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

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.]

[Temari takes it upon herself to clear off the table; she's done about the same time he is anyway and he'll never do it without prodding and poking. Might as well do it herself.

That, and it gives her something to not think about.]

[He doesn't appear to fully notice until things start going missing from the table. Unfortunately for him, he's never not thinking. Though usually he's better at multi-tasking with it than this.]

Was the macaroni okay?

It was better than your tea. Who told you about it?

Some girl I met, a couple of months ago. And I'll take that as a compliment, coming from you.

[He gets A Look.]

The dust bunnies under your couch would taste better than your tea.

Heh. Yeah, probably. [But you ate it. There's an unsaid compliment in that too.

Shikamaru rises, popping something in his neck. The oatmeal and the stuff he used to make the macaroni should be put away at some point, so he moves to do that.]

Thank you for joining me, by the way.

[A thanks? She glances at him, then snorts.] Would have been troublesome not to. If you're gonna cook...

[That's his word. 8|]

Normally, I'd think fear of food-poisoning would've given you more excuse not to join me. Not to mention dibs on laughing at my expense.

[Shikamaru shoves the colder food items into the fridge haphazardly, not looking at her.] But you came anyways. Thus: gratitude.

[Yeah, that's why she used it.

Temari bites her tongue on the million sarcastic comments that spring to mind and instead just shrugs one shoulder. He's thanked her twice; must really mean it.]

You're welcome. [She holds out a clean, dripping wet pan.] Now dry this off.

[He thanks you and you punish him with chores? That's just mean, Temari.

But it seems the thing won't dry itself off under the itensity of his stare ~~and nooo, he wasn't trying~~, so he just sighs and grabs a towel, taking the pan from her.]