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A Jun day
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We all sat at Jun's table. She looked around at us and said Well, I've already met pouty's girlfriend (more protesting from me) and smartmouth (she meant Sokka) but who are you two? She said and gestured at Suki and Toph. Suki started to introduce them. Jun made a little wave and said she didn't do names (even though she asked!) and she would probably just call them ginger and tiny. Suki and Toph seem okay with this. Well there's not much point in not being okay with it when you are dealing with someone like Jun. She just calls you whatever she wants to. Still I protested at my nickname. I was not going to be stuck called pouty's girlfriend. Look Zuko and I aren't going out and I was probably getting upset over nothing, but I hate being defined in relation to a man. Back home I hated being called Hakoda's daughter, or Sokka's sister instead of Katara and I really hated being referred to as the Avatar's girl. If me and Zuko were going out, I would feel the same way.
I protested over my new nickname and started my girl-power, I don't want to be defined by a man speech to Jun, but she cut me off and told me to take it easy. She looked at me appraisingly, but not unkindly, and I met her gaze boldly. We were sitting right next to each other and it almost felt like we were having a staring competition. She smiled suddenly and said in a voice so low that only I could hear her, you really are too pretty for him. I opted to ignore this comment.
She announced she'd call me sweet looking thing instead, if that was alright with me. That was not alright with me, because it sounded like a very bawdy nickname. Jun offered to shorten it to sweetness. Toph interjected and said that she called me sweetness all the time and Jun nodded at her in approval. And so the matter of my nickname was settled with very little input from me. Sokka also wanted a nickname upgrade, but Jun said he was stuck with Smartmouth. Sokka said something sarcastic and Jun shrugged as if he'd proven her point for her.
Zuko came back with the drinks and handed them out and then sat next to me. Jun reached over, lifted his cup, sniffed it disdainfully and said Jasmine tea! Pouty you lightweight! Zuko said grumpily that he didn't have time to get drunk and we all had a big problem on our hands. Jun shrugged again and said oh yeah, your little world ending crisis and then she flicked some lint off her shoulder dispassionately. Sokka pointed out her rather lax attitude to the end of the world. She rolled her eyes slightly and said with pouty, it's always the end of the world. Zuko protested (about the implication that he was melodramatic). Jun cut him off and told him to just fill her in already.
He asked what she knew about Sozin's Comet and she said all she knew was that it was in a few days and it had all the firebenders she knew acting jumpy. Zuko told her there would be battle and we needed the Avatar for it and we needed to find him very quickly. Jun smirked widely and made a comment regarding Aang's ability to evade Zuko and how Zuko really needed a different hobby already. Maybe knitting. Zuko got a bit frustrated and asked her if she would do it.
She smirked and said she wasn't keen because the last time she took a job catching the Avatar from Zuko, they all ended up stranded near that bloody awful abbey for five days and she didn't know if she could be bothered with those sorts of shenanigans again. Zuko's face fell, but Toph was the one who spoke up first. She asked Jun (with some incredulity) if Jun was really saying no. Would she really let the world end because she couldn't be bothered helping us out. Jun regarded her for a second, took a big sip of her drink and then said Fine I'll do it. She had two conditions. The first was that Sokka and I buy Nyla the best steak we could find. Shirshus have excellent memories and Nyla wasn't too fond of us after what Jun referred to as our little perfume trick. So we needed to get her a steak to make friends with her again. Sokka and I agreed.
Zuko asked what the second condition was and Jun shot him a decidedly wicked grin. She asked if he remembered when Jun and his uncle (she continued to refer to Uncle Iroh as Zuko's creepy/crazy/cheeky grandpa and Zuko kept correcting her) had been swapping stories about the best treasure they'd ever acquired (possibly through not-quite legal means). This sparked Sokka's interest as he loves all things trinket-y and shiny and he asked what kind of treasure? and gave Zuko a meaningful look. Zuko shrugged and said his uncle had a few wild adventures when he was young. Jun snorted something about how he was still having wild adventures now. Zuko made a face at her.
She said lets cut to the chase and her voice changed from sarcastic teasing to all business. She said that Uncle Iroh had told her all about some giant ruby he'd retrieved from the ruins at seashell island. Zuko knew the one she meant. She said that was her price for finding the avatar for us. Zuko said no way. Jun held out two hands and pretended they were scales and said she'd review our options. On the one hand we had Jun finding the avatar for us and she lifted up her right hand and mimed weighing something. On the other hand we had NOTHING –she lowered lefty dramatically. Then she shrugged again and said whatcha gonna do?
Zuko said he didn't just carry the ruby around and asked if he could just pay cash again. Jun knew how much the ruby was worth and asked him if we all had that much on us. We didn't. She seemed to change tone and asked us how much we had. I had done a recount of what we had left from Toph's scamming and what Zuko's pinched from the treasury on the flight on Appa. We had a bit left from before. If Sozin's comet hadn't been so soon, it would have been a while before we would have had to start looking at other options for making money. So I told her what figure we could offer her. She snorted derisively and said sweetness that's was nowhere near enough. I told her it was all we had and if she didn't help us out it would be disaster for everyone.
She thought for a second and said she do it for us if Zuko gave her his solemn promise –in writing- to get her that big arse ruby after the whole world ending thing. She winked at Zuko and said You're big into solemn promises, aren't you pouty. Zuko huffed and said he couldn't promise that because all of Uncle's stuff was in something called Clink Vaults. Jun seemed to know what that was because her eyebrows lifted right up under her fringe in recognition. But she schooled her features quickly. She said that she was sure someone of Zuko's various talents could find their way around Clink Vaults. Zuko sighed in a long suffering manner and said fine, but it'll take a while. Then he appeared to have second thoughts and he shook his head and said what am I saying? I can't promise you that. Jun asked why and Zuko, clutching at straws said what if I get killed in the world ending thing? (pfft there's no way I'm letting that happen). He continued that if he got killed, Jun wouldn't get anything. Jun said she'd take her chances and if he got killed, we could consider her services a freebie. Did they have a deal?
We were all holding our breath and looking between them. After two seconds Zuko said deal and held out his hand and they shook on it. Jun made a gesture to someone at the bar and a small dude hurried over with a piece of paper and a pencil. She made Zuko write out I owe you: One giant-arse huge sparkly ruby and sign it. Then she downed her drink in one gulp and said with determination alright let's do this.
-?-
When we got outside, Nyla and Appa were growling at each other. Nyla had been tethered to a tree and was at the end of her leash. Appa was standing just beyond the edge of the reach of her tongue and making menacing noises at her. Sokka and I bought the biggest steak in that manky tavern kitchen for Nyla and Jun proffered it up for her and threw it in her mouth. Nyla chomped it in one gulp in a way that repulsed me but fascinated Sokka. Jun went over and very affectionately cuddled the shirshu and called her the cutest little snuffly-wuffly and scratched her behind the ears. She gestured for us to come over but as soon as we stepped near, Nyla lashed out with her tongue. Jun quickly wrapped her arms around Nyla's mouth and yelled out careful there! to me and Sokka. She explained to Nyla in low soothing terms that Nyla had to play nice with us, because we were going to make Jun very rich. To my surprise, Nyla actually nodded like she understood.
Was Nyla like Appa? I always have a feeling that Appa can understand us when we talk to him.
Jun was all business and she asked for something with the Avatar's scent on it. I climbed up on Appa to get Aang's staff while Jun untied Nyla. Nyla smelled the staff and then wandered around aimlessly in circles, before she sat down forlornly and putting her paws over her nose. Zuko crossed his arms with some confusion and asked what that meant. Evidently this was not usual behavior for Nyla. Jun shrugged and said that it meant that Aang was gone. Toph pointed out, copying Jun's sardonic tone, that we knew he was gone that was why we were trying to find him. Jun said that she meant he was GONE gone. He didn't exist.
