genessia | action; closed

Entry tags:

action; closed

WHO: Weiss & Zuko
WHAT: A date!
WHEN: Friday, August 15th (backdated)
WHERE: A little Sichuan restaurant in Attleton Gate
WARNINGS: None?

[ Ever since the party, Weiss has been in a surprisingly pleasant mood despite certain circumstances. The party had, frankly, been exhausting. But fun! However, it wasn't what had put her in such a good mood for the week following it. What had was the fact that she was excited for Friday and her date with the guy who she kind of thought was kind of cute and totally had managed to escape any prying eyes (she hoped) to go meet him where they'd agreed.

Except, you know, she may have come a bit early. And possibly stood out waiting a little early in a dress in white instead of cream and a pair of fashionable boots (just in case she had to move-- the heels are nothing to her). Beneath the dress was a red petticoat-- just enough to give the dress a little oomph and protect her in case she needed to do any flips for whatever reason. Though her Genessia pendant was in a little purse (for whenever she needed it), she had a small necklace around her neck, matching the accent from her petticoat. Her usual hair crown accessory was where it always was, her hair tied back in her regular style.

Weiss opened her bag as she took her scroll out to check what time it was to see how much longer she would be waiting. She absolutely wasn't going to let Zuko be the one waiting on her. That much she had decided beforehand, but.. Well, she was getting impatient now, even if it was completely her fault. ]

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[ Try again next time, Zuko.

Weiss looked up from her scroll as Zuko approached, slipping it back into her little purse after a quick swipe of the finger to turn off the display. The first comment being 'wow' made Weiss's chest swell with a bit of pride. A proud little smile graced her lips as she took a few steps closer to meet him as he approached. ]

It wasn't that long. I just finished getting ready a little early, that's all.

[ Of course, Weiss wasn't bothering to hide the fact that she was checking him out for a quick second. She likes his normal clothes, sure, but she's certainly enjoying the updated wardrobe. Now that she actually knows where the real standards are for a more modern style, she can appreciate his on a new level-- he has got some standards worth appreciating. ]

But I am glad you didn't make me wait any longer.

[ he's glad she's enjoying, because it was taking some adjusting to. the texture of the fabrics and the way they conformed to his body when he was used to looser-fitting garments was weird. not necessarily uncomfortable, so much as it was different. not something he had much practice in, but he'd wanted to blend in. not having his scar made it that much easier to fall back against the crowd and pretend he wasn't royalty from another world. ]

I'm trying really hard not to do this like a prince. [ he held a hand out in offering to her. ] Not that I think you'd appreciate that. If I were to do that right — not that I could in this place — it would involve some five to seven other people tagging along. Personal guard, attendants, messenger... Having your own retinue isn't all it's cracked up to be.

That's alright.

[ Weiss took his hand and held once it was offered, only hesitating for a brief moment and mostly because she could remember the last time they had held hands. That little flutter came back for a moment as she recognized that it was different this time. This time it wasn't about the fire between their hands, but the fire that was growing between them. ]

I may not have had a whole entourage, but I know what it's like to have an escort and a bodyguard and a butler around. [ Most people wouldn't think that sounds too horrible, but Weiss mostly found it didn't leave much room for having anyone else around. It was a relief to only need them to carry her things around after a while. ] Personally I'm pretty relieved that we don't have any tagalongs today.

[ zuko tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. ] Me too.

[ not that he even had an entourage anymore, or had been terribly comfortable having one at his heels when he did after months of going without, but he was grateful to be without them now. especially now.

he led her out of the quaint nook they'd agreed to meet in, walking along the paved path that led just up the road to the restaurant and the attleton gate beyond it. ]

We probably didn't need to be so discreet. Azula's not exactly up to her usual stalking standards at the moment.

Azula has stalking standards?

[ Even as she held onto his arm and walked alongside him, she was giving him the most incredulous look. She knew that Azula could be strange at times, violent, but overall she hadn't had too much of a reason to believe that she was in danger. She even got along pretty well with Azula, despite what Zuko had warned her about. The stalking bit was a new thing, though. ]

I thought we were meeting up here because half of the people I know like to invite themselves to places.

She tails me sometimes. I pretend not to notice.

