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

[fireburn]

[although azula had talked about turning over a new leaf (for whatever ends that was supposed to be for), she hadn't really spent a lot of time around her "sister," although maybe that was why. giving her space in the name of greater good?

now, though, it's finally time for her to stop and check in on her and much to her surprise, Zuko looks downtrodden. And she didn't even get to cause it herself.

whatever this is as good a time as any to impose herself on zuko and sit down next to her.]

Poor Zuzu, you look so troubled.

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko glances over at her with a frown. Great, Azula's certainly not going to help her feel better about herself.]

I thought I told you not to call me that.

[Kizuna doesn't notice Azula until she speaks, but then she stops playing to watch intently, not sure if she should hide? Mommy doesn't seem to like this person.]

[fireburn]

It's hard to remember that, after everything.

[it's said with the sweet tone of like "since you're my most beloved sibling and our wonderful childhood I always called you this." which is kind of far from the truth]

But I will try. [beat] Why don't you tell me what the matter is?

[daughterofursa]

[Have the most skeptical WTF look Zuko can muster. How do you do that with a straight face?]

Why, so you can laugh?

[fireburn]

[practice makes perfect!]

So I can listen.

[findsrisks]

"What's got you so down and out?"

Nanaki had seen Zuko look worn out before, but this was a different kind of look. This seemed to scream disappointment to Nanaki, rather than exhaustion. Had something happened?

[daughterofursa]

"Is it that obvious?"

Zuko never really thought she was easy to read, but people in the Bastion always seem to figure her out. Then again, the only thing she really was back home was angry, and people picked up on that pretty well.

[findsrisks]

"Obvious enough," Nanaki said, "Is it something you want to talk about? Or would you rather do something to take your mind off of whatever it is that has you troubled?"

[daughterofursa]

"I don't know. It's kind of personal." Not that that stopped half the Bastion from teasing her about it beforehand, but Nanaki wasn't one of them.

[twinked_witch]

As Megaera took her walk, she happened to notice Zuko... Just kind of sitting.

Something told her something was up, and she slowly moved to approach.

"Hey."

[daughterofursa]

Zuko looks up. "Oh. Hi."

She would try to look more normal, but she's not good at hiding how she feels, and looking unhappy somehow is normal for her anyway.

[twinked_witch]

Megaera responded by simply slinking in and taking a seat next to Zuko, her split dress doing the usual showy thing. Actually, not quite as much; it seemed like she'd lowered the split a tiny bit after she was revealed as a succubus. Huh.

"... What's wrong, if I might ask?", she asked after a few seconds.

[daughterofursa]

Zuko appreciates the change. Except not really, that's still a lot of leg.

"It's not really a big deal."

[hellpyre]

Should Zuko ever take a moment to look up and pull out of her thoughts, she'll find a small pastry being held out to her by a familiar hand.

Rin didn't say anything, just waiting for Zuko to notice her first. There's a basket on her elbow, presumably with more food in it.

[daughterofursa]

Kizuna notices Rin before Zuko does, and she halts her attack on some particularly feisty grass to come trotting over. Is there Dragon Food?

That's when Zuko realizes there's food being offered to her. She reaches up to take it, glancing at Rin. "...thanks." There's a slight question in it as she's not sure why she's getting a pastry.

[hellpyre]

Rin has no idea what bitty dragons even eat, but she did bring some jerky. Normal jerky. Not the stuff that Ibuki made.

Taking the basket off her arm, Rin dropped down next to Zuko before taking out a strip of the dried meat to give to Kizuna.

"Not the best comfort food ever but it's still sweet."

[daughterofursa]

"Comfort food?" She probably does look like she needs it, but Zuko's never really been one to eat to make herself feel better. ... Not that she's good at doing anything to make herself feel better.

Meat is good, Kizuna is happy to gnaw on the jerky.

[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.]

[notachickenhawk]

Tobias worries.

It's natural, given what he's been through, even before the war. People leave, people get hurt... but there's people here who accept him. Who are friends. They can't replace the people that are gone (not gone, he reminds himself, they'll find them), but they're still nice to have.

And Zuko's definitely one of his friends, which is why when he sees her sitting and not drinking her tea, seemingly lost in thought, he swoops down and lands next to her. He doesn't say anything, not yet, but just looks up at her. She'll speak if she wants to.

[daughterofursa]

Zuko does manage to notice him and figures she should offer a greeting. "Hey."

Kizuna is much more curious about this one. It has wings but it doesn't look anything like a dragon. She creeps towards Tobias through the grass.

[notachickenhawk]

<Hey.>

He looks over at Kizuna warily. He's not sure if she's going to decide he's prey or not... but he's more concerned about Zuko, honestly.

<Something up?>

[daughterofursa]

"Not really." She is not even successfully drinking tea, she is literally doing nothing.

The not!dragon has spotted her! Kizuna freezes. But she will start creeping closer again once he stops looking her way. She's just curious, really, she's not going to pounce.