001☀ → v i d e o ;

[scalded]

[ By the looks of the scenery his device is focused on, Zuko's arrived smack-dab in the middle of the forest. There's the sounds of wildlife carrying as it all catches on the feed, rays of sunlight streaming through the towering branches overhead. The camera goes in and out of focus as he moves around off-screen, turning this way and that, and he can be heard muttering to himself rather grouchily. ]

--was so close! [ A sound of frustration, a grunt. Leaves and ground give way beneath his stomping steps. This firebender has no idea where the hell he's going. All he knows is that he's here - wherever here is - and he has to get back. ]

This is ridiculous! Stupid!

[ The device tilts and along with it goes the world around him. Briefly the camera catches on dark shaggy hair and a grisly scar marring the left side of his face, all set against pale skin. ]

Where am I?! And why am I here?!

[ This was the last place he expected to find himself after opening the door of the chamber in which his father had been hiding during the eclipse. But it's not like anyone's listening - that he knows of. ]

Comments

[anatural]

[Guess who else is in the forest? A giant hungry polar bear dog looking for a snack. Naga has left Korra at the Beach House and is hunting in the forest when she smells somebody familiar. Who?

She traces the scent to Zuko's location. Get ready to have a polar bear dog sniffing you all over, trying to figure out why you smell familiar.]

[scalded]

[ Never before has Zuko seen a polar-bear dog for himself. He might have heard about them years ago through his Uncle's ramblings about what types of animals existed in the other parts of the world, he can't really remember right at that moment. All Zuko knows is that there's a huge white animal with floppy ears bounding towards him and now it's pushing its snout against him and sniffing him and-- sweet Agni or Yue or whatever god above is willing to listen-- ]

Cut it out!

[ The firebender almost - almost goes to grab one of his blades off his back to fend whatever this is off, but instead he internally flails and outwardly presses his hands to a wet nose to push while stepping back. ]

[anatural]

[STOP FUSSING, STUPID HUMAN, NAGA IS TRYING TO PLACE YOUR SCENT. It's not one she's smelled before -- she's never met this creature -- but it is related to someone she knows. Who. Who. Who.

One awkward (for Zuko) crotch sniff later, and Naga makes the connection to General Iroh. This young human is related to a friend, which makes him a friend.

Friends need to be brought to Korra.

Better duck quickly, Zuko, because Naga's going to try and pick you up by the back of your shirt and carry you to the Beach House.]

[scalded]

[ That crotch sniff catches him off-guard; his immediate and instinctive reaction was to jerk his hips back to evade whatever this thing was going to do. What if it went to bite him! Those family jewels need protecting.

Too distracted is he that Zuko fails to duck. Naga wins this round, but not without Zuko squirming and grumbling and being vocally displeased about all of it.

What if this thing is trying to take him back to its cave so its babies can feed? He has too much to do before he becomes beast fodder! ]

[ video ]

[vavavroom]

[ perhaps, if asami had paid better attention to the video (though it had been fairly shaky and confusing, so she opted to listen to the voice for the latter portion of the broadcast, then maybe she might have recognized him. his is a pretty famous face, after all, though the voice itself is not one she's familiar with (and for good reason), so for the moment...

he's simply another lost, unfortunate soul like her.

she's been there, buddy. so she's definitely putting on her calmest, and most soothing voice. ]

They call this place "The City," which isn't all that original if you ask me... but I'm afraid no one really knows the answer to your second question.

[ video ]

[scalded]

[ Woah. Whatever is in his hand is speaking to him? That can't be right. What the heck is going on? So here he is bringing it up. The camera focuses a little too close on his face but that's only because he's squinting at it to see who this dark-haired girl is and if he recognizes her.

Nope.

Camera pulls back so his face is more in focus. Zuko line-faces at the device. ]

That's it? It's just called "The City"? The City of what?

[ video ]

[vavavroom]

[ of questions and misery, asami wants to say, but she stops just short of the unnecessary remark when she... finally gets a good look at this guy. ]

Spirits—

[ it's more a rush of breath than anything, her eyes going wide with wonder.

could it really be—? but no, how could it?

but he looks the splitting image of him...! ]

...Fire Lord Zuko?

video;

[monochrome_mirror]

[Shikieiki tries to draw his attention with a vague wave at the video screen.]

