time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted.

[pyroelectric]

Who: Azula + y'all
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: HS MARSIVA BABY
When: Idk, now.

[Oh, she's furious at first. Waking alone in a strange place, with no one to answer for her predicament? Azula is not happy about that. But she refuses to lose her cool under pressure. She won't waste time throwing a temper tantrum. Instead she gets to work. When she can't find anyone, she looks for exits. When she can't find any exits, she finally resigns herself to examining the-- the "communications log", her augment helpfully supplies.

Hm. That's new. She absorbs that information and continues. Figuring out how to use the system is somewhat of a learning curve at first, but the augment helps her along until she has the gist of it. She snorts in derision as she reads and watches one log after another, published by individuals clearly once in the same predicament as herself. Every post the same as the last. "Where am I? How did I get here? How do I get home?" How ridiculous, she thinks. If only they had bothered to take a few extra minutes to figure out how to access the network records, all their questions would have been answered, and they would have been saved the indignity of looking like a fool. Well, no-one will catch her looking like that, that's for sure.

The more she reads, the less she likes. Her scowl deepens the longer she spends. After a while, few unpleasant facts make themselves readily apparent:

1) This is not home. Few here will recognise or respect her authority as crown princess of the Fire Nation.
2) Her ability to threaten or intimidate people into doing what she says while she's being held captive on a completely separate vessel to everybody else is virtually nil. First rule of thumb: don't give threats unless you can actually follow through on them. Otherwise you only look stupid.
3) She currently has no money with which to bribe people with, either.
4) Her brother is here, has been here for a while by the look of things. She doesn't understand how that's possible, but there's no point in debating the facts. He's also had time to make allies.
5) She, on the other hand, has none.

All in all, it's an extremely unfavorable position to be in. All her favourite tools have been summarily taken from her. Arms crossed, one finger tapping on her arm, she tries to think of the best way to spin this horrible situation to her advantage-- at least until she can leverage herself some bargaining chips, or isn't on the Marsiva. She reads further back on the network some more, until one particular post gives her an idea. A brother, separated from his siblings. The sympathy pouring in for miles. It's a masterful stroke, really. ... Well, that settles it. Mind made up, she uncrosses her arms and turns on the video feed, prepared with her most innocent smile.]



Good evening, citizens of this... ah, fleet. I am Princess Azula, of the Fire Nation. Your newest arrival, of course. Not to worry, I've already availed myself of the answers to the standard newcomer questions.

I'm addressing you today because I believe some of you may already be acquainted with my dear brother, Prince Zuko. I do hope he's all right-- ever since we were young, you see, he's had this knack for getting himself into trouble. If it's not too much to ask, I'd be extremely grateful to anyone who can put me in touch with him. Or at the very least, let me know how he's doing. From what I understand, apparently he's switched his message apparatus off to take a long nap. I wouldn't want to interrupt.

In any case, I look forward to ... co-habitating with all of you. [No, she absolutely does not.] I suppose if you wish to introduce yourself, you may do that too.

[If it's a competition the Atroma want, she doesn't intend to lose. But she can't do anything from her current position without backup and information. As irritating as it is to have to fake interest and politeness, this will help her get the lay of the land much more efficiently than causing a scene right off the bat. There will be time enough for that later.

Plus, it will absolutely infuriate Zuko, and that's always hilarious.]

Comments

[pyroelectric]

No? You'd be surprised. After all, family can be so complex.

... I'm sure you understand.

[eyeforaneye]

... love isn't complex.

Clouding it with other emotions you may feel for someone can make it seem that way, or dealing with circumstances that make those feelings seem invaluable or counterproductive to you.

Ultimately, though, that doesn't change anything.

[pyroelectric]

[Azula just snorts derisively.]

Love is for fools.

[eyeforaneye]

It depends on your priority in life.

Power for its own sake is much more idiotic.

[pyroelectric]

[And it's at that precise moment that Azula decides that Sasuke is a lost cause. Anyone who doesn't understand the value of power isn't someone who can be reasoned with.

So instead she just smiles and sighs.]

Well, if you say so.

