RL with Zuko

[hislostlover]

 [As promised she showed up the morning of December 26th with a small box in hand. Lilith wasn't quite sure where to go. Unlike Azula, she never did make frequent trips to her friend's country. It couldn't be too hard to find the Fire Lord in the Fire Nation, right?

Lilith sincerely hoped Zuko was in a spot easily accessible to strange women who

Comments

I guess I tagged you anyway um. have some tl;dr. also I just headcanon'd all of that XD;;

[honorregained]

[Zuko had left standing orders months ago with his guards that if anyone unrecognizable showed up, they were to alert him immediately. At the time he'd been thinking of Azula and nefarious plots; a few weeks later he had the spare thought that maybe someone would get through the community's mysterious barrier and visit him. Of course, in the months he'd been away, only one of those had happened, and eventually he'd more or less forgotten about the orders.

So while he'd expected Lilith, he'd also rather typically gotten caught up in reviewing paperwork. It was a tedious task he wasn't well suited for; he'd much rather be outside doing something. But he didn't have a choice, and he'd asked for this, and etc. etc. Zuko threw himself in head on to his work, like he did everything else, and therefore was mildly surprised to be interrupted with a report of a red-haired woman (who has red hair?) that had appeared.

Of course, he knew instantly who it was. He hustled over through the halls, thankful he was dressed casually today. Nothing would make him feel more awkward than trying to put on formal airs for Lilith. ...Well, some things would.]

Lilith? [he voiced, approaching quickly. He tried his best to ignore any accompanying sentiment about however much he'd missed her.]

Oh Vivi. xD;

[hislostlover]

[Lilith brought her hand to her chest and smiled warmly. It had been some time since she had seen Zuko. The last time was under some very difficult circumstances. She much preferred this meeting out in the sun in a place she was certain he was safe.]

Zuko. It's been so long since I've seen you in person. Are you well?

wooow I was so out of it last night. XD;;

[honorregained]

I'm fine. Just... glad to see you.

[Zuko's not exactly the type to smile, but he doesn't look at stern as usual either.] It has been a while.

haha. welcome to my life.

[hislostlover]

Yes. It most certainly has. [Lilith closed the distance between them. With her free hand she pushed aside some of his hair fondly.]

You've changed a little since then.

please you are never out of it!

[honorregained]

[Oh um. Blushing. What is this, Zuko did not expect this. She acts like his mother.]

I'm not the only one. [By which he actually means Azula. But he doesn't want to let Azula ruin everything, so he pushes that mental thought aside.] We should... uh. Your present's inside.

I am always out of it.

[hislostlover]

Lead the way then. [She stops fussing and lets her hand drop to her side.]

pffft lies. if so, your out of it is my remarkably together

[honorregained]

[Zuko leads, ducking through a doorway.]

I didn't know what to get you. I haven't had to give gifts in a while - not to anyone that mattered. [Political gifts-slash-bribes didn't count. At least he didn't have to worry that it wouldn't fit her; kimono largely sized themselves because of how they were worn.]

Ohho I take that as a compliment.

[hislostlover]

I hope what I got you was to your liking. I thought you could use something like this to you advantage.

[She smiled playfully. It worked to her advantage too but, she never admit as much.]

it is XD

[honorregained]

[He eyes that smile. He's innately suspicious but it is Lilith, so he decides it can't be something too bad.]

We'll have to find out. It's right in here.

[In here being, the sitting room part of his suite. There's still some scrolls laid out over his desk, and a few other pieces of furniture, but not much else. The only other thing of note is a portrait of him and the rest of the gaang, somewhat amateurishly done.]

[hislostlover]

[Lilith takes notice of that right away, smiling at it fondly.]

That's a lovely picture. Are those all of your friends?

[honorregained]

Oh, uh, I guess, [he mumbles, then says more clearly,] It was done while we were traveling. I'd get a better one done, but no one has time to come sit for a portrait with the world the way it is.

[hislostlover]

I believe this one comes off as a little more personal.

[honorregained]

[He sighs.] That's what Aang said.

...Here. [He picks up a wide, shallow box, wrapped with cloth, and awkwardly hands it out to her.]

[hislostlover]

[Lilith sets down her gift for Zuko and takes his gift. She opens it carefully, smiling down at what she finds.]

It's beautiful, Zuko.

[honorregained]

It seemed like something you'd wear.

[hislostlover]

It is. I will sincerely enjoy wearing it. Ah... [eying her present]

Won't you open mine?