Sasuke-kun, I would have come regardless. [Still ignoring the fact he should have given it back!] So you were planning to steal it away. ...did Senri say he wants it back?
[Wow. He has the opportunity to be shitty and lie, saying Senri wants it back. And yet... there’s a mess already, so he doesn’t.] Not the point. [This is dumb.]
[This isn’t—no. This is wasn’t ever something he thought he would have to navigate and know. None of this. He would rather be stuck in a ninja war honestly.]
He played you for attention, didn’t he? Because he was lonely.
[Sasuke doesn’t look smug. He doesn’t really look anything but very tired.] When he came. His wish was to find someone who loved him for who he was. Someone who would love him unconditionally. He was lonely. A boy with no one.
So he looked for attention where he could find it. You, me, the family he made here. But it’s impossible for you, and I never spoke up because I didn’t want to accept it.
And he found someone, the person he came with. Someone who would love him and who he could love. [Give him battles. Not this.] Now we’re left with what he gave us this whole game without the end result.
He came back crying the week he forced me into a date for favors. It was you, wasn’t it? Not Sincerity.
…why would that be impossible for me? [Just…a thought. He's really confused where this is going, but at the same time, like, yeah, he knows Senri is needy and clingy and likes attention. It's surprising to hear this from Sasuke because…
…is he implying what he thinks he's implying?
Then he starts to talk about Taka and yeah, wow.]
I never gave him a task to date anyone. And I suppose when you look at it that way…[…] Falling in love is hard, because someone is always going to be sad. But I don't think it's something to be avoided or feared.
Disorder gave him the task. The one for me. The others... He was enjoying himself is all. Your date was the one he came back from crying.
[He doesn’t take his eye off Tamaki from around the piano.] He wouldn’t have chosen to stay with you. It would be impossible. [The words sound so bluntly mean, but he doesn’t bark them.]
Just like he didn’t choose me. Because I never said anything.
[…well sure didn't know that! Thanks!! He's openly surprised by that and he doesn't really know what to say.]
I didn't…[What?? But also, yeah, ow? What the hell, that's obvious and yet it sounds worse coming from someone else so he's sort of staring for a moment.]
Sasuke-kun. [Let's try something else and not think about all of the people he doesn't get to be with.] Did something happen?
[His brows furrow when the topic is turned on him. He recoils so to speak, immediately guarded.] No. Nothing that hasn’t been fixed. Nothing... that hasn’t been accepted. [Let him rest.
He misses his brother, and Konoha, and his friends, and his teacher, and his chakra and abilities, and yet... He knows he’ll miss a lot of people he’s met here, too.]
[Again, he looks back up.] In exchange for allowing you to keep the sweater, I want something from you. [But he doesn't say what yet. His dark eye watches Tamaki carefully.]
[He's allowing, otherwise, he will get in and take it.]
I want... [Faltering, he turns his head away. His face softens, pinches gently, and then he looks back.] I want a copy of the picture of us. Team 7. The one our teacher, Kakashi, has or had.
[Sasuke actually looks... surprised. As if he thinks this may be some kind of joke. He glances around the parlor and looks back as Tamaki turns to go back into the room.
For a moment, he hesitates, but then he weaves around the piano to follow Tamaki inside.]
[This time when Sasuke enters the room he'll find that it's a little different than when he allowed him to stay before with Senri and Ray.
The walls are a soft lavender color and the furniture is rather lavish. There's a large bed against the wall with blue and white bedding, neatly made and pillows fluffed. There're end tables with vases of roses, a large writer's desk in a corner, and a white chaise. There's also a bookcase filled with books and journals on several subjects, along with an array of music books. The bathroom door is closed, as is the closet that's on another wall. There's a photo on the nightstand next to his bed, and hanging from the walls are five portraits; a dark-haired boy with glasses, a taller, more serious dark-haired boy, a small blonde boy, two auburn-haired twins, and someone who looks like an effeminate male. They're all in a line and right in eyesight. While most of the furniture is familiar, there was definitely a lack of pictures when Sasuke was there last.
As it is, Beauty goes over to the bookcase and pulls out what looks like a very thick photo album. He'll seat himself on the edge of his bed to start flipping through its pages.]
Sasuke slows to a stop in the middle of the room, even as Tamaki carries on about everything else. It's immediate when his eyes go to the newest additions (for him) of the room. He stares at each portrait in turn, not lingering on any in particular for too long.
He gets the people in them must be someone important to Tamaki, but more than that... There's a lot? Six. Gently, he frowns, and then he finally turns at the shoulders to glance at Tamaki who is now on the bed with the book.]
I...
