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

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

[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.]

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Yes you..

[And her feed gets slammed on the ground as Azula laughs finally. Yes, it was certainly worth it. She kept laughing, but Zuko will hear her trying to talk to him in between bouts of laughter.]

It's possible you know! Don't put yourself down that much!

[ zuko groaned and slumped against the wall, sliding down it all the way to the ground. ]

I hate you.

[ but the funny thing was he didn't. he didn't hate her. he should, he had every reason to, and he probably would've stood by that hatred he felt for her when he was still an earth kingdom refugee, but he didn't know. this had changed. he didn't hate her at all, though she would probably hate him if and when she found out he left and sided with the avatar. ]

[Azula laughed even more the moment he spoke. But like any emotion, she quickly stopped it and picked up the feed, to show Azula looking at him with a serious expression as she rested her head on the ground. It wasn't a serious and angry expression. Instead, he'll notice there was the slightest hint of gentleness in her features.]

I was the one who almost died here. And yet, I feel like I should be the one worrying about you, dumbdumb

[Then there was a short curl on her lips. Just like the time they were in Ember Island, she tried to show enough vulnerability for Zuko to feel safe when talking to her. Most especially when she tried to lure him out of their family vacation house.]

How are you?

Don't remind me.

[ zuko doesn't like to think about the fact that he almost lost his sister. seeing her in that hospital bed had made him realize that if he could, he'd avoid having to take her down, whether it be by his own hand or someone else's. he wasn't foolish enough to believe that death could be avoided, that it wasn't necessary to ending this conflict, and he'd play his part (whatever that may end up being) accordingly, but that didn't mean he had to stray from hoping there was another way.

he held up the hand not holding the device — his right one, the one he caught the lightning with before it was redirected. there was red scaring across his fingers, palm, and wrist like some sort of prickly snake had wrapped itself around his hand. he shrugged. the doctors had tried to treat it, but zuko had insisted that they tend to his sister first and made a gruesome comment about how the marks on his hand now matched his face, making everyone present uncomfortable enough to leave him be. ]

I'm fine. I'm always fine. [ he's a survivor. a stubborn, bullheaded survivor. ] It's you I'm worried about. How's your bending?

[Azula took a few moments to just look at that scar on Zuko's hand. She smiled when her dad inflicted that scar on his face. She would have a similar reaction if she inflicted a scar on his body. But this was a scar caused by him helping out the people of the city. They could have avoided everything. They were powerful benders. Zuko could have sat down in her apartment, sipping tea, while he waited for his turn to bend lightning out of the way. It would have been easy. They wouldn't have been injured. Instead, he is scarred because of that monster and the stupid people who couldn't protect themselves. All their life, people protected the both of them, behind walls and a massive military force. Now their vulnerable. Powerful, but exposed to elements they were never prepared for.]

My bending is the same as before, now that we have the sun back. It's easier to draw strength from the sun. However, I can't bend lightning until they remove this infernal device.

[She hovers her fingers over her chest. She sighs for a moment. Wishing she could pry it off. However, the doctor said if her heart wasn't fully healed, it could mean the death of her.

Zuko will notice that there isn't a single burn on her finger tips. In fact, aside from the device, she appears to have healed up perfectly well. Something she owed to Rekka and not a water bender.]

Zuzu, I need you to meet someone. Urgently.

Edited 2014-07-29 15:47 (UTC)

[ zuko couldn't bend lightning. not yet. he could only catch it and redirect it, and while iroh had taught him well, it was a skill he'd only really put into practice once when he shot their father's lightning back at him. if not for their uncle drilling the technique into him, ozai would've killed him that day. (he wondered if he would've blamed it on the avatar and his forces, use his death as propaganda against the other nations by claiming they stormed the fire nation and killed the crown prince. he was good at twisting things like that.)

the scars are a consequence of not being able to actually bend it. the fact that he redirected so many bolts at all with only burns on his hand to show for it is a testament to his abilities in and of itself. it was a risky thing he did, helping everyone like that. but it's like usagi said: he's a good man. in spite of what others may think or what zuko himself might think of himself at times, he's a good man. he couldn't just sit back and do nothing. ]

Huh? Who? Why?

