rediscovering | avalon inbox;

[It’s a little awkward, and the funny look makes Gokudera frown. He doesn’t understand what may be so odd... and is just operating off habit.]

You can just hum a tune, and I’ll find the keys for it on the piano and improvise.

[Gokudera is sticking to cafes and finally walks into a tavern, the lighting warm and slightly dim, but there is a piano standing off to the side. No one is at it, and the place doesn’t seem terribly crowded. There are a few patrons who seem to be regulars, casually drinking and chatting amongst themselves at the bar.

The bomber looks over the barkeeper, a large statured man with next to no hair on his head, but a thick dark beard. Gokudera feels oddly small, but is bold in his approach.]

Do you have anyone for that piano?

[The barkeep blinks and looks over at the instrument.]

They’re off today. Usually they don’t play ‘til the evening, anyway.

Thanks. [Gokudera turns and walks over to it, running a hand over dust and giving a gentle scoff as he realizes that there probably is no one who’s been keeping up with it. He grumbles under his breath and pulls out the piano bench.]

Hang on... I’m gonna make sure it’s in good condition.

[And he’s lifting the hood, propping it up and leaning in to press at the wires, checking the hammers. He moves over to the bench and starts with the highest key, working low and testing out each note.]

[ Zuko's eyes widen at the sight. He knew it was a big instrument, but he's never actually seen one in person, even an upright piano like this one. It makes his tsungi horn seem small. He follows closely by Gokudera's side, eyes wide, hands shoved in both his pockets, careful not to touch the piano frame while the other sits down to test out its tune. ]

Wow...

[ He hasn't even done anything yet, Zuko, what "wow?" ]

[Gokudera looks over at the other curiously and then finishes testing the keys. He’s happy it’s tuned, and then he’s practicing his scales fluidly, sitting straight, posture held at ease. Then, he’s stopping and staring at the keys, wondering what to play.]

Want to hum something and I’ll play it back, then improvise?

[He meant it.]

Ah— sure...

[ Zuko's already taken just by hearing the scales. Seeing a video on Gokudera's phone and seeing Gokudera sitting at the piano himself have two very different effects. And for as somber as this meeting initially is, he feels strangely giddy to be here now. He pauses, considering, then a little smile comes to his lips as a thought comes to his mind. ]

Oh— I know a song that's relevant right now. And it's easy. It goes like—

[ He hums a simple tune, slow and simple as promised, and nods along when Gokudera plays it back. He lets the pianist get his bearings for a second, but chimes in with lyrics after the beat comes round again. For one of the first times in ages and ages, Zuko's not shy at singing, makes a genuine effort, even rather relaxed. He can sing, a little known fact, although his speaking voice is usually a bit hoarse, and indeed has a natural gift for music that his uncle always tries tooth and nail to encourage despite Zuko's many protests. He'd stopped placing much value in music as a whole after his banishment, seeing no way how music nights aboard his ship and singing lighthearted sea shanties with his crew could better his chances of redemption. The Avatar couldn't care less if Zuko could carry a tune, after all. But the fact remains that the prince does have a good sense of musicality even without a tsungi horn in his hands; so even if it presented no usefulness to Zuko back then, Iroh'd still taught him some latent musical appreciation at some point, like with so many of Iroh's wisdoms, the man being a gardener of ideas, and sometimes values planted ages ago take time to blossom. It's a short bit, but one that comes from his heart now that there is some "usefulness" to the song, however unexpectedly. ]

"Winter, spring, summer and fall~
Winter, spring, summer and fall~
Four seasons — fo-o-our loves~
Four seasons fooo~or love."

[Gokudera listens, repeats, hums along, then starts to play. When Zuko sings along, he’s gets more comfortable and starts to add on to the song. He follows and starts to sing along, his voice softer, but not strong. The bomber is building confidence, taking it easier, and doesn’t seem to want to settle, keeps dancing the fingers of his right hand along the higher notes until it becomes something of a mashup and eventually focuses on another song entirely.

He’s focused, watching for a while as he mashes the two songs together, but once he’s playing Beethoven, his eyes shut and he loses all realization of everything around him. Five minutes in, his left hand strikes keys it shouldn’t, and he growls audibly while repeating, skipping like a human broken record until his fingers curl and do what he wants. That part out of the way, tension bleeds back out and he slows, nodding as if he’s hearing each note before his fingers stroke and tap the keys.]

