I could put a catchphrase here but I refuse!!!

[shadower]

Don't you have something better to do than bother me? I get it, you're bored, but I was doing pretty great over here. Life's good, everything's quiet, and the sky looks amazing today. You could try going for a walk and enjoying some of that, too.

You know. Instead of tossing me into a world haunted by soul-devouring ghost things.

Comments

[shadower]

[He can feel that, even if it accomplishes nothing physically.]

Whoa, hey, calm down or you'll hurt yourself when I release you.

[jurisimpudent]

Let - Stop it! Whatever you're doing -

[Shikamaru's warning only leads him to redouble his efforts.]

[shadower]

I promise I'll stop the second you stop fighting it, okay? Just breathe.

[jurisimpudent]

I won't - I will not -

[He can't give in. He can't let him...But he knows that he has no choice. Maybe this boy is telling the truth, and that he will let him go if he relaxes - or, maybe, the moment he relaxes, that's when he'll give him enough leeway to kill him. He feels trapped, and so panic hammers at his throat and his ribcage, but he knows - He looks at Shikamaru, his eyes narrowed with genuine fear, and examines his face - and finally, finally, he forces himself to trust him. He forces himself to relax, to breathe, even though those breaths are shaky and harsh.]

[shadower]

[He releases the shadow and immediately steps back, anticipating a violent reaction.]

[jurisimpudent]

[His only response, though, is to step back himself, pressing his face into his shaky hands, gritting his teeth as he struggles to breathe normally.]

[shadower]

...I didn't hurt you or anything, I promise.

[jurisimpudent]

[He forces his hands down to glare at Shikamaru, though his face is still pale and his manner still shaken.]

Yes. It's all very funny to you, isn't it?

[shadower]

I'm not laughing. You wanted me to prove it, so I took control of your chakra.

I didn't... mean to upset you.

[jurisimpudent]

[He presses his eyes shut and clenches his jaw.]

It's - Fine. It's - foolish. A very stupid thing.

...You proved your point.

[shadower]

I shouldn't have done it.

[jurisimpudent]

It's fine, I said!

[He hunches his shoulders and feels guilty upon seeing Shikamaru's guilt, and then he tells himself how stupid it is to feel that, and he just generally feels like a foolish sentimental mess.]

I'm just - I'm claustrophobic, I guess. It's very stupid, and you didn't know, and you shouldn't be held responsible for things that are so utterly stupid.

[shadower]

It isn't stupid.

[jurisimpudent]

Of course it is. It's a weakness, and all weaknesses are stupid.

[shadower]

Sometimes you're scared of something because you have good reason to be. It's an important reaction.

[jurisimpudent]

Right. And did you hurt me?

[shadower]

No, but I could have. And I really shouldn't have done that just to prove a point.

[jurisimpudent]

[He hunches his shoulders and glares, nearly as ferocious in his defense of Shikamaru's behavior now as he had been of his own.]

I asked you to do so.

[shadower]

Still... I'm ashamed of my pride.

[jurisimpudent]

I was more prideful than you were.

[shadower]

It's not really a matter of comparison.

[jurisimpudent]

I'm telling you that I provoked you, so please stop feeling bad.

[shadower]

Are you alright now?

[jurisimpudent]

I am perfectly fine. Indeed, better than ever.

[shadower]

Glad to hear it.