endgames | 039 -- [Voice]

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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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[Filtered Reply | Private]

I'm sorry to hear that. You knew her well, didn't you? You must be missing her, too.

[/end filter]

Do you trust Romaeus, then? [Because she's been trying to decide whether, and how much, she does. Though exploring does sound like a logical move right now...]

[Who talks over journals when one can just stop by the house.

Have a knock at the door, Shikamaru. Although, whenever he opens it... or if he's somewhere outside the house, whichever the situation may be:]

I understand you were in need of assistance.

[Filtered]

She's an important ally. [Formal. He doesn't delve into anything more than straight facts.] I'll see her again. We're from the same world.

[/end filter]

He's the one who sent us back here. It'd probably put a wrench in his plans if we didn't return to the future.

[When he answers the door, from a glance it might look as if he hasn't been sleeping well. If it's so, he doesn't look hampered by it as he opens the door wider with a grin to invite Raine inside.]

Thanks for coming. [He lightly shoves the door closed behind them. As they step into the living room three scrolls can be spotted: two large ones half rolled out on the floor, and a smaller one draped over a coffee table. Shikamaru proceeds to approach the latter, picking it up by one end to roll it up.] I was just getting organized.

It's not any trouble.

[It's something to do, here, now that she's decided to remain behind and observe.] For someone always saying how things are troublesome, you've certainly gone out of your way to prepare.

[May be a little light teasing. Something rare but perhaps needed in the environment.]

So what have you got here?

[Something to start out the conversation. She's sure that there are other things to pick his brain about after. Not that he's the only one looking a little tired.]

[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?

[From under the small scroll is a sheet of paper, visible as the parchment is rolled up. It's a list, and he leans forward to pluck it from off the table to hand to Raine.]

That should be everything the two scrolls on the floor have in them. [He nods to their feet.] I haven't had to break anything out since we arrived, so that list should be accurate.

[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.

...Could you spare some of those rations?

[Hook him up, Shikamaru. He'd live off the land, but uh. He doesn't know where he's going and he's not completely sure what will and won't be okay to eat.]

[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.]

You going somewhere?

Of course. Gyarados hasn't had a good meal in almost a month. Even if I didn't want to go exploring, I'd have to anyway. [And he absolutely wants to go explore. If he runs into stuff for Romaeus, that's fine. If not, that's fine too.]

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.]

[Shikamaru makes an exaggerated groaning sound that cuts off with a sigh, like he's being put upon.]

Fine, come on over. [If Silver were staying in the village, buds though they may be Shikamaru would probably just tell him to rely on one of the others who he'll be passing this off to. But if he's going soon, eh. Might as well.] Bring something to carry it in.

[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.]

[You're the best bro, Shikamaru. If Silver were sticking around, he'd volunteer to help ration the food...

But he's not. He doesn't bother to reply over the journals again- in no less than ten minutes, he knocks on Shikamaru's door. He can make this quick.]

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.

Come in.

[Normally he'd ask who's there, but a couple of people will be coming by today anyways so why bother. Shikamaru's already at work on the living room, removing supplies from scrolls. So, uh. Once Silver steps in he can expect to find numerous stacks of boxes and canned food piled along the walls, among other things.]

[...This is a lot of food.

Where the hell did Shikamaru get all of this food?]

How long have you been saving all of this?

[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.

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