[ zuko doesn't always catch on to the fact that she's there, but he's also guilty of having stalked her from the shadows in turn. most recently with the mask of a smiling blue demon pulled over his face. ]

...that too. I asked you out to go on a date with you, not collect the harem my sister's already convinced I have. [ eyeroll ]

She stalks you and thinks you have a harem.

[ Just stating it to make sure she has it right. ]

You two are the weirdest siblings I've ever met, and I live with Ruby and Yang.

Weird doesn't even begin to cover it.

[ but he didn't want to talk about azula right now, especially as they approached the steps leading up into the restaurant. it was a quaint little thing, tucked away into a corner obscured by a few trees and a narrow path off the main strip of road and sidewalk. it had been the aroma of food that smelled something like home that had lured him in initially, otherwise hi might've never come across it.

he slipped his hand back into hers as the ascended the stairs, letting go when they reached the door so he could hold it open for her. ] After you.

[ Weiss lets the conversation drop, heading into the restaurant ahead of him. Despite that Zuko had been leading the way for most of the outing so far, Weiss moved up to the host station but hesitated to ask for a table. She twisted to look over at Zuko, not turning fully. ]

Did you make reservations or are we just dropping in?

Reservations. I do think things through. Sometimes. It's under Li.

[ he made them when he was unsure of how long azula's current five-year-old state would last, nevermind her friends possibly hunting them down to invade their alone time. or so she claimed. he didn't know about her friends, but he wouldn't put it past his sister to look into the reservations of places she knew he would eat at — like a restaurant that served food that tasted like it was cooked in the fire nation — so using his old earth kingdom name seemed like the way to go. ]

If I didn't think you had, I would've just asked for a table.

[ Although she would need to ask about Li later. Was it a last name or just a false name? Weiss wasn't one to ever hide her name if she could avoid it (particularly since where she came from, it wasn't as though someone like her was an entirely unknown face- plus sometimes she wore her jacket with the company logo on the back).

That would be for at the table though, since the hostess didn't need to know that he wasn't using his name. She asked about the reservations and the hostess grabbed two menus, then started to lead them to their table, and Weiss trailed right behind-- though held a hand out behind her for Zuko to grab. ]

[ false. zuko didn't have a last name. it wasn't practiced amongst members of the fire nation royal family, though there were certain members of the nobility who'd begun to adopt the practice. last names were more widely used in the earth kingdom. but the royal family had a bloodline, a dynasty; there was no need for last names. he was just zuko.

he took her hand, his fingers curling gently around her palm. zuko fell into step beside her as the hostess led them to a booth in a mostly empty section of the restaurant. he chose the seat that gave him the best view of the door, just in case they needed to make a run from it. (from who, her friends? he didn't even know what they looked like!) the hostess left their menus on the table, informing them that their waiter would be with them shortly. ]

I wasn't kidding about the food being spicy. I've been told it's an acquired taste. [ by aang, who had a hard time eating fire nation food around being vegetarian in the first place. ]

[ Weiss sat down across from him, carefully tucking her skirt beneath her as she did and setting her purse down. Before she could get to the point of asking him about "Li," he brought up the food. Either he was sure she would like it somehow or he was just taking a risk here if he didn't think she'd like it. ]

I can handle a little spice, Zuko.

[ At the very least, she's entirely determined not to make a fool of herself when she can't. Absolutely determined. ]

So what's with the name you put the reservation under?

[ or he wanted to share some semblance of home with her regardless of whether she wound up liking it or not. (that was the real reason.) ]

That's... Li's my name, actually. Not really, but it was. For a while.

[ he opens the menu, feigns looking through it even though he already knows what he wants. ]

I told you I was banished. I don't think I told you I went into exile for a while after that. I gave up my titles, even my name in order to play the part of the unsuspecting Earth Kingdom citizen. That's where I learned the ways of tea, actually. Uncle had a teashop in Ba Sing Se. I was Li there. For a while, I had every intention of staying Li.

[ he shrugs, puts the menu down. ] I thought reserving under Li instead of Zuko would detour my sister and your friends if they decided to try and find out where were going.

[ Weiss stares at him firmly for a few moments as he explains the origin of Li. A nice, hard stare. ]

I don't see it. You only look like a Zuko to me.

