endgames | 039 -- [Voice]

((backdated to October 29th, before the people accompanying Tyr leave))

[Filtered to Rock Lee, Jim Kirk, and Ami Mizuno | Private]

Temari's gone. I don't know two of you that well, but she seemed to get along with you. Thought you should know.

[/end filter]

[The voice that addresses the journal is crisp, albeit a little tired sounding. To those who know him, however, Shikamaru might actually sound like he's in surprisingly good spirits.]

I don't know how many of you have chosen to explore the world out there; think I might've missed a few who left already. If there's anyone in the village thinking about it, I encourage you to go. You'll have to watch out for Natural Shifts, but it's a great opportunity, and if you can help Romaeus while you're at it, that'd be ideal.

To anyone who'll be staying, however, I got a favor to ask. When we left our current time, I brought along some non-perishables that can be added to the food supplies available from hunting and the harvests. I'd like to gather some reliable volunteers to ration it between the village and those leaving to explore. Either hit me up on the journals, or come find me at House 12 if you're interested.

[Sorry to Masaomi and Hilda if anyone takes him up on that while you're around, the house is just easy okay. For him.]

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[There's not much she can say to that. It sounds like her own ~~excuses~~ reasoning when friends or loved ones leave. Shikamaru's been here a long time, too. Maybe it's just after so long, after so many times, it gets a little harder to deal with it correctly.

As for Romaeus, though...]

I wasn't thinking of trying to stay. But are we sure his plans are for our good, too?

[Ahahaha excuses... It's becoming second nature to him to focus on a present problem than consider any personal blows that've been dealt to him.

As for her question, it seems obvious to him, and several initial responses pop to mind. Rather than default to that however, out of curiosity he decides to turn the question back on her first.]

What makes you think they wouldn't be?

[To her, it's this answer that's all too obvious. She knows where her mistrust can lead - has led her - and she knows it's somewhere she doesn't want to revisit; but she also can't believe in someone easily. Especially someone of the Malnosso.]

We have no reason to trust in him from the start. His real goal in this time could be anything at all, something we don't even know about yet. [Especially given the secrecy surrounding a lot of it.]

On the contrary, I'd say we'd have plenty reason. The guy does things as he likes, but no one's had our backs when it was most important in this world more than he has.

Even if your suspicions were right, and he had an ulterior motive, stopping the war between the Malnosso and the Third Party would be worth it. And besides the lives it would save, if we're not fighting them all the time, we can finally focus on the real problem of this world.

[Well, she's willing to listen at least, and consider; but her views are a little hard to shift. There's another notable pause while she tries to think of the right thing to say.]

What is it that makes you able to believe in him?

[That's what it comes down to. Proof. And in its absence, some indication that past history indicates Romaeus might have good intentions now.]

[Uhh... That would be a pretty long list.]

We're alive, just to start.

[Yes, but by his efforts? Or is he simply taking credit - and anyway, even Kunzite had made sure Ami was alive.]

That may only mean he has a use for us.

[And it isn't necessarily a use they want to be put to. They don't know what he's truly hoping to accomplish, is her problem, only that he claims it's beneficial.

And she was blindly used by one side then the other of the war back in her world. It makes her rather wary of these half-informed situations.]

If those of us who'd been on that Zompania draft had been sacrificed, he could've used anyone. There were still people in the village to spare. He didn't have to save anyone, but he did. He doesn't have to cure our death penalties either; he could practice on anyone.

Maybe we're useful to him. But the thing is it goes both way. If anything, he's more useful to us than it is the other way around. If you can't trust him, I think that's your loss, but no one's putting a gun to your head either.

[Perhaps the worst part of it, from any angle, is that she isn't saying these things to be argumentative. She's saying them because she needs to hear exactly what Shikamaru just said: a reason.

After a moment, it's enough.]

I also want to help. But I want to be sure what I do really will help us as the Malnosso's prisoners, and even this world, too.

So what do you suggest? [It's not the challenge the words themselves imply; it's an honest question - and tacit within it, a willingness to think about whatever he says might be most useful right now.]

[Well at least that much worked.]

Depends on what you're capable of.

[Everyone has special skillsets, after all. He'd suggest something different to a teleporter than he would a pokemon trainer, for example.]

Water magic, and healing.

[Let him think those both come completely from the filial spirits. Oh please let him. There's yet another pause from this careful girl, before she decides to say the rest as simply as possible:]

I can also fight.

[If he thinks anything about that, he doesn't say anything.]

If you can heal, I'd suggest getting with a group. Some of these places sound like they can be dangerous, and you know some buffoon's gonna want to blaze right into it without thinking of the consequences. Having a healer onhand would be helpful.

[She has to smile a little at his description - and think of some of her friends who tend to do exactly that at times.]

Some of the places we were asked to travel for the things Romaeus needs are also dangerous. It might be good to have someone who can still defend herself. [Which basically means: she'll probably follow that advice.]

[A grin.] Glad you're onboard.

I wasn't trying to be difficult... it's just hard to accept the things that happen here.

Good luck in your own endeavors, too.

039 -- [Voice]

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