[Mun just read the Search part 3]

[burnedbrighter]

You were always such a fool.

Of course that's how it ended! Did you really expect any different!?

There will be no happy ending for me. That was stolen away from me long before those books were ever written.

Now leave me to my exile. It is a better fate then you would have chosen for me.

You're an even bigger fool if you honestly believe that there's still hope.

Comments

[deconflagration]

If you'd give everyone around you a chance, there could be a happy ending for you, Azula.

[burnedbrighter]

No!

I tried to do the right thing! For our people and for myself but SHE ALWAYS GOT IN THE WAY!

And now you see just how far she was willing to go.

Be happy with your new sister Zuko. I'm sure she'll be much easier to handle.

[maipokerface]

What, are you still playing the victim here?

[burnedbrighter]

Even you must admit the end of my story was dissatisfying. Even death would have been preferable.

[maipokerface]

Maybe. It is what it is though. You're the only one who can change that.

[burnedbrighter]

I haven't been the master of my fate for a LONG time Mai. Nothing I do from here can change anything.

All I can do is discourage this irritating Mun creature. Just when I thought for sure his will to torment me would break...well let's just say I'm still miserably active in other worlds.

[maipokerface]

Not with that kind of attitude about it anyhow.

Muns are bound and determined to break anyone. That's how they are.

[thepinkest]

I dunno, that always seemed like one of those free-will things to me.

You know, like choosing to be nice to people or not. What you do to them determining what they'll do for you and all that stuff.

Buuuut maybe that's just me.

[burnedbrighter]

I am cracked, but never broken.

Even with such an unsatisfactory fate I never willingly allow him to direct me to a new one. I find his choices...unsavory.

[burnedbrighter]

That is very clearly just you.

If these books have done anything, they've proved that our parents are largely the cause for everything wrong in our lives.

Specifically her...

[maipokerface]

[Mai makes a slight amused sound.]

That's how most of them are, I think. That's how most people are.

[thepinkest]

Iiiiii don't know about that. Once you pick a course and stick with it, what're they gonna do?

[burnedbrighter]

Then how can anyone be opposed to thinning out the ranks of humanity?

Surely the so called "Peace" that my brother is always fooling himself into working towards would be easier to achieve with a few thousand less manipulative, selfish, stupid creatures to oppose him.

Are the lives of such twisted things really worth protecting? Does he need to feel better about himself by protecting them?

[burnedbrighter]

Interfere. Their plans were in place long before we ever had the chance to consider our choices.

Even worse with these mun creatures.

I suppose none of it matters now though. Maybe I'll be eaten by a forest creature and save everyone the trouble of wondering if I'll ever come back.

...or maybe I'll burn down the forest just to upset that spirit. Maybe that will upset the plans of those that would see me dead.

[maipokerface]

Don't look at me, I'm not the one to explain the way he thinks to you. That would be him.

[She pauses there, then sighs out a bit.]

If you ask my opinion on it, the Fire Nation has more than enough blood on it's hands already. If your brother is trying to do anything it's to clean up some of that.

[burnedbrighter]

Oh, so you do have your own opinions on the war. I was starting to worry you'd become even more apathetic.

It doesn't matter anymore. If the Fire Nation is truly so foolish that they'd follow him without question and just accept that two of their greatest heroes were locked away forever then it's a waste of my time to care about their future. It doesn't look like it will effect me in the least.

[She can keep telling herself that all she wants, that doesn't mean she can stop thinking about it]

[maipokerface]

[Her tone of voice dips even blander than usual.]

You know better than that. I've always had my own opinions. I just don't usually care enough to share them.

[And then she waves a hand.]

You really should stop lying to yourself though.

[burnedbrighter]

That was part of what I respected about you. When you did share your opinions they were usually insightful. But after you chose him over me...well I can't very well put all my faith in your logic anymore.

[Grumbles and looks away because she hates to admit she's wrong]

Why bother? Everyone else seems to enjoy it so much. I thought I might give it a try.

[maipokerface]

I didn't choose him over you. I chose not letting you kill the man I loved over you.

Because that's not who you are. You're not the kind of person who can just swallow a lie and live on it. You never were.

[speaks_with_fire]

Things can always change. Don't write yourself off just because of some events that went on.

[burnedbrighter]

What's the difference?

Maybe not, but look at where that person wound up. Written off like a minor character in the story of my own life.

[burnedbrighter]

I didn't write myself off, they wrote me off.

And in the last few years of being trapped with this Mun creature I'm beginning to understand just how little my will matters in the face of such forces. When every fiber of my being screams no all it takes is a stroke of the pen to send me hurtling towards my next great humiliation or pain.

[maipokerface]

Plenty.

You're written off when you want to be written off. Is that what you want?

[speaks_with_fire]

Yeah I know some things aren't exactly easy to face. I mean I've dealt with fucked up shit that can explode you with its mind.

But here's the thing. Those things still bleed and think. Muns do too. They're not infallible. So turn that embarrassing situation on its fucking head.

Wake up naked next to your sworn enemy? Fucking own that situation.

[burnedbrighter]

Like what?

I've considered it. But I never can seem to reach that point. Even when you...

...when a version of you brought me to my lowest. I could never simply end it.