I felt a thrill of panic run through me. Aang had to exist. I spoke to (fought with) him only yesterday. He's the Avatar. How could he be gone? Sokka voiced the horrible, terrible thought we were all thinking and he asked, with a great deal of panic, if she meant that Aang was dead. My heart sank and my throat closed and I couldn't even begin to start thinking about that possibility. Thankfully Jun very quickly said that there was no way he was dead because we could find him if he were dead. Then she shrugged again and said it was a real head scratcher. She sounded like she couldn't care less. Toph seemed a bit disappointed and muttered well that's helpful, real helpful in disgruntled tones.
There was a horrible, awkward and unsure moment. If even Nyla couldn't smell Aang, if Aang somehow – I don't even know how- suddenly didn't exist – what the hell were we meant to do. Jun leant against Nyla and waited for a few seconds before saying well see ya. Zuko quickly told her to wait, because he had another idea. She rolled her eyes and said this'll be good.
Zuko turned to us and said that if we couldn't find Aang, there was only one other person he knew who could help us defeat the firelord. His Uncle. I nodded at him encouragingly. Mostly I was just glad that someone was coming up with suggestions because I was fresh out. I didn't know what to think or say. As soon as Jun had said Aang was gone gone, my brain had just emptied in panic.
Sokka agreed and said that finding Zuko's Uncle was as good an idea as any at this stage. Zuko told us and Jun he'd be right back with a smell sample. He climbed up on Appa and rummaged in his bag for a bit while Jun tapped her foot impatiently. He jumped down in one smooth movement and unwrapped something and held it out. It was one of his Uncle's sandals. We were hit by the most manky smell of feet as soon as he took that stinky thing out of its oil cloth wrapping. Sokka, Suki and me all held our noses and Sokka voiced astonishment that Zuko kept his Uncle's smelly, sweaty sandal – Toph interjected that she thought it was kind of sweet.
June lead Nyla over to the sandal and said with an almost affectionate roll of her eyes you're so lucky I like you pouty. Nyla took one sniff, and even though I know shirshus can't make facial expressions, to me, it really looked like she made a rather disgusted face. Then she quickly whipped her head around and pointed her nose purposefully.
Then a lot of things happened quickly. Jun jumped on Nyla's back and galloped off. We were all left gaping for a second before we realized she'd taken off without us. There was frantic clamoring to get everybody on Appa and we took off after her in hot pursuit.
-?-
On Appa, we had a bit of a group discussion about the logistics of finding Zuko's Uncle, seen as though that was the extent of our plan at this point. I couldn't help but think that, this time yesterday, we had a very good plan that have been agreed upon, revised and practiced. Now we had nothing except a cranky bounty hunter, an old shoe and vague hope.
Zuko was trying to reassure the others that his Uncle was the best bet for us right now. Zuko said his Uncle would know what to do and he was one of the greatest firebenders in the world and he had beaten his dad in an Agni Kai (Zuko also had to explain what an Agni Kai was – Suki thinks it sounds like a terrible way to solve disagreements and was quite vocal about this. They have had a small discussion about their differences of opinion regarding this.) Anyway, eventually the other's felt reassured and a general consensus was reached. We were all happy to be looking for Uncle Iroh, because the alternative at this point was sitting around wailing what are we meant to do now? and worrying about Aang.
Discussion turned to our missing friend. Everyone is super worried and or/confused. How can Aang just not exist? Sokka had a few implausible theories, mostly involving the spirit world, but these theories all had holes picked in them by the others. Sokka gave up in frustration and said that someone else could think of ideas then because all this spirit-y mumbo jumbo wasn't his specialty. No one else has any ideas. This whole not existing thing has really thrown us all for a loop. During all of Aang's previous mystical spiritual adventures before major battles, he has still existed. He must still exist somewhere because he's still alive. I am so relieved that Aang is alive, don't get me wrong. But he better have a bloody good excuse for just disappearing and not existing on us -if, no, not if - when he turns back up.
-?-
It had been a physically and emotionally and mentally tiring day, but I was wide awake with worry and anxiety over Aang. Also because we were quite close to the full moon and that always makes me more awake, but mostly it was anxiety. The others all dropped off to sleep, leaving only me and Zuko awake. Zuko was only still awake because he was driving and trying to concentrate on following Jun and Nyla.
It's nice when it's just the two of us. I like talking to him okay. But that does not mean that we are boyfriend and girlfriend- no matter what cranky ladies with huge snake tattoos say. I liked that it was almost just the two of us again. The others were there, but they were sleeping – so they don't count. We could have at least a few hours in the night during which we would not be teased mercilessly by Sokka and Toph. I scooted next to him.
We chatted for a bit about his Uncle. Zuko is both really nervous and really excited at the prospect of seeing his Uncle again (On the whole he is probably more nervous). Aside from being sure that his Uncle is furious at him, he is also very sure that his Uncle will know what to do. While he was talking, it struck me that Zuko believes in his Uncle as much as I believe in Aang. I can only hope that his faith in his Uncle is not misplaced.
I mean Toph and Aang both think Uncle is just this awesome wise person. And Zuko thinks the world of him. I hope that we are doing the right thing – abandoning the search for Aang in favour of finding Uncle (because Aang doesn't exist now. Seriously, what does that even mean!) We really are putting all of our eggs in Uncle's basket, so to speak.
I asked him something that I had been thinking about; his Uncle's stinky sandal of all things. Why had he kept it? It was a very odd (and stinky and weird) thing to keep. He said his Uncle normally left him sandals. I was very confused by this statement. Zuko explained that during their years together at sea, his Uncle occasionally got into trouble. If he'd been arrested/dragged away/gotten drunkenly lost, he normally found some way of leaving his shoes behind. Zuko was a good tracker and had always been able to find his Uncle with the aid of shoe clues.
On the Day of Black Sun, Zuko had gone to the prison to bust his Uncle out, but his Uncle had already escaped – however he'd left behind his shoes. Zuko had thought, in his more optimistic moments, that his Uncle had left them for him on purpose to make it easier for Zuko to find him again. He smiled a little ruefully and said he knew it was stupid and he was probably reading too much into things. I told him I didn't think it was stupid at all and he smiled at me.
I asked him if he was always planning on coming to Jun and getting her to help him find his Uncle. He said he was, but he never thought he'd be looking for his Uncle under these circumstances. He was really worried and nervous at the prospect of seeing his Uncle again so soon and I wasn't quite sure what to say to make it better. In the end, I tried to change the subject and told him that I thought coming to Jun had been a great idea, not a stupid idea at all. He nodded and said Jun was great at what she did and she wasn't a bad sort, even though she was really rude.
I asked how he had known where to find her, because we hadn't had to look for long at all and I imagine someone like Jun would lead a fairly nomadic life. Zuko said he'd just been lucky that she was in the first pub we tried. Jun had told him which pubs she frequented and how to find her if he ever needed her again, during these mysterious five days in which they were stranded together. I'm sure shenanigans of some description went on during those five days.
I was about to ask him about the mysterious five days, when suddenly he stifled a huge yawn. It was almost a whole body yawn. I looked at him and I think it hit me then how tired he looked. He was looking just plain old exhausted. I was wide awake and some small part of me wanted to keep him awake too - so he could chat to me. But the bigger part of me knew that he needed to get some sleep a lot more than I did right then. I could keep driving and following Jun all night. I could catch up on my sleep tomorrow during the day. I am not opposed to sleeping during the day/naps at all. But Zuko can't ever sleep during the day when the sun is out, excepting when he is hungover and/or sick.
