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]

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. ]

[underachiever]

It seriously is.

[Seriously.]

[blondejokes]

[ She eventually just settles for a shrug. ] Whatever. I'll get all the juicy details out of you later, Shikamaru Nara.

Oh... I'm staying with you, right? [ Don't kick her out on the streets. ] For however long we're stuck here.

[underachiever]

[...Internal shrieking.]

Oh, no, you don't have to live at my crappy place. I'll set you up somewhere nice.

[blondejokes]

[ But then how will she spend all of your money on frivolous decorations if she isn't living with you? ]

You're just going to leave a woman in an unknown city all on her own? Shikamaru, I thought I taught you better than that.

It just needs a proper woman's touch, is all.

[underachiever]

[It already has a woman's Uryuu's touch.]

I live in an old factory. You deserve a condo on the waterfront or something with a garden.

[blondejokes]

So do you. What are you doing living in a factory?

[underachiever]

I like it there.

[blondejokes]

It must have a pretty good view of the clouds.

[underachiever]

It does, actually.

[blondejokes]

Of course it does. [ She leans her head against the wall, staring up. ]

It'll be weird not seeing the moon up there.

[underachiever]

Sometimes you can see it a little.

[blondejokes]

It isn't affected like the city is?

[underachiever]

It's dim, but it's there.

[blondejokes]

[ She nods, then closes her eyes. It's only for a moment, just to let her eyes rest. It's been an exhausting...however long she's been here. Maybe once she opened her eyes, she'd be in bed.

She scowls when she opens one eye, then sighs and wraps her arms around her legs. ]

We'll find a way out if here, right?

[ She's out like a light right after she finishes her question. ]

[underachiever]

[Shikamaru doesn't answer. He hugs his knees, too, watching her for a minute. Then his gaze drifts away. He'll keep vigil until morning sirens, then carry her to the Tower Apartments if he has to. They can pick out a better apartment later.]

[blondejokes]

[ And then they lived happily ever after? ]