tushanshu | 001 [video] console café

[The backdrop? One of the console cafés private rooms, with the door open to show a hall crowded with locals, but this particular room seems empty save a pair of large, rounded ears that are twitching minutely to catch the many sounds going around him. Seconds later, half a head peers into the video and a furry brow furrows.]

This is not anything like what I expected once my time came. There is much and everything is complex and-- No one can see me, can they. [A mutter as one elderly red panda holds onto the edge of the console and tries to look at the camera.

This? Is not working. He abandons that technique and kicks back the chair, performing a perfect flip to land balanced on the crux of his staff, the base of which is resting on the floor. Now centered in the video, he smoothes out his robes and clears his throat.]

I understand this is a realm for those who have completed their journeys. [A pause, a steady breath, and a nod.] I am at peace with this.

[The murmur of crowd in the background surges briefly and an ear flicks in irritation. Shifu decides it is better to finish his message before more people arrive.]

If you can just direct me to Master Oogway, I... [A pause as he glances around, borderline frazzled by all the people here.] -ah, I will confer with him and resume my meditations.

[A marginally graceful nod to the camera, then he descends the staff onto the console, searching for the command to kill the feed.]

There are many, many more people than I expected to have achieved the inner peace necessary to attain this state.

[It's one more perplexed mutter before he finds the command and ends it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I would say they had better not be.

[for the mostly-casual tone to his voice, there's a razor edge to it, too.]

I have no recollection of dying, and I haven't aimed for pure enlightenment in some time. If this is some sort of ascension, it was unintentional, unwanted, and an interruption.

[Did you just intimate that attaining the pinnacle of inner peace is an inconvenience? An ear twitches at the very idea.]

Yet you are here, in the abode of the enlightened. [There's a offpaw mutter of it being crowded.] Perhaps you were at rest when you joined the energy of the universe? Dreams are one source of calmness and peace.

[A dry suggestion, because there's no way that this isn't the Inner Peace Turtletopia, thank you very much.]

[at this time, in this moment ... yes, probably. why achieve inner peace when there's a world to conquer?]

I didn't realize the pinnacle of enlightenment would involve such things as required menial labor. Our belief systems must ... differ. I suppose I may have been meditating and somehow slipped through the cracks of the universe.

[sarcasm aside, he's moderately thoughtful on the topic. he could have been powerful enough for that, regardless of the inconvenience.]

Then you have thought too hard about what awaits you and not enough about the path that takes you here.

[A series of clipped words, an echo of his teaching method with Po. Shifu sounds confident, for he feels the master must always have an answer.]

Enlightenment is the next step of existence, wherein we become part of the universal energy. To contribute that with such menial labour is to contribute to the well-being of all, is it not?

[Don't mind him. Just trying to challenge your compliant about having to work.]

[there's a twitch, there, and his pupils thin. other than that, his irritation is mostly well-concealed. though his tone of voice does take on a threatening edge.]

Believe me, I've spent centuries thinking about both of those, and at no point did doing pointless tasks for half-humans ever once cross my mind.

[Centuries? Ah, then you must be a turtle out of his shell. Mayhaps you know Oogway?]

Then it is no wonder it has taken you centuries to arrive here. Did your master never teach you that the strength which comes from helping others is greater than the strength that comes solely from within?

[Meditating on the universe is all well and good, but obviously someone was going about it from the wrong angle.]

My ... 'master' attempted to teach me much. But as he's been dead for 1,500 years at least, his lessons have faded with time.

[arrogance, superiority, anger, all in spades.]

In any case, those sorts of lessons have proven to be worthless time and again in my experience.

You would ignore your master? [Oh, you did not just suggest that.] His teachings are from what made him a master. By disregarding them, you disrespect him and ensure that you could never reach his level.

Considering that I've already surpassed him, I don't really care. [he examines the tip of one nail idly.] If he were still alive, I'd be able to defeat him in an instant.

[he smirks, faintly.]

I'd say he'd be proud to see one of his students surpass him, but that would be a lie.

[Shifu's ears have flatlined at this utter show of disrespect, reminiscent of Tai Lung's behaviour three years and more before.]

If he were still alive, you say? Then you do not know for certain?

[He draws back, his tone questioning. Judging.]

No, I know for certain. I was speaking metaphorically.

[the smirk is gone and he's back to casual, condescending disdain to contrast with the judging tone.]

There would have been no challenge, anyway - there never is in fighting an old man.

[Chase Young, you are quickly becoming an enemy of Kung Fu in his scrolls.]

Have you or have you not defeated your master in combat?

[but how can you be an enemy of something you've already mastered?

-- don't answer that.]

I have not. He died before I got the opportunity.

Then you will never know whether you could have truly defeated him. [AH-HAH!] When it comes to a master and pupil, the only truths are what has happened, not what might have been.

You have not done as you say you could have, therefore it cannot be said what would happen. Do you not think he would have continued to better himself? That you are the only one that can learn?

Given his age, his position, and his predilection for wandering above training ... no, I don't think he would have gotten much better. Nor would any of the other masters - and I defeated a number of them, who were stronger than him.

[there's a faint twitch of irritation at the corner of one eye. all this talk of what has been and what could have been is putting him on edge.]

What exactly is your obsession with my lack of obedience to a dead man?

[These comments are worrying to a master of Kung Fu and, on a personal not, reminiscent of Tai Lung. These harden his expression and resolve to be careful of this strange creature shown on his console.]

It is because the respect that a student shows his master is a great measure of character.

[He looks the video image up and down.]

I can measure very little in you.

[he snorts derisively and leans back in his chair, giving shifu as judgmental a look as is being dealt to him.]

Yes, that's not the first time someone's told me something similar. Feel free to measure as you like. It means very little to me.

Besides, you've never seen me fight. Save your judgment for that, and then possibly I'll consider your opinion.

[but probably not. pride's a hell of a thing.]

Combat is but one aspect of Kung Fu. When you have mastered all aspects, perhaps then you will hear others speak differently to you.

[Shifu reaches to disconnect the feed, quite finished with this deplorable display of pride.]

[he almost laughs at that.]

I've heard that before, too, old rat.

[he doesn't try to keep the conversation going, but lets shifu be the one to cut them off. oh, how many different times he's heard the same thing, in so many centuries, and how many different times he's proven them all wrong.]

[Shifu does this, with a LINEFACE being his last visual message to Chase -- a promise that he will be watching him.]