Blood Ties (Zuka)

[Zula]

Zula sighed, holding her sister tight and not letting go for a long time. It felt like it had been lifetimes since her and Zuka had been this way, able to be this open with one another. While Zuka was right that the circumstances were unfortunate, it was better now than never. As horrible as it had all been, at least they had come back together. Zula wasn’t about to let that slip away so easily. Even if the future was uncertain and there was no telling what would happen, it had given Zula quite the wake up call: it was more important that they worked together with the time they did have than spend it constantly at odds with each other.

Finally she pulled back, and raised an eyebrow, “So...you're living with The Ghost.”

If they had escaped together, Zula thought it was safe to assume they had stayed together, and that hadn’t been lost on her earlier. Even if Zuka kept referring to him as her friend, Zula had her suspicions. Now that everything else was out of the way, she figured now would be the best time to ask. “Should I suspect something more between you two?”

[Zuka]

Zuka remained how she was, not wanting to let go or say anything because it had just been so long since her and Zula actually felt like sisters. There wasn't a time in recent memory that she could recall them acting like this, the last that came to mind was before she had run away from home. Zula still had some questions it seemed as she pulled away and began with her living with The Ghost.

Oh boy...Zuka knew where this was going.

The question of if they were together or not shouldn't have surprised her since thinking back Zuka did notice she had mentioned Kenji a bit in her story but still, having to try to explain their relationship to her sister seemed..she didn't know the exact feeling but she felt like she was a teen again. "Yeah" Zuka said with a small chuckle "I'm still not sure how that all came about either." Zuka suspected that there had been something there...a small something from the very beginning. Back in Ba Sing Se the two had spent a lot of time working closely together and there were a few nights where she had had a little too much to drink that she had almost acted on that but it had always been a passing feeling.

Most of the time the two of them together had always been hostile in some way, even when they had reconnected in Republic City they both had their very strong opinions and it usually lead to them butting heads and it sometimes felt like the world around them was going to implode if they stayed in a room to long together. Zuka couldn't speak for Kenji but she had always pushed down those feelings anytime they decided to show themselves, she didn't have time for that and it hadn't been long before they found themselves at odds with each other. She for sure thought she ruined any kind of relationship (friendship or not) with him after the 'incident' but somehow they worked through that and now here they were.

"What about you? Has anyone caught your interest?" Zuka decided to turn the subject back on Zula, as she couldn't recall many times if any that her sister had actually dated. She knew that Feena had been planning on setting up a marriage for her daughters since they had been very young, hoping to marry them off to other influential Firenation familes but thankfully Zuka had left before that happened. Now that Zula was free though Zuka was curious if she had branched out more.

[Zula]

Was it shocking that Zuka had found someone? No, not at all. Zula knew her twin had always had an easier time with people, she’d always been the more talkative one of the two. It didn’t surprise her that she’d found someone, that dating had come more naturally to her. Though, Zula never thought it would be someone known only to the public as some sort of spirit running around the city.

“Well, I hope that you’re happy with him.” It was hard to really say much about it when Zuka didn’t seem willing to give up details. Zula didn’t really want to push for them, and it was obvious that her sister didn’t really want to give more information on The Ghost than she had to. Zula could respect that, knowing how dangerous it was for the two of them, and for now perhaps it was better that she didn’t ask. Maybe in time, she’d learn more. Whenever, if ever, Zuka was ready, she’d be glad to know about him.

At the question Zula shrugged, “No, I can’t say I’ve met anyone. I’ve never been that...outgoing.”

Zula had always assumed she wouldn’t have a choice in the matter, considering their mother had always been set on arranging a marriage for them. She had always complied with it, feeling that she had to make her mother happy and if that made it so, she would agree. Romance, dating...it had always been something she assumed wasn’t for her. It still felt strange to know that she could date, that she could make that choice for herself too. Though she didn’t connect with people easily, and that made everything more difficult.

“I think part of me is still waiting for a letter to come announcing my engagement to someone I barely know,” Zula said, her voice almost sad, but a bit more resentful if anything. She was still waiting for something to pop up, for Feena’s attempt to draw her back. That would be it, she figured. One day she’d get a letter and she’d be expected to return to the Fire Nation and marry. And if Feena ever did succeed in getting her engaged to the Firelord’s son like she dreamed…

The thought nearly caused her to shiver. That would be the end of her, certainly. Zula didn’t know if she’d be able to say no to that one.

