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018 -- [Action]
[He wakes up to a mostly empty apartment, every scrap of evidence that his best friend shared it with him removed, save for one small kitten. It’s not the first time, with that exception. Chouji’s disappeared like this before – barely two months ago. But he came back.
And now he’s gone again. Shikamaru isn’t sure what to think about that, mostly because he's considered it all before. He knows what Chouji is going back to, knows it's important, knows it will be all right because eventually, he's going to leave this place too and see him again.
He knows he's going to miss him, even though he shouldn't. But that it's okay to admit that too. So with that thought in mind, Shikamaru ends up sitting on the couch, trying to think about nothing at all. At least until he can get his head clear and straight on his shoulders again. He can't afford to sulk all day.
He still ends up checking on Temari’s apartment, just to make sure evidence that she lives in it are still there. (Though if it weren't, that'd be okay. She has less of home here than he does.) And then he takes a deep breath, and goes to knock on Ino’s door. No public announcement, and he’s not going to hunt down anyone else today. If he runs into any of his and Chouji’s friends, he’ll tell them, but if not… everyone else can wait a day.]
[After talking with Ino, and a few hours spent in or around CH1, Shikamaru heads out to take a walk into town. There’s a black kitten with blue eyes grudgingly carried along with him that’s keeps trying to climb up onto his shoulders, or his head. Empty as he thought their - his - apartment looked, there’s apparently still enough in it for one little kitten to wreak havoc with. So not trusting he could leave him alone, said kitten is getting dragged along for the ride.
He shouldn’t complain too much. Most of the stuff Shikamaru is picking up is for him anyways. Food, litter. He doesn’t think the cat needs much else, but feel free to correct him on that if you see him.
For his last stop of the day, Shikamaru makes a detour into the item shop, browsing through the puzzles and games, and the kitten’s mewing isn’t going to make him leave any faster. He needs something new to play.]
Fine, you don’t like the idea of that one. Don’t see how it matters to you – you’re not the one who’s gonna be playing it.
And now he’s gone again. Shikamaru isn’t sure what to think about that, mostly because he's considered it all before. He knows what Chouji is going back to, knows it's important, knows it will be all right because eventually, he's going to leave this place too and see him again.
He knows he's going to miss him, even though he shouldn't. But that it's okay to admit that too. So with that thought in mind, Shikamaru ends up sitting on the couch, trying to think about nothing at all. At least until he can get his head clear and straight on his shoulders again. He can't afford to sulk all day.
He still ends up checking on Temari’s apartment, just to make sure evidence that she lives in it are still there. (Though if it weren't, that'd be okay. She has less of home here than he does.) And then he takes a deep breath, and goes to knock on Ino’s door. No public announcement, and he’s not going to hunt down anyone else today. If he runs into any of his and Chouji’s friends, he’ll tell them, but if not… everyone else can wait a day.]
[After talking with Ino, and a few hours spent in or around CH1, Shikamaru heads out to take a walk into town. There’s a black kitten with blue eyes grudgingly carried along with him that’s keeps trying to climb up onto his shoulders, or his head. Empty as he thought their - his - apartment looked, there’s apparently still enough in it for one little kitten to wreak havoc with. So not trusting he could leave him alone, said kitten is getting dragged along for the ride.
He shouldn’t complain too much. Most of the stuff Shikamaru is picking up is for him anyways. Food, litter. He doesn’t think the cat needs much else, but feel free to correct him on that if you see him.
For his last stop of the day, Shikamaru makes a detour into the item shop, browsing through the puzzles and games, and the kitten’s mewing isn’t going to make him leave any faster. He needs something new to play.]
Fine, you don’t like the idea of that one. Don’t see how it matters to you – you’re not the one who’s gonna be playing it.
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... Oh. [Naruto knows it's never easy to hear a friend leave just like that, and it's pretty sad. But that's Shikamaru's best friend, right? Even if he was kind of casual about it the last time.] You okay about that?
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...not really.
[The difference is he can answer it truthfully this time.]
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Y'know it's probably better this way, right?
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1/2
2/2
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[...sigh.] At least when he does it'll be in a war over something worth protecting, where he'll actually make a difference. But even if time works different here...
[He hates that his friends are out there, and he's stuck useless in here. He hates not knowing.]
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We're all gonna get out of here eventually. [There's no way in hell that Naruto is going to stay here longer than he needs to. He tightens one of his fists into a ball.] And we'll give him all the back-up he needs, right?
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[No questioning that. Ever.]
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Shikamaru tilts his head, contemplative of that.]
You haven't given up on that, have you?
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[His grin helps disguise the awkward bow of his head, because really, he should've known better.] You've been here long enough to know it won't be easy, but that's different than becoming complacent.
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[...he's sorry he hasn't found a way yet. That's what you all rely on him for, right?]
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[That would probably be the case, but this clearly requires a real team effort for finding that way out. And Naruto knows he can rely on Shikamaru to help out.]
1/2
[Just shaking his head, amused here.]
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[Have to.]
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You bet your ass we'll find a way outta here! No way in hell are we stayin' here any longer than we've gotta!
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I have some stuff I've gotta take care of today, but later on you and me can go over some things again. You've been here way longer than me, so I know there's a lot you can bring to the table.
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Of course then, this is the moment where a certain kitten decides to interrupt again, clawing Shikamaru's hand.] Ow... Troublesome cat.
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[Have a kitten. 8|]
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WHAT WAIT
NOOOOOOOOOO D|] H-Hey, hold on a minute! I didn't say that!
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