5 - [voice] Mai, I'm sorry...

[forged_anew]

[Zuko's voice is soft, and for once there is no emotion in it. Blankly, he just states facts]

For anyone who was worrying, Mai and I are in the hospital now. I should be home soon, but... I don't know about Mai. We were attacked by something humanoid with long silver hair.

[There is a long pause, and it seems he forgot to turn the communicator off. When he continues, it's apparant he's talking to himself, tone pained]

Mai... She was right in front of me, less than a block away, just around the corner... Why couldn't I stop it? If I'd gone in front, or if I'd even had time to jump in front of her...

Dammmit all! If I had my Firebending, I might have at least had a chance to fight! But I couldn't do anything... Useless. So damn useless!

[He stops suddenly, coughing, and his voice sounds ragged and breathless, still thinking aloud] 

Why... couldn't I...do anything? I couldn't even get her to the hospital myself. She could have died and I couldn't do anything. I hate this place. I can't even protect the people I love.

[There is another pause, the sound of shifting blankets, quiet footsteps, and then a soft involuntary groan of pain before Zuko's voice is heard again, farther away (by Mai's bedside, actually)]

Mai... Mai, please... I'm sorry...


((OOC: For anyone who cares, Zuko's injuries, though they're all bandaged up now:  His left arm is pretty torn up and basically useless right now, there is a large gash across his back, and more minor claw wounds pretty much everywhere. ))

Comments

[moarcowbell.livejournal.com]

Classic case of fml.

[forged_anew]

[is startled, not having realized the comm was still on, and there is rustling as he moves back to his bed again. His tone is rather apathetic]

Case of what?

[voice]

[moarcowbell.livejournal.com]

Ah.. it's nothing. Holding up alright?

[voice]

[forged_anew]

[deadpan] I'm fine.

[voice]

[moarcowbell.livejournal.com]

Also been down this road.

[voice]

[forged_anew]

What do you mean?

[voice]

[moarcowbell.livejournal.com]

[Voice lowers to a serious tone] When she needed me, I wasn't able to protect her. Right under my nose and I didn't even realize.

[roxrkool.livejournal.com]

[Her voice is disguised into one of her epic man-voices. There is NO good intention behind what she's about to do.]

"Maybe you should stay at the hospital. That way, when she wakes up, she'll know you waited for her."

[forged_anew]

[a bit of a pause as he tries to place the voice]

Toph? Do you have a cold or something?

[roxrkool.livejournal.com]

"Toph? who's Toph?"

[forged_anew]

[sigh]

I know it's you. And...thanks for the advice. Of course I'll stay with her the whole time, if they let me, but the hospital here's pretty crowded. They might not let me stay in the room if it's needed for patients.

[a soft, dry laugh] Guess you don't hate me as much as you claim to.

dude, get on aim asap, i need to plot with you for lolzies

[roxrkool.livejournal.com]

[She is not pleased you foiled her.]

Hmmm, is that so?

OOC: I'm at work, actually, but leaving in a bit.

[forged_anew]

...or maybe you're trying to lure me into a false sense of security.

;-; oic, well, when you return, i have plotting

[roxrkool.livejournal.com]

Me? I can't do anything anything even if I wanted to--I'm blind remember? Well, more blind than usual.

{ text }

[freundlichertod.livejournal.com]

Please, calm yourself.

[voice] because it's hard to text one-handed

[forged_anew]

Dr. Muraki, right?

[a pause, and then his voice is hard steel]

I want my chip out. I'm stuck in the hospital anyway. You're here, aren't you? Take it out.

{ text }

[freundlichertod.livejournal.com]

It can have unpleasant side-effects. With the high concentration of ash in the air, I can't guarantee you'll be safe as well, Mr. Zuko.

[voice]

[forged_anew]

Just Zuko. And can't you just talk to me? Reading the little writing is kind of annoying.

What kind of side-effects are we talking about?

{ voice ; english }

[freundlichertod.livejournal.com]

Very well.

Side effects would include sickness... I honestly believe the effects differ between people. Our bodies are built differently; DNA, subtle differences in molecular level...

I cannot say I know what will happen to you.

{ voice ; english }

[forged_anew]

That's fine. I'll risk it.

I need my Firebending back.

{ voice; english }

[freundlichertod.livejournal.com]

I understand.

If you would like to talk about it in more detail, I'm available for a short moment.

[locked to Zuko]

[teaandlightning.livejournal.com]

Nephew. You are far from useless.

[voice]

[forged_anew]

Uncle...?

[He'd promised himself he wasn't going to be weak, that he was going to suck it up and deal responsibly and calmly, but at the moment... Iroh's voice is so familiar and he is just so tired, in body and mind.

There is a long pause, and then Zuko's voice breaks a little when he tries to speak again]

I-I couldn't... help her. I couldn't do...a-anything...

[Locked to Zuko]

[teaandlightning.livejournal.com]

I know you are deeply sorry, and there is little in the world that can make you feel better. But you must not let yourself slide into despondency. Mai does not want that. And it will not help you at all.

You did what you could at the time. Some challenges are greater than we are.

[Locked to Zuko]

[forged_anew]

[a soft scoff] Did what I could? Yeah, fat lot of good that did me. If I'd had my Firebending, maybe...at least...

[his voice breaks again] Mai, s-she's... Uncle, no one knows when she's going to wake up. I don't know what to do. I can't... help her.