[ he suspects there's a good chance his advice is only going to make her situation even more confusing, whatever it happens to be. the advice he was always given by uncle had always confused him, but possibly less in the sense-making and more in the internal-struggle kind of way. but he's like a bird who poorly regurgitates what had once assisted him in his time of need. ]
[ As fearful she is of fire, Alice can't turn her back on people in need. After a moment's hesitation- ]
I apologize. I've been approached by a group of people back in Dorchadas, near Caer Scima who needed help with something. Apparently there's a spirit who has been setting fire to their winter crops and has been destroying their land.
[ Thus, her dilemma. ]
Spirits aren't exactly my forte and neither is fire. How does one go about banishing that type of spirit?
There was a spirit in Azure. I ... didn't really banish it. [ he feels slightly ashamed for it, not being able to rid quendi of it completely. ] I — uh, someone scared it away. [ perhaps the sight of the blue spirit, so ugly and blue, had been enough to ward it away and drive it further from the village to where it lingers today. he isn't so sure — it's something he has read, but hasn't been able to properly attain within his fingers. he isn't the avatar. he's just zuko. ]
[ he raises his arm to scratch at the back of his neck, uncertain of whether or not he's being of any use to her now. ] I had a friend who talks to spirits. He always asked them to politely stop. I don't know if it would work for you, but you could always try pelting snow at it.
I don't think that would help with the fires, though. Unless they're small.
[ If they're burning crops, then that's big fires. And these people seem to be very fond of Ariadne. After the Jabberwock, the situation could get dire. ]
And I am not comfortable with the idea of confronting it. I've... I've been burned before, and I don't care to experience that sensation again.
[ given he's been burned before, he understands her own fright of it. he's chosen to come to terms with fire, even if he sometimes panics when it comes too close to him. able to break it, able to summon it, able to control it — it's a gift he can't give alice, given she's not made to wield it. but maybe he can help her, knowing someone will always be there to try and tame it for her. ]
[ he isn't hesitant due to the nature of her problem, he's reluctant to insert himself where he may not be wanted. his voice is kinder and softer, ] Did you want me to help you?
Well, I can't turn my back on them, not after what the Jabberwock has done. Not to mention, a lot of these lands are being hurt too much. The fae folk won't have many safe havens to turn to should things like this continue.
[ After what's happened to the dryads and now this? Well, it's become something she can't really turn from, no matter how afraid she is of fire. ]
I know what you mean. It's hard to leave them when they're in trouble.
[ it's how he had felt with those near quendi, disliking simply locating the culprit behind the murders and being expected to leave them be. he'd wanted to linger, to help them build, and somewhere along the lines, he'd ended up being accepted into the fold. he understands it, perhaps better than most. ]
I don't know if I can do anything about the spirit, but maybe we can scare it away. Just tell me where to be, and we'll get rid of the fires.
Mm. [ Her father had raised her to never turn her back on others in need. She may be Unseelie, but that's a code of honor she abides by. It's oddly perfect, she thinks of her father the whole entire time in this mess. ]
They were not far, north of Caer Scima. So it's understandable that they are desperate.
I tried to tame a fire in La Llorona a few days ago. [ before the station had been decimated beneath the jabberwock's feet. he sighs; fire is one element that's impossible to control, especially without a waterbender like katara around to try and douse out what he has only begun to learn to snuff out with the heel of his foot. ] It's not surprising they've spread, even though I thought maybe we'd have gotten one of them under control.
I didn't know a firebending spirit could exist. Maybe I can try and convince it to light fires that are more useful. [ it's hope, thinking perhaps the spirit might wish to assist rather than ruin. he simply wonders what aang would do. ] It's cold. They'd be cold, too?
[ Actually, Alice needs a moment. She has to get up, and walk around the room, because the image of burning homes and lands are enough to nearly have her in a panic attack. This conversation is difficult and Alice needs air to breathe for a few minutes. ]
I don't know. I can only assume. [ and fire is wild. if there's a fire spirit lighting up la llorona, he can only assume there's a few more areas about to be sparked. perhaps it's a good thing he's settled near quendi. he can easily teleport over and try and put them out if no one else happens to be there. ]
But you'll be okay. [ he feels it's important to say it. he's never been the type to console anyone, but he thinks that's what she might need now. ] I won't leave until it's completely out. And we'll tell the spirit to go elsewhere. I'm sure the Pyrii wouldn't mind it lighting fires at Mount Verla.
