Past, Present and Future: Part II

Subject: Past, Present and Future: Part II Wed Aug 06, 2014 2:39 am

Tarek Raiden	The Fire Nation palace was quiet. Tarek alone stayed behind to keep order while the remaining Generals visited the cities and towns spread across the Nation to reassure citizens that their Nation wasn’t falling apart. A futile task, maybe, but they had to bide their time somehow. The Fire nation needed to have hope. Tarek sat perfectly still at his desk, pensively assessing the situation, carefully considering his wife’s counsel and the future of the Fire Nation. Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sounds of running footsteps. Tarek turned on his heat sense and immediately sensed that it was the captain of the guard approaching, and stood up as soon as the captain entered the room. “Sir,” began the out of breath guard captain, “we uhh...have a little problem...” He continued. “What’s going on captain?” asked Tarek with a curious expression. “Sir…it’s the Avatar, Avatar Zulera is here. She wants to speak to Fire Lord Shula…” he replied, unsure of what to do. Tarek’s eyes widened. “Bring her in, send her to me immediately captain. I will explain things to the Avatar.” With that, the Captain nodded, and swiftly left to escort the Avatar to Tarek’s office.
Mood: Calm Condition: Healthy	Link: Tarek Raiden

Subject: Re: Past, Present and Future: Part II Wed Aug 06, 2014 5:28 am

Zulera Joanna Tallarico	It had been a long time since Zuzu had seen her old friend Shula. The two had been fairly close and were practically like sisters, and so even Zulera, as erratic as she was, wondered where she was, after not hearing from her for such a long time. And so, what better way to find out than to pay her a visit directly? The Fire Nation seemed to be delightfully chaotic, whichi made Zulera wonder if Shula had been up to her own shenanigans again or something. If she had, Zuzu was going to demand to know why she wasn't invited. Instead, before she had even reached the palace, she found herself being escorted there by the Captain of the Fire Nation Capitol Guard. She did not ask about it though, and so instead quietly followed the man till he led her to the palace. Was Shula injured or dying or something? She certainly hoped not. But instead of Shula, she found Tarek, a man she knew worked here, but that was about all she knew. Naturally, the first thing she did was pop a question. "Where's Shula?" she asked. she sounded enturely curious; not accusatory at all.
Mood: Happy Condition: Perfect	Link: Zulera

Subject: Re: Past, Present and Future: Part II Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:37 am

Tarek Raiden	Tarek gave Zulera a warm smile and a small bow as she entered the room. It was their first time formally meeting after all. “I was hoping you could tell me,” he began, “I am Tarek Raiden, servant of the Fire Nation, and close personal friend to Fire Lord Shula. It is an honor to finally meet you Avatar. Please sit down, and I will explain the situation to you.” Tarek was as polite and respectful as ever. Though it wasn’t a fake politeness, or an act like many of the other Fire Nation nobility would put on. His words were full of confidence and authority, yet he was humble and calm. He had a certain strength about him, a strength that came from wisdom and experience, and to anyone that spoke to him it would seem almost tangible. Yet his eyes were filled with gentleness. He watched Zulera carefully, reaching out with his senses and feeling her energy ripple throughout the room. He took in every detail about her that he could, for he remembered what Sanaki had told him earlier. Today she stood before him, a guest in the Fire Nation, but Tarek did not know the manner in which there next meeting would take place…as allies, or as enemies. Of course this was strictly a cautionary measure. His mind was geared for peace not war, but he would be a fool to let the most powerful bender in the world go without learning something about her. “Shula has vanished Avatar, along with some other high ranking members of the Fire Nation’s government, and when I say vanished, I mean it. She left no trace. I have used every resource at my disposal to try and locate her, but it is no use.” He explained before pausing, waiting for her reply. Watching her face, and expressions carefully.
Mood: Calm Condition: Healthy	Link: Tarek Raiden

