soo-won shippushes hilda and zuko

[recrowns]

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week 5, wednesday evening

[recrowns]

[well.

it happens sometime after the ball concludes and all the evening has turned to embers. soo-won disappears briefly, but then he will go back to collect hilda and zuko both, leading them to the music room in the castle and moving to shut the doors behind him. there sits a tray of tea - floral-scented, but there is a distinct lemon taste to it this time.

soo-won's expression was carefully neutral before this, even capable of managing a faint smile here and there, but once the doors click shut, he closes his eyes and there is no denying the sadness in his eyes.]

.... I've been selected to handle the splintering nova issue come tomorrow for Goat.

Hilda, you needn't accompany me if it is no longer convenient for you to do so.

Zuko, I've decided to tell you as well, because I do not want to put Hilda in a position where she has to keep it from you.

[a beat]

.... and because -

[there is a longer beat of silence, as though he himself is struggling to get the words out. to acknowledge them as an irrefutable truth, and something that he must do.

does he seem - a bit pale?

eventually, he pushes through.]

The target is Yona.

[axecessory]

[ going from the ball to this is certainly a shift in mood—hilda's still in her formalwear, though she knows how wednesday nights go. zuko being here isn't as surprising as expected, either. what a mess they've gotten themselves into. ]

Well, I'll be out that night anyway...

[ she tries to sound casual about it, like it's no big deal that hey, she'll be out killing—may as well swing by and help won kill someone he cares about!

this is the worst. she intertwines her fingers, frowning. ]

Are you going to be okay?

[cuedoves]

[ zuko's still in his formalwear too -- crown prince attire, which just makes him angrier at everything! ]

[ he does listen to soo-won patiently despite all of this, nodding along, waiting -- until he says his target's name ]

[ and, well. it's one of the few names he can't quite accept! ]

[ he surges forward, dramatically trying to shove soo-won against a wall or the nearest wall-like surface ]

Don't lie to me! She can't--- she can't splinter!

[recrowns]

[soo-won is about to respond to hilda -

when he suddenly finds himself thrown against the wall, blinking in surprise at zuko before feeling something cement for him.

if you're anything like him, I know how this will end.]

.... as long as you don't think this reason enough to reveal me at trial and throw off what I've planned, you can think what you like of me.

[you can think that he's lying, or that he's being cruel. that this is some sort of trap or roundabout revenge, given his history with yona. he would deserve it.

but he'll look past zuko to hilda.]

I'll be fine.

[axecessory]

[ hilda winces a little when zuko grabs at him, though she doesn't intercept him just yet. they both seem close to yona—she can't imagine how hard it is when the splintering victim is someone they're close to. it was bad enough with claude.

their circumstances are cruel; she puts a hand gently on zuko's elbow, appeasing. ]

...It's not going to be any easier for him than it is for you, Zuko.

[ are either of them going to be okay? ]

week 5, thursday post-murder

[recrowns]

[it's a terrible night.

soo-won has no particular desire to wait or delay what needs to be done but - well, zuko had said that he wanted to see yona. what he sees won't be a pretty sight by any means. her body is broken, beaten, bruised, and bloody. they stand at the forest by the stream, watching the horizon for the first sign of sunrise, and soo-won...

well, he doesn't say anything in particular to either of them. he would rather be exacting and ruthless in this moment, holding onto certainty and sharpness.

yet in the moments before zuko approaches, he will walk a few steps past hilda and say quietly:]

.... thank you.

For being here.

[for him.]

[cuedoves]

[ it's been a long day, and zuko almost doesn't want to be here. but somehow, it would be worse if he wasn't here. if he looked away. he stares at yona's body momentarily, then back to soo-won. ]

[ he doesn't say anything in response to the thanks, but he does put his hand on soo-won's shoulder. ]

[ his voice is hoarse. ]

Did she suffer?

[axecessory]

[ from start to finish, today has sucked. it's been a grueling several hours—and has it only been hours?—but they're all through with what they set out to do, and now it's just about wrapping up and pretending none of this ever happened.

hilda looks more shaken than usual, and she wonders how much of it is the curse and how much is her own nerves. she tries for something quippy—you owe me one, don't get used to it—but after a moment just shakes her head before reaching out and squeezing his hand. ]

...Yeah. Of course.

[ she's here. and so is zuko. she gives him a weak wave as he approaches, spiritless, but she leaves actually answering him to soo-won. they were all closer to yona than she was. ]

[recrowns]

[ . . . . . .

it's comfort that he doesn't deserve. still, when hilda reaches out for his hand, he'll take hers in return and give it a gentle squeeze. then he turns to zuko, and doesn't flinch away from the hand at his shoulder.

soo-won's words are - careful. neutral. like giving a report. like he's taken all his emotions and put them away in one box, as they presently serve no purpose for him.]

