[2nd Breath] Video | A Three Day Odyssey (July 22-24)

[luckymonster]

[The feed opens with the view of a large tree within the depths of Fayren's forests. Upon that tree was a cross and on top of it was a sign that said, 'Fayren city guardian; pray for assistance.'. Azula knows little about praying. But she had to challenge the current city guardian of Fayren for guardianship. As much as she hated it, she had to follow protocol. There was a guardian listed in the Employment Center, so she had to check if that one was absent first before she dealt with Mewtwo.]

Day 1
[So there she was. Azula sat right in front of the tree wearing her casual outfit, which she bought using the money Zuko lent her. She had her coat wrapped around her waist because it was hot. Her cropped top did nothing to hide the bandages that surrounded her body. She had multiple wounds and bruises around her waist, arms and her face.

People will also notice that there is a blinking device on top of her sternum - a pacemaker. She was already too weak from all the bending and running around the city and during her last bout of redirecting a lightning strike, she failed to completely release it. Instead of passing by her stomach, she accidentally made the last bit of lightning pass through her heart which made it stop momentarily.

So there she was. A boring scene. Sitting on the ground with both arms parallel to the ground. One arm had its fists clasped against the palm of the other. The whole afternoon after she left the med building of Nova City, she just sat there and tried to pray. The feed was open so people will see as she challenged the person named god. But no one appeared. Disappointed, she simply addressed the feed, in the same manner she'd address her men, with authority.]

People of Fayren, is this your guardian? This God-person? Where is he? or she?

When the attack happened in Genessia City, its guardian was also missing. I would hate to see the same thing happen to this city! I know there are many capable citizens in Fayren, some of them I've had the honor of working with. But a city still needs a Guardian and deputies thereof.

[Private to Satsuki]
To think I would have died if your subordinate came a minute too late. You have my gratitude.

[Private to Zuko]
I'm out of the hospital. You can stop crying like a baby!

[She is trying her best to be comforting. Clearly it is failing.]

I need to keep using the pacemaker for another week. So no lightning bending from me. I...I appreciate having your presence there.

Day 2
[There she was in front of the tree again. This time, since daybreak. She is standing and has both hands clasped together like an Air Nomad Monk. If people look at her closely, she doesn't have a single wound on her body anymore. No bruises. All of it gone, leaving nothing but scars. This was because of Rekka's help. Something she'd have to see about repaying at some point.

She had both eyes closed. She did not eat and remained standing there in front of the tree until midnight. Again, no one arrived.]

[To Raye Hino] [Not Locked]
Fire Priestess. I would be honored if you would grant me an audience. I can be there in a few minutes. [She's not kidding. She will be knocking at the temple doors, regardless if its 12 midnight.]

Day 3
[Today, she is wearing a more elegant outfit. Something which she would wear to any party. She'd wear something more fit for royalty, but she had no budget. The money Zuko lent her wasn't going to last if she bought something more elaborate. So now, the trees were surrounded by candles with bright blue flames. She made sure the candles were away from anything that would burn while she finished her 'praying'. It was the perfect setting to invoke a god.

Today, she prayed standing. Then, often times she would kneel and face the ground with both palms planted to the ground. She'd bow every few minutes and then straighten her back once more. Then she would look into the skies, kneeling, and both palms facing the heavens. She did this continuously until the sun was threatening to set.]

Nothing?

[She had a calm face as she looked at the feed to address the people once more. Her brows seemingly furrowing. There was one speech that resonated in her mind, the same speech her father gave to the then-Fire Lord Azulon.]

Fayren.

This god-person has abandoned you! There is no way for us to know if she will return any time soon.

I have no intention of abandoning you. I believe I've proven my worth in a time of calamity. I have shown myself to be capable. I urge you to cease this opportunity. Use me. I am your humble servant. Allow me to be your City Guardian. I vow that you will not regret it.

[With that she ends the feed.]

[Private to Zuko]
Zuzu. I think I found a job!

Do you still expect your poor baby sister to pay that money you lent me? [Insert Azula's standard puppy face here.]

