second flame [he's not having difficulties, really]

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[Zuko is sporting a slightly less emo hairstyle! Well... it's still emo, but at least you can see his eyes now. He's found himself a nice open spot behind the theater where hopefully no one will see him, or care. Instead of his robes, he's wearing a more casual tunic, though it's still made of nice material.

He glides through a few martial arts exercises, some punches and kicks, focusing. And then he lashes out with punches backed by fireballs, each dissolving into nothingness a few feet away from him. Everything about him says he's mastered this but he's still going, still practicing, almost to the point of exhaustion.]

Aaauuugh! Why can't I keep up with her?!

[He punches the ground. The resulting rush of fire actually propels Zuko backwards a few feet and he lands on his back. Hard.]

Stupid stupid stupid!

Comments

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[He's a bit out of breath, so it takes him a moment to respond.]

I'm not dumb. I know what I'm doing.

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

Were you practicing that hard for a reason?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

Yes. I mean -- no! It's... complicated.

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

...There's someone you want to get better than?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

...

Maybe.

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

Who is it?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

That's personal. [SHOT DOWN!!!1 Sorry, Shun.]

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

[Shun just likes to ask to many questions] Sorry, I shouldn't have pried. You seemed to be good at that though...I haven't seen anyone use fire like that before.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[a light shrug]

I've been fighting all my life. [In one way or another.]

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

[Thinks he can empathize with that...at least a little bit. Although it's not really the same thing..] I've been trained to fight since I was little so I guess it's the same with me.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[noncommittal noise; HE'S REAL FRIENDLY.]

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

[Shun has a brother who is worse.] ..Where did you learn to use fire like that?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[... poor Shun]

... My uncle.

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

[Well his brother is nice to him most of the time...] He must have been a good teacher.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[Oh, that's fortunate. Zuko looks away.]

... He was.

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

...Did something happen to him? [HE'S TRYING TO BE NICE]

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[SHUN AND HIS TRAINWRECK QUESTIONS. Zuko looks away sharply and says nothing.]

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

[WASN'T TRYING TO UPSET HIM!] ...I'm sorry.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

He's alive. That's all that matters.

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

[Doesn't want to upset him more] Then that's good! Umm..are you new? I don't think I've meet you before..

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[FINALLY, SOME TACT!]

... Yeah.

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

Then can you tell me your name? I'm Shun.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[a pause, as Zuko wrestles with something internally]

Prince Zuko. Of the Fire Nation.

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

So you're royalty! It's nice to meet you Zuko.