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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[Temari goes completely still. His brother?]

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.]

[His gaze slides back to her, noting the reaction. It's stronger than when he mentioned Sasuke, and for Temari - the Temari he knows - he's sure it would be.

Shikamaru nods once, then moves to pick his mug of tea back up.] That's the one.

[She would really really like to be able to remember just one thing. It would help and she's getting tired of her damned stupid brain pulling idiotic stunts like not knowing what to think. She feels like a damned moron sometimes.]

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.]

[He thinks the opposite. And that... is really disturbing. Temari isn't the only one who's been burned by Akatsuki, after all.

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.]

[Her gaze slides over to him, anger dissipating a little in the face of his sudden silence. She can't tell what he's thinking and can't help but think that maybe, once upon a time, she might have at least had a clue.

... 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.

Hn. [He fishes around for a spoon to stir the noodles with, but is otherwise lost in thought for the time being. He's half sick of all of the problems Luceti presents.

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?

[What awkward silence? There was no awkward silence here.]

Eh. Doesn't matter. Just spoon some out.

[Some, huh? Okay.]

[Two whole spoonfuls.

Little spoonfuls.]

[Staaaare.]

Don't be an ass.

[I'm sorry, did you say something?]

Oh, that not enough for you?

[Being an ass; teasing. Same diff.]

It's enough to throw in your face.

My face would be a troublesome thing to waste your serving on. Just saying.

Put more food on my plate before I go through the trouble of breaking your nose.

Why are all the girls I know so violent? [SIGH. The world may never know.

But Shikamaru is not a masochist any day of the week, so he'll do as obliged. He lifts the pan to spoon more of the macaroni onto her plate.] Tell me when you have enough.

You bring out the best in us. [Oh so dryly.

She waits until he actually gets some food on her plate.] Stop already.

Yes m'am.

[He won't bother getting out another plate - what's left in the pan should be enough for him, so he'll just eat from that.

Shikamaru walks over to the table, grabbing a soda from the fridge on his way. He hooks the leg of a chair with his foot to pull it out, then takes a seat.]

[She grabs her own tea and sits at the table, eyebrows raising at this display. Eating out of the pan? Really? She shakes her head but doesn't comment. She has a feeling she knows what his answer will be.

Okay, she tries not to comment. She can't not.]

The pan?

Less to clean later.

[He takes his spoon and digs in, chewing thoughtfully. Kitty was right - macaroni isn't half bad.]

[And that's exactly what she thought he'd say. Insert eye-roll here. She goes back to eating in silence. At least this time, it's not quite so awkward.

But there is something weighing on her mind and with this news about Uchiha Itachi being here, in Luceti, it's about time she actually asks the question. She can't stew on it forever.

Maybe she could, depending on how long this Malnosso thing lasts.

She sets down fork with a clatter. The question is abrupt and definitely Temari: no hesitation and nothing in her tone that might betray any emotion.]

How long does this stuff usually last?

[How long is her brain going to be absolutely moronic?]

[He pauses to swallow, then sets the pan down.]

To be honest? I don't really know. It seems to vary. [He scratches his chin, gathering the data in his head of people who came back from their kidnappings with problems of their own.] Two weeks seems to be average, but sometimes they go on longer.

[She wants to tear her hair out, because it's been ten days now and she's not sure can reach that average without killing something. If it lasts longer...

She can't decided whether she wants to tear out her hair or beat her head against the table. Instead, she grunts in assent and takes another bite of macaroni.

Damn you, Malnosso.]

...If it's any consolation, you're acting more like you used to. It probably won't last much longer.

Good. [That's... reassuring. More so than she thought it would be, at first.]

[He nods, going back to his food. He doesn't bother taking his time with it now, not caring so much about the flavor as the need to refuel himself. He eats quickly but neatly, setting aside the pan when he's done.]

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