Eighteen? Really? Is... that how it works for most humans? [Leo has picked up a little bit of cultural context for the age of majority through media, but lacking experience with human society - aside from April - he doesn't quite get how the surface world's age of majority is supposed to work. Splinter let them go above on their own, which aside from their long-accomplished graduation to edged weapons is the most significant life marker that they're likely to get. The next level of accomplishment would probably be Mastership of ninjitsu, which will come much, much later.]
I'm glad Sensei didn't make us wait around that long to let us go topside. You know, he wasn't really sure we were ready at first, but - in the end we did just fine. [The corner of Leo's mouth turns upwards in a combination of reminiscence and pride. It's not strictly true that they did "just fine," but it's the end result that matters. And the fact that they've become bona fide heroes is a great end result.] Better than fine. We've saved a lot of lives since then.
[Leo thinks - not unreasonably - that if you're old enough to save people, you're old enough for them to treat you as an adult. Not that the humans they meet often think to treat them as children rather than threatening monsters, or that their accomplishments stop Splinter from grounding them when they behave like children, as they still do; Leo can be an immature brat as much as the next fifteen-year-old. But he knows full well he's the most responsible of his siblings, and lets out a single amused breath at her comment on his maturity.] Well, somebody has to be. Yaknow? [As if he doesn't get a gigantic kick out of being the big hero and bossing everyone else around. But it's perfectly clear from the self-assured smirk that he loves it, despite the phrasing that makes it sound like a chore.]
This Piandao guy does sound a lot like Miyamoto. He fought his first duel at thirteen - they say he fought over sixty of them over his lifetime and never lost a single one! [Leo believes it, and as far as history tells, he's right. He's palpably enthusiastic about this historical figure; Miyamoto is more or less the Jesus of niten ryū.]
Yeah, Sensei - he really is something. [There's no way Leo can hide the complete adoration he has for his Sensei, which is as much a clue as anything that his father and teacher are one and the same.] It's like he's almost standing still, but nothing can hit him - you'd be better off fighting the wind. [Leo's smile broadens, and his voice warms with pride.] But I did tag him in training a little while ago. It wasn't easy, and it caught everyone by surprise - including me. [The smile turns sheepish. He'd stopped cold out of shock and consternation at hitting the Sensei he respected more than anything, and wound up thrown and pinned for his lapse. But Splinter had merely issued a lesson about hesitation, and quietly left the boys to celebrate their victory.]
What about your Sensei - a Master of "bending," right? I guess that means you must be pretty good too. [Oh that smirk. He's just daring Korra to show him some moves - because he'd love to find out what she can really do. Martial arts that integrate the creation of fire? That. Sounds. AMAZING.]
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I'm glad Sensei didn't make us wait around that long to let us go topside. You know, he wasn't really sure we were ready at first, but - in the end we did just fine. [The corner of Leo's mouth turns upwards in a combination of reminiscence and pride. It's not strictly true that they did "just fine," but it's the end result that matters. And the fact that they've become bona fide heroes is a great end result.] Better than fine. We've saved a lot of lives since then.
[Leo thinks - not unreasonably - that if you're old enough to save people, you're old enough for them to treat you as an adult. Not that the humans they meet often think to treat them as children rather than threatening monsters, or that their accomplishments stop Splinter from grounding them when they behave like children, as they still do; Leo can be an immature brat as much as the next fifteen-year-old. But he knows full well he's the most responsible of his siblings, and lets out a single amused breath at her comment on his maturity.] Well, somebody has to be. Yaknow? [As if he doesn't get a gigantic kick out of being the big hero and bossing everyone else around. But it's perfectly clear from the self-assured smirk that he loves it, despite the phrasing that makes it sound like a chore.]
This Piandao guy does sound a lot like Miyamoto. He fought his first duel at thirteen - they say he fought over sixty of them over his lifetime and never lost a single one! [Leo believes it, and as far as history tells, he's right. He's palpably enthusiastic about this historical figure; Miyamoto is more or less the Jesus of niten ryū.]
Yeah, Sensei - he really is something. [There's no way Leo can hide the complete adoration he has for his Sensei, which is as much a clue as anything that his father and teacher are one and the same.] It's like he's almost standing still, but nothing can hit him - you'd be better off fighting the wind. [Leo's smile broadens, and his voice warms with pride.] But I did tag him in training a little while ago. It wasn't easy, and it caught everyone by surprise - including me. [The smile turns sheepish. He'd stopped cold out of shock and consternation at hitting the Sensei he respected more than anything, and wound up thrown and pinned for his lapse. But Splinter had merely issued a lesson about hesitation, and quietly left the boys to celebrate their victory.]
What about your Sensei - a Master of "bending," right? I guess that means you must be pretty good too. [Oh that smirk. He's just daring Korra to show him some moves - because he'd love to find out what she can really do. Martial arts that integrate the creation of fire? That. Sounds. AMAZING.]