[ Zuko is visibly amazed. He'd figured Gokudera was talented, but seeing it for himself is different entirely. He's never seen this instrument in person, didn't know anything about that world's music beyond what he'd seen in movies, and it was so very different than the folk songs on lutes and zithers in his own world. Gokudera as one person at a piano could pack as much drama into one song as a Fire Nation orchestra, Zuko felt. Indeed, he's glad to be mixed up in this drama. To hear him roll off such a rendition of "Four Seasons," having never even heard it, is remarkable. But hearing him playing Beethoven is astounding. Whether he wrote it himself or memorized it, either is still impressive, for such a complex composition. It leaves him mildly agape, watching Gokudera's hands dance across the keys. But when he winces in pain, and has to shake it off to continue, Zuko's eyes find Gokudera's face and stay there.

There's so much that's changed, it's true, and he does look different... but he's still Gokudera. Something in his look, that familiar frown. Zuko's heart is swelling with all kinds of emotions, bleeding for his beloved friend's otherworldly plights. He'd never felt so much empathy for someone in his life. It wasn't pity. Gokudera was too strong a person to pity, too fierce a fighter even when he's just playing music to clear his mind. Zuko's content to just listen and watch and think, and leans against the wall beside the piano, eyes fixed to the master at work with a peculiar expression as his own heavy thoughts set in. ]

[The pace varies more than it should, slowing slightly where he may be uncertain, and he knows it sounds good. This piano may have dust and some neglect, but it's performing well. He's satisfied with the music that jumps at his fingertips until his left hand decides to do its usual cramping. Regardless, he pushes through it. His rendition of "Four Seasons" repeats in Bass chords and ties it all off at the end.

This song is only easy for him because it has so much repetition, and he follows it easily, walking his fingers up and down the keys with practiced familiarity. But when he hits notes that are similar between the songs, he can throw that bass back in. He remembers his first owner pointing out to him that he didn't tend to gravitate to Italian songs, despite that being where he was from. Can't beat a classic like Beethoven. No matter the culture, the music speaks to everyone.

And for a moment, he's back in the luxurious floor in the Golden City, the older man who purchased him setting roses down right where the sheet music would be. Gokudera blinks pain and the song changes again to something reminiscent of Debussy's "Claire de lune". Him playing a piano in a bar... and then him sitting at an oceanside picnic with someone he couldn't love, and then he's back at the piano and remembering that everyone leaves him, that he's left a lot of them too. He sighs, accepting that he'll have to focus on enjoying every moment he has while he's here.

He's a free man, now, after all. Takeshi would want him to be happy. He'll wait for him. The song ends, the last note drifting off as he slides his finger off, then rubs his left hand.]

[ Zuko's eyes are full of emotion he can't precisely name, brows knitted, face awash with amazement and affection... and something like grief. He can't sense what Gokudera's remembering, but he can definitely sense that he's remembering something, and that it can come out in the music is astounding to the firebender. The prince has a gift for music that's so far squandered on someone who doesn't understand its power, power for expression, power for healing, power for communication... The things Zuko, indeed, struggles with, not so unlike his good friend here, who's struggling far more in this bewildering moment in his life— lives? Zuko can't imagine himself in Gokudera's place, as much as he's trying. It's all so much. Having been spirited away, separated from his family, segregated from his family, enslaved, abused, owned, having been left, having been loved, having been left yet more, only to be spirited away again... having been engaged...? Only to be spirited away again, in fact?! It's hard enough to imagine these alone, without even throwing on the most troublesome bit: having died and been resurrected. That's still not sitting right with Zuko. Debussy sounds more haunting than it typically might with these thoughts in mind. The silence that follows it, though, is far more chilling. Gokudera rounded it all off so well, so neatly, that Zuko expected the silence, knew the song was ending, and yet still its absence felt like it knocked the air from his chest, jarring, surreal, sudden despite plenty of warning. Zuko waits a pronounced moment to say anything, speechless in truth, but instead of showering the pianist with the praise he deserves, instead the prince asks an invasive and pointed question he feels comes off as neutral and unimposing, straightforward, merely concerned, rather than schmaltzy and doting, knowing how humble the other is. But inwardly, he gets a roaring round of applause. That's just... not what comes out of his mouth, tone sharper than he hears himself. ]

...What's wrong with your hand?

