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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.]
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.]
[action]
[He steps over to the fridge, rooting around in it for their cheese.]
[action]
Anything out there I need to know about?
[action]
[He's not entirely sure how much Temari remembers of Luceti. He can tell more of it has been coming back to her over the days... but he never really did explain everything that happened here before she arrived in the first place.]
[action]
... Anything suspicious out there in the wild village?
[action]
[Ingredients laid out, he starts looking for a pot to boil the noodles in.]
...Do you remember anything about Uchiha Sasuke being here?
[action]
Some. [She shrugs one shoulder, then turns to making tea. Look, multitasking.] I know he's here. I know that in some reality somewhere he's caused problems.
[Understatement: she does it. Here, have a mug of tea.]
[action]
Shikamaru takes the mug with a muttered 'thanks, then sets it aside in favor of filling the pot with water. He's silent as he does so, waiting until he's done before turning around to lean against the counter with his arms folded over his chest.]
There's a chance he might not be here anymore.
[action]
Doesn't sound like a bad thing. [She takes a sip of the tea, which, by the way, tastes infinitely better than his.] How'd you find this out?
[action]
But the source is questionable. I don't have much reason to trust him, but far as I know he doesn't have any reason to lie over something like this.
[action]
[action]
His brother.
[action]
Uchiha Itachi?
[Her voice is hard, quiet. She's not quite sure what she should be remembering; it has something to do with her brother. The same part of her mind that insisted beyond any doubt that Gaara was not -- was never -- a monster provided an image and a single word: Akatsuki.
It wasn't a word that provided any reassurance.]
[action]
Shikamaru nods once, then moves to pick his mug of tea back up.] That's the one.
[action]
He should have been the one to go.
[If there's an angry tone in her voice, it might not be completely directed at Itachi.]
[action]
But frustrating as he is, at least there's not much backing Sasuke that he doesn't already know about. It should be the same for his brother, but Itachi seems to be a walking contradiction. Everything he's seen of him - from his behavior as a boy to the random meetings they've had since then - seems to conflict with what Shikamaru's expected of him.
He feels like he's missing something, when it comes to Itachi. There's something nagging about a puzzle you can't solve.
The water simmers to a boil now. Shikamaru turns around, grabbing the bag of elbow macaroni and stirring it in.]
[action]
... This brain thing had better not be permanent.
After a moment, she shakes it off as best she can and turns her attention back to her tea.]
Might want to stir that once in awhile. Pasta sticks sometimes.
[action]
Thankfully, it really doesn't take long to make macaroni, and he'll make his return to the land of the living as he finishes. While acting like there wasn't just a really awkward silence just now.]
How much you want?
[action]
Eh. Doesn't matter. Just spoon some out.
[action] 1/2
[action]
Little spoonfuls.]
[action]
Don't be an ass.
[action]
Oh, that not enough for you?
[Being an ass; teasing. Same diff.]
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