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trans_92010-09-25 09:03 pm
found-myway.livejournal.com) wrote in trans_92010-09-25 09:03 pm
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[closed to Hiccup]
According to the standards of the 24-hour time period that the omnicoms operate on, it's very early in the morning. Too early for most people to be up, though Zuko always is at this time. Even without a sun to rise with, old habits die hard.
Today he rose feeling a little slower than usual. From this, one could assume it would be a bad idea for Zuko to push himself - but Zuko is not good at listening to his body when it says no.
So he's fighting his sister. And as usual, she's winning.
Her blue fire fills his vision, and Zuko counters it, the concussive power of the blast knocking him off his footwork so that he has no stance to counter with. He has scratches on his face from her nails. There are bruises on his back where he's fallen, and with every step his heart jitters, anticipating lightning.
Azula is, of course, cool and composed and her smile never wavers. "You know, Zuko," her cool, delighted voice is a mocking parody of sisterly concern. "If you're feeling under the weather, you ought to have challenged a lesser opponent. Or did you think an honorable death in battle would make everyone remember you more fondly than if you were to curl up and die like a weakling in your sickbed?"
"Shut up! Stacy, don't make her talk!"
Azula the Simulation smiles, and Zuko wonders how, even without words, she can still make him feel all at once so furious, and so powerless, and in his moment of hesitation, the simulation dives in to take advantage of this.
This was a bad idea. The simulations are very accurate, and Zuko, who should have forseen this, only realized it just recently. The real Azula, the one he will have to face one of these days, would try to kill him. This one is trying, too, and even on his good days, Azula could take him. He will have to call the fight off, or a memory of his sister will kill him, smiling.
But if he stops the simulation now, then he will have to live with KNOWING he is still not good enough until he's rested enough to try this again, and there is nothing Zuko hates more than feeling like this - weak, defeated, and a failure, so a fight that should have been called off long ago goes on.
Today he rose feeling a little slower than usual. From this, one could assume it would be a bad idea for Zuko to push himself - but Zuko is not good at listening to his body when it says no.
So he's fighting his sister. And as usual, she's winning.
Her blue fire fills his vision, and Zuko counters it, the concussive power of the blast knocking him off his footwork so that he has no stance to counter with. He has scratches on his face from her nails. There are bruises on his back where he's fallen, and with every step his heart jitters, anticipating lightning.
Azula is, of course, cool and composed and her smile never wavers. "You know, Zuko," her cool, delighted voice is a mocking parody of sisterly concern. "If you're feeling under the weather, you ought to have challenged a lesser opponent. Or did you think an honorable death in battle would make everyone remember you more fondly than if you were to curl up and die like a weakling in your sickbed?"
"Shut up! Stacy, don't make her talk!"
Azula the Simulation smiles, and Zuko wonders how, even without words, she can still make him feel all at once so furious, and so powerless, and in his moment of hesitation, the simulation dives in to take advantage of this.
This was a bad idea. The simulations are very accurate, and Zuko, who should have forseen this, only realized it just recently. The real Azula, the one he will have to face one of these days, would try to kill him. This one is trying, too, and even on his good days, Azula could take him. He will have to call the fight off, or a memory of his sister will kill him, smiling.
But if he stops the simulation now, then he will have to live with KNOWING he is still not good enough until he's rested enough to try this again, and there is nothing Zuko hates more than feeling like this - weak, defeated, and a failure, so a fight that should have been called off long ago goes on.
no subject
Then so be it. But Alex, you're going to cry.
"How much experience do you have with the martial arts?"
no subject
Could Zuko not tell from his physique? If he had training in martial arts would he be covered with so many scars? Wouldn't he have been able to protect himself from them?
no subject
"Good. That means I don't have to make you unlearn anything stupid before I can start teaching you. Today, you're going to learn how to breathe. If you think that sounds easy, that's just because no one ever taught you to breathe correctly before."
He explains in detail how to breathe from the bottom of the lungs up, drawing each breath to its fullest. The breath is the foundation of the body, its main source of energy, its most basic need.
And then . . . they breathe. For a full hour. Zuko inhales deeply, deep in meditation, but Alex is probably getting a bit lightheaded.
no subject
Alex was still struggling though to keep his breath even and deep, but at least he was trying his best for the whole hour.
no subject
"You've done good for your first day. I want you to keep practicing what I've just taught you throughout your day, during all your other activities."
no subject