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Post by zuko on Sept 23, 2006 17:59:53 GMT -5
The sudden change in the young teacher's apprentice gave him another slight surprise. Was Sho always like this? Or was it because of Zuko? Either way, the sudden change from smug to composed seemed to puzzle the prince, thinking that Sho was capable of controlling himself.
"Well, then I guess we can work from there..." Zuko replied, his eyes narrowing a bit at his student.
Turning away from Sho, Zuko strolled to a distance as he re-winded his memory of how his Uncle explained to him the breathing techniques. When he finally remembered how to put the words together, the teen turned again to face his pupil.
"Focus you're breathing from your center, then release all of your air in one swift punch," he said, breathing deeply through his nostrils and swiftly moving his arms into a stance. "It all about how you stay in control; not about how much force you try to put into your firebending." He found it odd saying this, because at times, Zuko even found himself making the mistake of putting too much force into his firebending, but even so, he didn't stay on this thought for very long.
"Try to attack again," Zuko ordered as he moved his feet apart, "And don't forget about your stance."
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Post by sho on Sept 24, 2006 18:08:16 GMT -5
Sho nodded, a new determination now fierce in his eyes. Restlessly he ran his fingers through his hair, before relaxing his shoulders and taking a deep breath to get rid of some of his excitement. Okay… this was easy stuff, just the basics. He had done these kinds of lessons before, so it should be pretty simple. It was breathing… everyone could breathe. Though… his last training had been so long ago…
The young man took another deep breath, but this one was taken with more surety and stableness. He shifted into stance, remembering Zuko’s previous critiquing, again bending his knees further and keeping his hands up higher. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, and inhaled from deep inside his stomach, expanding his diaphragm. Then his eyes opened, but remained narrowed, and he cleanly punched the air in front of him in synchronization with his exhale. Fire then exploded from his hands, rushing out of his fist in a straight, but constantly moving line. Sho did not move from his stance, but turned his head sideways toward the prince with a blank expression (though inside he was rather satisfied), waiting for either praise or further criticism.
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Post by zuko on Sept 27, 2006 20:57:12 GMT -5
“’Better…” Zuko commented, giving a small nod. He did notice a difference from before. Sho’s stance was more accurate and his punch was more balanced, but the fire had not been as long-lasting as Zuko had hoped. Perhaps he should make his student try again, only differently.
“Try again, but this time use your other hand and shift with your other foot.” As Zuko explained this, he simply demonstrated along the way. By the time he reached the end of his sentence, Zuko had swiftly punched the ocean air with his opposite fist, sending a blast of orange fire across the deck.
In a sense, Zuko was feeling somewhat accomplished. Or was it the feeling that he was actually needed for something? And why was it him of all people that Sho wanted help from? His uncle would have been a better teacher, anyways. Zuko could not even comprehend on how this all turned out the way it was; the lucid line that kept his reason was now blurred. The prince had so unconsciously encountered the servant many times in the last few days, and to Zuko, it seemed a bit strange. Was Sho expecting something from Zuko? Like a friend? No. Zuko didn’t need a friend – he needed his honor. And he would regain it alone if he had to…
To throw away his thoughts, Zuko demonstrated a few more punches and combined kicks, not just for his student’s benefit, but to keep Zuko’s mind busy - busy from himself.
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Post by sho on Sept 28, 2006 20:10:24 GMT -5
Sho watched Zuko demonstrate silently, his inner emotions morphing from satisfied to envious. Sho focused so hard on every move he performed, but it seemed as if the prince moved and bended so naturally – like it required no definite thought at all. This made him frustrated somehow. Was something wrong with him? Should firebending be just as easy for him as it was for the prince? It was a part of him, he knew that, but Zuko and he were about the same age…
Sho nodded, though, once Zuko had finished and it became his turn. Again, he slid into his improved stance; however, this time he distributed his weight differently among his feet, pressing it onto his right rather than his left. Then he inhaled, before exhaling fiercely and, again, punching his fist forcefully into the air, only with his left hand this time. Fire again blasted from his fist and, to his surprise and pleasure, it did seem to rush farther across the deck. Encouraged by the display, Sho repeated the process again and again. His success energized him and struck him with a strong blast of confidence and adrenaline. Remembering Zuko’s punch-kick combos, Sho tried to imitate. He punched his fist into the air, attempted to spin and kick…. but instead slipped and completely lost his balance and promptly fell face forward.
