[Console/Video] He's back? Kind of?

[lordhotman]

[When the video feed starts, a few might recognize the young man who appears. Though there's something a little off about him. He looks a little older, his hair is a little longer and...what is that he's wearing? Instead of his usual Fire Nation garb that he arrived with yesterday, he's now wearing something very different. A black shirt with a flame pattern, and while it's not really seen in the video, also black jeans and sneakers. Plus there's a pair of sunglasses perched on his head since it's sunny today, and a Water Tribe style bear claw necklace around his neck. His hair though is pulled back into the traditional Fire Nation top knot and that scar is still the same.]

 Hello, Zuko here. So I'm kind of new, but this isn't where I'm supposed to be. I was supposed to go home. I mean, this place doesn't seem all that bad but there really has to be some kind of mistake. 

[Yeah, sure, he's been to the welcome center. He's gotten the whole introduction, but Zuko is still in a bit of shock here. This wasn't where he was expecting to end up after taking the trial.]

Maybe this is some kind of trick, or another experiment. I don't know. I'm just so confused. Does Luceti even mean anything to anyone? Or is there anyone else around here who has wings?

[And with that, Zuko turns around. There's a couple slits in the back of his shirt, from which a pair of wings is sticking out. They don't reach much farther than his elbows, certainly not big enough to fly with, and they're red with black tips on the primaries. He hasn't seen anyone else with wings yet, but if he's here, then maybe someone else from Luceti is here too? ]

Comments

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[wrathfulkhan]

Zuko, what the hell--

You're back?

[lordhotman]

Uh... what are you talking about?

[Wait, this sounds a lot like the kind of thing that happens in Luceti.]

I think you must know another me.

[wrathfulkhan]

[Goddamnit.

Gene's disappointed. He actually missed the Zuko he'd known. They'd been friendly. And it was surreal to see the same person who was so...different. Almost like the other Tonys from when he'd first arrived.]

I guess that's it. The Zuko I knew didn't have wings.

I'm Gene. We have some people here with wings, but nobody's mentioned Luceti before. It's not a trick, or an experiment. You were brought here by a spell that searched for warriors, but the one who put it in place died, and we haven't figured out how to stop it or reverse it yet.

[He smiles a little.] Welcome to Keeliai.

[lordhotman]

[You can still be friendly with this Zuko, Gene! He's still the same guy! Mostly.]

Well it's not like I'm supposed to have wings. I got them when I arrived in Luceti and... I don't know why I have them here. It doesn't make any sense.

... So I've just been pulled into another world then.

[Zuko looks rather dejected. He had thought as much, but this pretty much confirms it.]

[phoenixstrut]

[Dove is instantly intrigued; she's sure she's seen this young man before, but he definitely didn't have wings at the time, and he definitely didn't dress this casually. Pausing what she's doing, she'll stop to reply, though, all sunshine and smiles and gentility. Maybe this is just another 'version'.]

I've got wings, [She starts, offering the same welcoming smile she gives everyone.] You look really familiar, Zuko. Have we met?

[lordhotman]

[Zuko perks up at this.]

Are you from Luceti?

[Though he frowns a little when she asks if they've met.]

No, I don't think so. Maybe you met another me.

[phoenixstrut]

I'm afraid not, [ she tells him, sad that she's got to disappoint him so soon.] I'm from New York.

[Her sole turns apologetic and she laughs a little as she tucks her hair back.] I'm sorry. It probably was another you....weirdly enough.

[Weirder, she thinks, that she's used to the idea]

Has anyone shown you around yet?

[lordhotman]

Oh. I think I've heard of that place.

[He learned a lot at school and from talking to other people at Luceti.]

No, not yet. I've only been to the Welcome Center. Are you offering?

[He certainly won't mind if someone wants to show him around.]

[phoenixstrut]

[Que brilliant smile.] It's a pretty great place, most of the time.

[She shrugs, then lifts up what looks to be some sort of sandwich..]

Absolutely! Just let me drop off my boyfriend's lunch and I can meet you at the Midnight Hotel. You know where that is, right?

[ignitethestars]

... Wings? Like an angel?

[lordhotman]

Yeah... sort of? I guess. They're not really big enough.

[ignitethestars]

How did you get them?

[lordhotman]

I got them when I arrived at Luceti. The people there put them on me. They did that to everyone.

[highprofilerichkid]

Hey, Zuko! You're back! [Neat! What the heck is up with those things on your back, though? That's super weird.] Um... when did you get wings? What's Luceti?

[lordhotman]

Uh... yeah, sorry. I'm probably not the Zuko you remember.

[He's already had this discussion with Gene.]

I got them at Luceti. Everyone there has them.

[highprofilerichkid]

Oh. [Tony's expression falls.] So you've... never been here before? You don't remember anything about Keeliai?

[Tony rubs the back of his neck, suddenly looking awkward. He knows it happens every now and then, but this is the first time he's actually encountered an alternate version of someone he knows.]

Well, uh, welcome to Keeliai. Sorry. I knew another version of you who was here a while ago.

[lordhotman]

No, sorry.

[Yeah this is a little awkward, and actually he kind of experienced the same thing at Luceti too. There had been several versions of him over there.]

Thanks. ... Someone else told me that too. How did you know me?

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[problematical]

[ studying the wings intently: ] You aren't supposed to have those.

[lordhotman]

Yeah, I know. Trust me, I didn't want them.

[problematical]

There are some people with wings here. But they're supposed to have them, I think.

How did you get them?

[lordhotman]

The Malnosso put them on me when I got to Luceti. It hurt a lot at first but I'm used to it now.

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[backwordscompatible]

[...as a matter of fact, Luceti didn't mean anything to her. But it did pique her interest just as much as the wings did.]

Luceti...is that where you came from?

[lordhotman]

Yes and no. Luceti is where I was before I came here, but it's not my home world.

[backwordscompatible]

That's what I kind of guessed.

[She was sure she'd heard a name similar to that before, but it had been a while. She couldn't even remember who'd mentioned it to her, let alone how long ago that was, but it did give her a better understanding of the situation.]

How long were you there?

[lordhotman]

About a year.

[A whole year away from home. And just when he thought he was going back... now this.]