callmeaprincess | Inbox for labyrinthum

Thank you for inviting me.

[She offers the macarons before admiring his spread.]

And I'm glad you're enjoying the tea set.

It's a lovely set.

[ He compliments her. He really does like it. ]

I wanted to talk to you about something serious.

[ He holds out a chair for her. ]

And you're probably not going to like it.

[She gracefully accepts the chair, tentatively glancing at Zuko as she adjusts her teacup.]

Why? What's wrong?

[ He settles across from her. ]

It's Azula.

[ Which is probably not the best way to start, but he's found being direct is best. ]

She's right, as much as it bothers me to say it. Working with the town is a problem that needs to be addressed.

[Perhaps it is the best way to start, because it puts her in the proper mindset almost immediately. She straightens her posture and looks straight at Zuko as he continues, ultimately settling her mouth into a pensive frown.]

I know. I addressed it at the last council meeting. Azula... is more hostile than I think we should be, and she really wanted to rub it in when I hinted that her distrust was warranted... but nevertheless, I agreed, and still do. They may mean no harm, but we have to protect ourselves from Vaeros. And he has all of the villagers under his thumb.

Her thoughts exactly. Apparently, during the fight at the castle, she was attacked by a villager, and while she didn't kill them, she did defend herself.

[ He shakes his head. ]

My sister is volatile, on her best days and sometimes cruel, but strategy is something she's very good at.

[ He'll give credit where credit is due. ]

I don't know when the next council meeting is, but perhaps it can be put forth that we take a step back from the villagers. Deny them access to our buildings, our businesses. As much as it pains me to say, treat them as other. They have to make the choice. It's us or Vaeros.

[A gentle nod as she shuts her eyes.] It's true. They attacked her, but had no recollection of it. She looked ready to kill, but Azula knew that removing one villager wouldn't stop another from being controlled.

[More softly:] As frustrating as she often is, I can't deny she's one of the most pragmatic people here.

I already suggested at the last meeting that we restrict our services to ourselves; we can't deny someone at the clinic, but our businesses are for us. And, obviously, we must not talk to any of them about our feelings or speculations about Vaeros. I can restate this for the next meeting, but beyond that, it's up to everyone's own choice. I try to organize plans, not govern our community.

Azula is very pragmatic and good at what she does. She just... [ He hates to say it this way, but it's true. ] She needs reined in every once in a while, to be reminded that the other side is people.

[ He leans forward a little, his elbows braced on the table. ]

Our father only saw his own goal, never saw the people on the other side. Both he and my sister see it as a weakness that I do, but I'm trying to teach her that pragmatism has its place, even while recognizing there are other people.

Korra suggested that's your father's influence. Efficient in business, but a stranger to honest feelings.

[Both hands around her teacup, she gazes into the brew.]

If she got that from him, then where did you learn your kindness? [Recalling Azula's memory from last year:] Was it your mother?

[ He looks away. ]

Mother tried to teach it to Azula, but she was always Father's child, more than mother's. Mother was sweet, gentle, and caring. But she wasn't the only one. My Uncle was a great influence on me as well. I owe a lot to him.

[With parents so different, it puts an uncomfortable sensation in Jasmine's throat. Especially with what Azula appears to do in that memory she saw...] Is she all right? Your mother?

[Then she swallows and shakes her head. He doesn't have to tell her something that's so personal.]

What's your uncle like?

I had just found her, when Azula ran off into the woods. I went after her, and ended up here.

[ He sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face. ]

Mother is fine, she found her peace.

[ But then he chuckles. ]

As Azula would put it: A doddering old fool, but he is wise beyond even his years, and I would not be who I am without him.

[She lets out a small sigh of relief for his mother, then chuckles at the next comment.]

Many call my father a "doddering old fool" - his decision isn't always what I'd make, but his heart is in the right place. We took care of each other when my mother died.

I'm glad you had your uncle to guide you, even if Azula doesn't feel the same way.

