endgames | 036 -- [Voice]

((Backdated to February 4th))

[It's been a long time since Shikamaru's failed a mission. All right. Failure might be too strong a word for this one. He can actually laugh at that. This isn't like when he was twelve. It's a personal embarrassment, not something that's going to keep him up at night, sick to his stomach.

A failure is a failure though, and that makes it a pain in the ass. He'd apologized to the MSF personnel profusely, and requested to be put on a different mission to make up for the screw-up. They'd looked nonplussed about the whole thing and stuck him back in Luceti, but eh. Shikamaru decides to keep his journal close to him anyways, in case they take him up on that. It's for this reason he doesn't go out to do any of the things he probably should. He passes the time by flipping through the journal instead, and thinking over the last mission.]

[Voice]

When I first came to this village, I remember going out. Left or right, it seemed anywhere I looked someone was using that so-called "filial magic". ...Haaa. [He scratches his head, and there's a smirk in his voice.] That's an exaggeration, but you get it. That was years ago, though. It seemed like it was becoming less common until that incident last year, when everyone got possessed.

Anyone learning anything from those guys now? Seems like the kind of thing that would spark interest, especially with one extra spirit hanging around.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's less than I thought, somehow. Guess I'm too used to thinking of you as master of all elements.

I just haven't worked as much on all the spirit elements. [It is kind of redundant since he can do more than most of the spirits with his bending abilities already; one exception is Nala, which he sought primarily because he didn't have any healing to his name. But for the most part, he's mostly about connecting with the spirits in general, even if they don't have much to say.] But I mean to! I wanna get pacts with most of them.

Only most, huh?

[He wants to give Aang the benefit of the doubt - that many spirits is a lot to keep up with. But Aang's never struck him as the type to pace himself in that way.]

Y-yeah, that's what I'm thinking... I'm just not sure about making pacts with some of them yet.

Have you heard the saying that you can get comfortable with the water until you go in it?

No... I never heard that one before. Why can't I just be comfortable in the water?

That's the key word, man. It's like swimming. You can't do it unless you're in the water, right?

Right! So you mean... I should just think about the ones I wanna make pacts with first! Right?

[He snorts, and tries to put it more bluntly.]

If you're scared of water, you have to go into the water.

If there's something about some of the other spirits that troubles you, you need to seek them out to come to an understanding.

Oh, now I think I really get it!

It does make a lot of sense... [And knowing them all really would be the best way to promote balance.] Putting it that way, it sounds like it will be for the best. So... I think I'm gonna try that, Shikamaru.

[--maybe it's because of past conversations, or because he automatically associates Aang with Katara, but he wasn't expecting that suggestion to go so smoothly.

It only makes him grin, a little proud of Aang. Say what you want about the guy, his love of peace and balance is admirable. Considering that was the core of Shikamaru's comment, he should've known better to start.]

I'll be rooting for you. Let me know how it goes.

[It's easier said than done at least. He still feels some hesitance about them - and he'll most likely focus on the ones he feels less unsure of before actually trying those other ones. He doesn't expect it to be an easy road in the least.

But he keeps himself light-hearted in his response.]

Thanks! It'll be a project that takes a while... but I'll let you know. And if you ever have any spirit problems yourself, I'm your monk!

Aa. I'm not going any higher than two from here on out, so I don't think that'll be a problem. But thanks anyways.

[Because he really doubts Aang will get to Twila anytime soon. Not soon enough to work out this predicament, at least.]

No problem! It's still an open offer.

So, Shikamaru - aside from thinking about spirits, how have you been?

[Ever since what happened with Sokka, he's been extra concerned about his friends going off on missions.]

[He shrugs.] Keeping busy. Not much to complain about, so long as there's something to do.

Busy, huh? Alright, alright. That sounds nice. As long as you're staying out of trouble. Play any neat games lately? [It's nice to poke - not just to learn about new games, but also to know which ones he has played so that he can find ones he most likely hasn't to surprise him with in the future.]

Haa... Not any new ones, for a while.

[He had a fairly large collection of games before he went home last year. His room was empty when he came back to it, almost all of his possessions gone and the games with it. He's never really built it back up to that level.]

Sounds like I might end up teaching Ikki how to play shogi, though.