dusting off a rusty muse!

[restorehonour]

... So you want to give this another shot?

All right, just one condition. Don't send me anywhere too messed up, got it? And don't bite off more than you can chew.

[Zuko, that's two conditions.]

I can count. Look -- don't ignore the point. I'm asking nicely.

Comments

[ex_tessen852]

Muns have a good way of not following either of those conditions.

[crossformingraccoondog]

Does it even help to ask nicely?

[restorehonour]

People tend to respond better to it than to the opposite.

[This is new Mr. Fire Lord trying to be diplomatic. Kinda.]

[restorehonour]

Guess I'll just have to wait and see whether mine will, this time around.

How about you, Suki? How's your mun treating you?

[crossformingraccoondog]

Those who don't want to listen won't listen no matter what way you talk to them, though.

[ex_tessen852]

[She sighs.]

I'm pretty sure you don't want to know...

What do you mean by this time though? Your mun's put you through a lot already?

[energybend]

Messed up? Would your mun really do that to you, Zuko?

[burnedbrighter]

So demanding Zuzu~

But as usual, useless. Muns will do as they desire. This weekend mine is sending me to two places even though I clearly don't play well with others.

[maipokerface]

You mean there are places that aren't messed up.

[Half question, half 'yeah right, I believe that'.]

[restorehonour]

It's been a while, but I've been to a few places.

[restorehonour]

So you think it's better to not even try? That's not how I do things.

[restorehonour]

Maybe, maybe not. I'm warning her before she gets any ideas.

[energybend]

Well... maybe you should start thinking in the opposite direction. Like maybe she'll actually send you somewhere really amazing, with people you know and everything!

[restorehonour]

Two places? [oh spirits azula even in one place is more than enough] ...Are you going there on your own?

[Might be trying to do the concerned big brother thing. Probably still failing at it.]

[restorehonour]

Well... Some places are worse than others.

[hi mai

after recent comics this isn't awkward at all]

[burnedbrighter]

Yes. And in one place I am having my history...altered. Becoming a native of their world.

But still broken. Still crazy. Still a monster.

And both places it will still be your fault.

1/2

[restorehonour]

Yeah! And maybe there'll be rainbows and joy and poodle ponies!

[THE SARCASM IS OVERFLOWING]

[restorehonour]

--Let's be real, Aang, muns like messed up stuff.

[ex_tessen852]

Oh? Let me guess, they were loads of fun?

[maipokerface]

You've got a point. There's a few I wouldn't want to get caught in anyhow.

[Yup. Not her fault either so have fun stewing in the awkwardness with her.]

[restorehonour]

If weird is your idea of fun.

[restorehonour]

You're not a monster, Azula.

[He takes the accusation in silence. If it's anyone's fault, it's Ozai's, but he knows she won't believe him even if he says so.]

[restorehonour]

[weh weh]

Like the boring ones?

[Lame joke ahoy. With Mai, "boring" could easily fall under "worse".]

[burnedbrighter]

We could both name a number of people who think otherwise.

But...if you still think I can be saved...

http://theamusement.dreamwidth.org/3570.html?thread=523506#cmt523506

[maipokerface]

[She looks briefly, vaguely amused before she tilts her head down.]

At least you haven't forgotten that much, huh.

[restorehonour]

[Attempt to lighten the mood: ruined.]

Mai... There isn't a thing I've forgotten.

[maipokerface]

Of course there is. I mean this time I didn't even get the honesty of a letter. That's at least a little forgetful, right?

[crossformingraccoondog]

I didn’t say that. Then how do you do things?

[restorehonour]

Are you forgetting how furious you were about the last letter?

[He really doesn't want this to turn into an argument, though, especially not when he has any right to argue, so he drops it.]

I don't know what I can say to earn your forgiveness, but for what it's worth, I'm sorry. I messed up -- again.

1/2

[maipokerface]

[Her expression darkens. Yeah she's being bitter and petty bringing that tidbit up but it feels good to be bitter and petty. It feels good to be something other than sad and longing and hurt.

Then he doesn't carry it further than that and she just...]

[maipokerface]

I'm sorry you keep messing up too.

[It's another bitter jab and even Mai gives a disgusted sigh after it, starting to depress herself with how she is about this.]

Never mind. I thought I was over this by now. [A derisive huff of air follows, tone tinged with ironic amusement at herself.] Apparently not.

[Clearly aunties wrong about the whole flowers cheering her up thing.]

[energybend]

I heard there was a game like that! Nooot sure on the poodle-pony part, they might just be ponies. I bet there's definitely rainbows there, though. Hey! Maybe you'll get lucky and your mun will send you there!

[restorehonour]

I won't make excuses for how I acted. But I never meant to hurt you.

[It was wrong of him to shut her out, keep secrets from her, and to think he could order her around. He'd become like his old self -- obsessed with his goals, not trusting or depending on anyone. It was a part of him he never wanted Mai to have to see.]

[maipokerface]

And that's always the problem, isn't it.

[Her words drawl out in that particularly lovely sarcastic Mai way. Dry as dirt but managing just enough lilt.

And the saddest part about it all? She believes him. Completely. If there was ever a bigger idiot for a guy...

She brushes that all aside though.]

I wanted to talk to you anyhow. My dad's up to some things. Some 'New Ozai' society.

[She's all seriousness now. It's like the anger at him has been bottled back up and sat aside, her apathy folded up and put under it. Just for now.]

They want to see your father back on the throne. Not that I think they'll be successful at it but I don't know what else he or the rest of them are up to now.

[ex_tessen852]

Well, can't it be sometimes?

[metalbent]

That's your mistake right there, Sparky. Why are you asking? Do something about it!