Girl Talk

[Neva]

She waited excitedly for Zuka to continue, resting her chin on her hands as Zuka told the rest of the story. It was quite the night that Zuka had experienced, definitely with some unexpected twists. Neva couldn't remember the last time she'd enjoyed a story so much, but that was the essence of conversations like these. She felt like she'd been waiting forever to hear this story (and she really had) so she was going to enjoy every second of it.

"Hey, it's not like it was an easy thing to do," Neva said as Zuka explained to her the awkward moments that had occurred. "Besides, him coming for you must have thrown you off. It messed with you for a minute is all."

Neva imagined it was hard enough for Zuka to accept that she had feelings for Kenji. Admitting them to him was a whole different challenge when she struggled to admit it to herself. And by the sound of it, she had to accomplish both in one night. The movers made these things look way easier than they actually were. 

By the end of the story Neva was practically awing out loud. When Zuka finished telling the night's events, Neva smiled brighter than ever, folding her hands together under her chin. "Zuka this is so exciting! You don't know how happy I am for you."

She could have jumped up and down she was so relieved and happy that things had finally come together for the two of them. Neva dropped her hands back to the desk, tipping her head a little at Zuka. She had plenty of questions and Zuka could choose whether or not to answer them but...they would not be going unasked. "Went from there huh? So like...?"

[Zuka]

Watching Neva listen like a wide eyed child made Zuka laugh slightly. She never would have thought her and Kenjis ‘hook up’ story would have been so interesting to someone yet here she was with a very captivated audience.

”More than a minute.” Zuka admitted ”I should have taken it as a sign, you know? Obviously he was thinking the same but when he didn’t do anything I just froze. I’ve never felt that way” Zuka did not like it one bit. She was always used to be brash and spontaneous and she had been none of that that night.

At Neva’s excitement she laughed a little more ”thanks. This has been a long time coming, hasn’t it?” What? Five years? Give or take. Not that Neva had been around for all of those years but it had been long enough.

When Neva pressed for the ‘juicier’ details Zuka snorted a little but gave a sly smile. ”Twice” she said while holding up two fingers. ”At least that night..” the two of them had been busy in the weeks since.

[Neva]

"A very long time," Neva agreed with a nod, though she was smiling. She resisted every urge she had to yell 'finally!' But that was what if felt like, in the best way. If they weren't already drinking, Neva would have broken out the Torch to celebrate. 

It seemed as though Zuka was more willing to share the details now that the big reveal had happened and everything was out in the open. It made the conversation even more fun, and hey, Neva couldn't help but wonder. When Zuka held up her fingers Neva giggled, an impish smile on her face. "Oooh really? Sounds like a night well spent. And now I see why you've been so eager to slip out of my sight."

She winked and gave a small laugh, and then Neva reached over and took the bottle of torch, pouring more into their glasses. They were already drinking and well, Neva could use another. "If that's the case, I'm guessing things have been going well between you two then?"

[Zuka]

Zuka just laughed and shook her head at Neva "you have not made it easy I'll have you know." Sneaking off had gotten harder with Neva becoming so nosy but they had managed and it looked like that bit of fun was over now since it was all out in the open.

While Neva was refilling her glass Zuka picked up hers again and tossed back the rest of the liquid that was left. As she swallowed she held out her now empty glass for Neva so she could fill hers up again. When asked if things were going well between them Zuka snorted a little "Oh no, we still get on each others nerves." That was never going to change, it didn't matter how well things were going between them she and Kenji would always find ways to irritate each other. "But it's different now that things are...different."

[Neva]

"So I'm not in for a total shock then," Neva answered, sipping her drink. Lately, probably because of all the secrecy, it had been a rare event for her to see the two of them together. On the occasion that she did, neither had acted all that different. It could be an act, but truthfully Neva couldn't picture Zuka and Kenji completely changing how they interacted just because they'd admitted their feelings to each other. Their personalities certainly weren't going to entirely shift, that was for sure. 

She lightly swirled the glass, crossing one leg over the other. "Different in a good way? Or just a way that's new to you?"

