driftfleet | mingle part deux

[ how bad is it that sokka won't tell him?

there's a sudden tightness in his chest, because it must be bad. zuko can stand a lot, and he's been through a lot, so if something happened -- if azula did something. did she kill someone? she surely didn't kill any of them, and there's no way she could defeat iroh the way she was. why was azula able to escape in the first place? did someone let her out? someone had to have let her out. how bad is it.

bad enough that sokka doesn't think zuko can deal with it, which infuriates him, but also comforts him, and the odd combination of the two probably means sokka is right.

the last thing zuko remembers from home is demanding of ozai where his mother is, getting told to fuck off, and returning to the throne room. angry. furious. but everyone was safe. and everything zuko had planned to do was fine. except his mother.

that thought gives him pause (there's no way, get over it, she's dead), before zuko draws in a deep breath. lets it out slowly. calmly. ]

... locking her up here will be useless.

[ it's said finally, in quiet, muted agreement. locking everything away isn't healthy, but it's necessary for right now. sokka is right. ]

It'll just tear the Fleet apart. She'll make allies, and this isn't home. Her crimes aren't on full display. Telling someone a story isn't the same thing as showing them what damage she did. She'll just pull the maligned sibling card, and she's a lot more likable than I am.

[ how bad is it how bad is it how bad is it ]

We're just going to have to be prepared for the worst, if it happens.

[Sokka had been expecting a meltdown. He'd braced himself for one. It didn't happen and it's almost worse. That'll mean more internalising on Zuko's part than it would be if he just exploded outright. ]

That's because she knows how to manipulate people.

[And has...you know, actual people skills. ]

Ugh, but yeah. We can't even just leave her on a planet. I'd suggest finding a way to take the edge off her bending, but she's just as dangerous regardless.

[Think, Sokka. Think. ]

We do have something here we don't have back home. People from other worlds. Maybe someone will have a solution we can't even think of yet.

She still managed to wreak havoc in Adstringendum, and I had people from other worlds, too.

[ it's getting difficult, to keep focusing on this. but this is his responsibility -- azula is his responsibility, which he apparently fucks up in the future because she manages to break out of her prison --

zuko draws in a deep breath, letting it out slowly again. ]

But there are people I didn't meet before, here. There might be a way, but I also don't want to cause a panic when Azula hasn't done anything yet. It'll just spark sympathy for her.

Edited 2016-01-22 23:21 (UTC)

...Well, that's not comforting at all. Does she remember being there?

[Because if she does, that's one less ace they have up their sleeve and one more that SHE has. ]

Oh yeah. We can only ask people we trust, who won't go and cause a mass panic which is exactly what she'd want. Panicked people are weak people.

I don't trust anyone with this.

[ it's harsh, but true. alphonse and sasuke, zuko absolutely would -- in another world. and he's been honest with alphonse and sasuke, but he's a stranger to both of them. they're not the family they used to be, anymore. ]

And no. She doesn't remember anything. She remembers the day of Black Sun, but she doesn't remember my defection. Not yet.

[Of course he doesn't. If their situations were reversed? Sokka's sure he would feel the same way. ]

That's one small mercy, then.

[But one that's not going to last. It's a window of time, nothing more. ]

I'll hit the books in the library, see if there's anything that can give us any insight at all. If I can't find anything, we might have to turn to someone else for help in this. If only so we got a safety net for when she does snap. It's better than not being prepared at all.

[It's a when, not an if.]

[ zuko is silent for a long moment, letting sokka talk, and letting what sokka said sink in. and he rests his head back against the wall. focusing on his breathing, to ease the tightness in his chest. ]

We need Aang.

[ it's said quietly, tiredly.

aang could make azula powerless. and that would fix this. ]

[And that's the crux of it, isn't it? Aang is the only one of them who can completely neutralize her without killing her. He pinches the bridge on his nose and exhales. ]

Yeah. This is the one time I would actually be okay with Atroma picking someone up and bringing them here.

I know.

[ it's quiet, and zuko exhales slowly. ]

But we can't rely on the Avatar to fix every problem that we have, and I can't rely on him to take care of my family.

[ aang has already done him a huge service, in taking care of ozai. azula is, and has always been, zuko's problem. ]

I know she's not stable, but she is right now. She can be reasoned with, and she's not stupid. I don't think she's going to do anything to jeopardize her position. We have time.

We do. That's one teeny thing we have on our side. She'll wanna build allies. [A pause.] Or at the very least mooks who'll be brought in by her manipulative crap and want to fight on her side. That takes time.

[He moves up from the wall, straightening.]

She's got...what, about eight? Nine? Hours left on the Marsiva? I'm gonna use that time to get some better security on our doors. I need 'em done before she's free and decides to pay you a visit. I can't do a whole lot about her, but I can at least do that.

[ before she pays you a visit.

the thought causes a weight in his chest, and zuko sighs, resting his head back against the wall, closing his eyes. he has a headache. ]

I'm going to have to see her eventually.

[ there's really not an option; he can't hide from her forever, and azula is going to need to be monitored. ]

Do you need help with the locks?

Yeah, well, you're not gonna have to face her alone. We'll have your backs on that.

[Absolutely and completely. He offers Zuko a smile. ]

I'll be okay. You take some time to rest it's...been a day.

[ right, again, with this sudden support. zuko knows, logically, that his friends care deeply about him, but even now, it's still something to absorb. get used to. ]

... I'll be fine.

[ it's at least a quiet admission that he's not fine right now, which is more than most people would get. ]

Better her now than her later.

[ zuko, quietly, is grateful that if azula has to be here at all, it's her like this. ]

[He knows, oh, he knows. Still, at least that means he'll work on being fine. That's something. ]

Definitely. Her later would have been a disaster.

[ he just needs to sleep. which he'll happily do after the shuffle. ]

... I'll make sure the people she's stuck with know what they're dealing with. She'll probably want to see me after the shuffle; I'll let you know what she says.

[ the thought gives him a headache ]

That's a good idea.

[He offers a smile.]

Thanks, man. If you need any help, lemmie know, okay?

[He pust a hand on Zuko's shoulder. He worries about you.] Try to get some rest.

I will.

[ probably, and he offers sokka at least a less severe look at the hand on his shoulder, resting his head against the wall. ]

I'll rest once she's shuffled.

[Zukoooooo ]

Okay, but if you don't, I'm gonna sic Katara on you.

[ zuko doesn't actually respond, but instead gives sokka a level look, that clearly says traitor

there are lines, bro.

there are lines.

~~but it's effective no one wants to deal with that~~ ]

[Sometimes lines have to be crossed, bro. ]

Knew that would work.

[Not a single soul alive wants to be on the business end of a Katara Lecture.]

mingle part deux

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action