The effect was quite impressive from a viewer’s standpoint, however, for Sho had managed to angle his head at a perfect angle, so that his whole upper-body flipped over his head before his head slammed against the ground. The inertia caused the rest of his body to flip the rest of the way over his body and smack against the deck. Overall, his wipeout ended up becoming a sort of somersault… although, Sho did not land correctly. Sho hit the ground hard, sending a strong thud among the deck. His expression was absolutely baffled – his eyes wide with shock, his hands curled into tense, tight fists – but, really, the look on his face was more comical than anything.
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Post by zuko on Sept 29, 2006 22:11:10 GMT -5
Inwardly, Zuko was laughing at the servant, but on the outside he merely tried to control the large smirk that was tugging on his lips. Suddenly though, Zuko realized that this was his student after all and it only proved on how many lessons Sho still apparently had to learn. It only reminded Zuko more on how unexperienced he was when he was beginning firebending...
Running his hand over his face to get rid of the smirk that had formed on it, Zuko strode over to Sho and stared down at him. Again, he held a firm glare at his student, despite wanting to point out the obvious that it was a pathetic move and laugh.
"Get up," Zuko flatly ordered. He did not offer a hand to Sho; he just stood and waited with a confused look on his face. He wasn't sure what Sho was trying to pull off on that move. He obviously was having a hard time just standing on his feet, much less than jump into a spin kick.
"If you really want to succeed with that move, I suggest you try not to use your whole body." Zuko was being a bit smug, but in a way, he was right. Sho had apparently tried to use his whole body at once with the kick, but in truth, you are suppose to turn your upper torso first in order to give your lower torso enough momentum to swing your foot over. The arms are also meant to be support and help swing your leg fast enough to make fire.
Zuko had not bothered to explain what he really meant when he spoke. He would just let Sho take it as a smug reprimand for falling on his face. If Sho really wanted to know how to correctly perform the move, he would have to ask because Zuko was well aware that Sho was not ready to rush his firebending.
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Post by sho on Oct 3, 2006 21:00:08 GMT -5
Quickly, Sho shuffled to his feet, but his gaze swiftly shifted away from Zuko’s (amused?) stare to the cool, dull metal of the deck. The servant’s posture was slumped forward, and his pale cheeks were dusted with a light, crimson red. His restless-recklessness and foolishness had yet again severely embarrassed him.
Letting out a sigh of intense frustration, the firebender inwardly scolded himself. He tried so hard, with all his strength… he so wanted to fulfill the fire and emotion that was stored inside of him… but he kept failing. Why didn’t bending come naturally to him? Who knew, but improving his bending was surely a hopeless case. Sho’s brow furrowed, and his lip curled downward into an expression of mixed disgust and hopelessness.
“What’s the use?” Sho muttered, still staring determinedly at the ground. “It’s obvious I’m not meant to do this. All I can do is screw up.”
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Post by zuko on Oct 4, 2006 20:45:26 GMT -5
Zuko's expression softened as he looked back up at Sho, surprised to see the anguished look on his student's face. Zuko was familiar with that look: the blush of embarrassment, averting the eyes to anything remotely lifeless, and standing in a defeated way. Sho was losing confidence; Zuko knew what that was like. As much as Zuko hated to admit it to himself, he was never accomplished with firebending at first either. And in a sense, he still wasn't; Zuko knew he still had much to learn.