[The silence feels odd, haunting, and Gokudera would cry, but he feels much too tired to do so. Lonely and not alone all at once. Not a person on this world who understands. They can sympathize, of course. He knows he’s not the only one who has been on other worlds. But no one has mentioned to him remembering any place called Anchor or Amoi. He feels so uniquely alien, and looks up at Zuko. His own expression turns slightly timid and apologetic. The bomber looks over the keys and motions for Zuko to come closer. Gokudera can talk and play at the same time, so long as the song isn’t too complex.]

I was kidnapped by the black market in Amoi, and when I tried to fight back, they crushed my hand. I recovered, and it took a while, but it’s not been the same since.

[He can still play piano, but it’s more struggle than it used to be.]

Could have gotten a prosthetic...

[But then, what use would he be?]

But then my weapon system wouldn’t work. Not that it matters in a place like this.

[And this hand has Takeshi’s engagement ring on it, his initials. Gokudera reflects on the magic he has in this world. He remembers he was good at making barriers, but that he had a secondary magic. He thinks it may have been elemental, but also doubts that, wonders if it’s just hopeful thinking since the Tenth also has elemental magic.

He keeps his attention focused on his scarred hand and then flutters his fingers, feeling wind come off them. Then, he holds out his index fingers and spins it. Air spins from there and wraps up his arm, stopping at his bicep and then cutting off when he stops the spinning of his finger.]

I don’t want to keep you, Zuko, but would you mind training with me?

[ Zuko comes closer as invited, taking a seat on the edge of the bench beside the bomber, careful to still leave a full enough range of motion if Gokudera wanted to play to the far right. His face is painted with empathy and concern and worry and fear and pity and all these things, this look he can't hide as all of it sinks in. Zuko knew how much worth Gokudera put into his sense of "worth," how worthless he made himself out to be if not for his abilities and how he could protect the Tenth or play piano, that's it. For someone to injure his hands — something that jeopardized both those capabilities — it made Zuko seeth inside, heartbroken for all his friend has been through. He'd already been through too much in his life. Zuko doesn't know what to do with this information, with this feeling, with this empathy that makes him want to reach out and hug him but won't, deliberately... He's oddly thankful to be caught off guard by his next question, then. ]

Train with you? Like fighting?

[Gokudera watches as Zuko comes to sit with him at the piano bench, and smiles at the company, but the expression goes a bit sympathetic when Zuko’s expression goes so... sad. The bomber sighs, not having meant to be such a downer. There’s no changing what has happened to him, sad and horrible as it may be.

His left hand plays a soft set of bass chords and he points to one of the keys, directing Zuko.]

Stop looking so sad, Zuko. This is a better world for me. I have friends here, and I’ll be just fine. [Gokudera puts his right hand to Zuko’s shoulder.]

Yeah like fighting. Don’t worry, I’ve got barriers and a secondary magic type. I’m not as weak as I look. [As brittle as his experiences seem to have made him.]

No rush, or if you’d rather not, that’s fine too. I’m not going back to the Tenth any time soon. I think he can tell I’m upset. [And then there’s Takeshi.]

[ Hearing Gokudera reassure him not to be sad makes Zuko a little sheepish, like it should be the other way around, but he nods and takes a hint, forcing a weak smile back when he puts his hand on the prince's shoulder. ]

Yeah. We can fight. Get it out of your system.

[ That actually draws a more genuine smile that grows on his face. That's how Zuko deals with things. Go destroy shit and exhaust himself. ]

What's your new secondary magic? I got siphoning. I can redirect energy — and break curses, but I dunno how yet.

[Gokudera looks on at Zuko’s hands and rolls his eyes, smiling about the agreement to train together. He takes Zuko’s hand and moves it so he can press a piano key. Now that that note is out of the way, he’ll play another bass chord, then move Zuko’s hand to press another note.

He takes his hand off Zuko’s, plays another cord, then points at the next note to be hit. Playing and talking is fun for him, doesn’t want anymore conversation without music while they’re seated at the instrument.]

Elemental, I think? I don’t know. I was going to train with Larry. Have you met him?

No, but I uh— heard about him.

