[ His house is different now, having gained his small pond. When she arrives, he's out back meditating by the water, listening to it bubble. He knows he won't hear her approach, but he blinks out of meditation, reaching for his tea. Glancing back, he sees her. ]
[The sneer comes out without much energy behind it, and it's easy enough to see why.
She... doesn't look great. Oh, she's still meticulously styled and made up as ever, but it's clear that she's not doing well mentally, looking more like she did when they traveled together before they arrived here. Eyes twitchier and a little redder, bags underneath them that makeup won't mask, her posture is more visibly tense.]
[ He'd not expected her to stay at the clinic. That's just not Azula. But the defense force? That's right in her wheelhouse, and he doesn't understand why she quit.
Though, looking at her now, he's starting to understand. She is cracking again. Cracking and becoming far more what she'd been before they found their mother. ]
The smirk slips from her features into a harsh glare.]
Trying to work with these people is pointless. They're too soft to be effective, and those that aren't seem to believe I'm a more dire threat than our captor and his little minions.
[She gives a contemptuous scoff at that- she'll believe it when she sees it.]
Fine. First, your wise and precious new Avatar decided she'd rather trust her fate to poison than allow me to heal her, as if I hadn't been healing these worthless fools since I arrived. But oh, when I defend myself against a gelfling assassin attacking me with a hammer, I'm the monster.
[She folds her arms and glares defiantly at him as she spits out the explanation, as if daring him to chastise her, as she's certain he intends to.]
[Ugh, no. She can't get sidetracked. She snaps, very suddenly-]
That's not the point. Everybody here refuses to acknowledge the threat these creatures represent, and acts as if I'm some sort of rabid animal just for pointing it out, no matter how many times they act to subvert us. Working beside them is a waste of my time.
[ He nods. Good. She didn't randomly kill. That's... better than he thought. ]
I can see how the people here might be a threat, yes, especially since they all seem content to live under Vaeros's rule. But the ones brought here? None of them are content with Vaeros, as witnessed by the ones who stormed the castle with us.
Which... she expected, but it still bothers her, rankles her to a surprising degree. She'd thought for a moment that he- Ugh. Zu-zu was always an idiot, after all, why should it frustrate her so much that he still doesn't get it?]
Of course they do, up until it comes to these pathetic wretches we're forced to live with! The goblins and gelflings brainwash us, sabotage our efforts to oppose Vaeros, they attack us in broad daylight, and still when I suggest something as simple, as obvious, as simply maintaining a modicum of separation in order to protect ourselves, they react with indignation and outrage!
[Okay, she's ranting. She's ranting. The loss of composure is unacceptable, humiliating. She hisses a breath, tries to restrain the frustration, to regain her composure.
It... sort of works. She at least manages to level out her breathing a little.]
[ He sighs. He's seeing her point. Unfortunately, he also sees the other side. He has to see the other side. ]
While you're not wrong, Azula, there are some here who've never faced the opposition of an invasion force. They will not understand if you try to shove it down their throats. I believe a peaceful solution must be tried first and militarily last, but the keeping separate? That has to be an individual choice.
I don't believe that we should become too integrated, that's giving up on the possibility of going home. Something, I am unwilling to do.
Precisely. It is an individual choice, and if nobody else will make it with me, I'll make it myself.
[She doesn't sound like she approves, there's still plenty of resentment lacing her voice. When she speaks again, though, she seems to have resumed her usual neutrally smug demeanor.]
So. Let the defense force and the clinic continue wasting their time protecting spies and sycophants who will inevitably stab us in the back at every opportunity. I'll do what I should have been doing all along and work alone.
[ It's asked reasonably. Because he's still holding his temper. ]
However, you bring up a good point. We have been betrayed, and it would be foolish to believe there are not spies among them. But the presentation is what's lacking.
[ He frowns, thinking about it. ]
Let me speak to a few friends, see what I can do. Perhaps the way to do it is to change one mind, not all.
[Hrmph. As irrational and absurd as it is, he has a point- he certainly seems to have the edge when it comes to being liked, a skill Azula largely considered useless but which seems to be all that matters here.
She regards it as a failing of this place.]
Fine. But don't be surprised when the bleeding hearts get upset with you for not being nice.
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Fine. I can find time for a conversation.
[A conversation, not a meal. Deliberate word choice there.]
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[Sigh. Fiiiiiiiine.]
I'll be there. This had better not be a waste of my time.
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Tea?
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[The sneer comes out without much energy behind it, and it's easy enough to see why.
She... doesn't look great. Oh, she's still meticulously styled and made up as ever, but it's clear that she's not doing well mentally, looking more like she did when they traveled together before they arrived here. Eyes twitchier and a little redder, bags underneath them that makeup won't mask, her posture is more visibly tense.]