Then, Zuko heard the predictable self-scolding utter from Sho's mouth. Zuko's face hardened a bit. He couldn't help but feel some sympathy toward his student. Zuko knew Sho was trying, but giving up would just be admitting that you've lost and that you don't care anymore. Apparently, Sho did care; Zuko was well aware of this. Countless times, the prince always wanted to fall into hopelessness and often he did when things weren't going the way he wanted them to. But giving up was something Zuko never enjoyed doing; he just forced himself to try harder until he got it right. Sho (as well as Zuko could see) had potential, but he was just lacking experience as well as confidence.
"You know..." Zuko mumbled, trying to put together something that would give Sho a slight uplift in his spirits "...I know how you feel. I was never good at firebending at first either."
Zuko's eyes averted to the side a bit, his eyebrow and scar creasing together in an almost shameful way. He wished he wasn't admitting this, especially to his student of all people, but maybe it was better if Sho knew. Didn't it always help to know that you weren't the only one struggling with something? That someone else knew the same kind of pain you were going through? In any sense, it gave some degree of comfort.
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Post by sho on Oct 5, 2006 20:27:45 GMT -5
Sho looked up at Zuko, his brow furrowed and creased. His amber eyes held the glimmer of skepticism, while his mouth let out a gruff scoff. Calmly, he crossed his arms and tilted his chin up slightly in a superior kind of way, while his expression remained hurt and bitter.
“Come on. I know that old trick; give me a little credit.” Sho replied, rolling his eyes. “You’re just saying that – lying to me – to make me feel better. Well, thanks for the effort, but, really, it’s okay. I know I’m beyond help. No need to degrade yourself to try and cheer me up by lying to me.”
Sho then shook his head once and sighed. Really. How stupid did Zuko think he was? Sure, he wasn’t the greatest firebender around, but come on! He wasn’t completely clueless. In fact, Sho thought himself to be quite well-off in the intelligence level. Well… certainly more advanced in brains more than bronze anyway. The fact that Zuko thought him so dull and easily influenced was frankly quite insulting.
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Post by zuko on Oct 5, 2006 21:11:02 GMT -5
Zuko's eyes widened as he turned back to Sho, the creases of shame - and slight surprise- deepening on his forehead. Sho didn't believe him...?
"I'm not lying," Zuko replied, a bit louder this time, trying to put some more meaning into his voice. "I'm serious. I was...a disappointment. All the time."
Zuko's eyes drifted to the floor, unable to put unwanted words together. Slight pain was lucid on his face as he tried not to remember the memories holding him back from everything. The voices that he hated were always the things that manipulated him most, but he couldn't help but fall for their words - the words from his father, his sister...everyone he knew that never believed in him. But nonetheless, he would try. He would find the Avatar and he would go home. As long as the Avatar was out there somewhere, Zuko still had a chance.
Immediately, Zuko strayed away from his thoughts and glared back up at Sho with piercing gold eyes. He observed the disgusted look on Sho's face and couldn't help but wonder why it was so hard to imagine that Zuko was never really accomplished with firebending...at least not in a naturally talented way. If things came naturally to Zuko, it would make his life much easier. Nothing ever came easy to him...he had to work for it.
"If you still don't believe me..." Zuko sighed, his voice strained in frustration, "... then that's your fault. I'm just telling you the truth."
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Post by sho on Oct 8, 2006 19:10:19 GMT -5
Sho tilted his head slightly at Zuko as the prince’s gaze pierced into his own eyes. The young servant recoiled slightly under the prince’s intense glare, but never-the-less, he kept his arms crossed and eyes narrowed in a lame attempt at unwavering defiance. Well, one thing was for sure: either Zuko was an amazing liar and actor, or he was telling the truth.
But he couldn’t possibly be telling the truth. Zuko was an amazing bender, at least by Sho’s standards. Though, he would admit his standards were certainly not one of the highest. But still, Zuko was far from bad, or even mediocre. He seemed to bend so… easily; he put so much strength into it. Sho envied that.
