OPEN SEASON 2.

[crawly]

1. pick a character.

☛ optional.
☛ character list here.
☛ full list.
☛ specify in the subject line if you want one character in particular.

2. provide a prompt.

☛ image, words, music, whatever you want.
☛ i like to think at least one of my three tumblrs has something interesting. (be warned that all three blogs contain nsfw material, including porn.)

3. gotta go fast.

☛ not actually. this is a permanently open post! tag at your own speed.

previous post here.

Comments

[brandedloyalty]

[ Reeling back, Zuko fixes her with an affronted look. ]

I'll be ready. You won't get the better of me.

[seaclipsed]

[ she has to stop herself from laughing. ]

That's what they all say.

[brandedloyalty]

Who else have you been scaring with your traps? Was this your plan all along?

[ Zuko can keep himself from laughing, maybe more successfully than Katara... at least for now. ]

[seaclipsed]

I can't give you that information. You could use it against me.

[ her tone is one of fake offense. ]

[brandedloyalty]

And use it to set a trap of my own?

[ Zuko shakes his head slowly, crossing his arms. Katara can set all kinds of traps for him, but he'll hold strong! ]

I would never sink to such depths.

[seaclipsed]

You say that, but I can practically see those wheels turning in your head.

[ she pokes the side of said head as she talks, but it's pretty gentle. ]

Try me.

[brandedloyalty]

I can't try you now!

[ Zuko, rather than move his head away, shoves his head back into Katara's finger. ]

If I try it'll be when you least expect it.

[seaclipsed]

[ that move makes her raise an eyebrow, and then she's finally unable to stifle her laughter any longer. ]

You know this means we're going to be in competition for surprising each other?

[brandedloyalty]

Are we?

[ Zuko keeps a straight face, brow furrowed, for all of five seconds before he smiles too and falls back in his seat. ]

Then may the best... uh, trickster win.

I LOST THIS NOTIF rip

[seaclipsed]

Which will be me.

[ her gaze falls towards his books. ]

I'm not being too distracting, am I?

it's ok!

[brandedloyalty]

Ah. [ Zuko looks down at his things when she does, feeling an odd rush of return to normalcy. Because joking around with Katara isn't normal. ]

It's okay. Talking to you is more fun than doing homework.

[seaclipsed]

[ she raises an eyebrow. ]

I'd hope so. I'd be offended if you said otherwise.

[brandedloyalty]

[ Zuko snorts softly. ] Yes, you rank above homework in my book.

I should probably do some, though. Because I'm not ranking so high in some professors' books.

[seaclipsed]

Zuko... why.

[ she actually tries to peek at his papers while saying that. she has no idea what he's even doing. ]

[brandedloyalty]

What? Like, why am I doing badly?

[ It's embarrassing to talk about. But it's not like Zuko is used to doing well, especially in comparison to others. (Cough, Azula.) He prefaces his response with a small shrug. ]

I'm not good at biology.

[seaclipsed]

I can try to help. [ there's a pause, before she quickly adds on, ] Not like I'm an... expert on biology or anything.

[ she did decently, but she wouldn't say she's the most qualified to tutor someone. but this someone is zuko, so. ]

[brandedloyalty]

I mean, as long as you're better than I am. Which you might be.

[ Zuko grins, before finally setting his papers out and getting started. He has questions, most of them sensible. ]

[seaclipsed]

[ it's fine, she'll make fun of all the non-sensible ones.

and, eventually, they finish all of that because we are not writing out an entire actual study session because why. ]

... should we head out?

[brandedloyalty]

Oh—yeah, probably. [ But he got work done so Zuko's relatively cheery as they get up and he starts putting his things away. ]

I should be getting home... I don't think it's raining anymore.

[seaclipsed]

I hope not. [ thankfully, it is not. ] I think their practice is almost over so we can't get away with hanging out here for much longer anyway.

[ unless they want to get locked in. ]

Thank you for coming with me.

[brandedloyalty]

[ Since the people actually practicing on stage are starting to filter out, Zuko agrees. He finishes packing his things up and swings his backpack over his shoulders. ]

You're welcome. Uh, thanks for saving me from the rain. And bringing me here, it was... nice.

[ That's a normal thing to say, probably. Zuko makes his way home without incident afterwards, finishing his homework and feeling more confident in it in the days afterwards. It's the weekend when he figures he can socialize safely again. ]

Are you going to the party at Toph's place tonight?

[seaclipsed]

I'm thinking about it
I'm not doing anything else later, so might as well

[ she squints at her phone. does this mean he is poking his head out of the cave. ]

Are you coming?

[brandedloyalty]

Maybe... I did my homework.
Do you want to walk over with me?

[seaclipsed]

Sure!
I'd love to
Meet me at 8?

[brandedloyalty]

Works for me
:-)

[ At 8, Zuko's waiting for Katara on the corner of the street halfway between their apartments and Toph's house. The rest of the walk won't take long; Zuko's wearing sneakers and casual clothing anyway. ]

Hey! [ Zuko here. He waves when he sees her. ]