17 - [voice] Return to the land of the living

[forged_anew]

[Zuko turns his communicator on, but there is only silence for a long time. He doesn't really know what to say. After a while, he speaks, voice quiet and flat.]


I'm... back.


[.......]



I apologize for having worried you.


[And that's it. The communicator shuts off with a soft click.]

Comments

Yeah, and Zuko totally gets the whole corrupt leader thing :|

[forged_anew]

You sound like you really respect your father.

I can understand why you'd decline such an offer. A government is set in place to serve the people's will and protect them. Hiring criminals is hardly an honorable thing for your soldiers to do.

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

I do.

That and I didn't want to be their lap dog. Not that they really have as much control over the Shichibukai like they think they do.

[forged_anew]

Wish I could say the same.

Shichibukai? Is that your crew?

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

You and I aren't much different by the sounds of it. Pops is what I call my captain. We're not related, but he's more like a father to me than my real one was.

The Shichibukai are those dogs I was talking about. The pirates hired by the Marines.

[forged_anew]

So you weren't referring to your actual father, then. I see.

Are the pirates in your world mercenaries then?

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

Right. I refuse to call that man father, even if we do share blood.

Some of them. There're all types.

[forged_anew]

[dry laugh] I know what you mean.

Hmm.


[Sorry, Ace, he doesn't know all that much about pirates and he's kind of starting to lose interest and get gloomy again.]

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

[It's alright, he knows teens have a short attention span. And besides, one of his friends just died so he's uh... not feeling up for really striking up the convo again either.

Insert drawn out, uncomfortable silence here.]


...anyway, don't sweat it kid. You're alive. That's what counts. Pick yourself up and get the hell out there and be strong for your Nakama. They need you.

[Ya know, instead of moping and being emo about the fact you died.]

[forged_anew]

[But Zuzu's so good at being emo! Oh, well. He knows you're right, but he might mope a little longer. He's trying to sound better though.]

Don't worry about me. And quit calling me "kid," will you?

I plan to look out for my fr-- Nakama, whether I have my Firebending or not.

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

[At least he's trying. But ffff you said the magic word!]

I've been hearing that a lot lately. I'm inclined to think I should worry anyway.

Firebending huh? Sounds like something I'd have to see for myself one day.

[He's a smart man, he can put two and two together and figure out what firebending is. It intrigues him to no end that there's another fire user \o/]

[forged_anew]

Well, don't. Not that I don't appreciate it, but you don't even know me.

[Ffff, sorry, Ace, he appreciates it, he does. He just really hates making people worry about him.]

I can't Firebend right now.

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

I won't. Like you said, I barely know you. I wasn't serious.

Many of my friends have been telling me not to worry and one of the ones who said it the most just died of the same thing you did.

[He didn't mean for that to come off a little bitter.]

Neither can I. [Think on that second Firelord Emo.]

[forged_anew]

[...]

Sorry about your friend.

[He sounds a little taken aback, and he means it.]



...are you mocking me?

[Firelord Emo doesn't get what you meant. :| ]

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

It's okay. He'll be back and his suffering has ended for now.

[His voice is very even and calm. No hurt feelings kid, it's alright.]

No, I'm sorry. I can normally manipulate fire myself.

[forged_anew]

Yeah...

[Well, he wasn't expecting that.]

Oh.

[dontcallmegol.livejournal.com]

[Really that last bit up there was not to reassure himself too. No. Not at all.]

... like I said, your firebending, I'd like to see it sometime. We'll compare notes.

[forged_anew]

[And this is definitely a more friendly tone. He doesn't exactly feel bad about snapping at you, but no reason to keep at it.]

Sure. I'd like to see your fire manipulation too, when... we're both able.

Comparing notes sounds good.