Then again… Zuko’s face was grim. Serious. The creases and pain etched into his face seemed completely sincere. No one could fake that. Sho’s gaze drifted to the scar that was so evident on the prince’s face and remembered what the servants at the palace had gossiped about two years ago. Maybe the fact that Zuko had once been mediocre wasn’t as impossible as he made himself think.
Realizing he was actually getting deep into a meaningful conversation with the prince, (an event he had decreed impossible the previous day) Sho decided to keep the conversation flowing. His curiosity had again risen and he wondered what else he could learn. And it was still pretty hard to believe, despite the logical explanations.
“You can’t possibly be telling the truth.” Sho muttered, wrinkling his nose. He glanced up at Zuko for a few short seconds, before again examining the ground. “It’s impossible to imagine you bending horribly.”
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Post by zuko on Oct 13, 2006 17:29:28 GMT -5
Apparently, trying to lift someone’s spirits was harder than Zuko thought. The look on Sho’s face only faltered slightly, but it was still in the same skeptical gaze. Even Sho’s statement confirmed the obvious doubt that Zuko had predicted in his student.
Scoffing to himself, the prince tried to understand why the truth was so hard to believe and why it didn’t offer any reassurance. Was Sho that impressed by him to the point that failure to Zuko seemed impossible? Zuko shook his head at this thought; his student had no idea how hard it was for Zuko to get something right the first time. It took practice, and time- which in most cases was not appealing to Zuko.
“It was never easy, you know,” Zuko retorted, raising his eyebrow slightly, his glare seeming to leave Sho’s face. “Firebending never came naturally to me at first. It took years of training,” he spoke again, trying to put on a more convincing tone.
Zuko never really imagined himself to be good enough as a master; he hadn’t even learned the advanced set of firebending yet (which was something he definitely wanted to get started on.) Zuko felt that he was in a time-limit barrier. He had to learn firebending fast and advance as soon as possible- he is looking for the Avatar after all: the most advantaged bender compared to Zuko. Therefore, if he was ever to go home, he had to practice quickly – practice until he made all his mistakes disappear...maybe he could at least help Sho do the same…
With that, a sudden determined look appeared on Zuko’s face; his eyes now glaring at the young servant, but in a slightly softer tone. “I know what its like,” he stated, his voice also seeming lighter, his fierce expression softening. “All you need is practice.”
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Post by sho on Oct 15, 2006 18:41:02 GMT -5
Sho glanced up at Zuko for a quick moment, his eyes wide and fascinated and… hopeful. The softening in Zuko’s expression, the sincere tone to his words… The prince was telling the truth. But also, Sho realized that Zuko understood his situation and that there was hope for him and his bending skills.
This little fact deeply encouraged Sho. He became happy and eager once again to continue his lessons. However, he was doing the best to compose himself; he didn’t want the prince to think he was bipolar or something. The servant was just so filled with renewed hope and was excited to continue. He had not been pumped like this for a long time.
Just as Sho opened his mouth to say something, his name was called out from among one of the grouped crewmen. Sho turned and looked for the source of his name, only to see the helmsman standing up and facing his direction.
“Hey, Sho! Come on down deck. Some of the crew’s gonna try and clean up some and see what kind of things we can scavenge and then take down a list of what materials we’re gonna need to pick up at the island. They could use your help.”
Usually, Sho would have been more than happy to offer his services, but his reply was a rather sad look. Silently, Sho looked up at the prince with a disappointed “Well, am I excused?” expression.
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Post by zuko on Oct 16, 2006 19:53:55 GMT -5
As Prince Zuko looked upon Sho, he was slightly relived to see the hopeful look spread on the servant's face. Zuko had no idea that words could change someone's attitude so quickly. Or was Sho always this easily reasurred? Still, it almost made Zuko feel more relaxed in a sense - relaxed knowing Sho was ready to start again with some more confidence.
But before Zuko could instruct a single thing to Sho, one of the crewmen had asked for help from the servant. As Zuko's gaze turned back to his student after being called upon, he was not surprised to see the disappointed look spread across Sho's face. Of course, just as they are actually about to get a fresh start on the firebending lesson, work had to be done. Nonetheless, Zuko could not refuse someone of their duties. The ship did need some taking care of before they reached Nadai Island, anyway.
