thecapitol | Backdated like whoa.

Entry tags:

Backdated like whoa.

Who: Azula, Open to District 5
What: A walk down nostalgia lane as Azula visits her home.
Where: District 5
When: During the tours
notes: Nothing yet but Azula's involved so expect drug use and possible violence or mentions of.

The Day had finally come.

Dispatching with the formalities, the parties, the tours. Azula could reasonably avoid it no longer.

The wrought iron gate slid open allowing them entrance to the front walkway. The two story house was long and proud. The sort of mini mansion that was meant to be seen and admired. A fine solid roof, polished gleaming glass.

Mr. Ozai was no slouch when it came to threatening his grounds keepers. If they liked their jobs they made sure not a single flower was out of place. Azula's lips curled into a smile as she remembered fondly setting fire to a bush or two when she felt like getting the old men who tended to them in trouble.

She was being propped up by several different kinds of pills to try and find a balance between her usual morphling and the caffeine she needed to keep on her toes. A fine dress clung to her, fashionable but practical. Like she was attending a business lunch rather then coming home to see her family after months in the Capitol.

Of course it had been years since she'd seen them as she'd come to the capitol from the hospital where she was being treated.

She let her fingers stroke along the doorknob and for a moment considered turning and running. But no...that would never do. The whole town was watching from their windows and listening from around the corners as they waited for Azula to have another violent outburst.

They all knew it was only a matter of time.

Gripping the door with determination she opened it smoothly.

"I'm home."

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"Mentor~" Called that playful voice.

Diana stood at the gate to the grounds, waving through the bars.

It seems the Stylists have dressed her in the latest District fashion in an effort to make her mingle maybe? Feel more patriotic? Whatever the reason, Diana had quickly restyled her hair from whatever larger than life hive they'd tied it up in and into a more manageable fishtail plait.

She played with the end of her hair as she called over to Azula. "Where are you going mentor? Can I come?"

Azula flinched hearing a familiar voice and turned to look over her shoulder offering a weak smile.

Great, of all the people...

She turned to face Diana properly, coaching herself through what sort of attitude she needed her face to express.

"Hello Tribute. I was just on my way to visit with family. Nothing to concern yourself about." But despite her saying that she could already see Diana's natural curiosity, and desire to torment Azula, welling up.

"It's really more of a private function."

"Family?" Diana's eyes seemed to light up for a moment. "Private function?"

She jutted out that full bottom lip of hers. "Aww, come on, let me come too. You're my mentor, we should bond."

And there it was. The beginning of her damnation. She knew she had allowed her guard to get too low around Diana and now she could feel the proof of that as that pouting bottom lip wrecked her ability to be cold and unflinchingly selfish.

"You've bonded more with me then any tribute in our district or otherwise. I should be forcing you to go make friends."

The pouted lip coils up into a smug smirk. "But you're not."

She trails her fingers across the metal bars, making a faint ringing noise. "Come on, open the gate. I'm afraid it's going to zap me at any moment."

"Don't tempt me." She could easily activate the electrical defenses but Diana WAS one of her favorite pet projects after all.

She sauntered over to the entrance and opened it with the push of a button "Alright, but I want you on your best behavior or I'm cutting you out completely. No more tribute gifts, no more training. You're on your own."

She actually seemed more worried then irritated.

"Yes, mentor, whatever you say." Diana replied as she slipped through the opening gates.

"Thanks." She pressed her lips to Azula's cheek in a brief kiss. "So, family?"

Despite the warmth that bathed her cheek from the kiss, Azula was instantly regretting this choice.

"Yes, my father. Possibly my sister." She mumbled and turned to lead the way back to the front door. "Father owns one of the electrical plants."

And had designs to take control of more if he had his way, but Azula didn't need to share that.

"You have a sister?" It was impossible to keep that mischievous smirk off her lips.

"Of course." She opened the door ushering Diana in.

"We were never that close. But I took her place when she was called to be tribute in The Games."

For the glory and honor she never got.

The foyer of the house was wide and open with some beautiful artwork of various landscapes.

Standing tall and proud was a man with broad shoulders and dark hair pulled into a ponytail. His suit was immaculate and clearly tailored to his body.

"Welcome home Azula!" He declared and some various staff on the edges of the hall clapped and smiled warmly with false affection for the girl returned home.

Meanwhile at the top of the stairs hidden in the shadow of a decorative pillar another girl watched nervously. Perhaps Diana's sharp eyes would spot her. Perhaps not.

Diana stands by Azula's side, waiting for the little display to be over, turning and tilting her head to get a good look at everything and everyone in the room.

It takes her a moment or so, but she does spot the other person hiding away. Her gaze lingers for a moment but she doesn't address it and instead moves back to the focus of scene.