[eyeforaneye]

[ Look, been there, done that, lost all trace of sanity, it's Not Worth It. ]

Power is just the means to accomplish something. If that 'something' isn't the most important thing to you, what's the purpose?

[pyroelectric]

You're wrong.

Power is control.

[And control is the most important thing to Azula. Both of others... and herself.]

[eyeforaneye]

What do you consider to be out of your control that you need more power to quell?

[pyroelectric]

[That's... actually a good question. Her eyes narrow for a split second and it looks like she's actually considering the question seriously, unsure. Like she's never thought about it before. Her driving and motivating force has always been the approval of her Father. Her desire for the throne only because her Father has been grooming her for it from day one, so she feels entitled to it.

But Azula is already the crown princess. With Father gone... it would only be Zuko who would be more powerful than her.

Ah. But there's the rub, isn't it? Zuko. Somehow, the thought of him lording his power over her, of him sitting in her seat that she deserves as the better child, of ruling the Fire Nation when he's such a miserable failure-- it chafes. And it's no secret that Zuko doesn't like her. He could make her life very difficult if he came to power and decided to enforce it. He wouldn't let her have free reign like Father. She would be on his leash, or so she imagines. It would be humiliating. The very thought of it disgusts her.

None of it shows on her face, though. On the surface, she still appears cool as a cucumber.]

I'm sure you'd like to know.

[eyeforaneye]

[ It isn't her words that gain attention but the twitches of facial muscles, the very faint narrowing of those eyes for that bare moment, something he almost misses... and thus his eyes lighten to red as he activates the sharingan, unwilling to miss any future signs of emotion. Humans are generally too difficult a puzzle for him to solve but it doesn't stop him from trying to gather as many pieces as he possibly can.

She's clearly trained in hiding them. ]

That's the reason people ask questions.

I didn't realize you'd become too uncomfortable to answer so quickly.

[pyroelectric]

I'm hardly accustomed to explaining myself to commoners.

[eyeforaneye]

... I'm nobility.

[ I mean. Just as an aside, if that helps you. ]

[pyroelectric]

... Are you now.

[Curiouser and curiouser. Another piece of the puzzle clicks into place.]

You'll have to forgive my surprise. My condolences to your parents. Nobles where I come from have much better manners.

[eyeforaneye]

[ hahahha he hates you but that's okay. He's fine. Breathe. ]

I'm familiar with manners and I show them when I both want to and need to. So far neither requirement's been fulfilled.

[pyroelectric]

[You prod Azula about her family, she'll prod you about yours. Fair's fair, after all.]

Oh? Have I done something to incur your ire? And here I thought we were just having a friendly conversation.

[eyeforaneye]

We aren't friends, I'll remind you, and thus it's not friendly.

[ She is so the opposite of everything he is in a conversational sense. It almost reminds him of Orochimaru, almost perpetually smiling and clearly planning something. Until Sasuke killed him.

... okay, we'll stop that train of thought early. ]

You still can't answer?

[pyroelectric]

Of course. My mistake.

Well then, since it's not friendly, I'm clearly under no obligation to answer anything you ask.

[eyeforaneye]

You never were under any obligations, you were just answering anyway. Probably because of the implication involved in not answering.

People can still learn a lot from silence.

[pyroelectric]

People can learn a lot from the questions you ask, too.

[eyeforaneye]

If you want to call me strange or rude again then you're free to. I've heard them many times before.

[ No, he's well aware that there's much more than that, but he's also ready to again deny significant connection to Zuko. Which is both true and a lie, really. ]

[pyroelectric]

I wouldn't dream of it.

[It's too premature to reveal her cards just yet. She'll wait until the opportune moment. Tomorrow, maybe, or next month.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.]

[eyeforaneye]

[ Sasuke's motto is much more 'revenge is a dish best served whenever the guest is at or even remotely near the table so you can just keep trying over and over until they eventually give up and die'. It's not as concise and snappy as Azula's. ]

You don't have to keep faking for anyone.

[pyroelectric]

Call it a favour.

[eyeforaneye]

That's impossible for me. I dislike pointless lies too much.

[pyroelectric]

Ah, but pointless for who?

[Azula still has every reason to keep her cards close to her chest.]