037 -- [Voice | Action]

[endgames]

[With Naruto MIA (and if he's being experimented on, he hopes his pal fries the Rogues good in the process), Shikamaru can't afford to cut out at the convenience store, much as he wants to. He takes the morning shift, debating whether he should look into hiring more people again, before finding his journal returned to him halfway in.

Yeah, returned. Don't ask. ...it got eaten, okay. Don't ask.

Later in the day, when he's off, he decides to mark the occasion.]

[Voice]

Congratulations, Luceti. As of today, it's been a year since TERRACE, and so a year since this village's seen a draft. They've been happening less and less frequently, but that's a record even for us. [Which is a good thing, if you can't tell from how pleased he sounds.]

Speaking about misconceptions... Let's play a game. Pretend I'm a New Feather here, freshly arrived and working on the half-naked problem. A couple dozen people have explained the thing about the wings, don't worry, but I still have no idea how I got here, or where 'here' is.

How do you explain the situation? What's the first thing you tell me about the world, or the Malnosso? If you don't feel comfortable saying it on the journals, you can find me at the playground if you want to say it in person. Any of you who've been here for less than two years, I'd be interested in your response especially.

[/end]

[True to his word, Shikamaru will be at the playground all afternoon, hogging the roundabout while school's still in session and begrudgingly giving it up when the kids are out for a spot in the sand. He'll have his journal and a separate notepad with him, scribbling in both.

When the sun goes down, he'll hang out for a little while longer for latecomers before calling it a day and going to the bar. He has no intention of getting sloshed, but he'll stick around long enough to have some fun and knock back more than a few.]

Comments

action;

[breezing]

[ Yeah okay the fact that he was at the PLAYGROUND is definitely a siren's song to Ikki, and as soon as school is out she runs in that direction. She'll run towards Shikamaru in the sand, while Soren glides down to land on top of the swings. Upon arrival Ikki tosses her bookbag onto the ground and sits down nearby, cheerful. ]

I'd say that this world pulls everyone here from different times and worlds, and the Malnosso scoop us all up and put us in here, 'cause there's a war on outside the barrier. That's what Katara told me, when I got here. The Malnosso were like us once, but they've been here so long they learned to use shifts like the Third Party.

[ Does she get a gold star? ]

action;

[endgames]

[SUPER gold star. Damn, girl.]

...Someone should contract you to explain this stuff. Or Katara - she was the one to explain it to me, too, when I got here.

[Written]

[windandrain]

[Simple enough, why not? Saori's not feeling like talking, so hopefully written is acceptable.]

The first thing I explain, after the initial check to see that a newcomer is well is that the world brings people here, from a different reality. It's not their world, and that we're put here by a group called the Malnosso. They're scientists, and they're able to use a form of magic/technology known as Shifting.

Do I have the right of it, Shikamaru? That's how it was explained to me.

[Written]

[endgames]

[IT'S A PAIN, but no he was prepared for all range of responses, and he has a pen on hand.]

Maybe. Elaborate on the Malnosso's role in putting us here, if you don't mind.

action

[feistytrader]

[Silver's been here for more than two years, but he's pretty sure he knows what Shikamaru's getting at- besides, Shikamaru probably knows more than him. So he wants to talk to him.

But he also wants to talk to him off the journals because talking into journals is just lame, so he's heading from the forest (which he's been in for upwards of a week now) to the playground. Of course, given that he's taking his time and quite a distance away, the sun's already nearly set by the time he shows up.]

I'm surprised you're still out here. [Why the playground, anyway? ...How many times can he honestly say that he's been here? He's not even sure what half of this stuff is. Weavile doesn't have half the problems with the playground that Silver does; within seconds, he scurries on top of the monkey bars and... Well, that's not exactly what they're meant for, but at least he's having fun.]

action

[endgames]

[That's how any good ninja would use them, kudos Weavile. Shikamaru looks over his shoulder, paused halfway in pulling something out of his flak jacket.]

Hey. I was just getting ready to leave, actually.

[Voice]

[goldenglasses]

Can we pretend that instead of you, it's a pretty lady? Because then I'd tell them not to worry! That I'm the leader of the resistance here and I'd protect them from all the big bad Malnosso! That in fact they should stay at my place so I can make sure they're safe!

