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

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?

Yep. At home and professionally.

[She might as well count things like "signing contracts" and "going to meetings" as chores. He probably would.]

See, that's already like... ten percent dread-inducing.

Please tell me that's not a habit you picked up from Tony. [Assigning percentages to things could get very tricky, and Pepper follows up her question with some sage advice.] That can be very dangerous to do when you're talking with a woman.

...seriously?

[Oh no, he does that a lot already. o_o]

Depending on how you decide just who gets what percentage? Absolutely. For example, never tell a woman she's responsible for only twelve percent of her baby.

[And yes, there is a story behind that remark. But Pepper may just want to see how Shikamaru takes her words as spoken, since it isn't so obvious she's talking about a major company project as opposed to a child.]

[Considering his goals in life? Oh yeah, that goes over his head. He's more accustomed to military companies than he is business ventures.]

Who the hell does that? Even with parents, that doesn't fly... Hell, I've only played babysitter, but even I know there's no counting that unless you want to go up to five hundred percent.

[Hmm. Maybe that’s the wrong thing to say. The rather firm reaction gets a laugh out of Pepper, who does agree with Shikamaru—although she might feel a little bad for the person who said it when Shikamaru finds him.]

To be fair, Tony was talking about a building—but one that we had designed and worked very hard on for nearly two years.

...oh.

[He almost says that's not as bad, but remembers her precursor to the whole thing. Never mind. :T

He's a supergenius, honest.]

Well that should be similarly straightforward too.

[Pepper can definitely agree that Tony is a supergenius--when it comes to science. Relationships, less so.

But he tries.]

And yet it somehow wasn't. Hence the advice.

All right, all right. Point taken.

034 -- [Video | Action]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]