[ After what happened to Faolan, there's nothing more terrifying than the pyrii, in her opinion. That feeling of dread returns, Alice is feeling sick in her stomach.
At the very least, she can say she's grateful she contacted him. ]
I've already been. They burned my name into a rock. [ and he sounds perplexed by it, for he is. what will they do with it? will they even remember him? he doesn't think too much on what she's said. he's heard whispers of how the jabberwock was taken down, but he doesn't wish to think on it, given how he feels simultaneously remorseful and relived. ]
[ they're his connection to fire. they had been his only connection to the originators of firebending until druk had been dropped into his lap. ]
If the spirit doesn't go away, I can just ask them for a favour.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ She does better with pretending it never happened. She doesn't remember her warpath to the Station, anyway. ]
I may need your advice on something.
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[ besides, no one asks zuko for advice. ]
What is it?
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I apologize. I've been approached by a group of people back in Dorchadas, near Caer Scima who needed help with something. Apparently there's a spirit who has been setting fire to their winter crops and has been destroying their land.
[ Thus, her dilemma. ]
Spirits aren't exactly my forte and neither is fire. How does one go about banishing that type of spirit?
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[ he raises his arm to scratch at the back of his neck, uncertain of whether or not he's being of any use to her now. ] I had a friend who talks to spirits. He always asked them to politely stop. I don't know if it would work for you, but you could always try pelting snow at it.
I don't think that would help with the fires, though. Unless they're small.
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[ If they're burning crops, then that's big fires. And these people seem to be very fond of Ariadne. After the Jabberwock, the situation could get dire. ]
And I am not comfortable with the idea of confronting it. I've... I've been burned before, and I don't care to experience that sensation again.
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[ he isn't hesitant due to the nature of her problem, he's reluctant to insert himself where he may not be wanted. his voice is kinder and softer, ] Did you want me to help you?
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[ After what's happened to the dryads and now this? Well, it's become something she can't really turn from, no matter how afraid she is of fire. ]
If you could help me, I'll be grateful.
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[ it's how he had felt with those near quendi, disliking simply locating the culprit behind the murders and being expected to leave them be. he'd wanted to linger, to help them build, and somewhere along the lines, he'd ended up being accepted into the fold. he understands it, perhaps better than most. ]
I don't know if I can do anything about the spirit, but maybe we can scare it away. Just tell me where to be, and we'll get rid of the fires.
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They were not far, north of Caer Scima. So it's understandable that they are desperate.
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I didn't know a firebending spirit could exist. Maybe I can try and convince it to light fires that are more useful. [ it's hope, thinking perhaps the spirit might wish to assist rather than ruin. he simply wonders what aang would do. ] It's cold. They'd be cold, too?
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[ Actually, Alice needs a moment. She has to get up, and walk around the room, because the image of burning homes and lands are enough to nearly have her in a panic attack. This conversation is difficult and Alice needs air to breathe for a few minutes. ]
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There are many spirits of different elements, I've come to find, so it's not surprising, it's still...
[ Terrifying to have put up with a fire and light spirit. ]
I don't know.
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But you'll be okay. [ he feels it's important to say it. he's never been the type to console anyone, but he thinks that's what she might need now. ] I won't leave until it's completely out. And we'll tell the spirit to go elsewhere. I'm sure the Pyrii wouldn't mind it lighting fires at Mount Verla.
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[ After what happened to Faolan, there's nothing more terrifying than the pyrii, in her opinion. That feeling of dread returns, Alice is feeling sick in her stomach.
At the very least, she can say she's grateful she contacted him. ]
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[ they're his connection to fire. they had been his only connection to the originators of firebending until druk had been dropped into his lap. ]
If the spirit doesn't go away, I can just ask them for a favour.
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[ Poor Faolan; she couldn't see it in him, but surely the poor man must be a wreck. No one can forget burns. Alice takes a shaky breath. ]
I'd rather avoid them, to be honest.
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[ he sounds uneasy. his voice drifts off. ]
They can be a last resort. I'm sure the spirit will listen if we make it.
[ and if not, he doesn't particularly wish to think of what they will need to do then to make sure it stops lighting fires near these people. ]
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Alice breathes a sigh of relief. ]
If we make it -- well, I certainly hope so, it doesn't sound very benevolent.
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When do you want to put out the fires? I can teleport. There's a good chance I may have been there before — if not, I walk fast.
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[ She will face her fears for the sake of others; she has to do that, at least. ]