third flame [have you got it in you?]

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[Zuko sits on the top of the theater with his uneven gold gaze trained on the stars. Most of him has disappeared beneath a floor-length red robe with gold lining the hood. His knees are pulled to his chest, hands cradling some small, ornamental object. He doesn't know what the constellations mean. He doesn't care. All he knows is that his destiny is coming fast upon him, and he can't run anymore. Didn't he say he was going to stop running?

A soft sigh, and he draws into himself more, just pale skin and robe and frown.]

How can he tell me that and expect me to just... I can't... I'm not...

... Uncle... why does it have to be me?

Comments

[immortalmistake.livejournal.com]

[Is just wandering, until he hears someone talk. And then he glances over, frowning.] You all right?

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[Have a bottle of liquid dangling in front of your face, Zuko.] Strawberry cordial. Just the thing on a cold night, which it looks like you've come from.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[Zuko is silent for a long moment in hopes that whoever is asking will go away.]




... I'm fine.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[Zuko barely reacts. He simply stares blankly from under the hood.]

... It's summer.

[immortalmistake.livejournal.com]

Really? 'cause part of the reason I dragged this place here was so I could think. Nice view. Can almost pretend this whole thing isn't bent as hell. [Shoves his hands into his pockets]

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

Summers can be cold. [Settles herself, uncorks the bottle and takes a swig.]

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[Zuko just makes more of a ball.]

I don't want to think about anything right now.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

Not in the Fire Nation.

[... Whatever that is, it smells good. Oh, damn it. He looks away again.]

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[Offers the bottle, just holding it out, not nudging him with it or anything. She'll stay there until he notices.] It's not alcoholic. I've found not everyone here comes from a place where you start on hard drinks when you're ten.

[immortalmistake.livejournal.com]

It's good for that too. [Looking up at the stars now.]

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

... Good. [Back to one and two-word responses, it looks like. For once, Zuko isn't telling people to get lost. As long as they're quiet and not too nosy, he can think about what he's going to do next.]

[immortalmistake.livejournal.com]

[Continues his ramble around the roof, looking up at the stars~ If Zuko should, by chance, see his expression, it's not exactly happy with the world at the moment.]

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[When she begins talking about it, he lifts his eyes.] Right... [He reaches out for it, hesitantly, watching Aniki like he's half-expecting her to yank it away at the last minute. Sorry. Azula is a bitch, and also, besides his mother, the most prominent female figure in his life right now.]

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[That makes two of them.]

Um... did I... take your thinking place?

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[Just keeps holding it out, not really looking at him.] Scanra, now. Those were some cold summers. At its hottest, up in the mountains, it was just enough to melt the ice on our river.

[immortalmistake.livejournal.com]

[Looks over at him in surprise.] Huh?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[Zuko takes it. With reservation, and only after a cautious sniff, he takes a gulp of it. It's really kind of sweet. That there is the most expression she's probably ever seen on him, aside from yelling.] W-whoa.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

... You look mad... and you said this was something you brought here, so... uh...

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[Smiles at nothing in particular, apparently (or rather, deliberately) misinterpreting his reaction.]

Mm. Used to try running across the ice blocks that were left on dares, sometimes.

[immortalmistake.livejournal.com]

[Shrug] It's a big roof. Not mad at you.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

... okay. [And he settles into his little corner again, running his thumbs over the little gold crown in his lap.]

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[Technically everything Zuko says is a misunderstanding, so it's fine.]

... That wasn't... [Ugh. He hands the cordial back.] ... nevermind.

[immortalmistake.livejournal.com]

You royalty or something? I know a princess who goofs around here a lot. [Sits down on the edge of the roof, giving Zuko his space.]

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

... Yeah.

[Zuko, stop sulking. That's not very princelike.]

I'm a prince.

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[Takes a drink and hands it back.] Left the mountains pretty quick. When I was eight, actually. Taken when our village was destroyed. Don't miss the winters, that's certain.