You Can't Go Home [Open]

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

When she wasn't with Zuko, Mai needed to find something to do that wasn't throwing knives at the wall. Even that got boring after a while. You could only practice so much before your muscles decided you needed to do something else. So, she'd taken up simply wandering through the city. It was decent exercise and she was less likely to run into people who wanted to ask her stupid questions. Or any of the Avatar's group, for that matter. After Ozai, she'd been avoiding them. Not out of any hatred toward them, but simply because she would rather not have to explain herself if any of them wanted to know why.

So, the city had its appeal. Until she found her old family home, anyway. It was her family's manor from the Fire Nation capital, but here, it stood on a side street, in between a walled manor made of adobe, with curving, elegant archways and a squat, steely, sullen looking building that looked more like a bunker than anything else. It was also empty. She wandered the hallways and for the first time, she realized how omnipresent the servants actually had been. She had been so used to seeing them out of the corner of her eye or just passing by on some chore that they'd become part of the scenery. PArt of the house.

Without them, it was strangely empty and quiet.

The garden was there, of course. As immaculate and well-trimmed as the last time she remembered seeing it (who or what kept it from overgrowing and becoming a disaster area was a mystery). The furniture was there, too. A bit dusty, but otherwise in perfect condition. She slowly settled onto a couch on a balcony that overlooked the street. Back home, the Fire Nation Palace was just across the street - she could see it in her mind's eye - and it had been a point of pride for her family that they had a town-house that close to the Fire Lord. It showed royal favor, her mother had told her once. Which was why her father had become governor of New Ozai, of course.

She slumped back against the cushions, feeling oddly homesick for the first time in a long, long while.

"Figures. I can't escape my parents, even when they're in slimy pods..."

Comments

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

She was still angered at Mai's actions, even if that had cooled after her talk with Nokosi. Once she resolved there was nothing she could do for the situation, it was better to let it be. SHE hadn't killed anyone, and until she did, that would have to weigh in on Mai's conscience.

What did happen, though, was that she had put two and two together, or at least started to think about the aftermath. How exactly was it Ozai was able to get to Hiccup, and then, by association, to Zuko? In fact how did it even make sense that he would have had no contact with his less shamed daughter Azula? He may have had tunnel vision, but surely he would have seen her first, or at the very least, when their fight happened, she would have joined in.

Wasn't that just a little convenient? If Azula had shown up, her temper would have surely had her join the fight, and that alone would have been enough to have her thrown in the brig, or at least more tightly supervised. But it was as if Azula had not even been in the picture, and Kaya found that hard to believe.

Granted, this was just theory, but what wasn't theory was the eventual knowledge that Ozai was dead, and eventually Azula would find out. Once Kaya realized this, she had to ask for a temporary vacation from med bay, if only for a few days. If Azula lost it, she would be there.

Though it annoyed her, Kaya realized what Mai had been shooting for ultimately succeeded. With Ozai dead, no threat would come to Zuko. Specifically, once Azula found out, her focus would now turn to killing Mai herself, and what chance did she have over a firebender as skilled as Azula?

Little. And going into the city was just asking for trouble when it was the place Stacy could not see. Kaya was stealthy, tailing Mai only when she ventured outside of the safe zones on the ship. She was here now, just outside of the home, out of sight.

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

Mai wasn't completely oblivious to her surroundings. She just acted like it most of the time. She straightened up from her spot on the couch and walked out onto the balcony, arms supporting her weight as she leaned against the railing. Someone had been tailing her - she was fairly sure of it. Not that she'd said anything yet, of course. She was fairly sure it wasn't Azula. Azula was too far gone to be quite that subtle. Besides, the Princess would want to gloat before she killed Mai. If she tried. She took a long look at the empty street and then raised her voice - just enough for anyone in the vicinity to hear it.

"I know you're out there. Whoever you are."

Maybe there wasn't anyone. Maybe she was wasting her breath. Or maybe if there was they'd reveal themselves.

It didn't hurt to try.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Grr. She was trying to keep a low profile: if anyone suspected she was here, it would defeat the purpose. Besides, the whole point of this was staying in the shadows.

"Good. Now just pretend I'm not, I have to make sure that no one is watching."

Kaya wasn't stupid. If Azula HAD been involved in the Ozai thing, what was to stop her from getting lackies to follow them? Right no it paid to be paranoid.

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

Mai rolled her eyes. "I don't need protection, Kaya."

Honestly, how many times did she have to tell people this?

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"No, of course not," Kaya said, rolling her eyes right back. "You went and killed Ozai because Zuko the FIREBENDER needed protection, but if sadistic prodigy Azula finds out, you'll be all right. You really are going to explain this logic of yours one day."

Because somehow, Kaya didn't think flying knives would do the trick.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi was thinking over recent events rather than looking for anyone in particular when he heard Mai speaking from the balcony. He looked up, curious; the building was of unfamiliar origin, but that was nothing new.

"Hello again. It's been a while."

He remembered.

It was sort of hard not to, when a gaggle of young humans were all demanding answers from the Council about a problem crew member who seemed so partial to setting people on fire.

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

Mai's brow furrowed and she stood and moved over to the edge of the balcony - it wasn't that far off the ground, really. It was almost more of a porch. She eyed Zouichi for a moment until her memory was finally jogged. He'd spoken to her once, a long time ago.

"Hi."

Her expression was still one of carefully crafted apathy and boredom.

"What are you doing out here?"

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi seemed content to look up at her from his current position.

"Nothing in particular. I explore the City fairly often." He made a noncommittal gesture with one gloved hand, vaguely in the direction of the house. "Planning on settling in?"