I nudged him and held out my hands and told him to let me take over. He started to protest that he was fine but I gave him a Look and said you rise with the sun – but I rise with the moon (ha! I've been waiting for ages to say that). I told him I was more awake now and he really needed some rest. To my surprise, he didn't make a fuss at all but just thanked me, smiled at me gratefully and handed over the reigns.
He's sound asleep now. I kind of want to wake him up again, just so I have somebody to talk to, but I am resisting that urge very strongly.
He looks so peaceful at the moment.
Not that I am watching him sleep …or anything weird or stalky like that.
-?-
The sun had fully risen and the others were in various stages of wakefulness when Jun turned around, looked up and made a signal at me. I didn't quite understand the signal. But I noticed that she stopped and wasn't moving forward. I landed Appa next to her and she announced that Nyla needed a break and she was hungry. So did that makes this breakfast time? According to Jun, it did. Jun wants to be in charge of the breaks. She told us, when she was ready, she'd make a signal at us from the ground and then we could land and have a break.
The others got off Appa with varying degrees of grace/lazyness. Toph bent a few stone mounds for us to sit on and Zuko started making a fire and I started sorting out something for breakfast. Suki and Jun struck up a conversation about what life was like for Jun working in a very masculine dominated field. Sokka stretched out on the ground and continued his nap and told me to wake him when food was ready. Appa and Nyla spent the break tentatively sniffing each other and following each other round the camp site. I served up some porridge and some of the fruit we'd packed and everyone tucked in.
Jun kept giving Zuko a weird look over breakfast, which he found disconcerting. Eventually she said So all you're creepy grandpa's stuff is in Clink Vaults – that means he went to a firenation jail right? Zuko told her she was right. She said (between mouthfuls) that she was assuming he busted out somehow, or otherwise we wouldn't need her to look for him. Zuko told her she assumed correctly. She said she was probably going to regret asking, but what had the cheeky old flirt finally gotten locked in the slammer for. Her first guess was exposing himself inappropriately again?
Unfortunately she said that right as I was swallowing and I ended up nearly choking on my porridge at the thought. It's just a very disturbing mental image okay. Toph patted (pounded) me on the back until my coughing stopped. Zuko said (a little embarrassed) that his Uncle had stopped doing that after the first two times (Oh tui and la, the mind boggles). Jun said well he didn't stop soon enough and suppressed a fake theatrical shudder.
Her next guess was, knowing creepy grandpa, drunken disorderly behavior. Zuko said repressively No, it wasn't that either and looked like he would rather be talking about anything else in the entire world. Cripes what happened during these mysterious five days? Jun said she had it – it had be something sexual then! Was the old flirt being too friendly with the wrong floozy. Zuko appeared fed up and embarrassed and he said no, it wasn't that either and could you, for the love of Agni, stop mentioning the incident.
The incident? What's the incident?
Jun pointed out that she hadn't brought up the incident, he was the first one to mention the incident and she would happily live her whole life suppressing the memory of the incident and never thinking about the incident again. I think Toph and Suki and Sokka and I were all bursting with curiosity re: the incident at this point. Toph beat us too it and asked, with some excitement, what's the incident? Zuko said we don't talk about the incident! really quickly. Toph looked acutely disappointed. Toph loves anything that embarrasses other people, especially Zuko (mostly because he reacts so much.) Evidently Jun is of the same mind.
She leaned over and gestured to us all conspiratorially and told us in a loud stage whisper While we were paralysed, Pouty's creepy grandpa (Zuko corrected her and said Uncle again here), wanted to get busy with one of the nuns and... anyway...long story short...He ended up getting busy with several of the nuns and making his own hot tub with his firebending. Zuko made a really embarrassed groaning noise and then said that his Uncle had said that he and the nuns had just been talking about philosophy in the hot tub. Jun raised her eyebrow and said Zuko should just keep telling himself that, in a really patronizing voice. She continued with her story and said Anyway gramps and his nuns spend ages naked in the hot tub together – talking about philosophy- until mother superior got involved. Zuko told her that was enough of the story and she was making it sound so tawdry. Jun said it was tawdry...and gross...and wrong.
Okay, as disturbing as this mental image is, on the whole I think it did us some good. It was so disturbing that it distracted us from our current predicament/worries/anxieties and gave us a new focus. Almost like the teasing yesterday. Sometimes you just need something else (other than the fact that the world could end in two days and the last great hope for lasting peace doesn't exist) to think about and perhaps even laugh about. Laughter is the best tension reliever after all. So even though I know Zuko disagrees with me, I think, in hindsight, it was a good thing that Jun told us and there was much hilarity.
Sokka is enthralled by the story and asked what happened next and Jun told us, over the top of Zuko's protestations that it really wasn't a good story. Apparently they were stuck while Nyla recovered, because poor Nyla was in no fit state after the little perfume trick (Jun gave me and Sokka a reproachful look here). After the paralysis wore off, Jun and Zuko, out of mutual disgust with the various salacious old people shenanigans, left Uncle to it! They wandered for over two hours to find the nearest tavern and tried to blot out the horrid visuals with whiskey. Jun put a faux affectionate arm around Zuko and said, like a proud mother Pouts here, got so drunk.
Toph said Zuko I'm surprised at you, in a mock posh scandalized tone. Zuko shrugged Jun off quickly and said what was he supposed to do? He was stranded in the middle of nowhere, his uncle was getting busy with nuns and Jun was buying . Jun shrugged and said there was no shame in it and sometimes in life, when everything goes balls up, the only solution is several whiskey sours.
Jun said it got even better when all the nuns started fighting over that cheeky man. Apparently Uncle buggered off in fright because he was worried he'd start a nun riot and all would be chaos in the abbey. He found them in the tavern and told them his worries (i.e bragged about his success). According to Jun, Uncle also hopped on the whiskey sour train and then wanted to share the tawdry details with Zuko. Zuko got mad and had a drunken rant at Uncle, who was (according to drunk Zuko) a disgusting old baggage who always did this and every single time they came onshore, something like this would happen. Jun turned and gave Zuko an amused look and said I don't even want to know.
Zuko made his embarrassed noise again and asked if Jun was finished humiliating him yet. She said that if she stopped telling the story now, we would miss the best part. Toph was most eager to know what the best part was. Jun told us that to cheer Zuko up, his Uncle had started a singing a famous earth kingdom folk song, and then slowly every single person in the pub, even the one-armed dwarf and the nuns who'd followed that cheeky man, got involved. It was like living in a drunken, silly musical.
Zuko put his head in his hands and said not The Song again, which of course only increased Toph's enthusiasm to know The Song. The Song is apparently entitled the hedgehog can never be buggered at all and it is Uncle's habit to sing it when he gets drunk. Zuko really hates it. Suki knows The Song and started chuckling quietly to herself just thinking about it. Sokka and Toph (and myself -but I was more subtle about it) really wanted to know how the song goes.
But Zuko had officially had enough. He got most stroppy about this turn of events and said no one here was anywhere near drunk enough to sing The Song and it was a stupid song and he really, really hated it and we really needed to get moving. Jun said fine, sheesh to Zuko and whispered loudly to Toph I'll tell you later. Toph beamed at her.
We got ready to leave again and started packing away breakfast. Jun said, in a very casual sounding tone, that incident aside, Zuko had never answered her question. What had the old flirt gone to jail for? Zuko's face fell, as it does whenever this topic comes up and Jun looked taken aback for a moment. I never thought she was the sort of person to be taken aback by anything. She said well now I have the sinking suspicion that he ended up there because you screwed up somehow. Zuko's face fell even further and she said Wow pouty, you screw up that bad? Zuko started to say it was complicated but Jun cut him off and said she didn't want to know the sordid details in a very brisk tone of voice. Then she added, in a...well not an affectionate tone, but a softer tone at least, that when it came to him and his creepy grandpa, some things are better left a mystery.
