...Yeeeees? [ he ventures tentatively, moving so that Itachi remains between him and the bench. ] Listen, don’t get mad. There’s no way you would have come out here to meet me if I’d been straight with you.
[ Squints at Itachi, wondering how well he’ll be able to keep up if the older Uchiha decides to make a break for it. ]
[Itachi turns half-away, looking out toward the foliage, pale threads of daylight beginning to creep through the canopy of trees. Is he considering an escape, or calculating how much time he wants to waste on this particular endeavor? Each option seems likely.]
Let me hear how you pronounce them.
[Is this a lost cause, or can it be done quickly—he'll figure out where Stiles is on that spectrum with this test.]
[ Stiles tenses, anticipating a chase scene. Fortunately, Itachi remains where he is – for now. ]
“Sasuke,” [ he says immediately, probably confirming the man’s suspicions on why this is so important to him. A pause, and then he pronounces it again, slower: ] “Sasuke.”
[ Notebook at the ready, he peers at Itachi expectantly, awaiting feedback. ]
[A moment of evaluative quiet passes after Stiles' has spoken the same name... twice, the silence before judgment drawn out for good and effective pressure. Finally:]
Itachi moves past the distaste coloring his own name, seeing no reason to address Stiles' obvious emotional investment in his younger brother's opinion; it's useful to know it exists.]
We'll start with Sasuke's name. [His own tone adopts a more careful, teaching volume, slower and explanatory. Education is one of the few activities in life he may feel sincere appreciation toward. Most aren't willing to admit their own ignorance, or willing to improve and correct their own behaviors or status quo. Some respect can be levered to Stiles for that, regardless of the reason he's approached Itachi.] I see room for improvement, though that would be expected of someone unaccustomed to a new language and its unique sounds.
You are placing too much emphasis on only part of his name. This loses clarity in the rest. I assume it has to do with how you are used to pronouncing syllables in your language. [He doesn't know what Stiles speaks, so this is mostly a guess.] Sa-su-ke. Sasuke. [Rather than slipping over the 'u' sound in the middle, Itachi enunciates every syllable equally, so it flows together as one.] Try it again.
[ Though he double checks that the comm watch is recording audio, Itachi otherwise has the brunt of his intense focus. The difference in mannerisms between brothers is more apparent now; where Sasuke was blunt and dismissive on the issue, Itachi soothes Stiles’ bruised ego by acknowledging the difficulty in language barriers. It helps make the desired end goal feel more obtainable. ]
English, [ he supplies, tapping his pencil against his chin as he considers this. ] A lot of people in Aefenglom came from English-speaking worlds. Sasuke can read Japanese, so I’m guessing that’s the equivalent of what you guys speak in your world.
[ Now isn’t the time to get sidetracked. He mentally reviews what Itachi has just informed him, considers how he’s heard Noshiko pronounce Japanese names and terms back home, and then tries again. ]
“Sasuke.” [ It still doesn’t sound like how Itachi said it. Annoyed with himself, he tries it slower. ] “Sasuke.”
[That information is helpful to have, and he files it away for later use. Even without a language barrier impeding them, he suspects there may be smaller, subtler issues in the future, colloquialisms unique between cultures.]
Better, but not perfect. [This class is pass or fail, so you failed. Play again.] Continue to practice and perhaps you'll improve, if you're committed to this.
[Perhaps is the hanging condition.] Though your attitude reflects a lack of effort, you pronounced my own name the most accurately. The distinction between sounds may be easier for you in translation. [So he won't waste time going over it.] Uchiha follows the same standard. U-chi-ha. Don't make the mistake of blending the syllables into one sound by speaking too quickly. Uchiha.
[ Fortunately, this isn’t a class he intends to fail. Unfortunately, that means he doesn’t plan on allowing Itachi to leave until he’s passed. ]
Your name is easier. [ An admittance as he drags a hand through his hair, still fighting down frustration with himself. ] Back home, I have a friend named Kira. Her mom’s named Noshiko. Both of their names feel easier to me than “Sasuke” and “Uchiha.”
