[ Hers was a face she hadn't expected to see again.
Once Zuko had fled the Fire Nation, she had an inkling that she might have trouble with Mai. While it surprised her, angered her, the loss of such a friendship wouldn't have been missed too terribly in the end. It was when those fingers dug into her skin she fell to the floor-- that's when she crumbled. Things had only spiraled out of control from there, discarded by her father and ultimately placed in a hospital so Zuko could feel better about not locking his sister up. Though, honestly, she might have preferred a jail cell.
He had mentioned to her that he was going to be trying else, constantly butting heads as she seemed to be getting nowhere with her care. They had finally stopped keeping her bound, a little more freedom in the four walls she called home now, but it was only because they kept her sedated enough that her bending could be dealt with fearlessly. Azula had come up with a handful of plans to escape, but had not yet found a reason to-- what exactly was out there for her? She had no love for Ozai, no reason to work with whatever remained of his loyal subjects to force Zuko off the throne. Instead she'd just be heated and hostile in her room, something Zuko apparently no longer could handle for him to swoop to such a low level.
It was like all the breath was stolen from her: watching the familiar brunette braid fall over her shoulder, dressed in greens of the new group she claimed allegiance to. Azula pushes herself up, fight or flight kicking in despite knowing of the little fight she has in her, knowing she would be stopped even if she tried. Her and Zuko's relationship was always tumultuous, she was used to the ebb and flow, but Ty Lee's absence from her life had gutted her. Now it felt like she had reopened an old wound, a knife twisting and reminding her of the pain she had felt what seemed like an eternity ago. ]
Was your little happy life going too well? I don't see why you would be blessing me with your presence unless you were eager to be ruined.
[ This was a bad idea, wasn't it? She was already vaguely sure of that fact before she had even set foot in the building where Azula was being kept. Just the sight of it makes her uneasy, and there's a brief moment where she considers just leaving, going back home to her fellow Kyoshi and never thinking about it again. Of course, she knows the problem with that plan is she wouldn't be able to 'never' think of it, it's been on her mind incessantly. All of it, the little moments of their long history, have played through her head, wondering what she could have differently despite her every attempt to distract herself from it.
And so Ty Lee squares his shoulders, straightens her spine, and forces herself forward. It's not that she's afraid of Azula-- though she thinks maybe she is afraid of something. Afraid of seeing how she might be, of confronting all the ways things had gone wrong over the years. But maybe, even if this goes truly terribly, she can at least say she had tried. Maybe that will be enough to finally put those thoughts to rest.
There is one last moment of lingering hesitation as she watches her hand hover over the handle of the door to Azula's room. Well, no going back now. She swallows hard, bracing herself for whatever might be on the other side and-- it's somehow both slightly better and impossibly worse than she has been imagining. And then Azula's words strike her like a blow square to the chest, though it has little to do with the disdain of them. ]
Uh, hey, Azula. [ She laughs nervously, a slight but insincere smile on her face. ] You're looking... rested? I just wanted to-- [ When she started this sentence, she hadn't expected it to be so difficult to finish. ] say hi.
[ Azula keeps her back pressed against the wall, making sure to keep the distance between them as much as she could lest she give in to negative temptations. She was unable to read Ty Lee's face, unable to determine what it was exactly that may have brought her here. Was it some sort of twisted kindness, or to humiliate and ridicule her even more than she thought she ever deserved? The hospital was enough. ]
Rested? [ Her own laugh is hollow in response, letting her arms fall loosely at her sides as she chokes them out. ] I'm so glad you decided to check in on me during my little vacation. You've said hi, now you can leave.
[ Don't linger. Whatever game Ty Lee, or Zuko (should he be behind this), was playing she wasn't interested in it. Once before she didn't mind toying with Ty Lee's vapid mind, but now seeing that forced smile on her face, the hesitance-- she wanted her nowhere near. It was bad enough Ty Lee was made aware of her fall from grace, had a hand in it, but anyone seeing her here where she was weak, useless? That was as bad as any insult. ]
[ Azula makes a fair point, and for a moment, Ty Lee considers it. She's said hello, she's seen her, she's set out all she initially intended to do. This avenue is tempting, and certainly easier than remaining here and trying to do-- whatever this might amount to. She takes in a long, slow breath, and keeps herself rooted to the spot, keeps herself rooted here and watching. She's never in their long history seen Azula like this, and she takes no joy in it. ]
Well, I thought I'd stay a little longer.
