A Prodigal Returns

[princeinexile]

[OOM: Zuko returns to Milliways... via the stables.]

He comes in from the outside; he is dusty, musty-- smelling of dry earth, sun and sweat, of cracking straw, feathers and horseflesh. It is ... a pungent aroma, to say the least, which may be why he seems to avoid company as he approaches the bar. He tosses down a few more coins, and then says, "For the bird's stabling. For the room. Key, pen and paper, please."

Bar provides the key; he leans over, scribbles out a note for the stablemaster, and then turns, scanning the bar for familiar faces that may not recognize his own; his cheeks sunken, his eyes dark -- he is too thin, to weary, too dirty and humbled to be Prince Zuko.

Comments

[milkbonesoldier.livejournal.com]

Thin, weary, dirty, humbled- none of that means anything to one of the Bar's current patrons.

"BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK!"

Xu Ning's halfway across the room before Wells can even get to his feet.

[princeinexile]

OH GOD DOG ATTACK.

Zuko blinks and then turns around. Sure, Xu Ning has been trained NOT TO JUMP. She REALLY HAS. But this has been a LONG WEEK. So does it surprise anyone that in five seconds ago, he's on the ground getting a tongue bath on the ground by a ninety pound dog?

ACKPHT.

[milkbonesoldier.livejournal.com]

LICK LICK LICK LICK LICK.

The dog's not wagging her tail so much as wagging everything past her head. She's JUST THAT HAPPY.

That might be why she doesn't notice that Wells's come up behind her. "There you are," he says gruffly. "Welcome back, lad."

[princeinexile]

"AGPGH."

...he'll get back to you. Still being bathed.

[milkbonesoldier.livejournal.com]

Wells chuckles, then turns away to the Bar. Can't get a Smoking Mountain from the wait-rats, after all.

[princeinexile]

Eventually, the dog is satisfied. She DROPS on him, claimed him, and lays across his chest with thelook of pure smugness. Mine.

"Get off, you damnable animal!"

He pushes, but she just barks at him once, and then awr-rwww-rww-ooos at him. I worried about you! You were gone! Stupid boy! Pack!

[milkbonesoldier.livejournal.com]

"Now, is that any way for a boy to greet his-"

Wells was going to say something about loyal and devoted companions, but something's weird here. He crouches down to get a better look.

Huh.

[kurosakiboy.livejournal.com]

Ichigo wouldn't recognize him, that's for sure. He's sitting by the observation window as Zuko comes in, a faint glimmer passing over his mind and catching his attention. His skills at detecting someone's spirit, someone's energy, shall we say, are not great, never have been, but Zuko has this funny...well, burning sort of aura. His attitude may have changed, but one does not change their soul, the building block of their very being, only makes it grow or shrink with time and power and wisdom. Or so Ichigo's been told. He didn't listen to that part of the lecture much.

The young man turns, searching, and passes over Zuko twice before spotting him. He might not have bothered greeting him, were it not for that stench, unlike anything Ichigo has ever smelt. Or ever wanted to smell, really. Oh, his poor poor senses.

And so, despite all common sense telling him to move far away from this smell, Ichigo stands, stretches, and makes his way over, sword on his back as usual. "Dude, you smell like shit." Welcome back, Zuko!

[ooc: So, Ichigo met him once, probably not one of the 'Yay Zuko's back!' threads you were looking for, but, well, he may not know him, but it's never too late to try! :] ]

[princeinexile]

Zuko gives Ichigo a Look. It's one of those Looks that says I have cut the tongues from greater men for saying less then that. Even if he hasn't, he wears the glare WELL.

But he grunts once, and then goes back to looking for Other People.

His stink? He stopped noticing it about a week ago.

[kurosakiboy.livejournal.com]

Ichigo simply interprets the look as I'm a little prick. He takes it in stride.

"You also look pretty...well, you look like shit too, sorry. It's true."

Ichigo, always speaking his mind and getting into fights for it. You'd think he'd learn eventually.

[princeinexile]

Ichigo's interpretation is equally valid. Ask half the bar.

He grunts again. Not much on the multisyllabic communication these days.

[kurosakiboy.livejournal.com]

Ichigo calls them WORDS. Much easier to say.

"And...you're not talking much, are ya? Trust me, you don't want me to do the talking, because I've been hanging around way too many bad influences."

Like Kon. And Steph. But he's not bringing out THAT trump card 'till it's the perfect moment, hell, possibly never.

[princeinexile]

"No," he says.

... well, that's a start. At least it was a proper single word response, right? Even if it still remains monosyllabic.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_venus_de_milo/]

There is a golden head bent a bowl of white rice a little further down the bar.



[OOC: I do this and beg slowtime, if that is possible. If not, totally cool! Thank you!>

[princeinexile]

Zuko does not recognize the head of hair at first; it make him flinch -- he dreamt of a blonde, yes, he did. But-- that one?

Maybe. Maybe not.

[Fine by me!]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_venus_de_milo/]

Of course! --okay, not at all. This is the ...um. "Safe" blonde.

When Venus looks up, she smiles brightly at Zuko. She remembers this one!

[princeinexile]

He blinks; so he lost a couples of years and a few pounds since he last saw her.

That doesn't mean she doesn't terrify him in a primal, male level any less.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_venus_de_milo/]

Good survival instincts, Zuko!

"You look like you had an...adventure. Did you find what you were looking for?"

She's smiling more. Is he scare?! That's so cute!

[princeinexile]

"No," Zuko answers. Katara thinks it's his favorite word.

He thinks he may be using it a lot in this upcoming conversation of terror.

[flyingsister.livejournal.com]

Oh, look at the poor Earth Nation boy with his sunken cheeks.

This was the second time she didn't recognize him, mainly because she had taken a seat to his right, so that she couldn't see the scar. The swagger was gone, as well, and the hat was covering his face.

Oh yeah, he was two years younger, too. Definitely not conducive to recognizing someone, when they aged two years, then suddenly lost it again.

Katara felt an immediate stab in her heart, and she took some coins, pressed them to the bar, whispered to it, and a bowl of rice appeared in front of Zuko. She bent over her own meal and tried not to look suspicious, which of course meant that she looked even more suspicious.

[princeinexile]

Hands that are are thinner, rougher, then Zuko's push the bowl aside, back toward her.

He still doesn't take charity.

[flyingsister.livejournal.com]

"That's not mine," she lied to the stranger (or who she thought was a stranger.

[princeinexile]

"Katara," he says. "Shut up."

That's all he needs to say.

[flyingsister.livejournal.com]

That was all he needed to say.

She bent over and peeeered at him.

Then she frowned. "Would you pick an age and stick to it already?"

[princeinexile]

He just arches a brow at her; do you think I want to be seventeen again? he doesn't say.