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

[forged_anew]

Probably not.

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

Then why aren't you--

I'm coming over, okay?

log/commentlog?

[forged_anew]

Sure.

Sure! 8)

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

Okay.

[Yayyyy on her way over]

Er.... I'll assume that means commentlog. lol

[forged_anew]

[And he's just sitting on his bed, staring out the window listlessly. Feel free to let yourself into the apartment.]

Oh pfft I fail, sorry XD

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

[Knocks, kind of tentatively]

... Zuko?

lol, np~

[forged_anew]

It's unlocked.

[Yeah, he's not bothering to get up. You're not that special, Ty Lee.]

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

[Comes and and just... stands there, awkwardly]

Um.

Where's Mai?

*overuses this icon forever*

[forged_anew]

[He spares her a glance, chin resting on his arms, which are crossed over the windowsill]

She went out. Something about... retrieving her communicator.

[...]

You can sit down if you want.

*tries not to overuse the "worried" icon*

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

Can I wait here for her to come back?

it's okay. we can have an icon party of "brooding" and "worried" \o/

[forged_anew]

That's fine.

[And there's awkward silence again. Feel free to break it anytime, dear. Zuzu needs some cheering up. D: ]

:O

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

[...]

Are you feeling okay?

[forged_anew]

Perfectly healthy.

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

What about, like...

[forged_anew]

[sigh]

Not really.

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I thought.

[forged_anew]

[Yeah, well, he knows he's being obvious, but he's not really in the mood to attempt faking it.]

I can't exactly be happy about not only hurting and worrying those I care about, but once again being utterly useless. Not to mention last week was... just a little traumatizing not fun.

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

I know.


[...]

Tora poked me about this. I hope you don't mind! /saves from awkwardness

[represses.livejournal.com]

[Mai quietly entered the apartment, her expression dour; she'd found her communicator, though it had taken a lot longer than she'd anticipated. It took her a moment to notice the room's new occupant - she WAS rather distracted - though, once she did...]

...hey.

Sorry this is so late! I've been sick and sleeping a lot ahhhhhh

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

Hi.

[Stands and shifts from one foot to the other]

Do you, um... do you want some company?

Awww! <3333 Get plenty of rest, bb

[forged_anew]

[Zuko also looks up as Mai enters, giving her a kind-of half hearted smile, but says nothing.]

Seconding that~

[represses.livejournal.com]

[She returned Zuko's half-smile with a similar one; it wasn't possible to overstate how awkward things had been since he'd returned. They shouldn't have been, but they were, and Mai was... just kind of at a loss.

Ty Lee's question drew a blank stare from her... until she realized how utterly palpable the awkward atmosphere was.]

Um... sure, yeah.

[She took a seat next to Zuko... but not actually AGAINST him, like usual. For some reason, she got the feeling - right or wrong - that he didn't really want to be touched at the moment. Frankly, she was surprised that he was alright with being SEEN, or SPOKEN TO. But, well, maybe it was a sign that he was cheering up? Maybe.]

Thank you! And aaaaack sorry this is so late; I forgot to track the post for replies *does that now*

[beatsupboys.livejournal.com]

[Still just standing there, really awkwardly-- for once, she's at a loss for what to do]

Do you want me to stay, or do you guys want to be alone?

np~ <3

[forged_anew]

[Zuko merely shrugs and turns to look back out the window again. He doesn't mind, if it helps Mai. He hopes it will.]

and you thought she was gonna save you from awkwardness. :|

[represses.livejournal.com]

[Mai was, oddly enough, thinking something along those same lines; Ty Lee's presence, always a fortifying force, might do Zuko some good. She tried to smile at the other girl... and failed, but not completely; at least, her expression was a LITTLE less sour than normal.]

It's fine... c'mon, sit.