markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .056

[Okay, so waking up today was weird. She thought it was Saturday, but by the state of the house and where things were... it was actually Monday. Sokka was back - woke up in his own bed, and all, but when Katara went to check on Toph to see if she remembered what happened...

Her room was bare. There was nothing left. Toph was gone.

After stumbling to the wall and leaning on it a long moment to get herself together - is it going to hurt like this every time? - it was time to tell the household.

That accomplished, one of them had to let the town know... and Katara volunteered. She opened up her journal to find a mission summons from the Malnosso. She stared at it a long moment - now? When her housemates need her most they're calling for her now? She shut the journal. She needed a moment to process.

Eventually, she'll open up the journal again. Her voice is a little strained, but steady.]

I'm sorry I don't know any other way to say this but... Manliness Classes are going to have to be canceled again. Toph's gone home.

And... [hhhng, announcing this to the village is so weird, but...] Sokka's back. [There, that's better. Starting with him gives her someplace to stand on.] But I'll be leaving on a mission tomorrow, so... I'll see you all in a week or so.

[So after making this post mid-morning, Katara sets about doing what she needs to do. Sirry Crags, huh? She knows how to handle high altitudes and fighting in snow. She'll just... pop into the Item Shop to double check for a few things, and then hopefully bump into someone willing to help her carry groceries home. It looks like she's going to need to do a week's worth of cooking today.]

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I know. [Her voice is low, her head ducked down. With the journal resting on her lap, that allows her fists to curl up at her sides. The thought of what she's about to do makes her sick. Why had she signed up for this?

...right.] That's why I signed up for it. [Better me than someone who doesn't know what they're doing.]

[With the way she feels about drafts, he figured that had to be the reason.]

You told me you'd been to that area before. I'm not sure how long ago that was, but I had the same mission in November if there's anything you want to ask.

[He considers telling her that most of the time is spent moving and setting up, as opposed to fighting. Shikamaru spent two weeks out there with a group, and they only took on three camps. But guerrilla warfare is a different kind of killing - more planned. He doesn't think she'd be comforted by the knowledge.]

It was for a draft. [She shakes her head, coming out of it a little.] That was a long time ago. If you've got any useful tips, I'd love to hear them.

[She's a bit low on specific questions at the moment, but Shikamaru is a skilled combatant and a brilliant analyzer. If she gives him leeway to tell her what he thinks will help, she's sure it will be valid.]

[The journal window catches a nod, and then he looks away, thinking.]

If they're doing things the same as before, you'll be working in a small group with some supervision. There's a lot of traveling. Be careful of traps hidden in the snow.

Pits and snap traps?

[Because explosives would be a damn stupid thing to use as traps in the mountains, but it's worth asking what kind he encountered.]

[Another nod.] And caltrops.

All right. [Her voice sounds distinctly tired.] Anything else?

[Plenty. But a lot of it the Malnosso will explain themselves. Hopefully she'll be more focused by then.]

Dress warm.

[As if she wouldn't know better - kinda like she's told him multiple times throughout the Winter, when it was obvious.]

[She's plenty focused. Her heart's just broken. That's all.]

I will.

[...as may be revealed by the fact that she didn't even laugh at that.]

[Means the same thing, to a ninja. Not that it matters. He sighs.]

There's some other things. I'll write 'em down and them to you by the end of the night. Check your journal later.

Sounds good. I've got some stuff I need to take care of anyway. Thanks, Shikamaru.

[...and she hesitates for a moment there. She wonders if things are really okay with them.]

Mm. Good luck out there, if I don't catch you before you head out.

[He wouldn't be doing this in the first place if things weren't okay. Then again, he'd usually do it off the journals too.

It's more out of consideration for her than anything being wrong. He just knows how their conversations work - topics that are likely to come up even if they really aren't his business. He'd rather not get into it. And she has enough stress to deal with as it is.]

[Heh.]

Thanks. I'll be fine.

...try to keep Masaomi from worrying too much, okay?

[She gets worried about him when he's worried. He does stupid things.]

Don't sweat it. There's other things he can occupy himself with. Like that stupid pineapple...

[The last part is muttered, like an afterthought.]

[Sorry, not muttered low enough.

Especially considering what she "brought you" for your birthday.]

What pineapple?

Aa. This one that showed up at the apartment.

[....yeah, she did get him one at his birthday, didn't she? LIKELY SUSPECT, except not because by now it's obvious no one remembers the last two days. He'll ask anyways for the hell of it.]

Know anything about it?

[Don't think she misses that implied accusation. Wryly:]

I haven't perfected my "transport things into other people's homes" jutsu yet, Shikamaru.

[...heh.] Don't like pineapple?

Oh no. I have every reason to love them.

[Due to the distinct similarity?

At least, that's what she'd normally say. But her heart isn't in it. Her heart just hurts.

But she tries to at least throw herself into curiosity for the moment.]

What's the big deal? It's just a pineapple.

[He shrugs.] It's not really important. Just weird.

[Well, more power to the mystery if it'll keep Masaomi from doing something stupid. Although it's not like she's heard from him since... Friday. He hasn't responded to this post at all. So maybe he's moving in a different direction and she doesn't have to be concerned.]

What's that weird about having a pineapple? I mean, maybe you just went shopping in the past two days and forgot about it with the rest of everything.

[Except it wasn't with the groceries.]

Yeah, that's probably it.

[Oh, don't give her that.]

You don't sound convinced.

Edited 2012-02-02 04:42 (UTC)

No, it makes sense, right?

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