Mutatis Mutandis: Everything Changes. [OTA]

[princeinexile]

It's like a special engagement. The Midnight Showing. You know, that one time you get to see that one thing again? Maybe a rare showing of a cult favorite. It's always when you least expect it and rarely when you're ready (however you need to prepare) for it.

The Bar is like that. Zuko knows it. But he figured, a while ago, he was done with it. It had let him out into the world and it had not let him back in. He had left a student -- he had left friends and arguably, those who he could consider family. Sometimes he missed them; he missed the smell of loam and fur, bakeries that invoked a longing for a mother's touch, and dogs. After nearly two years away, he has tried to forget women with blonde hair (and the trouble they bring) and he's only been semi-successful.

But when once crown prince Zuko, now Fire Lord Zuko, at the tender age of eighteen, finds the door to his study has become the bar, he stands there, a bit dumbfounded. He is not what he was, standing in his long robes, hair done up in the queue of his station,the golden flame of the fire nation set into the knot. A lot has changed in the last couple of years for one young man. Not enough, though, that he doesn't remember something simple, something like home.

"Just a smoking mountain, Bar," he says as he approaches, and settles in to stare across a crowd that he recognizes some, doesn't others.

It has been a long time, hasn't it?


[A limited engagement showing of one Fire Lord Zuko, post animated series, after a very long absence of bar, in honor of the ATLA movie being universally loathsome. Get him while he's hotter then Dev Patel, people. You won't get another opportunity anytime soon!

CLOSED TO NEW TAGS. Thanks for the warm reception!


Tiny Tag Totally Like Aang: NARUTO]

Comments

[ellectrical]

"Yep."

It's quiet. She's looking over the bar now, rather than at Zuko.

[princeinexile]

"Is he still a problem in your world?"

He wonders if he made it worse.

[ellectrical]

"Guess that depends on who you ask."

It's the only time yet her tone has become a little bitter. But she doesn't know Zuko's other question, and so offers no response for it.

[princeinexile]

He frowns a little.

"Sorry if I made it worse," he says shortly. It's about all he can offer for now.

[ellectrical]

She shakes her head, the bitterness dropping out of her voice once more.

(Between the two of them, she feels by far the one who made it worse.)

"He doesn't do that radiation thing anymore."

Beat.

"I think."

After a pause, she shrugs one shoulder. "Not since the last time I saw him."

[princeinexile]

"Good. That-- was--" unnatural, even to a bender, a power so-- beyond Fire-- "disconnecting. Even when I didn't really know what it was."

[ellectrical]

It gets another shrug.

"It's just someone's ability." Sprague's power seemed no stranger than hers - and it was easy for her to get her head around than something like telepathy or precogs.

"And he has others."

[princeinexile]

He nods. Sylar was-- something strange, that was certain.

"But you don't see him now?" He's not a problem for some, maybe he's somebody else's now.

[ellectrical]

After another pause: "I think he took over my old job."

There's a note of skepticism in her voice, and she continues, "But he'd still want what he wanted before."

[princeinexile]

Zuko makes -- makes a face that can't adequately be described. Between revulsion and pity. "Why would someone put a predator in with the flock?"

That just doesn't make sense.

[ellectrical]

Oh, Zuko. You and your logic are clearly not from Elle's world.

But Elle doesn't even know who's running the Company anymore, so she answers with the only thing she can think of:

"Because they want him more."

[princeinexile]

Zuko's logic wasn't even wanted in HIS world, who are you kidding.

"Your world has issues," he says with a succinctness that defies argument.

[ellectrical]

It's no attempt to argue when she dimly points out, "It doesn't sound like yours is perfect."

[princeinexile]

"A hundred years world, at least," Zuko agrees. "But we're working on it."

[ellectrical]

She doesn't doubt it.

After turning to take another sip of coffee, "You should probably stay away from him if you do see him."

[princeinexile]

"I intend to," Zuko says without hesitation. "Though I'm-- rarely here in the first place," he pointed out. "He's not on my list of people to seek or speak to."

[ellectrical]

"I don't think he's here very much, either."

It's too flat to sound reassuring, but she certainly doesn't seem too distressed about it.

[princeinexile]

"Probably for the best," says Zuko. More people here to eat or assume or---whatever it is that he does.

[ellectrical]

It gets a noncommittal gesture from Elle (she already knows from experience that there's nothing she can do about Sylar in here), before she moves to rise from her stool.

"I have to go back to work, anyway," she says, with openly sarcastic smile. "Good luck with your - fixing your world thing."

[princeinexile]

"Good luck with yours," he says in return.

She'll figure it out. If he can, she can.