endgames | 008 -- [Voice || Action]

[Voice]

Oi. What's easy to make for dinner, besides sandwiches and microwave dinners?

[Let's face it - Shikamaru can cook for himself if need be, but Chouji's the food lover. Unfortunately there comes a point where one gets bored of the dishes they know how to make - particularly when those dishes are sandwiches and instant food.

Speaking of instant food - he'll just beat Naruto to the punch on this one. 8|] ...Or ramen.

[/end voice]

[Fortunately he has some time to take suggestions. Once he's finished his regular daily regimen of training for the day (something he's been keeping up on since Chouji was taken), he can be found in a clearing not too far from the path to town, next to the river. There's a shogi board with him, set on a turn table, and it likely looks like he's playing himself.

Of course, if you're more familiar with Tsinku, or just paying closer attention to the rumble of thunder in the background that rolls when Shikamaru switches to playing the opposite side, you might guess differently. Apparently, as he learned the other day in a conversation with Law, the filial spirits have some interest in games. And surprisingly when it comes to shogi, Tsinku's turning out to a challenging opponent.

He hasn't known the spirit long enough to learn from him just yet, but he pays attention to him all the same. The sooner he can build up a relationship with Tsinku, the faster he can learn from him. And any skill he can pick up is a useful one. Especially here.

...This past week has been a rough one. Aside from Shino, Luceti's officially screwed with everyone he cares about now - and there's next to nothing he can do about it. It may prove to be futile, but he's going to be prepared for when it happens again.

In any case, it's the reason he's out here on a day like today. And he'll be out here until it starts to snow again or gets dark, whichever comes first.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mac and cheese? That's like, the only thing I can make that doesn't end with everyone making weird faces and pretending to like it.

Mac and cheese? [Mun hereby declares ninjaland has no such thing. But cheese sounds good.]

All you have to do is make macaroni and melt cheese on it. It's good and really easy.

Sounds like something I might have to look into then. Thanks.

No problem! But you know, you probably shouldn't take cooking advice from me. I made muffins that bounced once. They tasted really weird and I kept making Kurt try them.

Well thankfully that wasn't so much 'cooking advice' as it was a meal suggestion, so I think I'm safe. But I'll keep that in mind.

[No seriously, he will. Something along the lines of: Accept Baked Goods With Caution has now been added to Kitty's file.]

Exactly. But I really didn't think they were that bad! And I think I'm getting better at it. I just have to keep practicing, you know?

[Having found a nice clearing, Shikamaru starts setting up his shogi game. He wonders just how much like Ino Kitty really is - if she's anything like a normal teenage girl, chances are he can carry on this conversation with as little input from his own end as possible.]

Chances are that's how you'll improve, yeah.

[Oh, she can go on for ages.]

Well, I definitely haven't tried to bake again since I went crazy trying to pass Home Ec. I'm practicing some easier stuff first.

[He's sure. THANKFULLY, like any young man who's had to be around such a woman before, he has a system for this.

POINT A. Allow the subject to elaborate. Even if it pains you. The more they have to talk about, the less you will.]

Something easier than muffins?

{Note: Mentioning prior subject matter is a good way to show you've been paying attention.]

[Damn, he's good.]

Yeah, you know - pasta and stuff. All you have to do is boil noodles and put sauce on it. It's way easier.

[POINT B. Random dialogue to make the subject feel like they aren't talking to themselves. Combine this with POINT A as needed.]

Sounds like it.

[He'll be setting up his shogi board now. 8Db]

So what are you doin'?

[She is like a leech. A curious little leech. Your tactics only make her want to cling further. Also, you sound like you're doing something interesting. She's bored, can you tell?]

[That was quicker than expected. Not a bad thing at all, no. 8|a]

Setting up for a game of shogi.

I've never heard of it.

It's a strategy game. [He tries to think of the one it reminded Elicia of - he's heard of that one a few times since he's been here.] Sorta like chess, from what I hear.

Oh, that's cool. I'll leave you to it, then.

[He can multitask. He's not quite done setting up yet, anyways.]

I'm guessing that's not your sort of thing?

[She just doesn't want to be annoying.]

Not really. My dad plays chess on the computer all the time, but that's where my expertise ends.

On the computer, huh? I'd think that'd take half the fun out of it.

I guess so. I know we used to have a whole set, but I remember playing with the little horses when I was a kid, so who knows where the pieces are now.