sixth flame [no matter how a story will unfold]

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[Now that Zuko is properly informed of what is going to happen, he's going over the kinks in his plan to see if he can defy fate. The Plane's resident failprince brought his room with him, it seems-- or at least his big fluffy red and gold bed and a chair. The bed isn't suitable for laying on, though, since it's covered in maps and schematics of the Palace and its grounds. A scroll with all the prison guards' timetables also rests at the side.

He only breaks his concentration for the occasional bite of buttered bread or sip of juice on the nightstand. His long royal robes suggest he waited to do this until everyone else was asleep.]

Right, so...

I'll stop here, and then... take a left here... no, no, that won't work. The guard usually sits here, so then I'll...

Comments

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Examining one of the timetables, and then one of the maps, with the calm-eyed scrutiny of someone who's used to this sort of thing.] Where's your target point and origin?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[He's a little creeped out by that. Oh well.] Uh... I'm going to be here, first. [He points to one of the lower maps-- a below basement level.] I'll have ten minutes to finish up business in this room here, and then I have to go up a few levels and across the grounds to the prison. [He traces a path across the maps to the prison.]

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

What's the purpose of the mission? Kidnap, rescue, or assassination?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[ . . . ]

Rescue.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

What's the opposition?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[Eep.]

Fire Nation soldiers. They're usually armed with swords and Firebending and will be on edge because of the solar eclipse.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

What happens during the eclipse? Will you be in that basement chamber during it?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

During the eclipse, all Firebenders will lose their powers. I'll have my swords, so that's not a problem. I'm going to be talking to my father, and then I'll go and rescue the prisoner. I can be there and out in ten minutes as long as I don't get distracted.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Looking at the various maps, now.] Um, do you have anything to mark on these with?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

Uh... yeah. [He hands her a small brush and red ink.]

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Starts carefully making dots and Xs, talking while she does.] It looks like several of these areas were built at different times.

They did well in integrating expansions into the grounds, but since it wasn't all built at once, they would have focused more on accommodations for existing building rather than security, so... these points are vulnerable in terms of infiltration. [She points to the Xs.]

And these ones are positions where it would be difficult to spot you from the walls or stationary guard points. [Points to the dots] You can figure out your movements based on the guards schedules and regular patrols.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

[Zuko has just been schooled by a little girl.]

. . .

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

...is something wrong?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

... You're really... experienced at this sort of thing.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

I guess so.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

... [awkwardddd]

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

I guess you don't have people like me in your world?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

My sister--

-- nevermind.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

Your sister?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

... She liked studying and learning about battles since she was little.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

Oh. I don't, really. I mean, I like training, but most of this I just sort of know. Signore Jose teaches me what to look out for and areas of vulnerability, though.

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

Hm.

[It's still not right.]

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

...what's wrong?

[firedprince.livejournal.com]

Nothing.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Sits down on his bed, staring at the not floor.] You don't like it, either.