[ Regardless of her ability to charm him, her behavior has already seemed to put him in good spirits-- she couldn't remember the last time she had done this. For anyone. Maybe Ty Lee, years ago, when she still remembered what it was like to care about a friend. It gives her pause, letting her have time to make a point to give him a full look over (because they Both knew he did not put in extra effort) and entirely sidestep the creature at her feet. ]
Did I say nice? I meant mesmeric. Really, Keith, if you're not careful you're likely to make one of your little pilot friends come crashing out of the sky because they couldn't take their eyes off you.
[ Okay, that makes him genuinely laugh. Is it charming? Maybe not in a conventional sense, but he has to admit Azula has an intriguing way with words. ]
Well... guess I'd better do something about that. Wouldn't want to be a flight hazard or anything. Got any ideas?
[ The poor ignored dragonling meanwhile chirps unhappily, giving Azula a bit of a contemplative look. How best to help the unfriendly lady....? ]
[ Honestly, getting Azula to befriend a small creature will be a feat of its own, doing her best to ignore the sad chirps in the midst of her embarrassing charm attempt. She's Very Openly flirting with him now, the romance goblin should be happy enough with her as she steps forward to roughly tousle Keith's hair with both hands. ]
I suppose now we must make you grotesque in order to save all those lives.
[ Good thing she's managing to appease the dragonling here because otherwise it might have decided to start singing some happy romance into Azula's life. It watches them both, trilling softly.
Meanwhile Keith is grinning as he tries to catch one of Azula's wrists. ]
Noble of you. I'll just have to return the favor.
[ And cue trying to muss up Azula's hair. Take that?? ]
Return the favor? No one is crashing after a glance at me!
[ None of that! Azula tries to tilt her head to keep it from his clutches, but they're too close and it's absolutely futile. Instead, she has to peel her hands from the mess that is now his hair in order to snatch his wrists, it probably takes her like two hours to do her dumb bun in the morning this is not Cool. ]
[ Keith doesn't make any kind of attempt to pull his wrists free, so the ball is entirely in her court there. He is a little amused that she's giving him another potential avenue for continued teasing, but ... he's a merciful boy and will relent this one time. ]
I was going to suggest there is only one pilot I'd like to have crash, but that isn't true at all. I'd rather you weren't crushed to death in the wreckage of your lion because you were too dumb to stop looking at me.
[ This is so romantic! Azula loosens her grip on his wrists after a reluctant squeeze, drawing her hands away but not moving yet from her close proximity. ]
[ It is far too early in the day to feel this exposed. ]
Here, I'll help you start.
[ Yes, please, stop looking at her. She'll return her hands to him, covering his eyes, realizing she'll need both when she tries to splay her fingers across and can still spot grey eyes beneath them. ]
[ She knows he's not an idiot, she was just exaggerating. Azula is confident now she's won this game, however, grinning up at him as she lets her hands fall limp in his grasp. ]
[ That grin is both cute and irritating. Keith breaks eye contact, but keeps his hands on her wrists. How the heck did she maneuver him into this position again? ]
[ Ah, it's not so nice when the tables are turned, huh Keith? Her poking him for an answer wasn't necessary, the familiarity in his tone almost making her laugh despite the uncomfortable flutter in the pit of her stomach. Instead, she'll push herself up on her toes to close the distance between them and kiss him. ]
[ Considering how braced he was for more teasing, the kiss catches him completely by surprise. Unsure if this is Azula's version of mercy or a declaration of victory, Keith blinks. ]
Oh. We're doing this now?
[ It's only after he's asked that he realizes a) that it was a dumb question and b) he doesn't actually want Azula to dictate this. Letting go of her wrists, he moves his hands down to her waist, leaning down to kiss her back. ]
[ His question only leaves her with a moment of doubt, wondering if she had somehow misread the entirety of her interaction with him. Keith is quick enough to ease that worry from her mind as his lips find hers again, unable to stop herself from smiling against his mouth; it was definitely a declaration of victory. She'll let herself enjoy it, deserving the indulgence after such a performance, ghosting nails over his cheeks before she drapes her arms over his shoulders. When she speaks again, she barely moves, lips brushing over his with every word. ]
[ The moment is soft and sweet, and when she makes her demand it almost makes him laugh. It's a weird amount of affection to be feeling, and in the end it's much easier to smile right back and tease. ]
What if I just tied you to a tree instead?
[ Echoing something she'd said to him not that long ago. ]
[ It's intimate and there's something she enjoys about being in control of the moment, knowing the Augur has no hand in her affections for him now. Azula still felt strange, wanting anyone was something entirely new for her and their shared kisses now was as close as she's gotten to admitting it (aside from making a beeline to him this early in the day). ]
I'll get bored of it eventually when I find something new to pester you about.
