You said Mister Miyagi did it. [ Sorry, Mister LaRusso, but your memory is right: Robby was paying good attention at that time, and he does remember that. So he's confident to give his sensei a friendly punch to the arm, no power to it, lips pulled in a sly way. ] C'mon. He can do it, but you can't?

[ No way, Robby won't stand for this.

Instead: ] In skateboard, if you fall off your board, you get back on again. That's how you learn.

[ It's not a Mister Miyagi saying, but it hits the right note, doesn't it? Especially when Robby says it so sincerely....or enthusiastically.

(Yes, he can be genuine and have fun at being the "sensei" of the day, why do you ask.) ]

[ The witty remark gets a widening of his grin, but as for the question? ]

That I'll have to show you, at the house. Think you're ready to try out your breaks this time?

[ It's just the same distance back, with Robby putting his foot back on his board. He could ride...or just use this to flip his board up so he can take a hold of it. It's up to an old man, here.

An old man and his poor back. ]

[ Huh. Robby wasn't actually expecting this, and he wouldn't have blamed Mister LaRusso, or been disappointed in him backing out. But here comes the same drive, or whatever one would call it, that made the man willing to skateboard the distance before. ...to an unfortunate result, but you know. ]

Alright, [ Robby says, the note of interest not concealed; and he gives the man a nod, gets on his board proper. ] I'll see you down there. Just remember--it's a light scrape 'til you slow down.

[ Because Robby doesn't want a battered and bruised sensei, after all. But there he goes, skating off back to the front of the house. There's only Mister LaRusso and his board...

...

...and Robby's omen, watching him. W-who'll turn his head away and act like he isn't that interested if Mister LaRusso looks at him for longer than two seconds!!

(but he's definitely watching.) ]

[ Please take in how little this dog omen is paying attention with its focus entirely elsewhere, as if it's avoiding looking at Mister LaRusso for the rest of its life. ...or until he gets on the board and starts moving, but that's close enough to a lifetime.

But an omen can't truly appreciate the sight of a middle-aged man nearing his fifties quite like Robby can, even with a connection. Really, it's a shame Robby couldn't get the man a helmet and protective gear--it would've made this day perfect. He's smiling at Mister LaRusso regardless, where he stands waiting, his board tucked by his arm. ]

I would've taken that performance for a Christmas present. [ Yes, so good, Mister LaRusso. But, cheek aside-- ] It's okay, you'll get your own back. There's no way I'm not gonna fall.

[ But Robby is prepared for it, resigned even, so it doesn't show as much more than a joke. There's a side path around the house that helps to lead into the back, where some work has been done on the garden itself, and then also....there's a literal ramp. Because why not?

There's a way up from one of the ends that Robby takes, while his omen follows in after Mister LaRusso, sitting closer to the house to keep watch.

Let's just let Robby have a moment up here to stretch his limbs after putting down his board. But from up there, he will ask: ]

You ever get a dumb idea you know's dumb, but you have to try it anyway?

[ Robby, in all his infinite wisdom--and knowing Mister LaRusso will not be satisfied--gives his answer: in a shrug and smile.

That's all you're getting, sensei, before you get the performance of a real skater. It might seem show-offy to begin with, Robby taking himself down along the curve from one end to another, but it's got a purpose: getting comfortable, and getting ready to make his end move. Giving himself the right momentum, the mindset he needs, dodging the very top of the ramps by curving himself before he can be stopped by the edge.

(...okay, so maybe he just likes getting on a board and that's all this is about. so what.)

But as he makes his way back to the other side, Robby's arm is ready to help him grab onto the ledge, with his other grabbing the board. He keeps the pose for a few seconds before coming back down, the board still under his feet, and the tilt of the ramp giving him speed. Robby continues as he had before, not gaining the height he needs to do the trick on the other side, but--

But let him make it to that same side he did the invert on, and then there will be the clattering of the board, and Robby left behind on the top, held up and with his legs bent. His free arm starts to spread out, and his feet--

well, his feet end up toppling with him as his balance goes too far one way, and Robby follows down where his board is. There's definitely a grunt as he tumbles, but he really is used to falling around on his back, his board somewhere by his feet.

Because when Mister LaRusso comes over (we know he will), Robby will only have to say, somewhat aggravated: ] You see that? Nearly had it!

[ Aches and pains are nothing for a teen in all his youth. Okay, they still hurt, but Robby can pinch his features in the way he does and sit up where gravity has pulled him down to, where one fussy old sensei can hover over him, or close to. Where his words land and settle on Robby that much closer, and he can look up from rubbing his side, and see the man looking back at him.

He has to look away from the glow before long, like he's getting too close to the sun. Chuckling, a nonchalance: ]

It's called an invert. I remembered seeing what you did, and thought it'd be fun to try it like that--it doesn't matter how you train it, just that you get used to the motions, right? The right balance.

[ He tacks that on, but it's true--because learning it on his skateboard didn't help him set up the move in karate, but it gave him help getting there. Made him less afraid of the fall, or tumble. ]

You can do it too. [ ...maybe not with a skateboard, but a sap will inspire a sap, Robby looking back up with that reassurance. A belief, and why not?

Sometimes, you just need someone to believe in you to give you a reason to even try. ]

[ Robby likes watching the tiny--but telling shifts--in Mister LaRusso's demeanour following his words. The way they reach him, put the last knock into a stubborn switch; makes him consider it more than a half-hearted maybe as had been the feeling before. Is the move really a useful one for Mister LaRusso to learn? Maybe, maybe not.

But it's not even about that, Robby thinks. It's about more than that, something that Mister Miyagi had done, and Mister LaRusso had never reached. What would it feel like to the man to finally get there, and see that he can? Differently, he suspects, than how he'd felt pulling it off.

(And pulling it off during the tournament, too.)

Robby laughs though, a breathy chuckle at the added comment, looking down briefly before giving a sideways nod. He takes the hand to stand up, the board coming with him as he gets off the stage. ]

Guess it's not for everyone. [ As funny as it is..... ] It's easier doing it from a handstand, once you get used to it. Just not as cool.

[ Skateboarding is always more cool. Sorry, Mister LaRusso. ]

[ Robby laughs, small as it is, but it's there; at Mister LaRusso having to make do, and alas. He twists the skateboard in hand, an itch in him to get back on the ramp and to do a few more moves, but he can resist.

What he can't resist, however: ]

No handstands first?

[ Listen to this faux-pout, Mister LaRusso. He'll give in, but an old man deserves some light teasing. As a treat to them both. ]

[ Ohhhhh. The smile already on Robby's face widens at that, and the fact he's getting a special performance here from his sensei isn't missed. ...a special performance of handstand attempts, but you know. ]

I really am your favourite student, huh? [ A fact that will be reiterated in the future to one Chozen Toguchi, but for now, Robby is the one to remember it. ] Okay, tomorrow. Right now, tea it is.

[ Aye aye, sensei. Please follow Robby over to the house, where the boards can be left outside and Robby can remove his coat with the warmer indoors. And that's how Sensei LaRusso was freed from being a man in his late forties learning to skateboard... ]