sirenspull | [VIDEO; an hour after dark]

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[VIDEO; an hour after dark]

[ A messy line of text streams across a rampant new post on the network, apparently something of an accidental keysmash that reads, IM~H W#RHR AH [KTRARRR[#'APAA??/ Moments later, the Video kicks in and shows someone upside-down in reds and golds, the bottom of a disapproving grimace visible over the edge of the screen. He doesn't look pleased, probably wouldn't even without half his face melted into a permanent squint, but there's something else wrong.

His shirt is burned through and one hand is clutching a nasty mess in the centre of his chest, trembling badly as blue sparks shiver through him at odd moments. ]

— ey! Can anyone hear me? Who are these guys? [ Standing some way from the Greeter unfortunate enough to find himself serving a shift with one very pissed off prince, he hoarsely tries to be heard. ] Don't they understand? I have to finish the — ungh! The Agni Kai, I can't go and hide in a house somewhere! I —

[ Coughing in pain, he turns over the NV to inspect it, fortunately righting the screen by accident as he pauses to catch his breath. ]

K-Katara, are you okay? Did she get you — huh? Who's there ... ?

[ It's dark outside, that much is apparent from the off. Throughout his heated rant, Zuko's wandering has taken him outside the baseball diamond and straight into the path of something that welcomes him the good old-fashioned Darkness way; the NV clatters with a tinkling of brass as he throws himself into a ferocious attack, flames flaring to scare off the moving shadows across the street.

Scooping up his communication device, huffing and pounding footsteps can be heard for a few seconds before his back hits a wall and he hisses urgently, golden eyes wide with alarm and pain. Slumping down to crumple over his knees, he gasps and fights for calming breaths, tiny electrical shocks zipping over his skin and the dao swords strapped over a shoulder. ]

Can't — Can't keep moving. [ Teeth grit against the sting of being forced into combat so soon after sustaining a blast of redirected lightning back home. To the normal eye, though, it looks like something tried to chew through his gut. ] That's it. I've had enough of these games, I want answers. Now!

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Yes, what do you see around you?

[He is moving towards the baseball diamond, but who knew where Zuko had gotten to]

Katara defeated her after you fell. It was a very noble thing you did.

She did? [ Visibly, a weight is gone from his shoulders. ] She's safe, then.

[ He looks around, making an educated guess about the NV and showing his surroundings to it; a street down from the baseball diamond. ]

Why are the shadows moving?

Yes, quite safe.

[Iroh is moving along, but it still will be another couple of minutes before he reaches you]

An enemy that is out to kill you, remember your training Zuko.

[His nephew was a survivor at heart, he'd know what to do]

[ A petulant part of him wants to snap that he hasn't ever been struck by lightning before, how am I supposed to remember anything when everything hurts, but. But, he forces himself up against the wall and draws one of his blades, crouched over with his attention on the mouth of the street ahead. ]

Does fire work against spirits?

[ Glancing around, he's tempted to create a tunnel of flame to stand in as a safeguard. ]

Yes, on most of the lesser ones at the very least.

[He was glad he had been keeping up with his exercises here, otherwise this would have been a difficult run, as it stands, he is feeling perfectly alright. He had to get to him soon he knew, before they were swarmed and out of options]

Good.

[ That's all he needs to hear, flushing the walls with flames that stick to the rot and flare off the end of every swipe of his sword. Surrounding himself with four walls of it, he feels marginally safer to keep the heartbeat of his bending close to hand.

It makes him an immediate target for any interested monsters, but a few fierce blasts off arcing steel keep them at bay. ]

Edited 2012-07-09 23:18 (UTC)

[It was a decent display, especially considering his condition. He had grown leaps and bounds because of his journey and was much stronger for it.]

I'm almost there, Zuko. Hold on just a bit longer. I can see the flames.

[He shut off his NV. He would need his full concentration, the Dragon of the West was about to enter the fray]

Alright.

[ It's easier said than done, whisking some of the flames aside so he can take a few more steps back from the faceless thing leering at him on the street proper. He feels the loss of communication keenly when the line is severed, stuffing the device into his sash for safe-keeping — and then it's a waiting game, heating his fires as much as he can to deter anything from leaping through. ]

[Iroh shot into the fray of gathering monsters with a blast of lightning, his usual much more conservative tactics changed into a devastating display of might, going for lethal blows compared to his usual disarming ones. It was said Iroh was never one to seek out a fight, but few if any accused him of being afraid to. He had to save his nephew, and whether or not this creatures might seek him as a target on another night, he cared not, Zuko would not die this night.]

