video; un: fireprincess

[unstable]

[ Azula flashes a crudely drawn picture of Zuko across the screen. It's really just an over-exaggerated stick figure with some red crayon over an eye (possibly the wrong one), but it gets the job done enough for what she's about to do. ]

This is my poor, poor sick brother Zuko. We are in dire straits because we cannot afford his medical expenses, so I am asking all you good, kind-hearted people in the world to please send us some money to make sure he can get better.

I will put my information at the end of this video.

[ You can debate about how sincere this all was......., but she did her best sad and humble impression and she's had a lot of practice watching Zuko do it her whole life. Either way, she attaches whatever you need to send her cash directly. ]

Comments

[beautyrest]

What does your sister enjoy? And I can stop by later today, if you're both alright with that.

[rediscovering]

[ There’s a longer delay between responses, then finally: ]

well i could pick it up........
youre already troubling yourself just by cooking for us at all..

[ Wait, he’s supposed to be sick, he forgot. Shoot. ]

[beautyrest]

If you are unwell, you will do no such thing as to come and get it. And it is no trouble at all.

I am perfectly capable of walking to your home and dropping it off, Zuko.

[rediscovering]

oh. right.......

thank you..

[ And with great hesitation and a due sense of dread, he gives her their room number at the inn. ]

[beautyrest]

I shall make you ginger noodle soup, just as I did for Gokudera. I'll bring some chamomile tea as well so you can sleep easier tonight.

[rediscovering]

thank you....
i like ginger
and tea

To action for the three of us?

[beautyrest]

Well, then how fortunate for you I will be bringing both. I shall see you and your sister soon.

action!

[rediscovering]

[ Zuko's coming home furious over all this. The lying post, exploiting his friends, Azula's insults about Aurora, her accusations of his having a crush, and the fact that now he feels he has to pretend to be sick... He went along with Azula's lies as a favor to her; he let her lie about him. He knows she needs the money. If she actually even got any with such a dumb, transparent post, in his eyes. But he has half a mind to send money back to anyone who gave it to her, behind her back, because he finds this all ridiculous.

It seems it's always one argument after another these past few months... ever since Iroh arrived, frankly. That was the first match lit. But things are tense and he's angry, but still... going along with it... under her thumb. Naturally falls into step with her like this. Even when they get along better than ever before, though, as close as they've become — it's still not necessarily peaceful, nor exactly friendship. It's something else, a different kind of relationship entirely. He knows why Azula's mad about Aurora coming over; he knows why she's upset accusing him of having a "big, fat, ugly crush on some blonde bimbo." But just because for once he thinks he understands... doesn't mean he'll actually be understanding.

When he comes home, he's scowling already, as soon as he walks in the door. He'd been at Hikaru's; he'd been having a nice day. And he also got a surprise haircut, having not mentioned it to Azula at all... He spontaneously had Hikaru cut it short again, a little more chic and modern than last time he'd gotten a cut in Prismatica. He'd let it grow out again for so long, and his hair always grows so fast, that it's a dramatic change. The cut flatters him well; Hikaru even styled it subtly for him with a bit of product, gave him some shape and texture! He'd look handsome, were he not wearing such a deep scowl.

He glares at Azula, stands there at the door silently for half a beat, throwing her a look, before walking hurriedly to the bedroom, taking unusually long strides. He slams the door behind him. But after a moment or two, he re-emerges in a new outfit, wearing a big grey T-shirt and his loose-fitting red pants from the Fire Nation, barefoot. If he's sick... he probably should look comfortable. Plus his shirt was covered with bits of hair from his little makeover.

He plops down in a dining chair and crosses his arms, glaring silently at Azula once more. Already bratty. ]

[unstable]

[ Zuko's behavior seemed irrational to her, so her already non-existent sympathy couldn't be mustered at all as he furiously moves about their apartment. It felt bizarre that he felt the need to continue this charade instead of blowing her story up, she wouldn't have minded in the slightest-- anyone that wasn't an idiot would have saw through her in an instant. They had, even. Milking money out of dumb peasants was hardly a serious crime, especially when she had much more valid reasons to use it.

So it bothered her more than he was entertaining this, that she was forced to entertain this, meeting someone she'd prefer to avoid altogether. You will not speak to her that way. Please, she'll talk to whomever however she liked and there was little he could do to stop it, especially when he consistently felt it appropriate to bulldoze over her and her feelings since they'd arrived on this shitty planet. ]

Should I punch you in the throat? For the fake illness, of course.

[ Please say yes. She won't hold back. ]