You Can't Go Home [Open]

[knifeurrib]

When she wasn't with Zuko, Mai needed to find something to do that wasn't throwing knives at the wall. Even that got boring after a while. You could only practice so much before your muscles decided you needed to do something else. So, she'd taken up simply wandering through the city. It was decent exercise and she was less likely to run into

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[kaya_waterwave]

She was still angered at Mai's actions, even if that had cooled after her talk with Nokosi. Once she resolved there was nothing she could do for the situation, it was better to let it be. SHE hadn't killed anyone, and until she did, that would have to weigh in on Mai's conscience

[knifeurrib]

Mai wasn't completely oblivious to her surroundings. She just acted like it most of the time. She straightened up from her spot on the couch and walked out onto the balcony, arms supporting her weight as she leaned against the railing. Someone had been tailing her - she was fairly sure of it. Not that she'd said anything yet, of course. She was fairly sure it wasn't Azula. Azula was too far gone to be quite that subtle. Besides, the Princess would want to gloat before she killed Mai. If she tried. She took a long look at the empty street and then raised her voice - just enough for anyone in the vicinity to hear it.

"I know you're out there. Whoever you are."

Maybe there wasn't anyone. Maybe she was wasting her breath. Or maybe if there was they'd reveal themselves.

It didn't hurt to try.

[kaya_waterwave]

Grr. She was trying to keep a low profile: if anyone suspected she was here, it would defeat the purpose. Besides, the whole point of this was staying in the shadows.

"Good. Now just pretend I'm not, I have to make sure that no one is watching."

Kaya wasn't stupid. If Azula HAD been involved in the Ozai thing, what was to stop her from getting lackies to follow them? Right no it paid to be paranoid.

[knifeurrib]

Mai rolled her eyes. "I don't need protection, Kaya."

Honestly, how many times did she have to tell people this?

[zouichi]

Zouichi was thinking over recent events rather than looking for anyone in particular when he heard Mai speaking from the balcony. He looked up, curious; the building was of unfamiliar origin, but that was nothing new.

"Hello again. It's been a while."

He remembered.

It was sort of hard not to, when a gaggle of young humans were all demanding answers from the Council about a problem crew member who seemed so partial to setting people on fire.

[knifeurrib]

Mai's brow furrowed and she stood and moved over to the edge of the balcony - it wasn't that far off the ground, really. It was almost more of a porch. She eyed Zouichi for a moment until her memory was finally jogged. He'd spoken to her once, a long time ago.

"Hi."

Her expression was still one of carefully crafted apathy and boredom.

"What are you doing out here?"

[zouichi]

Zouichi seemed content to look up at her from his current position.

"Nothing in particular. I explore the City fairly often." He made a noncommittal gesture with one gloved hand, vaguely in the direction of the house. "Planning on settling in?"

[knifeurrib]

"Maybe," Mai shrugs noncommittally. It'd be too weird. No servants. Just empty hallways and rooms every morning and every night. Too empty. Too familiar.

"It'd be more comfortable than the rooms they give us."

[things_go_boom]

Just a chance that Lash had been passing by, what with trying to explore more parts of the city in the hopes of discovering something familiar. This wasn't anything remotely close to her homeworld, but it had been a while she had seen Mai. The girl's unique hair was hard to miss (uh Lash...).

"HEY!" she called out from where she was standing, waving.

[knifeurrib]

Mai just looked at Lash for a few moments and let the silence get a bit awkward before she replied, "Hey."

A knife appeared from somewhere in her sleeve and she toyed with it, tapping the flat of the blade against the railing of the balcony, a bored expression on her face.

[things_go_boom]

Oh silly Mai. Lash was used to being around guys that wrote up the world awkward. Heck if you looked up eerie calm guy, you'd probably find Hawke's face next to it.

With a running start, she ran up the wall, defying gravity until she was on the balcony, closer to her. The advantages of having CO powers.

"This a new place you found to live? It's not bad at all!"

[knifeurrib]

"It's boring," Mai replied, "Just like everything else."

It might've been home, but the very few pleasant memories of this place involved Zuko.

Has Mai met a talking pony yet?

[whining_unicorn]

Rarity was running a little low on ideas for her latest creations and she heard about the various structures in the city so she was currently taking a leisurely stroll down the pathways, soaking in the sight and remembering the designs and colours.

She stopped by the building with the red and gold decor. The gold was sticking out and it twinkled in her eye. "Ooo." She said to herself and spotted a girl with peculiar looking hair up in the balcony.

"Hello there! Do you live here?" The unicorn called out with a smile.

No. No she has not.

[knifeurrib]

For the first time in a very long time, Mai could only stare while she tried to think of something to say. She was staring at... something. Four hooves, a horn. Purple hair. White. It looked like an animal, but it was talking.

This ship just kept getting weirder. She swallowed her astonishment, kept her mask up and leaned out over the railing with a bored expression on her face.

"I used to."

She paused and then arched a brow, "...what are you?"

[whining_unicorn]

"I'm a unicorn pony. I assume such creatures are from mythical folklore in your world? I come from a world filled with ponies." Rarity replied and her neck was starting to tire by looking up.

"Do you mind if I come in? It's a bit more comfortable if I don't have to strain my neck that much."

[knifeurrib]

"...knock yourself out."

Not like she cared what happened to the stupid place anyway. Not here.

[burnedbrighter]

Things had not gone well for Azula since visitation day.

She had become a shadow in the halls of the ship, few could recall seeing her, some even thought she might have been returned to the pods (and some would have been relieved by that).

She felt herself slipping back down the hill despite her best efforts to the contrary.

All because of that...that woman!

I love you Azula and I always have. "No, nononono!" She muttered continuing to drift through the city looking once more disheveled and decidedly unkempt

[knifeurrib]

Mai had a fairly good view of the street from her balcony. So it wasn't that difficult to spot Azula. She hadn't seen her in weeks and she'd quietly hoped that she was gone by now, but there she was. And then Azula collapsed and Mai was very much reminded of just how far Azula had slipped done the road to insanity. Some small part of her felt pity, maybe even sympathy. Of course, that was overridden by an urge to not become a walking torch.

She cautiously leaned over the railing, hands feeling for the knives in her sleeves.

"What are you doing here?"

If Azula wanted a fight, she'd give her one.

[burnedbrighter]

"I don't know!" She hissed her voice echoing in the courtyard. She had thought the voice was in her head so she didn't look up yet. "I don't know anymore." She shook gently under her robes and felt her hair slip over her face like a curtain of silk.

[knifeurrib]

Mai blinked. So, Azula didn't seem to realize she was here. She looked terrible - well, she'd looked terrible since she came aboard. The proud young woman she'd used to be seemed to have vanished entirely.

"Why?"

Call Mai curious.