-?-
I was exhausted after flying all night and I fell asleep pretty much as soon as I climbed into Appa's saddle. I kept waking up periodically and so from my little wakeful moments I have gathered that Sokka drove and Toph bullied Suki into teaching her some of the less rude verses of the hedgehog song and Zuko would frequently tell them to be quiet because I was sleeping. This did not stop the singing, but the continued to sing very quietly. The next time I was properly awake had to me at least a few hours later, because the sun was much higher in the sky. Zuko was shaking me gently and telling me it was time for a quick morning tea break if I wanted some tea, otherwise I could keep sleeping.
I opted for tea and got up and blearily hopped down and joined the others. Zuko had already made a fire and got the tea ready and he put a cup into my hand. I had arrived in the middle of a conversation. Sokka was trying to convince Jun to call him Boomerang Guy instead of Smartmouth. Jun said he was stuck with it, the same way Pouty was stuck with Pouty. Zuko shrugged and said he'd gotten used to it after a while. Then he quickly turned to Jun and asked Why do you call me pouty anyway? with some confusion. Jun just smiled and said with lips like those- why doesn't everyone call you pouty? Zuko made an oddly self conscious face and covered his mouth with his hand.
Sokka continued throughout our tea break to try and prove why Boomerang Guy /Spacesword Dude were better nicknames for him, until Jun shut him up by saying that she thought Sokka's boomerang/sword fascination was somehow homoerotic. Sokka's face went bright red and he said oh Hell No. Jun seemed to be enjoying his discomfiture and stretched back and said (rather gleefully) something along the lines of how Sokka, not me, must have been Pouty's girlfriend all along and it explained why Pouty was so angry. He was obviously sexually frustrated because Sokka struck her as the coy type.
Sokka was most indignant. Toph was dying with laughter next to me. I looked over at Zuko (as I had been expecting much indignation from him too) and he was touching his lips and looking deep in thought and not paying attention to the conversation (which is probably a good thing). Suki stepped in and said that perhaps Sokka should resign himself to the nickname Smartmouth if Jun promised not to mention homoeroticism for the rest of the tea break. The compromise suits both Sokka and Jun.
After this little exchange we all clambered back to our respective animals. Appa and Nyla were both exhausted after running/flying all night and they had both fallen asleep sort of snuggling around each other. Upon being woken they both rolled away from each other rather sheepishly.
I never previously thought a sky bison could look embarrassed.
Once we were all on Appa and Jun had taken off, Sokka took to driving again (to reaffirm his masculinity!) Toph and Suki sang some more of the hedgehog song, with very little reaction from Zuko. Which was my second clue that something was upsetting him. I was really tired and I mostly just wanted to go back to sleep again, but I scooted over and asked him what was wrong. He was looking pensively out to the horizon. At first he said he was fine, but I tried again and then eventually he asked in a worried voice are my lips really that pouty?
I was momentarily both surprised and amused. I had thought he was worried about our predicament/Aang/his Uncle or a variation on that theme. I am trying not to think too much about those subjects, lest I explode with anxiety. And so it was a bit of a relief to hear that he was worried about something so trivial.
I looked at his lips before answering. I've never really studied them before. They've just be part of his face. But they are nice and full and soft looking. I will concede that because Zuko spends a great deal of time frowning slightly and because he does have quite..err full lips to begin with, he does often look like he's pouting. But it's a cute pout! However I could forsee that it would be unhelpful to say this, so I simply told him that he shouldn't be silly, he had nice lips. I do think this is the most ridiculous conversation we've had, but it seemed to mollify Zuko somewhat.
Zuko seemed to notice what Toph and Suki were singing and he rolled his eyes and sighed his long suffering sigh. He flopped back into a half sitting/half lying position and said why is this my life? with some resignation. I him it wasn't all bad. At least he had nice lips and wasn't being accused of having a homoerotic obsession with a boomerang like Sokka was. He looked immensely confused at this. I told him there'd been an interesting conversation at the tea break and this was the sort of thing he missed when he wasn't pay attention.
-?-
I must have fallen asleep pretty quickly after that. Actually I was so tired that I slept right through this bit, but the next time we stopped it was so that Toph could ride Nyla with Jun (also so everyone could use the bathroom).I woke up and was a bit panicked to find her not in the saddle with us, but apparently it's okay.
Toph has really taking a shining to Jun and wanted to go on a life changing field trip with her instead. Jun likes Toph well enough and didn't have a problem with this and so we had a quick stop for a Toph swap. I would have had a problem with this, but I was sound asleep and couldn't voice this opinion. But I've been on the back of that thing and it is not a comfortable ride. Toph gets motion sick on everything! Surely riding a shirshu would be no different.
Zuko was also not a fan of the Toph swap. Possibly for the same reason, or possibly because teasing him seems to be one of Jun and Toph's favourite activities and so the results of them spending a great deal of time together are probably not going to improve his mood. Jun told him to chill out, stop being a spoilsport etc and she'd look after Tiny for him. Zuko has not been reassured by this, but Suki pointed out that we would be able to see Toph the whole time and he should stop worrying.
I looked over the side of Appa and saw Toph's small self behind Jun. She looked to be holding onto Jun for dear life – which I initially thought was a worrying sign – but every now and then, when the air was clear and we were flying low, I would hear Toph's joyous woo hoo's or her loud cackling laughter in response to something Jun said. So they seem to be having a good time. Still, something in the frequent laughter worries me. Mostly because I am sure they are laughing about us.
-?-
We stopped for a lunch break. I started setting up lunch pretty quickly while the others gathered around me. Toph was 'stuck' on Nyla and Jun had to lift her off. Toph has what Jun calls jelly legs from being on the back of the shirshu for so long. She put Toph on the ground and Toph promptly sat down hard. Toph was a bit alarmed because she couldn't seem to walk properly. She tried to put on a brave face, but I could tell she was a little scared. Jun wasn't worried about this and was a bit dismissive re: Toph's distress.
Zuko stomped over and picked Toph up off the ground and carried her over to me. I couldn't actually do anything for her. I knew she'd just have pins and needles something fierce and the feeling in her legs would come back in a little while. I didn't tell her this and just started 'healing' her feet and she seemed comforted by the feeling. Sometimes pretending to do something can be just as affective as actual healing.
Zuko got cranky at Jun and had a bit of a shout at her. He said he knew something like this would happen and that's why he hadn't wanted Toph to go with Jun. Jun said blandly that he had to calm down. Look Pouty, you either need a whiskey sour, or to shag Sweetness or your other girlfriend (she pointed at Sokka here and he made the most offended face) right now because you are just too tense. Zuko, myself and Sokka got most stroppy at this but our anger seemed to amuse Jun no end. Toph as well.
Jun waved us all off with a whatever and sat down and asked when lunch was ready because she was famished. Toph, who still has a worrying amount of hero worship for Jun despite the fact that she currently can't feel her feet, said in a gushy voice that I have never heard from her before: Jun you are so funny.
Jun smiled at her and said she'd always thought so. Toph continued that she was so glad that Jun was on our side. Jun took out a sneaky hip flask, took a swig and asked why Toph would think that. Toph looked confused for a moment and said well you're here with us now. Jun said she was, but she was here for the cash and to see how many different variations of Pouty's angry/indignant face she could provoke in a day (so far Jun has counted 19 different angry faces and she is well pleased with this result). For once Toph didn't laugh at her joke and she said that she thought Jun wanted to help us save the world.
