36 - Video games

[sexyhitchhiker]

[Natsuki and Zuko are just hanging out in her room, lounging about on the couch and playing video games. Loudly. The door is the slightest bit ajar.]

Who the fuck placed all these bananas on the track??

That's what you get for being behind!

[there's a frustrated growl and then:] ...Heh. Eat that!

[looks like Natsuki's got Zuko in her sights and is maturely sending a string of turtle shells flying towards him.]

[he gives a valiant effort in trying to dodge, but swerving to avoid the second shell sends him off the track and into the grass, slowing him down just enough for that third shell--] Aaugh! Come on! [annnd someone drops to last place]

[Natsuki gives a cheer and...while she doesn't manage to finish first, at least she beat Zuko. And that's all that matters.]

Comments

[honorinflames]

[he might have different feelings about this. He drops his arms at his sides with a grumble, letting the controller loll out of his hand]

What did you do that for?? Now neither of us won.

[sexyhitchhiker]

[she just smirks, passing along a can of soda to him.]

Cheap, petty revenge is the best.

[honorinflames]

[he takes it, even though he's still a little iffy on drinks with bubbles. they're weird.]

No, one of us actually beating them is best.

[sexyhitchhiker]

[you're like an old man, zuko]

Beating the AIs aren't fun. [for one thing, they don't make those pouty faces. Snerk.]

[honorinflames]

[he's not pouting. :\]

Well letting them win isn't fun.

[sexyhitchhiker]

[and the sun doesn't rise in the east.]

Maybe you just suck.

[she picks up her controller again.] Want to pick the map this time?

[honorinflames]

[welp, there's no better way to get him to do something than taunting him into it]

Hey! I was in first place!

[he straightens up out of his slumping and picks his controller too] Yeah. You pick the worst ones.

[sexyhitchhiker]

And you ended up last.

[scoff] I do not. You just can't handle them.

[honorinflames]

You just pick the ones with the stupid shortcuts--[which he can never figure out]--it's not fair.

[sexyhitchhiker]

[eyeroll]

You just think they're stupid because you can't get them.

[honorinflames]

It's a racing game! Not "who knows the track better" game!

[sexyhitchhiker]

[there's just a smug smirk]

That might work if you just started playing, but by now, even you've got a few favorite maps.

[waterbends]

[Do you guys hear that?

Do you?

It's the sound of the door creaaaaaking open. It'd been ajar, and Katara hadn't meant to eavesdrop; it was just impossible not to hear the conversation as she passed by, tupperware thing of soup in hand.

Zuko had said he was feeling bad. She had brought him soup..

And had found him playing video games. Of course.

Bastard. >|]

Looks like you guys are having fun.

[sexyhitchhiker]

[the dog notices! And he'll pad right on over to her, tail a-waggin' because she's a friend AND she's got food. It's a great combo.

Natsuki turns around at the voice, oblivious to Zuko's deception. Dun dun dun.]

Hey Katara. Want to join us?

[honorinflames]

[Zuko, on the other hand, freezes. Wincing, and slowly turning toward the door...

Uh-oh.]

[waterbends]

[Silence for a moment. She can't, for the life of her, figure out what the proper response to this is. Sob.]

No, thanks. I'm just glad that Zuko is feeling better.

[AND WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING IT...

She just puts the soup down on the floor for the dog. :|]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[and the dog happily starts lapping it up.

She turns to Zuko, just a bit confused.] You're sick?

[honorinflames]

[and he, believe it or not, suddenly looks maybe a little bit... guilty]

Uh... well...

[waterbends]

He was feeling too bad earlier to hang out.

[Except there's something a little clipped about her words. :| She's onto you, Zuko, and not even really trying to pretend that she buys it.]

Just glad to see it wasn't anything serious! [Passive aggression is a gooooo..]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[....wow this is getting awkward. She'd leave and let the married couple bicker, but this is kind of her room.

...

...

She walks over to Katara and holds the controller out to her. There's a hesitant smile on her face.]

I've been meaning to show you this fighting game. We can all hang out.




[...where the heck did her dog get that soup from.]

[honorinflames]

[...yeah, awkward is the word for it. And, before he can formulate an excuse that could somehow make this better, Natsuki is inviting her to stay.

And, before he can really think about what he's doing, words leave his mouth without his permission]

She doesn't know anything about video games.

[he's winning everywhere]

[waterbends]

[She had been ready to turn the controller down, to leave the room --

but then Zuko had to pipe up.

She shoots him a withering look.]

I've seen people play them before.

[And she is just sitting her ass on that couch, controller in hand.]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[maybe this will make for good entertainment. Hm.

She changes out the disc for Road Fighter or something like that, grabs Zuko's controller to set up the game, and then gives it back to him.

She gives Katara a brief rundown of the controls, and then settles onto the floor to watch.]

[honorinflames]

Yeah, but...

[...really? Natsuki's just sticking him in a game with Katara and leaving him on his own? He is suddenly vastly uncomfortable with this idea, and he doesn't even have a nameable reason why]

--Aren't you going to play?

[waterbends]

She can play after I beat you.

[Katara is not looking at him. >[ She just... button mashes and has her little guy attack his!]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[lalala, pretending nothing is wrong here. Petting the full and happy dog that decided to flop into her lap.]