[ Linguistics has never been a specialty of his, beyond the little written translation he did of archaic Latin and Japanese into English from the Argent bestiary. ]
Sasuke's name, as well as our family name, have some subtlety to them.
[As compared to his own and the examples Stiles has given. Practice would ease unfamiliarity, even if the names were foreign and challenging at first. It calls to mind a distant memory, out of nowhere—his brother's insistence of "Ita" in lieu of his full name, simply because he was still too young to pronounce it.
Itachi frowns.]
Somewhat improved. You may not master it in a single evening, however, though it's good to cement the knowledge. [Almost like training a muscle, time would tell.]
“May not master – ” What!? [ he balks obstinately. ] Dude, no way! I’ve got to get this down now.
[ The idea that he’s been mispronouncing Sasuke’s names all this time is still so mortifying that he can barely stand to think about it. But even more so than that, Stiles wants Sasuke to be able to hear his name spoken correctly and with confidence from a friend. This can’t wait. ]
I brought you leeks! That’s gotta earn me like, at least an hour of practice with you.
[In what world does this exchange rate exist. Itachi looks moderately uncomfortable, shoulders a bit more tight, unprepared to devote so much time to this particular task. Yet it's also painfully familiar—how many times had he stayed in the training field well past the mark of dusk, grinding in a specific technique or maneuver, determined to perfect it before the day ended?
He lets out a short breath.] I don't think you require me for that. Practice with Sasuke.
Oh my god. You are not so busy that you can’t spare an hour helping out your little brother’s friend practice his damn name as a surprise.
[ Stiles knows from experience not to push physical contact on Sasuke. Assuming that Itachi will feel the same way, he restrains himself from poking the man in the chest with an accusatory finger. ]
I was under the impression your request to meet here was important. [I.e. specifically related to Sasuke.] That isn't the case. Learning to have the discipline to guide yourself is more valuable.
[ Okay, Stiles. Deep breaths. If Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland can save the world in four minutes, you can learn how to pronounce your friend’s name in five times that. ]
Argh, fine. I’m keeping half the leeks though!
[ – to build an effigy to Itachi with, so he can strangle it later. ]
[Stone-faced in light of that open enthusiasm, Itachi doesn't outwardly react. He can't remember the last time feeling this exhausted after twenty minutes in an activity that did not involve chakra.]
Decent. I imagine Sasuke will approve.
[He immediately turns, going for the bench where the bag has remained, and extracts its contents. The leeks are sorted neatly in half—with the tip of the kunai he's been holding this whole time, don't @ me—then he collects his portion.]
[Itachi goes still, leek bundle in hand. He begins the process of putting them back... then stops, again, and stares blankly down at the bag for a moment. He glances up, finally.]
I was planning to return these to the room I was provided by the Coven. [Maybe wash them, wrap them in cool cloth, leave them out to dry. Proper vegetable care.] After that, continue my research and training.
Why?
[He doesn't like sharing his plans, but it hasn't occurred to him Stiles intends to follow.]
[ Pausing, he considers this. It’s a genuine surprise to hear that Itachi isn’t staying with Sasuke, given the emotional intensity of their reunion. Maybe it’s a shinobi thing – privacy? Except Stiles knows from snooping now that Sasuke has a roommate (though he hasn’t had a chance to ID the man yet). Weird. ]
What are you researching? [ comes the inquiry of amiable curiosity as Stiles ignores the question. ] I’d ask about the training, but I can take a guess. Oh – did you seriously start training to become a shinobi when you were six too?
[ All said while he draws even with Itachi. Yes. You are stuck with him. This isn’t the afterlife. This is hell. ]
[When Stiles keeps pace, the realization cements itself. They're not parting ways. The persistence causes Itachi to frown, though it's as subtle as every other expression on his face. Pure hell... at least Jonas knows how to take a hint.]
The Cwyld, as well as a witch's classes of magic. [Juggling multiple topics at once is how he keeps busy. These two just happen to be at the front of his attention, at the moment.
That second question has a more reluctant answer, causing him to reach back into memory, into years now a blur of the past.] No. [...] I was four. Did Sasuke tell you this?