Comments

[Video]

[flamescout]

Are you going to try and burn it down like you did that apartment building?

[That video was pretty public, so she doesn't think her identity is in any danger of being revealed.]

Just because I'm a fire priestess doesn't mean I'm going to tolerate someone who's a reckless pyromaniac!

[Video]

[luckymonster]

[This is her amicable face. The one she uses when she needs someone. The same face she easily abuses.]

Of course not. My heart was just in turmoil that time. I wasn't needed here as much as I was needed in my country.

[Now there was a pout, as if she was sorry about the lives of those people.]

I mean, wouldn't you go berserk too if you were tasked to protect a whole nation who was being invaded, then you wake up here?

[Believe it or not, that excuse is very true.]

Then you shouldn't tolerate the bastard who did this to the city, right? I mean, after all, I actually helped out the city~

[Video]

[flamescout]

I wouldn't set innocent people on fire!

[It'll take more than a pout to soothe Raye's temper.]

Fix the damage you did and apologize to those people, then we'll talk!

[Video]

[luckymonster]

[She actually looks at this unmoved. As if it wasn't her fault at all.] People cope differently I suppose. Still, it's better than setting the entire city in fire.

[Then a smile.]

I fixed it.

[Zuko did for the most part.]

All of them are working again in the Regency with no problem at all after they came from the hospital.

[Video] Day 3

[psychic_supremecy]

The position is filled, but I suppose I could do to hire a subordinate.

[Video]

[luckymonster]

[She narrows her gaze for a moment. For a moment trying to remember who this was. Then she remembers, it was the guy who was claiming the same position. Quite easily the tension on her face leaves, and instead, her lip curls.]

Ah yes. Cause clearly positions are filled by just saying you'll take it.

[Video]

[psychic_supremecy]

In my world, such disputes are settled with tests of strength, however I can assure you that is one fight you cannot win. I would suggest you accept the offer I have graciously laid out before you.

video | locked to azula + zuko;

[banishment]

[ zuko hadn't cried until the doctors explained to him what exactly a pacemaker was and why his sister needed it. he didn't know which terrified him more: the fact that she needed it at all or that the beating of her heart was being entrusted to a piece of technology instead of the healing hands of waterbenders. that had broken him, pulled at the last of the strings he had knotted around his heart to keep his head cool and level during the crisis, and he'd collapsed into a chair in the waiting room and sobbed into his hands.

he waited to visit her until she was out of surgery, until he could compose himself well enough to visit, but he knew she could probably tell he'd been crying. his good eye was pink and swollen, his cheek rubbed raw from the way he'd scrubbed at it with his hands in a futile attempt to wipe the tears away. (was this how katara felt after he helped hurt aang?)

that was a few days ago, and azula was since out of the hospital — the last thing he expected to hear from her was that she got a job. ]

You what? Where? Doing what? [ he was working double shifts at the tea shop to help compensate for dual expenses. his time in ba sing se taught him well, he knew how to manage money from watching his uncle and keeping careful count of everything, knowing well that he couldn't just dip into the treasury rooms of the catacombs beneath the palace to fund his every need. ]

video | locked to azula + zuko;

[luckymonster]

[That was the scariest thing in the world for Azula. Sure Azula was scared when she fell to the ground because her limbs went numb. It was also frightening to feel her heart jump up to her throat in protest as it felt the lightning circle around her chest and paralyze her heart muscles. It was horrifying to know that it could be possible that this was where her life ends. All the greatness which people told her she was capable of, and she dies here?

But something else scared her more - her brother.

When she finally had enough control of her nervous system, enough to open her lids, she saw Zuko sitting beside her. He was different. Azula was prepared for him to scream at her. She was prepared to hear him say how stupid she was and actually meant the lecture. But there was none of it.

This was her brother. All their life it was always a screaming match and a battle to see who was better. But then, he barely even raised his voice. His eyes were so swollen and he looked like he was in pain. But he didn't look like he suffered that many injuries at all. He tried hiding it but it was too evident. He cried. Not for himself but for her. It scared Azula so much. It made her so unsure. Because Zuko sad, without her taking anything from him or teasing him was too unnerving for Azula.

