pc catchall | redacted | zuko

[dianxias]

i WILL FIND A SHITPOST EVENTUALLY

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w0, post trial!

[dianxias]

[ once all is said and done and the furries npcs have taken virid and the bodies away, xie lian doesn't wait too long in the evening before going to find zuko.

where are you kid. he'll approach him quietly, but clear his throat so he doesn't startle him. ]

[cuedoves]

[ he's in the kitchen finally mcfuckin getting some food... he's struggling to knife open a can of tuna right now because he doesn't understand how can openers work ]

[ he hears the throat clearing, and turns over with a nod. ]

Are you, uh... okay?

[ nailed it. ]

week 1, thursday

[cuedoves]

[ wherever xie lian is, zuzu is hunting for him!!! it's time for angry child fussing. ]

How badly are you hurt?

[dianxias]

[ he is currently sitting in the lobby! hua cheng has banned him from moving too much, so, when zuko comes hurrying up to him, he gives a small, polite bow of his head in greeting, smile sheepish as he waves a hand. ]

Oh, Zuko... I'm alright, there's no need to worry... there's nothing actively bleeding.

[ ? ]

w1, friday

[dianxias]

[ it's best to make contact with as many people as possible after the news - two more of their little group have died, and each death leaves an aftershock on the people who remain. it takes xie lian a little while to find zuko - he's walking slowly, still, but he eventually makes his way out to the docking bay.

and spots a familiar figure, in doing so.

xie lian knocks on the frame of the door as he enters, his voice still a little hoarse, but quiet. ] ...Zuko.

[cuedoves]

[ zuko immediately approaches!! he's still worried about xie lian, if not for the murder..s... he would have checked on him immediately. ]

Should you really be walking around like this? Your injuries haven't healed.

[ for the record, zuko has changed out of his bloody clothes and is now in adorable space jammies. ]

w2, friday

[cuedoves]

[ where is gege? zuko will be out looking for him in the world's laziest starter ]

[ xl will be able to feel his extremely tangible relief when he finally finds him. ]

You're okay.

[dianxias]

[ gege is probably hanging out outside! it's always nice to be under the stars, especially after such a harrowing day. when he spots zuko, he opens his mouth, then closes it, smiles, and nods his head. his own emotions reflect back a similar relief, and a comfortable fondness.

yes, he's fine. pirate affliction aside.

there's a beat, and he pats the spot next to him, if he wants to come sit down? ]

w3, thursday morning

[cuedoves]

[ zuko's out about! checking things out! exploring!! he and xl are definitely going to have to fight sabor later. anyway. when he sees xl, he makes a beeline for him. ]

I was just looking around. Want to come?

[ he can show off some of his stances and such in the meantime!! ]

[dianxias]

[ i'm so ready to fight sabor.

xie lian smiles as he spots zuko, and greets him with a bow as ever. ] Good morning, Zuko. Where to?

[ that's a yes! let's go explore and also punch! ]

w3, post inves!

[dianxias]

[ hi zuko.

xie lian's outside on this not so fine day, leaning against the side of the inn. he appears to have a flower crown in his hands, and is staring down at it - though, if he's noticed zuko, he hasn't said anything.


:c]

[cuedoves]

[ zuko's -- angry? sad? his face is scrunched up and he's on the move, looking for sumire. not giving himself a break. ]

[ but he does stop when he sees xl. and the flowercrown, bc zuko will also have flowercrowned when i backtag maple for pain. ]

This is messed up.

w3, post-trial

[cuedoves]

[ hewwo.... zuko wants to punch something!! very noticeably!!! what do you do, xl? ]

What a sick joke of a trial.

[dianxias]

[ haha. yeah. ]

Mnm.

[ there's a beat. xie lian looks at zuko, in whatever clear space they're standing in, and turns to look at him, folding his hands behind his back. ]

...Zuko. [ he shifts, turning fully. ] Come hit me.

w4, wednesday (pre event)

[cuedoves]

[ hewwo xl..... zuko wants to come check on you! ]

Xie Lian. There are memory bubbles everywhere. Watch your step.

