Video

[sizzle]

Who: Zuko
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Bishop
When: Now

[ When the video starts up the face on the screen sure doesn't look happy, but then again it so rarely does. ]

I've been here long enough to have gotten my bearings, so I won't waste time with that. Right now there's only one thing I want to know, and I refuse to believe no one can answer that for me.

[ His jaw sets. And he does his best to make sure it looks like he's standing up straight and means business here. Even over video he wants to come across as having a certain air of "no nonsense allowed". ]

I'll keep it short. Tell me who or what is Atroma, and where can I find them.

Comments

[delicioustea]

[ Iroh looks concerned, too. Normally this should be a happy reunion -- or at least, you know, not an upsetting one for Zuko.

He'll turn, beckoning for Zuko to follow ]

Come on. I will get you some tea, and you can tell me what is weighing so heavily on your mind.

[sizzle]

[ He nods, following a small distance from his uncle. ]

Uncle, there are things I need to tell you. Things I've done, that I'm not sure you know about yet.

[delicioustea]

[ He pauses, just for a moment, at that. Sokka had mentioned that they came from different times -- was that possible here?

Either way, after a brief moment, he continues and gestures for Zuko to have a seat as he pours a cup of tea, expression fairly neutral ]

Go on.

[sizzle]

[ He takes a seat slowly, watching the tea cup carefully. It's easier to stare at that than it is to look at Iroh right now. ]

Uncle... do you remember--

[ Pausing. ]

When we lived in Ba Sing Se together? Do you remember that?

[delicioustea]

Yes, of course I do.

[ He takes a sip of his tea ]

I remember many things after that, too.

[sizzle]

[ Zuko tenses up, looking at Iroh with apprehension.

Then... does that mean...? ]

Then you've already know... you've already seen it.

[ His tone drops lower. It's hard for him to speak above what he is now, and even still his voice wavers. ]

The way I betrayed you.

[ And his head drops too. The shame and guilt feels suffocating, but it was his choice, his actions that led him to feeling this way. He has to accept it.

He looks up now, still nervous. ]

But uncle, you...

[ Iroh doesn't seem angry at him right now. He should be. After what Zuko did he has every right to be furious with him. ]

[delicioustea]

[ ... Oh, that's what this is. Zuko is from further behind than the rest of them. He stares Zuko down for a moment, stroking his beard, because -- how does he deal with this? He'd been through all kinds of crazy situations in his long life, but time travel shenanigans wasn't one of them.

He does know that Zuko needs to know exactly what he heard last time. Simply telling him that he already apologized and was already forgiven wouldn't actually help Zuko's guilt lessen. He was clearly from a point where he had found his way again -- and he didn't need Iroh to guide him down that path anymore. ]


You are worried that I was angry with you.

[ It's just an observation. He already knows it's true, but, you know. He'll let Zuko talk it out and get out what he needs to. ]

I'm not late! ... I'm super late...

[sizzle]

[ Zuko looks so confused. His uncle seems so calm. His uncle is offering him tea, and acting like Zuko is a welcome guest.

But he shouldn't. God knows that Zuko doesn't deserve any of it for all he's done. ]

Aren't you? You should be! After everything I've done...