name Zuko — series Avatar: the Last Airbender — moonblessing Sanguis residence Level 2 — roommatesTamaki + Hikaru + Kaoru — work busboy at Niisan's Teppanyaki
Stay low for a while. I don’t think apologizing will help. Not from someone like you. You’re not afraid of her. She can tell you’re not that kind of person.
[ No shade to “those kind of people” cuz that’s uh mostly everyone, including him, his girlfriend, her best friend, their mom... These kids never had those crucial sandbox moments and it shows. ]
Most people can’t make that distinction. But I need you both safe. I don’t know what to fucking do about her coming after me — I don’t need to worry about her coming after you, too.
Good. And if you do run into her, and she doesn’t attack you...
[ There’s a small sigh. Let’s hope it goes like that. By the grace of god Yams. ]
...just treat her like a princess, okay? Don’t forget you are in the presence of royalty, after all.
[ There’s a sardonic hint to his tone that’s a reminder that even in this moment... Gokudera’s addressing royalty. Zuko’s not keen to wave his title around here — but he’d bet all the Chroma in his body Azula will be. ]
[Should he bow? Okay, so maybe that should cover a lot of it. Maybe he'll just make himself scarce if he has to be around her... and not talk to her? And if he does, call her... Ma'am?]
[ Virtual charm school on the fly, hold up. He’s a prince. He should be able to cover some ground at least... ]
Well, first of all, address her as Princess Azula — or Your Highness, or even just Princess — but don’t call her just Azula. That could make things smoother if she feels there’s due deference. She’s not like me, she’s always been the perfect princess at Father’s right hand in the palace. I’m the disgraced treasonous prince in exile. We have different expectations of respect.
...You know, I didn’t even wanna be a prince here, but now she’s here, I can’t escape my past. Agh...
[ The thought just occurred to him, with a long groan, that maybe he can’t keep that under wraps anymore as he’d hoped. Not so easily, at least. It’s the least of his concerns but sometimes it’s the little stuff that itches bad in a crisis. Typically in most scenarios it’d come off as a bit bratty pouting about not wanting to be treated like royalty, ugh being a prince sux, but uh. Given the circumstances. He’s due a little venting. ]
[He curiously blinks, open to hearing whatever will help. This is for the good of their friendship, after all! He's going to do his best to not piss her off, because he has to keep himself and the Princess safe.]
I can do that.
[Gokudera doesn't mind the venting.]
If people were to refer to you as Prince or Your Highness, it may be annoying, I get it. I mean, as long as you're not getting angry because they're trying to be respectful. But how the hell should anyone else know that your sister is a Princess, hm? She's going to have targets all over the place...
[All he did was call her stupid and encourage a fight. He didn't even get angry with her. Just... poked a little.]
Hmm. Yeah, better to be cordial on the off chance you meet peacefully, and just make yourself scarce, in general. You’re right she’d be suspicious if you’re too polite after a meeting like that.
Which, uh, by the way, I just watched on her post... Yeah, sounds like you’re fucked! Picked the wrong woman to call stupid. She’s actually a genius so... Seriously, don’t underestimate her.
[ He sounds a little haughty cuz he’s smug that he just figured out how to do that on the communicator... idiot prince. ]
Opposite reaction than I was going for, but okay, whatever. I refuse to fight her here if I can help it.
[ Yeah, cuz you can’t, you fireless husk. But he’s not ready to say it out loud even though he’s known for some time now that he’s lost his stuff again since coming here. 100% Azula can’t find out, but if she attacks him out of the blue — with blue flames — she would find out immediately and he’s not that stupid. Swords vs lightning isn’t an even match. However... should he let Gokudera know this? It’s shameful. But possibly crucially relevant now... he’s deliberating. ]
Part of my weapon system is a collection of bones, loops, shields, as well as platforms. If I were to be attacked by her, I have ways of protecting myself.
And I’d heal you if you need me to.
[A shrug. He’ll help, and that’s what friends do.]
[ There’s a longer pause between messages than the pace til this point, taking his time to think before responding again. When he does, he voice is somewhat softer, not in volume, but the tone is somehow... defused. ]
I think I should confess something.
[ Dramatic pause for a small sigh, of course. ]
I’ve lost my stuff. Since I got here. Even if I wanted to, I can’t fight Azula now. I have my twin dao swords, but there’s no close combat with Azula and her lightning. Basically I’m screwed.
