oo1 | video;

[encourage]

Nara Shikamaru. Are you here?

Comments

[Video]

[bloodthirsts]

There is a Nara Shikamaru here. [She answers, because in an infinite multiverse more than one person could have that name, right?] Did you just arrive?

[encourage]

[ Sakura smiles and nods her head to this woman; aah. Good. She hopes it's the one she wants. ]

I have, yes. This time at least. Ah -- would you be able to tell me where I can find Shikamaru?

[bloodthirsts]

Oh you've been here before? I guess welcome back then. [That's interesting. She smiles back.] I can give you his NV number if you like. [Because she doesn't think Shikamaru would like her just giving out his address, he's so secretive, gawd.]

[encourage]

I'd appreciate that very much, thank you. For the welcome back, as well.

[ Only it makes it interesting. Hmm. She appreciates caution in other people. It's a good trait. ]

Are you a friend of his, miss...?

[bloodthirsts]

It's no problem. I'm sure he'll be glad to see you. [And she sends it.]

Seras Victoria, I've known him quite a while now. What's your name? [Maybe Shikamaru's mentioned her before.]

[encourage]

[ No comment on if Shikamaru will be glad to see her or not. It depends what his life has been like since whenever she was last around. Judging by what she's seen so far, that was around a year ago. ]

Nice to meet you, Ms. Victoria. I'm Sakura Haruno.

text/anonymous

[slingshots]

[ ...should she? no, probably not.





but how else is she going to have fun around here, man? you gotta take chances in life. you gotta make potentially awful decisions. ]

Yeah, I am.

forever this (text for a text)

[encourage]

[ ... Sakura regards her communication device, the familiar shape of the seal from Splendor. Funny, to have no sort of attached signal identified. Funnier still that Shikamaru would have that -- in light of how he'd been about a year ago, and his particular levels of investment. If he was going through that, he'd probably not bother at all.

Or would he? It's just enough of a question to decide her toward playing along.

For now. ]

The same as from before?

[slingshots]

[ whoa this is actually going to take a little research
there's a brief pause, no more than a minute, before the next reply comes ]

The same. Welcome back.

[encourage]

Thanks.

How's the family?

[slingshots]

You show up again, and the first thing you ask about is the family?

[ MAN SHE HOPES THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER and not "what family"
wow maybe she should have tried this with someone she actually knows ]

[encourage]

[ Probably, Carrie. P. R. O. B. A. B. L. Y.

Because that is not a Shikamaru response in any way Sakura can spin it sensibly. ]

People come and go all the time.

[ Which would be part of asking, person texting her. ]

What've you got to tell me?

[ reaction ]

[underachiever]

[N O P E . After Naruto's last punch-to-the-gut appearance, Shikamaru is not going to deal with any of this ninja bullshit anymore. He has plans today. They involve guitar practice and grocery shopping and painting the bathroom that nice dove grey that Uryuu likes. And he is not going to interrupt those important plans to hear about how many more thousands of people died off in some place he'll never see again.

He is, however, going to enjoy watching his imposter blunder through that conversation.]

[ reaction to a reaction that is not seen ]

[encourage]

[ Gosh Shikamaru like your life is the only one with problems! If the irony in Sakura not knowing how many tens of thousands have died over the course of a single day war is ... lost as it will never come up.

His impostor, however, makes for amusing play. How to answer generic questions that have specific answers?

... Perhaps the answer is don't. ]

[voice]

[ergomaniac]

Why do you search for him?

voice forever she'll go with his flow

[encourage]

Why else does anyone look for familiar names and faces? Ruthless information extortion.

[ Briefly amused as she is by her happy little fake!Shikamaru, she's not actually in much of a mood to a) beat around the bush or b) pretend she cares to be subtle. ]

[ergomaniac]

[He narrows his eyes.]

Rather blunt, aren't you?

[encourage]

[ Narrow them harder, sir. Squint until you see the fine print. ]

When it suits. It's been a while since we last talked, Miles Edgeworth.

[ergomaniac]

[A long pause for the gears to turn, and then - ]

Haruno Sakura?

text

[reassures]

Go away.

[encourage]

Sorry. But I won't be doing that.

[reassures]

Then find someone else to help you.

[encourage]

Unfortunately, that isn't an option. I -- appreciate your concern for your family's welfare. I'm not here to decimate it.

[ She's not here at all out of intent, let alone desire. ]

1/2

[reassures]

I don't care.

[reassures]

--I don't care what you're here for at all.

I don't care what you want, either.

Stay away.