Jun snorted derisively and said she didn't do world saving and that was our problem. Toph made an almost sad face and Jun looked vaguely discomfited by this and she tried explaining further. She said she was neutral, she worked for the firenation and the earthkingdom alike. Basically she worked for whoever could pay her the most, so she would never technically be on anyone's side.
Toph turned her head away and it was a bit of an awkward moment. I wasn't quite sure what I should do to make this better. Toph had idolized Jun ever since she met her, laughed at all her jokes and generally thought she was the coolest person ever and now Jun had disappointed her. And I don't know how to fix that. I don't know if I should. It's bad to look up to people too much because then it hurts so much worse when they let you down. It's bad to pin all your hopes on one person because you never know if they are going to leave you or just stop existing when you need them the most.
Jun got up and sat next to Toph and said Listen Pint-size, I'm going to find this guy for you. Once I take on a job, I see it through, so the world isn't going to end. Toph nodded. Jun continued and said that this was her job and she did it to make money and there was too much work at the moment for her to go around doing favours for people. She gave Toph a very awkward one armed pat and Toph nodded but didn't say anything.
I tried to move the conversation past this little awkward moment; I asked Jun if there was more work that usual lately while I served up the rice for lunch. Jun seemed happy to change the topic from her mercenary nature to her job and said that there was much more work at the moment with all the rebellions, the jail breaks and the escaping war criminals etc. Jun was starting to think of hiring an apprentice because it was all getting too busy for her and she needed someone to help her lift the fat ones. She said she wouldn't mind taking shortstuff, but she was too young yet. And then she gave Toph a bit of a nudge and was rewarded with a small smile.
Suddenly Jun looked around at our group before focusing her eyes on Suki and asking Hey Ginger, how are you with projectiles? Suki looked up and said huh? with an exceptionally confused face. Jun explained that she was looking for a level headed apprentice who was good with projectiles and Suki was the best candidate out of all of us.
There has been some shenanigans over this, which resulted in Jun pointing at each of us in turn and explaining our inadequacy. She said Tiny's too young (Toph nodded, I think the allure of being a bounty hunter has worn off some) Pouty's far too hotheaded (Zuko protested that he didn't even want to be a bounty hunter anyway – a protest which Jun ignored) Smartmouth's too annoying (Sokka muttered that Jun was annoying too) and sweetness is far too emotional. I can accept that. I also don't want to be a bounty hunter.
Jun turned back to Suki and asked her what she thought about joining up, after our end of the world thing was sorted (she said end of the world thing somewhat dismissively). Suki was unsure and said that she wasn't a projectiles specialist anyway. Jun said she should think about it anyway, because it was a nice lifestyle, the money was good and it could really hone her sense of sarcasm. Suki looked a bit uncomfortable at being put on the spot and said that she was a Kyoshi Warrior and their philosophy was all about finding wisdom, not honing sarcasm.
Jun nodded and said that she didn't have much of that to offer. The best she could say for bounty hunting was that it gave her a better understanding of human nature. Suki made a skeptical face re: Jun's understanding of human nature. Jun, trying to prove her point, said take Pouty for example. Zuko protested quite irately at being used as an example (a protest which Jun ignored) and finally he said (rather perplexingly for me) Oh for Agni's sake, why do you always have to use me as an example. Jun ignored this too.
She said she'd been around Zuko for five days and she could tell us one thing for certain. Pouty acts like he's tougher than iron, but inside he's a big softie. She flashed him a grin and he just scowled at her grumpily. She said angry look number 20 to herself. Zuko made another very cross face at her and said you done? most crankily. Jun said Oh don't make that face at me Pouty! It's part of the reason why you're such a good boyfriend for sweet thing. Because she's the opposite. Outside she's cute and squishy – inside granite!
Okay Jun two things:
First thing – is being like granite on the inside a compliment? I don't even know.
Secondly, but far more importantly (so maybe this should have been the first thing) – Zuko is not my boyfriend. Oh for the love of Tui and La! For the last time everyone! We are not a couple! Zuko and I protested our non-coupled state (again!) What is with everybody! Really now! Seriously, we are not going out and we have not being having some sexy affair all summer long. Look I would not have been opposed to a sexy affair (in hindsight), but we did not have one and I don't like being teases for kisses and sex I haven't even had yet!
Had I had the kisses and the sex, then by all means, tease away.
I'm not even sure if I'm ready for the sex.
I wonder what the sex would be like with Zuko….
Mmmmmmmmhhhhh.
Anyway, I feel like Sokka and Suki and Toph are just …eerr…watching us hopefully all the time and thinking now kiss whenever we talk together/do anything together and that is a most disconcerting feeling. It makes me feel really self conscious. It makes me want to protest all the more that we are not going out – if only so they stop looking at us like that.
After Jun's comment, there was the usual, requisite protests that the others and now Jun have come to expect from us when they tease us re: our imaginary coupledom. Oh no, you've got it all wrong – we're just friends etc. Jun didn't appear to be listening. She waved dismissively at us and said she was bored of both our delusional denials . This prompted more of what she referred to as "delusional denials" until eventually Jun said, whatever you two, I'm trying to have a conversation with Ginger here. She turned back to Suki and asked again what Suki thought about a career in bounty hunting. Suki politely declined. Jun shrugged and said suit yourself.
-?-
When everyone had finished eating, Zuko started to hurry everyone along to get back on the bison/shirshu and stop loitering (the bison and the shirshu in question were once again sleeping, cuddling each other in a snuggly heap). Toph opted to come with us instead of having another ride of Nyla. We all started moving except Jun, who sighed in bored fashion and made various comments about Zuko's stress levels. She said that everyone was tired, his friends, the bison, Nyla, her – and couldn't he just relax for five minutes?
Zuko said he could not relax because we had a very limited amount of time before the comet and we had to find his Uncle before then or it would be the end of the world. Jun sighed and said Honestly what is it with you firebenders and this comet? She tried for a reassuring tone and said that in all serious, all that was going to happen was that firebenders would get their panties in a twist and there'd be a few more bar brawls than normal. So Zuko should just stop worrying.
There was an awkward little silence, I mean we'd told her repeatedly that it was the end of the world we were dealing with but she'd never seemed to take it seriously. She'd always dismissed it as teenage drama. We'd never actually sat down and spelled out for her how screwed we were without Aang, how much a shambles our plan was and how the firelord wanted to set the whole earth kingdom on fire. There hadn't seemed much point after she'd agreed to find Aang. We hadn't made time to fill her in ever since we'd started looking for Uncle Iroh, because it just hadn't seemed necessary. Until now.
We all looked at each other awkwardly for a second and Jun's expression became wary. Zuko spoke first and said Look Jun, tomorrow…I think after we've found Uncle, you should head as far north as you can. Jun crossed her arms in front and said tell me why pouty rather sternly.
We told her. Well Zuko started to tell her, but we all kept interjecting and so it really was a group effort. We told her everything she needed to know about the comet and crazy Ozai's crazy plan and loosing Aang. Jun's face changed from disbelieving to horrified (and expression I never thought I'd see on her calm features). She summarized our current situation in a nutshell and said:
So let me get this straight. The avatar leaves you guys high and dry and you all have no friggin idea where he is and the comet is tomorrow afternoon and when it comes we are all going to be fried to a crisp, along with the entire earth kingdom. Unless we can find Pouty's cheeky uncle so he can kill that crazy mofo in time. We admitted that that was about the long and the short of it. Zuko said that he had told her it was really important and it was actually about the end of the world. Jun said she had just thought it was more of his Pouty drama, sounding a bit distressed.
