034 -- [Video | Action]

[endgames]

[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.]

Comments

[endgames]

Like I'm interested in getting dragged into that.

[He'll set up shop over on this end, instead. Putting his scroll on the table, he performs a hand sign and places his hand on the circle in the middle. A puff of smoke later, there's ten pool cues lying on the counter, one custom and apart from the others.]

[herotypical]

...Wait. Waitwaitwait.

How did you just do that? [ her glass castle is abandoned as she slinks down the bar's length. ]

[endgames]

[Man so much fr his awesome hard work. Partway through rolling up the paper scroll, he stops and unwinds it back so she can get a better look. If she caught sight of when he first opened it, she'll notice that the circle he places his hand over is empty of design now, where it once bore kanji before.]

It's a storage scroll. Or a locker. Put something in, take it back out.

[herotypical]

Sure, okay, but it was smoking. [ and there ain't nothing normal about that. really, you'd think that a decade of being the slayer would make her immune to the wonder of magic but...not really.

don't worry. she will, indeed, get to the sticks themselves. eventually. ]

[endgames]

Tch. You make it sound like it's a cig.

[herotypical]

Hardly. I'm just impressed, I swear.

[endgames]

It's easier to carry around weapons with scrolls, especially if you have a lot. That's what the smoke screen's for - you don't want the enemy to see what you got up your sleeve the second you pull your ace out.

[herotypical]

Yeah, but...casual goods, too?

[endgames]

Nah. But what else am I supposed to do with it? When I'm not on a mission or training, it's usually just lying around.

[And he's lazy, okay. Ever since that time back home he figured out he could stuff a ship in one of these, it's made him look at everything at a new level of taking shortcuts.]

[herotypical]

It's a funny little juxtaposition, you know -- [ she says without explaining herself -- picking up one of the cues and now, finally, taking the time to admire it. ]

[endgames]

[He spreads his hands, brushing it off.] They always said I should try new things

[Whether that's new ways of working out scrolls or making pool cues. He hopes she likes these.]

[herotypical]

Who's 'they'?

[ she balances the cue on her hand. ]

[endgames]

[The balance might be off between one or two of those: the earlier works, when he was still figuring it out, as opposed to the more recently completed. The wood has all been smoothed and polished down the sides, however, and the tips are fitting with a stronger material. The texture is too different to be ivory or bone, but it has a similar strength.]

They. Them. The quintessential others, with a capital T.

[herotypical]

Oh. Those guys. I hate those--

What are these ends made of? [ she asks quietly -- as though simply asking it betrays a whole level of awareness she isn't exactly comfortable with revealing. ]

[endgames]

Hm? [Oh, topic change.] Oh, that's antler. Deer antler.

[herotypical]

You de-antlered a deer for me?

[endgames]

Nah, I had that one lying around. I got a lot over the winter. That's when they lose the old ones to make way for the new.

[herotypical]

So -- no actual deers were harmed in the making of this gift? Though, I suppose it's not really a gift. More like a...commission. I owe you.

[endgames]

[Shaking his head - no deer were harmed, yes - the look in his eye comes close to offended, if he hadn't remembered that'd be an easy conclusion to draw. And that most people wouldn't know his family's connection to deer.

He would cry watching Bambi, okok. There's no way he'd kill one for its antlers.]

Don't worry about returning the favor. I volunteered, didn't I? It gave me other things to do.

[herotypical]

And now maybe I could also use some other things to do, right?

[endgames]

[IT WAS A TRAP.]

--well, if you're gonna put it like that. [All the backpedaling, so as to not dig himself any deeper.]

[herotypical]

...I mean it. What have you been up to, lately? Beside the big store endeavour?

[endgames]

Oh, you heard about that? [He feels kind of tickled, that more people are noticing.] Guess it can't be helped, with the announcement made today. To tell you the truth, that's more of a hobby for me than anything. I've been picking up more missions lately, and working with the others on that keycard Vash found in the tunnels.

[herotypical]

...A hobby. You opened a store as a hobby.

[endgames]

Ehh... [He scratches the back of his head.] It started with some grander purpose, but I decided I didn't like that. By then I'd already rehauled most of the building, and it seemed like a waste, you know?

After I got back from home, it was just something good to do while I readjusted.