tushanshu | Video

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[ As the video starts up things are pretty quiet at first. There's a clear view of Zuko's face, his one eyebrow furrowed as his eyes flick back and forth studying the console. He got the explanation of how this worked, he knows what he's supposed to be doing with it... but it doesn't make the contraption any less bizarre to him.

After a good fifteen seconds of silence before he starts speaking. ]

Hello...

[ There's just a moment of hesitation here before Zuko stands up straighter and looks directly at the screen. ]

My name is Zuko. I am the prince of the Fire Nation.

[ A frown. ]

I don't know if that means anything to most of you here, and if it doesn't then this doesn't concern you.

[ Nice, Zuko.

He's still having a little difficulty with the idea that people here won't know what the Fire Nation is. It's a pretty big part of his world... it's a pretty big part of the entire world where he's from.

He takes a deep breath, and in the gravest tone he can muster up (which is pretty damn grave) says- ]

I need to know if anyone here has seen the Avatar.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Depends on what you want with him.

[Toph knows enough about timelines to be cautious. She's not going to get too excited yet.}

[ He didn't expect anyone else from the gaang to be here. It's actually kind of a relief! Or would be if there wasn't some weird accusatory thing going on here.

What's that about...? He sounds a little exasperated when he replies. ]

Why do you think?

[ And tells her absolutely nothing about where he's from on the timeline. Good going, kid. ]

[Not helpful, Zuko. Not helpful at all. And it only makes Toph more suspicious.]

How am I supposed to know what you think? I can't see, let alone mind read. Just answer the question.

[ He's really not getting why she's doing this, but he is starting to get kind of irritated. The situation is difficult enough right now with Toph making it worse. ]

For the exact same reason you want to find him too! Because no matter what these people say about how time works in this place, the comet in coming and it's coming soon, and without the Avatar there to stop my father the world--

[ Wait, correction. ]

Our world is in serious trouble. Even if we can't just walk away from this situation, the least we can do is find him so we're ready the moment we can.

[ Outburst over, but fortunately enough! Question answered. ]

[. . . Okay, kind of convoluted there, but she'll take it. After a brief pause, she breaks into a grin like Zuko's given her the secret password.]

About time you showed up, Sparky.

He's with me.

[ ??????

He's missing something here. ]

If you had him with you this entire time why didn't you just say that?!

Because I didn't know if you were the "I'll fry your face off" Zuko or just the hot-tempered whiny one.

[Said as though this all completely makes sense. Zuko is so easy to mess with.]

[But in more seriousness:]

Like they probably told you coming here: Timelines can be kind of messed up here. People aren't always from the same day, month, year, even century. We can pin yours down later, but . . .

[She frowns slightly.]

You should know Aang's from when he got fried by Azula.

[She'll let him connect the implications of that.]

[ "fry your face off"? Thanks for that particular way of describing it, Toph. And whiny? He's not-- he's a little whiny...

It's probably lucky for him that she doesn't see the quick tensing of the muscles in his face.

Definitely lucky she doesn't see the momentary look of panic that flashes across his face at the mention of Aang's timeline. ]

From right after?!

[ That can't be right. Even Toph couldn't sound this care free if Aang was near death at the moment. It's got to be after recovering. Still, a sigh. He's definitely getting what this means for him. ]

How much have you told him already?

[She doesn't see the panic, but she hears it just fine. Pretty understandable, really. It's not as though the others accepted him easily or well. To potentially have to redo that . . . well, it sucks. Pretty badly.]

[Now she's kind of wishing she'd told Aang more. But it's going to have to be as it is.]

From right after, yeah. Was nearly dead when he came and everything.

[Her arms slip into a cross.]

I know I said something about you not really being a bad guy in my time. But . . . not a lot of details.

[Not that Aang seemed too be open to a lot, either.]

Sorry. [And for what it's worth, the word really does sound genuine.] You might . . . want to be ready for that.

[ She'll definitely hear the exasperation in his second sigh, even if she doesn't see him dragging a hand down his face. ]

I managed once, I'll do it again.

[ Aang wasn't the hardest to make amends with either. Not compared to Katara. ~~Speaking~~ Thinking of... ]

If you two are here, does that mean the rest of the group is in his city as well?

Yeah.

