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]

[A corner of his mouth tucks up, fondly. He's really missed stupid conversations like this, you know.

This thing with Twila wasn't entirely terrible. He didn't feel sad every time he thought about home and his dad. He had enough sense to realize over the week that that wasn't the way to do things: that it's a crutch not worth it if it means he doesn't care.

But it made him think, too, about how much he misses being happy when he would think about those memories. Or how he could reflect on other things besides the war, and be more involved here. And more than that, act his age again.

So... Maybe it's poor judgement, but he is grateful to Twila for some things. Enough that he can't let it hold him back from them. Plus Masaomi's speech seemed to sate it anyways... He shoves his hands in his pockets and walks back that way.]

[generalflirt]

[As Masaomi laughs though, something else happens. You see, Tsinku really does not like the dark spirit and is really wary of its entrance into Luceti again. But Tsinku's always been both logical and prone to snap choices - but above all, he's loyal. The loyalty he's felt in the man he's in has been one thing, but this particular moment confirms to the spirit that sure, why not? Two boys can get along, so maybe they can begin to try to tolerate the dark one, for all the problems its caused in the past.

And so just as quickly as Masaomi is possessed, his large wings spread wide and seem to explode in a see of yellow feathers, reducing back to his old pink ones in no time at all.]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru stops mid-step at the unexpected display, pulled out of his own thoughts. Dazed by it. As the feathers fade like a bolt of lightning's afterimage, he blinks.]

Hey. You're normal again.

[Is he all right? The way wings are tied with vitality in this world, he wonders if that would be painful and looks for any signs of it.]

[generalflirt]

Y-yeah. [And he ends up collapsing to his knees. Because he does feel more than a little dizzy from the whole thing of it. he catches himself, but- at least he doesn't think he's going to vomit or die]

[endgames]

[From the unfocused look on Masaomi's face, he could tell something was off. By the time he's dropping, Shikamaru's darted forward before sliding on his knees the rest of the way, coming to a stop in front of his friend. He outs a hand on his shoulder.]

You okay?

[generalflirt]

Yeah- ... Just... a little dizzy.

[With a little sigh]

[endgames]

[Well, he'd say something if there was anything else. Shikamaru looks away after a moment, judging the distance between them and the wall they're closest to.]

Let's just sit for a while, then, until you feel over it. I can pull you that way.

[generalflirt]

Go for it. [In fact, he gives him a thumbs up. He considers just standing and trying to get over there, but his friend offered- so]

[endgames]

[Yonder they go then! Once they're by the wall, Shikamaru will hesitantly sit on the other side of Masaomi, after a moment.

He's only now noticing it, but Twila has gone mysteriously quiet in his own heart since Tsinku's departure. If they were on the surface, maybe he would understand better that the dark spirit has turned reflective. That its feelings aren't muted, but that Shikamaru's own concerns were drowning these out.]

[generalflirt]

I'm not dying, just so you know.

[It's said sheepishly once he's against the wall. To make it clear. He does feel... a little sick. Like he had severe vertigo, he decides. That's what it feels like]

[endgames]

I figured that much out. [He forces a smile out, and turns his head.] I'd do more than sit around if you were.

[generalflirt]

Good, good. I was hoping that'd be the case.

[endgames]

[Even at his worst, he could never be that apathetic.

(funny how that was appealing in the first place)]

So now it's just you in there... huh?

[generalflirt]

Well me and whatever others have lodged in my head. After all, the Prince of Omashu did rent a room in my memories.

[endgames]

[He laughs quietly, more a breath through the nose.]

You know what I meant.

[Past his capabilities of understanding, in the tunnels like this, Twila is... well. Impressed. It wouldn't have expected Tsinku to fall back like that, after the way the others have behaved these last two weeks.]

[generalflirt]

Yeah, yeah, I know. Don't you worry.

[With a little shrug, leaning his head back against the wall here]

[endgames]

[So simple like that... All that time spent in that chest, down deep and forgotten in these caverns, with nothing but the want to make them see. To accept it as one of them again.

And here it is, in the most unexpected of ways.]

That's... good. [Yeah. That's more than good, it's great. If the Malnosso feel the need to step in, that means Masaomi is safe from it.] Vertigo aside, that puts you in the clear.

[generalflirt]

Now let's just get you in the clear, eeeh?

[Because he does not want to see that]

[endgames]

I'm not sure it'll budge for--

[He can feel the moment when Twila lets go, a little tug and then something loosens. Against the wall, his large wings begin to fade and shrink like a shadow approaching high noon, just as black as before but coming back to their normal size.

If Tsinku and the other spirits are ready to forgive, it can compromise too, Twila has decided. And if this one is as true to his convictions as he's presented himself to be, they won't be the only ones.]

[generalflirt]

[Oh, wow, was his like that? Masaomi watches Shikamaru's transformation with some surprise and some wariness. Is his going to be okay? He makes ready to awkwardly catch him if he needs to]

[endgames]

[He's got the wall against him, so he's alright there. Gripping his fingers into his knee, he's not positive he won't be sick for a moment there, but thinks back on it. Masaomi took a while to come to the conclusion he did - that he just felt dizzy - and Shikamaru thinks he gets why now. It's probably something like that.

He hunched forward a little when he can, anyways, taking steady breaths.]

[generalflirt]

[Masaomi reaches out and pokes him in the shoulder. Shikamaru's probably feeling sick, the same way he was, but he might as well confirm. The vertigo was pretty bad, but he's already settling, actually]

[endgames]

I'm good. [He raises a hand to wave him off, but drops it halfway with a sigh.] I think.

[Mostly fine. Worn out, but good enough.]

[generalflirt]

Well, take a rest here with me. At worst, we'll starve a while.

[endgames]

[He groans, but it ends with a laugh.] You had to mention. I wasn't... [Oh wow. Still smirking, he rubs his temple as if working the dizzy spell out of him.] I wasn't even hungry, until you piped up about it.