[ Zuko awkwardly but pliantly lets Gokudera play with his hands until he gets the hint, and takes up his cue when the bomber points at the next key. Like a child at a piano for the first time, he can't help his face lighting up ever so slightly, "oh, I made that noise, that was my finger," a just plainly viscerally fun moment of novelty. He smirks a little, and presses another key without prompting. ]

He scared a good friend of mine who met you.

[ Zuko's usually great with secrets, but this one was... stupid. And in light of everything else that's changed since then, fuck it, sorry Hikaru, you're witness protection cover is boutta get blown. ]

[Gokudera plays a few more chords, then motions for Zuko to play how’d he like as a continuation. He smiles, a little non-verbal indication that he thinks his friend is doing well.]

He got scared by a stupid sea monster that likes to eat trash out of any size body of water it can find. Sounds like your friend is scared easily. I’ve seen Larry get scared by his own shadow.

[Gokudera gets up and stretches his arms.]

Larry doesn’t even have teeth, I think. If he does, they’re kind of far back... like a cow. [Gokudera pokes his own cheek to indicate that they would be flat and molar-like.]

[ Zuko chuckles, unable to contain a smarmy grin at that, facing Gokudera when he stands. ]

Knew it. So your familiar eats weird stuff it just finds around town? Mine, too, by the way — annoying, isn't it?

[ He sighs a little. ]

Your familiar casts illusions on things, too, my friend told me you told him — right?

[Gokudera puts the cover back over the keys, and notices that the barkeeper is looking at them. He then takes a half step away from Zuko, but that's just a habit.]

Eats... it's more like he uses his stomach as storage. [Gokudera motions for Zuko to come with him, gives the barkeeper a quick glance out of nerves, though the man seems impressed and eager to talk. Gokudera will not. Once they're out of the building, he's looking around.]

Yeah but mostly on himself. Which friend is this? Maybe I'll remember him... Larry! Get out here! I know you're not far.

[The bomber walks right out into the middle of the street, then turns to face where they'd just walked out. Oh, he doesn't remember a mat in front of the door. Gokudera stoops to lift it up, and it's still there. With a grunt, he just seems to be lifting up an illusory one. Part of something much bigger. Larry is trying to camouflage right against the building, his entire body as large as a horse, and his eyes large and unblinking, watery as he shifts into one solid color. Gokudera drops the big webbed paw he'd been picking up, and then holds out an open palm. Larry drops a marble right into it, then heaves his body like a seal would right up to Zuko.

Gokudera would introduce them to each other, but he's too busy looking at this nifty marble he just got gifted. Another one to add to the collection in what should be his coin pouch, but totally is just a marble pouch now.]

Woah!

[ Zuko's wide-eyed at the reveal. When the creature saunters up to him, he's almost slackjawed in surprise and awe, and glances to Gokudera for some indication what to do... but finds him absorbed with this new marble he got gifted, so just goes with his instinct and reaches out to the sea creature's face with both hands open, thinking maybe it's wise to let him smell his hands or something before trying to touch him. But he's very near to, very tempted to. ]

What is he...? He's like a— turtleseal-eelhound or something... Incredible...

[ Making up his own hybrid animals now... He mutters the compliment bit under his breath airily, never having seen an animal like this before, but absorbed in its doe-like wet eyes. ]

He’s a Lariosauro. An Italian lake monster. Most art of them looks more... intimidating.

[Larry lowers his head and just lets Zuko check him out. Then, he opens his mouth slightly so it looks like one eye blinks, then the other. The monster tips it’s head, then blows a snot bubble, which Gokudera walks right up to and waves away.]

You’re gross.

C’mon, Zuko. If you pay him too much attention, he’ll just get weirder.

[The monster slides after them and starts to fade, the sounds still there as it just becomes invisible, but is still very much a large lake monster dragging its large body after them.

Gokudera rubs at his own neck and looks up at the sky as they walk.]

I’d always wanted to see the Lariosauro when I was a boy. That and most cryptids... creatures most people think are fake. I wish Larry didn’t look like that, but something tells me that is just how he wants me to see him.

[ Zuko can't help but smirk at Gokudera's derision of his familiar... It's funny, okay. He can't suppress a snort of a chuckle when he waves away the creature's snot bubble. Yeah, he is gross. Zunyan was gross too, though — slobbery, not snotty, granted — so it strikes his funny bone even more. Gross familiars that eat things they shouldn't and cause their poor masters headaches. Nice.