[ in fact, there's one near xl right now!! he tries to push xl out of the way dramatically, but ends up popping it himself, and uh, well. ]

[ it's iroh begging zuko to choose the side of good, while his sister tells him she needs him, and that he will have father's love back. and his honor. ]

[ and zuko... makes the wrong decision. he chooses to betray uncle, then viciously attack the avatar. in tag teaming with his sister, they defeat katara and aang -- azula seems to have killed aang, actually? while iroh steps in to help katara and aang escape, and is branded a traitor. as it turns out? zuko actually helped his nation win the war they've been fighting. he's a little conflicted about this situation -- saying that he betrayed uncle, but azula assures him that iroh betrayed him, and that he restored his own honor ]

[ but did he? ]

[dianxias]

[ I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE THIS ONE AND IM SCREAMING

zuko you fool. xie lian's been fine at dodging these bubbles for the most part, and he 's opening his mouth to speak to zuko when suddenly he just lunges forward and xie lian's taken straight into his shoes.

out of context, there are many, many things that make no sense. xie lian can sort of put together the pieces - his fire nation, this 'bending', some sort of conquest - but at the heart of it is this young man who he has come to know so well. xie lian feels his conflict. he feels his hurt, the quiet grab he makes at something he wants. the man who zuko knows (who xie lian, in his shoes, knows) as uncle iroh speaks wisely, and ... though it is zuko's memory that he blinks back from, xie lian feels more strongly than anything the heartbreak that his uncle must have felt.

he thinks, not for the first time, of a student of his own.

xie lian exhales as he's righted himself, back to reality. he looks at zuko, brows knit together, his mouth a little open, and then... shuts it, slowly. ]

...Zuko. [ his voice is gentle. ] Those two... were your family, are they not?

[ his uncle. his sister, he thinks, her voice as sharp as an ice pick, dragging a young man who was clearly vulnerable into what seems to be some kind of a plot. ]

w5, monday

[dianxias]

[ hello zuko!!! xie lian spots him wherever in the northern area today and waves him down. he's sitting at one of the tables, just outside of the bakery. ]

Zuko, hello! Here, come here, you must try one of these pastries! They're delicious.

[ he loves this place so much.

at his feet, his creature, currently a qilin perks up the minute xie lian calls out to zuko, and immediately goes trotting over to wind through his legs. ]

[cuedoves]

[ zuko seems pretty disinterested.... but comes over anyway, like a good boy. ]

Just keep it out of your sleeves.

[ despite the grumpiness, a small black and red turtleducks quacks happily at xie lian!!! and goes to nuzzle its bill against his leg. ]

week 5 post execution

[dianxias]

[ i HAD TO REWRITE THIS ENTIRE TAG FUCK YOU WHOEVER CUCKED JEANNE

i mean!! xie lian makes a beeline for zuko the minute the execution is over - he is the absolute first person that he runs for. ]

-- Zuko. [ he sounds - relieved. sick or otherwise, he is so relieved. ] Come here, are you alright?

[cuedoves]

[ zuko's on his beda just chilling, with the ssons wrapped around him. ]

[ he tries to get up, when he sees xl. make his way over. it's slow going. ]

I don't know.

[ that's the honest answer. jeanne might be alive, but the whole affair was pretty horrible, to top off an already horrible weekend. his stomach clenches. ]

week 6, post investigation

[cuedoves]

[ eventually zuko will find xie lian and give him like ]

[ this pathetic plushie duck. definitely a loser prize. ]

I'm sorry.

[dianxias]

[ STOP HE'LL TREASURE THIS DUCK FOREVER

xie lian looks up at zuko, his expression shifting from surprised to touched almost immediately - he gives him a small gentle smile, and pats the spot next to him. come sit down, sonion. ]

...Thank you. [ xie lian's careful with his words, but his voice still seems a little slower than usual. that surfer drawl... ]

w6 post trial

[dianxias]

[ when zuko comes to find xie lian, he will find him out at the beach.

he's just laying spread eagled on his back, staring up at the sky. that's it. ]

[cuedoves]

[ ... zuko lies down beside him. ]

... I didn't want to snap at you in the trial. [ aside from the food, he deserved it. ] We just never find all the answers, because people cover for the killers.

w7, post cyoa

[cuedoves]

[ zuko will come check on xl.. he seems... tired. ]

Are you holding up alright, after all that?

[dianxias]

[ ah, zuko. xie lian's turned away from him when he approaches, pouring himself a cup of tea! he turns around to smile at him, and he

sure has a black eye.

that wasn't there an hour ago! ] ...Hello, Zuko. I'm just fine - how's your arm?

w7 post sorta trial

[dianxias]

[ later in the evening, if zuko's bedtime isn't too early and he feels like going for a walk, he may find xie lian standing out on the bridge. he's changed into more normal clothes reminiscent of his robes, and is leaning on the railing, looking out into the water.

come say hi to dad? ]

[cuedoves]

[ no, zuko was just out clearing his head. he takes a seat next to dad, even though everything is terrible and looks super fucked up ]

So that's the secret you were keeping from me? That you were the one saving people?