songerein inbox;

[rediscovering]

烈火君蘇科 • 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖 𝕝𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝕫𝕦𝕜𝕠    
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ART BY MIAMITU

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March catch-all; backdated

[rediscovering]

closed to Azula;

[rediscovering]

[ It's been some weeks he's been in Reverein now. Zuko's not adjusting well. He's not so enthusiastic to take a fantastical mental health break. He feels impatient, biting at the bit to "wake up" again, as it were. He doesn't want to make a life here. But, like his uncle once leveled with him — "Life happens whether you make it or not." And here he was, somewhat reliving that roaming period in his dreams... alone. ...Well, alone except Azula. Always account for Azula. Azula is precisely the reason Zuko hasn't stayed put anywhere long, feeling perhaps a little overly paranoid she'll hunt him down. Well— maybe not so overly paranoid. Probably a pretty reasonable concern. He's taken to finding some seemingly abandoned treehouse at random, will stay in it for a few days without leaving a trace, before moving onto another seemingly abandoned treehouse elsewhere. He's been down this road before... Only now, he's far more worldly than the last time he'd found himself a wanderer in a strange land. The wandering is getting to him, though; not that he's unused to not staying put, but not staying put in such a small town is a bit more tedious than roaming the globe, somehow... Fantastical and magical and miraculously beautiful or not. He's got too much on his mind to enjoy it. He struggles to sleep, barely has an appetite, forgets to eat, all just in favor of thinking and theorizing and exploring, trying to study up on this place. As if he might speed the process up if he just digs his heels in and throws himself to task. There's only so much he can learn when he goes it alone, though. But anyone who knows him knows he'll gladly exhaust himself trying.

Finally, after a particularly unrestful couple nights, in a surprising turn of events, the first thing he does this morning is make a good decision. He decides to go get some tea. He's not sure why he woke up with such a feeling of resolve about this right away, but he reckons Iroh would be— what, proud? — if he knew Zuko's first thoughts today were of tea. It's a bittersweet thought. They'd just been reunited and now... Well. Every dream ends eventually. He's reached a block in how he's reconciling this dreamworld business; he's steeped in his thoughts enough, so for once, maybe, yeah, some calming tea might help. He needs both the energy and the comfort... Oh, and some food. Definitely some food. Whoops. He's at the Lady of Bliss bakery, sitting alone in the cornermost table, waiting for his order as far as he could get from the entrance or general seating area. It's so early in the morning, though... There's no one really there to avoid yet. He's, like, their third customer. The sun's barely been up an hour, if that. And yet he already looks so sullen, slouched over there by himself. He's got his hair down, propped up by his elbow on the table, resting is chin in his hand, which hides his mouth thoughtfully, as he pores over his journal with a ruminative scowl.

He's been doing a lot of that since showing up here. Making good use of that strange magical journal, that's for sure. He takes a lot of notes, which don't always make as much sense when he rereads them as when he wrote them down. It's deeply frustrating, trying to resign to this new twist of fate in his "reality" and figure out what all this "means" on a greater level — big brain stuff. Pondering his place in the universe stuff — pondering the universe's place in reality. Stuff that sends his very understanding of life itself viscerally into spirals. Hoping that it'll help him get out of this dreamworld faster, he's been doggedly studying up on dreamotion and whatever he can glean about the nature of this world in connection to — well, everything... — and without enough sleep or food for how absorbed he's been, it's all left him more than a little rattled. He's just going in circles by this point — literally and figuratively. Sitting down for a cuppa is probably the best thing he could do right now. He's overly stressed about things beyond his comprehension, things he can't do anything about even if he did understand them, and he needs to calm down. Even he can agree with that. For once, he'll concede that much: he probably does need some calming tea.... Good thing he's a morning person, at least, so he can do his best to hide his frayed nerves and pretend to be sociable if need be; he doesn't want to look melodramatic, after all. ]

[itstillhurt]

[It's been annoying, trying to find different teahouses, since the one she'd favored up until now was compromised. She had no particular inclination or patience to deal with Uncle Fatso's nonsense again.

Still, a bakery would probably be less to his tastes, so it was probably...

S a f e.

No. No, no. There was just no way- why wasn't he haunting some tea shop with uncle instead of plaguing her? What would it take to be rid of him?

