all aboard the ss blamless

[pyroelectric]

Who: Crew of the SS Blameless and visitors.
Broadcast: Nope
Action: SS Blameless
When: March, or until we feel like a new one.

[It's a mingle! Get out of the car!

Unique ship notes for new crew and visitors: giant, unmissable scorch marks currently line the walls of several corridors leading from the cargo hold to the bridge!

Also, thanks to Kate, we now have a SWEARS AND ATTITUDES JAR displayed prominently in the kitchen. Whenever someone's being naughty instead of nice, they're compelled to deposit a few credits (or at least an iou) into the awaiting jar.

Also also, we are all still bunking together. HAVE FUN.]

Comments

[pyroelectric]

Perhaps. But one does get used to dealing with all the royal fuddy duddies in time. And it's not without it's perks.

[Namely: people doing what you say all the time.]

... Adopted. Ah, of course. Now it makes more sense.

[t65]

I guess. You can't really go off alone and do your own thing though, can you?

[Properties: shooting womprats.]

Really? [He laughs.] It didn't make any sense to me when I found out.

[pyroelectric]

You think so? I do my own thing all the time. Father trusts me.

[Which is to say, Azula's interests align well enough with her father's that she doesn't need to rebel.]

Well, it makes more sense than you being a prince, Luke. [She just says it matter-of-factly.]

[t65]

Oh, yes. I'd be a terrible prince... [There's so much work involved.] Your father is king, then?

[pyroelectric]

The term we use is Fire Lord, but it's essentially the same thing, yes.

[t65]

'Fire Lord'... does that have to do with the flame I hear you can conjure up?

[pyroelectric]

[Sounding bored:] Indeed.

My world is divided into four separate territories based on lineage, I suppose you could say. Well, three now. The Fire Lord is the head of the Fire Nation, the Earth King was the head of the Earth Kingdom, and so on and so forth. Earth, fire, air, water, yada yada.

A select percentage of the population can manipulate the element of their people. We call it bending.

[t65]

Hmm. [Luke is slowly becoming more somber. When he asks his next question, he's downright serious. He's turned away from the counter, and his attention is on Azula completely.] And how does lightning factor into that, Azula?

[pyroelectric]

Lightning is just the ultimate form of manipulating heat in the air around you. Obviously.

[t65]

But... [There's something wrong about that. Luke can't quite put his finger on it, and frowns, trying to think of what it is. Manipulating heat... that can't be right.]

[The Dark Side is cold.]

[Luke smiles up at Azula with renewed hope. There's hope for her yet.] You know, I never thought about it like that. The Force isn't tied into... raw elements. Maybe there's something you could teach me.

[pyroelectric]

Don't tell me you want to learn how to bend lightning?

It's impossible. Even some of the greatest firebenders can't do it. You have to have complete control over yourself and your emotions.

[t65]

[If Luke had a drink, he'd spit it out.] No! No. [That was a bit vehement, and a tad out of nowhere. He shakes his head.] I didn't mean, uh, bending. I meant the mental aspect. The- the way you envision the elements must be very different.

[He shakes his head. Learning to conjure lightning, no thank you.]

[pyroelectric]

[Oh? Was that a chink in this farm boy's seemingly unflappable demeanor?

Azula advances closer to Luke, a look on her face like a predator that's caught the scent of blood.]

Don't tell me you're afraid of a little electricity, now...

[t65]

[Luke refuses to be coerced by a little girl. If he can stand up to the emperor, he can stand up to this. His shoulders square.] You don't want to fight me, Azula.

[It's not a mind trick, or anything like that. He states it clearly and confidently, like he did in Jabba's palace. It's sliding quickly and easily from Luke the Farmboy into Luke the Jedi.]

[pyroelectric]

[Azula continues advancing until she's all the way in his space, close enough that there's barely breathing room between them.]

You're right. I don't.

[She claps him on one shoulder in a gesture that is supposed to look comforting, and then leans in as she says in a voice low enough to only be heard by him:] Yet.

[t65]

[Maybe it would be better, if Luke could forget the fact that Azula was a teenage girl, or maybe it would be worse. Regardless, the fact that he was just threatened by one is... well. When Luke laughs, it's not cruel. If anything, it's surprised. Azula has audacity, he'll give her that.]

I don't- don't want to fight you either. [He says, still sniggering slightly.] Who knows, you might change your mind before it's too late.

[pyroelectric]

Hmmm... no. I don't think I will.

But you can keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better.

[t65]

[He shakes his head.] I hope you do. I don't want you to get hurt. [It's said with real concern, rather than boasting condescension.]

[pyroelectric]

Oh? You think you have what it takes to take me on, farm boy?

[t65]

[The insult bounces off him completely. He sighs a little sadly.] I really wish I didn't. Power is a responsibility, Azula. To yourself and others. You still need to learn that.