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Aburame Shino ([info]strongsilentype) wrote in [info]last_stretch,
@ 2009-11-22 17:57:00


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Entry tags:closed log, sakura, shino

[closed - ongoing | if you're happy and you know it]
WHO: Sakura, Shino
WHAT: Apparently people take breaks when they're studying. Sakura attempts to enforce this onto Shino by offering him a heaping helping of silly.
WHERE: Library-- and then wherever Sakura drags them.
WHEN: 22.Nov.09


He didn't fully understand why there were so many women in his life these days. His phone, which had only ever held family contact information and the occasional lab partner, now received frequent texts from two female classmates. His evenings were beginning to be interrupted by girls who wanted to go for walks and 'be silly,' whatever that meant. Perhaps it was because he'd had so little female influence in his early life, but even simply the few female friends he had rather suddenly acquired since the beginning of this year were beginning to feel overwhelming.

If Shino were completely honest with himself, the real tension hadn't started until his night out with Yamanaka. She wasn't someone he knew well to begin with, which had been disconcerting enough; spending class time with Sakura was clearly beginning to push him in the direction of a more sociable person. Sociable or not, he had been in no way prepared for the experience of a night out partying with the princess. The crush of people, the overwhelming stench of cheap beer, the overly familiar way she'd latched onto his arm and planted a sloppy kiss against his cheek; it still brought twitches to the corners of his eyes and tension to his fingers.

Sakura was probably right. He needed a break.

Seeing Tenten had felt like a break. The relief of watching her lips twitch into little smiles had taken a good deal of the weight off his shoulders. Still, relaxing through it was, studying for his next literature exam all day hadn't actually done much to improve his mood. A walk would help. If only for that reason, he found himself loitering outside of the library where he usually worked, tugging his collar up a hair more against the chilly air and smoothing a finger over the face of his cellphone, waiting.



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GDIT INO RUINED HIM
[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-11-25 05:05 pm UTC (link)
"The rush of the air on your face, the fact that we're two young adults having a go on the swings, and maybe a little competition to see who gets higher, too...It's just us two," she replied, as if it was explanation enough.

She did note his flinch though, having grown used to taking note of the small habits he had. It had been a while since he'd done that. Her hand hovering over his wrist, not touching, she asked: "Can I?"

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this is the price for making Shino realize that he likes girls D:
[info]strongsilentype
2009-11-25 05:12 pm UTC (link)
It was a less than convincing argument. True, the pink-haired girl was right that he needed to take a break and get outside for a bit. No, he did not actually intend to go through with the mandate that they needed to give themselves in to silly things for the sake of silliness itself.

The more pressing question was her apparently thoughtfulness about touching. It was reassuring, the way it had been reassuring to see Tenten's smile after the weeks she'd been gone, the way it was always reassuring to hear his father's voice over the phone. With a little bit of a shrug, he shot a glance away from the girl before responding. "If you must."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

D:
[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-11-25 05:35 pm UTC (link)
She hesitated at that, putting away the issue with the swings for a moment and focusing on this. Her fingers brushed over the skin there, not even closed to a touch, and she took a step closer, until their toes touched.

"It's not a must," she murmured. "I just want to...But I don't want to impose. I'd prefer it if you were comfortable with me touching you, too..."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: D:
[info]strongsilentype
2009-11-25 05:44 pm UTC (link)
"It's not you," Shino responded by default, pulling his hand back fully to reach up and fix his glasses into place. They tended to slide down his nose a little when speaking to those shorter than he was at such amazingly close distances. "It really isn't anything personal for you to be concerned about, Sakura."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-11-25 05:48 pm UTC (link)
"Too late~." She tilted her head to the side, but did not pull away. She simply let her hand fall at her side, because leaving it there hanging would've been awkward.

"I don't mean to pry--okay, I actually do mean to pry, because people usually mean to pry when they say 'I don't mean to pry', but...did something happen, when you were little?"

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[info]strongsilentype
2009-11-25 06:05 pm UTC (link)
Both hands safely back in his pockets, glasses snugly in place, Shino refocused on the young woman still standing just a hair too close for his usual range of comfort. Not that it was easy to explain to her that this in and of itself was a major step in a positive direction and a personal distinction for his level of comfort with her.

