[ A CONTRARY SHIT, INDEED. Jake's growling hrmmm in response reflects the twin wolves in his head; one extremely annoyed and one begrudgingly admitting that was actually pretty funny. ]
And has Finn forgiven you for whatever you did before? Same format.
[ The hrmmmm intensifies. It seemed to important to Finn that Jake make an effort with him, for reasons he couldn't quite articulate to him. Jake had a theory maybe he could, actually, but saying so would undermine his desired outcome.
Finn could be pretty stubborn when it came to the goodness of certain people, but even he had to know that this guy was a total pain in the ass. ]
Well, whatever, I'll answer! [ Jake pauses, foot tapping in frustration as he crosses his arm. ] Okay, no, I'm not, but only 'cuz that's his situation. But from where I'm standing, it seems like y'all had beef and you squashed it and now you're dredging it back up again for a reason I still can't grok.
Feels like maybe you want me to be mad at you, just a little bit. That, or you really, really hate gratitude.
[ If Jake looks like he might have a snotty remark to make in response to that, it's only for a moment. The crossed paws over his chest sag a little, affecting a shrug. ]
I mean. Yeah, I guess so. [ His arms lower to his side, sentiment geniune. Maybe even a little tired, honestly. There'd been a lot to unpack in the last twenty minutes and he's not even a little sure where he lands on all of it. Something to sort through later. ] You done baiting me?
[ Jake trots over, circling a few times on a spot of soft grass next to the clone's Itachi's feet, before laying down with a yawn. The fire was warm here, even if the company was icy. ]
[ He already had his eyes closed; a convincing facsimile of sleep, if it weren't for how unchanged his voice sounds. He was awake and would stay awake, for the time being. ]
（ this is infuriating. he's infuriated. what is going on with you, little yellow guy. itachi is officially fuckin' flummoxed and for a moment a muscle tightens in the clone's jaw, barely perceptible.
if the real itachi happens to swap himself out for the clone, why, it's seamless. turns out he's old hat at this sleight-of-self nonsense. ）
It is a technique called kawarimi. Body replacement.
[ The fury is noted and comfortably ignored. Jake just rolls onto his side, letting the fire warm his belly for a bit as they continued their conversation. He misses the swap completely.
Then again, Itachi seems to miss the metaphor. Not that Jake minds the explanation. ]
You mean that log thing? It was pretty nifty, I'm not gonna lie. I can do that too, but it looks a little different.
[ And, just like that, the half-sleeping dog is suddenly not a dog at all. Instead, he's a still-very-yellow, still-quite-hairy facsimile of a log. The detail was quite exquisite, grooves from the bark and rings at the cut base, even a few little branching twigs snapped off along the sides.
What is distinctly un-log-like is the small little dog face floating in the center of it, grinning up at him. ]
[ Jake yawns again, stretching out with a crack of his back. If the hard rule bothers him, it doesn't seem to show. The man asked directly enough and answered directly enough; Jake wasn't the one to get his jollies disrespecting a man's name. ]
itachi studies the creature, reminded once again uncomfortably of kakashi's ninken. pakkun used to bother him in a similar fashion, but was as quick to back off. perhaps that is why he simply sighs, and stirs the fire with the stick he'd set aside earlier for just such a purpose. ）
You may remain if you wish, but put the fire out when you are done if so. I intend to return to the village.
[ Jake perks one ear up at that sentiment, not yet rising from his comfortable spot by the man's feet. ]
Oh yeah, sure thing. Unless you want some company?
[ That Jake was almost sure the man's answer would be no doesn't seem to preclude him from asking in the slightest, nor does it make him sound any less genuine in his offer. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
（ two words. just to be a contrary shit. ）
no subject
And has Finn forgiven you for whatever you did before? Same format.
no subject
（ lmao, forgiveness. he's allergic to the concept thank u very much. ）
no subject
Finn could be pretty stubborn when it came to the goodness of certain people, but even he had to know that this guy was a total pain in the ass. ]
Well, whatever, I'll answer! [ Jake pauses, foot tapping in frustration as he crosses his arm. ] Okay, no, I'm not, but only 'cuz that's his situation. But from where I'm standing, it seems like y'all had beef and you squashed it and now you're dredging it back up again for a reason I still can't grok.
Feels like maybe you want me to be mad at you, just a little bit. That, or you really, really hate gratitude.
no subject
Are you finished playing detective?
no subject
I mean. Yeah, I guess so. [ His arms lower to his side, sentiment geniune. Maybe even a little tired, honestly. There'd been a lot to unpack in the last twenty minutes and he's not even a little sure where he lands on all of it. Something to sort through later. ] You done baiting me?
no subject
Sit, or leave.
no subject
the clone'sItachi's feet, before laying down with a yawn. The fire was warm here, even if the company was icy. ]See? Not so bad, right?
no subject
Comparative to?
（ it's said with just a trace of impatient annoyance, mild enough it's barely a barb. ）
no subject
[ He already had his eyes closed; a convincing facsimile of sleep, if it weren't for how unchanged his voice sounds. He was awake and would stay awake, for the time being. ]
no subject
（ this is infuriating. he's infuriated. what is going on with you, little yellow guy. itachi is officially fuckin' flummoxed and for a moment a muscle tightens in the clone's jaw, barely perceptible.
if the real itachi happens to swap himself out for the clone, why, it's seamless. turns out he's old hat at this sleight-of-self nonsense. ）
It is a technique called kawarimi. Body replacement.
1/2
Then again, Itachi seems to miss the metaphor. Not that Jake minds the explanation. ]
You mean that log thing? It was pretty nifty, I'm not gonna lie. I can do that too, but it looks a little different.
2/2
What is distinctly un-log-like is the small little dog face floating in the center of it, grinning up at him. ]
Check it, homie.
no subject
but no less alarming, ultimately, than any of the akatsuki's abilities. it does not serve to stir him to reaction.
well. not a reaction, strictly speaking, to the dog-log. the........... dlog. if you will.
instead, waspishly, ）
Do you think your being a dog excuses you from using my name?
（ not homie, not bud, not pal, not DUDE.
did the asteroid already hit.
is this the gentle, insistent, annoying purgatory of naraka? ）
no subject
Jake rolls his log-eyes before snapping back to his original (dlog-L) shape, cupping his face in his paws with a broad grin. ]
I dunno, does it? I haven't spent much time around humans, I don't know all the rules.
no subject
（ so.
you know. ）
no subject
Itachi it is, then.
no subject
itachi studies the creature, reminded once again uncomfortably of kakashi's ninken. pakkun used to bother him in a similar fashion, but was as quick to back off. perhaps that is why he simply sighs, and stirs the fire with the stick he'd set aside earlier for just such a purpose. ）
You may remain if you wish, but put the fire out when you are done if so. I intend to return to the village.
no subject
Oh yeah, sure thing. Unless you want some company?
[ That Jake was almost sure the man's answer would be no doesn't seem to preclude him from asking in the slightest, nor does it make him sound any less genuine in his offer. ]
no subject
(DOGROGATORY) ）
No.
（ and with that, he stands. packs up his things, and promptly leaves.
why does it feel like someone just walked over his grave. ）