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

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.

Really? I wanna learn, too!

You'd get the hang of it quick, I think. It has some similarities to Pai Sho.

It does, huh? That doesn't sound too hard, then!

Wait... That doesn't mean you're really really good at that one too, does it?

[Hee.

Just this face.]

[That's all he needs to see.]

...

I'm doomed.

C'mon. Games aren't just about winning, you know.

You're right. As long as it's fun, that's what matters! As long as I'm not done for too quickly...

Nah. You're more clever than that.

I am? Thanks, Shikamaru. [He has considered himself to be clever, especially in tricky situations, but hearing it from someone as smart Shikamaru is quite the compliment.] Then you should watch out! For all the cleverness.

I look forward to it. Don't disappoint.