[Video]

[daughterofursa]

[Okay. It's been a while since Zuko made a network post, but she remembers how this works. Yeah. Definitely. Turning on the video feed, Zuko sits back from the camera, but the image is immediately obscured by a blurry dragon face.]

Come sit with me, Kizuna. They'll see you better from over here.

[Kizuna trills curiously and joins Zuko, her tail just narrowly avoiding smacking into the phone. Zuko clears her throat and begins to speak as Kizuna sits beside her turning her head this way and that to see how it changes the image on the phone.]

We've fallen behind in what we're supposed to be doing here. Thanks to Dove, we're not dealing with the same level of darkness as last month, so we have no excuses. If you've been here a while, you know this is about as peaceful as things get.

I'm looking for a few people to join me on a push. My hope is we'll be able to finish clearing the eastern side of the castle.

Rin Tohsaka is organizing a mission of her own to the arena. She already has everyone she needs, but with enough people, a third group could head into the area beyond the cages. If anyone is interested in leading that, let me know.

Comments

[robodorable]

Not it on a third team, but if you wish it, I'll be available for support on your team, Zuko...

[daughterofursa]

Do you want to go?

[Hopefully you were expecting this question, Essei.]

[robodorable]

[She... Kind of was, honestly.]

Well. Yes.

[daughterofursa]

[All right, good.]

Then you should come. I'm not going to object to having a healer along.

[robodorable]

[Essei was so not comfortable with this, but she wasn't about to not try and protect people, so...]

[daughterofursa]

Something wrong?

[robodorable]

... It's kinda odd-feeling to deal with questions that imply I should have an active choice in the matter? I mean, given my whole purpose and everything.

[daughterofursa]

Well, that's the whole point of asking them. So you get used to it.

[robodorable]

... T-the fact that your logic is sound doesn't make that any less strange-feeling...

[daughterofursa]

It's not necessarily a bad thing if it feels strange, right?

[robodorable]

I'm supposed to be proactive and such, but my programming is supposed to limit the decisions I make, so...

[daughterofursa]

Well, you made a decision, so I guess that's not working so perfectly.

[robodorable]

... You kind of pushed that, though? It's. A thing.

video;

[duelkatana]

[So this is the other team leader. Leo decides it appropriate to make himself known, if nothing else; they'll probably be working together in the future. He gives a polite nod by way of introduction.]

My name is Leonardo. I'll be making the push with Rin's group.

[Wait, is that a... dragon? She has a dragon. Wow. But, uh, let's stay focused.]

Are we familiar with the territory we'll be taking?

[daughterofursa]

[...huh. Well, Zuko has not seen this particular brand of green person before, but she can roll with it.]

I'm Zuko. If she didn't already mention me.

[Kizuna chimes in with a friendly chirp because she can recognize introductions happening.]

We've been in the arena before. But we haven't been able to get all the gates open, or connect it to the rest of the castle. You can only reach it using the stone benches.

[duelkatana]

[Again, Leonardo inclines his head, eyes closing briefly to signify something close to a bow.]

An honor.

I've spoken with Rin about what to expect, but it sounds like you've had more experience. Have any tips for a newcomer?

[daughterofursa]

[Shit, Zuko's gotten so used to nobody else around here bowing, now he's bowing and saying it's an honor?

Uhh she doesn't know how to fix that, she'll just answer his question.]

Rin knows what to expect from shadows. Follow her lead, and don't get reckless.

If you see any kind of black ooze, don't touch it.

[duelkatana]

[For what it's worth, Leo doesn't seem at all offended. He raises an eye ridge in muted curiosity at that second part of her statement, though.]

Black ooze?

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko's response is brusque, almost dismissive. To anyone who knows her, a clear sign that she's trying too hard to act like it doesn't bother her.]

The first time we went there, the walls were covered in it. It sucked the life out of anyone it touched.

I've heard it's gone now. That's no reason to assume it can't come back.

