Inheritors Of Flame
Hellboy was not sure how to handle Zuko asking to be taken out of the building-- to look for things, he said. Scavenging. He'd done rosters, no body seemed to need him for too much direction now that peace was mostly attained (cept for that sticky, persistent problem of 'Harth') and he was apparently-- well, getting antsy. Not that Hellboy couldn't understand that, but--
-- this was the boss. Not that his boss-- his father -- hadn't done field work, even up until his old age, but--
In the end, he caved.
Zuko proved decent company. Neither talked much, but when they did they didn't waste words. Zuko could be tempermental, but at the moment, was fairly good natured.
So they scavenged. Clothing, this time (Mel needed pants) and other things. And they came upon a place they'd never seen before.
"Dancing Crane," Hellboy translates the name from Chinese, and Zuko seems intrigued; cranes are a sign of fidelity; the mating dance is a ritual for lovers. He's looking for things for Mel, so they both take this as a good sign.
They are not disappointed. Inside there are things. Part decor, part sales good. Part-- well, everything. There is a section for jewelry from around the world, another for clothing made naturally -- in styles native to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, done in traditional fabrics. There are mukkluks! and Zuko grabs pairs for Katara and Sokka, picking the furries, blued woven things and throwing them in with what they'll bring back.
And then they find the cart.
It is a little rickety now -- after sitting here holding up dried, decorative bamboo -- but that doesn't matter. They empty it and start to fill it up; Hellboy can pull it, he's sure.
Clothing, soap, books-- Zuko grabs a jade hook for Sokka, a blue topaz pendant for Katara, and he choses a multi-colored opal drop for Melaka. Aang, he finds a red dragon kite. "I used to have one of these," he says to Hellboy, and the big man just laughs at him. There are batons, wrapped and colorful, for Ty Lee, and for Azula, Zuko goes pratical-- clothing to replace hers, in reds and blacks of their homeland, and pins to hold up her hair -- so she'll remove the bloody crown, Hellboy guesses.
Hellboy considers, and finds clothing for Angua. Things that will suit her color; blouses in blues and greens, cool colors to her warm skin. He is not so much the jewelry giving type.
They grab soap, incense, books of all sorts and they bring those back too. CDs are ignored -- Zuko doesn't understand them and Hellboy isn't interested. Pieces of art are examined. "We'll bring things back," he says, "And add this to the map."
And they head home--- a big red man, and a boy, and a cart.
-- this was the boss. Not that his boss-- his father -- hadn't done field work, even up until his old age, but--
In the end, he caved.
Zuko proved decent company. Neither talked much, but when they did they didn't waste words. Zuko could be tempermental, but at the moment, was fairly good natured.
So they scavenged. Clothing, this time (Mel needed pants) and other things. And they came upon a place they'd never seen before.
"Dancing Crane," Hellboy translates the name from Chinese, and Zuko seems intrigued; cranes are a sign of fidelity; the mating dance is a ritual for lovers. He's looking for things for Mel, so they both take this as a good sign.
They are not disappointed. Inside there are things. Part decor, part sales good. Part-- well, everything. There is a section for jewelry from around the world, another for clothing made naturally -- in styles native to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, done in traditional fabrics. There are mukkluks! and Zuko grabs pairs for Katara and Sokka, picking the furries, blued woven things and throwing them in with what they'll bring back.
And then they find the cart.
It is a little rickety now -- after sitting here holding up dried, decorative bamboo -- but that doesn't matter. They empty it and start to fill it up; Hellboy can pull it, he's sure.
Clothing, soap, books-- Zuko grabs a jade hook for Sokka, a blue topaz pendant for Katara, and he choses a multi-colored opal drop for Melaka. Aang, he finds a red dragon kite. "I used to have one of these," he says to Hellboy, and the big man just laughs at him. There are batons, wrapped and colorful, for Ty Lee, and for Azula, Zuko goes pratical-- clothing to replace hers, in reds and blacks of their homeland, and pins to hold up her hair -- so she'll remove the bloody crown, Hellboy guesses.
Hellboy considers, and finds clothing for Angua. Things that will suit her color; blouses in blues and greens, cool colors to her warm skin. He is not so much the jewelry giving type.
They grab soap, incense, books of all sorts and they bring those back too. CDs are ignored -- Zuko doesn't understand them and Hellboy isn't interested. Pieces of art are examined. "We'll bring things back," he says, "And add this to the map."
And they head home--- a big red man, and a boy, and a cart.