[ Obviously it had worked though, or she wouldn't be sitting here with him right now. As she looks through the menu, she keeps talking since she doesn't want it to be obvious that she really isn't familiar with.. most of the food here. ]

But you don't have to worry about my friends, they wouldn't think to check reservations. Probably.

Maybe, but I think you would've liked me as Li, too. You might get to see some shades of him if we ever manage to meet up at the teashop when I'm actually at work.

[ he regrets not being there that day since she did actually follow through with stopping by to see him, but was at at the same time glad that he missed her. if he hadn't, they might not be here now. ]

My sister would've. We're really luck she's five and can't really bend yet.

Give me your work schedule and I'll pop by when I'm available sometime.

[ She's not going to tell him what day so she can surprise him though. It might be nice to be able to show up and just see him working until he realizes that she's there. ]

Putting aside her being 5 on account of there being all kinds of strange things happening lately, why would we have to worry about your sister being able to bend just because I'm on a date with you?

[ Weiss is fairly certain that she didn't sign up for Azula trying to kill her over dating Zuko. ]

[ the look zuko fixes her with seems to say, "are we going to go there? i guess we're going there." he immediately busies himself with fiddling with the salt and pepper shakers. ]

Mai. My, uh, ex-girlfriend. She's a friend of Azula's. [ he spins the salt shaker like it's a top. ] She probably wouldn't be too happy about me looking at anyone else.

So your unhinged, potentially homicidal sister is completely going to have her eye on me to the point that we're both relieved she probably temporarily doesn't have any bending capabilities and you weren't going to tell me this?

[ Oh, they're going there. She takes a breath, then gives him a scolding look. ]

I want you to promise me that from now on, any time there's a potential threat like that? You're going to let me into the loop. I don't really care if Azula has a problem with it so much as not being informed that dating you came with the risk of incineration. The actual risk of incineration I can handle.

[ zuko blinks when she gives him that look, for his intention wasn't to keep her out of the azula danger loop at all, it was more— ]

I didn't want to talk about Mai, and didn't think you wanted me to mention her, either. You didn't seem too thrilled when I mentioned her the other day... [ yeah, he caught that. ]

It's not like I want to sit around and listen to you talk about cute girls who aren't me, but a heads up about that is something I'd prefer.

[ There's a difference, she's pretty sure. Weiss probably would've watched her back a little more while she was walking here, at least. ]

[ zuko slumps back against the booth. she's right. she has a right to know these things. ]

If — or when — she learns about us, [ if there was an "us" after this date, as he suddenly feels like he's already ruining it ] you'll probably hear a lot of "what would Mai say?" and things like that from her. She's been mentioned Mai to me since she got here. It's none of her business who I choose to date and not, but she'll try to make it her business. Just so you're aware.

[ he tries to spin the pepper like he did the salt, but it tips over. he swears — cinders — and brushes the spilled pepper off the table. ]

Fine. Then I'm going to tell her to her face, and you're welcome to come.

[ Weiss knows it's probably dangerous, but keeping it from her? Probably worse. Weiss knows how it feels to get locked out by someone you care about. Maybe Azula doesn't care about her, but she would assume Azula feels something for Zuko. Even if family is.. incredibly complicated at times, it still feels bad to be shut out. Plus, it's probably the most honorable thing to do in a situation in which she's dating the person Azula's friend used to be dating and apparently wasn't aware of Zuko having left. ]

If we tell her upfront then she doesn't have a reason to go snooping around behind our backs.

[ alkdjflskjdflkajsdklfjalskdfj ]

And say what? "Nice weather we're having. Oh, and by the way, I'm dating your brother."

[ but again, she had a point. especially since zuko was already snooping around behind her back (behind everyone's backs, really) as the blue spirit. not that anyone was aware of that.

he groans, dropping his head to the table. ] Alright, alright. [ zuko sits back up. ] We'll tell her. Together.

I was going to go with a more direct "I'm dating your brother."

[ Just skip the pleasantries, they could worry about the rest later. But she's glad that he agreed at least. Weiss reaches across the table to at least move the salt and pepper out of the way so he didn't knock them over again while his head was down. ]

Thanks, Zuko.

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