"I feel it's very easy to talk with you." Thanks again, I try to make myself approachable. And I'd agree that there's a difference between being rude and simply standing by your opinions. "Exactly! Thinks can start to turn out hilarious without purpose. It starts as a normal situation and then one thing comes to another and in the end people are rolling on the floor, laughing." This about sums up my relationship with my sister and my closest friend lol. "You need such a fast and sharp mind and almost a six sense for the vibes to catch to ball, someone throws to you." I'd agree there. I had a friend in college who did improv, he was amazingly witty. "But this is all an empty shell without passion and emotions. They gives you the inspiration, the direction and the vision, an artist wants to create." Agreed! "But without the logical part an artist might get problems to show other people his vision. Both is needed to create something magnificent and magical." Yeah, I believe that logic and emotion is needed with pretty much everything. You can't have one without the other. "And it was also a wonderful idea for Azula as a character. The idea, that her decisions have saved a life instead of desroyed others warms my heart. A perspective, her canon version never received." She kind of needs a moment that reminds her that she isn't a monster as she has said of herself on a few occasions. "A strong and positive statement for music, Metal and for life in general in this chapter." Honestly I've been to concerts for many genres and I feel like metal has the most accepting and open community. I feel at home in that scene. "But I have skipped the concrete term to avoid '***' in the review." That's fair. Personally I just say suicide outright because, for one I already wrote about it. I'm not one to beat around the bush. And secondly because I feel like it is something that needs to be talked about. Suicide is such a taboo topic and people are afraid to discuss it, which in my opinion is one of many reasons why it is so hard for people to reach out. On a more positive note; "It may show Azula, that she doesn't need those scandals. She reaches people out there without them." Exactly, she needs that reminder every now and again.
"The choice of style and with it the break up with Baatar keeps her badly troubled." It has her edgy that's for sure, but she hasn't reached her lowest yet. "But more important, he is irreplacable for her in her life. He's missing and it hurts so bad." She misses him terribly. He helped her through a lot and his departure kind of shattered a good part of her world. "FoA seems to have found their style. The shootings had been perfect and they have accomplished a lot during the last weeks." They're getting pretty comfortable. "WIM still seems to search for their style. The shooting and the location doesn't seem to be so perfect and Baatar's exit is gnawing on all of them somehow." But yeah, Kuvira went outside of her comfort zone and hasn't found a new one yet.
"But it seems, that both are about to take different directions in their character development." Correct."But it seems, that TyLee and the the meeting with the girl could reach Azula." That will sort of be seen in this chapter. "She has shown some positive reactions at these occasions." She responds rather well when not pushed. "She has received a lot of negative feedback and she starts to fall back to her old blocking mechanism." This is also going to be shown a bit in this chapter.
Azula slips herself into the hot springs. She exhales and stretches her legs out. It is nice to have the springs to herself. Nice to not have to dread an awkward conversation about the morality of her music or endure an overly enthusiastic fan offering her an uncomfortable amount of compliments. It is just she and a lovely perfume of jasmine and cherry blossom and a kind and curling steam.
For the first time since she followed Zuko into banishment, Azula truly smiles. She feels truly at are going well. Better than they have been in a while. Certainly better than things are going for Wrought Iron Machine-and that alone is cause for relief. They are one less band that she has to worry about, and the only band that Azula felt was ample competition.
She almost wants to dig up the article again. The one that officially announced the departure of Baatar. For all of the times Azula fought with her own bandmates, at least she can say that she has never pushed them out completely.
To think, the woman had been so snide and condescending when they had first come by each other. Masquerading about as if she had everything together.
Azula plucks one of the petals from the water and rubs it between her fingers. How exquisitely wonderful it is to bathe in luxury again. Their music movers and a few extra concerts have put their funding in a much more stable condition. Overall, the past month has been kind, perhaps even generous with she and her band.
The crowd has taken to their story surprisingly well. Of course there is still a healthy amount of outrage. How dare they portray such a disgusting concept? It is poisonous to the youth, or something of that sort. But at least they don't think that she genuinely wants to bed her own brother.
She supposes that she can deal with having to fake some more kisses with him to maintain their image and story.
"Hi, Azula!" TyLee waves.
Azula jolts at her unexpected guest.
"You don't mind if I join you?"
Azula pats the spot next to her and TyLee gives a wide grin. "This bath smells so nice." She mentions as she casts her garments to the side.
Azula nods, "I suppose that it does."
TyLee sits down next to her and pecks her on the nose. Azula takes the girl's hand, it is soft and delicate, and she gives it a small kiss.
It is soothing and reassuring to kiss someone that isn't her own brother. It leaves her feeling more secure.
More normal.
She lets TyLee sit in her lap and lathers her hair. Her fingers work through the looks with ease and TyLee gives a soft and loving little purr. How endearing, Azula thinks to herself. When she finishes shampooing TyLee's hair, the girl turns to face her, her fingers brushing over the charred rose inked near her waist. Azula strokes the girl's back.
Indeed it is nice to be more intimate with someone other than Zuko.
To be authentically intimate.
.oOo.
In the past month Kuvira had only one performance. She had planned a handful of them but couldn't be bothered to go through with the rest of them. She had barely mustered enough enthusiasm to get through the first. She, during at least three songs on the setlist, had thought about ending the performance for the night.
She had lacked the energy.
Lacked the drive.
Lacked everything a worthwhile performance needs.
She would rather put on no show at all than a half-assed one.
It doesn't matter anyways, they had lost such a good portion of their fandom. Had gained a healthy helping of anti-fans. She finds herself almost buried in hateful letters, with former fans furious at her for pushing Baatar out of the band. Buried in letters accusing her of things that ranged from being a moody and unbearable bitch to outright being emotionally abusive and manipulative.
She rakes a hand through her hair as she comes across another one of those. She is beginning to think that they are correct. He hadn't left for no reason. Her parents hadn't abandoned her for no reason. Ming and Ghazan aren't growing distant for no reason.
At this, Kuvira bites her cheek. She is going to lose them too.
And she doesn't have the willpower to talk things over with them. She fears what would come of it if she chose to do so.
She is uncontrollably tempramental these days; swinging from one emotion to the next, ignoring the pleasant ones.
She is furious and frustrated. Stressed and nervous. Nervous wondering if it is possible to have her Southern Air Sounds invited revoked. Stressed and frustrated, knowing that she is about to lose everything that is important to her.
But mostly Kuvira is sad.
Sad that she has made the wrong decision. That she let Baatar go. Sad that she is letting her dreams slip away as well.
She isn't sure how much longer she can endure it. P'Li offers her a cigarette and she tries to take it. But once more, her body rejects it. This time even the odor off puts her. She coughs and wanders away from the table and onto the balcony for some fresh air. P'Li calls after her. But she might as well push her away too.
Kuvira leans against the railing feeling dizzy and sick.
She is making herself sick, she thinks.
Dwelling so much on this mess is destroying her inside and out.
She should call Baatar, but she doesn't want to bother him. She is sure that he won't pick up anyhow. Instead she peers over the balcony at the ground below. A small gaggle of teens cluster in the yard, laughing and giggling. One wears a shirt bearing the Fire Of Agni logo.
At least one band is doing well.
She just hopes that their latest stunt doesn't blow up in their faces.
Raava forbid that the girl ended up like her.