[ Oh, he’s so embarrassed about losing his bending, now it sounds like he pissed Gokudera off, which he immediately regrets, especially when he does need his protection, probably, and is just too prideful/shameful (same difference) to admit it...
But even acknowledging these mixed feelings, he’s still just riled up in general and that can’t be masked so easily. ]
Look, I’m not denying your help, but it’s shameful to lose my bending, okay?! It’d be like if you lost your flames too — it’s tied to my core. And I was already pissed about it cuz I know what’s wrong, but I don’t know how to fix it now. The only other time this happened was when I met the dragons, and I think we’re fresh out of dragons here! Even if I could bend, Azula is better anyway, so I’m concerned about how to protect you but I can’t...!
[ He may be snapping at Gokudera but these are nice words of affection for Zuko? A very intimate and open, vulnerable moment? But also lashing out... out of love? God help this guy’s future kids who will have to discern all his mixed messages. And poor Gokudera too, in the meantime. ]
[ Something about his reply just takes the wind out of his sails. He just sounds exhausted after heaving a sigh he’d accidentally recorded. Still fumbling with technology. Least of his concerns right now. ]
...Okay. I’ll keep you updated, too.
Just so you have it, cuz — I don’t know, anything could happen with Azula trying to find me — I’m gonna try to send you my address like you did before, hold on... My roommates’ names are Tamaki, and Hikaru and Kaoru— the twins. I need them all completely out of it cuz they’re not fighters even a little bit, totally helpless... So just in case you end up needing to know any of this, better you know now.
[ He fumbles a bit more, but he does manage to successfully drop a pin to Gokudera. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this, but... at least now he has his address for hanging out under better circumstances? ]
[Gokudera isn't looking to make Zuko any more upset than he seems. He couldn't imagine not having his dying will flames, but... he grew up without them. He could find ways to make himself useful.]
Thanks.
I don't want your sister coming after you or threatening the safety of your roommates. You said they took care of you, right? So, the offer I gave you for protection is for them as well.
Edited (I wish I knew how to read) 2020-09-11 01:01 (UTC)
Don’t tell anyone about any of this, by the way — not even your roommate. I’m not telling mine yet. From now on until I figure out how to approach Azula, I don’t exist. You and Yamamoto have no clue who I am. Cuz if you’re a target, he could just be unlucky.
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rediscovering) wrote2019-02-16 02:14 am
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Sounds like... I'm fucked.
[Oh well, he's been in bad spots before. PLENTY OF TIMES.]
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[ Great comfort, thanks, Best Friend. ]
Stay low for a while. I don’t think apologizing will help. Not from someone like you. You’re not afraid of her. She can tell you’re not that kind of person.
[ No shade to “those kind of people” cuz that’s uh mostly everyone, including him, his girlfriend, her best friend, their mom... These kids never had those crucial sandbox moments and it shows. ]
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[Oh if only he knew how much Yamamoto is going to fuck him over further.]
She can be terrifying and still not scare me...
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To be fair, I had no idea who she was. I'll keep my distance as much as I can, so I won't give you more to worry about.
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[ There’s a small sigh. Let’s hope it goes like that. By the grace of
godYams. ]...just treat her like a princess, okay? Don’t forget you are in the presence of royalty, after all.
[ There’s a sardonic hint to his tone that’s a reminder that even in this moment... Gokudera’s addressing royalty. Zuko’s not keen to wave his title around here — but he’d bet all the Chroma in his body Azula will be. ]
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[Should he bow? Okay, so maybe that should cover a lot of it. Maybe he'll just make himself scarce if he has to be around her... and not talk to her? And if he does, call her... Ma'am?]
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[ Virtual charm school on the fly, hold up. He’s a prince. He should be able to cover some ground at least... ]
Well, first of all, address her as Princess Azula — or Your Highness, or even just Princess — but don’t call her just Azula. That could make things smoother if she feels there’s due deference. She’s not like me, she’s always been the perfect princess at Father’s right hand in the palace. I’m the disgraced treasonous prince in exile. We have different expectations of respect.
...You know, I didn’t even wanna be a prince here, but now she’s here, I can’t escape my past. Agh...
