SIRENSPULL - contact.

[reassures]

[Cue mechanical answering machine voice.]

"You have dialed the number for N-I-L-L. This person is unavailable. Please leave a message after the beep."

[...BEEP]

Comments

[blondejokes]

I'm sure you do. [ She gives Nill a quick smile over her shoulder. Too bad chakra couldn't heal plants the way it could people. Love and care was what made them bloom and healed them, not an immune system. ]

I can get you some new ones, if you'd like.

[reassures]

No. It's fine.

[Nill glances over at her, and though she inclines her head slightly, she doesn't smile.]

They'll be fine.

[blondejokes]

Nill... [ She doesn't like this non-smiling Nill. She relaxes her hands at her side and places a hand on her hip delicately, not leaning into it but just keeping it there.

She's at a loss for words, really. ]

[reassures]

[She can tell, but there's nothing really that Nill can say either, after a moment, she takes a seat in her pile of pillows, because she's not sure what else to really do.]

...I was with Shika for four years. He meant a lot to me.

[blondejokes]

You meant a lot to him as well.

[ Ino knows how he makes friends- if he doesn't like them, he doesn't surround himself with them. The fact that they were together for years means that Nill was something special to Shikamaru. ]

[reassures]

I know I did.

[Nill knew Shika well-- well enough to know without a question that she was loved as far as he was concerned.

She doesn't know any other way to explain to Ino why this was hitting her so hard.]

[blondejokes]

[ It was normal, part of the grieving process. She gives Nill another small smile, smoothing down her skirt. ]

Just so you know, I'll be heading down to the Memorial on his birthday next month. You're welcome to join me.

[reassures]

[She shakes her head. For as much good as the Memorial did, Shika rarely went there. It was a nice gesture, but the memorial was just a stone with his name on it.]

I'd rather watch clouds.

[blondejokes]

That's even better.

[ Though she couldn't leave flowers on a cloud. ]

[reassures]

[Heh. She's pretty sure Shika would approve, anyway.]

You could leave them somewhere with a good view. He'd probably like that.

[blondejokes]

He'd tell me I was being too sentimental.

[ She acts annoyed by it, but she knows he would. He knew how important flowers were to her, even if he didn't care much for them himself. ]

[reassures]

He wouldn't mind, though.

[Everyone was sort of sentimental, as far as Nill could tell. That had never bothered Shika, even if he'd sometimes act like it did.]

[blondejokes]

[ She giggles. ]

No, he wouldn't. But he'd sure act like it. For all his bitching about how women are so troublesome, he isn't so easy-going himself.

[reassures]

He tried to be.

[It's just that the universe wasn't the sort of place that allowed for people to really be easy-going.

It's impossible for Nill to look on the lighter side of things right now though; after a pause she lets out a quiet sigh.]

I'm sorry, Ino-- I don't think I'll make good company for you today.

[blondejokes]

[ Ino's smile falters for a moment, then she nods. ]

I understand, Nill.

Call me if you need anything, alright?

[reassures]

I will.

[She won't, but Ino doesn't need to know that.]

Thank you.

[blondejokes]

Of course. See you around.

[ And she walks off into the youthful sunset... ]