[Zuko was a good man. There was no doubting that. It made it easy for Azula to play with his emotions. Her orders were absolute, but even she noticed that confused expression in Zuko's eyes that day she told him he could come home to father. At that time, he was dishonoring the family name, and yet she couldn't bring herself to hate him enough to kill him there and then instead of bringing him home first. That stupid captain made things more complicated because of his loud mouth - but if he hadn't, it would have been perfectly fine for Azula to simply bring Zuko home alive. In prison, but at least alive. He was still family after all. Sure he didn't love her, but he was still family, just as their mother was still part of their family.

Even in Ba Sing Se, she noticed his kindness. The way he was so confused. Honor or Family. Even with his back turned against her, she sensed his guilt for betraying their uncle. She could only wonder if he would feel the same way if the time came when he needed to choose to betray her. But that time, all she could do was tell him everything she thought he needed to hear. He was strong, but there were lots of things weighing him down. He could be stronger, but he was too kind.]

A healer.

[She said plainly. She took a few steps away from the feed and removed her coat. She twirled around in front of the recording.]

Notice anything missing?

Edited 2014-07-31 17:00 (UTC)

[ zuko's good eye went wide. his sister had been injured, she should have scars. but in place of those marks that were all over her body in the aftermath of the attack, there was nothing but smooth, white skin. flawless as she ever was. forever such a stark contrast to her marred older brother. ]

You got— [ that eye narrowed. ] I don't need a healer. What's a few scars compared to my face?

What do you mean you don't need a healer?

[Azula's voice boomed. Her brows furrowing when he rejected the offer. Here she was offering him a way out of those scars.]

[Slowly she reigned in her temper. It took a while, but Azula was able to keep at least a plain face while looking at the feed.]

[For a few moments, she just stared at the feed. Looking at Zuko's scarred eye. Her brows still furrowed but clearly her initial anger was now gone.

She doesn't get her brother at all. Here she was giving him a chance to be flawless and he still chooses to go for his pride. Not that her pride didn't matter as much. In fact her pride meant everything. But still, she wants to look perfect so she can twist anything to suit her purpose.]

[Slowly, she raised one brow while still scrutinizing her brother's appearance.]

It is unsightly of course!

[There is no way in hell she will tell Zuko that she cares about him. Everyone in the city can die for all she cares. He will never hear those words from her. Ever.]

[Azula dropped her head. That was not a convincing effort on her part. That won't convince her brother to see the healer she was suggesting. But telling him she cared for him so he should get treated was not one of her options.]

Don't tell me you're scared to see a healer.

I'm not scared!

[ but he realized, as soon as he figured out that she meant for him to have his face healed in addition to his hand, he was afraid. why, though? wasn't that what he wanted, wasn't that why he was seconds away from agreeing to let katara try before aang burst through that wall? he'd been so ashamed of it back then, but he wasn't anymore. this mark of shame had become a mark of pride to him, a reminder of how far ozai would go in his quest to dominate the world. zuko wasn't ready to part with its importance. ]

Unsightly or not, it's part of who I am. [ he covered his scar with his hand. ]

[Azula, calm down. Calm down. You don't need to set the whole forest in fire.]

[How could Zuko be so disobedient?]

[WHY IS HE SO STUBBORN?]

[Azula argued with herself mentally. Heck, she was contemplating the option of knocking Zuko out and bringing him to Rekka for treatment. She took huge breaths of air, closed her eyes and calmed herself down, before she glared at Zuko.]

Fine! Forget your face! Walk around looking like that, for all I care!

But the rest of your body, have that healed. You might have some sort of injury that isn't skin deep.

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

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