[She suspects he will. For whatever reason, in spite of the ribbing, Toph has a measure of confidence in Zuko. He'll get it done; he'll just be an idiot about it a good part of the time.]

[To his question, though, she gives a quick shake of the head.]

Nope. It's just been Aang and me.

[Pause.]

. . . Except your uncle kind of came recently too.

[ Being an idiot before getting things done is the way Zuko do.

He's quiet for a bit after she says that. If she had any questions about his exact point in time, this'll definitely help clarify to her about where he's from. ]

I... see.

[ He's got so much he wants to say, but he doesn't know how to verbalize all of it. ]

Has uncle-- have things been going well for him here?

Yeah, he's good.

You know how he is. He talks to everyone, drinks tea. It's kind of like an adventure for him, I think.

He'll be glad to see you.

[Maybe that's Toph's attempt at reassurance right there.]

[ It's kind of appreciated, but... ]

How could he possible be glad to see me after everything that happened?

[ After everything he did, but he doesn't really want to get into all of that over this console thing where other people might be listening in. ]

I don't know.

[Her tone isn't for condemning his past, but more to say, "Why are you asking me all your existential questions like I know the answers? Seriously."]

I think you should go talk to him. Ask him yourself.

[Get the two in the same room together. Toph would like to see Iroh happy.]

Just do it soon and don't waste a bunch of time brooding about it, okay?

We'll worry about figuring out the thing with Aang later.

[ He wants to, he really does, but... ]

I can't. Not right now.

[ He's got a meeting with Korra to get to. ]

But I will soon. In the meantime, just let Aang know that I want to arrange a meeting with him in the near future, and I have no intentions of hurting him. I know he won't trust me, but maybe he'll believe it if it's coming from you.

I think it's probably going to take more than that. But yeah, okay.

[She'll try, at any rate. It's not like Aang and the others listened to her the first time about Zuko either.]

[A pause.]

By the way. Don't think this counts as the life-changing field trip you owe me. You're going to have to do better than that.

[It's Toph. Gotta add the humor back there somewhere.]

[ Has she gotten tired of hearing him sigh yet? Because he's sighing again hanging his head a little right now. Really? At a time like this? ]

Let's worry about the issue with Aang first. Then we'll worry about that.

[ Maybe. It's not like he plans for these trips to be life changing or anything, he just sort of ended up going on adventures with people. He's pretty sure that's not something you can plan for, but Toph's brought this up more than once now, so clearly this is something she wants from him.

Shame he's like 90% sure he won't be able to deliver the way she wants him to. ]

[Toph is only half-serious. But hey, she'll take it if he offers. Can't turn down a good life-changing field trip.]

[So she grins.]

I'll stop by and help you figure stuff out later if you want. I've been here the longest, so I'm pretty much used to it by now.

[See? Sometimes Toph is helpful. ~~Generally if there's no one else to do it.~~]

[ She can be, when she wants to. Zuko would never argue that though, it's only thanks to Toph that he's part of the group now. Sure, him helping to fight against the assassin he himself hired to take them down helped, but she was the only one that would speak up for him when the others were so unwilling to let him into the group.

Never gonna forget that, and he won't forget her help here either. ]

I'll let you know when I'm done taking care of some other business first.

[He's close enough to hear, and to see the light in the room shift as the conversation ends, but not close enough to show up on camera.

He's heard it all.
And to be honest, he's not entirely sure what to make of what he's heard.]

[Toph knows he's there. The house is made of stone; it's hard not to know. So she calls over her shoulder,]

Okay, you really shouldn't try to sneak up on blind people.

[She twists in her chair, facing his direction. Her body language is deliberately casual, but firm, too.]

As you probably guessed by now, Zuko's here.

[Aang leans against the wall. He's not pouting, exactly, but it's clear from both his posture and his tone that he's displeased.]

I wasn't sneaking.

Yeah, well, not like you just popped out, either.

[But whatever. It's not a big deal to her. There's a larger issue at stake. The Fire Nation prince is here, and last Aang knew him, Zuko had opted for Azula's side.]

[Katara could so probably word this better. But Toph will have to do her best. Both Aang and Zuko are important.]

This Zuko's from my time. He's kind of whiny and kind of really awkward, but he's a decent guy. He worked some stuff out between when you came from and my time.

[Did she just call Zuko a decent guy?]

Good for him.

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