oo3 | in which Ino is actually serious. ...for a short while, at least.

[not_a_porker]

Who: Shikamaru and Ino
Where: The plaza in Espoir a.k.a. Ino's hangout
Style: Either
Status: Closed!

It was a well-known fact that Ino hated waiting. Whether she was waiting for something to arrive on her doorstep or for someone to come meet her somewhere, she couldn't stand to sit around and do nothing; she was, after all, above that kind of

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[not_a_porker]

In Ino's mind, a real man--a gentleman--would have at least apologized... and then fell to their knees and begged her forgiveness, all the while praising her beauty. It was the way the world worked, after all. However, she knew that the lazy-ass was certainly never going to do such a thing. They had played this game long enough for her to know exactly what was coming, although she still felt that familiar twinge of annoyance at his almost flippant attitude. Couldn't he be less annoying?

"Like I want to answer anything for you," she said after a short pause, still not turning around to face him; it was her way of punishing him, even though she knew that he could probably care less. She obviously needed to make him do something else; she needed to make him humble himself, just to let him know who was boss.

...Bingo.

"But, seeing as how you need the information, and seeing as how we are teammates... well, I might just consider it, Shikamaru. Just this once," she smoothly continued before he could make another smart-ass remark, using the artificially sweet tone she used when she was plotting something particularly unpleasant; turning to look back at him over her shoulder, she flashed him a large, obviously fake smile. Oh, something was definitely coming.

"But only if you apologize~."

[ooc: MY DADDY TAUGHT ME WELL.]

[still_lazy]

It was then that Shikamaru had a revelation. There was no woman in existence, that had probably ever existed, that could get under his skin the way that Ino insisted on doing. She knew very well that this wasn't a time to be messing around and denying him information, and somehow she decided to go through with it anyway.

So now he was faced with a crossroads. Deny her request and have to venture elsewhere for information, or he could always just swallow his pride and do the latter. ... But when did that ever happen? Suddenly he found himself exhausted, maybe he could just go leave for a nap and then find Ino again later. She'd probably have forgotten about her demand by then... probably? Although if she didn't, her following demands would only be so much worse. His choices were limited.

He had one option, though. Pick his words carefully and weave around Ino's demand, and possibly sway her enough that she'll retract her condition. But if not, he'd just have to suck it up and apologize. Then again... this was Shikamaru, and he really didn't want to have to do that.

"Well, I guess I could," he started off, before continuing, "although it's kind of unnecessary to have this middle step. Considering how you've already recognized how I need the information, and how you're obviously the only one that can offer it to me. As far as I know, you remember the most, after all. I was hoping that you'd realize how vital you are to figuring out how to get back to Konoha as is."

[ooc: a;ljfas I'm sorry I fail at tagging. XD;;]

[not_a_porker]

The inverse of Shikamaru's little revelation was true, as well; Ino had met countless annoying people in her life, and she was sure to meet many more, but none of them would ever be able to match Shikamaru. There was something about his ability to wave off every insult she threw his way--as well as his ability to throw equally pleasant comments back her way--that annoyed her to no end. Other people gave in and tried to please her; he usually refused to.

She hated it.

And yet, despite her hatred of his stupid, irksome ways, there would always be that feeling of respect for him; he was, after all, the unsung leader of their team, the brains of it all. He was also her friend; although she used to deny her friendship with her teammates--quite loudly, in fact--no one knew her better than they did, save for her family. It was, she supposed, because of those two facts combined that he was able to know exactly what to say to make her feel a slight twinge of guilt. She knew she was being selfish and unreasonable; even with her ego, she was fully aware of it. It was just his stupid way of switching everything back around--and his clever way of throwing in the fact that she was important--that finally brought it to center stage.

"...You're really helpless, aren't you," she stated flatly, giving him a brief moment to see her fake smile sliding off her face before she turned her back to him once more. She would give in, albeit grudgingly, but that did not mean that all was forgiven, or that she would be friendly. Oh, far from it. "Even if you are a total jerk, and even if you should apologize, I'll just get back at you later. I mean, don't take this the wrong way; you're not off the hook yet, Nara. You're just lucky that I really want to get out of here."

She crossed her arms. "Now hurry up and ask your stupid questions."

[ooc: It's fine, lmfao! /has been gone most of the day]

[still_lazy]

He couldn't help but be remotely relieved that she managed to give in, although to him it was more or less predictable. More so, he was rather content that he managed to persuade her in such a way. Sure, he'd done it before, but he found that it never hurt when he could get Ino to do something that he wanted for once.

And while her promise for revenge remained in his mind, he didn't pay it much notice for now. When dealing with Ino, his actions would always have repurcussion somehow. She would find something to blame him for. But by now, he didn't mind it so much, or at least not as much as he did a couple years prior. It was mainly just yelling and the occasional extra chore to get done. Whatever she came up with, he could probably deal with it. Unless it involved shopping, or money. In that case, he'd ditch and watch clouds.

"Yeah, yeah. You have my gratitude and the rest of that," he said passingly, showing not much interest at all into whatever it was that she was saying. Now that he got her to cooperate, there was no need to watch his words so much. He was probably treading on thin ice, but when he was looking for answers, he didn't see the point in being careful about it. At least, not when it was Ino he was talking to. "My question was about how the attack on Konoha went. Did Pein lead it himself, or did he have a partner? Was it just him and his army of clones?" He also had a remaining question about her own well-being, seeing as she was apparently around when Shizune was killed. But he could show his concern about that later on.

[ooc: XD;; Aha, I just have trouble writing for Shikamaru at times. I'm still sorry, though. I know I'm taking foreeeeveerrrr.]

[not_a_porker]

"...I only saw Pein," she said, trying to keep her tone frosty and distant... and failing miserably as she spent more time concentrating on what she said and less time concentrating on how she said it. "We heard the general report that Akatsuki was attacking, but the only member of Akatsuki I saw was Pein. ...His clones, I mean. I only saw his clones."

She glanced back at him over her shoulder. Well, he probably wanted more; she might as well save herself the trouble of hearing him ask her to elaborate. "I was with Daddy and Shizune, though, so it wasn't as if I saw everything that was going on. We were trying to find out about the clones, and what could be done about them; we--well, Shizune--finally figured out how Pein was able to control the clones. They're just the dead bodies of other shinobi; he had these... chakra transmitters placed in them, and that's how they're able to move. It's kind of similar to my clan's technique, when you think about it; that meant that Pein was out there somewhere, but that he had to be close by. Before we could tell anyone else, though, one of the clones arrived, and...."

Ino shrugged her shoulders slightly. She had been about to turn back around to face him, but after recalling all of that... she'd just stay where she was for a moment longer. Maybe he'd think that she was still being huffy; hopefully he would just think that it was her still being huffy.

[ooc: It's fine! XD Take as long as you need to; it's all good! And btw, we need to plot on AIM soon, right? The even starts tomorrow dhsfjdhgj how did it manage to creep up so soooooooooon]