She stares in frustration for a moment as he works in his journal, and part of her is spitefully inclined to set the thing on fire, but- no. No engaging, no interacting, no-

"Oh, good morning, what can we get for you today?"

No way her luck was this bad. She restrains the urge to visit violence on the smiling baker, instead backing toward the door.]

[rediscovering]

[ As she backs up, a customer misjudges their path, and bumps right into Azula. In their hasty apology, they back away from her and accidentally knock a plate and silverware off the edge of a table that'd just finished; the dishes clatter to the ground noisily, attracting the attention of everyone in the room. The person who'd bumped into her is obviously embarrassed, and apologizes profusely as they try to scurry back to their seat, where their partner is waiting for them hiding their face behind their hand in secondhand embarrassment... Maybe pitiful enough to avoid Azula's wrath — maybe not. But all the same, the commotion attracts Zuko's attention, too. He peers up from his journal only for his eyes to go wide, then immediately narrow in suspicion... Suspicion of what—? Azula's allowed to eat breakfast, too... That's fine... He supposes. He's unsure how to regard her, now more than ever.

Their last meeting went poorly up until the end — but pretty normal... up until the end... He'd say he's never known Azula to be merciful; but he's given it a lot of thought since they encountered each other at the masquerade, and the fact somehow stands that Azula has shown him mercy many times because he's... alive... That counts for something. For all the times she'd attacked him in their lives, just in the past few months alone, it's started to make him wonder whether she wants him dead or not. Technically, she wasn't trying to kill him in their Agni Kai, after all. And then spared his life even upon meeting in their dreams...? Buuuut also beat the crap out of him brutally and then just seemed to change her mind suddenly. She couldn't go through with it. Maybe she meant to, maybe she thought she meant to, but the fact remains... she didn't. She may try again if he approaches her now, but they're in public; this isn't home; how flagrant can they really be? If they do fight again, maybe she'll follow her pattern so far, inconsistent as it is, and not kill him...? If she wanted him dead here, she'd've found him by now. Surely. He's been able to sleep sometimes by that logic. He wants to trust in that — twisted a trust as it is. Maybe— Maybe she won't attack him on sight...? He can't imagine she missed him. Maybe that's what caused the commotion... He watches her carefully, not avoiding her gaze, and after a moment, regardless her reaction to the clumsy customer, Zuko closes his journal and rises to his feet. ]

[itstillhurt]

[The urge to inflict vengeance on the clumsy fool who got in her way is overwhelming, and all the more so when she realizes every eye in the room is looking at him as he apologizes under her baleful glare.

But she restrains the impulse. She's gotten good at it. She had to, back in the City, and now it's... easier.

She turns back around, and sees him staring directly at her. She should just leave. She should just leave. But no. No, it's too late for that now, and she's not looking for another incident like the one with Uncle.

So she opts in the other direction. She assumes a flippant mask- confident. Unbothered. Purposeful. And, even as he rises to address the threat... she calmly- well, 'calmly-' saunters forward, casually smoothing a bang as she walks, and settles comfortably into the chair opposite him.]

I'm flattered, Zu-zu, but you don't have to stand up just because I enter the room. Really.

[She caps off the performance by reaching across the table, snagging his tea, and taking a sip before setting it back down in front of him.]

closed to Iroh;

[rediscovering]

[ Zuko's not been... especially well... in his first few weeks here. His run-in with Azula at the masquerade ball set a certain tone for this dreamworld experience for him. He's not been at ease, not eating enough, and sleeping poorly — even in his sleep, he sleeps poorly... He's not stayed in one place for more than a couple days, leaving no sign of life behind him every time he ups and leaves to another uninhabited treehouse at random. While it's not certain that Azula may try to hunt him down, it certainly sounds like something she'd do — she'd want to keep tabs on where Zuko's living, of course. She's his sister. Why wouldn't she? Which is why Zuko's made sure to leave no trace and keep to himself, exploring the areas away from the hustle and bustle, to avoid her.

