voice ]

[blondejokes]

There had better be a good reason why I'm fighting- [ A grunt is followed by the sound of flesh being punctured. ]- against these blood-thirsty... things and why I'm not in Konoha.

[ Ino is not very happy. Or informed, actually, because she left as soon as she came to. ]

Comments

[blondejokes]

Four years and they still haven't decided on something? Isn't there somebody in charge here that can just make the decision for everybody? Fighting over it won't do anything.

[underachiever]

The government here is a joke. Both factions have to go down. But people here aren't used to fighting and they're scared to take action.

[blondejokes]

So they're fine staying with whatever's going on outside to avoid conflict. Cowards.

[ She paused. ] What are those things out there?

[underachiever]

[This is Shikamaru. He can't blame anyone for being cowardly.]

Monsters. The damned souls of everyone who's died here. They'll disappear when the sun rises.

[blondejokes]

They're... People? [ She didn't want to deal with zombies again. ]

[underachiever]

Not anymore. They've lost their sense of self.

[blondejokes]

This place is awful. [ A pause. ]

Are we going to wait them out until morning?

[underachiever]

We have to. You're not in any state to go back out there.

[blondejokes]

[ She nods. Her stupid watch keeps beepig, but somehow it doesnt sound as loud in the building as it had outside. ]

What happened here? It looks like a warzone outside.

[underachiever]

The Darkness does that. Everything outside decays in the night, then returns to normal in the morning.

[blondejokes]

And that's normal for this universe? I can't wait I get out of here.

[underachiever]

You probably won't stay long. Most people disappear after a month or two.

[blondejokes]

I'm not leaving without you, Shikamaru. Look what happens when you don't have anyone to take care of you.

I can't believe you cut your hair. [ Pineapple head, jeeezzzz ]

[underachiever]

You're seriously mourning my hair at a time like this?

[But now he feels self-conscious and mutters:]

It's not like I shaved my head...

[blondejokes]

[ Better than mourning Konoha, apparently. ]

Jeez, it's a just a shock after seeing you with longer hair. I'm not saying it's ugly or anything.

[underachiever]

I don't care anyway. I'm just saying.

[blondejokes]

So... [ It'd be rude just to fall asleep, huh? She smiles. ]

Catch me up. I'm sure you have four years of stories to tell me, right?

[underachiever]

[No, Ino, he'd really prefer that. But since it's chatting time instead, he sinks down to take a seat on the steps.]

It's not that interesting. I work at a law office, which means most of what I do is paperwork.

[blondejokes]

Isn't that troublesome work? [ She sits next to him. ]

[underachiever]

[He snorts.]

Yeah, it's a pain in the ass.

[blondejokes]

So that's it, all you've been doing is paperwork for four years? [ c'mon give her the juicy details ]

[underachiever]

You really just wanna sit and listen to me talk about boring stuff?

[blondejokes]

Not if you have any exciting stories to share.

Do you have a girlfriend yet? [ Ino always finds energy for gossip time. ]

[underachiever]

I'm calling a moratorium on discussion of my private life until you've recovered. I don't wanna send you into shock.

[blondejokes]

[ Why would you use a big word on her in this state, Shikamaru, jeeeeez. ]

C'mon, it can't be that bad.

[ She bites back a yawn. ]