[ An unexpected plunge into icy cold oceans does not make for a happy firebender. He's a competent swimmer, enough to annoyedly push turtles out of his way on his way to shore, but he's none too calm about his situation — in fact, he's furious. It's not Zuko's fist time being spirited away to another realm; he's just arriving from a six-month-long stay in Prismatica, where he lived a life of willing poverty for sheer resistance of intimacy, but nevertheless made deep friendships and lived a peaceful life, which were both now... gone... along with his own real world, apparently, if he didn't do his best here to save it, as if that weren't what he was doing at home, too. He'd had an existential crisis knock him out of commission for a week upon his first veer off destiny's path, but this one mounting now just felt spiteful. He'll not be a good companion for anyone in any sense, more likely than not, for the first week here, but he'll will himself conscious for it, at least, since this ain't his first time at the alternate-reality rodeo...
Find him having a public meltdown, fuming and seething to himself on the beach once escaping the freezing waters, dripping wet and cursing the turtles bringing him his belongings, in spite of himself. Maybe you've found yourself in the same caravan as him, where he's no more fun; he'll barely fidget with the device, won't strike up friendly conversation with friendly strangers, won't drink from the mini-bar... No, he'll just wrap up in himself with legs splayed to keep maximum distance in his personal bubble, glare out the window, and maybe grumble or sigh occasionally. If you're the lucky turtle-ducky to find yourself rooming with him, you might find a slightly softer (though no more agreeable) fire prince in the inn, a roll of parchments with various small paintings on them spread across the bedspread before him, a pensive, distraught look on his face as he examines each sheet. In the morning, though, is where he'll shine: Zuko's at the training ground at the birth of sunlight, determined to start practicing his new magic. All he knows is he can't make fire, and he's going to lose his absolute shit if he can't regain his flames, like... tomorrow. Unfortunately, it seems he's just full of hot air — literally. With his new elemental magic, any firebending forms he tries just produce puffs of unintentional airbending, and a whole lot of frustration. He doesn't know he's now an Avatar yet, essentially. ]
Mirror, Mirror
A » Unquestionable Honor
[ Zuko is an exceptionally brave boy, for better or worse. While he may be reckless, however, he's not fearless by any means. It's just that his fears are rather— entrenched. He's never met a battle he was afraid to join, even if he shouldn't, or an adventure too intimidating to avoid, even if he should. His fears are more conceptual; philosophical worries, deep self-criticism, misdirection... Fears of his own moral bankruptcy, abandonment, latent dishonor. So given the inconcrete nature of his innermost fears, illusions of these doubts are all but entirely convincing and realistic, without any logical tells physically to show that it's not just... typical. That said, it's promising too because it means he already knows how to defeat his demons — and already knows that he knows how, too. Overcoming one's darkest sense of self is no easy task alone; in fact, it's impossible, and it took him the better part of four years to realize it, only with the support of his wise, kindhearted uncle... Someone he's sorely missing now finding himself in Avalon — especially in this instance, facing his own fears of innate disgrace in a dank cave with no magic, where the old man's guidance would be more useful than ever. But any friends he finds himself with in the cave, old or new, can be of just as much help. People need to reflect on themselves, but sharing yourself with another person allows them to be like a mirror; so any glimmer of light you share will shine on both of you, leading the way as it's revealed. ]
B » A Pure Heart
[ After overcoming fears of being just, like, a terrible person at his core, and still coming out of the cave triumphant, the invisible bridge seems less challenging now than maybe it otherwise would. Beyond this, Zuko is courageous, trusting, and thickheaded — pure of heart, indeed. For someone who's plagued with doubt, he's also rather confident, maybe overly so, and more often than not acts before thinking. Watching the others successfully crossing the bridge briefly before trying anything himself, it doesn't take him long to take a stab at it. Before he does, though, he turns to his partner to make a wry joke... except he's entirely serious, so it's not really a joke, is it? ]
Hey — let's jump off the cliff. Literal leap of faith.
C » High Ideals
[ It'd been a long and arduous day on this mission, leaving Zuko looking pretty haggard, with a lot of confrontation within and without himself. Zuko's not exactly the social butterfly drawn to the big groups, or in this case more like a moth drawn to the prismatic city of light. He's not exactly tired, but he's done. He's beelined for the outskirts of the iridescent city by the end of the night, determined to get away from the hustle and bustle. The city was stunning, but it was a heavy emotional load to bear to get there, especially for being so new to this realm, still in shock of his situation. He'd explored a bit but the novelty is not as absorbing for him as it is for maybe most. He needs time to think and rest. There's a lot on his mind. He's set up "camp" on his own, content to just lie in some grass to sleep, no frills. But before that, he'll spend a contemplative silence gazing at the stars above. There's a lot out there to contemplate. He's got to rather literally think about his place in the universe tonight, and that's a real brain-buster. Maybe he'll ruminate aloud to the right person; maybe another might break his revery, for better or worse. Either way, company is appreciated whether he appreciates it or not. ]
Zuko | Avatar: the Last Airbender
[ An unexpected plunge into icy cold oceans does not make for a happy firebender. He's a competent swimmer, enough to annoyedly push turtles out of his way on his way to shore, but he's none too calm about his situation — in fact, he's furious. It's not Zuko's fist time being spirited away to another realm; he's just arriving from a six-month-long stay in Prismatica, where he lived a life of willing poverty for sheer resistance of intimacy, but nevertheless made deep friendships and lived a peaceful life, which were both now... gone... along with his own real world, apparently, if he didn't do his best here to save it, as if that weren't what he was doing at home, too. He'd had an existential crisis knock him out of commission for a week upon his first veer off destiny's path, but this one mounting now just felt spiteful. He'll not be a good companion for anyone in any sense, more likely than not, for the first week here, but he'll will himself conscious for it, at least, since this ain't his first time at the alternate-reality rodeo...