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

"Maybe," Mai shrugs noncommittally. It'd be too weird. No servants. Just empty hallways and rooms every morning and every night. Too empty. Too familiar.

"It'd be more comfortable than the rooms they give us."

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

"It seems like a pretty open layout, though. Not particularly great for keeping unwanted crew members out."

Why, a crazy firebender could just waltz right up and...

[thewunderkind]

Just a chance that Lash had been passing by, what with trying to explore more parts of the city in the hopes of discovering something familiar. This wasn't anything remotely close to her homeworld, but it had been a while she had seen Mai. The girl's unique hair was hard to miss (uh Lash...).

"HEY!" she called out from where she was standing, waving.

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

Mai just looked at Lash for a few moments and let the silence get a bit awkward before she replied, "Hey."

A knife appeared from somewhere in her sleeve and she toyed with it, tapping the flat of the blade against the railing of the balcony, a bored expression on her face.

[thewunderkind]

Oh silly Mai. Lash was used to being around guys that wrote up the world awkward. Heck if you looked up eerie calm guy, you'd probably find Hawke's face next to it.

With a running start, she ran up the wall, defying gravity until she was on the balcony, closer to her. The advantages of having CO powers.

"This a new place you found to live? It's not bad at all!"

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

"It's boring," Mai replied, "Just like everything else."

It might've been home, but the very few pleasant memories of this place involved Zuko.

[thewunderkind]

"Well yeah but that's probably because you don't have any weapons attached or something," she replied with a knowledgeable tone, stroking her chin. "So what does make anything more unboring for you?" Was unboring even a word? Not that Lash really cared.

"Explosions? Giant battles? Throwing a bunch of knives as a guy and making him freak out?"

Has Mai met a talking pony yet?

[whining-unicorn.livejournal.com]

Rarity was running a little low on ideas for her latest creations and she heard about the various structures in the city so she was currently taking a leisurely stroll down the pathways, soaking in the sight and remembering the designs and colours.

She stopped by the building with the red and gold decor. The gold was sticking out and it twinkled in her eye. "Ooo." She said to herself and spotted a girl with peculiar looking hair up in the balcony.

"Hello there! Do you live here?" The unicorn called out with a smile.

No. No she has not.

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

For the first time in a very long time, Mai could only stare while she tried to think of something to say. She was staring at... something. Four hooves, a horn. Purple hair. White. It looked like an animal, but it was talking.

This ship just kept getting weirder. She swallowed her astonishment, kept her mask up and leaned out over the railing with a bored expression on her face.

"I used to."

She paused and then arched a brow, "...what are you?"

[whining-unicorn.livejournal.com]

"I'm a unicorn pony. I assume such creatures are from mythical folklore in your world? I come from a world filled with ponies." Rarity replied and her neck was starting to tire by looking up.

"Do you mind if I come in? It's a bit more comfortable if I don't have to strain my neck that much."

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

"...knock yourself out."

Not like she cared what happened to the stupid place anyway. Not here.

[whining-unicorn.livejournal.com]

Rarity raised an eyebrow and entered the house, looking over at the architecture of the place. It wasn't as colourful as The Carousel Boutique but the red and gold did contrast pretty nicely.

She climbed the stairs and met the girl at the balcony. "The decor and colour of this house is very unique. I like the fact that even though a few colours are used, it contrasts pretty nicely!"

[burnedbrighter.livejournal.com]

Things had not gone well for Azula since visitation day.

She had become a shadow in the halls of the ship, few could recall seeing her, some even thought she might have been returned to the pods (and some would have been relieved by that).

She felt herself slipping back down the hill despite her best efforts to the contrary.

All because of that...that woman!

I love you Azula and I always have.

"No, nononono!" She muttered continuing to drift through the city looking once more disheveled and decidedly unkempt.

And then she saw something that gave her pause in the malestorm of self destructive thoughts in her head.

Mai's home.

Eyes wide she slowly retraced her steps up the front walk remembering time after time when she had been delivered here to spend time with Mai and Ty Lee. It always gave her a feeling of satisfaction to see that her friends were not AS rich and powerful as she was...or had been.

And then just as sudden as they had silenced the voices started up once more and Azula slipped to her knees like in a prayer gritting her teeth tightly desperately drawing up the image of the dancing dragons.

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

Mai had a fairly good view of the street from her balcony. So it wasn't that difficult to spot Azula. She hadn't seen her in weeks and she'd quietly hoped that she was gone by now, but there she was. And then Azula collapsed and Mai was very much reminded of just how far Azula had slipped done the road to insanity. Some small part of her felt pity, maybe even sympathy. Of course, that was overridden by an urge to not become a walking torch.

She cautiously leaned over the railing, hands feeling for the knives in her sleeves.

"What are you doing here?"

If Azula wanted a fight, she'd give her one.

[burnedbrighter.livejournal.com]

"I don't know!" She hissed her voice echoing in the courtyard. She had thought the voice was in her head so she didn't look up yet. "I don't know anymore." She shook gently under her robes and felt her hair slip over her face like a curtain of silk.

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

Mai blinked. So, Azula didn't seem to realize she was here. She looked terrible - well, she'd looked terrible since she came aboard. The proud young woman she'd used to be seemed to have vanished entirely.

"Why?"

Call Mai curious.

[burnedbrighter.livejournal.com]

What a simple question, a simple silly question.

"Why do you care? Why have you even let me live this long? Azula kept her eyes focused on the grund not wanting to acknowledge the visions by looking at them.

"Don't listen to her!" She barked out in command, "She lies! If you're going to kill me do it!"