That is, until he happened to run into Azula again anyway, around dawn in a tea shop just a few days ago. It was then she'd informed him that apparently their uncle is in this dreamworld, too. The men had just missed one another this whole time...? Or had Zuko's avoidance of Azula simply prevented him from running into Iroh? Azula had run into Iroh just a couple days before she ran into Zuko (funnily, in two different tea shops, Azula then trying to avoid Iroh). And it's only been a couple days since Zuko learned that Iroh was here; so the men won't have been searching for one another terribly long — they've gone longer in the past, by far. But Zuko's thrown himself into the search right away. As much as Zuko's tried to avoid leisure and entertainment spots in town (because... he's him...), he's now been on a grand tour. He thinks he knows where his uncle would go if he were in a new place with nothing but free time (and no nephew complaining beside him). Zuko's leaving no stone unturned. He's never eaten at so many restaurants in his life — just ordering peckish things, enough to have an excuse to wait around casing the scene at each one. He's even now suddenly rather outgoing, eager to make conversation with random workers and townspeople, only so he can segue into asking "Have you seen this man?" Whether or not he's gotten any leads, it's no matter. By his second day on the search, he changed his line of questioning, and it got him exactly where he needed to be.

He simply asked around to find out which cafes served the best tea in town; and of those, once he'd tested them out himself (not that he's a great judge, but he tried to channel his uncle's standards, okay), he asked around to find out which one opened first in the mornings. The earlier, the better. Wherever Iroh could go find an early breakfast and a decent cup of tea, Zuko's got a strong hunch that's a fair bet...

So that's where he is. First customer, already waiting outside before it's even open. Prompt and punctual. And he'll sit wherever he has the best vantage point of the entrance and a full scan of the room. Not that it matters, considering it's barely past dawn, and apart from an elderly couple taking their early morning coffee, Zuko's the only other customer here. But he's nothing if not diligent. There's no missing each other this time, either way. So he just sits there, staring at the door expectantly, occasionally sipping the ginseng tea he'd ordered as an excuse to be here. He's not giving it his full attention, so it's cooled sitting there, and when he takes a sip of his lukewarm tea, he'll take a page out of Iroh's book, and practice his dreamotion by heating his tea like he would by firebending, a simple way of trying to work on finer control of this new magic. His uncle always told him to focus on the basics, after all. ]

Re: closed to Iroh;

[uncle_iroh]

Iroh had also been keeping on the move, though he had been camping out. Staying further from people where he could, to keep anyone from getting hurt if Azula attacked him at night.

So it took him a little longer to make it to the tea shop some mornings. Between starting further and exercising as soon as he woke up. He had built up a lot of muscle recently and with Azula here it made sense to keep that up for now.

So he showed up nearly an hour after opening. He spotted Zuko out of the corner of his eye, and it took all he had in him to pretend he hadn't. To give his nephew the freedom to choose to approach him or flee. Azula had told the truth about Zuko being here. And hadn't attacked him yet. There was a lot to think about.

But right now his focus had to be Zuko. Acting like one didn't notice someone took far more active thought than actually failing to notice. He ordered his tea and then, if not stopped by Zuko would pick a seat where his back was to both Zuko and the door. Giving the boy every chance to leave if he felt the need to do so.

Just knowing Zuko was here was enough for now, if that was all that he got. H could work with that. But he wasn't going to push Zuko. Not now. Was not going to risk pushing him away again.

[rediscovering]

[ It's a long hour, largely spent staring down the entranceway. When Iroh finally appears, just as Zuko'd hoped, he rushes to his feet, standing up in full attention, hands pressed to the table. He'd chosen to sit toward the back of the restaurant to get a full view of the room, but now he's second-guessing himself, maybe he should have sat smack dab in the middle. Because Iroh doesn't seem to... notice him...? Which sets off alarm bells. Maybe he doesn't recognize him? Or that's not Iroh, and Zuko's mistaking him? No, no, that's definitely not it. He'd know his uncle anywhere. Why isn't he acknowledging him?! Something's strange. Well, everything. But specifically this right now.

When Iroh continues on ordering his tea without regard, Zuko sits back down at his seat again, aware of other diners' eyes on him. Standing up abruptly with a dramatic aura when someone walks in the room and staring at them, yeah, draws some attention, understandably. He settles himself down, but keeps his eyes fixed on Iroh the whole time, even once his back is turned to him, sitting ahead. A waitress comes over to check on Zuko, considering he'd been there an hour already, was there when they opened, and is now acting like... this... She's friendly, but a little apprehensive — again, understandably. But Zuko's too preoccupied with being ignored, as he perceives it, and doesn't totally take the cue. ]

You, uh— You still doin' okay over here, darlin'?

Yes. Thank you.

Okay, you just lemme know if—

Wait. Actually. Please send an order of pork dumplings out to that man's table. I'm switching seats.

