(Untitled)

[princeinexile]

[OOM: Everybody has their own ways of coping when someone's broken their heart. Zuko's involves heavy exertion and exhausting himself.He came back this morning; a flash of magic and he was here with a duffel bag and some crates, which were hauled upstairs, where he vanished for a good part of the day

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[forge_fire]

There's someone in the bar. He doesn't pull attention to himself, but he's there, enjoying his usual. Olives and oil and bread and cheese and a bit of wine. There's enough for two, though.

[princeinexile]

Zuko comes in later -- after everything is smoldering...

You know? Food and someone who doesn't throw him away sound great. He slips in-- knowing he is welcome-- and breaks bread with his mentor.

"I hear the forges here are empty now. That Will person hasn't been in there in a couple of days."

Anything to not talk about Stephanie.

[forge_fire]

He is the last person to talk about romance.

"I'd noticed."

[princeinexile]

He fidgets a little, and then says, "It's just horse shoes. And swords for fools who think they can use one."

He doesn't know that he can work such a thing. But doesn't someone have to?

[forge_fire]

"Are you interested in taking care of it?"

[princeinexile]

He shrugs, once.

Zuko is never good at asking about these things.

[forge_fire]

"Then perhaps you should."

[princeinexile]

"I'm not that good," he points out.

He's never that good.

[forge_fire]

"You could get better."

[princeinexile]

There's always that.

"I can make horse shoes," he notes. And other little tools. They've done that. You can't make a blade lest you can make a plowshear -- Hephaestus' forge served all needs.

"It would be a start."

And something to do that had nothing to do with Stephanie.

[forge_fire]

"A forge is a good thing to have."

He shrugs.

"It's up to you. Do you think you're up to it? You know you can call me."

[princeinexile]

Zuko nods quietly, and then says, "It would be good to keep busy here."

Since he's going to be alone.

A lot.

[forge_fire]

"Possibly."

[princeinexile]

Zuko steals some bread and oil. Better to put something in his mouth before, y' know, anything stupid comes out of it.

[forge_fire]

"I'm taking in a few new people," he says. "They won't have the same rights there as you. Just in the work room."

[princeinexile]

Zuko tilts his head. "Uhm?"