[open] City Hall | Backdated to the 27th

[restoredhonour]

It had been two weeks since Lord Zuko first travelled to the Fire Nation with the others. He returned a week ago, deciding he had imparted as much information as he could give his younger self about the modern Fire Nation's state of affairs, and he had taken on new advisors that would assist the interrim Fire Lord in getting his footing. Uncle Iroh was there to support the younger Zuko, too, he'd left Druk behind to protect the palace from any would-be opportunists, and even Avatar Wan had offered his help joining the search parties in finding Izumi.

In short, Lord Zuko had done everything he felt he could at this time to keep the Fire Nation stable, and his duties to Republic City beckoned again, forcing him to return. The unrest in the city of late had to be addressed. Early this particular morning, however, while he was preparing for a meeting at City Hall, Zuko did not expect a page to rush in with a message there was a dragon outside the building. He hurried outside, and sure enough, there was Druk, waiting patiently.

"Druk? I asked you to stay in the Fire Nation, old friend." Zuko approached his dragon companion, resting a hand on his broad muzzle. "Why did you come back?"

Druk simply stared at him and gave a low rumble. His appearance here worried Zuko. If something had happened in the Fire Nation that would make Druk seek him out, or if there was something wrong with the portal, he needed to investigate right away.

[ooc: feel free to use this as a catchall if you want to thread out your character being dragged back from the Fire Nation after the two-week mark! THANKS SPIRIT WORLD.]

Comments

[lordhotman]

"We didn't really have a choice."

This said as younger Zuko stepped out from behind the dragon and looked at his older counterpart with a frown. Imagine his confusion when he was attending to business in the Fire Nation palace, and then suddenly found himself in Republic City again. He can only imagine the panic his sudden disappearance might have caused.

Obviously, he needed to get back, and soon. But what if this happened again? His older self at least needed to know what happened.

[restoredhonour]

Lord Zuko was surprised to see his other self appear, as well. "Did something happen at the palace?" he asked, concerned. Why else would he return to Republic City like this, with no notice or warning? He wouldn't have left behind his duties willingly, not unless he had to.

[gainedacoupon]

Jin heard that familiar voice and sat up from her spot on the ground. She was back in Republic city wasn't she? Did the spirits drag her back here again? She shook her head for a moment and stood up, finally spotting Lord Zuko next to his dragon a a little distance away.

She quickly got up to her feet and ran toward them with a big smile on her face.

"Now, don't you scold him, okay? Druk has been a very good dragon."

She gives The older Zuko a teasing smile.

[restoredhonour]

Lord Zuko looked around at the voice. Jin had returned, as well? He'd thought she planned to stay in the Fire Nation with his younger self and the others. Something was definitely amiss.

"I'm not going to scold him, don't worry," he offered a small smile in response to the teasing. "But I don't understand why he's here in Republic City... He wouldn't have come unless he had a reason."

[gainedacoupon]

"I'm not really one hundred percent sure, but I think our," she pauses and tries to think of a fun way to say spirits. She wiggles her fingers and continues on, "more mysterious friends around us had something to do with us coming back."

She moved over to Druk and gently petted his back. She looked back up to Zuko with that same smile. She didn't seem to be too upset, just a little confused.

[restoredhonour]

Druk swished his tail, apparently enjoying the attention, while Zuko considered her words. "So the spirit world is interfering and bringing people back to Republic City? I wonder why..."

He hoped the spirits wouldn't create another barrier around the city, or interfere with it again in any other way. One month of isolation had been enough -- if the spirits insisted on interfering with humans instead of letting them continue their lives in peace, it could cause a great deal of trouble.

[gainedacoupon]

"If it is them, maybe they just want us to remember that Republic City is important for us right now. I'm not really sure how spirits think or anything, but if they are the reason me and Druk came back, that's all I can think of."

Maybe she should read up more on spirits, if they have those kind of books, or even ask Wan. He seems to know a lot about everything. She just wanted to be of help to someone here, and not feel like she was constantly in the way of things.

"I hope we didn't surprise you too much, Zuko," She gave him an apologetic look, when a thought crossed her mind. Lord Zuko huh... Maybe... no she should leave that for a different time.

[restoredhonour]

"Republic City surprises me constantly these days, even before you and the others began to arrive here," Zuko replied with a small smile. "I'm learning to expect anything could happen, even when things seem to have become quiet again."

He circled around Druk's head, intending to mount the dragon, and looked back to Jin. "I'm sorry I can't stay and talk, but I want to go see if the portal on Air Temple Island has changed. Will you come, or do you intend to stay in the city a while?"

If she believed the spirits brought her back here for a reason, perhaps it was wise to listen to them... On the other hand, she might be curious to see the portal, as well.

[gainedacoupon]

She knew he was an important person, so she felt a little guilty coming over to distract him from important business. She really needed to learn how to read the atmosphere better or something.

"O-Oh um! I don't want to get in your way or anything!"

[restoredhonour]

"No, no, you're not in the way at all. But if you'd like to return to the Fire Nation straight away, I can take you there, given I'm headed to the portal."

He wanted to ask in order to do her a favour more than anything, not because he felt she was in the way.

[gainedacoupon]

" I guess it couldn't hurt right? Maybe it was just a fluke that we came back here. I would hate to be pulled here and not be able to tell Zuko where I went to," She smiled a little to herself and gently petted Druk again.

ota if anyone other than Old Zuko wants a thread, too.

[raavashing]

Wan grumpily made his way toward City Hall as rumors of a dragon suddenly appearing outside it's doors spread back to him. He'd realized he was in Republic City again quickly enough, and obviously at the whim of the spirit world, but he wasn't happy about it. He'd been in the middle of searching a volcanic field for potential signs of the missing Firelord when he'd found himself back near the Spirit Wilds he called home.

He rode Mula in and made it in time to see the press start to arrive. Obviously they were interested in why and how Lord Zuko's dragon had literally appeared out of air. But it also meant that if he went to approach Zuko, they'd get a good look at him and probably ask questions Wan didn't want to deal with at the moment. So instead of trying to get close, he hung back and to the side. Easily spotted over the forming crowd due to being seated on Mula's back.

Wan really hoped the press would disperse quickly and he could report back to Zuko about what he found. Or not found, as the case actually was.

He could easily be approached by anyone who happened to be in the area while he waited, though.