[ Because it seems they will have plenty of time to find the right ways to dig under each others' skin. The ease in which they make the other fluster was a testament to that, always silently thankful that the Augur forced them together even if she curses them regularly. She nearly settles the weight of her body against him, content to be in his arms for as long as he'd like to keep her there. The victory certainly made her less likely to question their relationship and just enjoy it instead, unable to peel the grin from her face since she kissed him. ]
I just want to hear the words, we both know I've already won.
[ Keith can honestly say that he couldn't really define the nature of the game they were playing. That said, whatever the parameters for winning were, she's probably right about having achieved that. Still won't stop him from playing dumb. ]
I have yet to decide what my prize will be, but I'm sure I'll think of something.
[ Azula twists her hand so she can flick the back of his neck with her index finger, stopping herself from doing something worse. She knows they can both agree there was a competition, and she beat him, and she's not falling for whatever he was trying to get her to say. ]
[ Finally, she peels her arms from him, feeling like she's rewarding him for evading her simple request the longer she keeps herself wound tightly around him. Instead, Azula turns so she can scoop Keith's new pet up in her hands and hold it up in the air, staring at its oversized eyeballs. ]
Is it so difficult for you to admit defeat? I am not even asking for you to claim you're a loser, just that I am the winner.
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Did I say nice? I meant mesmeric. Really, Keith, if you're not careful you're likely to make one of your little pilot friends come crashing out of the sky because they couldn't take their eyes off you.
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Well... guess I'd better do something about that. Wouldn't want to be a flight hazard or anything. Got any ideas?
[ The poor ignored dragonling meanwhile chirps unhappily, giving Azula a bit of a contemplative look. How best to help the unfriendly lady....? ]
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I suppose now we must make you grotesque in order to save all those lives.
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Meanwhile Keith is grinning as he tries to catch one of Azula's wrists. ]
Noble of you. I'll just have to return the favor.
[ And cue trying to muss up Azula's hair. Take that?? ]
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[ None of that! Azula tries to tilt her head to keep it from his clutches, but they're too close and it's absolutely futile. Instead, she has to peel her hands from the mess that is now his hair in order to snatch his wrists, it probably takes her like two hours to do her dumb bun in the morning this is not Cool. ]
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Would you like them to?
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What answer would I have to give to finally convince you I'm charming after all?
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I'll take an honest answer.
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[ This is so romantic! Azula loosens her grip on his wrists after a reluctant squeeze, drawing her hands away but not moving yet from her close proximity. ]
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If you're worried about me being that dumb, I guess I should quit while I'm ahead and stop looking at you altogether.
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Here, I'll help you start.
[ Yes, please, stop looking at her. She'll return her hands to him, covering his eyes, realizing she'll need both when she tries to splay her fingers across and can still spot grey eyes beneath them. ]
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[ Keith makes a face. It's his turn to be holding her wrists hostage. ]
I'm not that stupid. [ A beat. ] And I'm going to look at you if I want to.
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[ She knows he's not an idiot, she was just exaggerating. Azula is confident now she's won this game, however, grinning up at him as she lets her hands fall limp in his grasp. ]
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I don't like this.
[ Grumpy evasive maneuver is grumpy and evasive ]
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Oh. We're doing this now?
[ It's only after he's asked that he realizes a) that it was a dumb question and b) he doesn't actually want Azula to dictate this. Letting go of her wrists, he moves his hands down to her waist, leaning down to kiss her back. ]
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Now tell me I'm charming.
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What if I just tied you to a tree instead?
[ Echoing something she'd said to him not that long ago. ]
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I'd rather you just do what I asked.
[ And I'd like to see you try. ]
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Of course you would. You're never gonna let me live it down if I do.
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[ Because it seems they will have plenty of time to find the right ways to dig under each others' skin. The ease in which they make the other fluster was a testament to that, always silently thankful that the Augur forced them together even if she curses them regularly. She nearly settles the weight of her body against him, content to be in his arms for as long as he'd like to keep her there. The victory certainly made her less likely to question their relationship and just enjoy it instead, unable to peel the grin from her face since she kissed him. ]
I just want to hear the words, we both know I've already won.
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Oh? What did you win? Explain.
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[ Azula twists her hand so she can flick the back of his neck with her index finger, stopping herself from doing something worse. She knows they can both agree there was a competition, and she beat him, and she's not falling for whatever he was trying to get her to say. ]
Say it, or I'll make you.
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[ He laughs, giving his neck an obligatory rub to feign pain. He doesn't doubt that she means that, but he can't help pushing it all the same. ]
Now that's not very charming at all.
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[ Finally, she peels her arms from him, feeling like she's rewarding him for evading her simple request the longer she keeps herself wound tightly around him. Instead, Azula turns so she can scoop Keith's new pet up in her hands and hold it up in the air, staring at its oversized eyeballs. ]
Is it so difficult for you to admit defeat? I am not even asking for you to claim you're a loser, just that I am the winner.
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