endgames | 012 -- [Voice || Action]

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012 -- [Voice || Action]

Show of hands if someone tried to prank you yesterday.

[Annoyed as he sounds, he's mostly gotten over it. Simply put, Shikamaru is just too lazy to hold a grudge when it comes to most things. He's still curious, however.

...but no longer orange, thankfully.]

------

[Later on, just before evening, Shikamaru can be found on his way back from the Item's Shop to CH 1, a certain book in tow. And for a book that stands at half his height and is nearly two feet thick when closed, we do mean tow. He'll be taking frequent breaks along his way back, dropping the book with a loud thud before sitting beside it on every bench he comes across.]

Damn thing weighs more than Temari's fan...

[Yeah, yeah, he's pretty weak for a ninja, he knows, but hey. The book does weigh about a hundred pounds or more. 8|

A passerby might catch him during one of those breaks, looking over it's contents in curiosity while the light is still good outside. But from there it's back to lugging it home.

The Nara Clan's medicine manual... the old man would kick my ass if I just left it lying around.]

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[It's on the tip of her tongue to defend the teachers and say that the classes are worthwhile - but just because she enjoys learning about things like world history and magic classes and literature and science... doesn't really defend the existence of algebra.

So she rolls her eyes instead.]

You'd have to be in the younger classes for that, Shikamaru. A lot of the courses are really interesting! Even if it is weird to just sit for so long.

I think you underestimate my ability to turn a desk into a pillow. I really would just end up sleeping through it all.

Then it's probably better that you stay out. [That would just be rude.]

Besides, [she casts her glance on the book again] it looks like you've got a lot to learn right here.

...yeah. [Giving one last look at the sky, he pushes himself back to his feet, off the bench.]

I should probably get moving again, if I want to get started tonight.

[A half-shrug.]

D'ya want a hand?

I said I could handle it, didn't I?

[See look! He is lifting it... off the bench and everything.]

[Sadly, Katara's unimpressed.]

I'm not saying you can't, but it would be easier with help. It's not like you'd let me carry something that big by myself, right?

Edited 2011-04-08 19:06 (UTC)

Yeah, but I'm a guy. It's different for us.

[...]

What.

[Shikamaru sighs, as if his reasons should be obvious, even though they never are to anyone else. He mutters under his breath.] Troublesome...

I'm a guy - I can't just let you carry my stuff. As a man, it's unacceptable.

[Her eyes narrow dangerously.]

And why is that, exactly? I know you don't come from some sort of stupid world where women aren't allowed to learn how to fight, but the way you're talking right now it sounds as if you think you shouldn't accept my help just because I'm a girl. Are you telling me you'd let me help you if I was a guy? How does that make any sense?

[What is wrong with you?]

[Yup, pretty much, actually.]

That's just how it is. It's not about who's more capable, but how we should act.

[Oh, son, you have no idea the doom you are bringing on your head.]

[...fortunately for you, there are slivers in this that remind her of her conversation with Michael all those months ago. But it is in no way enough to get you off the hook.]

I think it's pretty low to tell me that I shouldn't be expected to help a friend just because I'm a girl. I don't know what sort of weird code you think you're following, but it's stupid and wrong.

Your opinion, not mine. We'll just have to agree to disagree. But thanks for the offer anyways.

[Diplomatic; crisp and to the point. It may be troublesome, but it's a code of conduct he takes surprisingly seriously. And not one he's about to budge on.

He adjusts his load and turns to go.] Have a good one, Katara.

Edited 2011-04-10 03:16 (UTC)

[...she's astonished and a little hurt at this dismissal - not only of her offer of help, but now he's completely refusing to engage with her opinion? He hadn't been like this before... but the memory of Pakku refusing to train her just because she was a girl, refusing to even let her fight for it is strong and it fills her mouth with a bitter taste as she glares at his retreating back.]

We didn't agree to anything. What is with you today? I know you don't think I'm worthless or that a woman's place is only behind a man or in the tents, or else you never would have agreed to spar with me in the first place. So I don't understand why you're acting like you're suddenly from the Northern Water Tribe!

[Water Tribe. Katara's from a Water Tribe - she got her training at the Northern one. Connections click into place faster than he can understand them.

Women. Why do they always have to be so troublesome?]

Not sure what meaning that's supposed to hold for me, but somehow I doubt it's the same thing here.

[He's not walking away anymore, but he shifts the book again. Large load here. If you're telling the story, please make it the abridged version.]

[It's his own fault he's carrying the stupid book alone in the first place.

It means you're acting like a short-sighted jerk.

Except she knows he's not one, because he didn't hesitate to use her in battle. So why was this any different?]

I know you're not the same, and and that's why it doesn't make any sense. In Northern Water Tribe, women weren't allowed to learn how to fight because of their culture. They can't learn waterbending and they had to have arranged marriages - just because they were girls. But you don't have any problem fighting alongside me - I don't see how helping you carry something is any different.

Edited 2011-04-10 05:26 (UTC)

[...you do realize that a lot of this backstory makes absolutely no sense without context, yes?]

Combat doesn't discriminate against sexes. If you can fight and you want to, than you should. Sometimes it's necessary - this isn't.

[You're the one who wouldn't put down the book for the full story - and no she does not. It's all perfectly clear inside her head.

And yes, ugh, she knows that combat doesn't discriminate. But heavy books don't discriminate either!]

So what you're saying is that it doesn't matter if women are as strong as men or as capable - in any situation where it's not life or death a man can't accept help from a woman and a woman should be willing to accept help from a man?

[...this is starting to sound less offensive and more painfully dumb in the 'If this wasn't so unfair the groceries I could make this guy carry for me' way.]

Not so much can't as 'shouldn't.

[What the woman does he has no bearing on - all that's important to him is that the man offer.]

...and 'shouldn't' because?

[He should recognize that a lot of the venom has gone out of her tone, but that it's a fragile moment which can tilt either way.

Fortunately, he's started to remind her of someone else. Someone... blond. With a curly eyebrow. She's had this sort of conversation before, and just... sigh.]

[He shrugs his shoulders as much as he can.]

Just shouldn't. [It's how the laws of his universe work.]

[Why are the men of these other worlds so weird?

And she facepalms, slides the hand down her face and mutters while her hand is covering her mouth:]

At least you'll hit girls.

[So she doesn't have to worry so much about his safety.]

All right, fine. I'll remember this. And the next time I have to move something heavy, I know who to call.

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endgames - 2011-04-10 06:48 (UTC) - Expand

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markofthebrave - 2011-04-10 06:50 (UTC) - Expand

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012 -- [Voice || Action]

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