What's worse was, he watched over her the whole time. She was worried that he was doing it because he pitied her or just because he thought she was his responsibility. That was the last thing she wanted. Yet, for the first time in years, she felt like she had her brother back - completely. It made her feel like she had someone else now aside from her friends and her father.

So when her brother responded, she put up her usual cheeky smile for him. There was no way in hell she'd allow herself to endure his sad face, ever again.]

If all goes well, I'll be the City Guardian of Fayren.

[There was just a matter of destroying her competition. Minor details. Nothing to concern her brother about.]

It'll pay five times better than that school of incompetent students. Which is good. Plus, those students I met last week; 9 years old and the can't even carry a broad sword. Pathetic.

video | locked to azula + zuko;

[banishment]

[ she didn't know it, but they were enemies again back home. he doesn't know whether she found out from the guards he threw over the side of that airship, their father, or mai after she read through his hastily pieced together "sorry" note after he failed to have the decency to break up with her in person. but in spite of that, just because they were enemies didn't mean he wanted to see anything bad happen to his sister. he'd fight her if he had to (no, he knew he would have to, sooner or later), and would take her down if there was no other choice, but there was a difference between doing what needed to be done and enjoying it.

he wouldn't enjoy it. quite the opposite, actually. he didn't want to be part of the tradition of spilling familial blood, and most certainly didn't want azula's blood on his hands. and after seeing her like this, he wasn't certain whether he'd be able to do it at all, left with no other choice or not. it would feel like such a hollow victory, brother taking down sister. azula on the throne would be disastrous, but signing her death warrant would make him a monster and he was not their father.

...or their mother. if anything, zuko was coming to realize with startling clarity that he was more like iroh than he was either of his parents. more like roku than sozin. ]

I could hold a broadsword at nine. [ this was where defense of those children would fall, but he doesn't defend them. instead, he reaffirmed that at their age, he was better, because he doesn't have the heart to snip at her right now. it was easier to just do it the fire nation way and lay claim to dominance than assert someone else's.

he sat down the tray of empty cups he'd been carrying when he caught her summon on the network. ] So, you found a way to rule after all? I guess I should be impressed.

Day 1 | Action

[openflame]

[Rekka was still working rounds around the place to help fix or clean up anything that needed attention. Partly because he didn't have anything better to do, and partly because he wasn't such a bad guy when it came down to it. The teen hadn't had time to form any real bonds, and he was a little lost with how to spend his time. He never noticed his brother's fire during the whole mess, so Rekka was at least aware Kurei didn't take part in any of it. He wasn't entirely sure of Kurei's back history, but he knew enough to know Kurei only reacted when cornered or provoked.

Eventually his round crossed paths with a certain fire bender whom Rekka only exchanged words once with. Only, she was in better condition the first time. Perhaps it was wishful thinking to think she would have made it unscathed, when she was capable. Maybe he really was an idiot?

The teen never got her name then.]

What happened? You were fine when I saw you!

Day 1 | Action

[luckymonster]

[She was slowly trying to get up from the ground when she wobbled and fell back on her butt. Stupid muscles won't listen to her commands. She had a scowl on her face when she saw Hanbishi. That was his name. At least, that's what she recalled. He seemed to be touring the forest or getting lost. Azula couldn't care at the moment. She was in so much pain after all.

At first, she was going to lie, because she hated being pitied, but she decided against it. Maybe she could get Hanabishi to help her back to the apartment.]

You use fire too. I'm sure you know that there's a limit to how much we can wield elements, right?

Action

[openflame]

[She didn't know Rekka very well, but he didn't hand out pity to just anyone, and not even his closest friends got it all the time. They were more likely to make fun of you or rub it in than tell you they feel bad. All lessons she would come to learn if she spent enough time with him.

While he was a little disappointed that she was rendered down to such a state, he couldn't do anything to the bastard who started it all.]

A limit? You're joking right?

[Of course he had the last resort of removing his gauntlet to call upon his fire to its full extent. Granted it meant risking his life, but he would always have some level of power.]

