Awakening [Unintentional Video/Action] - 01

[tea_lover64]

[The morning had a dullness to it, a sort of dreariness that just seemed to make time go slowly. Even nature seemed to be having a hard time getting started today. The clearing in the forest was still and quiet, except for the stirrings of an old man who was slowly coming back into consciousness. He has a long beard, and a far receded hair line. Despite his age, he is well muscled individual. As his eyes slowly open he stretches a bit and winces. There is a moment or two as he gazes around his surroundings, taking everything in and sizing it up.]

This is certainly a strange place to wake up. I don't recall drinking any wine yesterday.

[He strokes his beard thoughtfully for a moment. He gives another wince and stretches his back a little. It is clear something strange has happened. It is then he turns his head for a second, and then startled turns it again]

Wings?! Since when do I have wings?!

[He shakes his head a second, and gives his cheek a pinch. It would seem he wasn't sleeping. When he had journeyed to the spirit world before he had maintained his shape, though that was the closest approximation he could make]

Mmmmm. I could use a cup of tea, and perhaps a bit of breakfast. Although I suppose that would be a bit much to ask.

[His gaze goes to the book which had a strange look to it, curiously he moved forward and taps it and... the feed cuts out]

Comments

[tea_lover64]

There were signs early on, yes. He always resented my position ahead of him, he believed it was a mistake of the heavens. He was singularly driven for power, with little thought of how it could be used to help the world.

[They had only had any sort of normal connection when Ozai was very young]

[markofthewise]

Yeesh. And here I thought I had it bad when I had a waterbending sister who kept drenching me. Do you guys ever have any normal siblings?

[tea_lover64]

Not in our family experience, no.

[markofthewise]

Just like Roku and Sozin. [If it sounds like Sokka is talking about Roku like an old friend... it's because he is.]

[tea_lover64]

Yes and no. Roku and Sozin had a better relationship when they were younger, myself and my brother have never seen eye to eye.

[markofthewise]

He didn't like tea as much, huh?

[tea_lover64]

He never had a true appreciation for it.

[markofthewise]

Well, at least we'll know there's trouble brewing if Zuko has any kids who don't like tea.

[A moment later he'll realize his accidental pun. Haaaa.]

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh will have a chuckle at that anyway]

I'm sure things will be fine.

[markofthewise]

I should probably warn you that you've been here before. So... there may be people who recognize you that you don't recognize.

[tea_lover64]

Having people recognize me that I don't know isn't that unusual.

[Being a former crown prince, and famous general and all]

At the very least, they won't be trying to capture or kill me, well hopefully.

[He sounds both perfectly serious, and strangely calm about the statement. He has led an interesting life]

[markofthewise]

Well, you have the Malnosso for capturing you and the cultists for killing you. So that doesn't leave much for the rest of us.

[tea_lover64]

Well, its nice to have that defined.

[markofthewise]

When we're not having experiments or being sent out to war, it's pretty peaceful around here. You'll probably like it. We even have a tea shop.

[tea_lover64]

Being sent to war is it? That is unfortunate.

[He had grown up with war as a constant reality. There were of course lulls in action over time, but it was something of a constant. It became expected for the crown prince to go out on campaign when he was old enough. Their world had just ended their war]

I have heard of this tea shop.

[markofthewise]

Our war lasted a hundred years. This war has lasted for hundreds.

[For some, it probably felt distant. Like it wasn't their problem. But Sokka had been fighting this war for longer than he'd fought the one back home. It was personal. He was invested. And when he took long enough to think about it, he was terrified.]

[tea_lover64]

A centuries long war.

[He shakes his head. How destructive and wasteful that was]

So is that why we were brought to this place? To fight in this war?

[markofthewise]

Depending on the day of the week, it's for the war. Or it's to be experimented on. Or for our own safety. Or because this world just grabs people by random and we're put in here because why not? Sometimes I'm not even sure the Malnosso know.

[tea_lover64]

Well, that doesn't seem organized at all. These Malnosso are the beings responsible for this?

[markofthewise]

... like I said, that depends on the day of the week. We fluctuate on when we're blaming them, the cultists, or the world in general.

[tea_lover64]

I imagine it has to do with who recently caused the most grief. That is usually the way such opinions will sway.

[markofthewise]

Yeah. And since we get hit by the Malnosso more than anything else, they're the ones who get blamed the most. Not that they deserve it. But... I've been here long enough to know it's more complicated than that.

[tea_lover64]

The surface of a pond hides the world beneath.

[Nothing like proverbially words, right?]

[markofthewise]

... I don't think there's any ponds, though.

[tea_lover64]

Not meant to be taken literally.