That would just sound crazy.

"Did something happen?" he repeated as though by rote. "Something such as?"

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[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-11-25 06:09 pm UTC (link)
"Well...to make you flinch when it comes to touching. Or people being close to you..." she dared to ask. How much he would tell her, that was his own choice.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]strongsilentype
2009-11-25 07:13 pm UTC (link)
Had it been any other person, the direction of the conversation would likely have been clear. As it was, Shino spent a moment on his default blank look before tilting his head slightly to the side and digging his hands deeper into his pocket.

"Have you read the Harlow 1960's study on touch deprivation?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-11-25 08:36 pm UTC (link)
She shook her head, "No," the honest answer followed. But there was that look in her eyes that said You tell me. And she hoped he would.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]strongsilentype
2009-11-26 02:10 am UTC (link)
Like most things about the world, the explanation was rational, quick and simple. Bowing his head slightly to collect his thoughts, Shino responded to the inquisitive look with his usual calm slow fashion.

"In the 1960s, American psychologist Harry Harlow performed a series of experiments pertaining to maternal-separation and social isolation. They discovered that when monkeys are touch-deprived from infancy onward, they develop highly antisocial tendencies. Although the monkeys raised in partial isolation tended to be able to be socially rehabilitated, it was often a difficult process, impossible for monkeys raised in total isolation." Shino paused briefly, glancing briefly at the sky before continuing. "We didn't touch, in my family. It wasn't my father's way. It has made it... difficult for me to become completely socially acclimated. That's all."

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[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-11-26 02:51 pm UTC (link)
Good -- good that he was trusting her with this fact, and good that it wasn't stemmed from some deep childhood trauma. Though, she paused, then spoke, her voice low.

"I don't think I could imagine that... My parents may have many faults, but at least they gave me the pats on the head when I did something good, and the hugs on my birthday." A pause, as she considered his condition. "It must be chaotic for you, then, to be in a busy university, and...anything that would have to do with the public, or a crowd. Now I'm glad I didn't extend an invitation to Naruto's party."

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[info]strongsilentype
2009-12-02 02:24 pm UTC (link)
"...I would hardly call this a 'fault' of my parents."

It was the only thing he could think to say. Shino had done what had been asked of him; he'd fully explained the root of his aversion to touching. That aspect of the conversation was now closed. There was no need to drag through the mire of his emotional life and the way he interacted with the rest of the world. He and Sakura were working out the boundaries of their personal relationship as it involved touching. There was no reason to fully explicate his life for her.

There was, however, plenty of reason to object to that judgment of his parents and their method of raising him.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-12-02 02:26 pm UTC (link)
"Oh--no, no, I didn't say it was a fault... I was just...putting myself in your shoes, and those words popped out... Okay, I guess...I fail a little bit."

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[info]strongsilentype
2009-12-02 02:33 pm UTC (link)
It was the sort of moment when a different person would have started fussing, reassuring the pink-haired girl that she hadn't offended horribly and probably patting her on the shoulder or brushing at the two strands of hair that were slightly out of place on her cheek.

As established, Shino was an individual.

Head tilting to the side a little, the young Aburame offered a slight lift of his left shoulder and a slight tensing of his lips in what might have been a reassuring smile if it had extended a little further. One hand reached up to carefully readjust his glasses, and the moment was over.

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[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-12-02 02:39 pm UTC (link)
And the moment was over. Sakura sighed, and stepped away from him, feeling discouraged by her own need to not make him uncomforable, one that had stretched so far that she couldn't even phantom forcing her affections on him.

"Come sit," she said over her shoulder, walking back to sit on one of the swings and pointing to the one beside her.

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[info]strongsilentype
2009-12-02 02:43 pm UTC (link)
At this point, the dejected air resting over the young woman, it felt like the least he could do to sit down on the swing. True, Shino couldn't hope that it would make her smile in the calm relaxed way she had been before their conversational deviance into his personal life, but it would be a start. And really, a man had to treat a lady right.

Shaking his head just a little bit, Shino moved to very carefully lower himself onto the swing. It wasn't quite the right size for persons of the collegiate age, and it was an effort to keep the seat from swinging.

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[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-12-02 02:46 pm UTC (link)
But Sakura's intentions weren't to keep him from swinging. She leaned her head against one of the chains connecting the swing, and pushed herself slightly to the side, bumping their seats together.