Subject: Re: Past, Present and Future: Part II Wed Aug 06, 2014 11:58 pm

Zulera Joanna Tallarico	Zulera's eyes widened for just a moment. Here she had expected Shula's agents to be able to say something of her location, but alas, it seemed that it was not meant to be then. "well... I take you have some kind of explanation or story behind this?" she shrugged, wondering if he had any leads. She did not expect an answer right away, figuring that Tarek would give her one sooner or later. She seated herself, crossing her bare feet at the ankles and putting her gloved hands in her lap. For the most part, Zulera was also polite and respectful, despite her somewhat chaotic nature. She was very friendly and sweet as well, and was willing to respect certain people based on a variety of things. Bending power, spirituality, strength, and other intellectual skills were some of the things Zulera respected, and Tarek had many of these. He was a master worthy of Zulera's erratic system of respect. She knew that while Shula sometimes made poor judgment, that she would not have hired someone to work this close to her unless the man knew what he was doing. If he was checking Zulera's energy, he would see that she was practically radiating it... as if it was pulsating from every pore of her body. This woman had great amounts of energy, and was definitely dangerous to both friend and foe. Even then though, perhaps it was not Zulera's physical strength or her bending prowess, but perhaps her words and actions, that made her so dangerous. Still... she was not about to bring harm of the physical or mental variety to anyone right now, so all was well. "gone?" she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She believed Tarek's story, for it matched up with her own observations. "but then... what does that mean? Surely this explains a lot, but I suppose the big question here is not so much that she is gone, but rather, what you are proposing should be done to rectify this problem? Would someone else high along the Fire Nation hierarchy need to step up? perhaps one of Shula's mighty generals and his family? or did you have something else in mind?" Zulera was clever, and was indeed insinuating the notion of Tarek Raiden assuming the throne, but did not quite feel like saying that outright. Surely this was a smart man who could put 2 and 2 together.
Mood: Happy Condition: Perfect	Link: Zulera

Subject: Re: Past, Present and Future: Part II Thu Aug 07, 2014 2:05 am

Tarek Raiden	Tarek’s eyes remained fixed on Zulera, examining her closely. Despite what he had heard about her chaotic nature, he now began to see her in another light. Like a puzzle that he never had all the pieces to before now. It was very apparent that Zulera had a very complex story, one that had many influences and that shaped her into the very person she was. To judge her actions without fully understanding her would be a futile waste of time. Tarek watched her, analysed her, and sensed her power. She was definitely the Avatar, with more power than he had felt for a long time. He was intrigued to say the least. He had a feeling in his gut that she would change the world. For better or for worse though, he could honestly not say. His theory about her being ‘controlled’ or ‘guided’ by someone immensely powerful and influential over her still held fast, and if that was so then there was hope. Hope that she could be dissuaded from her chaotic course. Hope that she could be influenced by order as much as she was chaos. But these things were unknowable, and Tarek locked the thought deep in his mind, it was for another time. Tarek was pleasantly surprised at Zulera’s bluntness and forwardness. He chuckled and gave her a small nod. “Let know one say that Avatar Zulera is lacking in wisdom and understanding,” he said with a smile, obviously many scholars and historians believed that she didn’t because of her unorthodox methods. “You are right of course; the Fire Nation is on the path to ruin, our society is based upon having a Fire Lord. Without one, chaos is rampant, and a civil war between the remaining Generals is inevitable. You alone, however, have the power to change it. I know that you might not care, and perhaps you even like the chaos. But I also know that you respect strength, and while I was never after the throne, my Nation needs me right now, and I am a patriot until the very end. So this is my request Avatar… Help me to restore strength to the Fire Nation.” He said, pausing for a second, before saying without an ounce of arrogance: “make me the Fire Lord.”
Mood: Calm Condition: Healthy	Link: Tarek Raiden

Subject: Re: Past, Present and Future: Part II Thu Aug 07, 2014 3:45 am

Zulera Joanna Tallarico	Zulera swung her feet idly, as if to an unseen or unheard beat, hearing Tarek out in the meantime. She did not break eye contact either, those beautiful electric-blue eyes of hers staring as if into Tarek's soul. To say Zulera Joanna Tallarico was misunderstood made her sound like a whiny teenager, although this was exactly true. Chaos and the unknown were both fields where Zulera thrived, and yet that just meant it was harder for some people to understand how someone could operate on such a chaotic level and yet remain so calm and stable. She was basically an embodiment of these things, and thus the irony was ever-present. Of course, fearing this woman was simply rational though. She was physically strong, and so even if her bending was disabled, she could still hold her own. She was not really huge on weapons, but her fists and feet worked fairly well in a pinch. Furthermore, she was an engineer; a designer... there was rumors of things that she built in the underground recesses of the Great Divide or some other desolate place like that where few ever ventured. Zulera did seem to have an attunement to mechanics though, so perhaps these theories held water. And of course, perhaps most of all... was that she was a powerful bender, even outside of the Avatar State. She was a genuine master at two of the disciplines, and still very skilled at the other two. The "Advanced Elements" such as flora, metal, and lightning, were all things she knew how to perform with considerable skill. And yet... it was not about the power. It was about the knowledge... unless something appealing came up. On the other hand, perhaps that was something best not thought about. She couldn't help but crack a grin at Tarek's cunning observation. "People often have this delusion that they know me..." she nodded, "that they know what makes me tick. to give chaos as the answer would be generalized, but it goes much deeper than that. To truly understand the mind of the avatar.... you would have to BE the Avatar." she was not insinuating that Tarek suggested he knew all about her. she just felt like letting him know how it made her feel. His request however, was an interesting one, and one that was handled with a significant amount of uniqueness compared to what many other people would probably say. This was a man interested in power not for his own gain, but for others. Zulera sometimes used her power to help others, but she didn't really use it to advance her own selfish agenda or anything. She liked the idea of people being powerful without actually trying to force it on others. A powerful society was a polite society. "So... you think that asking to become Firelord would make me instantly grant your request?" she gestured with her hand before smiling and returning her gaze to Tarek's. "well... tell you what..." "...say please."
Mood: Devious Condition: Perfect	Link: Zulera