You look like you've been pushed down a well, why are you out here?

[video / private]

[weavemyownfate]

[Satsuki was caught in the middle of exercising, so when she appears on the feed her hair's done up in a braided bun and she has a towel draped over her shoulders.

And she's pretty pleased that the fire bender appears to have finally spent time doing some investigating.]

Welcome back, Azula. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

And you have my thanks for your cooperation. The results of your dominance over fire and lightning were nothing short of phenomenal.. Were you gifted with such abilities from birth?

[video / private]

[luckymonster]

Thank you. I'm glad to be back thanks to your efforts.

[She returns the smile and what appears to be a slight nodding of her head. As if she was trying to bow a little to show respect.]

Of course. I was a born prodigy. From the time I was born I had control over fire. And as I grew older, I took dominance over lightning as well. But you shouldn't disregard the wonders you did. You have my respect for your efficiency.

[video / private]

[weavemyownfate]

You're too kind.

[She somewhat brushes off the compliment, or they may just end up patting each other's backs all afternoon. Which might be fun, but there are more important matters to discuss.]

I see.. I would like to talk more about your abilities sometime; perhaps over tea. But, more importantly, there appears to be a hint of interest in Fayren's Guardian position from you?

[Video]

[dragonform]

[Ryu is hanging out at his campsite, cooking what appears to be some game he had caught earlier.]

And why should any of us trust you after you decide to burn down that building? I'd sooner stick my hand in a curr's maw than let someone with such a disregard for others try to take up a position as a Guardian.

[Video]

[luckymonster]

Correction, just the lobby. And that was quickly put out.

[Then a smile.]

That was a momentary lapse in my part. Like I said that time, I was a Fire Lord of my nation.

[A grim pause]

Before I was taken here, my people were rendered helpless due to a natural phenomenon. People from other Kingdoms took advantage of that momentary weakness and attacked us. My primary use is to defend my people from such enemies and see that they will never succeed.

[A sigh - which was meant to make her appear weak.]

How would you feel if you were burdened by such great purpose and responsibility, and find yourself being kept here against your will? Knowing that being here and not there means certain death for your people?

[Video]

[dragonform]

[Oh, Azula, you have picked what is probably one of the WORST people to try this line on.]

I sympathize with wanting to defend your people, we're not totally different there. But anyone wielding power must be held accountable! Do you really think that something like a momentary lapse in judgement as you put it is an acceptable excuse?

[Yeah, he's not gonna buy her story that easily.]

I already am. You don't see me trying to torch some building or make someone kneel before me because of it! And don't you dare talk to me of responsibility when you've already proven to have incredibly poor judgement.

[Never mind the fact that he's totally the one who struck her down.]

If you expect to be a Guardian, your trust is already fractured. You're gonna have to do far better if you expect me, let alone anyone to think you're a good candidate.

Video

[grindpantera]

I'd be surprised if they let you have the position after the shit that oyu did.

Video

[luckymonster]

Considering a lot of people owe me their lives, I won't be surprised at all.

Video

[grindpantera]

I think quite a few people owe their disfigurement to you too. What was it that they did again to receive that kind of treatment from you?

video;

[whiteas]

I'm not saying that I wouldn't vote for you, but who are your opponents? I like to be informed before I make any decisions.

video;

[luckymonster]

And you should.

[And this is why she should keep tabs of what votes everyone makes. She needs to know who is with her and who were against her. But her musings refused to surface upon her features. In fact, she gave her a neutral smile.]

A creature named Mewtwo. I believe that was the name he gave me when he was announcing his claim whilst the rest of us were trying to save every possible life.

video;

[whiteas]

[ A creature. Whether Weiss wants to trust Azula with this job or not, she's only barely accepted faunus as people that she's okay with. A full-blown creature wasn't anyone she wanted in charge. Maybe it was definitely discriminatory, but Weiss wasn't perfect. ]

What kind of a creature? Not that it would matter if he really decided that was a good time to make a political campaign announcement.

[ She can hope for a third candidate, can't she? ]