Day 287 [Open]

[daughterofursa]

Who: Zuko and anyone
Open: Open!
When: Day 287
Where: Training building, donut tree
What: Sleep deprivation
Format: I'll match
Warnings: Honor

Between Zulf's revelation and Azula's arrival, Zuko hasn't been sleeping all that well the past few days. If she isn't up mulling over their situation, then she's startled awake by any sound as she approaches sleep, thinking of lightning.

She hasn't been at the pool lately either, though she's been sure to show up for her morning training regimen. Whichever of her students might show up have probably noticed the lack of sleep, and certainly by today. Her reaction time is slower and she loses focus at times. Still, she's determined to keep up with it.

It catches up with her by sometime in the afternoon. She just meant to sit down for a minute, and that donut tree is pleasantly shady and fragrant, in a way that doesn't remind her of home. And then, at some point, she drifted off, with Kizuna the baby dragon lying curled up on her stomach.

((Feel free to run into her either by the training building or while she's asleep!))

Comments

[gianthobo]

[Eevee wanders up next to her and curls up near her, watching her sleep. AZ follows and sits, smiling faintly as he pulls out some paper and starts to sketch the scene. He's a little worried about her sleeping out here... but that's just years of being careful and a little paranoid talking. It's all right here... for the most part.]

[daughterofursa]

[Kizuna rouses before Zuko does, lifting her head as Eevee joins them. She's not sure what to make of the newcomers. At first mommy was encouraging her to be friends with everyone she met, but then they met that person the other day that she was really tense around so maybe not all people are nice people.]

[gianthobo]

[Eevee trills quietly, tilting her head. Hello! Naptime is a nice time.]

[AZ nods slightly, but doesn't make any motions towards Kizuna. He doesn't want to make her uncomfortable, after all.]

[daughterofursa]

[It made a noise.

Nope, we're gonna try burrowing into mommy's shirt. Which doesn't work so well but it does get Zuko to wake up.]

What--?

[gianthobo]

[Eevee whines a little, and AZ just waves a little bit.]

Well, look who's up.

[scary_music]

[That's Ibuki, spotting one sleeping Zuko!]

[She's sneak sneak sneaaaaaaaaaaking over... yes, even Ibuki can be sneaky]

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko and Kizuna continue to snooze, oblivious to their impending doom.]

[scary_music]

[Must... resist... urge to laugh quietly at her plan!]

[... silently pulling out a marker as she creeps in closer]

[daughterofursa]

[Still nothing. Zuko is out pretty good.

But no guarantees once that marker touches her face.]

[scary_music]

[Who said anything about Zuko's face? She's going to draw on Kizuna's face!]

[hellpyre]

[Rin had kind of expected this. Zuko had been distracted during training for days now. She was going to say something eventually, but she wanted to see if Zuko would snap out of it first.

Instead she finds the other girl asleep under a doughnut tree.

Yup.

Rin watched her for a minute just to make sure she wasn't about to jerk awake by some one being near, but when Zuko didn't budge she wandered off only to return a little later with a blanket. Might as well let her sleep comfortably if she was going to pass out under a tree...]

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko is still out, but Kizuna perks up. Blanket? She likes blankets, they are cozy and good for hiding under.]

[hellpyre]

Hey, Kiz-chan.

[Rin smiles at her, giving her head an affectionate rub.]

Doin' a good job protectin' your mom, right?

[daughterofursa]

[Yes, she is the best dragon, give her all the pettings.

Zuko shifts a bit, hearing Rin's voice.]

Hnn?

[hellpyre]

[Of course!]

Mornin', sleepin' beauty. Feel better?

[findsrisks]

[Nanaki doesn't go to the training room often, but today she does, and she sees Zuko there when she arrives. She doesn't usually see Zuko fight, so she doesn't immediately pick up on the fact that Zuko is sluggish today.

She does see it when she sees Zuko's face, though. Sleep deprivation shows on people's faces pretty quickly.]

Are you alright?

[daughterofursa]

What?

[Zuko stops to look over.]

Of course. I'm fine.

[findsrisks]

You sure? You look all...droopy. In the eyes, I mean.

[She draws her fingers along the skin under hew own eyes, like she's drawing bags under her eyes.]

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko's expression sours before she realizes this is probably not a comment about her bad eye.]

It's nothing. I just didn't sleep that well. [...for a few nights in a row.]

[findsrisks]

[It takes Nanaki a moment, but soon enough she realizes that her words may have been insensitive. Months ago it had been hard not to stare, but by now Nanaki was so used to Zuko's scar that she barely noticed it anymore.

In a panic, she was suddenly noticing it a lot more now.]

I-I didn't mean- I meant you looked sleepy! Like you hadn't been sleeping well or something and it's making bags under your eyes!

[And since Zuko just said that, then yeah, not sleeping would be the cause of said sleepiness.]

[amphibian]

[Of course Aoi is going to notice how empty the pool has been feeling with Zuko's absence. Not that the two of them are the only ones who ever use it, of course, but it's different.

She's been meaning to take her aside and talk to her about it, but hasn't had the chance; the two of them are as busy as ever independent of all the mulling over the latest information they've been given Aoi's been up to herself.

As the day progresses and Aoi wraps up her afternoon jog, she, predictably, roams over to one of her donut trees to grab herself a snack, and would you look at who's taking a catnap over there! But as Aoi bustles over she realizes Zuko's asleep. Instead of waking her up, Aoi picks a donut off a low branch and takes a seat beside her. She makes a tiny kissy noise at Kizuna by way of greeting (because all animals are dogs and that is exactly the noise you make at bitty dragons, right), and munches on her snack. She can wait!]

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko hasn't been avoiding Aoi intentionally, although it's not an entirely unwanted side effect, considering what she's been trying to psyche herself up for. Seeing the other girl after her talk with Rin (and practically everyone else at the party thx guys), well, it makes her kind of nervous. More than before.

But for the moment she's still sleeping peacefully enough. Kizuna lifts her head at the kissy noise and perks up at the sight of Aoi. It's Mommy's favorite person! Hi!]

[amphibian]

[Hello, tiny dragon future stepdaughter tbh baby! Aoi swallows the bite of donut in her mouth and the kissy noises continue. Maybe she can get Kizuna to wander over this way now that she's got her attention. She'd use a piece of donut as bait but she isn't sure if dragons aren't allowed to have donuts? Aoi definitely does not want to be responsible for making Zuko's dragon sick.]

[daughterofursa]

[Kizuna attempts to mimic the noise first without really any success (it sounds like a hiss), and after a bit she does decide to climb off of Zuko's stomach to come over. She is not sure if donuts are Dragon Food either but maybe a) she can convince Aoi that they are via cuteness or b) she can get pettings.

Zuko is starting to wake with Kizuna moving off of her. Her hand goes to her stomach like she's unconsciously checking for her.]

[amphibian]

[Oh no! The pettings that proceed as soon as Kizuna comes in Aoi's reach halt abruptly when she sees Zuko starting to stir. Aoi very gently scoops Kizuna up and moves to slowly place Kizuna back on Zuko's stomach. No, stay; waking up mommy was not the plan.]