[ As if to prove that point Ty Lee forces herself further into the room, if only by a few steps. Still feeling nervous, Ty Lee lets her gaze wander about the room, not quite able to settle on the woman she had called her friend for so long. ]
[ What was she expecting? Azula's time here had been chaotic, a flurry of fights and sedation and forced conversations that she didn't participate in. She was heavily fatigued, always, the fire within her like a dying flame clawing desperately for extra kindling. At least now she had accepted the loss of the war and the destruction of her relationship with her father, only playing nice with Zuko as she tried to figure out what was left for her.
Ty Lee certainly looked much better, however. If there wasn't uncertainty and tension between them now that seemed to be making things more dour, she'd be able to say the girl actually looked happy. A part of her wishes she could ruin it, a twinge of jealousy rattling through her. What was it that brought her here? Guilt? Some weird emotional void that Azula needed to fill for her in order to validate her feelings? ]
I think you can take a guess at how I'm doing without me saying much at all.
[ Her appearance definitely gives it away, but at least she still has that same confidence in her posture even if the immediate threat is gone. It's clear Ty Lee knows that, too, her hesitation not due to the potential for Azula to pounce. ]
[ better catch her because there's an excited pink thing catapulting herself at azula. does it matter that roxy is taller than her?
no.
azula's strong, anyway, and surprising the fire princess was always fun in roxy's book. of course, that would probably explain why said book was always on fire, but... details. ]
[ She's thankful her reflexes are quick, shifting her feet at the sound of Roxy to account for the extra weight suddenly wrapped in her arms. Tightly. ]
Did I do something to earn such an enthusiastic greeting?
[ It seems that Roxy is in good spirits, so she'll let the clinging continue (because she'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy the abundance of affection). She presses her nose into blonde hair and exhales, keeping her arms firm around her friend. ]
Not so many people are pleased with my existence, this is most definitely a first for me.
I would prefer it that way, if most people greeted me like this I fear I may become agoraphobic.
[ Roxy had a privilege she'd rather no one else had bestowed upon them. With the comfort it may have brought her, the extended duration of physical affection from anyone was always accompanied by unease-- even now, with her. ]
Or things they do not favor may be wrought upon them.
[ She can be frightening without the lightning, it isn't her first go-to considering too much of it would result in a lot of deaths. She's not actually a murderer just for the fun of it. ]
I would think that a little lightning would be enough of a deterrent for anyone to actually try.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Once Zuko had fled the Fire Nation, she had an inkling that she might have trouble with Mai. While it surprised her, angered her, the loss of such a friendship wouldn't have been missed too terribly in the end. It was when those fingers dug into her skin she fell to the floor-- that's when she crumbled. Things had only spiraled out of control from there, discarded by her father and ultimately placed in a hospital so Zuko could feel better about not locking his sister up. Though, honestly, she might have preferred a jail cell.
He had mentioned to her that he was going to be trying else, constantly butting heads as she seemed to be getting nowhere with her care. They had finally stopped keeping her bound, a little more freedom in the four walls she called home now, but it was only because they kept her sedated enough that her bending could be dealt with fearlessly. Azula had come up with a handful of plans to escape, but had not yet found a reason to-- what exactly was out there for her? She had no love for Ozai, no reason to work with whatever remained of his loyal subjects to force Zuko off the throne. Instead she'd just be heated and hostile in her room, something Zuko apparently no longer could handle for him to swoop to such a low level.
