October 30th
Wishes and Unplanned
"It's eleven-eleven," chimes Ty Lee, sitting in one of the living rooms. Bunny runs over pedestrians in front of her while Azula sips her Monster. "Make a wish everybody!"
Azula scowls. "I wish I was the empress of the world and had the power to execute my brother and Katara," she mutters, only loud enough for her wife to hear.
"I wish you'd be more optimistic and positive and stop whining about not having absolute power over the entire world."
"Oh, but you would rule with me, Ty Lee. Imagine how sexy that would be. You could be my loyal bodyguard and general of my army, and maybe my queen, because conquering the world gets lonely, I would imagine." Azula kisses her wife.
Mai mimes retching and says dryly, "I wish you two would stop being so sickening."
Ty Lee smiles at her childhood best friend.
"We just love each other so much," she airily says.
To Azula, that kills the sexy moment.
[X]
"The Halloween party is tonight and I'm so unprepared for the social discomfort," Katara says, lying down and clasping her hands over her abdomen.
She is in the hotel with her boyfriend. Kya is taking her nap and they have a few scarce moments of silence. They are broken by the endless competition between Azula and Zuko.
"Yeah. I'm probably going to get in a fist-fight with my dad. I hope that won't embarrass you."
"It did embarrass me the first five times you got beaten to a pulp by your own father but—"
"I won like two of those fights."
"Yeah, but you still got beaten pretty brutally. That's not including the walls you've punched. It really could not possibly embarrass me anymore."
Zuko sniffs in and sits down.
"So, sexy nurse costume?"
"One, I am a sexy surgeon, not a sexy nurse. Two, I was going to just wear my own scrubs like I usually do. But you seem really adamant about me being hotter than your sister's wife, which I would call sexist and disgusting if I didn't hate her so much and want to look way more attractive than Azula ever could. She wouldn't know if she would envy me or have sex with me."
"Ick."
[X]
The party has yet to begin, but the sun is setting and soon the guests—all important artists, politicians and athletes—will arrive. Katara and Zuko take a break from turning a faux Roman palace into a gorier version of the Addams' manor.
"Costume or not, I mean, I'm way more successful than Ty Lee. She's a failed secretary and I'm a surgeon."
Azula interjects, startling both Katara and Zuko, "Yes, but I am much more successful than Zuko, so we balance each other out."
"Were you eavesdropping?"
"No. I came outside to smoke and had no idea you two would be whining about how jealous you are of my flawless marriage."
"I hope you get lung cancer," Katara mutters under her breath.
Zuko's eyes widen. He did not know Katara could be that hateful. She has compassion for murderers and terrible drivers.
"I hope you die of protein deficiency," snaps Azula.
Ty Lee wraps herself around Azula. She smiles.
"Are you being mean to my perfect wife?"
"No." Katara shrugs. Zuko moves to wrap himself around her but she sets her hand forcefully on his chest. "As a doctor, I think I'm obliged to inform her of the dangers of smoking, ravaging the Earth for fossil fuels and being cruel to everyone. Cancer, the apocalypse, and being murdered."
Zuko clears his throat. "So, Azula, what's your costume?"
"Do you not see my crown?" She points at the accessory. "I'm an Evil Witch Queen."
"You're supposed to wear a costume on Halloween, Azula," says Zuko.
"Ha ha. Mai already used that joke two days ago."
[X]
Mai was not lying when she said the party would be wild. The music does not fit the party; it is all old, crackly and creepy, but people still somehow find a way to grind to the sounds of the 1930's. Azula has never seen so many glow sticks and couples making out in one place. She stands in the corner, holding Ty Lee by the arm so she cannot leave her sight.
"Azula, I'm not going to cheat on you; please let me go talk to friends," Ty Lee begs yet again. Azula tightens her grip.
"You are dressed as a Playboy Bunny and everyone here is trying to get laid."
"You picked my costume!"
"Yes, because I wanted you to look hotter than Katara. I did not plan ahead of that since I was blinded by my loathing for that pathetic excuse for a human being."
"I've never ever cheated on you ever, and I get a lot of offers."
"You cheated on me with my brother."
"Over ten years ago! And it wasn't a real relationship either. We were both on the rebound."
"How could you be on the rebound when we were still dating?"
"It's not like we were going on a lotta dates while you were locked up in an asylum. It's not like I planned on leaving you for Zuko. He was so much worse than you at everything and not very good in bed and I'm not just saying that because you look like you're about to strangle me and bury me in the backyard right now."
"Ick."
[X]
It is a few minutes until midnight and the party treats it like New Year's. Tomorrow is Halloween and everyone seems oddly excited about that.
Azula is alone and hates it. Ty Lee said she was going to get a drink and did not come back. It is making her seethe with rage and she cannot enjoy the countdown. The countdown.
Maybe she should have a spontaneous tryst with someone. That would devastate and destroy Ty Lee. It will turn her into ashes of agony.
Azula stands in front of a man on the sofa and points. Then pokes him and points again. Her glare makes him get up and rush away into the thick crowd. Azula sits down and eyes the party like a lioness seeking prey.
She has a priority above making Katara utterly miserable for the extent of her stay.
It is one worthy of her attention, beyond worthy of her attention.
The fake bell chimes loudly; it is October 31st.
She will destroy Ty Lee Shinohai if it is the last thing she ever does.