"Father." Azula couldn't keep the affection out of her voice and she hated herself for it. Despite how much time they had been apart...he was still her father. She approached and offered him a polite embrace. That's what daughters did when they reunited with their fathers right? He was much more casual and comfortable looking as he put his thick arms around her to hug back.

"This is one of my Tributes. Diana Ladris." She introduced, drawing out of the embrace and gesturing for Diana. "She was a last minute edition to our dinner plans. I hope that won't be a problem?"

"Of course not." He had the same sharp eyes as Azula and Diana could feel them devouring her for every detail. "Why I'd happily treat any tribute to a meal in my home so long as they fight for our districts honor."

Edited 2014-01-26 21:01 (UTC)

Diana watched Azula hugging her father with a small smirk before turning it into a polite smile when addressed. "Thankyou. I'm looking forward to trying this Districts food."

He smiled a perfectly calculated smile displaying some more too perfect teeth. In the Capitol perfect teeth were so normal that it was a little surprising to see regular non-enhanced teeth on the servents and townspeople here. "And I'm looking forward to hearing about life in the Capitol. How exciting to have a visitor from another world as well."

Azula nodded gently, approving of Diana's response to the introduction. "We'll meet you in the dining room then? I just want to take a quick stroll for nostalgia's sake." Also because she wanted to give herself a moment of composure before facing her sister.

And maybe some small part of her wanted to show off her house to Diana.

"Of course dear, take all the time you need. Dinner won't start without you."

"Ooo, nostalgia." Diana wasted no time in switching her attention back to Azula, lightly pulling on the cuff of her sleeve. "I can't wait, where are we going to start?"

Azula smiled looking victorious as she cut a path through the servants up the stairs. "The important rooms are upstairs, downstairs is mostly for social functions, meals and training."

The figure who had been at the top of the stairs had vanished by the time they got up there.

The first room they found was an elaborate study, books lining the walls as well as some scrolls, a massive monitor on the wall, and a fine oil painting of their family together, smiling and looking like royalty.

"This was painted before Mother left. So Zuko's not got her scars." She sighed like it was a cherished memory. "I'll be amazed if Father didn't force her into getting it fixed. Then again Zuko would probably be afraid of going under the knife.

And Diana of course had to suck out all regal and professional demeanor of the tour almost immediately by letting out a noise of endearment and pointing at the picture. "Awww. Look how adorable you are. Little teenage Azula."

Azula twitched at the sound but she could tolerate it.

"I've always been adorable. Perfect since I was born." She remarked with a casual off handed manner.

"I like to think I've only gotten better though." She offered to see if Diana would take the praise and stroke her mentors ego.

Diana turned to look at Azula, her mouth still curved into that smirk she always wore.

"Of course. Experience suits you."

Slender fingers gripped at the elbow of Azula's clothing as the teen leant in and pressed a kiss to her mentors cheek, leaving the slightest brush of her lips on the corner of the young womans own as she pulls back.

Blush blossomed in her cheeks like roses and her own smirk curled in a proud yet wicked smile.

"You're very observant."

Back into the hall and a figure scurried into a room shutting the door hard. The mentor rolled her eyes and shook her head "I see Zuko is still afraid of me. Good. I would have preferred she grow a spine but if she can't manage that she could at least learn to stay out of my way."

Sauntering down the hall she let her fingers curl around another doorknob to lead into her bedroom which was like a memorial to her accomplishments. Pictures of her in beautiful Capitol fashion, lush and luxurious furniture in warm shades.

It was dark, the curtains were drawn but despite how comfortable everything was designed the room had clearly not been lived in for some time.

Her eyebrow tugged upwards in interest as Azula spoke lowly of her sister.

Once they entered Azula's room Diana let out a low whistle as if impressed, though because she was Diana it was hard to tell if she was being ironic of not.

"A little dark, isn't it? Don't want people to know what you're up to?"

That actually amused her and she gave a knowing smile.

"Well I do value my privacy sometimes. But still..."

She crossed the threshold to throw open the curtains and reveal a beautiful view of the gardens below.

"Makes you feel important to stand here."

Diana walked over to stand behind her mentor. She looked over Azula's shoulder to see the garden, long hair brushing against the womans cheek and falling to rest on her neck.

"I can't say I'm surprised at that." Smirking lips hovered near Azula's face. "But I didn't picture you the garden type."

"I suppose I'm just full of surprises." She leaned into Diana comfortably once again betraying just how the girl had gotten under her skin. No one ever came that close to actually touching Azula and yet Diana had lowered her defenses somehow.

"The Capitol still feels more like home though." She confessed. "This place is just...nostalgic."

Diana was a little surprised at Azula's initiation of touch. But that only meant things were working.

"Well, that's good news." Diana gave a playful smile. "I wouldn't want you to rediscover your fondness for this place and leaving me mentorless in the Capitol."

"I'd miss you far too much."

Despite Diana's hands clearly resting at her sides, she turned her head and there was the softest touch on the back of Azula's neck.

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