Jun said she needed a moment and she took a deep breath and wrapped her arms tighter around herself for a second before she looked up and said with some determination We have to keep moving. Zuko got a bit stroppy, because that was what he had been saying The Whole Time. However, at least now everyone was on the same page. We all climbed on Appa and took off in record time and the search for Uncle Iroh continues.
-?-
I didn't realize that Jun had been holding back on how fast Nyla could travel until after lunch. Suddenly the shirshu took off at twice the speed she'd been running at and at first it was hard for Appa to keep up with her and we had to take him to a higher altitude so he could catch up quicker. Jun and Nyla became just elephant rat size beneath us and the ground whipped past at amazing speed.
Telling the story to Jun had left a solemn mood over us and there was no joking and no teasing and nothing else to distract us from our current situation. I actually missed the teasing. What is wrong with me? The teasing was preferable to this oppressive silence. Chief Arnook had described this feeling as the quiet dread.
I hate feeling this way. I hate feeling so uncertain. The comet is tomorrow and I have no idea how that's going to turn out. Even I couldn't muster up anything optimistic to say and that's saying something. I longed to say that everything was going to be alright, to reassure the others and myself – but I just didn't feel it right then.
I don't feel it now.
Where is Aang?
-?-
Jun rode at lightning speed and we covered heaps of ground between lunch and dinner. The sun had set long ago and there was a touch of cold in the air. We'd come a long was from tropical Ember Island in little over a day. I set up dinner quickly and we all sat around and ate in silence. Even Jun was without her usual trademark sass and sarcasm. She asked us, seriously, what our plan was for tomorrow. There was a bit of silence and we all looked around at each other. In truth, without Uncle, there was no plan – and we hadn't found Uncle yet. Eventually I said that we would just work together and would do whatever we could do and I was sure that if we all worked together we could accomplish anything and everything would turn out alright. Etc etc.
It was a fairly standard hopeful speech for me. I hoped I could cheer the others up and make them feel more positive. Still I don't know if they believed me or not. I don't know if I believed it myself. Jun said well good luck with that. There was a moment's silence and then she looked at Zuko and said head north you say? Zuko said she should head as far north as she could and preferably away from Ba Sing Se and towards the coast.
Jun smirked slightly and said Zuko really had no sense of direction because we were really close to Ba Sing Se now. We were only about an hour away from the city walls. Zuko said we couldn't be -because there was no way his Uncle would go there again. Jun smiled and said in a teasing sarcastic tone that sound much more like her normal voice well your crazy Uncle does wacky things sometimes and… I hear there are a few nunneries on the outskirts- Zuko made a very cross face and she held up a hand in submission and said just teasing. She looked serious again and said that she wouldn't be able to take us all the way if he was beyond the walls. She was forbidden from ever entering the city.
Oh.
We ate in silence and were ready to get on the move again pretty quickly after that. But halfway through dinner, Jun asked if she could speak with Pouty alone for a second. Zuko nodded and they got up and walked a short distance away. We could still hear them quite clearly in the calm night air. Sokka, Suki, Toph and I are all like-minded eavesdroppers after all and so we listened to the whole thing.
Jun said, in a tone that could almost be mistaken for affection. Listen pouts, I can see you're real nervous about seeing your Uncle again but I just wanted to tell you that is one thing you don't have to worry about. Zuko said she couldn't know that, but Jun disagreed and said she could and she'd gotten to know the two of them quite well after all – and also she had run into Uncle earlier in the summer. Zuko quickly asked how his Uncle was and Jun said he'd seemed fine, but he had been missing his Pouty. Zuko lowered his head and there was silence for a few seconds and then Jun said she'd had a few drinks together with his Uncle and it looked like Zuko nodded in amusement. Jun cleared her throat and said awkwardly he told me about what happened to that cousin of yours and how he– Zuko's head snapped up. But suddenly she broke off and said almost to herself oh this is too touchy feely for me. She crossed her arms and took a step back and said in a very business-like and forthright tone look he's not going to tell you to piss off. I know that much. He might be furious as all hell at you, but he'll be glad to see you. So suck it up and quit your moping because the last thing your little group of friends needs is for you to be mr dark and broody right now.
Zuko nodded and said thanks Jun and they started to walk back. Zuko said a little disbelievingly that he couldn't believe his Uncle had told Jun about…he trailed off and just finished with...that lamely. They were close enough for me to make out their facial expressions and Jun suddenly got the cheekiest look on her face. Her old sass returned to her and she said sardonically yeah, we had that post coital sharing moment. Your Uncle's a volcano in the sack! Zuko made the most comical, horrified and disgusted face and I swear it looked like steam started coming out of his ears. Jun quickly said Ooh hey, Don't let your head explode there pouts! I was just kidding.
-?-
An hour later we were at the outside wall of Ba Sing Se. Jun and Nyla stopped and we landed Appa right next to her. She looked over at us and gave us a bit of a smile. It actually looked like a sad smile, just quietly. She said with her usual sarcasm Well pouts, this is it. I'd say keep out of trouble, but I know that's not your style. But then she added in a different tone entirely tell you're Uncle Iroh I say hi. I don't why it struck me so much, but I noticed that was the first time she'd used Iroh's name all day. Zuko said he would. She added that Nyla was getting twitchy so he must be close. He couldn't be more that twenty minutes walk away. Zuko said she'd been a great help for taking us this far. She said I wasn't doing if for free you know! You still owe me a huge arse sparkly ruby affectionately. Zuko smiled ruefully at her and said he'd remember. She said he better and he knew where to find her when it was time to pay up. She said goodbye quickly (well actually she said she hated goodbyes, so lets not make a big thing and lets just say see you later instead). Then she turned to gallop away but seemed to hold back at the last minute and turned to look at all of us. Her face softened and she said good luck, so sincerely that I am sure she meant it.
-?-
Zuko said it was too late to keep searching tonight and it had been a long day and we were all tired and we should make camp here. Tomorrow would be a big day and we all needed as much sleep as we could get. Everyone seemed happy that someone was making decisions and fell in line – well mostly we all just fell about exhausted. In my opinion travelling days are always super tiring and I don't even know why.
Sokka flopped on Appa's tale and pulled Suki down with him and they started to spoon each other and were sound asleep within a second. Toph stumbled over to a flat bit of ground and made herself one of those little earth tents that she is so fond of. I had the very brief urge to nag them into setting up camp, but what would be the point? We were all so tired and so exhausted and Sozin's comet was tomorrow and who can set up camp with that hanging over their head?
Zuko had walked over to Appa's right side and I had a brief moment of indecision (there was a whole free bison side I could sleep on after all) then I followed him. I lay down right next to him, as close as I could be without it being weird. He seemed a bit surprised, but then he smiled at me. He seemed in a slightly better mood since his chat/pep talk with Jun. I asked him how he was in a quiet whisper. I didn't want to wake the others, but I just wanted to talk to him. Almost every night back at the house, we'd end up having these little chats. Maybe I've gotten used to talking to Zuko last thing before I go to bed and maybe I find it comforting and maybe sometimes we all needs our little comforts and maybe there's nothing weird about that.
He said he was doing okay and asked how I was –really. It was such a simply question and I don't even know what happened but I just felt my face crumple. It crumpled against my will! I'd like to think that it was just because I was tired and emotional, but it was more than that. I've been trying so hard all day to keep up a brave face for the others and to just...stay positive about everything and not show them how worried and anxious I am. But now that they were asleep and it was just Zuko and I, I couldn't pretend anymore. His arm came around me quickly and he pulled me against his chest and hugged me.
