video; un: wulala

[royalfling]

Hello, hello Trench! If you don't know me, I'm Wu, and I run the Raccoon Room, Trench's exclusive Sleeper performance venue.

[ Wu grins at the camera, talking a bit fast, clearly excited about something. The excitement palpable even through the Omni with his paleblood power projecting his emotions. Fritter the raccoon is perched on his shoulder, holding on to some of his hair as he talks ]

I come to you today with an announcement. A very important announcement! I know a lot of us have baggage we're carrying around from back home, and after a while, you might be like, hey, this isn't super important anymore! And then something happens, and it's suddenly really, really important again.

[ Wu puffs himself up a bit, sitting up straighter, putting his free hand solemnly to his chest. Fritter mimics him, doing the same action with her little paw to her heart ]

So, today, on this, February second, of the Egg Moon in Trench, Deer Country, I, Wu, King of the Earth Kingdom back on my world that doesn't have it's own specific name, I hereby formally abdicate my claim to the Earth Kingdom throne and title.

[ As soon as he's done, the formality breaks and he lets out a bright laugh. Fritter chitters excitedly, crawling up into Wu's hair. ]

Whew! That felt good, really good. [ But then his eyes go wide and he adds, conspiratorially: ] Oh, but if you're from home and you somehow go back home and there's another Wu there, he didn't do that, not yet at least! He still has some work to do.

[ We're back to casualness, and a bright, wide grin. ]

I'm glad that's done with. Oh, boy. You know, that super important thing? Mako and I are getting married! And he doesn't want any pesky titles following him around like mine was. So, we're just going to be two regular guys. Just two guys, getting married. [ He sighs happily, clearly deeply, disgustingly in love. Fritter rolls out of his hair and he casually catches her in his arms.

Then he gasps again, sitting up: ] Oh, and you're all invited! February 20th, at the Raccoon Room. I'll see you there!

((ooc: originally posted on Deerington's network, oops. If you already tagged, I've move them all over here))

Comments

[royalfling]

[ Welcome to Trench, buddy. Everyone's weird here. ]

Great! Great. I mean, sharp objects and I don't really get along, but I will-- try! I will try. Can't hurt. [ It in fact can hurt. I hope you know what you're getting into here, Sasuke ]

[retsuden]

[ At worst, someone gets stabbed! This'll be fine. He'll just have Sakura on speed dial.

If he knew how to use speed dial. ]

Maybe you'll surprise yourself.

[royalfling]

Maybe! Wow, I'm pretty excited about this. Ah, maybe after the wedding. You know, just in case. [ In case of bodily injury, you know ]

[retsuden]

That... is a reasonable idea. I'd say the sword could be your wedding gift, but I don't know that it would benefit your new husband any.

[royalfling]

[ Your husband hits so nice, Wu laughs softly, his smile widening ]

Oh, but it would! He's always looking out for me. He wants me to be able to defend myself, so he could worry a little less. I just, well. Like I said, I'm not very good at all that stuff.

[retsuden]

You don't have to be good to defend yourself. You just have to find the style that fits you enough to spare you some time or space to get some place safe. I believe anyone can find that eventually. It just takes... perseverance.

[royalfling]

Ah... If only that were true. [ Wu sighs dramatically, but, also, he really means it ] That's what I thought, too! I thought I could get away, and I thought I would be alright, and, well. It very much wasn't alright. This man, he's gone now, but he wanted to kill me. For sport, I think. And I thought I was getting away, I think he wanted me to think that. I almost got all the way home, and he was just-- there! He was there, and he took me away and he, well.

I don't know what would help in a situation like that. This sword might be nice for, for normal people, or creatures, but with that man, or with that awful monster last month, I wonder what could really protect me, aside from truly knowing how to defend myself.

[retsuden]

[ Oh, the things that brings up in him. Sasuke feels something twisting in his gut, knowing what it's like to run and think you were safe, only to have it turn out you aren't. The way that Itachi had suddenly just appeared and he'd been so sure...

He shakes his head to get rid of the thought, taking a breath, and nodding. ]

I can't guarantee that what I could teach you would help you stand up against every enemy, but it would give you more of a chance than not being able to do anything at all. Knowing what can happen when you can't defend yourself can sometimes be the strongest motivator.

A boy in my class was told that he could never be a shinobi because he couldn't perform ninjutsus, but he refused to believe it, and eventually became one purely by focusing on the skill that he knew was his true strength. He's now one of the top jonin in the village.

No matter how hopeless you think you are, everyone can become stronger if they refuse to give up.

[royalfling]

[ While that's all very inspiring, the real truth is that Wu doesn't want to be stronger, not really. That isn't his talent, it isn't his passion. He would rather not have to engage with it at all, if he had a choice.

But the fact is that Trench is dangerous, and while he hasn't died yet, it's mostly thanks to luck and his friends (or strangers) who decided to help him. But if another Sleeper decides to turn on him, he wouldn't want to experience that again, wouldn't want to die again if he could have done something about it. ]

Well. That's very rude of whoever told him that.

I-- will try. You know, this was all so much easier when I had a bodyguard. [ Not that he wants to make Mako do that again, but it isn't like he's not doing it, whenever they're together. It's just the times when they're not that are the worry. ] No use giving up before I've started!

[retsuden]

A bodyguard is probably extremely risky in a place where our minds can be so easily manipulated. [ If he can be an extrovert, perfectly nice people could totally try to kill someone, that's just a fact. ]

I should let you get back to celebrating your engagement with your friends. Let me know when you're ready to practice and I'll make time.

[royalfling]

I... huh. That's a good point. [ He didn't consider that at all. He's learning so much from you, Sasuke. ]

Yeah, yeah buddy! I definitely will! Thanks, for offering to help me.

[retsuden]

Mm. Congratulations again.

[ He even gives a polite bow of his head before he goes to shut off his side of the feed. ]