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]

[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.

[generalflirt]

I'm not that hungry, really. [OR more like he's not sure if he could eat anything without vomiting at the moment. His stomach is still a little flippy]

[endgames]

[Frankly, so is he, but it's either this or whine. And if he whines, it's going to be taking a cork off a bottle he doesn't want to open.]

I'm looking forward to a meal I don't have to kill to eat, okay.

[generalflirt]

Yeah, well that ones on you, Mr. Mountaineer.

[endgames]

Yeah, yeah...

[He snorts. Man, his head hurts.]

[generalflirt]

[Whatever, his head is heavy, so he's going to flop it sidelong onto Shikamaru's shoulder]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru grunts, at the little extra weight.]

Don't fall asleep. I'm not carrying you out of here.

[generalflirt]

I figured. I'm not going to.

[HE said as he closed his eyes]

[endgames]

Liar.

[He doesn't really care.]

[generalflirt]

Come on, I don't sleep on dudes.

[Eyes closed thumbs up]

[endgames]

Uh-huh. I'll tell you if any hot girls show up.

[generalflirt]

Good because I will resent it if you do not.

[endgames]

I owe you, what can I say.

[He spreads his hands, then sits a little straighter until he can lean his head back against the wall. If he stays still for a while, the sick feeling should go away.]