We are the named and we are known

[lucetimods]

Who: All Draftees
What: Arriving at the dorms
When: 26th
Where: Dorms, location unknown
Summary: Dorm information is here. This is your room!
Rating: PG... we hope?

Your characters are shuffling off to their rooms. Each room has their name beside it and only they can open the door. People can only enter their room if they're allowed in (or they leave the door open). Characters will find any requested items in their room already. If they have a requested vehicle, there will be another door in their room that will take them to the hangar to inspect their equipment.

((Mod note: Extra draftees won't experience their Shift Incompatibility handicap in their dorms. :|a))

Comments

[markofthebrave]

[Yeeeeeeeeeeeeah. Now's when Katara really should just man up and call the whole thing off due to drafting and screw whatever emotional consequences occur.

But the words don't quite make it out of her mouth.]

Out visiting?

[Oh great. Small talk. Just go ahead and put your foot right in your mouth, Katara.]

[savethelastchip.livejournal.com]

[ SHE HATES HIM Small talk: he has no issues rolling with it. ]

Kind of. Mostly just keeping an eye out, and maybe seeing if people will need help with anything. [ He's not the best ninja out there, but he's still more trained for this than a lot of people. It's his job to be useful. ]

[markofthebrave]

[Hey, she is not the only one who can man up here! ...even if she knows she probably is because he'd never want to step over whatever boundaries she'd set... unless he had something he felt he needed to make clear and oh hell, why is she thinking about this?]

That's really nice of you, Chouji.

[She wouldn't expect anything else, and never mind that she's doing the same exact thing and sob this is terrible, it's like when they first met and if she's going to talk to him this isn't how she wants to talk to him at all so she should really just go...]

1/2

[endgames]

[...the awkward levels in here are almost palpable. What the hell, you two.]

[endgames]

'scuse me, coming through. [Yeah, just squeezing between you guys without warning. Cramped hallway and all. Sure, he probably just could've gone around the other side of Katara, but that would be polite.

He makes sure to step on Chouji's foot, and all but elbow Katara on his dash through. Not enough to hurt, but enough to be annoying. And just to close the deal, he'll add without stopping to talk to them:]

Oh, and don't forget to stop by my room in ten for the meeting. [NINJA VANISH.]

[There. Now you have something common to complain about instead of pretending you're having a conversation. You'll thank him later. 8|]

1/2

[markofthebrave]

[Ow, elbow to the side.]

Hey!

[markofthebrave]

[...and then he vanishes.]

Well, that was rude.

[...and weird. What's up with that, Shikamaru?]

[savethelastchip.livejournal.com]

[ ...dude, why did you step on my foot? >:

Chouji will watch him continue on his merry way with a raised eyebrow and wonder what's up with that. Annnnd then any possible grudge he might have held for it comes to the end of a downright admirable two-second lifespan. ]

Yeah. Not really like him, either.

[markofthebrave]

I know! [Indignant.]

And are you okay? I saw him step on your foot. [Hmph.]

[And yes, okay. Chouji is a ninja and they are going out to fight and this question is ridiculous. It's asked anyway.]

[savethelastchip.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's no big deal. Hardly even felt it. [ Just has to puzzle out why Shikamaru did that at all, because his bro-senses didn't pick up a disturbance in the force at all >:|a

Geniuses. Pffeh. ] What about you?

[markofthebrave]

I'm fine. [She doesn't know what his problem was, but at least it brought them out of their Small Talk Pit, which she's grateful for - even if this checking in on each other is almost painfully familiar.]

Chouji... [She puts a hand on his arm. Momentary truce from space, okay?] ...don't get hurt out there, okay?

[savethelastchip.livejournal.com]

[ ...and he wishes she were going to be with their group the entire time so he would know for sure how she was faring, because he came along of his own volition to could protect the people that matter to him, and Katara would have been in that group even before the last experiment. He could be sure of that much in spite of any confusion.

(Not that she can't take care of herself. Not that her brother won't be looking out for her. Not that anybody is going to be anything less than fine--) ]

I won't if you won't.

[markofthebrave]

[Squeezing his arm lightly before dropping her hand.]

It's a deal.

[A brief pause, and before she can think about too many parallels she'll try to change the topic.]

I guess we should head towards that strategy meeting, huh?

[savethelastchip.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we should. Shikamaru might decide to come back through to remind us otherwise.

[ He likes his feet not stepped on, even if it wasn't that hard. ]

[markofthebrave]

Right, and no one wants that. [They start walking and Katara feels Awkward try to muscle in on what should be Easy Silence between them.

And this is stupid. They have more important things to think about. If one of them got hurt because of this stupid, stupid thing between them, she'd never forgive herself. She's stronger than this. They both are.

And so she stops and turns to him earnestly.] Look, Chouji - I know we said we were giving each other space, but they didn't exactly leave us much of a choice here. [Again. Ugh, she hates them.]

So let's not worry about it. We'll be Chouji and Katara and sort everything else out afterwards. Okay?

[The imitation of his words to her on the bridge is unconscious, but still very much present.]

[savethelastchip.livejournal.com]

[ He'd be more surprised, but he knows Katara's a strong enough person to put things aside when she has to. He admires that about her (and maybe he's glad that he won't have to worry that worrying so much might be crossing a line).

This is worth a smile much less hindered by anything, and he's more than happy to provide it. ]

You've got it.