{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

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

It's clear what you mean. You think I can't control my own thoughts about people.

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

No, I'm saying that maybe you can, but I can't, which is why I seem to be having trouble explaining what I mean.

Though honestly I've never really been as in control of my emotions as I pretended. If I did I'd probably still be a chimera.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

You don't consider me a friend, do you?

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

Not... quite, no. Probably closer to one than you'd like me to admit.

[Locked, because he has a feeling she wouldn't really like this coming out]
... I still remember your Shadow saying that you liked me, even if you didn't care about me. Though I've probably screwed that right up by now.

[locked]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

My Shadow was an idiot.

[locked]

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

They both were.

Unfortunately mine at least knew more than I'd really rather admit.

[locked]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Mine didn't know me at all.

[locked]

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

If you say so.

[And yes, he knows she's worked out that this is one of his "I don't believe you" answers by now.]

[locked]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Don't be condescending, you ignorant brat.

[locked]

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

Don't call me an ignorant brat.

[locked]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Then stop acting like one!

[locked]

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

You insist people don't know you if they've only spoken to you over the community. Maybe you should try applying that to yourself sometime.

[locked]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

[...]

[locked]

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

Or I suppose you could do it the other way around.

[locked]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

You don't get it!

[locked]

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

Don't I?

I can't know you properly over just the community - which means you can't know me, either.
You know me just fine - which means I'm perfectly capable of knowing you, too.

Which is it?

[locked]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

No you're not because I don't tell you.

[locked]

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

And yet you never give a thought to what I might not be telling you.

You might think I was better off when I could be called a "heartless swordsman" and like it, but you don't want to meet me like that.

You don't know what I've been through - but I know enough of what you have to know that it's more like yours than you think.

[locked]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

... You couldn't have killed me.

Re: [locked]

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

You never even saw me fight when I was a chimera. How do you know?

[locked]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Because I'm not a weakling!

[locked]

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

And on what basis have you decided I am - or that I was then? Emotional issues don't have a thing to do with being able to fight. I could have fought you to a standstill without even bothering to use magic.

Of course, then I was fireproof.

[locked]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

I can fight with more than just fire.

[locked]

[unluckychimera.livejournal.com]

Right. Because kicking someone made of stone is going to be so effective.

[locked]

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Even stone is breakable.