thebastion | Day 295 [Open]

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Music notes?

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

... 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...

...

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

...maybe some other time.

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]

Yeah, maybe then.

[Zuko offers her the cup of tea. And Kizuna takes the opportunity to crawl off of her arm onto the table. Does she get tea, too? Please?? It's all nice and warm it must be good for dragons.]

[Ibuki carefully sips her tea]

So, so, what's the matter, Zuko-chan??

[While she's mulling over whether or not to even answer that question, Zuko does come to the conclusion that tea can't be that bad for dragons and pours just a little bit for Kizuna, whose head promptly disappears into the cup.]

It's just... You were wrong about Aoi.

Huh?

... I... ... huh? You mean...? Really???

Yeah.

[She's not sure what else to say about it.]

Oooh...

...

I'm sorry...

[She feels a bit responsible, being one that pushed the ship, after all]

It's no one's fault.

[Right? Certainly not Ibuki's.]

Isn't it kind of Ibuki's fault?? For pushing you to do the thing?

...

... Ibuki's been rejected before, you know. W-well, uh, of course you don't know, Ibuki's never told you about that, but... back in Ibuki's world, she had a crush on a member of her old band... well, like... not rejected right away but... she sorta dumped me.

Edited 2015-03-31 21:30 (UTC)

Actually it was more Rin's idea.

..but I wouldn't have done it if I didn't want to.

[She hesitates. That was a "she" there, right?]

So you're...... bisexual?

I still feel bad, though!

Ibuki's totally bi, yup!!

... So, so, is there anything Ibuki can do for you, Zuko-chan?? A hug, maybe??

I don't know.

...what did you do when you got dumped?

I pretended I was okay but... when I got home, I miiiight have cried a little.

... A lot.

It was a few days ago. I don't think I need to cry.

[~~She already did that.~~]

Either you already cried or you're just holding it in, then...

[Ibuki's face was unusually serious]

I... didn't really feel any better after I was done. If anything, I just felt more... lonely. Back then, I never felt like I had anybody to turn to when I was feeling down. I don't know if that's how things were for you where you come from, but... there's a lot of people here who are more than willing to help you, now. Me included.

I know.

Things are a lot different for me here. I'm a lot different. I used to get angry about everything. But I can't be angry with Aoi, and I don't want to be angry with myself for being like this.

[Maybe she is still holding something in.]

Yeah, yeah, you're right, but sometimes we'll feel things we don't want to, no matter how much we try! You can try to hide it all you want, but that doesn't really help anything.

I don't think I am angry. I'm just...

For the first time, I thought maybe I could be with someone because I loved them, and not because I had to.

And now it's gone again.

...

[Ibuki thought back to her ex, before Hope's Peak Academy... and when she thought about it, could anybody have said anything to make her feel better?]

[She stood up, walking to Zuko and slowly reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder.]

... I don't think... there's really anything I can say that would make it hurt any less, Zuko-chan. At the least, though, you can still be friends with Aoi-chan, right? [she had a hard time seeing Aoi cutting ties with Zuko over this, after all. Aoi didn't seem like that kind of person] It's... kind of a crappy consolation, I know... but it's still something.

[It's more than what Ibuki had, but Zuko didn't need to hear anymore about the musicians's past issues right now]

[Crappy consolation? Zuko doesn't see it that way.]

It's a lot.

I just shouldn't have thought there'd be any more.

Ahaha... if you think of it as a lot, then that's what matters. Ibuki didn't have a chance to really stay friends with her ex, so...

[oh, she ended up saying it anyway. Not that it would have mattered anymore... said ex was dead along with everybody else she'd ever known...]

But, you know, at least you know for sure, instead of wondering forever whether you could have been that way with Aoi-chan, right?

... ahhh... Ibuki could use a hug now. Do you mind, Zuko-chan??? Maybe you could use one, too.

Well, I don't want to be the kind of coward who can't even ask.

[Just the pessimist who thinks the answer will always be no??]

...no, I don't mind.

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