I'm here, Zuko, what is it you want?
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I wanted to know why you quit the defense force.
[ He'd not expected her to stay at the clinic. That's just not Azula. But the defense force? That's right in her wheelhouse, and he doesn't understand why she quit.
Though, looking at her now, he's starting to understand. She is cracking again. Cracking and becoming far more what she'd been before they found their mother. ]
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Why, are they desperate to have me back?
[The sarcasm is palpable. She knows she wasn't a popular choice for the job, but she'd thought it was necessary.
Now-
Well. Now she doesn't think it's necessary anymore.]
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I don't know. I didn't ask. I was more worried about you.
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[Why did he keep doing this? Keep pretending he-
The smirk slips from her features into a harsh glare.]
Trying to work with these people is pointless. They're too soft to be effective, and those that aren't seem to believe I'm a more dire threat than our captor and his little minions.
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And why would they believe that Azula? You've done nothing, have you?
[ He's asking because he needs to know how she thinks. ]
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[And boy, she sounds bitter when she says it, the weary attempt at smugness having utterly dissolved into a sudden snappishness.]
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If you say you've done nothing, I will believe you, Azula. Unless brought proof, I don't automatically assume you're guilty.
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Fine. First, your wise and precious new Avatar decided she'd rather trust her fate to poison than allow me to heal her, as if I hadn't been healing these worthless fools since I arrived. But oh, when I defend myself against a gelfling assassin attacking me with a hammer, I'm the monster.
[She folds her arms and glares defiantly at him as she spits out the explanation, as if daring him to chastise her, as she's certain he intends to.]
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Then that was Korra's choice. I cannot blame you for that, or for defending yourself. Is the gelfling dead?
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No, he- he was supposed to-
What?
What?]
...I was persuaded to spare it.
[Ugh, no. She can't get sidetracked. She snaps, very suddenly-]
That's not the point. Everybody here refuses to acknowledge the threat these creatures represent, and acts as if I'm some sort of rabid animal just for pointing it out, no matter how many times they act to subvert us. Working beside them is a waste of my time.
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I can see how the people here might be a threat, yes, especially since they all seem content to live under Vaeros's rule. But the ones brought here? None of them are content with Vaeros, as witnessed by the ones who stormed the castle with us.
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Which... she expected, but it still bothers her, rankles her to a surprising degree. She'd thought for a moment that he- Ugh. Zu-zu was always an idiot, after all, why should it frustrate her so much that he still doesn't get it?]
Of course they do, up until it comes to these pathetic wretches we're forced to live with! The goblins and gelflings brainwash us, sabotage our efforts to oppose Vaeros, they attack us in broad daylight, and still when I suggest something as simple, as obvious, as simply maintaining a modicum of separation in order to protect ourselves, they react with indignation and outrage!
[Okay, she's ranting. She's ranting. The loss of composure is unacceptable, humiliating. She hisses a breath, tries to restrain the frustration, to regain her composure.
It... sort of works. She at least manages to level out her breathing a little.]
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While you're not wrong, Azula, there are some here who've never faced the opposition of an invasion force. They will not understand if you try to shove it down their throats. I believe a peaceful solution must be tried first and militarily last, but the keeping separate? That has to be an individual choice.
I don't believe that we should become too integrated, that's giving up on the possibility of going home. Something, I am unwilling to do.
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[She doesn't sound like she approves, there's still plenty of resentment lacing her voice. When she speaks again, though, she seems to have resumed her usual neutrally smug demeanor.]
So. Let the defense force and the clinic continue wasting their time protecting spies and sycophants who will inevitably stab us in the back at every opportunity. I'll do what I should have been doing all along and work alone.
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[ It's asked reasonably. Because he's still holding his temper. ]
However, you bring up a good point. We have been betrayed, and it would be foolish to believe there are not spies among them. But the presentation is what's lacking.
[ He frowns, thinking about it. ]
Let me speak to a few friends, see what I can do. Perhaps the way to do it is to change one mind, not all.
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And even if I had the slightest faith in your ability to be persuasive, why would you do that?
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Abrasive and-
[How dare. How very dare. Her frustration and indignation is momentarily forgotten in a moment of very mundane sibling irritation.]
Like you have room to talk! All sullen and pathetic all the time, and that's when you aren't getting bent out of shape over nothing!
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Neither of us is the most diplomatic, but you have to admit my diplomacy - which is needed here - is a little better than yours.
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She regards it as a failing of this place.]
Fine. But don't be surprised when the bleeding hearts get upset with you for not being nice.
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