milliways_bar | (no subject)

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There is a maimed prince with a whole VERITABLE STACK of books, note pads, and a couple of scrolls with him on the table. There is also a slender case on the table, which holds a flute inside. He has gone through two parts of ginseng tea and thus, remains both busy and rather energizeed.

Zuko has been busy, it seems, and he has not had and entrance post in some time, so here he is -- please, come and ask about the several projects that keep the prince from going insane while he waits for the door to appear.

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"I wasn't talkin' about your tone, I was talkin' about what you said," Wells shoots back. "No offense, mate, but in several thousand years of my world's history there's never yet been a successful world conqueror no matter how hard anyone's tried. Something out of their control always gets 'em in the end- I'm not talking about any Avatar here, we don't have that kind of shit in my world. I'm talking little things no one saw coming. A fever in Babylon, an invasion in winter, exiling the crown prince, going off on a side tear about racial purity... the world never bends, not entirely, and there's always one last bit that slips in the chinks in the conqueror's armour and sends him sprawling. Best to do right by your own people, where you can."

Zuko frowns a little, and then says, "I know what you meant -- and I heed yuor words about history. But -- merely, it was my tongue that got me exiled in the first place. Some of the very words you laud."

He shrugs, and then says, "I -- " He pauses, and then shakes it off. "Never mind it, Sergent. Merely old thoughts."

"Ah," says Wells.

He's thinking of the First Emperor, here. He knows a little bit of Chinese history- the important bits, with big military movements in, mostly. So there are exiles in there, and false pretences, and eventual madness, and a dynasty that was supposed to last for centuries lasted less than fifteen.

"I wasn't aware of that. It's a pity." A bit of a smile crosses his face. "Never let it be said that I wasted anyone's time kicking old shit to the surface when it didn't need to be stirred. I won't trouble you with it again."

"It's nothing you should trouble yourself over," Zuko tries to forgive the man his slight, but Wells will punish himself more then Zuko will. "I'll set it to rights as soon as the Door gives me leave to try," He assures the other man.

"I wish you luck in it, then," Wells says sincerely.

A pause. Something of a long one.

"And whatever aid I can give, such as that might be."

Zuko shakes his head, sharply. "No. Nothing from this place -- nothing will I take with me."

He can't be weak. He has to do it on his own. He has to prove to them all that he could be strong, that he was worthy, that he wasn't a shame.

He was no coward.

"I wasn't thinking of that," Wells says. "Your world's a bit too different from mine. I'd be a millstone 'round your neck, I reckon. I was thinking more of anything I could do here that might prove of assistance later."

He's already been to one other world, and while he did the job he set out to do, the way it got done... brrr. Best not to inflict that on Zuko's world.

Wise of him. Zuko nods; yes, it would be difficult... and he can't imagine a father approving of what he was set out to do.

To take a child away.

"Just -- be here. If you can be."

When he comes back. So he has something to come back to.

"If I can," says Wells, "I will. I promise."

He holds out a hand at that.

A warm grip is offered it; warm as in temperature mostly, but still, it's strong. "Good enough," he says simply, and accepts it at that.

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