[ hey it's zuko here ]

[recrowns]

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week 0, saturday

[recrowns]

[do two princes know anything about cooking let's find out

soo-won is pulling out ingredients. there's bellpeppers, potatoes, tomatoes, a singular carrot. when zuko walks in soo-won will wave hello to him in greeting]

Do you know what could be cooked with these?

[he's phoning a friend]

[cuedoves]

[ zuko at this point is still highly suspicious (tm) of how convenient the food is, but he is eyeballing soo-won's medley of ingredients. ]

[ hm. hmmmm.... ]

[ there's an embarrassingly long pause. ]

Stew...?

week 0, post-trial

[cuedoves]

[ zuko's back in the kitchen..... but this time, he's actually eating something. he's just gnawing on some carrots with a can of tuna that looks like it's been punctured with a knife. ]

[ he nods to soo-won when he sees him ]

Good work earlier.

[recrowns]

[ . . . . . he is eating something and soo-won smiles at that, along with the praise]

Same to you.

I think the person who helped deal with our offender should have a better dinner than this.

Do you like curry?

week 1, thursday

[cuedoves]

[ wherever soo-won is, zuko is hunting him down!!! to fuss! ]

Are your wounds taken care of?

[ if not the fuss will intensify!! ]

[recrowns]

[wow the fuss

soo-won is just chilling against a tree, to be honest, gaze tilted upward to watch gulfan fly in the sky

and he smiles when zuko approaches]

My singular wound is, yes. You needn't worry.

week 1, post-inves

[recrowns]

[WELL AFTER THAT - soo-won is honestly making the rounds though

it looks like he might have had some troubles of his own?? his arm looks like the sleeve is torn in places and his leg the same, though cloth bandages peek out from underneath]

Zuko?

Ah, I'm glad you're alright...

[cuedoves]

[ soo-won..... he's definitely getting a frown when zuko notices his condition. ]

I'm fine. Did something happen?

[ a beat. ]

Aside from the murder.

week 2, thursday pre-curfew

[recrowns]

[soo-won is actually leaving the inn with something in his hands!! it looks like it's a small doll?? though as he does so, he'll actually notice zuko before offering up a smile

once the emotions seem to catch zuko will likely catch the tail end, retreating sense of wistfulness and heartache - replaced by a sincere happiness to see him]

Oh, Zuko! I was actually hoping I'd run into you.

You're going to be staying with Yona this evening, right?

[cuedoves]

[ zuko is curious and tries to get a glimpse of the doll..... ]

[ zuko's got some trepidation and weariness, but it alleviates slightly when he catches sight of won. ]

Yeah. We're probably going to go the first aid room.

[ that's good news for won!! ]

What about you?

week 2, post-execution

[recrowns]

[in truth soo-won isn't looking for zuko immediately but when he sees him, he ends up at attention - and then chooses to actually approach him]

.... Zuko.

I wanted to apologize.

[cuedoves]

[ honestly, he's still a pretty big emotional mess, but it seems... muted now, almost. ]

Won.

[ .... ]

For what? You didn't do anything wrong.

week 3, monday

[cuedoves]

[ by this point, waking up in a different room is becoming routine, so he wakes up (which is pretty early) and observes his new surroundings with annoyance -- but once he sees soo-won, the expression lightens. ]

[ if soo-won is still sleeping, when he awakens, there will be tea waiting for him. if he's awake, zuko will just... wave. ]

Guess it's us this week.

[recrowns]

[this is so cute.

soo-won actually wakes up really early too tho!! so he's probably actually. coming back into the room and also bringing tea for them both i hate this, it's such a cute tea room. he's just smiling right back]

So it is! I feel relieved - I'm happy to be rooming with a friend this week.

I've taken to retrieving breakfast in the morning... Is there anything you'd like me to get you before you wake?

week 3, post-inves

[cuedoves]

[ zuko's spent a lot of time looking for any traces of sumire, and he's come up empty. it's been hours of fruitless searching, manpain, chickens following him, and all that. he finally returns to the room, then sees soo-won, and sighs. not at him, but the situation ]

... I invited Yona over. I figured you wouldn't have a problem with it.

[ she doesn't need to be alone right now ]

[recrowns]

Ah - thank you for the foresight.

[he nods immediately at that - soo-won was so busy looking for sumire and also being dragged around random places by people? why do people need him today.

he looks a little tired, already resting on their nest of kigus, but manages a smile]

I feel better knowing you're looking after her, too.

week 3, post-trial LORE

[recrowns]

[soo-won?

didn't look well all day! it seemed like he was mostly leaning against shelves, listening, taking in information until the end when he collected himself, and began to contribute again. however it seems that late, late at night, there'll be the sound of shuffling outside their bedroom door.

yet as the door wrenches open, it's less accurate to say that soo-won walks through - and more that he almost tumbles, stumbling. he only barely thinks to shut the door behind him before he nearly collapses, one hand presses against his skull.

he's shaking, pale, and feverish.

welcome home.]