[Zuka]

"If things change that much, then I would worry" a few things came to mind that would make them change how they acted and none of them were things Zuka wanted to think about now or, ever really. Zuka sat there a moment as her mind naturally jumped to those things and she shook her head in distaste and drank from her freshly filled glass. Nope, not going there.

When Neva asked for more clarification on how things were different Zuka slightly shrugged her shoulders. "Both? I guess." She took another sip "This may come as a shock but I've never had much luck with relationships" Zuka said sarcastically. 'Every one I've had has just been for the fun of it, none of them have been serious. I mean, my last 'relationship' was Han for spirits sake." On her list of regrets he was near the top "I want this to be different." Things with Kenji had always been difficult and Zuka knew that wasn't going to change now but she also believed that was what made this all work. The fact that both of them were still around had to say something. "It is different which is good but...its also kind of scary" It wasn't like Kenji and Zuka were serious or anything but this was the first time that Zuka actually wanted a relationship to get to that point when it happened and it scared her.

[Neva]

Neva listened to Zuka explain how she was feeling, tracing the rim of her glass with her finger thoughtfully. While pulling from personal experience was always useful with this kind of thing, Neva couldn’t really do that. She’d never embarked down the path of a serious relationship herself. On the upside, she knew both people in this situation. Even though she didn’t really know the feeling, she could at least understand what Zuka was saying.

She took a sip from her drink, giving herself another moment to think. “I don’t know what Kenji is feeling but based on what you’ve told me, it sounds like he’s in a very similar position as you are. I don’t think either of you would have done anything if you really didn’t want something more out of this.”

Which she could guess was the truth on both sides, but Neva wouldn’t say that for sure. Seeing from the outside wasn’t the same as actually being in their positions. As much as she could tell that there was always something brewing between them, that was all she could say for certain. She had faith in her opinion, though.

“Maybe it’s a good thing that it’s scary,” Neva suggested. “If you were comfortable then things wouldn’t be any different this time. It’s only a little intimidating because you care.”

Neva grinned, “Besides, Kenji isn’t that scary.”

[Zuka]

Zuka knew Neva was right but that she didn't want to admit that. Being afraid was never something she was really good at, admitting it was something she was even worse at. Zuka always turned her fear into a challenge which...in most cases just lead to more trouble and she wanted to avoid that at all cost this time. Maybe that was why she was feeling like she was.

Zuka sighed and took another, longer drink. Laughing at Neva's comment about Kenji. He could be scary but in a different sense but she knew what she was trying to say.

Another sigh and another drink and Zuka thought that maybe she needed a break, too much over thinking while drinking was never good. "What about you? Since you know all the sorted details about my love life now whats going on in yours?" She didn't think she had ever really seen Neva date. There might have been a guy here or there but it never went far unless Neva was better at hiding her affairs than she and Kenji were.

[Neva]

When Zuka turned the subject on her, Neva figured she earned a break. After all the digging that Neva had just done, it was about time to cut her friend some slack. She had to admit though, her relationship life wasn't nearly as interesting or eventful as Zuka's. "Oh you know...nothing really lasting. I go out for fun sometimes but it's nothing serious."

Neva certainly wasn't against going out. She liked her fun, she liked being young and meeting new people. But every time things ventured towards serious well...she turned the other way. Yes, she may be purposely avoiding it, but she just had such an aversion to being in something long term, something to hold her down. Part of her wished she didn't feel that way, but she'd left home for quite a few reasons, and that was one of them. 

"I've gone out with some guys that I liked but..." She shrugged, sipping her drink. "It's usually a once or twice thing and then that's it."

[Zuka]

Zuka rose a brow at Neva's answer and she gave her friend a look. "once or twice thing because its not fun oooor once or twice because your worried about 'other things"? Living the double life they all were put a wrench in a lot of things and having a outside life was one of them. Zuka would hate if Neva was putting her life on hold because of it.

Maybe that wasn't the case, maybe the few guys turned out to be jerks...there was plenty of them in this city but who knows. Or maybe Neva was afraid. Zuka knew that feeling too there were so many possibilities.

