☄12. Encounters by the pond. [Open RL in the Fire Nation.]

[honorregained]

So what if it was his birthday? Turning eighteen meant you were an adult in some places, but Zuko had been an adult for years, in function if not in reality. It didn't mean anything to him. He was sure his mother and his uncle remembered the occasion, and that warm glow of assurance - that he knew they would without having to ask, or check - was

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[peoplesprincess]

The first thing Azula noticed was how calm things were. There were no riots, no mobs, no protests-- at least not within the palace walls. All the people who lived and worked here who had supported her... had they all been thrown in prison? Or had they simply taken the coward's way out and bowed down to a traitor's rule?

Both options made her blood boil. How dare they try to make it look as if nothing had happened? How dare they act like everything was peaceful and happy now?! Zuko was ruining her country, her legacy, and her life, and he had no right to act like everything was fine now.

Fire at the ready, Azula swooped into the courtyard, her eyes wild and angry. "You think you can just fly in here and take my throne from me?" she called loudly, her words aimed at Zuko (though others around might hear her, too). "Well, guess what? I can do the same thing!"

/jumps back in I HOPE THIS IS OKAY, VIVI

[peoplesprincess]

Azula noticed Larsa come, but she didn't react any more than she had reacted to Zuko. She stayed where she was, staring straight ahead.

IT'S ALL FINE GUYS. <3

[honorregained]

He let his book fall to the floor, standing up and turning to face the newcomer. He was dressed suspiciously, which instantly made Zuko frown, expression furrowing.

"Who are you?" he asked, positioning himself subtly to protect his sister. He knew she didn't want it. But right now, she probably needed it.

[honorregained]

His eyes widened, and he couldn't stop himself from relaxing even a little. Hesitantly, Zuko let himself approach a few steps.

"You're the one that commented," he said slowly, glancing back to keep track of Azula, but she truly wasn't moving. Exhale. "Thank you. I'm sorry for - what happened to him." Because, though he couldn't do anything about it, he hadn't forgotten.

[honorregained]

"I wish I had gotten the chance to know him better," said Zuko, sincere and pushing down all the remnants of grief in his life that arose. Seeing Azula like this was hard and provoking.

Then he saw his covering motion and raised his eyebrows, making a mental note to look into this mysterious person later. For now he had more important things to worry about.

"Can I have your name before you go?" he asked finally, compromising on that.

[honorregained]

Zuko sighed in aggravation and settled himself on the floor again with his book. He'd have to ask Mello after all.

[gonnabe1st]

The air shimmered as if from heat as Mello appeared in the courtyard, snapping his watch shut and slipping it back into his pocket. He expected that quiet sound to draw Zuko's attention, at least, since otherwise his transportation was completely silent. Glancing around, he pushed his sunglasses up into his hair as he approached the Fire Lord.

[peoplesprincess]

Azula's reaction to Mello was much the same as it had been to Larsa-- she noticed him, but didn't react.

[honorregained]

On edge from the fight still, and Azula's odd behavior, Zuko stood at the first hint of noise and turned toward Mello. He felt tense, and slightly awkward. In all his life he'd never had to take care of anyone before, much less his younger sister.

He pushed it aside to focus on more practical reality. "Thank you," he said preemptively, voice low. Zuko tucked the book into his sash. The cloth around his left arm was slightly charred, and his hair was by then falling out of its tie, the crown lop-sided. He reached up and removed it altogether, sighing as he placed it with his discarded over robe. His hair fell messily around his face.

"We'll have to make this quick. I sent the guards away, but they won't stay for long."

[peoplesprincess]

Azula saw the crown as he removed it. Her eyes followed it.

[gonnabe1st]

Mello simply nodded, keeping his voice just as low. "Don't mention it." He took note of Azula looking at the crown, but decided against mentioning it.

"I'll get this over with, then. But I've never been at her place, do you have an adress or anything to go by?"

[honorregained]

Hyperaware as he was to anything Azula did (part of him just couldn't relax; when was she going to attack?) Zuko noticed her watching him remove it, too, but decided it was immaterial. They'd be leaving shortly anyway, unless--

He sighed. "Everything is going wrong today," he muttered. "One thing after another... No, I don't know where she lives. It's... Earth somewhere. I'm sure Azula knows." His gaze communicated how reluctant he was to try to pry the information out of her in the state she was in.

[gonnabe1st]

Not that Mello really wanted to try and talk her into anything if she was in that kind of state. He couldn't predict her well enough at this point. "Well, nothing to it. I can probably fix this, but you'll have to give it a few minutes."

It should be possible to trace one of her old posts back to her usual location, or ask somebody about it, but he'd have to make sure he had the right place. Quickly he pulled out his phone to text Matt about the situation- he would be quicker about this than he could at this point.