It's a two player game, so I'll take on the winner. We'll take turns that way.

[honorinflames]

[he was going to say something else, but he's suddenly being pummeled in the game, and that shuts him right up.

Button mashing in return, trying to fight himself out of the corner she's boxed him into! B( No fair.]

[waterbends]

[It's a combination of luck and passive aggression.

But she manages to deftly beat the hell out of him.]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[Natsuki gives a low, appreciative whistle]

Nice one, Katara.

[and she's holding her hand out for Zuko's controller.]

[honorinflames]

What?!

[that did not just happen.]

Wait! That's not fair!

[waterbends]

I guess I just got lucky, Zuko.

[She is holding a little awkwardly onto the controller; it doesn't feel natural in her hands.]

You must still be feeling under the weather.

[sexyhitchhiker]

[eeyup, going back to petting her dog.]

Hey, Zuko. Either keep playing or give it to me.

[video game sounds are preferable to this]

[honorinflames]

[he's... already starting up the next match. Glaring at the screen, pretending that he can't hear Katara. He's paying attention this time.


...augh, and why did Natsuki have to give her a fast character...]

[waterbends]

[Katara isn't going to deviate from a winning formula. Keysmashing worked before -- IT CAN WORK AGAIN, RIGHT?

So that's what she does, though she does cast a sort of apologetic look Natsuki's way. Right. She did kind of interrupt hanging out time -- and that wasn't Natsuki's fault.]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[maybe she should look up that Batara/Sulko thing from before. Sounds like the author had the right idea.

In any case, she'll munch on some chips, eyes fixed on the screen and ignoring the doleful puppy eyes directed at her.]

[honorinflames]

[and the same sort of thing happens. that RAGE-INDUCING thing where you get boxed into the corner by a speedy character, infuriatingly batted over and over with the same combo of little strikes. There's no real art to it, but you can't really get out of it... you can only sit there and watch as that health bar whittles steadily down. juggled to death against the edge of the screen.

Zuko's glaring, sitting on the edge of his seat... and then is defeated.

His fingers tighten hard around the controller to the point where it makes those little creaking sounds of stressed plastic]

No!

[waterbends]

[And Katara springs to her feet the moment that Zuko's avatar is KO'd, gently tossing her controller to Natsuki.]

Sheesh. Teach him how to play, would you?

[She's fully aware that she just got lucky; she had no idea what she was doing, but that isn't going to stop her from some light bragging.]

It was good to see you! [POINTEDLY AT NATSUKI and Natsuki alone.] But I should get going. Take care! [And she is just absconding the hell out of there. So much uncomfortable.]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[a nod] See you later.

[at least they didn't start raging at each other in her room. That would've sucked even more.

Now the other one:] Oi! What the hell are you doing to my controller??

[honorinflames]

[careful... don't jinx yourself, Natsuki. Looks like it's not going to end neatly right there.

He watches Katara storm out, and then there is that distinct moment of thinking. Indecision. Scowling at the controller in his hands, debating whether he can just sit there while she leaves.]

...Ugh!

[--guess not. He snaps, throws the controller (at the couch, it's fine) and shoves himself up to his feet, jogging after her]

Katara, wait!

[waterbends]

[She visibly bristles at the sound of his voice and for a moment, can't seem to decide if she wants to halt and hear him out or keep going. She only barely stops.]

Let me guess - I only won because I got lucky?

[She whirls on him, arms pulled tightly across her chest.]

Or, what else? I wouldn't have even found out you were lying if I hadn't tried to butt in and bring you that stupid soup?

Whatever, Zuko, don't worry about it. I don't want to hear it.

[Yeah, that was a minor tirade, and her voice crescendos subtly.]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[...so that's where the soup came from.

Interesting.

/popcorn.gif]

[honorinflames]

[he staggers to a halt when she whirls... and it really is difficult not to snap an agreement to her first pointed question. Luckily, she keeps on going and doesn't give him the chance to screw that one up, however.

The anger is still there, certainly a whole lot of aggravation, frustration... but he doesn't exactly meet her eyes with it.

He really can't talk himself into being in the right, here. No matter how hard he does try in his head.]

Look... I didn't... [ah, yeah. He didn't think through what he was actually going to say. Non-angry words are not exactly his forte]

[waterbends]

[Natsuki, why do you have to see this.

This is embarrassing.]

-- you didn't want to hang out with me. Which is fine. I just wish you would have told me to my face instead of lying about it!

[She inhales a sharp breath, suddenly feeling stupid.]

I brought you soup. [D:] -- you're a jerk.

[honorinflames]

[he wants to say that he lied because he was actually trying not to be a jerk. He wants to be able to explain how he wanted to hang out with a friend, doing something that was kind of their 'thing,' and just didn't know to convey that. He would love to eloquently tell her that it was a mistake.


...Instead, he says--] No, I-- ugh! It was just video games!

[waterbends]

Well - I'll just know better than to invite your stupid self to do anything again. If you can't even tell me the truth about why you don't want to do it!

[She's also sort of embarrassed. She feels foolish, showing up like that.]

Go enjoy your dumb video games. There are plenty of other people who'd spend time with me!