[ She barely hides her bewilderment, eyes drifting cautiously toward Iroh. That was... an unnecessarily intense way to place an order for pork dumplings. She's only been here an hour, and already the customers are wildin' out. It is too early for this... But she's a pro, so she keeps her smile on. ]

You got it, shug. I'll bring y'all out two plates.

[ If money existed here, she'd be getting a tip. Bless her. As she makes her exit back into the kitchen with the order and a good laugh for the cooks, Zuko keeps his eyes fixed on Iroh a moment longer, before finally getting up and approaching him, collecting his teacup along with him. He stands squarely at the empty place across from Iroh, setting his teacup down on the man's tabletop with a clink. He doesn't take a seat at first, just stays standing, staring the old man down scrutinizingly. He's unsure what to expect. So showing more caution than Iroh had last known Zuko to show, all he ventures is one raspy, heavy word to break the ice. ]

Uncle...?

[uncle_iroh]

It was hard work, appearing casual while being so aware. Waiting. Giving Zuko the space. Perhaps on of the hardest things that he had ever done.

It was important. He had to give the boy that space, that freedom to see who he was for himself.

Hearing Zuko say the one word, and just that... nearly broke something in him. H wanted to turn, to hug his boy. To use the time they had here to find something of the peace they didn't have at home. If he could have this time in the spirit realm with Zuko away from the war and the avatar and his brother... then that was a gift from the spirits, and it was never wise to spurn such gifts. And he did not want to.

But accepting it... would be selfish. Iroh had nothing against being selfish, of course. In moderation he felt all people should be at some time. But not at the expense of others. Not at the expense of those they love.

Still, he found himself standing. It took all the effort he could muster to keep from turning at once.

For so long he had pushed at Zuko, trying to help him see who he could truly be, see in himself the wonderful young man that Iroh had always seen in him. But in the end... all that pushing had just pushed him away. Laving the Fore Nation after he broke free... without Zuko... He had thought that was the hardest thing he had ever done. Standing here, without a word, felt far harder in this moment.

It would have been easy, in some ways, to act as though they had never been apart. That the last time they had seen each other hadn't been from opposite sides. Of the bars. Of the situation. Of the war. To slide back into what was familiar enough to be comfortable.

But that wouldn't make Zuko grow. That would be like burying a weed that was destroying your tea crops. It didn't fix the problem, it only mad it worse while you pretended it didn't exist. Zuko deserved better than that.

But what then could he say? How was he supposed to help his boy here, now? What words did he have that would help Zuko find what he needed to within himself?

When he spoke, the words cam out thickly, pushing through emotion he couldn't have hidden, no matter how hard he tried. And he had tried.

"Destiny is a funny thing, Prince Zuko," he finally said. "When we parted ways last, I did not think we wouldn't meet again until we were in the spirit realm."

He had ben trying for humor, but as the words left his mouth he realized how the words actually sounded. How fatalistic. How painful. It was rare, these days, that Iroh wished he had not spoken, or that he had said anything other than what he had actually said.

But rare wasn't never.

And the highest stakes often invited the worst mistakes.

He might have been shaking, subtly. He shook his head. "The tea here is pretty good," he added, trying to take the pain out of what he had said. "Though I think the tea we mad together in Ba Sing Se was better."

That... had been easier to say.

And at its core? That was what he had wanted to say all along, he realized. He wished that had been all he actually had said.

February tdm continuation;

[rediscovering]

(( continued from here! ))

[ People without faces... yet he knew who they were. Sounds like some of the weird shit Zuko dreams up, actually. He lets the boy go on, relating very much when he remarks how poorly he typically sleeps, that it's strange he's not woken up by now. Zuko briefly averts his eyes awkwardly even unseen behind his mask. ]

Yeah... Same.

[ He pauses, then tries to lighten up a little. ]

...I guess a magical costume party isn't the worst weird dream we could have, huh?

[ Yeah, that's his attempt at lightening up a little. ]

[bakudan_bambino]

[It’s also a lot of people he knows not looking like people he knows, noises from outside his dreams influencing how his dreams actually progress. Gokudera isn’t bothered talking about this, and could talk about some strange things endlessly if humored for long enough.

He looks over at that ‘attempt’ and considers the words. Magical costume party?]