[He looks down, face pinching softly in the center. Team 7... Who had they been?] Naruto... and Sakura. Naruto and I were put on the same team because I had the best grades, and he had the worst grades. It was supposed to be about balance. Sakura was there because they thought she would be a good mediator. [His face softens, though he keeps frowning.]
They were...
[People he took for granted, for sure. He realizes that now. Two people who never gave up on him, even at his worst.] They reminded me of my family. Naruto and I never got along. He was always acting like an idiot for attention. He was lazy and stupid. But... he became... my friend. And when he hurt, I hurt, too. And Sakura... Naruto liked her, but she liked me. And I...
...Kakashi-sensei. [When he was twelve and bitter, Sasuke dropped all forms of honorifics and niceties. He hasn't used much of them since. Even here, it feels so weird on his tongue.] He tried to keep us together. Focused. But I... My revenge against Itachi was something I couldn't let go.
So I chose it over being with them, when I was jealous of Naruto. I left my team and my village, something dishonorable, so I could be strong enough to beat Itachi.
We were together again, after so long, in order to fight Madara and Kaguya. But after, I had something to finish with Naruto. Before I came here, I was waiting for him. I was waiting to kill him.
[It's hard to see what's actually in the book, but it absolutely looks like a huge set of snapshots from Tamaki's entire life that he's recreated for himself. There're also pictures of those same six people, and Tamaki himself, and a brown-haired Japanese man and a blonde French woman. He's flipping through fairly quickly though which seems to indicate this isn't just a normal photo album.
He listens to Sasuke's explanation, clearly able to picture these people in his mind.]
The same friends you shared your lunch with. [He remembers that story.] At times, our goals can become greater than ourselves and we feel we must carry the burden so we don't have to share it with anyone else. That's how you've operated here as well, isn't it? With a team, but then you've acted on your own.
[Zero judgment, he seems to maybe get it.] Though..."was" is past tense. This is no longer the case then?
[He makes a face, but not at Tamaki. His head has drifted down, followed by his eye.]
I changed my mind.
[So yeah. No longer the case. Thank a small handful of people who he happened to chat with, as unfortunate as he would say it was. It did him some good, even with the mistakes he's made, even with the things he's felt.]
That thin hammer still has to beat me. To prove he has what it takes to become Hokage. But... I don't plan to die, and I don't plan to kill him. I don't think... I would ever be able to extinguish the fire of his spirit.
I never could. No matter what awful things I did or said--to him, to Sakura. They never gave up on me. They always tried to bring me back.
Those are the people that you want to always hold onto. It's rare to find people who won't give up on you no matter what happens, but that doesn't mean the amount will be few.
[A subtle glance up at the portraits on the wall. He's flipping pages faster.]
So long as you have them, and you keep your ground in what you believe...I think things will turn out as they should.
[The pages stop, and Beauty reaches into the book to pull out a replica of the photo of Team 7, offering it out to him.] This?
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Are you planning to give it back to him?
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No. Senri said I could keep it. [So why would he?] He still has some of my things as well.
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He played you for attention, didn’t he? Because he was lonely.
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...what? [He still looks confused and he's shaking his head.] I don't think so...? Why would you say that?
[Oh my god Sasuke he's already fucked up for other reasons, don't plant that idea.]
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[Sasuke doesn’t look smug. He doesn’t really look anything but very tired.] When he came. His wish was to find someone who loved him for who he was. Someone who would love him unconditionally. He was lonely. A boy with no one.
So he looked for attention where he could find it. You, me, the family he made here. But it’s impossible for you, and I never spoke up because I didn’t want to accept it.
And he found someone, the person he came with. Someone who would love him and who he could love. [Give him battles. Not this.] Now we’re left with what he gave us this whole game without the end result.
He came back crying the week he forced me into a date for favors. It was you, wasn’t it? Not Sincerity.
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…is he implying what he thinks he's implying?
Then he starts to talk about Taka and yeah, wow.]
I never gave him a task to date anyone. And I suppose when you look at it that way…[…] Falling in love is hard, because someone is always going to be sad. But I don't think it's something to be avoided or feared.
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[He doesn’t take his eye off Tamaki from around the piano.] He wouldn’t have chosen to stay with you. It would be impossible. [The words sound so bluntly mean, but he doesn’t bark them.]
Just like he didn’t choose me. Because I never said anything.
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I didn't…[What?? But also, yeah, ow? What the hell, that's obvious and yet it sounds worse coming from someone else so he's sort of staring for a moment.]
Sasuke-kun. [Let's try something else and not think about all of the people he doesn't get to be with.] Did something happen?
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He misses his brother, and Konoha, and his friends, and his teacher, and his chakra and abilities, and yet... He knows he’ll miss a lot of people he’s met here, too.]
