Day 8

[faintwaves]

...Everyone?

Do you think it's too late to change partners?

Comments

[faintwaves]

...Hi, Zuko.

[There's Xion holding up the egg.]

Here's Thalassa.

[sonofamelonlord]

You named it?

[faintwaves]

Named her. She's a girl.

...Thalassas are seashells from back home.

[sonofamelonlord]

Oh...

[Awk-ward...]

... It's a nice name.

[faintwaves]

...Yeah. They're nice shells, too. I'll miss collecting them.

[sonofamelonlord]

Do you... Do you want to work a schedule for when we'll take care of the egg?

[faintwaves]

[At this, Xion clutches the egg a little tighter to her chest.]

Yes, but--You have to talk to Thalassa a lot! And...don't leave her alone or put her some place that she'll be boxed in, okay? She needs to have room to breathe, she needs to see everything.

[sonofamelonlord]

[Well... That's surprising. And feels more personal than it probably should.

Still, she's the one with the egg, and it's not like he had any idea what to do with the egg, so he may as well go with what she says.]

Ok. Anything else?

[faintwaves]

Hmm...we come here to watch the sunset from the clock tower. I try not to eat ice cream around her, though, she doesn't like anything cold. You can't even talk about anything cold around her, she shivers sort of when you do.

[And she sounds totally crazy, but still.]

[sonofamelonlord]

... Do you want me to tell you when I come up here with her?

[And he's going along with it, partially because he's used to this kind of crazy with his uncle and his teas.]

[faintwaves]

I like coming up to the clock tower too, so...you'd probably see me anyway. I mean, if you wanted to, you don't have to see me at all.

[sonofamelonlord]

If I'm asking, it's because I don't mind, Xion.

[faintwaves]

...Oh.

[Him actually NOT being annoyed by something? Unreal.

That and she wasn't exactly trained to pick up on implications.]

I'm used to asking for permission to do things. That's all.

[sonofamelonlord]

[Oh...

Oh...

Yeah, that's something he can relate to.]

... I know the feeling.

[faintwaves]

--Really?

[She thought pureblood kids just had it all!]

Then you also know that to do something you wanted to do or felt was right...you'd have to go against your parents. [Maybe he doesn't.] ...I used to have to do that a lot, if I wanted to see the ocean or...go outside in general.

[sonofamelonlord]

[Oh... Oh boy.

Getting personal here. Abort, abort. But touch scar without really noticing. Yes, good, that won't attract attention at all.]

I do.

[faintwaves]

[...Wow, chilly. That mark seems to be a part of it, but as if he would ever talk about it. Better just turn the subject around.]

It's lonely. Being caged up by their expectations and methods all the time.

[sonofamelonlord]

[Lonely? Well, that'd definitely describe him if he hadn't had his mother.

Since she's been gone, though...

Yes, lonely is right.

He's not sure why he's talking to her about this. He really doesn't want to, but... Someone actually understanding is just such a breath of fresh air that he needed.]

And nothing you do is ever enough.

[faintwaves]

...Yeah. They're never satisfied, they just keep treating you like you're not even a human being.

[Like a stupid little doll for them to leave on the shelf to get dusty and/or sunbleached. Alone.]

Or like you can't do anything by yourself, or that you can't do anything at all.

[sonofamelonlord]

And they still say you're lucky you get that much... And you know they're right.

[faintwaves]

You'd be lost without their demands and expectations. You wouldn't know what to do next without them.

[...Huh. Actually expressing how angry and lonely she's felt throughout her life and having someone understand rather than react and say immediately it was wrong and she shouldn't tolerate it is...strangely therapeutic.]

I guess that's where I'm at right now.

[sonofamelonlord]

... I've been there for too long.

[And that's when it fully hits him how much of an idiot he's been. His father had given up on him. Cast him out, disowned him the moment he gave him that scar. He would never be allowed to return home. He'd never have his love, nor had he ever had it. Azula had been right. He would never set foot in that house.

He should have known his real value in their family when his father had told him he was lucky to be alive. Letting him live was the only fatherly act he had ever received from Ozai. The first, and the last.

And now here he was. Nearing his third year of desperate appeals to his father, stubborn rejections of Iroh's advice, encouraging him to rebuild his life with what he had.

He just felt so... Stupid.]

[faintwaves]

[There's a pause until Xion nudges Zuko's arm with the egg, chancing a smile.]

Maybe that's why Dumbledore wants us to work together. You don't feel so lost when you're with someone.

[sonofamelonlord]

[He... Well, he doesn't smile back, but his expression is much more pleasant than anything he ever directed at Xion before. Progress!

He also gently takes the egg.]

Probably uncle's doing, too.

[And now he lets out a small smile. His uncle really has been more of a father than Ozai. He should probably start listening to him more.]

[faintwaves]

He...has a lot to teach us, I think. How to live our lives so we're happy and not just worrying about the happiness of someone else.

[It's completely mindblowing, I say!]

I'm glad I met him. And you. You're wonderful family members.