Day 295 [Open]

[daughterofursa]

Who: Zuko and anyone
Open: Open!
When: Day 295
Where: Dragonfield
What: Rejection hurts.
Format: I'll match
Warnings: Honor

When it comes to rejection and disappointment, Zuko's had years of practice. It should help that it wasn't really a rejection exactly, just nothing changing. Aoi didn't reject her as a person. They're still friends. Awkward friends, for the moment, as anyone who joins the morning swim lessons can probably attest to.

But this is the first time she's tried to handle it without getting angry. No one did anything wrong, so there's no one to be angry with, not even herself this time. She didn't do anything wrong, right? She doesn't think so, but there's still this feeling that won't go away, and maybe it is her fault.

What would Uncle tell her? It's hard to imagine. He only ever tried to talk to her about boys, and she always changed the subject.

She made tea for herself anyway to see if it would help, but in the end she just winds up sitting with the cup forgotten in her hands. Kizuna plays nearby, attacking various plants by the shore.

Comments

[scary_music]

[Ibuki was just randomly running around as usual, when... well, that's a sad looking Zuko, so the musician jogs over. She probably would have bothered her if she wasn't in a bad mood anyway, though]

Hey, hey, Zuko-chan? What's wrong? What's the matter???

[daughterofursa]

What? It's nothing. I'm just having tea.

[Yes, because it's not possible to have sad feelings and tea at the same time.]

[scary_music]

Then... you're having tea while sad, Zuko-chan.

[daughterofursa]

...do you want some?

[If only Zuko knew how to successfully redirect conversations. This probably won't work.]

[scary_music]

Zuko-chan needs comfort tea more than Ibuki does.

... wait, no, actually, sure, Ibuki could use some tea, too!

[daughterofursa]

[...oh wait, she only has the one cup. Zuko starts to get up.]

I'll have to go get it.

[And she does briefly consider not coming back but only briefly.]

[scary_music]

Okay! Lead the way!

[Ibuki... follows after Zuko, anyway, so that plan wouldn't have worked]

[daughterofursa]

Oh, uh. Okay.

[So she guesses.. Ibuki is coming to her house?? This might be a terrible idea. In that case, a short detour to fetch her dragon first.]

Kizuna. Come on.

[Once baby dragon is up on her arm, she heads for the bridge across the river towards her house.]

[scary_music]

[You make it sound like Ibuki's going to terrorize your house]

[... oddly, Ibuki follows Zuko quietly (quietly?!)... for now?)

[daughterofursa]

[She doesn't usually bring people home okay.

Zuko has one of the cottages closer to the river. From Ibuki's perspective, it probably looks pretty traditional Japanese, with an obvious red and gold theme in the decor. The kitchen/living area are the same room, a teapot on the stove and the rest of the cups arrange neatly on a low table.

Zuko's tsungi horn is also sitting in one corner. Please do don't notice it.]

[scary_music]

[Ibuki peers around as she enters the house and... yup, that's a horn she noticed]

Ooh! Zuko-chan, you have a horn?

[daughterofursa]

Yeah.

[Zuko gives her a wary look as she heads over to the stove.]

[scary_music]

[Ibuki walks over to the horn and-]

Can Ibuki try it? Can she???

[daughterofursa]

[...well, at least she's not asking Zuko to play it.]

I guess so.

[scary_music]

[Ibuki carefully picks up the horn, looking it over. She plays a few test notes to get a feel for the instrument]

[After a bit, she starts playing some upbeat jazz-like music with it]

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko turns with the teapot in hand to stare at her a little.

She's definitely never heard it sound like that.]

[scary_music]

...

[She stops when she sees Zuko staring at her-]

Y-you don't like that kind of music, either, Zuko-chan...??

[daughterofursa]

... It's all right.

I've just never heard it played like that.

[scary_music]

...

[She offers the horn to Zuko]

Show Ibuki the music of your people, Zuko-chan!

... please?

[daughterofursa]

I don't really play for people.

[scary_music]

R-really?

But... but how is Ibuki supposed to play the music you like, then, Zuko-chan?! Maybe, maybe you can share the music notes at least???

[daughterofursa]

Music notes?

[Guess who wouldn't be able to read your musical notation.]

[scary_music]

... oooohhhh...

... so, so that's no go...

So the only way Ibuki can play Zuko-chan's music is if she hears Zuko-chan playing it...

[daughterofursa]

...

[Zuko brings the teapot over to the table so she can pour a cup for Ibuki.]

...maybe some other time.

[scary_music]

Right, maaaybe when you're feeling better, then? Ibuki will bother you about the horn music later.

[She carefully sets down the horn where it was at before going over to sit at the table]