{VIDEO POST}

[bentflame]

[Azula's sitting out on the hotel suite's balcony, enjoying the night air and looking contemplative]

[she's fingering a necklace-- a simple gold chain-- that some might recognize as one that she always wears under her clothing, and in her hand is a hand-held tape recorder]

[she presses the "play" button, and her own tinny-sounding voice comes out of the little speakers:]

Say something.

hotpinkaura follows:]

"Okay... hi, little machine thing. ... Okay, that just sounded stupid. Is that enough, Azula?"

[Azula rewinds; she plays the recording a few more times before setting the device down and staring off into the night]

Comments

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

How is it disrespectful?

The living, obviously. But even if those who are gone are less important, that doesn't necessarily mean they're not important at all.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

... Never mind. [a.k.a. SHE HAS NO IDEA she just wants what she considers a good reason to deny missing Ty Lee even though she obviously does]

If Lisa were dead and Ty Lee were alive, Lisa would still be more important.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

...

Again, less important doesn't mean she isn't important at all. [He's wary of actually coming out and saying Ty Lee's name after the one time Azula blew up at his mentioning the Fire Nation.]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

You don't believe me, do you? I can tell by your dotting.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

Given that all you said was "never mind", are you really surprised? You're not the only one who can tell when people are being dismissive because they don't have a good answer.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

I do have a good answer. She isn't my favorite; you have no idea what other people have done compared to her.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

I never said anything that implied I did. But is it that surprising that I might think you couldn't answer when all you said when I asked was "never mind"?

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Maybe I really did want you to never mind.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

I should think you know by now that that isn't going to make me do it.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

... You're annoying.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

I've known you think that for a long time. In fact, as far as I remember, annoying is the only thing you ever admit to me being.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

And you don't think there's a reason for that?

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

I'm perfectly aware I annoy you. I'm surprised it isn't worse than that, honestly.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

The most annoying part is how you say, "I'm sorry, I just realized that I've been acting like a jerk" about once a month and then never do anything to change your behavior.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

... Actually, I've only said that once. In any case it helps if you actually remind me when I'm slipping back into it. It's hard to stop when I don't realize I'm doing it.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

You've said it a couple times.

... Does it really help?

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

It at least lets me try to improve. Which is more than I can do if I don't realize I'm doing it again.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Why are you so unaware of your own actions?

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

It's enough of a habit at this point that I have to be actively thinking about it to stop it. And I don't know about you, but most people don't actively think about their thoughts - I mean, about the fact that their thoughts are running a particular direction.

You're usually so... controlled. I guess I envy that a little.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

... Yes. I am. I'm strong.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

I know. I guess I must have lost more than just physical strength when I was... cured.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

So you admit that you've changed for the worse.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

I don't know about "worse". You didn't know me very well when I was still a chimera. But I'm pretty sure I haven't gotten that much better.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

You always talk about how you didn't open up or admit weaknesses back then.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

I did mention that to most people not opening up, even really to one's friends, is considered a bad thing, right?