Subject: Re: Past, Present and Future: Part II Thu Aug 07, 2014 5:18 am

Tarek Raiden	Tarek grinned. “Indeed, I do not presume to know you. I simply observe, I analyse, I deduce. You do not get to where I am without knowing how to read people. Though you are layer upon layer of mystery to me, it is most intriguing and most humbling.” He said with a warm smile. Tarek came across as genuinely interested, not in what Zulera could do for him, but in Zulera herself, and who she was and what had shaped her. He was not however pushing for information or trying to suck up to her. In fact, he would even stand up to her if he needed. However there had been no need for that at all and hopefully there would never be. Tarek couldn’t help but grin at Zulera’s request for him to say please, here surfaced the confident and cocky Avatar he had heard about, she even reminded him of his own son, Katsuo in that sense. But she made her play and the ball was his court. “Just so you know Avatar, with all due respect, whether you help me or not, I will bring this Nation back into its former glory.” He said bluntly. His voice had not a tinge of arrogance or disrespect in it, instead a quiet confidence and an unbreakable determination. He spoke much like he would speak to Katsuo in this regard, “My request to you would just help me accomplish my goals much quicker and with less fuss.” He then paused, assessing her reaction. From everything she had shown him, he realised that she was a deceptively simple creature by nature. People had tried to understand her, her entire life. Yet she mentioned that many don’t understand her. He leaned back, satisfied that he knew what she wanted from him. “So on behalf of my Nation, and myself, I humbly ask that you aid us in this dark time, by publicly endorsing my position as the Fire Lord…please.” He said with a small bow of the head.
Mood: Calm Condition: Healthy	Link: Tarek Raiden

Subject: Re: Past, Present and Future: Part II Thu Aug 07, 2014 7:00 am

Zulera Joanna Tallarico	Zulera smiled. it was flattering, even if it was not expressed to her with the sole purpose of flattering or anything like that. She could tell by his tone that he was being sincere rather than trying to butter her up. She was shrewd and observant too, and that was part of why this meeting was so intriguing and yet so interesting. This was like a couple of grandmasters playing chess. It was a game of wits that would not end in bloodshed, but it was also two masterminds trying to see into the inner workings of the other. This was definitely an intriguing scene in and of itself that made Zulera's heart flutter. Tarek's insistance that he would keep the Fire Nation in its glory regardless of her help intrigued her, but did not faze her. "well... if you wish to do it yourself, then don't mind me. I'll just be doing my thing... probably topless or something. Don't let me stop you... Only the weak or the foolish will let the words or actions of another prevent them from achieving their desires... you seem better than that." She was sort of just toying with him, having already made up her mind on where this was all going to go from here. But, while she could make the solution simple, that did not mean she had to make it easy. There was no fun in that; no thrill. Zulera liked making people think, friend or foe. She was unsurprised at what she heard next, knowing that if she simply cooperated, things would go by easier and better. Well... just because she made puzzles and riddles out of it did not mean she was being uncooperative. It just meant that she wanted something in return, even if it was just a few minutes of simple intellectual amusement, which she was so far definitely receiving. Hearing the request that she had so simply asked for, her smile grew till it was nearly ear to ear. "You have my blessing." she replied simply. "what do you need me to do? I'm clearly not one for these fancy and formal occasions... but, if you'll help guide me through the formalities and whatever else, I can promise you that you have my blessing and that I will be there for the coronation." she nodded. Mission success in Tarek's books, perhaps.
Mood: Devious Condition: Perfect	Link: Zulera

Subject: Re: Past, Present and Future: Part II Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:52 am

Tarek Raiden	With Zulera’s words, Tarek rose and gave her a small bow. “I am honoured Avatar, now about what is to be done. We have much to discuss. Now if you would follow me…” End scene
Mood: Calm Condition: Healthy	Link: Tarek Raiden

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