beforethedarkness | Voicemail (2013 Run)

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Voicemail (2013 Run)

You've reached Sasuke. Leave a message. If it's important, I'll reply when I can.

[[OoC: IC/OoC plotting can happen here whether you can/want to reach me through other means (IE Plurk) or not! Video, Voice and Text are enabled for messaging Sasuke!]]

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... What is it?

[He's more curious than guarded, even though he hasn't talked to Tenten much since the previous week. What was important enough to have her come now?]

[A pause, but she doesn't wait for him to decide to tell her that she can't come in, instead venturing in and revealing what's in her cupped hands -- a just-hatched baby Riolu, clutching tightly to her fingers and blinking wide-eyed at everything.]

The Riolu I got from you hatched.

[He relaxes a little, nodding to the little pokémon before looking back up st Tenten.]

... Have you thought about naming it?

[Oh, oh that was another trainer. The Riolu lets out a small, squeaking bark and abruptly tries to scramble and latch onto Tenten's shirt. How handle new people??]

Him. And... not yet. I was thinking I might name him something like how you named Sakura. Ying, maybe, for cherry.

[She sighs down at the little Pokémon and moves in closer, taking a hesitant seat on his bed near him in the hopes he won't tell her to get lost.]

[He nods, shifting to make a little more room for Tenten on the bed as he looks over the Riolu again.]

... I have her pokéball here if he wants to see his mom.

I was hoping you'd say that.

[There, finally an actual smile as she glances to Sasuke and pries gently at the Riolu on her shirt -- he lets go and drops to her lap, only to dart around and climb up, clinging to the back of her shoulder so he could peek across at the other trainer.]

[It takes him a bit, but he pulls out the pokéball in question to let Sakura out. When she's released she almost makes to hug Sasuke, but the sight of the Riolu causes her to stop and blink before smiling and holding her hand out to him, along with a greeting.]

[She waits, cooing softly at the little guy on her shoulder and trying to at least bring him around to her lap, but he was having none of it, sniffing curiously at her hair. He was leaning up, about to try biting one of her hair buns, but letting out a surprised yelp at the --comparatively speaking -- huge Pokémon when Sasuke releases Sakura. She smells kind of like him!]

Go on...

[Tenten encourages, prying a little harder. It's tentative, but he finally does let go and bound over, sniffing at Sakura's paw with a questioning yip.]

[Sakura's careful to bark softly as she explains that she's Ying's mother, along with noting how she was really happy to meet him.

Sasuke sat back a little bit to just watch the two, sighing softly before glancing down at the floor.]

...

[He keeps sniffing, listening carefully to everything the older Pokémon is saying, before leaping up with a delighted yip of acknowledgement, latching onto Sakura's paw.

Tenten was only half-watching the reunion, keeping an eye on Sasuke, too. Now that there was finally an opening for conversation, like she'd planned, she wasn't sure what to say, and just leans forward to rest her elbows on her knees, turning her attention to the two Pokémon.]

[He's quiet, listening to the two pokémon as he just keeps getting lost in his own thoughts. But, finally, he does decide that it's about time to speak to Tenten again.]

Is this all you came in for?

[She jumped a little when he spoke, glancing toward him with her mouth open before just shaking her head.]

You've been quieter than usual since... you know. I didn't want to bug you, but...

[Okay speaking was hard. She abruptly just scoots closer and tries for a hug, keeping it loose enough that he can pull back if he wants.]

[Sasuke can't help but make a little noise at the hug, but he doesn't try to pull away or shove Tenten off of him at all. He just leans into it as always, closing his eyes and leaning his head on her shoulder.]

...

[As soon as he leaned in, she tightened her grip, staring at the wall over his head. Quiet for a moment, she finally murmurs,]

I don't know what's bothering you so much, but whatever it is... I'm here for you. Even if I get arrested for it, I'd still fight alongside you.

[All Tenten gets is a hum to show that he's listening, though he doesn't really do anything else in response to her or her words.]

[Great, for once she didn't want to be the one talking, but it doesn't look like that was going to be an option.]

Can I ask you something?

[She doesn't give him the chance to say no.]

...Can we be friends? Not just comrades who stick together because we have to, but...

Why do you want to? [If he's surprised at the question, he doesn't show it as he murmurs the words and keeps his eyes closed.]

Because...

...I think you're the closest person to one besides Lee that I've ever had.

[Neji doesn't quite come close to falling into that category.]

...

All right.

[If anything, her grip only tightens as she smiles, turning her head just enough to rest her cheek against his hair.]

I won't let you down again.

You didn't let me down before.

...Maybe not, but I didn't exactly do anything to make you proud of me, either. If we're going to be a team... I don't want to be the weakest one again.

[He didn't say anything, breathing out softly as he just made himself comfortable there.]

...

It takes time to get stronger here. A lot of it.

[She stays quiet and just adjusts her grip to hold him more securely.]

...I'm willing to put in the time if you are.

I've already been putting in the time. There's no reason to stop now.

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