[Appointment Post]

[dangerouswind]

Need to thread with Temari? Here's the place for phone calls and action threads that don't require a post to themselves. Please note [action] or [voice] and the date in the subject line.

Comments

[endgames]

[He grins, a sideways smirk that meets his eyes.]

Well you know. Had things to do. [From behind his back, he produces a modest bouquet.] It's cliche to get a lady flowers, but since you like plants I took a gamble it'd be okay. Happy birthday.

[The bouquet is made up of three white azaleas. He doesn't really know the significance of their meaning, and if he did he'd have picked something else out of fear of insulting her. The pains of no longer having Ino around. Not that he was completely unattentive to her hobby however. Despite not knowing the meaning of an azalea, he did pick these flowers based off something Ino had told him once about the importance of color in floral arrangements.

White. Pure intentions.]

[dangerouswind]

[She does raise an eyebrow at the azaleas but doesn't comment; she knows him well enough to know he probably didn't even think about the significance. Still, they're nice and she does chuckle.]

Works for me. [She takes them, motions him inside as she turns toward her coffee table. There's a watering can there -- she simply sets the flowers inside, propped up against the lip, in lieu of actually setting them in a vase. It works for now.] No cake?

[endgames]

[He follows her in, glancing around the place. It's been a while since he's seen it, not since the buildings got a layout change. He smiles when he sees her set them in the watering can. Keeping things simple is one thing they can agree on.]

I figured you might like that after.

[dangerouswind]

After, huh? [She straightens, gives him a look -- he's been in and out on missions so much she's honestly not quite sure where they stand, but hey. It's her birthday and she's not gonna question much of anything.] After what?

[endgames]

Still interested in that hike?

[It's been a while since they talked about it, but he doesn't think it will take her long to catch on.]

[dangerouswind]

[It takes her pretty much half a moment to figure it out.]

Why wouldn't I be? Still sounds good to me.

[endgames]

[Shikamaru grins.]

That's lucky for me, because I brought two packs with everything we'd need. We can go whenever you'd like.

[dangerouswind]

Perfect. [Now she grins.] Let's just go somewhere. I don't care where.

[endgames]

I think you'll like the spot I got in mind.

[He takes a step back into the hall, grabbing the two bags of hiking supplies he put together. Nothing too much - they're ninjas. They can cross the distance to the mountains and make the climb up in less than half the time it'd take anyone else.]

You need to change or anything?

[dangerouswind]

I'm good. [She's practical, even when she's planning on doing nothing much at all.

She follows him into the hallway and holds out a hand for one of the packs.] Let's see what you have in mind, then.

[endgames]

[It's not too heavy, just enough for a day's essentials. He holds it out by the strap for her, swinging the other over his shoulder and shooting her another grin. Fast forward to when they've finished their run and reached the base of the mountains?]

[dangerouswind]

[Fast forward indeed. It's a good run, if only because it's nice to get out for awhile. She stops beside him, strap over her shoulder and not even winded, and grins crookedly.]

Which way?

[endgames]

[HE IS. Not so much that it takes more a few breaths to get evened out, but her stamina, as always, beats his own out and leaves him envious. Good-natured about it, he laughs it off while bracing his hands on his knees, looking up.]

If you've ever seen a map marking the lake up in these mountains, it's not far from that. We'll make as if to go in that direction then veer east of it.

[dangerouswind]

[She nods; that's pretty good direction. She's studied the maps.]

That's not too far. We could take it easy for a bit.

[Enjoy the scenery and all. Give you time to catch your breath.]

[endgames]

Wow. You're cutting me a break?

[dangerouswind]

Well, if you rather I didn't...

[endgames]

You say that so sweetly, and yet it still sounds like a threat.

[But he's smiling, saying that with a humor. Bowing his head he breathes out in one rush; inhales slowly and smoothly.]

Give me sixty seconds. I'll be good.

[dangerouswind]

[She shrugs, crosses her arms.]

Should I start counting now?

[endgames]

You're hilarious.

[dangerouswind]

You're supposed to be catching your breath, not talking.

[endgames]

[This face.]

[dangerouswind]

[And this face.]

[endgames]

[FIFTY-TWO MISSISSIPPI, FIFTY-THREE MISSISSIPPI, FIFTY-FOUR MISSISSIPPI AND

AND he's calling it good before his self-limited sixty seconds are up, because he doesn't need to give Temari more fuel to make fun of him with. He's a manly man.]

Ready?

[dangerouswind]

You still have four seconds.