002

[expiries.livejournal.com]

[Rolo, to say the least, is paranoid -- more so than usual, to the point all he can think about is that (or the lack thereof) as he sits in the corner of the cafeteria again, idly holding an uneaten sandwich with no intention of consuming it anytime soon.

Various persons had struggled with a multitude of odd problems as of late. Taking that into account, he'd gone to his dorm when Oz hadn't been around to try again and again, but to no avail. And that realization (why isn't it working?) is now eating away at him as he stares off into space, too engrossed in his thoughts. Frankly, it's irritating to no end and starting to put him in a most foul mood.

Then his sandwich catches fire. The sudden heat snaps Rolo back to reality and he looks down to see that . . . oh. His sandwich is on fire.]

U-uh -- !?

[He extends his arm to hold the sandwich at a distance away from himself. Given the moistness of the bread, the fire hasn't spread much. More importantly, where did it even come from?]

Comments

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

...that what?

[Zuko clearly doesn't give a crap about curfew.]

[expiries.livejournal.com]

Nothing.

[Wow, this guy.]

Um, why don't we get on to business?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Zuko watches him in silence for a moment and then nods once. Fine. Down to business. He likes how this guy thinks.

A hand gesture.]

You think you can uh- firebend again?

[expiries.livejournal.com]

[He looks down at his hand, the one that'd been holding the sandwich earlier that day.]

I'm not sure of how it works.

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Zuko remembers how he had instructed Aang how to heat the pot of tea months ago, how Sokka had told him he had been Aang's firebending teacher...

It couldn't be that hard to teach this kid, right?]

Your chi. Try... concentrating your chi to your hand. Uh- that should work. [He looks down at his right hand, looking at the long fingers and wide palm.] Don't think of anything big. The flame, I mean. Maybe just... maybe something small to start off...

[expiries.livejournal.com]

[The instructions are basic and to the point. However . . . ]

Concentrating . . . my chi?

[He doesn't really get how he's supposed to do that. Meditation?]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

Chi. The flow of energy in your... body.

[He gives Rolo a puzzled look. Does this kid know nothing about the chi in his body? Probably not... kid's not a bender in any way shape or form...

Not until recently anyway.]

[expiries.livejournal.com]

You can control something like that?

[Well, why wouldn't they be able to? It's in their body. But the concept of manipulating the flow of energy is an alien one.]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

I can. Can you?

[expiries.livejournal.com]

I don't know.

This is the first time I'm doing this.

[Intentionally, anyway.]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

Well. Anyway. Concentrate your chi to your palm. Just... uh. Concentrate.

[expiries.livejournal.com]

[This guy isn't really helpful . . . but Rolo just nods and tries. Sticking one palm out he, um, attempts to concentrate something there.

And tries.

And tries again.

Is something supposed to happen, he's not supposed to be zen or anything, is he.]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Zuko watches on in silence and, after a moment or two of nothing happening, he frowns.]

I don't get it... How did you make fire in the cafeteria earlier?

[expiries.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure. Is there anything that could have triggered the flame beyond concentrating my . . . energy?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

I'm... not sure.

[He squints.]

...what did you think of when it happened?

[expiries.livejournal.com]

I . . .

[can't tell you that.]

I was just a little upset. It wasn't anything important.