I don't know if it was romantic, but I know it was really comforting. All I wanted right then was some comfort and for someone to make me feel safe; safe and like the world wasn't going to end tomorrow. I think I felt, but I am not 100% sure, a gentle kiss on the top of my head. He said Hey now, it's okay. I got a bit argumentative and said it wasn't okay, everything was far from okay right now.
He held me tighter and didn't say anything for a moment. Suddenly he whispered, in that excited tone he uses when he's got an idea. Do you want to know what my mum used to say? I was perplexed by this change in topic and I nodded. Zuko took a deep breath and said she used to say that everything works out alright in the end, so if it hasn't worked out alright – it's not the end. I couldn't help but smile. There was no way Zuko could have known this but my Gran Gran used to say the exact same thing.
Zuko mistook my silence for a disagreement with the saying and he said sorry, I know that's silly- but it kept me going for a long time. I told him it wasn't silly at all and my Gran Gran used to say the exact same thing. There was another quiet moment and then I confessed quietly it's actually what I've been telling myself all day but it's not working. I couldn't suppress my anxiety any longer and I whispered back, in more of a worried hiss than a whisper where is he! How could he just leave us! Zuko didn't know.
There was another pause before Zuko said you want to know what I do know. You were right. I have begun to suspect that sometimes Zuko tells me I'm right when I am very upset, just to get me to calm down. I could not think of anything I had said in the last five minutes of this conversation that would warrant a you were right. So I said that though I always liked to hear those words, he was going to have to be more specific. What was I right about?
He said I was right about what I'd said earlier to Jun…about all of us working together and being able to accomplish anything. I felt myself smile when he said that. At least someone was listening to my optimistic speech. Zuko held me tighter and said We don't have Aang, but we've got eachother. You've still got me… oh Tui and La, this is not the right time or the right place at all, but in that moment, I really wanted to kiss him. He seemed to realize how intimate that sounded and he quickly added and Sokka and Suki and Toph of course. I said of course in agreement and hugged him back tighter.
-?-
Frightfully long authors notes, because this chapter wasn't long enough already:
Lovely readers! Thanks so much for all the wonderful reviews and encouragement! Much love to you all. If you have reached the end of this enormous chapter then even more love for you. So this huge chapter deals with the day in between the night that the Gaang (minus aang) hire Jun and arriving at Ba Sing Se. In the show, it is covered by a thirty second montage. Instead of breezing past it, I wrote many many many words. When I rewatched I noticed that in Sozin's comet part 2, Zuko and Katara are sleeping quite close to each other, even though there is a whole other free side of Appa for sleeping. They don't have to sleep next to each other, but they choose to. This gave me thoughts (which I shall share in long rambly form)
Mostly this chapter deals with Jun, our patron saint. They would have theoretically spent the whole night/day following her. I am sure they must have taken breaks at some point and hung out together a bit. Jun as a character, is a tough lady all over (hard on the outside, hard on the inside) and wonderfully snarky. She was someone who knew season 1 Zuko well and is meeting late season 3 Zuko for the first time. Also I do think that she would be more neutral regarding the war. Jun is quite mercenary, she's in it for the money and she is unapologetic about this. So I don't think she would be on anyone's side perse. It's not to say she doesn't care, but I think she plays it smart and works for whoever can pay the highest.
So even though I think she has a certain fondness for Zuko, she still demands payment. In the show it was implied that Zuko shouted at her about the end of the world and then she did it for free. I respectfully disagree. Season 1 Zuko was a bit shouty, so I don't think his shouting would phase Jun that much. But she can see that his situation has changed (no ship, no uncle, probably not much cash) and so she asks for an I owe you for the most expensive thing she can think of that Zuko could theoretically get access to (Jun would think of this as a kindness, because she's not demanding upfront payment). So that is why she wants the ruby.
In my imagination, Clink Vaults is where all the booty that is reposed/reaquired from convicted criminals in the firenation is kept. It would be an off the books source of wealth for the royal family. It would be very well guarded and catalogued. When Uncle ends up in jail for treason, I think most of his fancy possessions/treasures/trophies would have ended up in Clink Vaults (and maybe a few in Ozai's room too, I'm sure there are a few things of Iroh's that Ozai was dying to get his hands on.) Jun would know of its existence (she knows her treasure and there is lots of fancy stuff in there) and knows what it means when Zuko says his Uncle's stuff is in Clink Vaults.
I think Zuko and Jun have an odd sort of friendship (though neither of them would describe it as such). But I think being stuck together for a few days would have helped them get used to each other and develop a certain affection for each other. Naturally YMMV. I think Jun likes Zuko well enough, but more importantly she LOVES to tease him. He takes himself so seriously and that is just an invitation for teasing. She loves his overblown and overdramatic reactions and various angry faces. Anyway when the Gaang come and find her, Zuko is the person she knows the best, so she focuses most of her teasing on him in an almost older sisterly way.
This is just my interpretation here, but I think Jun doesn't have much in the way of family/close friends, as she lives a fairly nomadic life being a bounty hunter. The few times we see her, she is frequently buy drinks for people in the pub, which tells me that though she lives a fairly solitary life, she doesn't like to drink alone. This would be part of the reason why she drags Zuko to the pub with her after the nun incident – the other big part would be that she would be very curious to see what he was like drunk.
Being stuck with Zuko and Iroh while Nyla recovered would have driven her bananas at first, but then she would have gotten used to them and enjoyed their hilarious interactions (season 1 Iroh and Zuko really cracked me up – Zuko is so serious and Iroh is so jolly and the whole thing just worked for me) and developed an almost familial, though rarely expressed, affection for the two of them. Also I think the nun incident and the musical incident would have been a big icebreaker.
I also think Zuko will never drink whiskey again. He'll drink other things (and regret it later) but just the smell of whiskey will make him think of the incident/the first time he was terribly ridiculously drunk/hungover etc. Ooh back in stalking Zuko, I had him get drunk with Sokka and said that getting drunk with peers would have been a really rare experience for him. I still stand by this, but I actually think the night of the incident would have been the first time he got well wankered. Jun would have found drunk Zuko hilarious.
So I like wise, all knowing Uncle Iroh, but I like bon Vivant Uncle Iroh too. I think that Uncle Iroh has had a very rich, full and varied life and we only get the tiniest glimpses at his history. He has gained wisdom from philosophy etc, but he has also gained wisdom but just plain living and getting amongst it. Iroh seemed to treat Zuko's banishment like an extended holiday in some respects. I also think that he was always trying to get Zuko to lighten up a bit and was trying to show by example the ways in which Zuko could get some enjoyment out of life. And Iroh, like Jun and later Katara, also thought that a bit of friendly teasing and learning not to take himself so seriously would be a good thing for him.
He wanted to be a good Uncle and support his nephew yes, but he also wanted to have a good time himself. Uncle is a compulsive shopper and a big flirt (in Bato of the water tribe alone, he constantly cracks onto Jun and flirts with Aunt Wu), but I would also like to hypothesize that he was not opposed to a good drink, a bit of a drunken sing-a-long and some debauchery either.
The idea of debauchery going on at that abbey is not mine, it's from Avatar Abridged and everyone should watch that little series if you haven't already. For science! The hedgehog can never be buggered at all is also not mine, but belongs to the wonderful and brilliant Terry Pratchett. I have only just recently discovered his epic genius! Anyway for those of you who have read the witches series – does anyone else think that Iroh is the male, non-witchy version of Nanny Ogg? Nanny Ogg is also a Bon Vivant with great wisdom and patience and she is a great foil for the more serious characters around her – but she also has the greatest insight into human nature and can rather easily put people at ease and make friends. Anyway Nanny Ogg has a delightful tendency to sing the hedgehog song while drunk and I thought I'd borrow this particularly charming personality trait and assign it to Uncle Iroh. Also Iroh's tendency to sing the hedgehog can never be buggered at all while drunk could go along way to explaining Zuko's deep antipathy to music night.
