thinking about joining a game...

[whirlwinds]

Resolved, are you?

I wouldn't get too ahead of yourself. Why not try a few memes first? See if you can really handle this.

Comments

[acumens]

And what about yourself?

[whirlwinds]

What about myself? I'm not bouncing on my toes excited about it, but I'm not opposed to seeing a little action.

[ Because of course you're referring to the resolved comment, and not at all implying that there's something she can't handle, right? :) ]

[acumens]

[that was totally what he was implying, but on second thought, maybe it's better to go with the flow and put that thought aside. it sounds better, and it'll get him into less trouble. D:]

Typical. It's a big bad world out there, yeah? But I guess the better advice would be to try not to scare too many people while you're out there.

[whirlwinds]

[ Still haven't learned, have you... ]

I can't make any promises. Some people just need to toughen up.

[acumens]

[misogynist 4 lyf!!

he never did expect her to promise anything of the sort. he lets out a long, long sigh at the very familiar advice, and rolls his shoulders. yeah, he should toughen up. doesn't mean he'll do it, but it's something he's given some thought into.]

That kind of attitude's bound to bite you in the ass one day. I'm still waiting for it.

never forgives

[whirlwinds]

[ For Shikamaru, thinking about it is a pretty big deal. So she'll take it. For now. ]

You're talking about my ass pretty freely. It's not like you to be so familiar. [ Hmm hmm is there something she should know about? ]

Besides, I think I'd rather be bitten in the ass than sit around on it all day.

oh my god T^T

[acumens]

You know that's not what I meant.

[absolutely not nope nope noooope. anyway, commencing complaining mode.]

Let's switch places. This different world thing sucks.

c:

[whirlwinds]

It's hard to tell what you mean, really. [ No, it's not. ] You say everything in that same, dull tone.

--oh? Someone actually put you somewhere? [ Should she laugh or feel pity? She's so torn! ]

[acumens]

... I'll take that as a compliment.

Yeah. [pause; it's not anywhere he's really comfortable talking about. insert sob story here.] I'm stuck between Loudmouth #1 and Loudmouth #2, and that's not even the worst of it.

[whirlwinds]

Now you're definitely being familiar. [ Ew, like she'd ever compliment him, hmph.

annnnnd laughter it is! ] Shouldn't you be used to it by now?

[acumens]

All for good reason. [to annoy her. rude meets ruder. :)]

Within a 2 mile radius, 24/7. C'mon. Even I have my limits, Temari.

[whirlwinds]

Enlighten me. [ So she can justify hitting him. ]

Your limits are ten times shorter than the average person's in the first place. I'm sure it's not that bad.

[acumens]

Request denied. [please, he's smarter than that.]

Anyway, you want the short version or the long version?

[whirlwinds]

It wasn't a request. [ Smart your way out of that one, genius! ]

Whichever version is the funniest.

[acumens]

Then let's just say your authority has no bearing. [he's being professional for a reason! on paper, his reasoning is valid. when punched in the face... probably not.]

Neither are. [shikamaru thinks, because there's no way to ease this information without looking like a) a pervert, b) a lunatic, c) an unfunny jokster, or d) all of the above and everything else in between. either way, he'll opt for the lazy way out.] Sex island.

[whirlwinds]

That bad, huh? [ Still a stick-in-the-mud, she sees...

In any case... da fuq? She must not have heard right, because seriously who in their right mind would put Shikamaru in a sex island? Though she supposes it would make sense if the mun were as lazy as the muse. Because he totally doesn't do anything there. Right?

...

Right. ] ...Your mun must be bored out of their mind.

1/2

[acumens]

[wow rude!!

it's true though why would anyone want this guy on sex island. it might seem like a paradise at first glance, but shikamaru doesn't have that kind of luxury. not with the type of neighbors he has.]

Consider her whipped.

[acumens]

[however, on a more serious note:]

A bunch of us are stuck here, though. Akatsuki included. I wouldn't call this place an easy walk in the park.

[whirlwinds]

[ She's silent a moment. When she talked about craving action, she hadn't meant that kind of action, and frankly the thought of an entire island dedicated to that sort of debauchery doesn't sit too well with her.

But her friends are there. With dangerous people. Sex isn't really a big deal in retrospect.

(Besides - what kunoichi hasn't been taught to use it as a weapon, anyway? The body, like everything else, is simply another tool. Or so they say.) ]

How are you faring?

[acumens]

[it's been a while since anyone's asked that of him. truth is, it's tiring to be here. being away from home is one thing, but the fact of the matter is, they're stuck within a close proximity with who he knows is the enemy is just... tiring.

he knows he shouldn't babysit, and that his comrades are just as old as he is -- and adults, for that matter -- but that still doesn't stop him from worrying over nothing and practically everything.]

I've had better days. [he rubs his face at the thought.] But I'm alive. That's got to count for something.

[whirlwinds]

[ Temari won't fool herself into thinking she knows Shikamaru than he knows himself, or that she might even know him better than his comrades from the Leaf do... but she likes to think she knows him well enough that the constant sag of his shoulders isn't just from a lazy attitude, but from a weight he puts on himself when no one's really asking him to.

Because no one's asking him to.

She doesn't look away when he lifts a hand to his face, taking note of the subtle display of vulnerability. Respecting it. Better here, where it doesn't really matter, than out there where it does. ]

So are your friends. [ That's got to count for more.

She shrugs a moment later, laying an idle hand along a hip before finally glancing away. Coaxing the tension to ease. ]

I hope the loudmouths are at least making sure you're not getting your ass in trouble. It seems to like you.

[acumens]

[it's almost as if he wants to get caught.

shikamaru has always considered himself good at hiding things, especially when it comes down to emotions. he's prone to vulnerability and he can't help that fact. this acknowledgement allows him to avoid the subject at hand, and to always sidestep anything near a conversation that might unearth this fact.

nara shikamaru has always been an easy read once you peel off the layers one by one -- a feat not many, even within the borders of konoha, are capable of doing.

pull yourself together, man. where there was just a moment's worth of mental relapse, shikamaru is quick to mask it once again with a roll of his eyes.]

You sure you're talking about the right person? Don't worry. I haven't run into a crazy person that wants to kill me.

[yet.]

[whirlwinds]

[ It's a little comfort that she allows herself to indulge in privately, even if it is just for show. Sometimes it's still hard to tell with him, but he really needn't know how relieved it makes her... because it means one thing less that she has to do. Obviously. ]

And the other threat?

[ Because she highly doubts death is the only thing he has to worry about on Sex Island. ]

[acumens]

[he shifts uncomfortably at that question. even if she's not referring to it in clear terms, it's still direct and to the point.]

We're all adults, Temari. Don't tell me you're worried about that, of all things.

[what a lie. shikamaru doesn't know the first thing about women, much less adult relationships. battle strategy and warfare seems almost elementary, now that he thinks about it.]

[whirlwinds]

[ If anything, his lack of an actual answer is answer enough. ]

Age has no bearing on emotional maturity, Shikamaru. [ especially for a ninja, who is already all kinds of emotionally stunted to begin with. ] I would think you of all people knew that.

Besides, I wasn't worried.