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Why hello there, are you Zuko's familiar?

I admit to being surprised at the size of it! I wasn't sure what to expect but that seems like quite the powerful instrument!

Ha— yeah, that's my dragon, Zunyan... I can't tell what he thinks of it.

[ Azula's dragon Zuko (II) didn't seem to like it, considering it bit Zuko the first blow he blew on the tsungi horn. Practice will have to be at Uncle's place, it seems... However, Zuko'd never considered to call the tsungi horn "powerful" and her wording strikes him, drawing blood up to pool in his cheeks — which thankfully she can't see as he switches from video to audio to avoid showing himself. ]

Y-Yeah, tsungi horn requires a lot of lung power...! But I'm a firebender so I, uh, have good lungs!

I never had the opportunity to meet a dragon back home. But I must say, he is darling, and if he is a dragon AND your familiar, I am sure he is smart enough to express his opinion if you ask. Maybe you can meet my familiar, Vivek.

Oh? I did not know firebending meant being fire-breathing.

Zun can’t talk. But— he still makes himself heard... What’s your familiar like? Does the name Vivek mean something? Zunyan means dignity.

[ Though at times Zuko wonders if he misnamed his dragon... ]

Oh, and uh— yeah, firebenders can breathe fire. But one’s fire is sourced from the lungs. The oxygen fuels the flames inside. I mean— there’s not literal flames inside, it’s chi, just like everyone has, but it’s chi concentrated in such a way that that energy can be channeled from the stomach to the lungs, then through the body, directed down and out the limbs, and manifest physically as fire. Because of the force it takes to conjure it and control it, people who can’t firebend often think its power is sourced in the muscles — but really, the breath is key.

Vivek speaks only to me, and he named himself. It means wise, which is not inappropriate given that he is an owl. Zunyan, Zun for short, that's very cute.

Vivek does not allow his name to be shortened.

What a fascinating ability. And can you still do such a thing here?

Ah, he's an owl? Just an owl? [ Not a cat-owl? ] Is he, um— nice?

And no... I can't firebend here. Not like at home. I'm learning fire magic still, but— it's not the same. And I'm nowhere near as good as I was at home. But I trained pretty much every day, all day long, for over three years. And that was when I had a really strong motivation to fuel my fire — here... I'm worried I won't get back to the level I know I'm capable of. So I've decided to go to school to learn. I'm starting in a few days.

Well, to be precise he is a Eurasian Eagle Owl, which is one of the largest types of owls there is. Why do you ask? And he is nice to me. He is not nearly so fond of anyone else besides myself and children, though he'll insist he doesn't like them.

School? I've never been to school do you think they would allow me to attend?

An eagle owl! I've heard of eagle hawks and raven eagles, but never an eagle owl. Can he send messages? I mean— well... I guess he wouldn't need to, with these things, nevermind... Plus he's magic... Probably above that anyway.

[ Dumb questions. It's the first time he's hearing an animal that's named like animals in his world, though, even though his world doesn't have eagle owls. It's a little exciting and he doesn't know why, the familiar and unfamiliar. ]

I've never been to school, either, though. Neither has my friend Aang — he's my best friend from home, he arrived not long ago. We're going to go to school together. You'd definitely be allowed to attend. They even pay you!

If you turn your video back on, I can show him to you. And he can send messages, yes, though it is as you said, we can use these devices. He is a proud sort, but I have a soft touch with him. [Vivek did pick her, after all.] He is unique in that he can change whether his form has weight or not and whether he is physical or a spirit of sorts.

I am sixteen, that is not too old, is it? [Look that's a full-grown adult back home in her world.]

[ He's not sure why being asked to turn his video back on makes him blush but it does, just faintly. Fair's fair, though... He obliges. ]

Show me.

[ And in turn, with his free hand, he holds Zunyan up closer to the camera. The little dragon has a more fearsome face than it seems at first, despite his small size. It flicks its whiskers and squirms its long snakelike body in Zuko's hand, little claws wrapping around his fingers as it tries to wiggle its way loose again. ]

Zunyan is small now, but he can turn big. He's not as big as dragons in my world, but big enough to ride on. Vivek sounds impressive.

I didn't know you were sixteen... I'm sixteen, too. We're not too old for school, though.

[Aurora inclines her head to the dragon and then lets out a series of notes. A giant owl with a wing span bigger than Zuko is tall at 6 feet flies over and lands on Aurora's shoulder, his gaze judging both Zuko and Zun.]

Zuko, meet Vivek.

You did not know, because you did not ask. [She teases gently.]

Wow! Amazing! He's beautiful! His wings— his eyes... His face looks nothing like a cat's face!

[ w h a t ]

He is very handsome, yes. [Aurora reached up to stroke his chest, the owl gently nibbled her fingers.] And no, I can't really say he has a cat's face. Has something of a dragon's glare, though, or my Aunt Merryweather's glare. [She giggles.]

Hah. [ He smirks at that. ] In my world, owls look a bit like cats — people keep them as pets, too... So we call them cat owls. But he looks more like a hawk — I guess that's where the eagle part comes in. What a majestic look...

Well, seeing as he'll be coming with us on our picnic, you'll get a chance to see him properly in person, I promise he will not bite you but I can't recommend you try and touch him unless he says you may.

Though complimenting him is helping to endear you, to be sure.

Oh, I wouldn't try! But— I'll look forward to seeing him in person... Should I bring Zun? He might crawl on you, just as a warning... But he likes compliments, too – and food... Mostly food...

[ He throws the dragon a withering look. It just looks back, blankly. What's wrong with liking food?! Aurora will find out. ]

I don't mind if he tries to crawl on me. I hope he and you, for that matter, won't mind the food I made.

I hope you'll forgive my dishes, I really wasn't sure how spicy to make something, Hikaru just said you liked spicy food and I have never really cooked with the peppers of this world before until well, now.

Oh, um— Y-Yeah. Thank you. I'm sure it'll be fine.

[ Oh, he's so nervous to eat her cooking. He knows he's a picky eater and he has no idea what to expect and he's worried he'll offend her if he doesn't like it. But he's also never been the child to eat things even if he doesn't like it. It'll sit there and go untouched after a few bites if he's not into it. But no one's ever made him a home-cooked meal on a picnic, this is a whole different ball park. Better deflect his nerves by attempting to joke. ]

Whatever you make will be better than anything I could make, that's a fact. I can't cook at all.

[ Less of a joke, more of a... factual statement. Which is not entirely a flattering one, either. Shit. ]

Do you wish to learn?

...Aurora, if you're offering to teach me, I think you should reconsider.

[ Oh, man... He's joking but he's. also absolutely not joking at all. ]

Oh?

Very well, I certainly cannot insist you learn something, especially if you are reluctant to face a challenge.

[Sometimes, Aurora is Fauna's child, sweet and demure and gentle. Other times, she is Flora's child with cunning plans and true leadership.

Right now, she's Merryweather's child and baiting an easy mark.]

Edited 2021-06-09 05:58 (UTC)

[ Oh. It's like that? Zuko's an easy read; that gets under his skin just the way she wants it to. ]

No, it's not that — I'm not afraid of any challenge! It's just— I'd rather not set your house on fire. I'm sure you'd agree.

[It is like that.]

Ah! Then, your complicated problem has quite an easy solution, we cook outside! With that small matter settled, we both can agree, you shall learn to cook.

Edited 2021-06-09 06:02 (UTC)

Like what? Over a campfire? Are you sure?

[ Zuko's certain he trusts her, just... not himself... ]

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