You are not in your own world anymore. The City wished to take you away, and so you have been spirited away to another place altogether. You will return to the exact moment from whence you left, or so they say...but while you are here, you might refer to Penny's Welcome Center. It is on your device's map.

video;

[scalded]

[ And Shikieiki's got it, now that he figured out where to look at on the device. ]

This thing comes with a map? Where?

[ Because ignoring everything this person just said, Zuko is going to be determined to get his ass home. ]

Re: video;

[monochrome_mirror]

It should be...ah, here, I'll send you an image, it will help instead of fussing with the device while you are already lost.

Here you go.

[Have a map! It pops up over the video screen. She has gotten remarkably good with this tech thing in the while she has been here...okay, maybe not, but enough to send images and be Internet competent.]

The marked location is a newcomers' center. If you have no connections in the City, they will let you stay until you get acquainted.

And with all that...I haven't even heard your name. My apologies. I am Shikieiki Yamaxanadu.

video;

[riceballfruit]

Sir, are you all right?

[Tohru had to ask. The scar looks old, but just in case.... And she didn't want to ask about his face directly in case it would be insulting to him.]

video;

[scalded]

Do I look all right?

[ His tone might be a touch deadpan. ]

video;

[riceballfruit]

N-no, I'm sorry.

But I can't do much else from here but speak with you. If that's okay? I can probably call someone else for better help if you need it.

video;

[subecho]

Small matter. You are in a forest: bring fish when you return!

video;

[scalded]

[ Fish?? ]

Do I look like a fisherman to you?

video;

[subecho]

It takes a certain face to fish?

[video]

[tangledintower]

...No way. No way.

[It's been so long since Zuko's been here...Rapunzel just stares in shock for a second before breaking out into a grin.]

Zuko!! Oh my gosh, it's really you!!

[video]

[scalded]

[ Zuko stares back at her, a full moment of silence as he tries to register the face, her voice. Anything. He feels like he knows her but he can't figure it out. She obviously knows him if she's saying his name and seems actually pleased to see him, though. ]

... and you're suppose to be...? Uh-?

[video]

[tangledintower]

[She figured he wouldn't remember, and that's okay. He's still back, and she's still happy to see him.]

I'm Rapunzel! We were friends the last time you were in the City, we worked together at your uncle's shop. It's really good to see you again, Zuko!

video;

[exaltate]

Please calm down, first. I know coming here my be a bit of a shock, but anger won't solve much.

[ Though she can sympathize with the urgency. She has her own reasons for wanting to get back home as quickly as possible. ]

...I suppose we can start with the basics. You are not where you consider home, and returning isn't an option to many at the moment. Forgive me for being so sudden, but ...there is no better way of putting it.

video;

[scalded]

Neither will sitting around doing nothing.

[ Did she really just tell him to calm down? Cheek muscle twitch. ]

Do you know why we're here? Why we can't go home?

video;

[exaltate]

Deities brought us here, or at least, that is what many assume they are. I have not met or seen them to be honest. I don't know their intentions, either. It's become more and more unclear the longer I remain here.

[ Okay, still no good news here... she tries to think of something positive. ]

But there is no need to despair. You have many here who will assist you, including myself.

video

[flammiferous]

[Mako only hears the commotion going on in his pocket, and he thinks he recognizes that voice. But where has he heard it...

!! WAIT.]

General!? [Mako whips the device out of his pants and enables his end of the feed straight away. The scar is a blur as the camera whizzes by, but he can tell the hair is a little off. Huh, he really let himself go.

He addresses the video more directly, hoping to catch the carrier's attention.] Is that you, General Iroh?

video

[scalded]

[ Zuko's attention is caught as soon as he hears his uncle's name and title. Why didn't anyone else tell him his uncle is here? ]

My uncle- where is he?

[ Firebender stares back down at... a firebender? Black hair, amber eyes. Fire Nation? Zuko's brow furrows under the shaggy cut of his bangs as he studies him. He doesn't recognize this guy. How is it that there are all these random people from his world that know him or a member of his family but he's never seen them before? ]

video

[flammiferous]

[Mako gets caught up in analyzing the guy on the other side of the screen as well, because he most certainly is not the General Iroh he knows. So, that was a mistake, and maybe he'd feel embarrassed if shame were a bigger part of him. Instead, he's staring on in disbelief, because of that scar, everyone knows that scar, and his eyes and the connection to other Iroh.

Speaking of which. Should probably address that question. His throat is dry when he tries to clarify.]

Dragon of the West-Iroh?