[Zuka]

At Zula’s well wishes Zuka smiled and gave a small nod ”I am. Everything is still new but things are going well” well, well enough since her decision to come here might have set that back a little. ”You two will meet…eventually.” Zuka wasn’t sure how that was going to work but it would have to work out someway ”when you do, just remember that he’s…grows on you” Zuka warned. Kenji did have that way about him.

Zula’s excuse for not meeting anyone made Zuka scoff slightly ”you ran with Triads, you fought in the underground rings and survived…you go out at night in a mask and terrorize crooked officials. I’d say you’re a lot more outgoing than you want to believe.” True, before all of this Zula might have been more reserved but now? She was someone completely different and she needed to embrace that different person. ”I think you’re just using that as a excuse. You can do anything you want now Zula you shouldn’t let anything hold you back.”

[Zula]

It was very good to hear that, and to see Zuka smile made her feel better about it. The fact that it was genuine and not forced was even better. If Zuka was to be with someone, Zula wanted it to be someone who could make her happy above anything else. “I would love to meet him, of course, whenever that is possible.”

“When you do, just remember that he’s…grows on you.”

Well, that didn’t sound promising. Zula knew that she didn’t have a record of being particularly happy with Zuka’s past partners. They hadn’t exactly been ones that Zula would consider worth her sister’s time, but that was why they didn’t last, she supposed. As for this time around Zula knew how she could be, she knew she could be a little bit harsh in judgment. But, at least she had a warning this time. “I will do my absolute best to keep an open mind.”

She had a feeling that it would be easier said than done.

As she listened to Zuka write off her reasons, Zula couldn’t say she was wrong. Those things had been different to her, in a strange way they were so much easier. Sure, she had done all of that and she’d changed, but had that part of her changed? In that regard, she still felt the same.

“Ah yes, those are wonderful conversation starters,” Zula said. If anything they just made her sound absolutely insane, which at this point wouldn’t be that shocking. She had to be a little crazy to have done everything she had. The truth was, Zula had never been good at having fun. It had always been Zuka that had to pull it out of her and get her to live a little. Not to mention that out of everything they’d discussed, it was dating that made her feel the most awkward.

“It has just never been my strong point, you know that,” Zula answered, running her fingers through her hair. “I can negotiate with people fine, but my people skills falter from there. I’m not saying I’m against the idea it’s just...difficult.”

She was not about to say that it intimidated her, even though it did. Quite honestly, Zula didn’t know if she’d even be able to tell if someone showed interest in her. She’d never even been interested in anyone herself, and while it was a part of life that she wouldn’t be against discovering, she could already sense how awkward it would be. In this department, she’d probably need a miracle.

[Zuka]

Zula was still making excuses and Zuka was going to have none of it. While yeah, you just didn't star a conversation with "hey, did you know I'm The Cinder?"[/b] That didn't mean that you couldn't carry over that confidence when you went out. It was a shame that she couldn't stay longer or actually go out with her sister and throw her in the deep end of things but that didn't mean she couldn't talk to Neva before she left.

"You know you only get better at something when you practice" Zuka said matter o factly "and I'm not talking about going out and finding your soulmate I'm talking about going to find someone you can have fun with...even if just for the night." Zuka knew that she had been a little more promiscuous than her sister, even in their youth but that didn't mean Zula didn't have to try. Hey, it might make her relax a little more.

[Zula]

Zula knew Zuka had a point; she was never going to learn if she didn’t try. She was good at practicing, practicing had always been what she had dedicated herself to doing. It gave her motivation to keep going and get better at whatever she’d set her mind to trying to accomplish, and for the most part it worked. So yes, maybe she could practice, but it was getting herself out there that was the issue.

At Zuka’s next suggestion, however, Zula could feel a blush rise on her face. Oh no, she couldn’t do that. Zuka was flirty, she was fun, she could get away with that! She could charm a room easily, she'd always had that way about her. But her, her? That was just asking for Zula to mess up immediately. She covered her face and shook her head, “Oh no, no I would make a fool out of myself so quickly. Being fun and adventurous is your thing!”

She removed her hands from her face, but shook her head again. “I am inexperienced with this and I don't think anyone would want to put up with that. It would be more fun for them to laugh at than anything."

Okay, so it was obvious she was intimidated. At least it was just Zuka she was admitting it to.