[If he had chakra it would be near effortless to shake Stiles somewhere along the way. As they walk, he watches their surroundings, as if still considering this an option.]
[ Oh, Itachi. You sweet summer child. It’s even worse than that: Stiles will recognize the hint, then choose to completely disregard it anyway. Good luck shaking him. He’s like a cockroach. ]
No, I heard it from a magical conch shell that sells shinobi secrets every Wednesday. [ The sarcasm is an attempt to mask just how truly disturbed he is by this information. ] Yes, Sasuke told me.
[ He can’t even remember what he was doing as a four year old. Probably failing to color inside the lines, still. Jesus Christ. ]
We’ll come back to the Cwyld later. [ There will be a later, believe you that. ] I get different cultures have different expectations, but do you have any idea how fucked up your world sounds? In America, we can’t enlist in the military until we’re seventeen with parental consent – and there are millions of people who would argue even that’s way too young. I mean, at four… That’s like brainwashing.
[ Which, admittedly, probably isn’t the smartest thing to say to someone who has hypothetically been brainwashed. ]
[How much has Sasuke shared with those two? While it isn't his place to make demands of his younger brother, and Sasuke's life is his own, he does wonder whether this extends to a lack of precaution in general. It occurs to Itachi he should trust his younger brother's decision making... that, however, is still too novel to consider. He can't help feeling as though Sasuke himself is an entirely different person. New and unknown, even inside the familiarity.
Anyway, after having those complex thoughts, Itachi responds.]
America. Is this different from Oregon? [Evidence he's paying attention, even when sometimes talking to him may feel like speaking into a black box...] Sasuke mentioned most here come from the planet called 'Earth'.
[Itachi stops at the next corner outside the park, silent for a moment as he decides which most efficient route to take back.]
I chose to begin training myself earlier than most shinobi. That was my decision. The age of a shinobi matters less than their level of skill, although the average to enroll at the Academy is around eight. [Common enough knowledge.] Do children choose their interests and careers so much later in America?
Oregon, where Jonas is from, is a state in America. I live in a different state, called California. [ All said with the air of someone who has had to explain this many times before. ] America is a country on Earth. And yeah, a lot of the Mirrorbound came from different versions of Earth. Like, it’s the same planet with the same geography, but sometimes the history is different.
[ Through this explanation, Stiles may seem casually unconcerned with where they’re headed. In reality, he’s trying to be discreet in both observing Itachi and keeping track of their location. ]
Anyways. Unless you’re some kind of freaky, super evolved human – [ the most offensively skeptical look ever ] – that’s bullshit. No kid that young independently decides to train themselves to become a future merc and assassin. [ His tone is firm, unwilling to even consider otherwise on the topic. ] In America, kids go through all sorts of phases. For example, I wanted to be a dinosaur when I was little. Then a submarine. Then a magician. Then a pilot. Then a racecar driver. And so on. Usually, we aren’t expected to settle on a career until at least we finish college at twenty-two. So, you can see why the idea of a four year old committing to being a shinobi is kinda ridiculous.
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[ Squints at Itachi, wondering how well he’ll be able to keep up if the older Uchiha decides to make a break for it. ]
Please?
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Let me hear how you pronounce them.
[Is this a lost cause, or can it be done quickly—he'll figure out where Stiles is on that spectrum with this test.]
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“Sasuke,” [ he says immediately, probably confirming the man’s suspicions on why this is so important to him. A pause, and then he pronounces it again, slower: ] “Sasuke.”
[ Notebook at the ready, he peers at Itachi expectantly, awaiting feedback. ]
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Is that it?
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“Uchiha.” [ And then, in the most rushed “I don’t actually give a fuck” tone: ] “Itachi.”
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Itachi moves past the distaste coloring his own name, seeing no reason to address Stiles' obvious emotional investment in his younger brother's opinion; it's useful to know it exists.]
We'll start with Sasuke's name. [His own tone adopts a more careful, teaching volume, slower and explanatory. Education is one of the few activities in life he may feel sincere appreciation toward. Most aren't willing to admit their own ignorance, or willing to improve and correct their own behaviors or status quo. Some respect can be levered to Stiles for that, regardless of the reason he's approached Itachi.] I see room for improvement, though that would be expected of someone unaccustomed to a new language and its unique sounds.