It was like all the breath was stolen from her: watching the familiar brunette braid fall over her shoulder, dressed in greens of the new group she claimed allegiance to. Azula pushes herself up, fight or flight kicking in despite knowing of the little fight she has in her, knowing she would be stopped even if she tried. Her and Zuko's relationship was always tumultuous, she was used to the ebb and flow, but Ty Lee's absence from her life had gutted her. Now it felt like she had reopened an old wound, a knife twisting and reminding her of the pain she had felt what seemed like an eternity ago. ]
Was your little happy life going too well? I don't see why you would be blessing me with your presence unless you were eager to be ruined.
no subject
And so Ty Lee squares his shoulders, straightens her spine, and forces herself forward. It's not that she's afraid of Azula-- though she thinks maybe she is afraid of something. Afraid of seeing how she might be, of confronting all the ways things had gone wrong over the years. But maybe, even if this goes truly terribly, she can at least say she had tried. Maybe that will be enough to finally put those thoughts to rest.
There is one last moment of lingering hesitation as she watches her hand hover over the handle of the door to Azula's room. Well, no going back now. She swallows hard, bracing herself for whatever might be on the other side and-- it's somehow both slightly better and impossibly worse than she has been imagining. And then Azula's words strike her like a blow square to the chest, though it has little to do with the disdain of them. ]
Uh, hey, Azula. [ She laughs nervously, a slight but insincere smile on her face. ] You're looking... rested? I just wanted to-- [ When she started this sentence, she hadn't expected it to be so difficult to finish. ] say hi.
no subject
Rested? [ Her own laugh is hollow in response, letting her arms fall loosely at her sides as she chokes them out. ] I'm so glad you decided to check in on me during my little vacation. You've said hi, now you can leave.
[ Don't linger. Whatever game Ty Lee, or Zuko (should he be behind this), was playing she wasn't interested in it. Once before she didn't mind toying with Ty Lee's vapid mind, but now seeing that forced smile on her face, the hesitance-- she wanted her nowhere near. It was bad enough Ty Lee was made aware of her fall from grace, had a hand in it, but anyone seeing her here where she was weak, useless? That was as bad as any insult. ]
no subject
Well, I thought I'd stay a little longer.
[ As if to prove that point Ty Lee forces herself further into the room, if only by a few steps. Still feeling nervous, Ty Lee lets her gaze wander about the room, not quite able to settle on the woman she had called her friend for so long. ]
How are you doing, Azula? Like, really?
no subject
Ty Lee certainly looked much better, however. If there wasn't uncertainty and tension between them now that seemed to be making things more dour, she'd be able to say the girl actually looked happy. A part of her wishes she could ruin it, a twinge of jealousy rattling through her. What was it that brought her here? Guilt? Some weird emotional void that Azula needed to fill for her in order to validate her feelings? ]
I think you can take a guess at how I'm doing without me saying much at all.
[ Her appearance definitely gives it away, but at least she still has that same confidence in her posture even if the immediate threat is gone. It's clear Ty Lee knows that, too, her hesitation not due to the potential for Azula to pounce. ]
How are you doing, Ty Lee?
surprises you
[ better catch her because there's an excited pink thing catapulting herself at azula. does it matter that roxy is taller than her?
no.
azula's strong, anyway, and surprising the fire princess was always fun in roxy's book. of course, that would probably explain why said book was always on fire, but... details. ]
i am thoroughly surprised
Did I do something to earn such an enthusiastic greeting?
:D
[ don't mind her she's just gonna. cling to azula. like a koala.
and kiss her cheek, because roxy can't be tamed. ]
no subject
Not so many people are pleased with my existence, this is most definitely a first for me.
no subject
[ she's nuzzling against the fire princess, resting her head on her shoulder ]
Those peeps suck, so fuck 'em.
no subject
[ Roxy had a privilege she'd rather no one else had bestowed upon them. With the comfort it may have brought her, the extended duration of physical affection from anyone was always accompanied by unease-- even now, with her. ]
Or things they do not favor may be wrought upon them.
i'm gonna re-read homestuck for you
Oh yeah? Like what? [ oh! wait, she knows: ] Gonna smack 'em with a little lightning?
i don't deserve that kind of self-torture
[ She can be frightening without the lightning, it isn't her first go-to considering too much of it would result in a lot of deaths. She's not actually a murderer just for the fun of it. ]
I would think that a little lightning would be enough of a deterrent for anyone to actually try.