Stand accusing across / I've got a temper set for tender

[mentis_reae]

Who: IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, Chouji Akimichi! Miles Edgeworth! Yosuke Hanamura! Uryuu Ishida! Shikamaru Nara! Nill! Naruto Uzumaki!
When: Monday! March 28! 2011!
Where: Shikamaru's AGI pad!
Summary: Shikamaru's been brainwashed by That Meanie Light Yagami. What's the solution? Oh ho ho. Well. What do they do to cult members...?
Warnings: AN ORGY of

Comments

THE CONSPIRATORS: Mingling

[mentis_reae]

[All sotto voce misgivings expressed at the eleventh hour go here.]

[unfeasible]

[Naruto's standing apart from everyone, staring out one of the windows. He's all nerves, his arms folded as tight as a spring and tapping one foot erratically. When he finally speaks, it's slightly hoarse from disuse, and his voice sounds too loud in the tense silence:]

Look-- I dunno what's gonna happen, but no matter what... No matter what he says or does, we gotta come outta this smiling for him. I mean...when he remembers the shit he's pulled--

...He's gotta know we still got his back. He's gotta know we're still with him.

[he falls silently awkwardly for a moment, then utters a quiet:]

That's all I'm asking.

[outbursting]

[Yosuke stares at Naruto for awhile, thoughtful.

He smiles to himself, before nodding in agreement to him.]

Come on, in the end, Shika's Shika.

[Gesturing to those present, he knows that he is speaking for them, but it isn't like he is going to accept their refusal in the matter.]

It's not like we're suddenly going to abandon him once all is said and done.

SHIKAMARU AND URYUU: Mingling

[mentis_reae]

[How was the date, fellas?]

[underachieves]

[He considers himself lucky. Uryuu's been more than understanding about his situation, and there aren't a lot of people who would venture into Sector 1 to spend time with a slaver voluntarily. So Uryuu not only visiting, but taking him out for dinner? Has got Shikamaru in a very good mood.

He's not one for public displays of affection, but as they're walking back to his apartment from the restaurant, he sneaks one arm around Uryuu's waist.]

[sequincy]

[Uryuu shares a shy smile with Shikamaru at the movement, the warmth around him. He looks perfectly content.

Inwardly, he's hoping the caring fingers at his hip can't feel him tense up. His stomach was in such knots that he'd hardly been able to eat at dinner. It wasn't fear about the fight to come; Uryuu valued his calm as a warrior.

It was guilt.]

Heh. Won't people stare? [he leans on the other boy regardless, to avoid seeming suddenly cold.]

[underachieves]

It's Sector One. They've already seen everything.

[A while ago, the real concern would have been about the risk of parading his boyfriend around where AGI might see him. Uryuu could have become one more person for the company to use against him. But that isn't a worry anymore. Shikamaru's more than proven his loyalty and their threats subsided weeks ago.

He mistakes the tenseness of Uryuu's muscles for shivering.]

Are you cold? We're almost there.

THE CONSPIRATORS: Confrontation

[mentis_reae]

[Uryuu and Shikamaru have arrived. The door has been closed behind Shikamaru, and everyone bursts out like it's the worst surprise party ever.]

[mentis_reae]

[Edgeworth steps forward first, his eyes fixed on Shikamaru's. He holds out his hands to show that he's weaponless - not that such a gesture is worth anything in this city.]

Nara. You wouldn't talk to us over the network, so we've come to talk to you now. Only to talk, and nothing more than that.

[underachieves]

[He's stunned. There's such a sudden shift in his mood that his mind gets whiplash. A moment ago he'd been so elated, feeling giddy and warm and loved, and now-- now there's ice in his blood and his throat goes dry so he can't even say anything. He takes a step backwards, but Uryuu's there.

Uryuu...

As it all comes together, his knees weaken. His gaze drops to the floor and he mouths, "Why?" but still can't find his voice. He's trapped. And no one is going to help him.]

[sequincy]

No one is going to hurt you. [he promises it quietly, not trusting his voice any louder than that. The Quincy remains in front of the door, a mournfully resolute guard.] Don't panic. This isn't an attack.

EDGEWORTH AND SHIKAMARU: Fight

[mentis_reae]

[Shikamaru attacks Edgeworth. Good programming, Light.]

[underachieves]

[Something in his mind snaps. He sees red. Although he's staring at Edgeworth, Shikamaru can barely see him. He sucks in a sharp breath and hisses:]

You. Of all people. You think you have the right--

[He launches himself at Edgeworth without even finishing the thought. He's got a gun and a knife on him but he doesn't go for either of them. He wants to feel his bare hands close around Edgeworth's neck.]

I WON'T LET YOU. I WON'T LET YOU HURT ME AGAIN. I WON'T LET YOU KILL ME.

[mentis_reae]

[Edgeworth is completely unprepared for this. He'd truly hoped - truly thought, even - that he would be able to talk Nara down. He'd thought he'd be able to convince him with nothing more than the power of his speech. Consequently, he hadn't expected this sudden attack, and he just stands still and stares, instinct leading him to counter Nara's words before he counters his attack - ]

I'm not going to harm you, Nara, let alone kill you...Ah -

[Nara is smaller than he is, but the force of that lunge is enough to nearly knock Edgeworth down. His hands come up to grip at Shikamaru's wrists, and he stumbles back a few steps, the back of his legs slamming against a low table.]

[underachieves]

LIAR.

[He fights Edgeworth's hold, chakra surging into his arms to give him strength. He refuses to let Edgeworth get away with this. His fingers curl into claws. He has to squeeze Edgeworth's throat until the words stop. He'll crush it so Edgeworth stops lying to him.]

You're nothing but a murderer! You've turned everyone against me and now you're all here-- You're going to kill me like you killed all those other people. I know the truth.

NARUTO AND SHIKAMARU: Fight

[mentis_reae]

[Shounen hero shounen heroing!]

[unfeasible]

[He's been afraid of this, and prepared for it as a result. So all the tension of this situation made Naruto's limbs spring into action when Shikamaru started getting violent.

He rushed forward and grabbed his friend's upper arms from behind, pulling them back; not uttering a word, and clearly not using all of his strength. He didn't want to hurt anyone...if he didn't have to.

He was glad that no one could see his face right now.]

[underachieves]

[When Naruto grabs him, Shikamaru whips his head back and shrieks like an animal. He's nearly unrecognizable, not even fighting like a shinobi at this point. He's flailing his limbs, tearing at Naruto as best he can and kicking his feet out in protest.]

LET GO OF ME.

[He plants his feet on the ground finally, forcing himself steady with a burst of chakra, and yanks at his arms with such force that his joints threaten to dislocate if Naruto won't free him.]

[unfeasible]

[Naruto's eyes widen in alarm; he wouldn't have let go if it wasn't for the burst of chakra, and his decision to let go is instantaneous and almost instinctive.

He doesn't get distracted, doesn't let Shikamaru win. Almost as soon as he let go, Naruto grabs him again, this time in a laughable farce of a hug from behind, pinning his friend's arms to his sides and applying considerably more force this time, even pressing downwards a little, forcing Shikamaru to bend his knees so it's not as easy for him to kick out and back. He doesn't need chakra to enhance his strength, and at the moment, he hates that fact a little.

He doesn't respond. Still, not a word, not even any small sound of effort. His position to try to restrain his best friend has awkwardly forced him to bury his face in Shikamaru's back, and Naruto's almost distantly surprised to find that he's getting his captive's shirt wet.]