Life in the Apocalypse

[markofthewise]

Characters: Sokka, Azula
Setting: Post-apocalyptic Fire Nation Capital City
Summary: Continuation from this meme. After seeing Katara killed, Aang went into an unstoppable Avatar State that devastated the world. Two survivors, once enemies, have put their past behind them to fight off loneliness in a sparsely populated world.

Comments

[unstable]

And we're not in the Water Tribe, are we? [ They have the entire city to explore for things to make their food taste way better, thanks to half the citizens here living much more wealthy than the inhabitants of his. And, since it's just the two of them, they'll never run out of ingredients. Even after months. Hopefully not, anyway. She sets two ceramic containers on the counter, scooting them his way. Those should work well together. ] Though I honestly have no idea how you ever were able to survive such a tradition. Ugh.

[markofthewise]

Well, it was less 'tradition' and more 'living in the South Pole'. [Sokka opens one of the urns and takes a whiff of it. Wow, powerful, better not put too much in it.] But I have come to love your national past time of spicy foods. This should do the trick.

[unstable]

[ The princess runs a hand over his back before she moves to the counter, pushing herself onto it. She crosses one leg over the other, turning to watch him. ] Spicy? Nothing we eat is that spicy at all.

1/2

[markofthewise]

[Oh. Oh. That felt nice. He falls into a sort of dreamy looking smile before remembering that it's Azula. They may be living here together, but she's still. Azula.]

[markofthewise]

[Right. Food. He's going to get this stove heated up. It's connected to the fireplace, so he won't need Azula to turn it on for him.]

Well-- you just say that because you're used to everything being spicy.

[unstable]

[ Hey, she may be Azula but she's also one of the last women on the planet. Think about that, buddy.

Ahem. Anyway. She flips her hair over her shoulder as she laughs, leaning over the pot to sprinkle some of the extra spicy stuff into it before he starts to cook the meat. ]

You just cannot handle how hot everything is here, it has nothing to do with me being used to it.

[markofthewise]

[Yes, one of the last women on earth and she's really pretty when she's just sitting at home, not giving him those cocky smirks that make him wonder if she's intending to kill him when she gets bored.

Sokka looks slightly concerned at how much she's adding. But he's not going to wimp out of it. After all, he'd come to love Fire Flakes. How much spicier could this be?]

Hey, I just said that I liked how hot everything was here!

[unstable]

I guess we're going to find out if you really mean it, then.

[ If she hasn't killed him by now, he's pretty safe. Yep. Azula folds her arms over her chest, bouncing her foot absently. ]

Though I have a feeling I'm going to be eating most of our dinner tonight.

[markofthewise]

You wish. Your spicy food means nothing to my appetite.

[Maybe she won't notice if he cleverly keeps part of the meat from getting soaked in the spicy goodness.]

[unstable]

[ He better distract her well enough if he wants to make her not pay attention. Get going, Sokka! ]

So you'd endure the pain of Fire Nation spices to satisfy your hunger pangs?

[markofthewise]

You'd be surprised at what I've eaten to satisfy my hunger pangs. Sometimes if we couldn't get a fire going, we didn't even get to cook the meat.

[So perhaps he could distract her by simply grossing her out.]

[unstable]

[ The princess shakes her head. ]

That is completely disgusting. You shouldn't ever behave like a wild animal, no matter how hungry you are.

[markofthewise]

It's called the choice between eating and starvation. You've just never been there, princess.

[The meat is sizzling. Some of it free of the spice. Mission accomplished.]

[unstable]

And if I ever catch you eating raw meat for whatever reason, you're out of here.

[ Because that is just gross. ]

[markofthewise]

Now why would I do that when I have a firebender nearby?

[unstable]

Maybe you've developed a taste for it, I don't know. I just can't get the mental image out of my head.

[markofthewise]

You know, there used to be legends of Water Tribe warriors who ate raw meat for strength and vitality.

[unstable]

Used to be is the keyword. They probably all got sick and died.

[markofthewise]

Whatever. You probably just find it incredibly manly. I can't blame you.

[unstable]

Manly? It's stupid and disgusting. I am probably stronger than all of your little Water Tribe warriors ever have been and I didn't get this way by consuming raw meat.

[markofthewise]

[Sokka was not bothered and merely shrugged at her implication.] That's just bending. It doesn't count.

[unstable]

I could probably take every single one of them without bending.

[markofthewise]

Sure you could.

[Sure, he knew she could pull off some amazing moves and flips and stuff without her bending. But so could non-benders. And he wasn't even sure why they were talking about this.]

[unstable]

[ Because it makes her feel better, remembering the days when there were still people around she could crush. And not just Sokka. Sokka who she tolerates because no one else is around, so she can't abuse him too terribly.

The princess slides off the counter, leaning against it. Grinning at him. ]

You keep forgetting how amazing I am.

[markofthewise]

No, I'm pretty sure I didn't forget it. I still haven't acknowledged it, remember?

[Part of it is just teasing her, because he knows how much she soaks up praise. The other part is... well, actually that's all of it. He can't have her getting a big head on him. A bigger one anyway.

He takes the meat off the stove to let it cool. Time to get some plates. Sure, they're just having a plate of cooked meat, but it's better than nothing.]