Spirit Wilds Vagabond Catch-All

[raavashing]

Who: Anyone that's taken up residence near Wan's abandoned apartment in the Spirit Wilds + their friends
What: Catch-all for threads happening in that general living area
When: Oct 4th-Oct31
Where: The Spirit Wilds Vagabond Hippie Commune (not actual name of neighborhood)
Warnings: None!

Post a Top Level for people who are living or temporarily crashing here to tag your character for any reason. It's open to all, not just people wanting to punch/arrest/visit Wan.

Comments

[restoredhonour]

Zuko is surprised at the voice, turning to look down at the child. Of course he recognises who it is straight away. Even if her appearance had been unrecognisable altogether, Toph is Toph, and no amount of clothes could hide that.

"Hello, Toph," he smiles. "I'm no longer the Fire Lord, merely her father. Why should I need vassals in retirement?" Especially when he's spent the past few years travelling the world with his dragon. Any royal entourage would be a needless excess, and the excesses of the royal court are something he'd done his utmost to put to an end during his reign. "I came because I was curious about the spirit wilds. I haven't visited the city since Harmonic Convergence, so this is my first time exploring them firsthand."

[dustonmyfeet]

"You've still got some kind of guards you left back there," she points out. "Which says to me you've still got some kind of importance. Enough for people to think you're worth guarding, anyway. But you still leave them back here and come alone, which either means you don't think you're valuable . . . or still have some moves as an old guy."

Frankly, she's curious -- mainly what he thinks of his own importance. She doesn't know much about this older version of him except for the glimpse she had when they met. He seems . . . imperial, remote. These traits nudge her to stay away; if he's become an adult, if he truly does have that level of removal, he may be far too like her parents for comfort.

But seismic sense nags that he's Zuko. Somewhat weird, not-quite-right Zuko, but still Zuko. And for that she can't quite stay away until she understands what she's dealing with.

[restoredhonour]

"They're metalbenders from the police department you created," he informs her. He's sure she's aware of the metalbending police by now, and that she'll have at least heard mention of her accomplishments in the city, if not Lin's tenure as chief in her footsteps. "Normally, I wouldn't need their company. Now, though, I seem to be a popular candidate in the elections, and world leaders have occupied a dangerous position lately."

He has a feeling Toph is still sizing him up, something he doesn't take offence to. He must be like a stranger to her, after all, so all he can do is provide honest answers. He adds wryly:

"But you're right. Guards or no guards, this old guy still has some moves."

[dustonmyfeet]

"Police department . . . I created . . . ?" Now that takes her off guard, and it's visible in her face. Despite knowing of the statues, despite some vague sense of her importance in the city and something of the spread of metalbending, Toph has kept away from her future. It's fully possible there's more here for her in this city than she realizes. A home. Family. A future fixed and set.

But the thought is like fingers of electricity jabbing deep into her core. Unconsciously her feet slide a step backward in the dirt.

[restoredhonour]

Lord Zuko realises too late the mistake in his assumption -- that she had already learned about her role in Republic City. Facts he'd taken for granted for so many years of his life must seem like enormous shocks to those brought here from the past, when the idea for the United Republic hadn't even yet come to fruition.

He doesn't take a step toward her when she backs away, merely saying quietly: "Yes, Toph. Did you think this city was only the legacy of Aang and I? Many people have contributed to it, over the years."

[dustonmyfeet]

She shakes her head sharply, and it's very close to a shudder -- an involuntary movement that ripples through her small frame. "I don't want to know."

Firmer, almost verging on anger, "I don't want to know! You think I want to be responsible for a city? I'm 13. I don't need all that just because it makes you feel better to give it to me!"

[restoredhonour]

Lord Zuko is taken aback by the anger in her response. "Toph, you're misunderstanding," he replies, imploring. "I don't want to give you anything, or make you do anything."

Even if she had founded the department here, and whatever role her daughter played in it now, he'd never ask the Toph before him to take on such enormous responsibilities. Didn't she know him better than that? Or... perhaps she didn't, now so much time had passed between them.

"I realise I must seem very different to the Zuko you remember me as. But I'm still your friend, and always will be." He hopes that she can detect his sincerity in that much, at least. "The only thing I want is to help you and the others get back to your rightful times."

[dustonmyfeet]

She didn't know him, no. Not this Zuko, so calm and poised and . . . contained. She was used to Zuko, with his angsty teenage outbursts and irrationalism, with his sulks and odd, unexpected vulnerability.

This Zuko was a politician. She knew politicians; they had come to her father often -- all polish and smiles and promises when you could hear the oil lurking beneath their words. He was a full-grown adult with miles of years between them. Who knew what had become of him over that time? How much he'd had to compromise?

And even more than that, how did he see her now? How could he possibly see her now?

She didn't come closer. Didn't break the brace of her feet in the dirt. "If you actually gave any part of a city to a 13 year old, I expect you'd be really stupid. I meant you're more than willing to spill it all -- what happens to us in the future. Is that actually for us? Or for you?"

[restoredhonour]

Zuko frowned down at her, stung by that accusation. Even so, it wasn't expected. After speaking with his younger self, he realised the difficulties that Toph, too, must be struggling through. The present inevitably would cast a long shadow on anyone from the past, and it was their struggle to make sense of it -- or even reject it outright.

"I can't pretend my life hasn't happened," he began, "or that your lives haven't taken the course that they have to reach where we are today. But if you think I've said more than I should have, I can only apologise."

It had been his thinking that they would all prefer to know what was going on in this future world than to stumble around it, completely at a loss. Perhaps that had been another wrong assumption, on his part.

[dustonmyfeet]

Nothing. He was still glass, impenetrable and reflective. She still got the politician. Not the man. Not the boy.

"Forget it." The words were a mutter as she turned, rubbing at an eye with the heel of her hand. "If you want to play grandpa to everybody, that's your business. But it's not for me."

Twisting away, "You're not your uncle."

[restoredhonour]

"Toph... Where is all this coming from?" Zuko replied, taking a step toward her, and the hurt actually showed this time. "I'm not trying to be anyone's grandfather. And I certainly wouldn't be so arrogant to compare myself to Uncle."

He had to cast his mind back a very long time to try to puzzle out her mindset. Toph had always had a rebellious streak that gave her a distrust of those older than her or in authority, a trait Suyin had inherited. And she'd had a difficult relationship to her family, something she was always sensitive about when she was younger. Was he reminding her too much of those bad experiences, perhaps?

It seemed they were both failing to understand each other. Apologetic, he offered, "But if that's how you see me... you don't have to accept my help." He didn't want to be a burden to anyone, least of all one of his friends.

[dustonmyfeet]

She'd hurt him. She could hear it. And it didn't make her feel any better for it. It deflated her rage, though it left a rawness -- an openness she couldn't quite bear.

"I don't want help," she muttered. "I don't need it."

Only half a second of pause, as though she was afraid he'd say something that would change her mind. "Gonna go."

Even quicker: "Sorry."

And she was gone.