Find him having a public meltdown, fuming and seething to himself on the beach once escaping the freezing waters, dripping wet and cursing the turtles bringing him his belongings, in spite of himself. Maybe you've found yourself in the same caravan as him, where he's no more fun; he'll barely fidget with the device, won't strike up friendly conversation with friendly strangers, won't drink from the mini-bar... No, he'll just wrap up in himself with legs splayed to keep maximum distance in his personal bubble, glare out the window, and maybe grumble or sigh occasionally. If you're the lucky
turtle-ducky to find yourself rooming with him, you might find a slightly softer (though no more agreeable) fire prince in the inn, a roll of parchments with various small paintings on them spread across the bedspread before him, a pensive, distraught look on his face as he examines each sheet. In the morning, though, is where he'll shine: Zuko's at the training ground at the birth of sunlight, determined to start practicing his new magic. All he knows is he can't make fire, and he's going to lose his absolute shit if he can't regain his flames, like... tomorrow. Unfortunately, it seems he's just full of hot air — literally. With his new elemental magic, any firebending forms he tries just produce puffs of unintentional airbending, and a whole lot of frustration. He doesn't know he's now an Avatar yet, essentially. ]Mirror, Mirror
A » Unquestionable Honor
[ Zuko is an exceptionally brave boy, for better or worse. While he may be reckless, however, he's not fearless by any means. It's just that his fears are rather— entrenched. He's never met a battle he was afraid to join, even if he shouldn't, or an adventure too intimidating to avoid, even if he should. His fears are more conceptual; philosophical worries, deep self-criticism, misdirection... Fears of his own moral bankruptcy, abandonment, latent dishonor. So given the inconcrete nature of his innermost fears, illusions of these doubts are all but entirely convincing and realistic, without any logical tells physically to show that it's not just... typical. That said, it's promising too because it means he already knows how to defeat his demons — and already knows that he knows how, too. Overcoming one's darkest sense of self is no easy task alone; in fact, it's impossible, and it took him the better part of four years to realize it, only with the support of his wise, kindhearted uncle... Someone he's sorely missing now finding himself in Avalon — especially in this instance, facing his own fears of innate disgrace in a dank cave with no magic, where the old man's guidance would be more useful than ever. But any friends he finds himself with in the cave, old or new, can be of just as much help. People need to reflect on themselves, but sharing yourself with another person allows them to be like a mirror; so any glimmer of light you share will shine on both of you, leading the way as it's revealed. ]
B » A Pure Heart
[ After overcoming fears of being just, like, a terrible person at his core, and still coming out of the cave triumphant, the invisible bridge seems less challenging now than maybe it otherwise would. Beyond this, Zuko is courageous, trusting, and thickheaded — pure of heart, indeed. For someone who's plagued with doubt, he's also rather confident, maybe overly so, and more often than not acts before thinking. Watching the others successfully crossing the bridge briefly before trying anything himself, it doesn't take him long to take a stab at it. Before he does, though, he turns to his partner to make a wry joke... except he's entirely serious, so it's not really a joke, is it? ]
Hey — let's jump off the cliff. Literal leap of faith.
C » High Ideals
[ It'd been a long and arduous day on this mission, leaving Zuko looking pretty haggard, with a lot of confrontation within and without himself. Zuko's not exactly the social butterfly drawn to the big groups, or in this case more like a moth drawn to the prismatic city of light. He's not exactly tired, but he's done. He's beelined for the outskirts of the iridescent city by the end of the night, determined to get away from the hustle and bustle. The city was stunning, but it was a heavy emotional load to bear to get there, especially for being so new to this realm, still in shock of his situation. He'd explored a bit but the novelty is not as absorbing for him as it is for maybe most. He needs time to think and rest. There's a lot on his mind. He's set up "camp" on his own, content to just lie in some grass to sleep, no frills. But before that, he'll spend a contemplative silence gazing at the stars above. There's a lot out there to contemplate. He's got to rather literally think about his place in the universe tonight, and that's a real brain-buster. Maybe he'll ruminate aloud to the right person; maybe another might break his revery, for better or worse. Either way, company is appreciated whether he appreciates it or not. ]