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

[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. ]

[seaclipsed]

[ she waves back, trying not to laugh. ]

Ready to go?

[ she's dressed comfortably too, just a casual dress and flats because honestly the idea of wearing anything particularly fancy to a party that toph is throwing sounds like a horrendous idea. ]

[brandedloyalty]

[ Zuko likes Toph, he's friends with Toph, but he too would never wear something very nice to a party of hers. Not that he owns many nice, acceptable-looking clothes in the first place. ]

Yeah! [ As they start walking, the temperate, warm weather makes it a comfortable evening. ] I don't think I've been to a party in weeks. Especially not a Toph party.

[seaclipsed]

You've sort of been a recluse since the last time I saw you.

[ not that she can blame him; she's been pretty busy too. ]

[brandedloyalty]

I had homework!

[ After the immediate defensiveness comes a sheepish hunch of his shoulders. ]

What about you, have you been out at all?

[seaclipsed]

[ she has to cover her mouth with her hand to stop herself from laughing. ]

I've been doing my club activities, so yes, I have.

[brandedloyalty]

But does that really count? [ Zuko doesn't quail at nearly being laughed at, because yeah, he's been kind of a shut-in lately. That doesn't mean he can't elbow back at her too! ]

Club activities are kind of like homework too.

[seaclipsed]

I don't get punished if I don't go though.

[ unlike not doing homework, which results in failing. ]

[brandedloyalty]

...I guess. [ Zuko exhales heavily, somewhat defeated. ] Hey, at least we're going off campus today. That's something.

[ That's just sad, Zuko. ]

[seaclipsed]

[ it's very sad but it just makes her smile, because it's the kind of sad that rolls over into being funny. ]

We can stay out as late as we can then. [ ... ] Unless you have a curfew?

[ she's teasing. mostly. ]

[brandedloyalty]

I'll have you know I haven't had a curfew since I was 19.

[ Sniffing, Zuko only manages to hold onto his poker face for a few seconds before he breaks into a snicker.

Toph's house is only a walk away, and even when they're close to the door there's no thumping music. Just the occasional voice, people shouting and laughing inside the house. ]

[seaclipsed]

[ it's a good thing zuko laughed, because katara definitely does too. ]

I wonder if my brother is here...