[duelkatana]

[Unfamiliar with her mannerisms, Leonardo doesn't pick up on the discomfort beneath her bravado. He simply makes a quiet sound akin to eugh and nods.]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll keep an eye out for it.

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko nods.]

Good.

And good luck.

[duelkatana]

You, too.

Be sure to keep in touch. We're all in this together.

[wildcardpotential]

Absolutely sign me up! I'm feeling as good as I ever do around here and I agree we should take advantage of this relative quiet and light.

[daughterofursa]

All right.

[They haven't fought together before, and Zuko tries to remember what she knows about Minako.]

You have pokemon, right?

[wildcardpotential]

[She knows Zuko is capable and organized and has helped plan other pushes before, but she hasn't seen her fight.]

I do, yeah, but they're not really equipped for battle. They're young and gentle. I fight with a naginata and summoning magic.

[daughterofursa]

[Oh, well that's a little bit of a relief. Zuko's never been totally at ease with pokemon being used for fighting.]

Summoning magic?

[wildcardpotential]

[Minako feels you. She respects pokemon trainers and what they do, and that some pokemon really enjoy battling, but her own babies are so lazy and gentle, and she has no idea what she's doing, so she can't imagine doing it herself.]

Ah. Do you want the long version, the longer version, or as short as I can manage?

[Look there's a lot to explain here.]

[daughterofursa]

Whatever I need to know if we're fighting together. Some people's abilities can be... startling.

[wildcardpotential]

[THAT SURE IS A WORD YOU COULD USE TO DESCRIBE IT...]

Right, I get it.

I have an ability called Persona. I can summon a Persona, which is like a mythological metaphor for my soul, and that can use magic!

In order to summon these Personas, I need to... simulate shooting myself in the head.

[daughterofursa]

Oh.

I've... seen one of those before, actually. [She wonders if it would have been less traumatic if she hadn't learned what guns were by then.]

We'll make sure everyone's aware before we get going.

[wildcardpotential]

Oh, good! So you know what's up then!

[Probably not. Oops.]

Yeah, that'd be good! I keep forgetting to warn people and it keeps going poorly...

[daughterofursa]

I can imagine.

[At least Zuko only got freaked out by it during a casual sparring session, and not an actual mission where she needed to focus.]

[wildcardpotential]

Yeah I... should really develop a system for this.

[She feels a bit bad about it. It's hard to remember that it's a big deal, though. For so many reasons.]

[daughterofursa]

I guess it's a tough thing to include in a typical introduction.

[wildcardpotential]

Yeah... it doesn't really come up until... well, it's totally necessary.

[daughterofursa]

We'll work on that.

...

I guess I should mention I'm a firebender. [Y'know, in the spirit of not startling anyone. She guesses that could be startling.]

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

You have my axe.

[Making a vague movie reference that Zuko probably won't get is kind of pointless, but Rob seems to be amused by it.]

Maybe we can get some momentum going before the queen starts acting up again.

[daughterofursa]

[You shall be the Fellowship of the... something.]

That's the idea. Maybe we can even keep it up, whatever she throws at us.

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

Hopefully. I bet she's starting to get desperate. We have to be getting close to clearing this place by now.

[daughterofursa]

You think so?

[Zuko is too pessimistic for that thought to have occurred to her.]

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[Rob is perhaps being overly-optimistic right now.]

Dunno, but nothing she's done has stopped us. She might be running out of ideas by now.

[daughterofursa]

I wouldn't count on it. If she is getting desperate, it'll make her more willing to use anything she's set aside as a last resort.

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

We've survived everything she's thrown at us so far. There's no reason to think we can't handle whatever comes next.

["Survived" is a low bar in a place where death isn't permanent.]

[daughterofursa]

I have no doubt we'll survive it. But 'surviving' isn't exactly victory.

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[So negative, Zuko.]

It isn't defeat, either.