endgames | 034 -- [Video

[Video]

[The feed kicks on to a counter in the convenience store, height adjusting a split second after as if the person holding the journal realized he needs to hold it higher if anyone is going to see what's on the counter.

Correction made, the journal reveals a SLURPEE MACHINE, clean and ready to go with cups stacked to the side. The labels of the four flavors it offers are clearly displayed, from left to right: Mountain Dew, Blue Raspberry, Orange, and Dr. Pepper.

After holding it there for a good thirty seconds, Shikamaru turns his journal back to himself, straight-faced as he checks to make sure he got all the important bits shown. When it's confirmed, he focuses back on the feed itself with a grin.]

You're welcome.

[/end video]

[Shikamaru spends most of his day in the convenience store, prideful over the new working addition. Less so over what to do about the fresh-to-go items the store should be offering. At least he was able to get a Shift so the refrigerated items in the store self-replenish, and one for the slurpee machine too. The rest he'll have to figure out.

When evening comes along, Shikamaru goes into the tunnels to work more on the computer in there. After that, he detours for the bar instead of going home. Both of his roommates/two of his best friends are gone on a mission, so it's not like anyone will miss him. The least tidy out of the three of them, the apartment will be a mess when they get back so might as well take one day off from dirtying it up further. Besides, he has some items to drop off for Buffy anyways.

He'll just have a couple drinks after (no repeat of that other time) and go home.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Heh. Word on the street is it's the same man responsible for the fifty-foot rabbit I've heard so much about.

Oh god, don't say that. [Because while Pepper's certain Tony's learned his lesson, the last thing she needs is for him to hear this and think that maybe he didn't go big enough.] It was ten feet, and we've had it shrunk down to a much more reasonable size, thank you.

So how did he talk you into getting a slurpee machine?

[Cackle. In that subdued, Shikamaru sort of way.]

He said they have a Mountain Dew flavor. [He's not a hard man to win over when you know the words, apparently.]

[Laugh it up, Shikamaru. One day he might decide to get you a present all on his own.

...Probably not, but it's possible.]

And that's all it took? I didn't realize you were a fan.

[Give it another reality and two weeks.]

Yeah, my friend got me into it when we became roommates. It's the one thing I'm good to stock up on.

[Ssh. Spoilers.]

I’m not sure if that’s better or worse than Tony’s obsession with poptarts.

Poptarts... That's those flat cookies?

[He thinks he's seen them in the grocery store but he never took a closer look. Thusly, combined with the keywords "Tony" and "obsession", cookies are the only logical deduction.]

I don't think I'd call them cookies, exactly. [Then again, they barely qualify as food in Pepper's mind.] They're technically pastries, with some sort of sweet filling and hard icing on the outside.

[He groans. Yeah, it sounds different, but at the same time it's Tony.] Close enough.

[He'll just be grateful he hasn't gotten any demands for those instead.]

[The groan means he gets it.]

What's worse is that he likes the strawberry ones. [A beat as she realizes that probably won't make much sense to Shikamaru.] I'm allergic to strawberries.

Even fake ones?

Technically, the box says dried, and I'd prefer not to take the chance.

Nah, that makes sense.

[That the next thing that comes to mind is that it at least gives Tony incentive to brush his teeth makes him understand just how much time he's been spending with Masaomi. Too much time. He clears his throat and moves on.]

Couldn't you swear him off them? He seems to listen to what you say, impressively.

I’ve tried. [Although not as intently as she could have; no, she doesn’t understand why he likes the things, or why he gets strawberry along with s’mores, but so long as he doesn’t trigger her allergies she’s not going to ban the things from the house.

Relationships are about compromise, right?]

Tony tends to listen when he wants to. I’m just good at reminding him why he wants to.

[That sounds like something his mom would say. Scary.]

I'm not convinced yet that's not magic.

You could call it that, I guess. One of the many mysteries of romance. [Although it really wasn’t, but Pepper was pretty sure Shikamaru didn’t want to verge that closely to talk of Tony’s romantic life.] Have you been involved with someone before? You may be on the receiving end of it one day too.

[As if waving the notion off, he waves a hand at the journal. Nope, nope.]

Experiments don't count.

[But he thinks of Temari. Maybe someday.]

No, they don't. But that doesn't mean it's not possible. [Because stranger things had happened than a person who thought they weren't the sort to fall in love and do crazy things because of it realizing they'd been wrong.]

Just that I'd prefer it not to be. [He takes on a joking tone, so she won't think he's being rude or too serious.] My mom had the old man whipped, and I'm not eager to follow in the steps of family tradition.

I wouldn’t say I have Tony whipped. [Although it does make her laugh to think someone else might.] Falling in love doesn’t necessarily mean you suddenly become obedient. Believe me, Tony knows how to give as good as he gets—and the same thing can probably be said of your parents.

[It's not the hard pang in his chest it would have been three months ago, but he feels a little sadness creep into his heart and smiles wistfully.

They did, yeah. He remembers asking his dad when he was much younger, why he'd marry such a woman. His answer had been some strange, cryptic thing, but dad had said he'd understand when he got older.]

Well... I can't argue with you there.

[There’s just something about the way Shikamaru says that. Some quality she can’t label or explain, and she thinks somehow it’s better not to ask.]

It’s pretty incredible when you find it. More than worth putting up with a little bossiness for.

Worth getting nagged about elbows on the table?

Oh, I've nagged Tony about a lot more than that.

Doing chores?

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