[action | written}

[dangerouswind]

[She knows she's late. Temari would forever blame the Malnosso for dropping her back in the forest somewhere and never her own reticence to walk back into town. (Like nothing had happened. Like nothing had ever happened.) She's only looking for one person when she comes back into the village, slipping in straight from the forest and making a beeline for community building one. She's making a concerted effort not to be seen, though that's a little harder once she's inside the building and walking quietly toward the door.

Not her door. Her next door neighbor's.

Temari hesitates only a moment before she knocks. (It's a light knock. Not that she can hear it.) Be home, Nara. She doesn't want to have to try this again.

It's some time later before she actually shows up on the journal. The message is written, short. She's doesn't filter it to anyone; she doesn't have the patience. She honestly doesn't want to say anything in the first place, but...

... well, that's unfair to a few people.]

I'm back.

Comments

[endgames]

[Fortunately or not, Shikamaru happened to be walking right past the door when he hears the knock, so it's him who gets the door and not Masaomi. He'd grabbed something from the snack reserves in the apartment, and had been going to sit, so he has food in hand when he opens the door.

...and freezes like he's looking at a corpse. Because even knowing people came back (it's been a while at that, Temari), that's rightly what she should be.]

[dangerouswind]

[Hey, you.

She pointedly ignores that dumfounded look -- because she's right there with him, in all honesty -- and plucks the food from his fingers. She motions with it, eyebrow raised, indicating the interior of the apartment.

She'd like to come in.]

[endgames]

[She meets no resistance - this is still very surreal. But after a moment he acquiesces, and holds the door open for her.

She looks younger, just a little. It clicks in his head she looks exactly as she did when she first came to Luceti - in essence, her body is about a year and a half younger.]

[dangerouswind]

[She doesn't eat the food; in fact, she's not entirely sure what happens to it, somewhere between the door and the nearest chair. Her gaze is everywhere, watching the things around her with an intensity that borders on hyper-vigilance.

And she watches him. Her gaze always comes back to his face, waiting and watching.]

[ written ]

[breezing]

Welcome back! [ ...she's not sure who or from where, but someone needs to be welcoming, clearly. ]

[ written ]

[dangerouswind]

... Yeah, thanks. Who are you?

[ written ]

[breezing]

I'm Ikki! I've been here [ counting on her fingers, hold on ] four days!

[ written ]

[dangerouswind]

[Oh, it's New Feather time. She'd forgotten.] Hello, Ikki. I'm Temari.

[Written]

[screw_fate]

[Easier to just match the form of the announcement, even not knowing that it's necessary.]

Welcome back, Temari.

[He'd gathered what happened to her, and this is... well, as strange as meeting Asuma here had been, in its own way.]

[Written]

[dangerouswind]

[Soon enough, he'll know it's necessary.]

Has everything been all right here?

[Written]

[screw_fate]

It's been busy since you were drafted, but everyone seems to be safe enough.

[Written]

[dangerouswind]

How busy?

written

[weaponry]

[ Tenten's first impulse is to lecture her about how she wasn't supposed to die, but, even someone as tactless as her knows the weight of death. Her rival isn't supposed to lose to anyone else but her! Regardless, she writes. ]

Welcome back. If there's anything you need, let me know. I'm sure someone has your fan and anything else you're missing.

written

[dangerouswind]

I've got them already, thanks.

written

[weaponry]

No problem. You're welcome to mine and Ino's apartment if you need anything.


Also, some girl wants to play in your garden. [ Might as well add a semi-cheerful subject in there! ]

written

[dangerouswind]

My apartment is as sound as it's ever been. [You're kind of weirding her out, Tenten. What is this being nice thing?]

A girl? Why?

written

[floralogy]

[She has been waiting for this ever since she heard the news, knowing fully well how the Malnosso works.]

Welcome back, Temari. [She wants to say more, but she leaves it at that.]

written

[dangerouswind]

[There are things she wants to ask, mostly about a mutual friend and how he's been doing the last couple weeks or so. Instead, her question is general, carefully worded.]

Have things been all right here?

written

[floralogy]

[It takes a while before she replies.]

I think 'all right' is an overstatement.

[Voice / Filtered]

[generalflirt]

[he's not at home when he makes this, fortunately for everyone, but his voice is flat, cold. Given she's writing something like that she's probably beat up, somehow can't use her voice, or both. Because of that...]

Just so you know, you're not forgiven.

[He decides to burn a bridge which was getting him nowhere anyway.

For Catharsis]

[Voice / Filtered]

[dangerouswind]

[Damn you too, Masaomi. Temari's voice is carefully measured, her words enunciated and maybe a touch on the soft side.]

If you've something to say to me, write it down. [She caught parts of that. She doesn't want to think about it.]

[Written / Filtered]

[generalflirt]

[...Hah. So she can't hear it? She's deaf? He deduces these two things quickly and grits his teeth. Shikamaru will be handling that. He'll feel responsible. And worse still, he'll feel like he's somehow to blame for it all.

Disgusting.

Completely disgusting]

Welcome back.

[And he's got nothing more to say]

[ written ] yes, I am hideously late

[markofthebrave]

[...well, there was a certain sense of relief at seeing this, that's for sure. Something uncoiling from her chest, but all the same... leaving her at a loss of what to say.

I'm so sorry.

You idiot.]

Welcome back.

[ written ] it's okay. I'm hideously slow.

[dangerouswind]

Thanks. [A pause] Everything all right?

[ written ]

[markofthebrave]

[No, not really.]

We were worried about you.