It’s not a nightmare. But I’ve got some important stuff to do when I wake up…

[And his boss had mentioned seeing something in his dream that was actually relevant to their mission. Maybe there’s something from this dream he needs to take with him whenever he wakes up.]

[rediscovering]

[ That remark certainly catches Zuko's attention. Again, there's a ruminative weight to his tone, feeling relieved to relate to someone in the slightest here. ]

Yeah... Me, too. A lot is changing for me right now. For everyone, the whole world. When I wake up, there's a lot of hard work waiting for me. I wonder if we're here in this realm in order to mentally prepare for the challenges ahead of us.

[ He's not dramatic or anything... ]

[bakudan_bambino]

Ah what I’m going through is on a much smaller scale.

[It’s definitely not any matter of the whole world changing. More like… he’s going into an enemy’s base with a weapon system he hasn’t fully gotten adjusted to, and they have a very very low chance of coming out alive. But… they’re going to do their best.]

February tdm continuation;

[rediscovering]

(( continued from here! ))

Zuko nods, smiling more genuinely to himself behind his mask. Having hope is certainly an ability and a power, that's for sure. It takes practice. Hard practice. And he has certainly had little more than hope in his past at times, for a long time, even — but he has hope still. Even dearer now. So he's quite stirred by this angle, relating well and enjoying this man's perspective.

"Yes... I do, too. High hopes, maybe, heh... But I'll try my best to make them reality. I suppose you could say, a lot of people back home are counting on me."

Not at all untrue. He's not necessarily trying to be vague in order to be secretive, but also not wanting to shoot this conversation down by mentioning he's ascending a throne, knowing in all likelihood the person he's talking to probably isn't royalty and can't relate to such problems — and indeed, problems is the right word. It's a conflicting hope he carries. But he doesn't want to alienate a wise man by bogging him down with the details. The core remains the same across all types of people in all sorts of situations. That's most definitely something he's learned recently — and relishes in, now.

Re: February tdm continuation;

[uncle_iroh]

He nodded. "Working towards what we hope for can be very powerful, but you must be cautious. Especially when people are counting on you. You need to balance your hope, even if it is hop for them, with their well being in the now. That was a hard lesson that it took one of my boys some time to learn. Being depended on, as a leader or a parent, or a friend, or an uncle... having people who are counting on you is always a balancing act of hope, realism, current needs, future needs, and the greater good. A farmer can hope for a good harvest and work his people towards it. If he works them too hard, however, they can injure themselves or fall ill, or make a mistake that ruins the field. Fail to push them at all and thy hav an easier spring but they all starve in the winter. I hope that you are up to the task, and that you have people around you that you can trust to help you see when hope is needed and when hope is needed to be tempered." A warm smile.

[rediscovering]

Zuko listens on, and on, and on — and can't help but think of his uncle and his musings, of course even more so when he outright mentions being an uncle. Not a suspicious clue in itself or anything. This guy rather reminds him of his uncle, though, he thinks to himself as he loses track with the farmers metaphor. Sorry, stranger... Zuko also had trouble following some of his uncle's wisdoms — m-many of his uncle's wisdoms... But he typically gets the gist, and thinks he does now, too. He gives a polite namaste bow in response. A wise response in itself, for Zuko... He is not the wordsmith this guy or his uncle are — but he's been getting better lately.

"Thank you. I believe we'll find a balance. I know I won't be working alone. Many share our goals. My friends are brave and honorable, and there are many wise people in my life now who I can trust. Not everyone is so lucky..."

[uncle_iroh]

He nodded. "It is good to see that clearly. You sound as though you will do quite well, young man, in whatever you attempt to achieve."

'catch the lightning' May Dream Board quest; closed to Gokudera

[rediscovering]

[ Zuko's usually doing either one of two things in Songerein: training, trying to build up his dreamotion skills and marry them with his understanding of firebending — and then writing about it in his journal, even drawing out figures doing firebending forms repurposed for dreamotion ideas he's had, trying to alter his thinking around just how his body can be used as a conduit for the magic around him... within him... Dreamotion still carries a different weight, holds a different resonance, than he's ever felt by bending. Shy, perhaps, of his experience meeting the Masters and beholding the purest form of fire straight from its original source; anything pales in comparison to how he felt channeling that energy. But the practice of dreamotion certainly stirs something deep within, too, on an almost philosophical level that way. It's a much different feeling than firebending — and very much more a feeling. An emotion more than a sense. Not so physical. Firebending had never come easily to Zuko, at least by comparison to the prodigies he was surrounded by, and given that the nature of dreamotion also revolves around controlling and understanding one's own emotions combined with the power of one's imagination... it's also not come easily to Zuko, who is often more reactive than imaginative, and often overreactive emotionally, which can be either to his benefit or his detriment with practicing dreamotion, truth be told. So he's been finding himself with varied degrees of success in his studies so far.

