[Video]

[daughterofursa]

I hope that's right.

[Viewers may recognize the view from balcony on the Tower of Winds as the backdrop. As Zuko draws back from setting up the camera, she doesn't completely position herself inside the frame, but for someone who's never really done this... at least you can see most of her head.]

I know everyone's looking forward to the festival. I think we've earned it. But I also think we need to keep taking advantage of the Queen's inaction.

Some of us are more prepared for a fight than others. While I don't think anyone should be forced to fight if it isn't in their nature, for those who choose to, I can teach sword techniques and hand-to-hand combat. You can find me out on the bridge every morning.

I think it would be a good idea for others to share what they know, too. We could use more healers--

[If she was going to conclude with anything else, she's interrupted by a tiny growl. The video shakes violently, coming to a stop pointed skyward. A blurry dragon face noses the camera and then the whole view is blocked out as Kizuna sits atop her defeated foe.]

Kizuna. Did you switch it off?

[Some scuffling and indistinct images follow before the feed actually does shut off.]

Comments

[miseris_socios]

[Well, there's someone who's not even bothering to respond on the network. Who knows who's listening in? So he's got his spear and he's got his bag and he heads up to the Tower of Winds. It doesn't take him long to get to where Zuko is - he recognizes that balcony.]

You wanted to train?

[Voice]

[break_the_ice]

I'm happy to offer advice on Marksmanship, but I don't know if we've actually got many firearms besides my own... And mine will only fire for me.

But I could probably use a few more lessons with a sword besides "hit the guy with the sharp end."

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko turns in surprise. Well, apparently her message was successful, or at least the part where she offered to teach people. Did he miss the part where she said mornings and not here?]

Uh- Did the message get cut off?

[miseris_socios]

Nope. But you didn't look like you were doing anything else at the minute.

[And he doesn't have much to do either before he crashes in bed.]

[Voice]

[daughterofursa]

I could definitely give you more pointers than that.

What do you mean by "firearms"?

[Zuko isn't familiar with all the terminology for guns. She knows... "guns." Also bazookas.]

[Voice]

[break_the_ice]

Firearms are long range weapons. Pistols, Rifles, that sort of thing. Like... advanced crossbows?

I'd forgotten that you're not from a world where they've been developed.

[daughterofursa]

I guess I wasn't.

[She puts her phone away and nods to his spear.]

Do you know how to use that?

[miseris_socios]

[Ken just gives her the most 'are you an idiot?' look that he can muster.]

Yeah. I've been using a spear for... something like five years? Only about three with actual spears that weren't improvised ones, but yeah. I know how to use it.

[Voice]

[daughterofursa]

Oh. The ones that fire bullets?

Are those any good against shadows?

[daughterofursa]

[Sorry, Ken, but Azula will always be better at that look than you.]

You seem pretty young for that. Were you at war?

[break_the_ice]

Mine haven't failed to drop anything yet.

But... mine are a little special. Relics of the golden age, and designed explicitly to fight the Darkness. I can't be sure if a regular gun will do anything.

[miseris_socios]

I'm not that young. I'm fourteen. I look eleven, but I'm not. And there were things called 'Shadows' in my world that I used to have to fight during the hour a night they would show up. Then I learned how to fight them better with a Persona, which is a special power only certain people can use. And then I was in a place a little like this for like... two and a half years.

[daughterofursa]

We should find out. Having a ranged weapon might be better for some people.

[break_the_ice]

Guns are easier to use than swords, much easier. Difficult to master, but it doesn't take an expert to point a gun at what you want to kill, and pull the trigger.

But it requires a lot of training to be safe. There's nothing more dangerous than someone waving around a gun that doesn't know what they're doing.

[daughterofursa]

[...okay. She's heard stranger.

It almost makes her wonder if wars are becoming old-fashioned though.]

Then you're looking for a sparring partner.

[daughterofursa]

You could say that of any weapon.

[miseris_socios]

If you're offering...

[Yes. Very much yes.]

But the other thing from your post... I can heal if people need it. I've got a bunch of other skills, too.

[break_the_ice]

Yes, but not just any weapon can accidentally kill someone half a kilometer away because some idiot can't keep their finger off a two centimeter piece of metal.

[daughterofursa]

That's good to know. Is it magical?

[She doesn't respond directly to the matter of sparring, but she does pick up Kizuna while they're talking to relocate her to an out-of-the-way spot.]

[daughterofursa]

...

I guess not.

[miseris_socios]

Uh... I guess it'd count as magic, yeah. I know first aid, though. I've patched up enough wounds to be able to say I'm okay at it.

[Oh no... she's cute...]

[break_the_ice]

I'm not trying to dismiss you, Zuko. That came out harsh. It's just something everyone in the vanguard gets drilled into them early.

Know where you're aiming. Know what you might hit. And keep your finger off the trigger. Because anywhere you point your weapon, you have to assume that anything in front of it will die. Whether you want it to or not.

A gun is a dangerous weapon even to people staying away from the fight.

[daughterofursa]

I see.

[That sounds really unfortunate, what is with all these kids from awful situations.]

All right, Kizuna. You know how this works. Stay here so you don't get hurt, okay?

[Zuko turns from her dragon, drawing her dual swords from her back and stepping towards Ken.]

Let's see what you've got.

[daughterofursa]

At least it's a weapon you can take away.

[miseris_socios]

[Ken pulls his spear off of his back, setting his bag off to the side.]

All right.

[He eyes her up, watching where her swords are positioned, and her breathing pattern, and... there. He rushes in with a quick jab towards her midsection, easy enough to dodge for now.]