Avatar Zulera

Mei had been day-dreaming, drifting away to what could be. Of course it was about the Avatar, and about Xiayu's possibility of feelings. Had he been harboring all of this excitement of meeting the Avatar only to find she had exceeded his expectations? Was he, at this very moment, contemplating his love? He heard a voice, slicing the air like a knife, her voice.

He hadn't noticed the Avatar move, but snapped back as soon as her voice pervaded his thoughts. He looked at her, a sudden loss for words causing a uncomfortable moment of hesitation. He swallowed, "No, nothing on your back...nothing wrong, at all...", he said quickly, looking back out at the horizon, "Just...um, thinking..." He knew that answer was going to be deflated quickly, he already heard the questions: Looking at what?, Thinking about what?. And it's not like Mei was practiced at hiding his feelings, he was an embodiment of the stereotypical passionate Firebender. He couldn't be sure without a mirror, but he may have been quite red in the face.

Mei swallowed, and turned away from the water, leaning on the railing. "I...I don't know..." His voice was so dimished in power, and solidness that he almost stuttered. He took a long breath, and exhaled slowly, "I don't know...Avatar..." He looked up at her, "I intended...to bring you as...support...a helping hand..." He let out another tense breath, "And now I can't seem to...think straight..." You can't just say it. No one says that. Especially not you to her, now. You hardly know eachother, no. You can't. Can't. "Muddled...dilluted...", he finally found he right words, "Like being lost in an ocean, with no land or ships in sight..."

Mei managed a smile as she spoke, just Zulera. As she spoke, a slight sadness came appeared on his face. As she turned to leave, he too turned, and caught her shoulder. His grasp was warm, and his grip was nearly inexistant. It was, in that moment, he decided that he did feel for her, despite how quick it felt. His voice was hardly more than a whisper, and his face was now completely red, "No, Zul...stay. Please." From deep inside, he heard his own voice, but felt like it came from another person, "I never want to see you leave me.", and that's about the time when he caught the railing, and nearly collapsed.

Mei glanced up at Zulera, 'Why in the world did I have to be born without a natural understanding of romance?', he thought to himself. "Yeah....", he answered, his heart was pounding, "No, no I'm not...", he said, taking a few steps back. "I'm...just going to...um..." 'Going to WHAT?!', he thought, yelling at himself, 'Die? Hide?' He had nothing to say, and so he stepped quietly into his office, and leaned heavily on his desk. He looked at his hands, his vision was blurred.

He had never experienced anything like this, why now? Why was talking to her so hard on his body? What was this? A seizure? A panic attack? A heart attack? He didn't know. He wasn't sure he wanted to.

Mei glanced up at the door, but words failed to come to him. The answer is no. You're fine. Not. Am. He lightly tapped his desk, to think he made it through the ranks of the Fire Nation and is brought down by the fact that he couldn't talk to a woman, not a woman, the woman, the Avatar, an embodiment of all he stood for, a symbol. And she was absolutely stunning, so opposite to what he had imagined that he was only drawn further toward her. Maybe rebellion was what he liked? He still hadn't replied, and moved around, and sat silently, placing his thumbs on his temples, and his face into his hands, sighing a deep sigh.

Mei glanced at the door again, what a sweet girl, so persistant in making sure he was ok. He smiled, opened his mouth, but again, no words came out, the tightness in his chest, lungs more than his heart became greater. He knew she'd come in, maybe that's what he wanted, like how he had dragged her along initially for more, though he didn't know it then. Damn. He needed to relax, breath, and relax. He opened a drawer, digging around, he produced a battered notebook, something he had used only a few times in his life. He always told himself if he hadn't made general he would have been a crime-scene artist. he had a knack for faces. Inside, he had a sketch of Kai, for memory's sake and to remember what his former friend had once looked like, Shula, a recent edition, it had been inspired by his sadness for her position. She had far too much pressure on her for her age. And now, he began sketching Zulera, taking coal pens, and using his thumb and index finger to smear shadow across her face, creating a rather intricate facial image of the Avatar in mere seconds, though messy. <-(I wish I could do this...meh.)

[funny... I think I had it written somewhere that Zulera was actually an insanely good artist as well (unlike me).]

Zulera Joanna Tallarico	Zulera wanted her answer, and was slightly disappointed that she hadn't gotten it yet. she knocked on the door again, not hearing any noise outside. had he died in there?" she decided she didn't want to ignore the nagging feeling, and so she turned the knob and slowly peeked her head in. "General Mei?"
Mood: Content Condition: Rested	Link:

Mei glanced up at Zulera, and with that final glance, and one last detail, finished what he was doing. He felt significantly better, "Sorry.", he started, "I guess you could say a Cat-Owl had my tongue." He paused, "You...are the exact opposite of what I imagined, and...I feel...that the simplicity of being absolutely wrong about you...has...only expanded the influencial aura you present...I am astounded by you..." He paused, "And it scares the living crap out of me...because I have never...felt like this before...not even when I was promoted to the rank of general..."

Mei sighed, "I've realized it was one factor. Not that I ever intended to make this ship your prison...but on some level I knew I wanted you here to tell you how I felt." He looked down at the sketch, it didn't do Zul justice, she was much more beautiful in person. "I don't know what I feel...everything becomes clear, but foggy at the same time, I feel exposed, and...genuinely caring." He leaned back, "You...are just...too perfect for your own good, Zulera.", he said it like it was a bad thing and a good thing at the same time.

Mei smiled, running his finger on the coal pen thoughtfully. He was looking at you now, "You are perfect in every way. I know that...you've had a history...not all of it good." He had absolutely no intentions of holding anything against her, that much was clear. "I find your carelessness, and stature to be perfect...the way you don't care what I thought... In my eyes, you are perfect..."

He rose slowly, and approached you, stopping with a good few feet between them. "I know this...is a lot to take in. I hope you don't think any less of me for my actions or my words. I will understand completely if you wish to leave as soon as we reach the next port. I just want you to know that nothing I have said is a lie. Not one word." He sighed, "So, that's it... If you still want to be here...I would like to ask if you'd want to dine with me later, anything is fine...your decision isn't urgent, just answer when you feel you've made your decision..." He was definately not practiced on asking or saying anything even remotely similar to this, and it showed.

Mei manged an awkward smile at her reply. "Well...that's great...do you have a preference? Anything...something you might be craving?"

At least she said yes. You've put her on the spot. It can't be helped. You could allow her moment to breath. I have done nothing harmful. You've thrown the biggest rock possible into her path for the day. ...It can't be helped. You are selfish. I want her to have fun too, that's not selfish.

His inner voice was silent after that, he was pleased.

Mei smiled, "Alright." He paused, "I really did think you'd be pickier too.", he said. He turned, "So, around...what time shall I be expecting you?" (Short, sorry.)

Zulera Joanna Tallarico	she chuckled. "I'm a woman of a laid-back, disorganized lifestyle. don't worry about my tastes. as for the time... whenever convenient for you. I've got nothing going on at the very least till we land."
Mood: Confused Condition: Rested	Link:

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Mei smiled, "Well, even a woman of a laid-back and disorganized lifestyle can have refined taste.", he said. "I'll say we give it another hour or so, if you wanted something to do...I suppose we could find something, can't have you getting bored and causing mischief can we?", he asked playfully. So unlike Mei Fong that he actually asked an inward question, 'Who are you?'