He follows Gokudera, but looks over his shoulder to see if the creature will reappear. He's fascinated. ]

Why do you say that? So you'll like him more if he's cuter or something?

[ He wonders if Zunyan takes similar reasoning, and almost wonders it out loud; but he has a feeling he knows the answer: it's easier to sneak around and steal food when you're the size of a ferret and not the size of a horse.

Zuko misjudges his familiar, who is in fact just fiercely loyal to him emotionally, but also enjoys living in luxury indoors. There are many factors. But "be cute so Zuko will like me more" is definitely among them... probably behind endless food and warm beds, though. ]

I'd like him more if he weren't so cute as he is. He's very simple looking... dumb. I know he's just using those wide set eyes and hiding a much cooler face. Basically, he's got the same sort of magic as me, and if I can use illusions to change my appearance, why can't he?

He's already invisible even though we can hear him.

[And sure enough the dragging, thumping behind them stops. Gokudera gives a small chuckle.]

I don't remember him being very helpful to me when I was originally here. But since waking up, he's been near me very often. Part of me wonders if he knows what I went through... or if we're connected enough somehow for him to have shared some of that experience with me.

[Basically, he's wondering if Larry is responsible for brining him to this world, or if he's even remotely empathetic. The creature makes next to no facial expressions. It likes to play tricks, but isn't playful most of the time.]

Did Larry eat something of that friend of yours? I can see about getting him to spit it up.

[ Gokudera calling Larry out on his thumping makes Zuko grin, casting a glance over his shoulder once more in acknowledgement. ]

I bet he understands. Maybe not everything, but— I'm sure he knows something's up. Zunyan is very in tune with me and my emotions and my life, seems like. He found Uncle like he knew who he was. ...He's a pain sometimes, but we're definitely connected spiritually, I can tell.

[ Zuko admitting that Zun is a pain sometimes is relieving. The dragon isn't around for once. He's surprised; he went to a cafe and everything. He missed a chance for food. Zuko hesitates at the direct question, though, grin fading to a wry smirk. ]

As to my friend. You, uh— ...You haven't needed to kill anyone here yet, have you?

[ As if this were such a casual question...!!!? ]

[Larry would totally play dumb right at Zuko if he were visible. But he isn't, so he's just going to levitate so he won't knock into anyone or anything and stop with the loud dragging thumping noises behind the boys.]

All I know is that Larry was not around when I went to sleep, but when I woke up, the Tenth told me that he was keeping an eye on me. Makes me wonder if he had anything to do with the changes.

[Gokudera wouldn't blame the creature directly, but part of him wonders, if they're connected... maybe Larry was the beacon that brought him to Avalon and kept his body around?

The question catches him off-guard, and he stops, looks over his shoulder at Zuko with an eyebrow lifted.]

I haven't killed anyone anywhere. Why?

He might have... I mean, they say the familiars are the ones who bring us here, right? It's not impossible.

[ Zuko raises his eyebrow at that response; somehow he'd assumed Gokudera'd killed someone at some point... He's relieved. He's not sure he himself could answer with such assurance. He's not murdered anyone, but, well— war is war. There were absolutely times he'd left a battle unsure what happened to the other guy after he left, only had to assume the worst, if only late at night sleepless and alone with his thoughts. He'd certainly never tried to kill anyone, but on the other hand — even that wasn't true. He'd just never been successful at it. He's comforted knowing Gokudera hasn't been either, then. But shrugs, trying to lighten up. ]

...Your familiar once coughed up what looked like a human skull and scared the shit out of my friend Hikaru. Now he thinks you're a murderer or something and that he needs to walk on eggshells around you because "he knows too much."

[ He can't hide that he finds it ridiculous. Sorry, Hikaru. Blowing your dumb, unnecessary cover. ]

Right. Either way, I'm grateful.

[Although he wishes he could have stayed on Anchor with Takeshi. Now he worries that the other boy is alone on that radiated planet. They haven't spent nearly enough time together!

Gokudera listens, looks down, then remembers.]

Oh, that. Well... Yeah there was... I didn't kill anyone, and neither did Larry. That guy got his head cut off, and Larry swallowed it. I didn't cut anyone's head off. I was in the lake with the kraken that the guy was trying to kill.

[And now he thinks a little more about what Yamamoto has done for him. Would awakening some feelings really be so painful?]

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