Seventh flame [Voice/Action]

[restoremyhonour]

So.

Anyone got any ideas as to how to pass time when you can't leave your bed? I need something to do before I set the house on fire.

[Zuko has spent the last 2 and a half weeks in bed recovering. He's now at that point where he's been told to stay in bed for a few more days, but has enough energy that he doesn't want to. Come talk to him,

Comments

[no_use_running]

Why not a book?

Re: [action]

[no_use_running]

That's fine.

[It's awkward somehow, and it shouldn't be. She's past all that awkwardness, isn't she? Maybe it's just that it's not aaaall that hard to tell Katara is being carefully guarded herself.]

[action]

[markofthebrave]

[And so Katara will lead the way into Zuko's room. Knocking on the door, she pops her head in.]

Zuko, you have a visitor.

['And I am going to kill you for this later.' And, seeing that he was decent, Katara steps to the side and motions for Mercury to go on in.]

Re: [action]

[no_use_running]

[Mercury heads in with that half-sulky half-just-serious look so typical of her]

I came with books.

[The tone suggests she might just throw them at him or something; she's not so good at knowing how to act when she's trying to do something nice]

[action]

[restoremyhonour]

[Zuko is on his bed looking horribly bored when Katara pops her head in. That will disappear the moment she says he's got a visitor (although what is with that tone Katara?). He'll look up at Mercury's voice.]

Thanks. [There is a pause and then Zuko will gesture to a chair in the room.] Have a seat?

[action]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara leans against the doorframe, watching both of them.]

So... you two know each other?

Re: [action]

[no_use_running]

We're new friends!

[action]

[restoremyhonour]

[What is up with that comment Katara?.]

Never met before talking today on the journals. She offered to bring me some books to keep me entertained.

[action]

[markofthebrave]

Good, so you don't need to be introduced.

[And she'll just - stay right there.]

Re: [action]

[no_use_running]

I make her nervous. Could she be jealous? [The words are spoken as if they're to Zuko, but Ami's eyes are on Katara.]

[action]

[restoremyhonour]

[Okay really Katara, what is up with you. Why don't they need to be introduced. He'll turn to Ami.]

Hi, my name is Zuko. And Katara's just protective. [Right? Zuko's not sure. They haven't actually had a chance to talk about that last experiment played on them yet. But this really is odd behaviour for Katara.]

[action]

[markofthebrave]

[She thought that they didn't need to be introduced because they already knew each other as 'new friends' implies. But since Zuko apparently makes a habit of inviting people to their house without even getting their names, that's just going to be one more thing she'll have to take up with him later.

Her smile at Mercury is perfectly pleasant, but her gaze is firm. Sorry, Katara didn't grow up with other girls around - she doesn't play these games.]

I know what you said you'd do to your friends. I don't trust you. [A pause, and her smile warms slightly.] But I didn't see any reason to stop you from doing something nice.

Re: [action]

[no_use_running]

The books are delivered now anyway. I'll go.

[Action]

[restoremyhonour]

[Okay there is something going on here that is going right over the top of Zuko's head. He's going to stare confused at both Katara and Mercury.]

If you feel you must. [Zuko hesitates for a moment.] Thank you for bringing me the books.