(meh, short)

[Neva]

"It's fun," Neva answered. It wasn't like the dates she went on were terrible; there was the occasional one that was less pleasant but most of the time they ended on a good note. And it wasn't as though Neva disliked going out either. She liked having a good time, always one to be social. There were few times she ever regretted going on a date. 

"It's not really the other things," she continued. "I mean, it crosses my mind from time to time but it hasn't been enough to stop me yet. It's more of...me, I guess."

She leaned on one arm of the chair, adjusting so that she was comfortable. "Back home I was constantly trying to avoid an arranged marriage. I've developed an aversion to serious dating because of it. So I can't help but keep all possibility of it at arms length."

It probably wasn't a good thing, Neva knew that. But the idea of being tied to someone, of having herself tied down in some way, didn't sit right with her. It wasn't right to avoid feelings, but none of her feelings for the people she went out with were ever strong enough to make her reconsider that. Though, she knew that was her own doing. Neva took it upon herself to keep the distance so that she didn't develop any lasting feelings. 

[Zuka]

Zuka knew where Neva was coming from, when she had been back home she worried constantly about the aspect of a arranged marriage. Feena was always trying to get favor with the influential families in the Fire Nation so she could set up the twins with husbands. It was a scary thought and she understood Neva’s hesitation but Zuka had done the opposite of Neva, instead of shying away she went a bit over the top but..to each her own.

’You know you’re a long way from home, right?” The thought of a arranged marriage was thousands of miles away You left all those customs when you left the water tribe.” Zuka shifted to a more comfortable position in her chair and took a leisurely sip from her drink. ”So, now that you don’t have that to worry about I think you have better come up with a better excuse.”

[Neva]

She knew it was no excuse. It had been a long time since she'd listened to her parents and let them decide her life for her. And even then, she was away from home. If they hadn't been able to drag her back to the North yet, they wouldn't any time soon. Neva truly had full control of her life, and there wasn't much she could blame on her upbringing now. Zuka had a point: she needed a better reasoning for her actions.

Neva sighed, giving Zuka a look that said she knew she was right. She looked up at the ceiling, "Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's..."

What could it be that held her back? Fear? No, Neva didn't fear getting close with people. Neither was she afraid of new experiences or adventures...she'd never had that sort of hesitance. Perhaps she was just too comfortable in her ways. Or maybe she'd developed a selfishness in her own interests and she wasn't ready to share her time with someone else. But even that was no excuse. Zuka was the busiest person she'd ever known, and she still had the time to date. 

Coming up with a reason was a lot harder than she thought it would be.

"Maybe I just like the chase," Neva joked. Mostly because she wasn't sure just what was holding her back if she was free from the restrictions of home.

[Zuka]

Zuka rose her brow 'you have to let them actually get close enough to chase you for that to work, you know.' She mentioned matter of factly while pointing slightly at Neva it wouldn't hurt to let your hair down, go a little crazy and have some fun. It might help you be not so uptight... Zuka brought her glass back to her lips and looked at her friend over the rim 'just saying..' after the slight pause Zuka threw back the rest of her drink and rested the empty glass on the arm rest of the chair, holding it loosely in her hand to keep it from falling. "I can always set you up with one of the probenders, a councilman...maybe someone in a band....a visiting noble? Zuka knew a lot of people and had a lot of connections and she knew of at least 6 people off the top of her head that she could call up right now that would happily show Neva a good time.

[Neva]

"Mmm," Neva hummed, swirling the drink in her hand as she thought over Zuka's offer. If anyone knew how to have fun it was Zuka, and she tended to surround herself with people who also knew how to do the same. "Alright. Since I'm not uptight, I'll do it."

It might have been the alcohol making her more agreeable, but Neva knew deep down she did need to relax. At the very least she could say that she gave it a shot. Besides, it had been a while since she'd gone out. It was about time she took a break and let herself enjoy an evening that wasn't on work or healing her friends. She didn't have many reasons to not, and Zuka was sure to object to any that she came up with. 

"You can take your pick," Neva answered. "Though I doubt I'll have any crazy stories to share afterwards."