[And if Shikamaru thinks he's being serious, Vash would also like to sell him a bridge.]

And then they'd thank me with a big kiss and go: [He puts his voice up a notch to sound more like a 'girl'.] Oh, Vash! You're so brave!

[Voice]

[endgames]

...remind me to never let you hang out with my roommate.

action

[misterbrief]

[He doesn't even show up until later in the day, as the sun is going down, coming up behind Shikamaru at the roundabout and leaning up against one of the bars.

He doesn't waste any time, looking forward instead of at the shinobi while he speaks in an even tone.]

Why are you asking a question like that.

action

[endgames]

[WELL IF IT ISN'T HIS LEAST FAVORITE CUSTOMER.]

So dramatic about it... [He looks up, head tilted to look at Vegeta over his shoulder with a raised brow. There's nothing joking about it this time, though. He speaks honestly; seriously.] Does it offend you?

voice;

[ura_no_ura]

I just link them to the guide, most of the time.

[ Saves him the trouble of doing all the explaining when it's already done for him. ]

voice;

[endgames]

I've pointed people to it, too. It's still one of the most conclusive things we have.

[...he should probably look over it again. He's not sure how long it's been since it's been updated.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[Hard not to miss a ninja hanging out in the playground when the students all step outside for a break after lunch.

She hadn't missed his entry, either, though she rather thinks she's a bit exempt from answering this brain picking question. Though she tends to feel that way about most of the questions asked, though considering certain conversations lately, she can understand what he's trying to do.]

How has it been going so far?

[action]

[endgames]

[He hums under his breath, not looking up at her just yet but watching the comments trickle in.]

Haven't gotten the audience I was looking for. Yet. [He hopes to get more - so far it's just Saori, Vash, and Neji. All three who are people who've been around long enough to know their stuff.] It's still early.

[Voice]

[secretmiracle]

Thank you for the congratulations, keep up the hard work and set an even higher record!! [She might not have been around for TERRACE, but she's still taking that comment as though it's aimed at her all the same. Now then, as for the question...]

First, I would thank God if they arrived unharmed and that they are safe. Then I would tell them that this is Luceti and that even if they truly think they are, they are not angels! It's a harsh truth, but it's necessary that they know. And then I would offer to take them on a tour!

[Voice]

[endgames]

[Okay, he has to snort at that, but at least she's enthusiastic. And by all means, yes, let's set a better record. Even if it's only a year and a day, he'll count it.]

Ha, not dead's a good one to cover. [Is she religious? She mentioned god and angels already. He'll take this over someone like Hidan any day, though.] What's on the tour?

[Voice]

[lordhotman]

My Uncle described it as a giant space whirlpool. So probably... not like that.

[Cause he's still not sure he entirely gets it.]

[Voice]

[endgames]

Kinda yes, kinda no? What else did he say?

[Voice]

[respect_points47]

"Welcome to the only place you can get double kidnapped, thrown into a war you don't care about, talk to animals, and never have to pay for anything!"

...I would've liked to know those things right away.

[Voice]

[endgames]

Well only half of them are true. And that last one doesn't take long to figure out, does it?

[voice]

[justacriminal]

"Congrats, you've been hijacked, dragged out of your whole world, and brought here to live in a quiet place until the powers that be decide they need to mess with your head even more than they already have. Or send you off to go fight on some sort of mission to help in some war. By the way, there could be people here that recognize you, who swear you've been here before, but you might not remember any of it. Don't worry, it's normal or something. ...At least everything is free."

Something like that.

[voice]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru doesn't respond right away, even when the channel opens. Listening closely, one might be able to pick out the sound of pen on paper as he jots notes in a separate pad of paper.

-hijacked by the Malnosso
-nature of experiments
-distinction: missions vs. drafts
-retur

...he crosses off the last one with a wince, as soon as Yuri's actually words complete in his head.]

That last one, besides the freebies, is true at least. Sucks, but it's how it is.

Video - Worst-host-ever

[the_dead_pool2]

Welcome to the jungle...it gets worse here everyday. Ya learn ta live like an animal,in the jungle where we play, in the jungle... Welcome to the jungle! Its going to bring you down!

[He inclines his head in a bow]

Thank you thank you. Perfect right? I'm made to be a host.