As a result of physics, this made her swing move from side to side. As a result of Sakuraness, this made her laugh a little.

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[info]strongsilentype
2009-12-02 02:51 pm UTC (link)
Despite the slight rocking motion that the chain reaction set his own swing into, Shino had to admit that the soft laugh was well worth the momentary exertion of stilling himself. Perhaps it wasn't so bad to be a little silly with a friend for an evening.

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[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-12-02 02:54 pm UTC (link)
She didn't note the tension in his shoulders like usual, so her bets were set on the fact that he hadn't minded it much. So she grabbed onto the chains and turned around and around, twisting the swing together, before lifting her feet up and letting out a louder laugh when she spun fast.

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[info]strongsilentype
2009-12-02 08:07 pm UTC (link)
It was vaguely like watching a kitten playing with a ball of yarn. There was something charmingly endearing about the way kittens got tangled and ended up flailing all over the place; similarly, there was something ephemeral and appealing about the way Sakura let herself go with absolute abandon on the swing set.

There wasn't an easy way to communicate how peaceful it felt to watch her playing and being silly. Something like a half-smile settled over Shino's face as he rested his head on the chain of his own swing, watching the Haruno girl at a slight angle. It felt profoundly relaxing.

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[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-12-02 08:23 pm UTC (link)
Getting a bit more into it all, she twirls again, bumping her shoulder into his. "You should try it..."

And then she lets go.

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[info]strongsilentype
2009-12-02 08:28 pm UTC (link)
"...I could. But this is... enjoyable."

There was a touch of absolute sincerity in his usual almost dull monotone. His smile became marginally more apparent as Shino shifted slightly in his seat on the swing, twisting the chains just a little to move himself slightly further away and his attention properly onto Sakura.

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[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-12-02 08:31 pm UTC (link)
She spun and spun, the chain jerking when the swing stopped, only moving slightly circularly. She looked up, a little bit breathless from the rush, her hair probably all over the place.

"What...?"

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[info]strongsilentype
2009-12-02 08:35 pm UTC (link)
Something between a kitten and a small child. It was a mashed metaphor, but it captures a certain hatchling aspect to the girl's personality. Like a caterpillar, Shino once again concluded. A fuzzy little caterpillar on the verge of entering a state of transition.

"You're enjoyable to watch."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]goodwithscalpel
2009-12-02 08:39 pm UTC (link)
That one she definitely heard it, and the blush that followed threatened to burn her cheeks. Undoubtedly, even people five miles away could see it. Letting out a sheepish laugh, Sakura ducked her head, rubbing at her neck with one hand.

"Of all the things to say..."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 08:43 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 08:45 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 08:50 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 08:52 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 08:58 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 08:59 pm UTC
...........I see where you're going. :| - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 09:03 pm UTC
no you don't. /blinds you - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 09:05 pm UTC
M-MY EYES. ARGH IT BURNS. - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 09:13 pm UTC
/holds your blinded face - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 09:15 pm UTC
*gnaws fingers* - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 09:22 pm UTC
ok that's kinda hot - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 09:25 pm UTC
Re: ok that's kinda hot - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 09:30 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 09:33 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 09:38 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 09:41 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 09:47 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 09:48 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 09:56 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 09:59 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 10:07 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 10:11 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 10:58 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 11:06 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 11:12 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-02 11:33 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-02 11:40 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-03 01:50 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 10:11 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 10:37 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 10:43 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 10:44 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 10:48 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 10:50 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 10:52 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 10:54 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 10:57 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 10:59 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 11:02 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 11:03 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 11:07 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 11:11 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 11:14 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 11:20 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 11:21 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 11:24 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 11:25 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 11:32 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 11:37 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 11:44 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 11:46 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 11:48 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 11:51 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 11:52 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-05 11:55 pm UTC
...no don't hang out with NAra D: - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-05 11:57 pm UTC
why do you encourage the antisocial. :| - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-06 12:02 am UTC
BUT NARA IS NARA AND NARA IS EVIL - [info]goodwithscalpel, 2009-12-06 12:04 am UTC
ilu . . <3 - [info]strongsilentype, 2009-12-06 12:29 am UTC

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