[ The thought just occurred to him, with a long groan, that maybe he can’t keep that under wraps anymore as he’d hoped. Not so easily, at least. It’s the least of his concerns but sometimes it’s the little stuff that itches bad in a crisis. Typically in most scenarios it’d come off as a bit bratty pouting about not wanting to be treated like royalty, ugh being a prince sux, but uh. Given the circumstances. He’s due a little venting. ]
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I can do that.
[Gokudera doesn't mind the venting.]
If people were to refer to you as Prince or Your Highness, it may be annoying, I get it. I mean, as long as you're not getting angry because they're trying to be respectful. But how the hell should anyone else know that your sister is a Princess, hm? She's going to have targets all over the place...
[All he did was call her stupid and encourage a fight. He didn't even get angry with her. Just... poked a little.]
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[ Sigh. Drama queen. ]
But yeah, that’s Azula. Targets all over the place.
[ Is that some kind of... Zukojoke? It’s not his funniest. ]
Obviously only treat her as royalty if she lets you know it. Or else defeats the point.
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I’ll be as polite as I can, but then maybe she’d suspect something?
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Which, uh, by the way, I just watched on her post... Yeah, sounds like you’re fucked! Picked the wrong woman to call stupid. She’s actually a genius so... Seriously, don’t underestimate her.
[ He sounds a little haughty cuz he’s smug that he just figured out how to do that on the communicator... idiot prince. ]
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Keep talking her up. It just makes me want to fight her more.
[Even though he won’t. Better to keep himself safe and do what Zuko wants.]
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[ Yeah, cuz you can’t, you fireless husk. But he’s not ready to say it out loud even though he’s known for some time now that he’s lost his stuff again since coming here. 100% Azula can’t find out, but if she attacks him out of the blue — with blue flames — she would find out immediately and he’s not that stupid. Swords vs lightning isn’t an even match. However... should he let Gokudera know this? It’s shameful. But possibly crucially relevant now... he’s deliberating. ]
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And I’d heal you if you need me to.
[A shrug. He’ll help, and that’s what friends do.]
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I think I should confess something.
[ Dramatic pause for a small sigh, of course. ]
I’ve lost my stuff. Since I got here. Even if I wanted to, I can’t fight Azula now. I have my twin dao swords, but there’s no close combat with Azula and her lightning. Basically I’m screwed.
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[What? How? Is he hearing this correctly? The guy responsible (and the dragons), for teaching the Avatar how to firebend lost his stuff?]
So you need protection?
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Your sister is psychotic, and I’m fucked. Lay low and if you need help, call me. I’m just letting you know that I can protect you.
[Is he saying he’ll take a hit for you? Yes. Directly, though? No.]
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But even acknowledging these mixed feelings, he’s still just riled up in general and that can’t be masked so easily. ]
Look, I’m not denying your help, but it’s shameful to lose my bending, okay?! It’d be like if you lost your flames too — it’s tied to my core. And I was already pissed about it cuz I know what’s wrong, but I don’t know how to fix it now. The only other time this happened was when I met the dragons, and I think we’re fresh out of dragons here! Even if I could bend, Azula is better anyway, so I’m concerned about how to protect you but I can’t...!
[ He may be snapping at Gokudera but these are nice words of affection for Zuko? A very intimate and open, vulnerable moment? But also lashing out... out of love? God help this guy’s future kids who will have to discern all his mixed messages. And poor Gokudera too, in the meantime. ]
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Okay.
Don't be concerned about me. I'll keep you updated if anything happens, alright? Like I said, I've got defense.
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...Okay. I’ll keep you updated, too.
Just so you have it, cuz — I don’t know, anything could happen with Azula trying to find me — I’m gonna try to send you my address like you did before, hold on... My roommates’ names are Tamaki, and Hikaru and Kaoru— the twins. I need them all completely out of it cuz they’re not fighters even a little bit, totally helpless... So just in case you end up needing to know any of this, better you know now.
[ He fumbles a bit more, but he does manage to successfully drop a pin to Gokudera. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this, but... at least now he has his address for hanging out under better circumstances? ]
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Thanks.
I don't want your sister coming after you or threatening the safety of your roommates. You said they took care of you, right? So, the offer I gave you for protection is for them as well.
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Don’t tell anyone about any of this, by the way — not even your roommate. I’m not telling mine yet. From now on until I figure out how to approach Azula, I don’t exist. You and Yamamoto have no clue who I am. Cuz if you’re a target, he could just be unlucky.
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