Why does it matter?
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What about yours? Was it resolved?
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It was resolved, yes. We resolved it weeks ago.
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Fine. [He glances down at the piano, though it's more in thought than anything else.] Then drop it.
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...I don't know if I can do that when you seem upset, Sasuke-kun. Are you sure you're alright?
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[Again, he looks back up.] In exchange for allowing you to keep the sweater, I want something from you. [But he doesn't say what yet. His dark eye watches Tamaki carefully.]
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What is it?
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I want... [Faltering, he turns his head away. His face softens, pinches gently, and then he looks back.] I want a copy of the picture of us. Team 7. The one our teacher, Kakashi, has or had.
The one of me, Naruto, Sakura, and him.
[this one]
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Please come in. [With that, he's turning away from the wall and heading back into his room. Come along, Sasuke.]
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For a moment, he hesitates, but then he weaves around the piano to follow Tamaki inside.]
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The walls are a soft lavender color and the furniture is rather lavish. There's a large bed against the wall with blue and white bedding, neatly made and pillows fluffed. There're end tables with vases of roses, a large writer's desk in a corner, and a white chaise. There's also a bookcase filled with books and journals on several subjects, along with an array of music books. The bathroom door is closed, as is the closet that's on another wall. There's a photo on the nightstand next to his bed, and hanging from the walls are five portraits; a dark-haired boy with glasses, a taller, more serious dark-haired boy, a small blonde boy, two auburn-haired twins, and someone who looks like an effeminate male. They're all in a line and right in eyesight. While most of the furniture is familiar, there was definitely a lack of pictures when Sasuke was there last.
As it is, Beauty goes over to the bookcase and pulls out what looks like a very thick photo album. He'll seat himself on the edge of his bed to start flipping through its pages.]
...tell me a little about them? Your team.
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Sasuke slows to a stop in the middle of the room, even as Tamaki carries on about everything else. It's immediate when his eyes go to the newest additions (for him) of the room. He stares at each portrait in turn, not lingering on any in particular for too long.
He gets the people in them must be someone important to Tamaki, but more than that... There's a lot? Six. Gently, he frowns, and then he finally turns at the shoulders to glance at Tamaki who is now on the bed with the book.]
I...
[He looks down, face pinching softly in the center. Team 7... Who had they been?] Naruto... and Sakura. Naruto and I were put on the same team because I had the best grades, and he had the worst grades. It was supposed to be about balance. Sakura was there because they thought she would be a good mediator. [His face softens, though he keeps frowning.]
They were...
[People he took for granted, for sure. He realizes that now. Two people who never gave up on him, even at his worst.] They reminded me of my family. Naruto and I never got along. He was always acting like an idiot for attention. He was lazy and stupid. But... he became... my friend. And when he hurt, I hurt, too. And Sakura... Naruto liked her, but she liked me. And I...
...Kakashi-sensei. [When he was twelve and bitter, Sasuke dropped all forms of honorifics and niceties. He hasn't used much of them since. Even here, it feels so weird on his tongue.] He tried to keep us together. Focused. But I... My revenge against Itachi was something I couldn't let go.
So I chose it over being with them, when I was jealous of Naruto. I left my team and my village, something dishonorable, so I could be strong enough to beat Itachi.
We were together again, after so long, in order to fight Madara and Kaguya. But after, I had something to finish with Naruto. Before I came here, I was waiting for him. I was waiting to kill him.
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He listens to Sasuke's explanation, clearly able to picture these people in his mind.]
The same friends you shared your lunch with. [He remembers that story.] At times, our goals can become greater than ourselves and we feel we must carry the burden so we don't have to share it with anyone else. That's how you've operated here as well, isn't it? With a team, but then you've acted on your own.
[Zero judgment, he seems to maybe get it.] Though..."was" is past tense. This is no longer the case then?
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I changed my mind.
[So yeah. No longer the case. Thank a small handful of people who he happened to chat with, as unfortunate as he would say it was. It did him some good, even with the mistakes he's made, even with the things he's felt.]
That thin hammer still has to beat me. To prove he has what it takes to become Hokage. But... I don't plan to die, and I don't plan to kill him. I don't think... I would ever be able to extinguish the fire of his spirit.
I never could. No matter what awful things I did or said--to him, to Sakura. They never gave up on me. They always tried to bring me back.
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[A subtle glance up at the portraits on the wall. He's flipping pages faster.]
So long as you have them, and you keep your ground in what you believe...I think things will turn out as they should.
[The pages stop, and Beauty reaches into the book to pull out a replica of the photo of Team 7, offering it out to him.] This?
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