You are placing too much emphasis on only part of his name. This loses clarity in the rest. I assume it has to do with how you are used to pronouncing syllables in your language. [He doesn't know what Stiles speaks, so this is mostly a guess.] Sa-su-ke. Sasuke. [Rather than slipping over the 'u' sound in the middle, Itachi enunciates every syllable equally, so it flows together as one.] Try it again.
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English, [ he supplies, tapping his pencil against his chin as he considers this. ] A lot of people in Aefenglom came from English-speaking worlds. Sasuke can read Japanese, so I’m guessing that’s the equivalent of what you guys speak in your world.
[ Now isn’t the time to get sidetracked. He mentally reviews what Itachi has just informed him, considers how he’s heard Noshiko pronounce Japanese names and terms back home, and then tries again. ]
“Sasuke.” [ It still doesn’t sound like how Itachi said it. Annoyed with himself, he tries it slower. ] “Sasuke.”
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Better, but not perfect. [This class is pass or fail, so you failed. Play again.] Continue to practice and perhaps you'll improve, if you're committed to this.
[Perhaps is the hanging condition.] Though your attitude reflects a lack of effort, you pronounced my own name the most accurately. The distinction between sounds may be easier for you in translation. [So he won't waste time going over it.] Uchiha follows the same standard. U-chi-ha. Don't make the mistake of blending the syllables into one sound by speaking too quickly. Uchiha.
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Your name is easier. [ An admittance as he drags a hand through his hair, still fighting down frustration with himself. ] Back home, I have a friend named Kira. Her mom’s named Noshiko. Both of their names feel easier to me than “Sasuke” and “Uchiha.”
[ Linguistics has never been a specialty of his, beyond the little written translation he did of archaic Latin and Japanese into English from the Argent bestiary. ]
Okay. Lemme try again. “Uchiha.”
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[As compared to his own and the examples Stiles has given. Practice would ease unfamiliarity, even if the names were foreign and challenging at first. It calls to mind a distant memory, out of nowhere—his brother's insistence of "Ita" in lieu of his full name, simply because he was still too young to pronounce it.
Itachi frowns.]
Somewhat improved. You may not master it in a single evening, however, though it's good to cement the knowledge. [Almost like training a muscle, time would tell.]
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[ The idea that he’s been mispronouncing Sasuke’s names all this time is still so mortifying that he can barely stand to think about it. But even more so than that, Stiles wants Sasuke to be able to hear his name spoken correctly and with confidence from a friend. This can’t wait. ]
I brought you leeks! That’s gotta earn me like, at least an hour of practice with you.
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An hour.
[In what world does this exchange rate exist. Itachi looks moderately uncomfortable, shoulders a bit more tight, unprepared to devote so much time to this particular task. Yet it's also painfully familiar—how many times had he stayed in the training field well past the mark of dusk, grinding in a specific technique or maneuver, determined to perfect it before the day ended?
He lets out a short breath.] I don't think you require me for that. Practice with Sasuke.
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[ Stiles knows from experience not to push physical contact on Sasuke. Assuming that Itachi will feel the same way, he restrains himself from poking the man in the chest with an accusatory finger. ]
I’m not asking a lot here, dude!
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I was under the impression your request to meet here was important. [I.e. specifically related to Sasuke.] That isn't the case. Learning to have the discipline to guide yourself is more valuable.
[5.0 difficulty on ratemyprofessors.com.]
... Twenty minutes.
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[ Okay, Stiles. Deep breaths. If Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland can save the world in four minutes, you can learn how to pronounce your friend’s name in five times that. ]
Argh, fine. I’m keeping half the leeks though!
[ – to build an effigy to Itachi with, so he can strangle it later. ]
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[If you can't master their names in twenty minutes, you don't deserve to say them at all... Or something.]
Go ahead.
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“Sasuke Uchiha,” [ he says confidently, only to reconsider and then correct himself, ] “Uchiha Sasuke.” Ha! Finally.
