WRETCHED.

perhaps he shouldn't have started the conversation the way he did. damn it, why was it so hard to something as simple as talking?! already, zuko could feel the embarrassment creeping up his spine, as well as frustration towards himself. nothing seemed to go his way, & right now, he had no one but himself to rely on. what would his uncle think...? is he even thinking of his foolish, angry nephew, who never thought of anything but the end goal? that thought, alone, made the exiled prince frown. oh, what'd he do in order to cry out his apologies to the one person who believed in him ... he must atone for the sake of honor.

bloom's response made zuko blink, his eyes looking towards her for a minute before nodding almost timidly. ❛ yes ... all our abilities, from each element, came from respective beings. ❜ he pauses to look down to his hands, clenching them for several seconds. ❛ fire bending, itself .... came from dragons. at least, that's what i've been taught back home. ❜ the home which never was, not in the eyes of the failure, himself. zuko looks towards bloom. ❛ is it ... the same for you, bloom? i-i mean, were you, uh .... born with the dragon's abilities & mastered it? ❜ from the sound of it, that seemed to be the case. call it one way or another, they shared this in common - something which made him ever so slightly relieved.

the last thing max wished was to cause a ruckus - especially not if it meant his dear friend would suffer under a great cost. why should anyone really bother over someone as ghastly & insignificant as himself, really? that's what his fellow mates at the circus told him, anyway - his mere existence was one only his mother would love. no, max ... do not think such a way ... not when you've finally formed a connection with someone who doesn't make a difference.

flynn's question made max perk up, his ears twitching up & down to express joy, before starting to nod vicariously. he speaks very, very quietly, ❛ y-yes ... i'd like that .... ❜ cue another pause, his eyes looking downwards. ❛ .... s-sorry .... f-for the trouble .... ❜ gosh, was it hard for the gentle giant to speak, not without hating the sound of his own voice.

blade is glad to leave regardless.   before enemies come strolling in and discover them helping themselves to resources.   not that they would pose much of a threat.   they're simply a nuisance.   in his mind,   they're not worth the effort,   though cora would likely disagree.

❛❛  keep the credit,  ❜❜     he says with a typical dismissive tone.   though there is something about being credited for a creation.   an echo of the past.   echoes when those hands created instead of bringing ruin.   still,   the act,   or in this case the thought of making something feels   ...   good.     ❛❛  you're the one who started it after all.  ❜❜     she had been the one fantasising aloud about boomerangs and decapitations.   he isn't certain he wants his name attached to something like that.   then again,   he has made far worse.

wasting time this, deviation of the script that ... those were just a waste of energy. sure, cora aided in elio's "scripts", but any sort of bending was well enough to create, if it means there'll be the same result. at the very least, that's one of the few things cora could agree on with silver wolf, as annoying & bratty as she was - all possibilities exist, no matter the execution at hand. however, one key difference was the attitude - cora was much more willing to stir chaos to make others' lives a living hell.

much of the dismay to blade, it seems, whose insistence wasn't ignored .... as well as his lack of humor. with an eye roll, the green haired mechanic of the hunters scoffs & jokingly bumps her arm with his elbow. ❛ sheesh, dude, ain't ever heard of sarcasm? ❜ she clicks her tongue, ❛ it's this thing people use t' say shit they don't clearly mean. case fuckin' example, this very moment. ❜ really now, why the hell was she even wasting time in explaining anything to this depressing asshole?

when the man speaks of his trusty sword, cora can't help the icy glance towards it, which makes her visibly grimace. the thing's completely busted .... any day now & she'd suspect it'd completely shatter! alas, she was of talia's mentality - one person's treasure remains such, no matter how grim it might be. don't blame her for having sharp eyes for anything weapons or machine related, she supposed. with that in mind, cora shrugs nonchalantly. ❛ eh, whatever. just don't come whining to me if it DOES break down. ❜ cue the bitter silence, ❛ …. another example of sarcasm, slow poke. ❜

she hops towards the hacked door, leaning against its' frame, as icy eyes glance back at blade. ❛ my weapons're in top condition, yanno? after every ass kicking, i make these bad boys sharper in my trusty lil' workshop. that's why i get them heads rollin' that easily. ❜ cue the wry smirk, ❛ ya' actually give a shit if i look after myself? heh, here i thought you ain't capable of that, blade. heh .... sides', you forgot I'M the one who fixes everyone's shit? ❜ from kafka's guns to silver wolf's constant console repairs, that is. cora pauses before glancing over her shoulder. ❛ ya' think those ipc bastards are gonna bust in to see all their valuable shit stolen & booby trapped? heh, it'd be kinda funny t' watch it from sidelines! ❜

But was it due to the speed of his speach or the content of his words?? Definitely both, she can't deny how her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment upon being called pretty.

those burning, intense eyes of the red horned oni's continued peering directly at the young woman, even leaning closer to take a better look. of course, the great itto wouldn't dare admitting such a thing! no no no, that would be embarrassing! everything he did was for the cause of dramatic flare & being the very best, like nobody ever was! besides, he could tell the girl was absolutely in awe of his handsome appearance & awesomely friendly approach! had it been any other party pooper from any faction, she'd get the worst impression of inazuma's folks! that would be no good, at all!

he could only hope she wouldn't get looks via other people, simply because she hung around him. he ought take hits for others, for the better future of humans & onis.

when the young woman speaks up - noelle was her name - would itto hum longingly & pause for the dramatic effect. ❛ hmmm ... iiiii see, i see. WELL, my good noelle, yooooou came in RIGHT HANDS! yup yup, THAT'S RIGHT, you totally did! for you seeeee .... i, arataki "greatest tour guide alive" itto got somethin' to share! dddddrum roooooolls, please! ❜ he begins flicking his fingers, mimicking the sticks hitting drums - even mimicking drum beating with his own mouth! damn, wasn't he just so amazing at everything he did? after few seconds, itto laughs & pulls noelle closer for the side hug. ❛ I KNOW LUMINE! that's right, your one & oni has already met the traveler, even named her my numero dos within the arataki gang! guess what? now YOU'RE the official member! friend of lumine's is family to me! ❜ he grins, giggling childishly as be begins pulling her along. ❛ c'mon, noelle! we gotta celebrate your arrival! you okay with lavender melons, right? ❜ if she wasn't .... ? well, she was in even better luck!