☄22. [RL with Claire]

[honorregained]

[Zuko waited for her a little restlessly. It was nice to have time away from his desk and all, but he'd grown so used to having something to do at all times that making himself take time off was making him jittery

Comments

[autophoenix]

[ Claire owed Lilith a great debt for taking her by Zuko's. Not only had she gotten the chance to finally talk to someone who she knew was critical to Zuko's life -- that alone was something she appreciated the woman for -- but she got a ride from someone she knew she could trust. People like that were in short supply these days, as hesitant as she was to admit to that fact. She didn't like feeling as though she were some kind of paranoid maniac who trusted no one.

The Fire Nation was more overwhelming than she'd ever anticipated, though. She really should have figured that her cell would be useless as soon as she dropped in, but it didn't stop her from pulling it out and pursing her lips with frustration when she saw that it had more or less given up on trying to figure out where in the world she was. She shut down the power and asked a couple guards to tell her where Zuko was, announcing herself, as ordered, as Avatar Aang's friend. At least she knew Sokka now so she felt a little less dishonest for saying it.

They pointed her back in the direction of the turtle-duck pond, and she crept in as quietly as she could so she could just lean in the entryway and keep an eye on him, a quiet smile on her face. It was nice, just being able to do this, and even though there was an obvious kind of shock and awe in her features still at the fact that he, her casual, dorky friend Zuko was the ruler of all of this, and the fact that it was all so ... so ornate in ways that modern convenience just wasn't, she felt a certain kind of peace in being able to get away.

Pushing the sentimentality aside with full awareness that he'd be the first to judge her for it, she took a few steps into the courtyard, smile widening as she wryly teased. ]

Figures I'd find you brooding first thing. Do you have a quota you try and fill or is this just your default setting?

[honorregained]

[He startles and turns toward her, but a second later says sarcastically,] It's my default setting, didn't you know? I don't smile.

[A moment later he nearly proves that wrong, expression softening.] It's nice to see you. I almost don't believe people are okay if I haven't seen them myself.

[autophoenix]

Well, lucky you, you get the in-the-flesh proof. Before anyone else, even -- other than Lilith, I mean -- so, I hope you feel special. [ she holds her arms out to indicate herself, then quickly brought her right hand up to support the strap of her duffel bag better before it could slide down her arm haphazardly. her smile becomes more genuine and she takes a couple steps towards him. ]

You look good, Zuko.

[honorregained]

Oh -- uh. Thanks. [Look Claire, you get to see him looking awkward in person, though he's not entirely unhappy about it. He rubs the back of his neck.] You, too. [Girls always liked being told they looked good, didn't they?]

Did Lilith bring you? I should've thought to ask her.

[autophoenix]

Yeah, she told me to make sure I said "hi" for her. And it's not a big deal, she volunteered pretty fast. [ shrug. ] So, is there a place I can set this down, or ... ? [ she gestured to her bag, lifting it a little. it's heavy and she's a whiner, okay. :( ]

[honorregained]

[Hey, Zuko has some manner of chivalry, so he puts out a hand and says,] I'll take it. There's a suite ready for you.

[autophoenix]

I can carry it, don't worry. [ she waves him off. ] I'm a big girl, Zuko, I can carry one little bag. [ ... one little bag that is the size of her torso. ]

[honorregained]

If you want to, far be it from me.

It's this way. [leading her toward the covered walkway bisecting the courtyard, now]

[autophoenix]

[ she follows after him, her awe becoming a little more apparent as she sees more of the place. wow, zuko. wow. you could warn a girl a little bit. ]

So, you really just ... live here? I mean. [ awkward. ] How long have you been Fire Lord for?

[honorregained]

Almost seven months. I know, it's a lot, [he adds.] I grew up here, so I didn't think anything of it. I don't remember if I told you, but I was a refugee for a while. It was a hard transition for me to take.

[autophoenix]

You mentioned something about it but you never really went into detail on why. [ which is her way of asking if he's planning on doing that now. ]

[honorregained]

...I'll tell you if you want, [he answers, a tad reluctantly. He ducks through a doorway into a building proper. There's notably no guards around here, as this is the Fire Lord's private residence.]

It was after my father declared Uncle and I traitors. We had to go into hiding.

[autophoenix]

[ she looks around, still in her baffled state over the castle itself and taking notice to the lack of guards, but trying to stay on topic and not get too distracted. ]

What did you get declared as traitors for?

[honorregained]

It's... a long story. [He sighs, glancing back at her.] It's not going to make any sense unless I tell you the whole thing, but it'll take a while. And it's not happy, either.

[autophoenix]

You only have to tell me if you want to. I swear I didn't come here with some ulterior motive to make you drudge up the more tragic elements of your past, I just -- [ innocent shrug. ] If you want to talk, I'll listen. I like getting to know you better.

[honorregained]

[How is he supposed to stay no to that, Claire? Ugh.] No, I said I'd tell you about how I got my scar sometime, and that's part of this. I might as well.

Let's just get you settled in first. This is it.

[They stop at a door that doesn't seem any different from all the others. Zuko goes ahead and opens it with only a brief look back to make sure she's still following, and inside is a typically bland, nonoffensive trio of rooms: a sitting room, a bedroom, and a private washroom. The door opens into the sitting room, all red and gold, like everything else in the city.]