endgames | 008 -- [Voice || Action]

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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.]

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That so? [So. You know how to make them.]

Thought there was a weird smell coming from the kitchen.

[She's smart enough to figure it out.]

They smelled just fine.

[OI. He just never bothered to care until now.]

It smelled like someone was baking. That alone has been a weird smell lately.

Some of us put a little effort into cooking what we want to eat.

That's not usually something I've had to worry about doing. [If he needed homecooking, there was his mother. Or Chouji's mother. Or Chouji himself.

In hindsight, he recognizes that it's stupid. He's pretty good about missing the obvious until it's right in front of him. He's never had much reason to care until now.]

Seriously, Shikamaru? [Does she really have to teach you how to cook?]

I guess if your tea's any indication...

Oi, oi. The process I have down fine. What I bothered learning how to make I can do all right.

[There's just not a lot he knows how to make. And yes, tea would be one of those things.]

[Sigh.]

What can you make?

...Not much. Soup, stew, a couple of rice dishes. I can do more with a grill, but we don't have one of those lying around.

[This place needs a barbecue restaurant like the one back home.]

How have you survived?

Heh. By the skin of my teeth. If you'd ever had grilled mackerel, you'd know what I was talking about.

... Well. You won't get fat here.

It's one of those rare indulgence things. [There's a yawn.] I'll have to show you some other time.

Right. I won't hold my breath.

Hn. [He turns his focus back to what he's doing.] Anyways. I'll see you when I head back in or something.

Yeah, yeah. [And then she's silent. For a minute. Just long enough to let him (hopefully) get settled back into what he's doing.]

Hey. You.

[There's a sigh.] What.

Good luck.

[Now she's done.]

[ >8||| ]

Tch. Troublesome woman.

[...Thanks.]

[And eventually he will head back home. Mood depends on how that encounter with Itachi goes, of course.]

[Yeah, well. She'll be there. Probably doing her thrice-daily trap check of the whole floor. Which, of course, includes his apartment.

Oh, and she hasn't cooked a thing for you.

'Cuz she's awesome like that.]

[While he may have entertained the unlikely possibility of that happening, that she didn't would not be a surprise.

As it is, he's more or less forgotten about the exchange. He heads back into his apartment... and notes the light dusting of powder on the doorknob from the inside is disturbed. So she's been in here again.

He's tempted to set a mouse trap on the other side of the door next time, honestly. Just to be an ass.

But there's more important things to think about. Running into Itachi brought other problems he'd forgotten back to his attention. Have we mentioned that Luceti is troublesome lately? Because it is.

After half an hour spent in his room, he decides brooding really isn't going to get him anywhere. Chouji would agree with that, most likely - and probably suggest eating something, while he's at it. Turns out it's hard to deny your best friend even when he isn't present and accounted for.

Dinner it is then. Shikamaru heads out of his apartment for the kitchen, then pauses. He takes a few steps back to Temari's apartment, and knocks on the door.]

Edited 2011-01-01 15:38 (UTC)

[The knock on the door isn't exactly surprising; there's only one person who would, but that doesn't mean it's him. It's likely, but not guaranteed. Temari only answers the door after she's armed herself.

No, it's not the fan, but Shikamaru may notice her tucking a knife into her belt after she sees it's him.]

What?

[Best greeting ever.]

[That she put it away is practically a compliment.]

You eaten yet?

[He knows her so well.]

Why? You trying to crash my home-cooked meal?

I wanted to know how much I needed to bother with making.

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