i saw a fire burning on the palace lawn

[blood_royal]

Who: the terrible family and possibly onlookers if they want to pop in
What: zuko is just a little bit behind on the "free mayhem" card and sort of burned the house down
When: monday morning, feb 06
Where: 1667 Nelson
Warning: honestly probably none


Well, Zuko's never been particularly timely, has he? Takes three years to find one kid, takes two days to burn a house down. Hey, he started from the inside, and now he's sulking outside on the sidewalk as he realizes that now he's got to find someplace else to stay. He really needs to start thinking things through. It was supposed to be a dig at the Major's claimed "authority" over the place, but now Zuko is just sort of homeless.

The house is impressively flammable, though. It's hot all the way out to the road.

Comments

[sturmbahnfuhrer]

"Over what? The charred remains of some hovel?

Why bother. Its yours, boy."

[blood_royal]

"It's not about that any more! Shut up and fight me!"

[sturmbahnfuhrer]

"No."

And he'll say it, in part, solely because it annoys you Zuko. He already knows he'd lose anyway, though that's not really what's stopping him. Seeing you get so worked up is enough.

"Only a fool would fight a battle without knowing what they were fighting for."

[blood_royal]

Zuko really does not know what to do with this. No one ever turns down a challenge. Like, ever. His stance doesn't waver but he looks almost as baffled as he is angry.

"You can't turn down a challenge! Where's your honor?!"

[sturmbahnfuhrer]

"Where's the honor in fighting a battle without anything to define it?"

And then a smirk.

"I would think it would be only someone who has no honor that feels they need a reason to prove it."

[blood_royal]

"The definition is my challenge to you!"

This neatly sidesteps the obvious jab -- which, by the way, hits straight home, and his expression shows it. It's mostly his uncle's voice in the back of his head that keeps him from simply throwing the first blow; this, if you can believe it, is what his temper is like when it's toned down.

[sturmbahnfuhrer]

"Over what?

I have no problem with fighting a "meaningless" battle, but if it's a challenge you must certainly have a reason, a grievance.

Air it boy, instead of dancing around it."

[blood_royal]

This is a bit too soon for Zuko. He starts to speak a few times, stopping every one of them; he can't say what his problem is, only that he needs to fight it out. It's not out of unwillingness, it's just that he simply can't find the words.

Really, subconsciously, he's attempted a rematch at that old duel three years ago and has been casually discarded. Different person, different situation, same axe to grind.

Eventually, when he realizes he just can't verbalize his problem, he lets out a yell that's both furious and anguished, spitting fire from his mouth and clenching his hands into fists. What else can he do?