With her nova splintering... her memories must've become - scattered. It sounded as though... she reverted back to the moment that she realized that I had killed her father. So she became afraid.

[and she ran from him, and he had to pursue her like the villain she'd always thought him to be.]

It was not as quick or painless as I would have liked - but I wrote to Sharon that she ought to take care of her on the other side. I hope that will be the case.

Are the two of you alright? No major injuries?

week 5, friday evening

[recrowns]

[honestly if they come find him earlier that's also fine but - by the time that soo-won is back in the inn for the evening, he's just going to be making some tea before bed. it's very floral and smelly, as it usually is!

and he'll look up when zuko and hilda show up and - just move to pour more cups of tea.

murder tea party.]

.... I still haven't received any confirmation for what happened to Shigeo.

[cuedoves]

[ zuko isn't in the mood for tea, but he does approach. ]

[ he's still quite somber, but. ]

Someone told me it might be similar to what happened to Hikaru -- but I still don't know the details of that.

[axecessory]

[ murder tea party.

she looks pretty subdued tonight—she's getting better at learning how to act around this curse, but she doesn't really try with them. ]

Mm, that'd make sense, though Rabbit wasn't convinced. As for Mob... I'm not sure.

[recrowns]

[hilda your heartache.

well, soo-won will just move to sit at a table. he looks... tired. the rabbit daemon that settles nearby looks curled in on itself, hiding its face away.]

.... someone has a theory that it's an ability that can be inflicted on other people over the weeks. That it might be something related to Hikaru - or perhaps those things happen to people, worsening in severity each week, and then the person with an ability is tasked with removing them.

I'm unsure at the moment.

w5, sunday

[axecessory]

[ it's time for a murder tea party now that they're all alive! but still dying. hooray. she's chilling on her bed. ]

I'm so glad Jeanne's alive... but I think things are getting complicated.

[cuedoves]

[ yay dying. anyway he will be quiet and listen to what hilda has to say while i run to audience my own leader ]

[recrowns]

[i'm waiting on an audience with my leader rip nu

soo-won is just going to have some tea bc i'm presuming he made some for all of them. he looks pale but eh]

Probably - we shouldn't grow arrogant just because one barrier is nearly passed.

Is there something specific you have in mind, Hilda?

[axecessory]

[ rip us ]

What Rabbit remembered was that if any team's numbers fall to zero, then their leader loses their powers and becomes a regular participant. And... that team can't be revived.

[ it's not incredibly surprising with the current rules, but does lead to her next point. ]

So some of my team thinks it makes the most sense for them to die—I'm almost certain we're still the largest. And it... I guess it does, but I don't know what to expect.

week 7, friday

[recrowns]

[god i hope that zuko and hilda got together while soo-won was fucking dead.

but he's in the kitchen! he's making tea! my god is this man consistent. he will be in the kitchen making tea and it's very floral and very fragrant - the usual for him. he pours cups for everyone and then moves to sit down.]

It's good to be with both of you again.

[he does seem like

remarkably relaxed now that they're settled]

[cuedoves]

[ just like old times.... zuko will sip at his own tea, but he seems kind of.... tired. as happy as he is to see soo-won. ]

You too.

... Just like old times, except the murder's done with. Or had better be done with.

[ now they just have to kill a monster. ]

[axecessory]

[ hilda has her arm wrapped up and a fresh set of clothes by now, so she's looking mostly rejuvenated. ]

Finally! I'm so glad we can be past all that nasty murder business.

[ it says light when she says it, but it has weighed on all of them. ]

Now onto this... virus. Though that's a fight for tomorrow.

[recrowns]

At the very least, no one's indicated to me that they're angry enough over anything to settle grudges with blood?

[so uh, hopefully that nasty murder business is done? god he hopes so.]

But... yes - we'd heard the same. Though someone indicated that it may have something to do with technology? Computers?

week 7, post-trial

[cuedoves]

[ this time zuko's serving tea, but once it's served he's just going to slump down in his chair. he's tired. ]

... I guess it's just waiting, now.

[recrowns]

[ah, he loves when zuko makes tea. he looks pleased as he reaches for a cup.]

We've done all that we can.

And the worst thing that could happen is we get a chance to try again.

[axecessory]

[ zuko's good at making tea—it's all the better because she can just kick back and relax a little, though she's tired too. aren't they all? ]

I think the worst case scenario is we've failed and all lose, but... I'm not sure we could've done much better.

[cuedoves]

[ yea his tea skills are on point ]

I think the worst case scenario is that this really is our final try.

[ .... ]

I don't think we made the wrong choice. But I don't know. I've made a lot of bad choices.