Video - Did you mean perfection

[endgames]

[Shikamaru sticks a finger in his ear.]

I think your voice cracked.

voice;

[cilantro]

...My, has it really been a year since that draft? [Hm] I highly doubt this taste is fitting of the expression "time flies when you're having fun", but it's still a curious matter when you consider it.

[...Oddly enough, Cilan doesn't seem to be interested, or perhaps automatically prepared, to come up with an answer to that hypothetical scenario of yours yet...]

voice;

[endgames]

[TAKE YOUR TIME, BRO.]

It's a change in our favor. The Malnosso we're losing before, which is why we keep getting called. They were spread to thin before, which is why we kept getting dragged into it.

Now that the Third Party's taken a hit, they're getting a handle on this war again, so they don't need us so much.

[Action]

[screw_fate]

[Neji sees Shikamaru's question on the network, but rather than answer it via journals, he waits until the next time he sees Shikamaru at the convenience store.]

So what have you found out about what New Feathers are being told?

[He's curious, okay; it's pretty clear to him there has been some misinformation floating around.]

[Action]

[endgames]

[That will probably be the next day then! Due to timelines. He's still pondering over this though - will for the better part of the next week. In fact, he's still scribbling in the notebook he had with him yesterday.]

Nothing I didn't know already. But I'm getting a better picture of the frequency that some of these ideas keep coming up at.

[voice]

[yourhatred]

A consensus, Shikamaru?

[Itachi's not actually going to answer the question, mostly because he doesn't answer it much for the new feathers to begin with.]

[voice]

[endgames]

What? Don't have one of your own?

voice

[stilldontgotit]

Sheesh, it's really been a year? Guess I just lost track of time.

[So what does that mean? Are the Malnosso done drafting? He thinks about pressing the issue, but between mulling over the Malnosso's tactics and playing Shikamaru's game, Riku's more inclined to stick with the latter.

So, hmm. What to tell them.]

Well, I'd definitely deal with some of the misconceptions. No, the Malnosso didn't bring you into the world. They just dropped you into the enclosure. Even they're still working out how they got here and how they're gonna get out. Try not to get too attached to your personal ideas of logic because everyone comes from different worlds, and between the shifts and the variety of people here, you'll probably end up with a migraine if you try.

voice

[endgames]

Tch. Ain't that the truth. Maybe that's why other enclosures think we're weird.

voice

[fervidity]

[a chance to blabber? on it]

This is a weird game but I'll play it with you.

[DEEP BREATH]

I would start with the basics like what this place is called, how the world brings you here and can send you back just as suddenly and without warning. That food is free and so are your clothes and they can be found at a shop, if you want them. There's a shop for weapons, items, and a convenience store. I'd tell them where they were. Housing is free too. There's not much you really have to pay for here, except that maybe the payment are the experiments the Malnosso cause. Malnosso are these people that use Shifts to make strange things happen to us in the barrier. The experiments. They want you to go on missions for them to fight in a war, outside the barrier. We can't get past it on our own but with the Malnosso help we can. The barrier surrounds this place and keeps us from escaping and from the Third Party from getting in. They're the ones that don't like people like you and me, people brought from different worlds and different times. They're fighting in the war, too.

I don't know how the Malnosso feels about us.

And then... I'd say there's some good about this place too. It's not all experiments and fighting in a war. The Battle Dome is a nice place to train. There's kind people here too... friends you can make that you wouldn't have the chance to if you weren't brought here. There's interesting things in the shop and the lake is really beautiful.

Plus, with all these people, you always have someone to play a prank on.

voice

[endgames]

[HE TAKES HIS NOTE, though for the most part he doesn't have to. Naruto's mom is fairly in the know; there might be something, actually, to that saying that moms know everything.

I don't know how the Malnosso feel about us.

That, he does jot down.]

Thank you, Kushina-san. That was thorough.

[markofthebrave]

[Screw the journal, she's just going to try and find him. Where will it be? Playground? Bar? Somewhere in between?]

[endgames]

[YOU GET THE BAR. Because I want bar people.

She'll find him nursing a bottle of something, sitting right up at the counter in a content slouch rather than lurking in the shadows. He still has his notebook, though he's more doodling in it now than taking notes.]