[cuedoves]

[ yeah, zuko did notice soo-won's lack of energy and potential illness, but he was busy sniffing people's hair for fire. also, hangman, murder, and all that. ]

[ that being said, the second he walks in and stumbles, zuko's rushing to his side, bracing himself to catch him. ]

Soo-won! What's wrong?

week 3, sunday

[cuedoves]

[ zuko's bringing soo-won tea again!!! ]

... Hey. Any better today?

[recrowns]

[zuko is so nice - soo-won's just tucked away in the book store in his fort of books. and actually, he looks much better!

he looks excited for tea and offers a smile]

Much, actually. Maybe thanks to your excellent care?

[his tone is light but also like

grateful]

week 4, wednesday (pre event)

[cuedoves]

[ hewwo soo-won!! zuko's here to check on you.... he's brought tea, as well. though his movements are slower than usual. ]

... I know we're not in the same room anymore... but I thought it'd be nice.

[ just as he's about to set the tea down, however, he notices a memory bubble in the corner of his eye! uh oh! ]

Watch out, it's one of those stupid... memory things!

[ he tries to wave it away, but it just ends up popping. ]

[ and, well. ]

[ it's iroh begging zuko to choose the side of good, while his sister tells him she needs him, and that he will have father's love back. and his honor. ]

[ and zuko... makes the wrong decision. he chooses to betray uncle, then viciously attack the avatar. in tag teaming with his sister, they defeat katara and aang -- azula seems to have killed aang, actually? while iroh steps in to help katara and aang escape, and is branded a traitor. as it turns out? zuko actually helped his nation win the war they've been fighting. he's a little conflicted about this situation -- saying that he betrayed uncle, but azula assures him that iroh betrayed him, and that he restored his own honor ]

[ but did he? ]

[recrowns]

[ . . . . oh.

soo-won reaches up for the tea just in the moment that zuko tries to wave away the bubble - and then he tries to steady it, to keep it from falling. when the memories flash in front of his eyes, he seems surprised - yet thoughtful.

it explains a bit then, about the look that zuko had the last time that he mentioned his uncle.]

.... you regret it.

[softly, barely a question.]

week 4, post-inves

[recrowns]

[well they eventually (cloud strife voice) mosey on over to the first aid station!

and soo-won will move to pull on the sleeve of zuko's shirt because he saw you wincing earlier, sir?]

I wouldn't suppose you've got somethin' to hide from me?

[is there a snake in zuko's boot]

[cuedoves]

[ he's fine!!! ]

[ but. sighs. it was only a matter of time.... who knew physical exertion when you're injured would reveal said injury? ]

Yona, Izumo and I went into the mines on Tuesday. Before you say anything... both Yona and I had to keep Izumo out of trouble, more than either of us.

[ but zuko knows he's in trouble. there's a snake in his shirt.... but there's a snake in the boot of his heart. ]

week 4, post-exec

[recrowns]

[honestly? soo-won probably disappeared for a bit! he wandered off to go check on other people but - at some point, he'll come back to zuko's side because of course he does

and he'll reach for his hand rather immediately]

Hello.

[cuedoves]

[ yeah, zuko reluctantly parted as well.... but he makes zero hesitation in grabbing his hand back. ]

... I missed you.

[ slightly sulkily. ]

week 5, monday

[recrowns]

[well okay that was weird

sometime after all that, soo-won is going to go looking for zuko? he doesn't mind if it takes a while, him worry]

week 5, post-investigation

[recrowns]

[well soo-won makes him very hard to find rather immediately.

so it's probably some combination of accident and luck - a guest of wind, a cry of a falcon, and the softest 'ah' when there is suddenly a paper descending from the sky

or, well, the rooftop of the planetarium

and then it flutters down, down, down - depending on whether zuko catches it or lets it fall to the ground.

but should he pick it up, he'll see the photograph on the other side.]

[cuedoves]

[ zuko does catch it, he looks at it, can recognize all of the people involved, and feels a little like he's been stabbed, himself! ]

[ but then, he looks up, trying to see where it came from -- trying to get a glimpse of soo-won. ]

It's me, Soo-Won.

[ it's soft, but just loud enough for him to hear it. it's redundant, but -- just as soo-won's chosen to trust him with his past -- zuko's hoping he'll trust him with his emotions. ]

week 5, post-trial

[cuedoves]

[ zuko is just hanging out in his room with his snakes.... lying down. the ssons are sleeping for now. zuko is just gently dying, but he does try to sit up when he sees soo-won enter. ]

... I guess it's you taking care of me this time.

[ they're both fucking poisoned. ]

[recrowns]

[well sir pent fucking hates soo-won so he'll... give the snakes some room. when he enters, he has some tea, some water, more medicine all on a tray. he looks ill himself but.]

I think I'm a bit more used to it, at least.

[caring for others - but he'll offer zuko some medicine along with some water before pouring tea for them both]

week 7, post-trial

[cuedoves]

... You can stay in my room. Hua Cheng isn't around much, anyway.

[ first and foremost!! he is not letting soo-won sleep on a bench somewhere like a hobo. ]

[recrowns]

Eh, really? I was just going to stay up with Lessa, but if you don't mind...