The Beach / January 26/ Tuesday, afternoon

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

She and Dinah may have temporarily ended their training this didn't mean she would stop hers. But this time her training was less about her fighting skills but more of her control over her own lightning. Azula closed her eyes and returned to the basics.

Lightning required a peaceful mind. It required neither anger or rage.

She used to be a master of lightning and now she no longer had the calm that required the complete mastery over the element. It was something she must rectify.

Azula sat on one of the boulders, it was windy here and that was what she needed. Azula placed a candle in front of her and with a flick of her finger, lit the candle wick. It burned blue but it guttered in the wind, Azula placed all her will into the flame, willing it to stay still.

The goal was to keep the flame alive against the wind. It was not easy, the winds were against her. She narrowed her eyes and she kept her place. She will not lose to nature.

(For one but Beach is open!)

Comments

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

Jak had just been out for a run today. Kick up some fuss, pretend like nostalgia wasn't getting to him, that kind of thing.

All of those plans vanished with the wind when he saw the other figure hanging out on the beach.

There was a quiet click as he pulled his Morph Gun free from its usual holster. "Azula."

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

Her eyes remained steady on the flame before her, she didn't seem the least bit perturbed there was a weapon trained at her. "I think the proper greeting would be, 'Hello'."

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"Want to tell me exactly what you did to Dinah?"

The word 'hello' was for people who weren't Jak.

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

"Didn't she tell you?" She returned. "I'm sure she can provide all the colorful details. I'm not a very good storyteller." There was a particularly strong gust of wind, the blue flame flickered but didn't die. She made sure the flame continued to exist before, finally, turning her golden eyes to her visitor. She looked raised an eyebrow, studying him. Azula remembered him vaguely but thanks to Triela she realized people changed quickly around here "My, you've grown. Growth spurt?"

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"Something like that." There was no bullet in the chamber. Jak had just enough survival instincts to want to avoid getting kicked off the island.

But the laser pointer, you had to admit, was a nice prop.

"She told me. I'm just a little interested in your side of the story."

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

It was. It made Azula appreciate Jak's flair for the dramatic. It would have more effect if Azula wasn't aware of the restrictions the school had.

"I'm flattered you're interested in my side of the story, I'm afraid my narrative's a little dry. I would offer tea but," she swept her eyes around the general area, hands loos on her knees. "I wasn't expecting company."

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

There was another ka-click - but this time, it was the gun being lowered, and put away. "Fine," Jak said, pacing towards her, "Let's try and do this the civilized way."

It wasn't his fault his voice dripped sarcasm.

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

"That wasn't so hard was it?" She returned, voice practically dripping honey. She waved her hand across the candle and the flame died.

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"You need to stay away from Dinah."

Not so much sarcasm. More of a growl.

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

"Oh," Azula tipped her head to the side. "And why should I?"

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

Jak shrugged one shoulder, faux-casual. "I guess I'd have to make you if you didn't." How was that for civilized?

...Listen, fancy words were not really Jak's thing.

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

Azula found this laughable. She didn't laugh though, it wouldn't be polite. If nothing else, Azula was a polite sociopath. She did, however, smirk, "Yes, I'm sure you'll try."

She studied her nails, they used to be long but Zuko had them blunted, possibly remembering how she scratched him during one of their fights. "So, where do you fall in Dinah's food chain?"

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"I'm not on anybody's food chain." Jak would punch out teeth (or at least storm out) if anyone pushed on that point. "I'm just an interested party."

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

She seemed to have pushed a button. Interesting.

"Then you're an interested party poking your nose in a business completely unrelated to you. I think," she said, pretending to ponder a point, "there's a term for people like you."

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"And this is where I ask what it is?"

Jak's arms crossed. One of his hands went up in fake questioning.

"Forget it. The business's related."

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

"Enlighten me, how, exactly, is this a business of yours?" She twirled her right hand around in a vague gesture. "By your own admittance you're not part of Dinah's food-- apologies, circle of friends. What does it matter to you?"

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"She used to be a friend." Which... didn't cover the load, so much, but it was the closest to definition Jak could get on something so nebulous he'd rather avoid it than pin it down.

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

There was something he wasn't saying.

"A former friend," she said. "Which makes this whole business, as I've mentioned, not your concern. Only friends cared about the well being of another person."

"Still," Azula tipped her head to the side, "I did say I'll tell you my side, didn't I? Still interested?"

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

No commitment involved in Jak saying, "That's your way of looking at it. I'm not the same."

He padded a little closer. "But I'm all ears."

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

It wasn't, that was Ty Lee's. Azula watched him move closer, noting the many changes. Unlike Triela his changes were not just cosmetic. It was interesting.

"Dinah and I were training," she began. "I decided to show her a move, I aimed for a boulder with some distance from Dinah but I misjudged my strength, the loose rock flew everywhere and Dinah was hurt. It was simple miscalculation."

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"A simple miscalculation? Is that what they're calling it now?" Jak leaned in. "Because that sounds a lot like almost killing someone to me."

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

"No, killing someone would require me, actually killing. If I wanted someone dead make no mistake, there would be no miscalculation about it."

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"But 'hurt' is fine?"

There was a singular crackle of purple lightning, a tiny thing coming off his shoulder, and then he was pulling back.

"You know, I'm not part of your food chain either."

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

Oh, hello.

Just like that, Jak was upgraded from annoyance to interest.

"Pain is part of training," she replied. Azula turned her head to the side, her golden eyes reflecting the light, "I never said you were."

But, oh, now he was.

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"So going by your definition, I can say I don't give a shit about what happens to you," he said, crossing his arms, "You might want to watch your steps."

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

Please, she's been threatened since she was five.

"Are you always this dramatic?" Azula tapped her fingers on her knee.

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"Nah," Jak said, turning around. He was about to make his exit. "I just try to be honest."

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

"People do say honesty is the best policy. I do remember you being such a nice and quiet boy." Azula stood up in one smooth motion. "Look at you now, being all chatty and grown."

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"Times change."

He started to walk. One pace at a time.

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

Azula let him go. There were other opportunities to speak with him.

"Thank you for stopping by. We should do this again." Azula will make sure of it.

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

Jak threw up a hand as he walked off the beach. "I'm not counting on it."