|

One way or another he's back to normal by the end of the day, so people might find him in CH1 too after the fact.]

Comments

[endgames]

[Dispersing the play, Shikamaru lazily draws himself upwards. His shadow melts back into its natural shape, mimicking his movements as he stretches his arms over his head until he can hear his back pop. Making a satisfied sound, he lets his arms swing back to his side and casually hops off the roof and walks in the shadows to her location.]

[strangelyliteral]

So, are we the only ones left?

[endgames]

Probably not. [He smiles at her. Having sat out there long enough, he hasn't gotten enough weird looks to justify as much.] Twila's a spirit of darkness. It would only be in its nature to lurk in the shadows.

[strangelyliteral]

That... actually makes sense. [She hadn't felt the need to be visible to the public for a while as it was.] But their - our? Numbers have rapidly decreased.

[endgames]

Mm. [He nods.] I suspected. The others too...

[There's a slight emphasis on that word, as he looks back towards the square. It's not just Twila, he's seeing fewer large-winged people in general today. At the same time, he doesn't sound bothered by it other than to get across what he means.]

Does it upset you?

[strangelyliteral]

Twila isn't pleased.

... I don't think I care. I mean, it's - annoying. But everything here is just - annoying.

[endgames]

[He looks back at her as if taking her face in for the first time. You're new here, aren't you?]

That's Luceti in a nutshell. One thing after another to put up with.

[strangelyliteral]

Yeah, I've gotten that message, thanks. Loud and clear. Tell me something useful.

[endgames]

When people die here, they get a penalty.

[strangelyliteral]

Heard that one too. Why are we talking about dying all of a sudden? Can we not?

[endgames]

'Cause I don't want to. [He folds his hands behind his neck, sounding bored.] And it's troublesome, but it's probably gonna happen by the end of the week if things stay like this.

[strangelyliteral]

Well, I don't want to die. I've never, wanted to die.

[endgames]

[He believes that - moreover, he believes that will comes from her even without Twila's desperate need for survival. It's a fierce statement.]

So what's your plan?

[strangelyliteral]

Do you know of anywhere that might make it ... easier to think? Quieter? If I can get that, then I can just - think for me. I don't want to wait around for someone else to make that choice, especially if they're going to be self-righteous about it. [Her voice is oddly soft for a moment:] I just ... want my life back.

And you're, probably not in the same boat or anything but, you've been around longer than I have. So I just thought you might - know something like that.

[endgames]

Actually... [Considering he was just looking at it a little while earlier. He turns his shoulders, looking back into town.] Yeah. I know just the place.

[Follow along.]

[strangelyliteral]

- Really? ... Good.

[And she will follow, with curiosity and purpose.]

[endgames]

[And so he leads her past the fountain, to the mouth of the tunnels, stopping there in front of it.]

These tunnels have a dampening effect. Anything such as unnatural abilities or magic is repressed within the confines of them. It should have an influence on this also.

[strangelyliteral]

[She raises an eyebrow before he continues with the explanation. Power dampening. Hardly applied to her anymore, anyway.]

Huh. I'll give it a shot.

[endgames]

[He walks in, then stops just within it. Yeah, Twila seems quieter to him. There's a sense of uncomfortableness that lingers, but the overlap is gone.

Shikamaru looks to Anya to see if she follows/feels the same.]

[strangelyliteral]

[Anya climbs down the ladder after him, contemplating the change in sensation as her feet touch the bottom.

There's definitely a noticeable change. The way Twila's emotions had twisted with hers seemed to draw back. Still present, but not enveloping her. She needs a few moments, to blink and adjust.]

Yeah. This helps. It's -- different. What about you?

[endgames]

Mm. I feel more myself.

[He'd taught himself how to overrule Twila, in the week he spent off on his own, but--] There's no second opinion to push back at mine, anyways.

[strangelyliteral]

It was like - wearing a coat, or something, and now I've been able to unzip it and push back the hood. Or like being in one of those full body costumes. I'm still wearing it, but it's not me anymore.

[endgames]

[Come to think of it, he's never met her normal, has he? There was some unspeakable bond before... He never thought oddly of it, because it seemed natural at the time.

It's faded here, nearly absent, and that should make things awkward. Instead, it makes him glad for her. This is probably her first reprieve.]

Feel any differently about putting that outfit up?

[strangelyliteral]

More blah. [As the realization of her own state of mind starts to sink in.] More like me, again. Normal, human. It sucks. I mean, coming down here was my choice, and, I don't think it was a bad one. It just, it still is a nice outfit. Not that having it on out there will change anything.

[endgames]

Besides what I mentioned. That guy that got on the line wasn't joking that we could end up dead if we stay like this.

[But that's not something he wants to dwell on either, just facts that have to be made.]

Honestly, even after I've thought about it some, I'm with you. I want to control my own life, but I don't want Twila gone and out of it. Catch my drift?