[video]

[deformed]

[ You're the fandom bullfrog, SP, well done if you understand that ref. Positioning the NV on a window-sill, Zuko steps back with a sceptical look as he checks it's running; he looks entirely healed since the last time he crashed into the network, thankfully, albeit as awkward as any sixteen-year-old boy possibly can. Sighing, a hand runs through his hair. ]

Um. Hello. Zuko, here.

So ... I recently arrived and I still haven't been to many places in this city. It's nowhere near as huge as Ba Sing Se — that's the biggest one back where I come from — but still pretty large. We should go explore it. [ Oops, that was a bit out of the blue, wasn't it? Not in his head, until he checks himself. ] Here, not there. Not right now, unless — you want to? I mean, I'm free, but I can wait for you if you don't take too long, I'd like to get to know where everything is.

[ Screwing his eyes shut against irritation (yes, over himself, because who insults the people they're trying to introduce themselves to?), he somewhat starts again. ]

Or I could help you out ... maybe. I don't know how much good burning things would do. [ Lifting a hand, it's clearly on fire with crackling flames and not perturbing him at all as he forgets to waft it away. ] I've suddenly got a lot of time on my hands, if anyone wants to bother doing stuff.

... 'Stuff'? Urgh, I sound so stupid.

[ Life-changing field-trip with Zuko, anyone? ]

Comments

[vinovidivici]

What year was it in the world you came from?

[deformed]

What does that have to do with anything?

[vinovidivici]

[ A shrug. ] Some of the stuff here can be kinda disorienting if you come from a different time. I've been there, I should know. If you'd come from some other time I coulda, y'know, uhh... shown you how microwaves work, that kinda thing. [ Grinning sheepishly, pre-empting that if Zuko's from 2012 he's going to think not knowing how microwaves work is pretty dumb. ]

[deformed]

Microwaves? I can't make waves, even little ones. I'm not a waterbender.

[ Well, gosh, fine. Mr. Helpful gets what he wants. ]

It was 100 ASC.

[vinovidivici]

[ That was... a whole can of weirdness opening up right there. ]

- Okay. Can we back up for a second? [ And for some reason he turns around so he's walking backwards as he lists stuff off on his fingers. Somehow he manages not to walk into anyone on the street. ] Waterbender. ASC? I don't know what either of those things means.

[deformed]

A waterbender bends their element, just like I can bend fire as a firebender.

ASC stands for 'After Sozin's Comet', the initial turning point of the date is how we measure the years in the Fire Nation now.

[vinovidivici]

Oh - like you did earlier in your broadcast. [ nbd ]

[ No idea what Sozin's Comet and the Fire Nation are but okay, he has a date and a place to work with. He still doesn't know when or where they are, though... Well, he can clarify later. He spins on his heel so he's walking forwards again. ] I'm still not following 100% but... One hundred's kinda a low number compared to 2012, right? [ yeah that's totally how dates work ] Okay, let's work out when you're from this way: I'll name stuff and you tell me if you know what it is!

[deformed]

[ Can't even get his head around a date as large as that, da fuq. ]

Sure, go for it.

[vinovidivici]

[ OK, so Zuko doesn't know microwaves are. Claire will just work roughly backwards from that. ]

Television?

[deformed]

[ Blank face is go. ]

[vinovidivici]

... Okay. Oh - but you know what cinema is?

[deformed]

No.

[vinovidivici]

[ just this face for a moment ]

Now I know exactly where we're gonna go. I'm almost at the baseball diamond, I'll wait for you there. [ ain't he considerate giving Zuko the option of not showing up instead of hunting him down at the Tower Apartments or wherever? He's moved on before Zuko can object anyway ] How about airplanes? Trains? Guns? Buster Keaton?

[deformed]

[ Mang, he's lucky Zuko was already planning on going somewhere today. At least this guy's making some kind of sense, or trying to be useful.

Getting up, he pulls his boots on and heads out. ]

The Fire Nation has airships, Ba Sing Se has an earthbender-operated monorail.

[vinovidivici]

[ oh yeah he's the most useful. 2012 orientation lesson 1: the difference between a romcom and a slasherhorror ]

That right? We're getting somewhere... [ He comes to a halt near the wall of the diamond, leaning on it and scratching his head. ] It's funny, I thought guns were invented before airships. But that word doesn't mean anything to you, huh?

[deformed]

What are guns?

[ Judging the other guys position, he heads to the diamond. ]

[vinovidivici]

They're weapons - fire projectiles over a long distance. If you think of knives as a level up from fists, I'd say guns are a level up from knives.

[deformed]

You don't need those when you're a bender.

[ As for non-benders, well ... they're usually swordsmen or something, if they even want to fight. ]

[vinovidivici]

[ He visibly perks up. ] You'll have to show me - if you're down for a match sometime. Not that I could shoot you with a real gun and still have a clear conscience. Maybe a water pistol? Or a paintball gun.

[deformed]

Hand-to-hand combat or swords would be preferable. Anyone can push a button or pull a trigger.

[vinovidivici]

Not just anyone can aim worth a damn, though. But it's your call.

[deformed]

Still easier than actually having to rely on your entire body. A fight isn't meant to be over quickly, it's a test of wills.

[vinovidivici]

Good motto for training. You get lazy relying on fancy weaponry and it'll catch you out one day. But that's not exactly practical when you're facing down twenty fellas who'd each like to turn you into a beehive.