video by omen;

[retsuden]

[The video opens on Sasuke, Lance is “directing” behind the “camera” (omen) with cue cards for him to read, and this music starts playing in the background. Lance gestures widely off camera in an urgent miming to Sasuke to start reciting what is written on the cards.]

[ Sasuke was clearly not expecting the music and he already looks so tired before he even looks at the cards. He’s trying. Honest. His forehead scrunches as he starts to recite, but it’s coming out in his usual flat tone, which is probably not helping anything. ]

Have you ever wanted to be cool… like the other side of the pillow? [ Sasuke looks off camera at Lance with irritation. ] You said you wouldn’t make me sound like an idiot.

[Lance is giving Sasuke the flattest look, then in a hushed urgent voice:] Dude, don’t make it weird, just keep going. No turning back now.

[He has more cards and they go with the music, stop messing with the flow! They haven’t even gotten to the memes yet.]

[ He gives him a look that makes it clear he doesn’t think he’s the one making this weird. Deep breath. He knows people better than you, Sasuke, remember?? ]

Awesome at kicking ass and taking names? Show off some cool ninja moves here. [ … Oh. Wait. He gets it. He rubs his forehead before going to takes a deep breath, and then blows a ball of fire on the cards to burn them.

There. Ninja move shown off. ]

Ninjutsu isn’t about blitzing chakras or becoming one with the shadows. I’m not using these.

[Lance isn’t affected by fire, so he just holds the burning cards in his hands and uses his powers to toss the burning pile into frame as he squints in annoyance.] Oh come on, we hadn’t even gotten to the best part!

[ Sasuke takes a deep breath, before deciding to just do what he probably would have from the start. ]

I’m offering to teach people ninjutsu and taijutsu; it’s the way the ninja in my world perform battle techniques and focuses on utilizing one’s inner life force, also known as chakra, to manipulate the physical chakra around you. Taijutsu is basic martial arts techniques that use chakra to increase the strength of both your offensive moves and your defensive blocks. I believe it will be able to help people who need to learn how to control their new found blood powers and, for those who are dedicated enough, will grant similar abilities to those who have no special blood powers at all. [ He forms a ball of water in his hand, quickly warps it with a wind current to freeze it, and then melts it by heating his palm. ] If you are interested, please let me know.

[ Boring!! But to the point. Sasuke gives Lance a look, like he’s offering to let him wrap up with whatever he wants here. Is that wise?? Probably not.

Lance rolls his eyes offscreen and adds, poking his head into frame: ] Super Awesome Ninja School, suck it Cobra Kai!

[Then he exits frame and has his Omen project a certain video, and the music is still playing:]

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Comments

[creationrebirth]

You can feel free to either use the indoor space or outdoor space. Whatever works well for your training.

[ She pauses, considering something before offering him a smile. ]

It's nice to see you engaged though, doing something you love.

[retsuden]

[ Why does he always end up feeling like he's blushing around her?? This is weak and he does not care for it. ]

... It's like you said with your clinic. It's important to not feel helpless in this place. Perhaps I can help others feel less helpless while finding some sort of use in my presence here as well.

[creationrebirth]

[ The look in her eyes is one of pure adoration and pride. It still fills her with joy to see how far he's come. ]

You really are a caregiver. You might try to hide it, but you really do care about taking care of others.

[retsuden]

[ He looks surprised by that assessment of him, before giving a small huff of embarrassment. ]

If you mean in the sense that I care about people not getting in the way here. The more people trained to fight in some manner, the better off we'll all be.

[creationrebirth]

[ Did she just roll her eyes, probably a little. ]

Well, I agree with that too. But it's still rather caring to make sure that we'll all be better off.

[retsuden]

Mmph. If you say so. I'll still consider it self-preservation.

[creationrebirth]

Sasuke, it's not self preservation when you are talking about everyone.

[retsuden]

It is when we're in a place where someone turning into a beast can cause such massive destruction.

[creationrebirth]

In the past you'd just... [ Don't say fuck off... ] you weren't so helpful. Or well, I guess that's not entirely accurate, I suppose you worked with everyone in that battle at the divine tree. And...I guess that...was sort of the same way you are suggesting right now...so I guess you could be self motivated.

[ She sounds a bit dejected for a moment as she says that, before she perks up. ]

But I don't believe it. I stand by what I said about you caring and I think you're lying through your teeth.

[retsuden]

[ ... Look how diplomatic she's phrasing things. He frowns a little in thought, before giving a small huff of amusement. ]

You always have too much faith in me.

[creationrebirth]

[ She breathes a sigh of relief at the amusement, glad he's not taking what she says personally. Apparently she still feels like she has to be a little cautious with it all. It's not because she doesn't trust him or have faith in him, she just doesn't want to hurt him, and she knows his past does. ]

No. I've always had the right amount of faith in you.

[retsuden]

Tch. You're biased.

[creationrebirth]

You think? How so?

[retsuden]

You care about me and it colors your perception on how much faith is just the right amount of faith. I'm sure there are plenty of outsiders who would disagree with your limits.

[creationrebirth]

I'd say it gives me a more accurate read of you actually. I've chosen to get to fully know you. I know your motivations, your strengths, your weaknesses, and many things in between. Some might question my limits, but as they don't know you as well as I do, their opinion is based on a far narrower understanding of who you are. Therefore it's not a bias. A bias would be knowing everything to the contrary and still denying reality. I know the reality and still feel the same way I always have.

[retsuden]

[ He almost wants to point out that still having faith in someone who tried to kill you twice in one battle is probably denying reality, but he also knows he's not that person anymore and she would just point that out too. So he sighs, waving it off with his hand. ]

We could argue this in circles all day, you know.

[creationrebirth]

[ Yes, yes she would. She half expects him to bring that up as a point, because she's already got the back up that she stopped pursuing him at that point because she understood reality, even if she never gave up hope of him returning. ]

Is that you conceding?

[retsuden]

Mm. For the record, that isn't the same as admitting you're right.

[creationrebirth]

Actually it's one of the very definitions of conceding. To admit that something is right after first denying it.

[retsuden]

Another definition is to simply surrender or yield, which has no implication on whether or not I agree, but instead can be done when one understands an agreement will never be reached.

[creationrebirth]

You are so difficult. Why can't you just admit I might be right?

[retsuden]

Why do you need me to?

[creationrebirth]

[ She actually looks annoyed. ]

Because...!

[ She takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. ]

Because I want you to stop being so hard on yourself.

[retsuden]

[ Well that answer actually surprises him and he doesn't have the ability to completely cover it up. He stares at her for a second through the feed. ]

I'm sorry.

[creationrebirth]

[ Wait. Is he just apologizing for that? ]

What? No...you don't have to apologize over it. I lost my temper. I just don't think I'm crazy for believing in you. Or biased of anything else that lessens or muddies my faith in you.