[ Eyes widening with relief and mild fright, he dispels his flames so he doesn't forget how to keep them leashed and accidentally cook himself. Iroh is a magnificent firebender, every bit as deserving of his title of general as a man should be, and he knows he won't be caught in any stray blasts — but he winces a little when the lightning flares, all the same.

Exhausted, he leans back on the wall and wishes he had a greater level of coherency to appreciate the display. For the most part, he's just desperately reassured by his uncle's presence. His own flames aren't up to par; that much is evident when he punches a fireball at something small and deformed when it attempts to sneak up on Iroh, thin and wispy as a result of his affected breathing. ]

Uncle!

[With a quick kick of flame, he dispatches the creature mercilessly, and doesn't bother to lessen the fire damage but rather increases it, leaving a burn mark where the creature was. He takes a breath and blows fire in a circle, careful to exclude Zuko, and then falls back into a steady motion of dodging the attacks and retiliating of his own, until they are temporarily clear. He takes a breath and lowers his hand when there are nothing but dried out husks around them]

Zuko! Come, we must get inside to the apartments, we will be safe there for a time.

[It wouldn't be too long until more came along, they seemed to instinctively go wherever there was fighting and death]

[ Holding still as Iroh destroys the creatures, his clothes ripple in the warm updraft. At the first opportunity when beckoned, he heads over, a hand grasping for the support of a sleeve while adrenaline lends him strength. ]

Where are they coming from?

[He helps steady him with a strong grasp, supportive and comforting, helping him walk]

They are the spirits of the dead also called Darkness Monsters by many, corrupted by something known as The Core.

None of this makes sense, Uncle.

[ Hurrying along despite how his injury scalds him with painful shivers, he keeps an eye on what he can of their surroundings, clutching tight to that unwavering support. ]

Sorry, I'm not as fast as I should be.

[Iroh admired Zuko's perserverance, he was suffering from what could have been a deadly injury and was still moving]

No need to apologize, you are injured. We have always managed to make it through.

[ It's 80% sheer spite against his own weakness that keeps him upright and 20% enthusiasm for finally laying down somewhere safe at the end of this. ]

By the skin of our teeth? I'd rather not this time.

[ A wide berth between them and danger is entirely preferable. ]

[He keeps walking, but realizes they did have a lot of close calls.]

...that's true, we are almost there however! We will stay in the Newcomer apartments tonight.

[He would have free rent for this month, so they could bunker down]

Where's everyone else? [ If Iroh's around, then it makes sense the main party re-grouped somehow. ] I need to talk to Aang.

Not in this world. Imagine this one seperate from the material. It is not the Spirit Realm, but one similar. You may have to wait for awhile before that happens.

So we're stuck in some not-spirit spirit-like world where monsters are trying to eat us? Great.

I still think I'm dead.

Essentially. Well, it may take some time to adjust, but we can at least get you some help. I know a very attractive healer.

[And isn't that a bit uncomfortable, Zuzu]

As long as they can heal, I don't care what they look like, Uncle.

[ They could be fifty stone and covered in sea-slugs, but he'd still welcome a pair of soothing hands. ]

A beautiful woman is important to the healing process.

[And once they get in, and get the key from a very gruff man, they begin their trek up a flight or two of stairs, and open to a very crappy looking apartment]

Well, it is yours for a month, but I would prefer if you stayed at my place. Now lets get you to that couch.

[It would do for now, somewhere to lie. He helps him down so he can sit or lie down]

[ He wavers all the way up to the flat, clutching onto Iroh until they get through the door and Zuko heads straight for the sofa, dropping down on his back with a soft cry. Beautiful women, sadly, the furthest thing from his mind. ]

I want to stay with you too.

[ Whenever he can move again, that is, because he's currently tempted to pass right out. ]

[He was in bad shape certainly, and looked tired, but he was glad Zuko would be staying with him]

Lets get some water in you.

[All they had was a couple of water bottles, but it was better then nothing. He pours it into a tea cup he had on his person]

Drink a little.

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Action Congratulations Zuko, this is the first time Iroh has gone all out in the Port.

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