Likely going to Rekindle

[maipokerface]

A place where physical contact is mandatory.

...

Well, at least Omashu can have some competition when it comes to places I loathe.

Comments

[everlastingturmoil]

Always a downer.

[maipokerface]

I just call them like I see them.

[everlastingturmoil]

How exciting.

[maipokerface]

You mean actually having logic excites you.

[everlastingturmoil]

It was sarcasm, Mai.

[maipokerface]

I guess I just don't speak your form of sarcasm then.

[And here she enters the drolliest, driest tone she can.]

That's me, Miss Excitement.

[everlastingturmoil]

The right way?

[ he's smirking. ]

I know. You always had a certain spark about you.

[maipokerface]

[Okay, that earns a grudging, amused snort and the faintest of faint small smirks.]

I thought you were more into sparks of another kind.

[everlastingturmoil]

[ he stiffens, arching a brow. ]

What kind of sparks?

[maipokerface]

I don't need to spell that out for you, right?

[honorrestored]

Physical contact?!?

[Hang on, Mai. Give your boyfriend some time to get overly protective and slightly jealous.]

[maipokerface]

[Not this again.]

Apparently. It's mostly a lot of hugging or something like that.

[honorrestored]

...Oh, okay. I didn't understand.

[Well, that's... a little better than all of the other "physical contact" games he's heard about.]

[maipokerface]

And that's your problem, you react before you understand.

[That being said though.]

Though this mun keeps right on saying she's got other ideas she "in due time".

I don't care for this whole mun business. Mine's like some lecherous old man, it's disgusting.

[honorrestored]

What do you mean? Does your mun have something terrible in store for you?

[His voice is thick with good-natured but perhaps excessive concern. He's starting to worry if he should worry the same about his own mun, now.]

[maipokerface]

I guess you could call it that. I tend to think it sounds more tedious and boring than anything. Not that I like the idea of 'collars' but some place devoted entirely to one thing? That doesn't sound very thrilling.

And this place just sounds tedious and boring too. Who wants a thirty-second hug a day with a stranger?

[honorrestored]

I'm... not sure I like either of those ideas, either.

[Of course he doesn't. He's Zuko. He likes honor and vegetables.]

[maipokerface]

Only stupid people would.

[But what about the vegetable's honor, Zuko?]

[honorrestored]

[Vegetables have no honor. That'd just be silly.]

I'm not sure if my mun has any plans for me. I don't even think my mun's sure yet. But whatever they are, it'd be nice if I could keep seeing you.

[maipokerface]

[She gives him a small, slightly amused smile.]

You'll have to work harder than that to get rid of me this time around.

[honorrestored]

[He smiles back... a small, "sorry I haven't always been the best boyfriend" smile.]

Good. And this time, whatever happens, I promise won't keep any secrets.

[maipokerface]

[Ignoring her mun 'tsking' at her keyboard in favor of perhaps somewhat blind belief in his words. Zuko is the rare person Mai actually would like to put some measure of hope and faith into.]

I'm counting on that promise.

[She closes the distance between the two of them easily, never one to be shy about getting up close with him in particular. And when she speaks, she actually sounds serious - perhaps a little too gravely so but it's Mai.]

You know you can trust me, don't you? I'm not Azula and I'm not my parents either.

[honorrestored]

[He nods slowly, his head hanging a bit low. He deflates rather quickly.]

I know that. I was more worried about what might happen to you if you knew I was going to leave the Fire Nation to join the Avatar.

[And the Ozai thing? That's just because he was ashamed.]

[maipokerface]

What did you think would happen to me? What, that I would be interrogated? That Azula would do something to me?

[honorrestored]

Yes! No! I mean... it wasn't right. I should have asked you if you wanted to come with me.

[He looks down, clearly ashamed.]

But I had enough trouble turning against my own family. I didn't want to ask you to do the same thing.

[maipokerface]

[She studies him a moment, her lips set in a firm line of displeasure. And then she turns her head, frown taking over but somehow softening that look of hers.]

I left them in the end anyhow when I turned against your sister. There's no way they could welcome me back with that sort of blemish. Not my parents. They didn't even dare try anything until after you took the throne.

[Her tone turns ... disappointed? Maybe. There's a tinge of it creeping in there anyhow as she crosses her arms under her chest.]

I care about my parents and my brother but there's no loyalty there. If you had just explained things to me...

[If you had explained things to me, I would have went with you anywhere.

Her expression darkens, then she sighs out roughly and her look returns to that line face bland expression of hers.]

Never mind.

[pinkaura]

Ooh, doesn't that sound like fun? It'll totally add some colour to your aura!

[maipokerface]

You can't cuddle color into my 'aura', Ty.

[pinkaura]

I can't?

But cuddling would totally add colour.

[maipokerface]

I didn't mean you specifically.

[She studies Ty a brief second though and adds.]

I guess for you it would though. You do feed off attention.

[pinkaura]

I do not. [Maybe just a little...]

I can't help it if people notice me.

[maipokerface]

Then you definitely need to be the one to go. The only way I get noticed is if I throw a knife.

[Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.]

[pinkaura]

But won't you be noticed even more in that place? Besides, like I said, hugs will totally brighten up your aura. It won't be all pale and beige anymore!

[maipokerface]

I thought it was a dingy, pasty gray.

[pinkaura]

...Do you still want me to refer to your aura like that?

[maipokerface]

... I guess beige is an upgrade.