Uncle is more a father to me than Ozai ever was. I am honored to have been his... well, project for about four years. Despite him losing his own son, he didn't turn his back on me. Ever.

[ He huffs out a breath. ]

Uncle's the same way. A doddering old fool who has a heart of gold and a mind like a steel trap. He broke out of the Fire Nation prison his own brother put him in and retook Ba Sing Se for the Earth Kingdom.

[This quickly makes more and more sense to her. His uncle lost his own son, so Zuko filled that void, just as he fulfilled the father role Ozai never did. She's genuinely touched.]

That's beautiful. You're both heroes who saved each other from what your father destroyed. Nothing proves this more than how you present yourself now, Zuko.

...If only it were so simple for your sister.

[ He looks at Jasmine, his left eye narrowed, because he's having a hard time with it again. ]

Azula is, unfortunately, what Ozai made her. She had some tendencies, when she was little, but Ozai fed them, indulged them, made them so much worse.

[ Place the blame on Ozai. All of it. ]

[She notices the struggle with his eye - Jasmine has always wondered how he got the scar but never wanted to pry. Now she deeply suspects that Ozai is responsible for that, too.

He reminds her all too much of Agrabah's former vizier.]

When someone with that much power tells you something, you easily believe it. Even if it's a lie.

But, why her and not you? You were his heir.

[ Zuko rubs the scarred eye, absently. ]

A couple of reasons. One; Azula was a firebending prodigy, much better than me at it. Two; when I was a child and Uncle Iroh's son died, Firelord Azulon, my grandfather and Iroh and Ozai's father, ordered Ozai to kill me so he would know the pain of losing his heir.

[ A deep breath. ]

Instead, Azulon died, and Ozai became Firelord.

[ Then, his fingers gently brush the scar. ]

After I called his general an idiot in my thirteen year old way, Ozai and I fought an Agni Kai - ritual combat. I thought I was fighting the general. I was shocked when I saw my father across from me. I tried to stop it, but Ozai had decided I needed taught a lesson. Then, he banished me. Best thing he ever did for me.

[Confirmed. This is one of those times when Jasmine hates being right. In Agrabah, only one person was the source of corruption - but for an entire royal family to encourage such ruthlessness, and with Zuko's own father at the centre of it all...

Not to mention what it did to Azula. She has no scar on her face, but she wonders how much deeper, and more raw, the scar in her heart must be.

She puts her free hand over her cheek, to mirror Zuko and reflect his pain. She leaves it there as she processes everything.]

I'm so sorry. Even if you spoke out of turn, no one - let alone a child - deserves such punishment. That's not discipline, just... cruelty. Overcoming that, and exuding your kindness now, shows unbelievable resilience.

No wonder Azula behaves with arrogance, when she was taught all her life that she's the best. If you've replaced your father now, then she must be the last trace of his influence... and the most hurt from it.

The greatest kindness my father ever showed me was burning my eye and banishing me.

[ And Zuko believes that. ]

She is. I don't know what her problem here is, but father was not kind to her, nor did he care about her, only what she could bring to him. He tried to brand himself the Phoenix King, by burning down the Earth Kingdom. We stopped him, but whatever happened before he left the Calderon broke something in Azula. She had everything she ever wanted and yet had nothing.

[The comment makes her wince; she understands why he would say that, because it means the idealism of his father was broken sooner, but it's a process no one should ever have to endure.

The war crimes... it's almost haunting how used to that knowledge she became after being stuck here with Azula for so long. But one thing that was always clear to her was how much she pushed her family away - her mother in the memory she saw, Zuko despite all of the months here, her uncle... except perhaps her father, the supposed closest person to her. But if he was invading elsewhere while his daughter was at home, and she was as upset as her brother claims now, then that leaves her with a very haunting conclusion.]

Was she alone?

[ He nods. ]

Father was attempting to burn the Earth Kingdoms to the ground and fighting the Avatar. No one but servants around. By that time, she'd imprisoned her two friends, Mai and Ty Lee.

Inbox for labyrinthum

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject