☄12. Encounters by the pond. [Open RL in the Fire Nation.]
So what if it was his birthday? Turning eighteen meant you were an adult in some places, but Zuko had been an adult for years, in function if not in reality. It didn't mean anything to him. He was sure his mother and his uncle remembered the occasion, and that warm glow of assurance - that he knew they would without having to ask, or check - was all he could've asked for. It wasn't necessary to stir up a fuss or have a celebration. It was still too soon after the coronation to have another major event. And if no one from the Gaang knew about it, so what? He really was satisfied just having his family with him.
It was this reasoning that led to Zuko inviting Luna over to stay for a couple days as she recovered, or for Meg to visit as soon as he had offered. He didn't mind. He didn't need to mention what day it was.
Everything was going so well recently, he was almost happy. And that was enough.
He stood by the turtle-duck pond, settling into that thought - strange as it was, it was comforting - and fed the small animals floating around. Clad in his Fire Lord regalia, it was a somewhat innocuous scene: he looked like he belonged much more readily in a meeting, or facing down advisers. But Zuko still hadn't fully adjusted back to that sense of urgent importance, and he took the rare opportunity in his day to send all the attendants away, the Grand Secretary included, and to just be himself.
[ooc: Open to Avatar characters (yes! all of them!) as well as Luna and Meg if you guys want to use the opportunity. Feel free to tag each other, since I realized that a bunch of people are coming to the Fire Nation at the same time and I thought it'd be a good opportunity for some free interaction.]
It was this reasoning that led to Zuko inviting Luna over to stay for a couple days as she recovered, or for Meg to visit as soon as he had offered. He didn't mind. He didn't need to mention what day it was.
Everything was going so well recently, he was almost happy. And that was enough.
He stood by the turtle-duck pond, settling into that thought - strange as it was, it was comforting - and fed the small animals floating around. Clad in his Fire Lord regalia, it was a somewhat innocuous scene: he looked like he belonged much more readily in a meeting, or facing down advisers. But Zuko still hadn't fully adjusted back to that sense of urgent importance, and he took the rare opportunity in his day to send all the attendants away, the Grand Secretary included, and to just be himself.
[ooc: Open to Avatar characters (yes! all of them!) as well as Luna and Meg if you guys want to use the opportunity. Feel free to tag each other, since I realized that a bunch of people are coming to the Fire Nation at the same time and I thought it'd be a good opportunity for some free interaction.]