Anyway Jun just tells us what happened on the first night, but many more shenanigans and a few soppy emotional conversations happened after the incident and if I get the time, I will definitely do a one shot detailing Zuko, Iroh and Jun's five days of fun. In fact that is probably what it will be called.
Jun gives Zuko a nice pep talk near the end of this chapter and I think it was something he needed to hear. Zuko's a big worrier and I think that had this day been in the cartoon there would be a lot of nervousness from Zuko about seeing his Uncle again. Jun picks up on this and at first she tries the touchy feely – he'll forgive you speech. But she doesn't know the full story, she probably wouldn't forgive anyone who got her locked in prison and touchy feely is not her style (it's Katara's) so she settles for a pull yourself together pep talk instead.
Zuko is the unofficial leader in Sozin's comet and it seems like the Gaang look to him to make all the decisions. Jun can see this and she can also see how down the Gaang all are about their predicament. So she tells him to suck it up because people need him. And for Zuko, who has such a giant sense of responsibility, being told that people need him would be a big shove in the right direction and help him push aside his more mopey tendencies.
If you want to read about the time that Jun runs into Iroh at the start of summer, you may get to read that too – but that's all I'll say.
So in this chapter I also touched on the theme of hero worship . Toph in the episode clearly has a great deal of admiration for Jun and I wanted to take that idea further. I think that she would see Jun as this grown up awesome badass. Toph considers herself a tiny awesome badass, so to me it made sense that she would idolize Jun to a certain extent and see her as a good role model. I actually think that Jun and Toph would make great friends and Jun would warm to Toph a great deal. I think they have very similar sense of humour and they would laugh a lot together on their little ride (Katara is right, they were mostly laughing at them). But Jun is a much...well... harder person than Toph. She likes laughing with Toph and teasing the others with her, but as soon as Toph needs some gentle reassurances (when she has jelly legs) from her, Jun can't provide that. I think Jun is not a touchy feely person, and to her, jelly legs would not be a big deal and she would have a hard time mustering up the sympathy for it. But for Toph, who sees with her feet, it would be a bit frightening. Then Jun disappoints her further with her mercenary attitude. Toph has a very strong moral compass and I think she would find Jun's apathy to the fate of the world a bit jarring with her idealised image of Jun. Toph would learn the problems of putting another person on a pedestal, because no one can live up to such an idealised image and Jun is no exception.
I don't think Jun's heartless, she can see she's upset Toph a little. She had a fondness for her new tiny friend, so she does try and make it better. At the same time she is not going to pretend to be something she's not. Also at this point, Jun thinks the end-of-the-world-drama they keep talking about is just teenage angst etc. She's not taking it seriously. As soon as she realises how serious the situation is she galvanises into action. After even Jun knows they are in dire straits, everyone is much more serious. I think just retelling Jun would remind the Gaang of how much trouble is coming their way.
Jun is also looking for an apprentice who is level headed and a projectiles expert. I think most of you will be able to hazard a guess at where I am going with this. I should say that in my imagination, Jun wants a projectiles expert because she's figured out a way to put Nyla's venom in darts (like tranquiliser darts) and she wants to be able to catch bad guys who are, for whatever reason, beyond the reach of Nyla's tongue.
Mai and Jun (see they are like the months of the year) – together they fight crime! Come one, you know it makes sense. I'll have more to write on this is later chapters, but I have a few Mai thoughts I'd like to share with you guys now. So to me, Mai really resembles Ursa physically. They both have very angular faces and similar builds and even dress similarly with those big sleeves and everything. One could demur about mummy issues and Zuko's subsequent attraction to a girl who looks like a younger version of his mum. But this is not the place for that! (a later chapter's rambly author's notes will be the place for that).
The other character Mai resembles is Jun, but she resembles her personality as well. Both of them are very cynical, sarcastic and fairly apathetic. Both of them have a fondness for black/dark colours. Both of them have little patience for Zuko's drama. There are many more similarities (which will also be explored in a later Author's note). Anyway, I just think Mai and Jun would be a wonderfully snarky crime fighting team together and Mai would enjoy the bounty hunter lifestyle because it is not at all boring. Your thoughts?
Anyway, the little scene with Toph and Jun causes Katara to reflect, obliquely, on how much idealised images have affected her and Aang's relationship. Aang obviously idealises Katara and has her on a pedestal. He doesn't cope very well when she strays from this image. However Katara also idealises Aang to a certain extent. She has so much unshakable faith in him. She truly believes that he can save the world. She never thought he would leave them (even though that is, arguably, not Aang's fault). Katara already has huge issues with being left (see her conversation with Hakoda in the awakening). She doesn't like being left even when she understands and agrees with the reasons for leaving. She doesn't understand at all how or why Aang is gone and he has disappeared right when she needs him the most. I started thinking how she would cope with that.
I think she would try to ignore the confusion, worry, panic and anxiety that I think Aang's departure must have roused in her. She tries her best not to think of it and puts on her brave face for the Gaang and tries to be strong for them. I think that if Katara, the person with the most hope and faith, freaked out, they would all freak out. It doesn't get dealt with in the series, but the evening they meet Jun, she tells them that Aang doesn't exist anymore and then it is at least a full day until the meet up with the order of the white lotus. What on earth are the gang thinking during this day? They have literally no hope of finding Aang, no plan and nothing to go on and the end is friggin nigh. I think there would be a great deal of barely surpressed worries. To me it makes sense that during the day, they'd all allow Jun (who doesn't understand how serious the situation is) to distract them with trivialities and funny stories etc.
But at night, when it is just Katara and Zuko, I think she would let her brave face slip a little bit. One of the things I like about Zutara would be that if they ever got together, they wouldn't be pretending for each other. They've seen each other at their worst and they have no illusions about each other. I think Katara wouldn't be comfortable with expressing fear and anxiety except around Zuko, because he sees through the brave face to a certain extent.
In this fic, I have Katara comforting Zuko a fair bit. But I think he is equally capable of comforting her when she is feeling low. I think they find mutual comfort and support in the each other and not just when the other person is feeling down either. In this chapter, I have Zuko freely give over the reigns/control to Katara. It's a small moment, but things like that would be a big deal between them, especially because both of them are big control freaks.
While in many respects, Zuko and Katara are opposites, I actually think that they have very similar and complimentary personalities. To me there is a difference between being total opposites, you-two-make-no-sense-together opposites and finding someone who is very different but has a complimentary personality. Where Zuko and Katara are at opposites, it doesn't mean that opposition is a source of conflict – instead it is a source of balance, like Ying and Yang. They can provide for each other, in a Zutara union, the qualities that they lack as individuals. I have Jun reference this opposition/balance when she is teasing them about how Zuko is hard on the outside and squishy on the inside, but Katara is the reverse. Jun is saying it just to get a rise out of Zuko, but still I think it is a valid argument.
I have also, in the period between this chapter and the last chapter, discovered tumblr (I'm emletish-fish over there) and all the Zutara now kiss posts. I don't know why these crack me up as much as they do, but I find them hilarious! I realised that I've made Sokka and Suki and Toph such shippers on deck that it's not out of the realm of possibility that they would think this and make hopeful faces whenever our dynamic duo are together. Katara picks up on this and finds it disconcerting.
Next chapter the Gaang will go to camp old people, reconnect with their old masters and Zuko will be reunited with Uncle Iroh.
Til then lovely readers.