[ This moment calls for a fist pump of VICTORY, which he regrets indulging almost immediately. For once in your life, Stilinski. Be cool. ]
Oh – can’t forget this one. “Uchiha Itachi!”
[ When was the last time anyone injected that name with so much enthusiasm. ]
Eh? Ehhh? Not bad, right?
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Decent. I imagine Sasuke will approve.
[He immediately turns, going for the bench where the bag has remained, and extracts its contents. The leeks are sorted neatly in half—with the tip of the kunai he's been holding this whole time, don't @ me—then he collects his portion.]
Is that all? [can I go]
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[ Can you see this middle finger aimed at your back with your special eyes, Itachi. Can you. Oh wait, you don’t have them anymore. ]
What’re you…? Oh. Uh, dude. I was kidding. You can take them all.
[ Stiles really has no interest in leeks. ]
So, where to now?
[ You can go, Itachi. He clearly plans on coming with, though. ]
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I was planning to return these to the room I was provided by the Coven. [Maybe wash them, wrap them in cool cloth, leave them out to dry. Proper vegetable care.] After that, continue my research and training.
Why?
[He doesn't like sharing his plans, but it hasn't occurred to him Stiles intends to follow.]
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What are you researching? [ comes the inquiry of amiable curiosity as Stiles ignores the question. ] I’d ask about the training, but I can take a guess. Oh – did you seriously start training to become a shinobi when you were six too?
[ All said while he draws even with Itachi. Yes. You are stuck with him. This isn’t the afterlife. This is hell. ]
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The Cwyld, as well as a witch's classes of magic. [Juggling multiple topics at once is how he keeps busy. These two just happen to be at the front of his attention, at the moment.
That second question has a more reluctant answer, causing him to reach back into memory, into years now a blur of the past.] No. [...] I was four. Did Sasuke tell you this?
[If he had chakra it would be near effortless to shake Stiles somewhere along the way. As they walk, he watches their surroundings, as if still considering this an option.]
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No, I heard it from a magical conch shell that sells shinobi secrets every Wednesday. [ The sarcasm is an attempt to mask just how truly disturbed he is by this information. ] Yes, Sasuke told me.
[ He can’t even remember what he was doing as a four year old. Probably failing to color inside the lines, still. Jesus Christ. ]
We’ll come back to the Cwyld later. [ There will be a later, believe you that. ] I get different cultures have different expectations, but do you have any idea how fucked up your world sounds? In America, we can’t enlist in the military until we’re seventeen with parental consent – and there are millions of people who would argue even that’s way too young. I mean, at four… That’s like brainwashing.
[ Which, admittedly, probably isn’t the smartest thing to say to someone who has hypothetically been brainwashed. ]
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Anyway, after having those complex thoughts, Itachi responds.]
America. Is this different from Oregon? [Evidence he's paying attention, even when sometimes talking to him may feel like speaking into a black box...] Sasuke mentioned most here come from the planet called 'Earth'.
[Itachi stops at the next corner outside the park, silent for a moment as he decides which most efficient route to take back.]
I chose to begin training myself earlier than most shinobi. That was my decision. The age of a shinobi matters less than their level of skill, although the average to enroll at the Academy is around eight. [Common enough knowledge.] Do children choose their interests and careers so much later in America?
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[ Through this explanation, Stiles may seem casually unconcerned with where they’re headed. In reality, he’s trying to be discreet in both observing Itachi and keeping track of their location. ]
Anyways. Unless you’re some kind of freaky, super evolved human – [ the most offensively skeptical look ever ] – that’s bullshit. No kid that young independently decides to train themselves to become a future merc and assassin. [ His tone is firm, unwilling to even consider otherwise on the topic. ] In America, kids go through all sorts of phases. For example, I wanted to be a dinosaur when I was little. Then a submarine. Then a magician. Then a pilot. Then a racecar driver. And so on. Usually, we aren’t expected to settle on a career until at least we finish college at twenty-two. So, you can see why the idea of a four year old committing to being a shinobi is kinda ridiculous.
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chuckles, im in danger
:}
text; the fact that i used "eminent" instead of "imminent" is going to haunt me until the day i die
i didn't even notice, but now i do