video❚entry twenty

[pyromatics]

[It's beautiful out, the morning is shining and bright, the weather is warming and spring is in the air. It's great. The harpies are all removed and the City is 'safe' once again, the barrier raised. Life could not be more grand within the City

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permavideo;

[flamewarring]

[Okay, now this is strange.]

What's wrong with you, Zuko? You look like you've seen a ghost.

[pyromatics]

[A few hours later, now that he has a fixed communicator... As much as Zuko doesn't want to respond to her, he finds himself doing just that:] I didn't think you cared, Azula.

[flamewarring]

[Azula notices the late reply, of course. She had almost forgotten about him.]

Oh, I don't. But you have made me curious.

[pyromatics]

[This is something she doesn't need to know about. Who knows what she would do if she knew their father was there.]

Forget about it. There's nothing to be curious about.

[Trying to ignore the apparition, trying to ignore... trying to ignore...]

action;

[o_my_b]

[Having adjusted to the very disconcerting feeling of being in in a young, female, and familiar body, Iroh has been planning all the pranks he could pull in Katara's body. Perfectly innocent, of course.

He sneaks outside, trying not to giggle as he imagines the look of confusion and embarrassment on his nephew's face.

But when he sees Zuko, all thoughts of mischief fly from his head.]

Zuko? What's wrong?

action;

[pyromatics]

[Zuko hears Katara coming up from the side. He immediately tenses; this isn't good, this is not good at all. He glances over from the corner of his eye as soon as he sees the apparition's eyes shift over to settle on her.

He has no idea that Iroh and Katara have been cursed with swapping bodies, Zuko sincerely believes it's Katara, but... why isn't she reacting? Why isn't she bending the water from the pond and bringing it to her defense?

Zuko has no firebending, his swords are back upstairs in his room. He's helpless to protecting her, to keeping his friend safe from harm.]

No! Katara-- get back!

[Swiftly Zuko puts himself between her and the figure of his father standing there, holding his arms out. Ozai watches them with a look of calm indifference, his amber eyes bright with fury yet the Fire Lord remains where he is and makes no move towards them.]

action;

[o_my_b]

[Iroh is...very confused. Too confused to tell Zuko about being cursed.]

...from what?

[He comes closer, trying to see what his nephew might be talking about.

...nothing.]

I don't think the turtleducks are any threat.

action;

[pyromatics]

[Her words give him reason to freeze, a chill running down his spine. Turtle-ducks? Zuko turns his head to throw her a look over his shoulder from the corner of his eye then he looks back across to his father.]

All... you see... [His words are slow to come out, his eyes meeting again with Ozai's. How can Katara not see him? There's another chill that passes through him.

Is he just making this up? Is he still asleep and dreaming?]

...only turtle-ducks?

[manofgnee]

Woah woah, woah. Zuko! Zuko. Chill. Breathe, in, out...

You're the only person there. You and your duck-turtles. Promise...whatever you see is not really there.

[pyromatics]

[Hanna's not going to get a response for a few hours but when Zuko does finally answer, he appears just a bit calmed ... but not by much, not when the damn ghost of his father has followed him to the repair shop and back and all around the tea shop.]

No, he's there. My... father, he won't stop following me.

[manofgnee]

...your father?

...He's not here, Zuko. He's not really here.

I really love losing my net at home e_e

[pyromatics]

Hanna, I know what my father looks like. I know what he's capable of. He's here. He's here in the City.