☄05 [accidental video / open RL for the Gaang]

[honorregained]

[When the feed starts, there's nothing in sight but a bunch of admittedly gorgeous scenery, lush forest and the hint of an old campsite. Then Zuko walks across the screen, stride quick and angry

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[aquasports]

Zuko?

[She took it upon herself to look for him as soon as she noticed he was gone. There was no reason to worry the other members of the Gaang, after all.

She hesitates when she first finds him]

Hey, Zuko?

[but she quickly surpasses that hesitance and kneels down next to him] What's wrong?

[honorregained]

[That was the last thing he expected - he yanks himself away from her in surprise, then forces himself to calm.] Oh, Katara, I...

[runs a hand through his hair] It's nothing important, I just - can't seem to manage to avoid Azula on the community. [gives a little self-deprecating laugh, but it sounds rough and abrupt]

[aquasports]

[she sighs and shakes her head]

I can't either. She even purposely sought me out once or twice. [and she does not sound happy about this]

[honorregained]

Sounds like her, [he answers, but doesn't say anything else. He's still frowning, and goes back to staring at the dirt.]

[aquasports]

Is that really what's bothering you, though?

[watching him carefully, searching for any other signs]

[honorregained]

I - [opens and closes his mouth, trying to decide the best way to put it] It's not, but... I don't know how to say it. [starting to get visually aggravated, he finally takes a seat on the ground]

It's like, they're still my family. If I can't forgive them... should I be forgiven? But, they don't even want to change! Not that I've spoken to my father, but I don't need to. I know what he'd say.

[aquasports]

[a long pause as she mulls this over]

The difference between you and your family is that you actually wanted to change. [hesitation] It might have taken you a while, but in the end, you chose the right path.

[honorregained]

...Thanks, Katara. Really. [and he does sound sincere] But - it's her I'm worried about.

[looks away, sounding morose] I know. She's evil. She's lied to me, Agni, I don't know how many times. I shouldn't care about her anymore, but I do.

[aquasports]

[her gaze shifts downward, a bit solemn, yet thoughtful]

... she is family, right? [as much as she doesn't want to admit it, and as much as she wants to write Azula off as a monster... she does have family] You can't change that.

You can pick your friends and your loyalties, but you can't pick your family.

[honorregained]

[SIGH] Tell me about it.

[but he's gotten it off his mind, now, anyway, so he takes a moment to collect his thoughts and then stands up. Zuko smiles shyly and offers her his hand] But thanks for listening to me. I don't think anyone else would understand.

[aquasports]

[she smiles and takes his hand, allowing him to help her up]

It's complicated. Family is like that sometimes. Just look at Sokka.

[honorregained]

What's complicated about Sokka? [he asks doubtfully, as they walk back to camp]

[aquasports]

Have you heard his jokes?

[honorregained]

They're bad, but they're not that bad. I don't think so, anyway. [for some reason he remembered his uncle's being a lot worse, but that might have been time playing tricks on him]

[aquasports]

They're terrible. [Katara is biased]