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037 -- [Voice | Action]
[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.]
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.]
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I've been working with Twila for the better part of a year now. It comes with some drawbacks.
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[What, did Twila turn him into a Growlithe?]
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[Not much better walking on water, but he powers through.]
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...That's rough, buddy.] And it's still worth it to learn from Twila?
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[Lackadaisical. He really doesn't mind.]
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[He turns it over in his hands, reverently, before unscrewing the cap.]
Give me a minute, will you? This won't take long.
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Regardless of what it is, Silver keeps quiet and waits for Shikamaru to do whatever he wants to do. Sure, buddy. Take your time.]
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It doesn't taste as bad as it did a year ago.
Swallowing, he directs his eyes downwards and turns the flask over, pouring the rest of its contents into the sand. He watches stoically, until it's nothing more than a trickle, before taking it back and setting the now empty flask down on the merry-go round.
With that done, he breathes in slow and claps his hands before his face, eyes closed in prayer.]
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He doesn't want to make this short. It's been a year - a year knowing for sure he can only rely on his dad in memory - and there's so much to reflect on.
Sorry I haven't gotten back yet. I will, I just have things to take care of here first. But I promise, I won't let you or mom down.
Shikamaru raises his head at last, dropping his hands - one into his pocket, the other reaching for the flask to stuff back in his vest.]
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That's what he wants to ask, but he's not sure if the words will seem cheap. Instead, he decides to put a hand on Shikamaru's shoulder. It's brief, but the intent is there. He's not the best at words, and Shikamaru doesn't even have to talk about it, but... He's here for him.]
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Given that, Shikamaru turns his head enough to catch Silver's expression. It's slow, but he smiles.]
Don't worry.
1/2
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He tries to return the smile. There's nothing else he can do.]
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I'm gonna head out now. Only losers hang out at the playground this late at night. But if you wanna walk with me, we can talk. I'm guessing you didn't come out this way just to throw water in my face, anyhow.
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