But he feels undaunted, as with anything he puts his mind to, and stays firmly under the impression (entirely of his own making!) that this is all somehow cosmically important, some visceral exercise of self-awareness and rediscovering hah his best self — an indefinite chance to practice his emotional regulation with low stakes, so as to better prepare himself to ascend the throne when he awakes. Barring his deep-dive research into the history of the Avatar when he was younger, Zuko's never been this studious about anything in his life, and it's left very little time nor inspiration to make new friends here. He's very much misunderstanding the role of having a social life in this 'finding inner resolution' game he's trying to play by himself. He spends his days studying alone all over town, and at night hangs out with his uncle in their treehouse, which they're still switching up every week or two, out of paranoia that Azula's keeping tabs on where they're staying. Which she probably is. But they've both at least calmed down. Iroh more than Zuko. Iroh can enjoy himself anywhere. Whereas Zuko's taking living in a dreamworld way too seriously. Surprise.

Which is why he can't resist a Dreamboard Quest advertising a way to earn the title of Lightning Master, requesting help redirecting and capturing lightning. Um. Hello, topical? Relevant to his interests! He can take his nose out of the books for a day...! He's in the plaza, as directed, having found a stash of the enchanted jars in question, which he's (not so) carefully collected in a loose canvas bag worn across his body. They'll be fine, they're magic glass meant to hold lightning, he figures they can survive bopping around in a bag a little bit... He's going into this pretty cocky, not gonna lie. This is a chance to prove himself to, uh, himself — an opportunity for some redemption on principle, like, symbolically, okay? When he spies the red lightning flashes by the rose gardens, he's quickly on the move, but just as he rounds the corner of the town bulletin board where the quest is posted, he happens to bump into Gokudera on the other side. Well, not so much 'bump into' as 'collide with', really. It's pretty forceful; Zuko was gung-ho. But once he pulls back and reorients after the crash, he recognizes Gokudera right away, face suddenly painted with surprise and— a-a hint of relief? Their meeting in March was highly concerning, so it's good to see the guy's, eh, alive, still here, something... ]

Ah— Sorry— ...Oh! You. Uh— Hey.

[ ...Hey. He awkwardly raises a hand in greeting. No smile, just. Awkward hello. After crashing into him. Y'know, to be... polite? Friendly! Ahem. ]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Back home, in his waking life, Gokudera was invading and enemy base, armed to fight an opponent who’d not only defeated him with lightning dying will flames, but then used them to torture him for information using that lightning.

Gokudera has his own, and he’s been gathering certain items of interest to enhance his weapon system. Mostly the outcomes have been ridiculous, weird, and unpredictable, but… if he can capture this dream red lighting and study it, maybe it will give him some idea of how to best utilize his own power.

The title of Lightning Master sounds cool and all, but he’s just looking to arm himself better, make this strange dream-vacation an opportunity to improve himself. It’ll be about the experience, and while he’s anticipating it’ll be difficult and dangerous, he’s excited for the opportunity. He turns from the board as Zuko is running into him, and he falls with a grunt.]

Asshole! Watch where you’re going!

[He growls and gets up, looking into his bag to make sure his own lightning-catching jars are still intact.]

[rediscovering]

[ Zuko looks taken aback at first at being called "asshole" outright, so casually. It's... pretty likely no one has ever spoken to him like that before. Even in Ba Sing Se. Surely behind his back, but never to his face, at least. Crass and surprising though it is, he has to concede that's... probably fair... So though he can't help a little scowl at the curse, he lets it wash away. He offers his hand to help Gokudera up, and whether he takes it or not, Zuko's still sticking around to apologize. He offers a little namaste bow to excuse himself — over-compensating for the bristliness he's actually swallowing. His tone is a little strained for it, but he means well, even if it comes off a little cheeky-sounding... ]

Excuse me.

