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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[retsuden]

[ Sasuke had pulled a small face of annoyance at all the glittery paper, though it was hardly something that actually bothered him. It was more on principle given that he was the sort who normally stuck to purely dark, brooding colors.

But that face changes entirely when he pulls out the gifts. There had been a softening to his features when he pulled out the paperweight, amused and touched given their shared fondness for cats.

The embroidery, however, gets his attention more thoroughly. His eyes widen just slightly at the sight of it, his hand holding on to the hoop a little tighter than necessary as he tries to keep the emotion off of his face. It's difficult to do, though, and it's not hard to miss how he has to swallow a little roughly to get the tightness in his throat to ease up. The deep meaning of being gifted something that honors his clan is enough to make his eyes sting, even if he refuses to let any tears form. ]

I— [ Nope, his voice is still a little too strained. He stops himself from continuing, before clearing his throat, and trying again with a more even tone than before. ] ... Thank you.

[unphase]

[she smiles at his reaction to the sparkly paper. part of it is because she herself just plain loves beautiful, sparkly things and also because she knew it would be bothersome on principle. another thing she finds beautiful, differences in people and finding common ground whenever possible.

cats are lovely. she adores them and knows he does, too. and as if on cue, Smudge comes up and rubs against his leg, mewing.

and she was worried about the embroidery. she knows that her relationship with her house and its legacy is...complicated, to put it mildly. so she wasn't sure how well her reminder of his would be since she's gotten the impression that that's something they have in common: a complex relationship with the house of their births. so she breathes a little sigh of relief when he seems moved.

and she smiles] It's the least I could do. I'm glad you like them.

[retsuden]

[ He carefully places both presents back into the glittery bag so they'll stay safe, taking a deep breath to steady himself again. Complicated is putting his feelings around his clan mildly, but he still cherishes his history, his family, and the idea of reviving the Uchiha to their former glory someday. Having a symbol of that will always remind him of his true goals. ]

I should let you get back to your day.

[ Bolting after experiencing emotions??? Sasuke would never!! His go-to reflex is carefully masked by a desire to not be a bother or overstay his welcome, but it's absolutely driven by the same instinct that he has whenever he runs away from Big Feelings. ]

[unphase]

[she's relieved to see the care with which he places his presents in the bag. and that he's keeping the sparkly bag in the first place. and as much as she struggles against her foremothers' legacy, deep down she knows that her time will come. and that when it does, she'll take the reins. but not yet. not this year. maybe not for over one hundred years]

All right. Smudge, quit shedding all over Sasuke's pants, I didn't think to get out a lint roller.

[okay, it would be embarrassing to admit out loud, but sometimes she does the same. especially if the emotions are so overwhelming and personal that the idea of actually taking them on in anything other than extreme privacy is unthinkable. like almost everything to do with her husband back home]