Video

[sizzle]

[ 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.

Comments

[hasthreefingers]

[ Don't do it. ]

So.

[ Don't. ]

Zuko.

[ Don't, Donna.

Welcome to our... [ Land? World? Place? Neighborhood? ] turtle.

[ She's not really- ]

So since you're from Fire Nation...

[ She's really doing it. Abort, Donna. It sounded better in your head! ]

Do you live in Fire Sector?

[ Ba-dum tish. ]

[ Uggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh carry on then. ]

[sizzle]

[ There's just a blank stare from him, like that joke just sailed waaaay over his head, because he doesn't seem to find it odd at all that they stuck him in the Fire Sector. ]

That's where I'll be staying in the meantime. Why?

[hasthreefingers]

Well, because you're from the Fire Nation, and they put you in the Fire Sector.

[ Get it?

Okay, no. That joke was horrible. Change the subject, Donna, and fast. ]

So is the Fire Sector like a smaller version of the Fire Nation, or does the Sector need to have more fire for that? How much fire does a nation need before it's considered the Fire Nation, anyway?

[sizzle]

[ He's giving her a funny look. ]

The Nation isn't a land on fire.

[ Even if a lot of their clothing and art is sort of designed to look pretty flameish ]

The Fire Nation is home to the majority of the firebenders of my world. [ Minus people like exiles. Haha... ]

[hasthreefingers]

The firebenders?

[ Never mind that. She has another idea. ]

Is the Fire Nation set in, like, say... a ring?

As in, ring of fire?

[ Wow. She might just have to leave puns to the Doctor forever. ]

[sizzle]

... No.

[ Though there are certain areas of it that are vaguely ring shaped with how it closes around the ocean.

He still doesn't understand what this woman is talking about though. ]

[hasthreefingers]

You know, like the Johnny Cash song? [ Donna clears her throat and sings, mostly on-key. ] I fell in to a burning ring of fire. Went down down down and the flames went higher...

[ Nothing, huh? ]

Guess they don't have that song where you're from.

Well... I'm Donna. Noble. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand welcome to the turtle. How're you settling in, other than being subjected to really bad puns and references you can't understand?

[sizzle]

[ Yeah, she's still getting a pretty blank look from this kid. He's never heard of a song like that, and Johnny Cash is a really strange name. Who would name their child something that bizarre? Maybe it's a stage name? But who would even think up a name that weird? ]

Not well.

[ But he doesn't want to get into specifics. ]

Is the time here complicated for everyone that arrives in his place?

[hasthreefingers]

It can be complicated, yeah. People are here from different times. Like, me? There are people here who know me, but I don't know how. And they've told me bits and pieces about my future, but not much, right?

But you get used to it. Life on the turtle kind of takes over. Know what would help? A job. Has anyone talked to you about getting one yet? Other than the kedan?

[sizzle]

[ What is with people and their job obsession here? ]

Yes, it's been mentioned, and as I said to others I'm not interested in finding a job here.

[ At the moment, anyway. ]

[hasthreefingers]

Oh, I see. [ She sounds very much like parents who say they see, but in reality mean they see how wrong the other person is. ]

Plan to leave before your money runs out, do you?

[sizzle]

[ It's okay, he's used to disappointing parents. ]

Yes, I do.

[ Because he's an idiot like that, and somehow refuses to believe that somehow won't be THE person to finally find a way home in no time flat. ]

[hasthreefingers]

And what if that doesn't happen? Got a fall-back plan?

[ Come on, young one. You've got to be smarter than this. ]

[sizzle]

I won't need one. It will happen.

[ You can never underestimate how bad Zuko is at planning ahead. ]

[hasthreefingers]

Well, why don't you find a job for the meantime, then? Set yourself up with some spending money?

[ Kid. You need help, kid. ]

[sizzle]

[ He needs more help than words can express. ]

What's your obsession with me getting a job?

[ If he wants to be an idle royal and then end up really poor maybe he will! ]

[hasthreefingers]

I wouldn't call it an obsession. [ Is it an obsession? Really? ] I just don't want to have to arrange care for you when you haven't been able to pay for any food or clothing in a while.

[sizzle]

[ It's not an obsession, he's just a dramatic sixteen year old boy. ]

Trust me, you won't have to. You don't even know me.

[ See? Dramatic teen boy. ]

[hasthreefingers]

[ Donna frowns. Was that attitude? It had better not be attitude. ]

You don't have to know someone to care about what happens to them.

[sizzle]

[ Most of the people that know him don't even care what happens to him, to be honest, so excuse the disbelieving staring. ]

Is this just something you do every time someone new shows up here?

[hasthreefingers]

Not with everyone. But I happen to have a moment.

Why? Has no one ever done something like this when you've shown up someplace before? [ Her tone is teasing. Because of course someone's done stuff like this with him before. Right? ]

[sizzle]

No, they haven't.

[ Generally speaking he's either been playing the role of refugee when he's arrived somewhere new, and people had their own problems to worry with. The only real hospitality he got was revoked the moment he announced what his name and title were. ]

[hasthreefingers]

[ Her smile widens, and she chuckles for a moment. ]

You're kidding.

[sizzle]

[ He's just going to stare back at her, not saying a word, looking completely serious.

He's not kidding. ]

[hasthreefingers]

You're not kidding.

[ Wow. That took a while to sink in. ]

All right. That's it. I'm taking care of you.

The first thing we're going is setting you up with a part-time job. That way you won't have to do much but you'll still have spending money. Sound good?