So, without hesitation, Zuko nodded to Sho, excusing him from the interrupted lesson. "We can continue later," Zuko replied to the sad expression Sho was giving him. Zuko's voice was now more orderly, but his face seemed to remain the same. Thinking that maybe he should practice his meditating or track the course they would need to take once they left the island, Zuko promptly turned from Sho and walked back farther down the deck and headed toward his room. Zuko really did hope they would reach the island soon; he was beginning to feel a little trapped inside the metal walls of the ship again...
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Post by sho on Oct 17, 2006 20:04:20 GMT -5
Sho sighed as the prince disappeared below deck, before turning and quickly shuffling toward the group of his fellow crewmen, some of who were randomly dispersing into different parts of the ship. In a way, the servant was kind of relieved for a break in his lesson. He was tired (more emotionally than physically, though quite sore in that area as well) and ready to move on to something he knew he could do efficiently. Just as a little ego cushion for when he fell on his butt later. But still, in another part of him, he was excited to continue, to learn more, to improve.
Silently, Sho walked up to the helmsmen and took his formal stance – feet shoulder length apart and hands intertwined behind him. He gave a brief nod before making eye contact with his boss, before lifting an eyebrow in question at the silence and the curious look he was being given.
“Ready to go then…?”
“What was that all about, hmm?” the helmsmen inquired quietly with a slight eyebrow raise. He said nothing further and made no gestures, but it was obvious what he was asking about.
“Oh.” Sho muttered with a wince. “We were just… erm. Talking. Doing a little firebending.” True enough. No need to broadcast the whole thing, although it had to be fairly obvious.
“I see… Well. Go on then. Things to do. Arata’ll lead the operation. Don’t leave anything out. And, Sho…”
“Hm?”
“Personally. I think it’s quite a… well, a good thing for you to do. You know. The prince doesn’t get to see a lot of people his age and the fact that you’re kind of… hanging out. I… I think that’s nice.”
Sho blinked, but was unable to come up with anything to say. After a moment’s hesitation he nodded, and left to follow Arata down to the kitchens.
Hanging out? Hardly. The fact that they had ever said more than two sentences to each other was based solely on coincidence. Even now their conversations were strictly business – teacher to pupil. It was, again, coincidence that they were even the same age. They weren’t really friends like the helmsmen made it sound. But it was interesting that he seemed to see it that way.
However, Sho let these thoughts shake away as he began his work and let his focus shift to other things.
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Post by zuko on Oct 20, 2006 21:28:25 GMT -5
Hours had seemed to pass in slow movements as Zuko impatiently waited for the ship to arrive closer to the island. He did anything to keep himself busy - meditating, planning routes, practicing firebending - yet late evening had arrived and he could no longer keep himself occupied. Continuously, he went to the Capitan to ask when the ship would finally dock, but after a while he got frustrated with the "at the end of the day, sir" answer, so he stopped asking.
Now, Prince Zuko stood on top deck looking over the ocean, never seeming to take his eyes off the horizon. He just watched and waited to see that small strip of land that would be called Nadai Island. The days seemed to go by so slowly now, especially when he was eager to get off the ship. There was never much to do on a ship in the first place, but it just wasn't because of boredom - it was anticipation and sometimes worry that made the days long.
Zuko sighed in annoyance, shifting his weight on his other foot and placing his hands on the cold metal railing, still waiting to catch sight of something. His stomach growled impatiently, reminding him of how long it has been since he last ate.
'Come on...' he beckoned in his head for what seemed like hundredth time that day.
Then, something finally caught Zuko's attention. His eyes averted to a small dark form appearing over the horizon ever so slowly. As they got closer, it was apparent that it was the island - their destination.
Zuko's face seemed to relax a little more, but the annoyance never seemed to leave his voice... "Finally..."
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