drear | OPEN SEASON 2.

Entry tags:

type: open post

OPEN SEASON 2.

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.

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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. ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

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. ]

I had homework!

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

What about you, have you been out at all?

[ 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.

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.

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

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

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

[ That's just sad, Zuko. ]

[ 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. ]

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. ]

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

I wonder if my brother is here...

Sokka? I have no idea. You didn't ask him if he was going to show up?

[ As they enter, the music becomes more noticeable, playing from a speaker loud enough to offer a backdrop to the conversations and interactions.

And the alcohol drinking, because there's definitely a wide array to choose from in the kitchen. ]

No... because then it was going to turn into a thing.

[ a weird sibling thing, where it would have turned into a dumb argument over nothing and then they would have gotten over it by the next day. but it still seemed like too much work. ]

A thing?

[ Look, Zuko's no stranger to weird sibling things. But Katara and Sokka's brand of weird sibling things are another... well, thing. ]

What if you run into him here?

I'll say hi. He'll probably wave excitedly and tell me to watch him lose at beer pong.

[ okay, it'll probably be watch him play in general, but katara knows he'll lose. ]

It'll be fine.

Oh. That sounds... fun. [ A pause. ] Fun?

[ Zuko allows, ] Well, if you think beer pong is a good time.

[ honestly she doesn't even think sokka is in it for the drinking, he just wants to impress his girlfriend by winning.

it's a little cute, in the "he's an idiot" way. not that katara would say? that? out loud? ]

Have you ever played?

Once or twice. I'm okay at it.

[ The hand-eye coordination part is fine. Having tolerance to alcohol is less... doable. ]

Why, do you want to play? Show Sokka who's boss?

[ honestly that would probably end terribly, but it also has the potential of being amusing. ]

Why don't we see where the night takes us?

[ she should. probably not assume zuko is going to stick with her all night just because they came here together. ]

Oh, okay. [ The thought of playing beer pong with Katara shouldn't be as fun as it is, but he doesn't push it. He can... just hang out with her! ]

You... want a drink?

[ okay, the awkward phrasing makes her laugh, and katara is just going to grab him by the arm and start walking. ]

Let's go.

[ to the drinks, she means. ]

[ He tried, and the laugh is enough to get Zuko to smile back before they go to the drinks table. From the choices he finds a punch that doesn't smell too terrible. ]

You want some of this?

[ a part of her does not trust the punch. it's less that she thinks something sketchy is in it and more that she would not be surprised if one of toph's friends decided to do a ~fun joke~ and put hot sauce in it

(it happened once, but katara never forgets) ]

Sure. That way we'll die together if it ends up terrible.

Shouldn't one of us try to stay alive? To carry the other one to the hospital.

[ Zuko... hasn't forgotten, but he's still pouring himself some mysterious pink drink into a cup without much worry. ]

I volunteer.

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seaclipsed - 2018-10-13 19:38 (UTC) - Expand

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brandedloyalty - 2018-10-15 03:16 (UTC) - Expand

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