[ He stands straight and meets Gokudera's eye uncomfortably, but after holding it a second, he avoids eye contact, tossing his gaze over the other boy's shoulder as another flash of red lightning catches his eye in the distance. Gokudera has a bag full of jars, too. They must both be taking up this lightning mission. Great deductive reasoning, Your Highness, standing here at the bulletin board together. He meets his eye again, trying to save some face by being 'friendly' — by Zuko standards. He gestures with a little nod toward the bag on Gokudera's hip. ]

So, uh, are you— going to capture the lightning, too...?

[ It's still awkward; he unconsciously rubs a hand down his neck self-soothingly. But he's trying... His uncle has been encouraging him to be more willing to open conversation with strangers, and though he's so far kind of shirked his advice (not so unusual), Iroh was particularly needling him about it just the other night, and how there is much to be accomplished here that could be accomplished alone, but would be better with company... Iroh's really trying to spin it to get Zuko out there and out of his head. And technically this guy isn't a stranger. They've met before — awkward though that was, too. Could be a chance to kind of make up for it. If they're already intending to do the same mission, maybe this is what Iroh meant — maybe they could do it together... It's worth a shot. Even if... he just called him an asshole... It's fine. Better than acting like he was about to attack him like last time, he figures. Maybe Zuko still has some face to save from that first meeting, too... Seems like opportunity offering itself up, perhaps. ]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera’s prone to insulting, and he doesn’t know Zuko very well. Their past interactions didn’t exactly endear him, or give him reason to avoid. It’s hard to adjust when there’s no one familiar in this dream-world and he may be falling back into his lone-wolf tendencies. Try as he might to befriend some people, he’s not… great at it.

Those that have actively tried to befriend him in return have mostly gotten him angry. Zuko offering to help him up, bowing, and excusing himself gives Gokudera some pause. He accepts the help, because Zuko’s never seemed eager to get closer to him, not in the way that would bother him. The strained tone is noticed, but he can’t place what he doesn’t like about it.

Gokudera isn’t trying to hold eye contact, because then they’d just both be staring at each other, and that would be weird. Instead, he fusses with his bag some more and grumbles.]

Yeah. Never seen red lightning before…

[He’s going to try all sorts of ways to attract the lightning with his weapons, but worries about them being destroyed.]

It looks pretty dangerous, doesn’t it?

[Gokudera lights up a cigarette and looks off behind himself where Zuko was staring.]

backdated to early-to-mid May, pre-event; closed to Iroh

[rediscovering]

[ Zuko's spent a majority of his days in Reverein out and about on his own, studying and practicing dreamotion alone. It's an exhaustive pursuit — and while the circumstances are vastly different, vastly better, it's not the first time Iroh has seen Zuko funnel so much of himself into training like this. Some shadows of a younger Zuko still linger, even as he inherits a country. And there are still shadows of their time spent together in Ba Sing Se, which feel sometimes especially prominent here in Reverein, with the way Zuko keeps to himself and sets himself to task. He understands this is a chance to work out some inner issues before he ascends the throne, that this dream world vacation provides a chance for some deep reflection. But what he still doesn't understand, is rest. It should be a chance to relax. And Zuko's not even entertaining the idea.

He comes home in the evenings and relies on Iroh for most of his socializing, like before, easily slipping into the comfortable and familiar in that way — not in itself a bad thing... But the safe thing. He comes home tired and eager to help with cooking or cleaning (probably preferably cleaning, for both their sakes) but any time Iroh probes him about any interesting people he may have met, any neighbors in this new world that he's spoken with today, Zuko's answer is the same. ]

No. I didn't talk to anyone.

[ Not the first time he's said this, as they sit down to their evening meal. Zuko's struggling to adjust here and it's starting to show. Familiar dynamics sometimes reemerge in times like that. For better or worse. ]

Re: backdated to early-to-mid May, pre-event; closed to Iroh

[uncle_iroh]

Iroh sighed as he set down food for them both. "At some point you will have to speak to someone other than me. Your voice is like tea, my boy. Best if shared."

[rediscovering]

[ Zuko can't help a little huff, but he's all the same endeared to be beside his uncle again, even if his advice still sometimes falls on deaf ears... ]

Yes, I know, Uncle...

[ Or so he says. But does he really? ]

[uncle_iroh]

"If you know, Zuko, then why do you keep to yourself so?" he asked, concerned.