endgames | Appointment's Post II

[Ignoring the laws of personal space, Shikamaru reaches for Silver's arm, trying to pull back the sleeve to examine the skin under it. If Silver even lets him get close enough to try, that's as much evidence to him as letting him see it tbh.]

Your curse is gone.

[Curse? What kind of...

...No. There's one distinct thing that comes to mind when he thinks of curses. That demon curse. The one from Moro.

He looks up at his arm quietly and thoughtfully. The thought makes his stomach churn, and for a second, he swears he can imagine the curse is there again, like it was for just a short time during that strange event.

His curse is gone.

Some strange younger Shikamaru's the one to tell him about this.]

There's an experiment going on. [...Or maybe it has something to do with those strange shifts that have been happening. There was that day where he turned into a girl for no reason... But is he the one affected, or is Shikamaru?]

[He did. So he really is back to normal. He's a little worried as he pokes at the skin - he didn't have to die again to get rid of it, did he? - but mostly he's excited because that's good--

There's an experiment going on.]

Oh. [He remembers now, and his shoulders sag a bit with the realization that this probably isn't the same Silver. Still it was a nice though. He lets Silver have his sleeve back.] That's right.

[...Silver considers it for a moment, then ruffles Shikamaru's hair a little. Hey. Take it easy, alright?]

I'm not sure which one of us is affected, though. [He's pretty sure he's not affected, but he can't be sure.] But there's no sense in worrying about it. There's nothing we can do but wait it out.

[He frowns at that, crossing his arms and looking mildly put out that Silver saw something that needed comforting. WHO'S UPSET? HE'S NOT UPSET.]

Yeah, that's true. [Huff. But see okay he's over it, glancing back up at Silver with more curiosity than anything.] I'm okay now, so you don't have to worry about me like a kid or anything.

[...Is this a ten year old thing? It's a ten year old thing.] I'm not worrying about you like a kid. I'm worrying about you like a friend.

[Sorry Shikamaru, you're a little too short for the more grown up seeming shoulder pat.]

It's fiiine, trust me. [So much self-assured confidence here as he steps off, just in case Silver gets any bright ideas and tries to pat him on the head again.] The Silver I know is gonna get better someday, so I won't be sad.

He better. It's no good keeping people that care about you worried for so long.

[...That would be a long time, wouldn't it? It's been almost two years since then, hasn't it?...]

But if you're sure, I think I have something else for you to worry about.

Edited 2014-09-23 03:23 (UTC)

What's that?

I've got all the ingredients to make a really great pizza, but I've got no one to eat it.

[He was going to make a fresh one for Shikamaru to judge, after all. A strange young Shikamaru will have to do.]

You hungry?

[He perks up, but where most children his age would tackle this offer enthusiastically, Shikamaru's approach is markedly pensive by comparison. He tilts his head, curious, and slow to excite.]

What kind of pizza?

It's just a plain pizza, but I can put whatever toppings on it you want.

[Aha, now some zest rises up from him because that is a deal. He visibly brightens, nodding.]

Well... Okay. I was gonna go to the rec center, but that sounds good too.

If you want, I can bring it over to the rec center. It shouldn't take too long to head to the convenience store and make it.

Okay!

[People who bring his food to him caters to his interests.]

[--wait.]

...there's a convenience store?

[Well he'll get right to that then- wait.]

Yeah. Why?

[That's weird. But COOL. He always liked the convenience stores back home. He and Chouji always had fun making trips to them when they'd get their pocket money.]

No reason. Things sure are different here... [But oh well! He shrugs it off and turns in the direction of the rec center.] I'll see it another time.

[...Well, that's one way to figure out who's shifted. Silver nods and takes off; he's extremely relieved when the convenience store is still there and still the convenience store and he's not actually going to go back to being cursed for the rest of his life, and that sure does look like Emmet outside of the convenience store.

...

You know, losing his mind isn't all that bad. As long as he just doesn't pay attention, he'll be fine.

He's not fine.

But he has a pizza to make, and a small strange Shikamaru to make it for, so he has to put in his best. And his best doesn't involve getting upset over people that have left and he's never going to see again.

He rushes a little on his way to the rec center. Weavile's helpful and manages to open the door for him so he can hold it with both hands and stil manage to head inside.

The smell of fresh pizza should hit Shikamaru long before Silver comes up with something to say.]

[Shikamaru is playing on the pinball machine - and doing pretty well at that! - when Silver comes in, having found a thick book to stand on so he can see things properly. The smell wafting towards him, he manages to catch the ball in one of the paddles and holds it there long enough so he can look away.]

That looks really good. I'll be right there. I'm almost done.

Go ahead and keep aiming for a high score. It's not going anywhere.

[In fact, he's finding somewhere adequate to sit, then setting it down and taking a breather. Weavile sets down a couple of cans of mountain dew next to the pizza before joining Silver. As much as they'd like to see Shikamaru's current score, resting sounds so much nicer...]

[This is why he likes you, Silver, there's a world change and still you don't boss him around. He nods his head like "you bet" and goes right back to it, the pinball bouncing around noisily as he button mashes the paddles.

"Almost" turns into more like five or ten minutes on his part, before he finally loses. But high score is obtained! He didn't beat the record but he did come in second to it. Punching in his initials he looks pretty happy about it, hissing a long yessss under his breath.]

[Five or ten minutes is more than enough time for Silver to start nodding off, but Weavile's helpful enough to jab Silver in the shoulder a little as Shikamaru puts in his high score. Right. Awake. Sleep later.]

What did you get?

88,908,000.

[~~Since no one in Luceti's probably a dedicated pinball player, that's probably good?? /ASSUMES~~ He goes to sit across from Silver, and the pizza.]

Is there a plate?

[...

He brought the mountain dew, but forgot the plate.

Dammit, this was supposed to be perfect.]

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