damned_institute | Day 37: Sun Room

Joe had read some of the larger notes stuck up on the bulletin board when the announcement came on the intercom. All things considered, this Landel guy didn't even seem so bad. Even if these people were held here against their will, he was certainly nice about it.

Apparently, the new patients - including Joe - were to hang around in the Sun Room or go to Arts and Crafts with the kids. Well, there was plenty of information on the board, including maps and descriptions of monsters, for Joe to prepare for the nighttime, when he could seriously get going on fighting his way out. He could look for where the boss would probably be waiting, or where his V-watch might be, and figure out how to fight the monsters. In fact, he had plenty of time to work all that out... but this the first time he'd had to really relax since he got his powers. So it couldn't possibly hurt to enjoy the calm period, could it?

The red-head stepped back from the board, and hopped back onto a comfy-looking couch to digest in the sunlight. He reached up to pull his cap down, and sighed when he realized it wasn't there. "Oh well, nothing's perfect. I still wouldn't call this hell."

[free!]

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"Yes, other stuff," Jiraiya mock growled, but he knew it wouldn't have any effect on the Jounin, and then he just sighed. "A friend I have a very deep respect for."

And a friend he flirted with. He hoped beyond anything that Kakashi and Sakura wouldn't compare notes about Renamon. And he was glad that Naruto hadn't met Renamon yet, because Kakashi was completely correct in what would happen if he found out--Naruto would shout it for everyone to hear.

"You're just more subtle at it," Jiraiya grumbled in agreement. "And I'm not falling for that innocent look, because even Naruto knows that won't work on me. But if you started shouting like Naruto, I'd worry about your sanity."

He still seemed flustered, but he was more annoyed now. Although a small part of him was amused, too. If Kakashi was teasing anyone else, it'd be funny.

"The kid can be subtle when he really puts his mind to it, but he rarely puts forth that much effort," Jiraiya rolled his eyes, then looked at Kakashi pointedly, dropping his voice. "Renamon's listening into this conversation, I'll have you know."

He immediately regretted telling Kakashi. Shit. Now he was going to have a field day with him. And Renamon probably heard the whisper, too.

Well, at least she'd have something to distract her from the showers. The conversation she was in would help, too. At least she'd be amused.

Ah, well. Kakashi had never expected Jiraiya to actually elaborate on the other stuff, though he did have to try just once to see how far the elder would slip. It would be a fairly sad state of affairs if Jiraiya was so taken by Renamon that he stumbled to that degree. That would have been the point where Kakashi would have to be seriously concerned for any ventures at night. As it stood, there might be a certain level of distraction, but Kakashi didn't think it'd be so significant that it would be harmful.

"You can relax. I seriously doubt Naruto's particular methods would work for anyone besides him." Really, it was amazing that they worked for anyone at all. But that was the kind of person Naruto ultimately was: someone who was exceptional.

But at it turned out, Kakashi could be as subtle as he wanted. Jiraiya's seriousness left the jounin with little doubt as to the truth of what he said. And Renamon had said certain powers were reduced, but not taken away. It also explained why she had winced earlier when Naruto had shouted--beyond the fact that the boy was just that loud, anyway.

"I'll have to be careful with what I say then." Something that had gone without saying from the start, really, but by confirming that they were being listened to, Jiraiya had dug his own hole a little deeper. And unlike Naruto, Kakashi was good at putting forth the effort needed to keep up the facade in just the right amount over a length of time. "It'd be a shame if she got the wrong idea about you."

It wasn't something Kakashi would actually do, of course: purposely give Renamon a bad impression of the sannin. Not unless Jiraiya did something incredibly heinous, such as destroying the integrity of the Icha Icha series.

Jiraiya let out a heavy sigh. Kakashi would never cease to be a brat. He'd only grow at being more subtle as he aged.

Except Kakashi couldn't 'age' anymore, either. They were both dead yet not, now. That sobered him up a little... but he refused to think about it just then. Kakashi wanted to talk about something else.

He humphed to cover up his pause in thought. "Well, if you convince her to kill me, then you won't get another installment of the Icha Icha series. So you better be careful."

Jiraiya knew that Kakashi was teasing and not planning to do anything like that, but he wanted to get the upper hand back. He wasn't going down without a fight! There was no chance of him simply rolling over and giving in!

Of course Kakashi knew the moment he began taunting Jiraiya that the series would come up. His utter adoration of the Icha Icha books was well known, due mostly to the fact that Kakashi didn't hesitate to read one in any spare moment he could find. It was, in ways that involved this battle of wits, the ultimate power Jiraiya had over the jounin. And like any good ninja, Kakashi knew his weaknesses as well as his strengths.

It still didn't mean he was happy when the man brought it up.

"I'll definitely have to be." Matching Jiraiya's expression with one equally pleased, Kakashi let out a small sigh. There, the man had him, and it was an inescapable trap. "I just hope there isn't such a long period before the next one comes out. The last wait was agonizing enough to make your fans believe you have a sadistic streak."

"I had a hard time getting decent feedback from my student," Jiraiya stated with a bit of annoyance, but he was still amused--so he was winning for the moment. "Eventually I gave up after he'd only claim it was 'boring as hell' all the time. Kid doesn't know a good book when it bites him in the ass."

"As for the wait for the next one..." Jiraiya leaned back a bit more, uncrossing his arm with a twinkle in his eye. "I could use someone that would give me decent feedback on a chapter by chapter basis. Or it could be a selection of short stories, in which case it'd be on a story by story basis. Either way, I'll need someone who knows the series to help me out."

Short stories because he wasn't sure how far the lesbian subplot would go (Naruto better make his next meeting with Sasuke and Aidou interesting!), and because he might have other stories he couldn't tie in together to write about. There was also the issue of the fact that he was, for all technical purposes, dead back in his world. If he was going to have a postmortem release, it'd be more likely if he could write it faster. Writing a series of short stories would put out the most material for a "complete" book.

Jiraiya had cast his line. Now it was time to see if Kakashi would take the bait.

[Sorry about how long it took me to get to this! And YAY, I get to use this icon ICly.]

If? There was no question of if. Kakashi was a trained ninja, and he knew very well that this was a trap, one meant to protect Jiraiya from any further mocking based on his obvious fondness for Renamon. But even knowing that, as Jiraiya made his offer, Kakashi couldn't help but tremble a little in sheer delight.

Naruto had given him Tactics even before it was officially published, and holding the books in his hands made him shiver. This? Was better.

The sennin had Kakashi right where he wanted the man; the look Kakashi was getting made it completely obvious. But at the moment, it was a bit too late for composure to become a factor to guard the jounin's reaction. Besides, for something like this, Kakashi was almost happy to admit defeat.

"Well, if it will help you," Kakashi practically beamed under the mask. "I think I could give you the feedback you're looking for."

Day 37: Sun Room

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