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Arsonist's Lullaby: An Azula Timeloop Quest

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[X] A lie. You've learned that Zuko responds well to hostages. How much better will he respond when the hostage is the lover who sacrificed herself to save him? Obviously, that means you can't hurt Mai, or Ty Lee by proxy—but you will insist that they do not leave your side. For their own safety.
[X] Because it's a victory. You can admit that theirs is the worst betrayal you have ever faced, and by now you have faced it again, and again, and again. To turn it around, then, is to demonstrate that there truly is no setback your brilliance cannot overcome.
 
[X] A lie. You've learned that neither Mai nor Ty Lee support Zuko as enthusiastically as they first appeared to, but you don't know why. Mai never quite answered your question. Accusing them of conspiracy will, if nothing else, reveal the crux of their loyalties—something you need to cultivate, since it seems you are at a tactical disadvantage without any to call your own.
[X] Because it's interesting. After so many cycles surrounded by nothing but incompetence and faceless obeisance, at least keeping them around provides something fresh—something new. That was what they offered you, all those years ago at the Academy, and again when you reunited to hunt the Avatar; fitting that it's what you make use of them for once more.

Ok I think "interesting" is going to be the least likely to make her view "winning" their friendship (which would harm her ability to understand them in the long run by encouraging brute force-ing it) or turning them against Zuko as a goal
 
Cetashwayo said:
I am fairly sure the reason frustration didn't lead to more of a conversation is because of the choice taken earlier with Katara disrupting it.
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Katara was very obviously listening the entire time.
Magery said:
"Deflect this," you say, and hurl a titanic fireball directly at his face. The backdraft smears your bangs across your forehead.
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Interfering after Azula lost her cool. Katara is always present at her and Zuko's confrontation. Always the reason Azula can't just refuse Zuko's challenge, to the point Azula has tried killing her to prevent it.
 
[X] A lie. You've learned that neither Mai nor Ty Lee support Zuko as enthusiastically as they first appeared to, but you don't know why. Mai never quite answered your question. Accusing them of conspiracy will, if nothing else, reveal the crux of their loyalties—something you need to cultivate, since it seems you are at a tactical disadvantage without any to call your own.

[X] Because it's interesting. After so many cycles surrounded by nothing but incompetence and faceless obeisance, at least keeping them around provides something fresh—something new. That was what they offered you, all those years ago at the Academy, and again when you reunited to hunt the Avatar; fitting that it's what you make use of them for once more.

A shame that the loop ended before Azula could reach a breakthrough, but there is something twistedly funny about Zuko finally kind of reaching some form of understanding with his sister, only for the moment to get interrupted and to have her seemingly kill herself out of pure spite over how blessed and loved he was.
Like man, imagine the therapy sessions that mess is going to need, as well as Ty Lee and especially Mai's reactions.
 
Randino Treviani said:
Interfering after Azula lost her cool. Katara is always present at her and Zuko's confrontation. Always the reason Azula can't just refuse Zuko's challenge, to the point Azula has tried killing her to prevent it.
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And she literally tried to take her out of the picture here and it didn't work!

The universe is against Azula. She's definitely tried everything and there are no other options. It is cruel and unfair.
 
[X] A lie. You've learned that neither Mai nor Ty Lee support Zuko as enthusiastically as they first appeared to, but you don't know why. Mai never quite answered your question. Accusing them of conspiracy will, if nothing else, reveal the crux of their loyalties—something you need to cultivate, since it seems you are at a tactical disadvantage without any to call your own.
[X] Because it's a victory. You can admit that theirs is the worst betrayal you have ever faced, and by now you have faced it again, and again, and again. To turn it around, then, is to demonstrate that there truly is no setback your brilliance cannot overcome.
 
[X] A lie. You've learned that neither Mai nor Ty Lee support Zuko as enthusiastically as they first appeared to, but you don't know why. Mai never quite answered your question. Accusing them of conspiracy will, if nothing else, reveal the crux of their loyalties—something you need to cultivate, since it seems you are at a tactical disadvantage without any to call your own.

[X] Because it's a victory. You can admit that theirs is the worst betrayal you have ever faced, and by now you have faced it again, and again, and again. To turn it around, then, is to demonstrate that there truly is no setback your brilliance cannot overcome.
 
[X] A lie. You've learned that Mai and Ty Lee, too, hold some measure of childhood sentiment. Not enough to be truly loyal, but enough to disrupt your offensive. You are not repeating that embarrassment—so this time you will explain nothing at all, and task them with hunting Zuko down instead. They can come to their own conclusions about your motives.

[X] Because it's interesting. After so many cycles surrounded by nothing but incompetence and faceless obeisance, at least keeping them around provides something fresh—something new. That was what they offered you, all those years ago at the Academy, and again when you reunited to hunt the Avatar; fitting that it's what you make use of them for once more.
 
[x] A lie. You've learned that neither Mai nor Ty Lee support Zuko as enthusiastically as they first appeared to, but you don't know why. Mai never quite answered your question. Accusing them of conspiracy will, if nothing else, reveal the crux of their loyalties—something you need to cultivate, since it seems you are at a tactical disadvantage without any to call your own.

[x] Because it's useful. Zuko and the Avatar have proven time and time again that having others by your side can be advantageous, when the rest of the world is against you—and you know from experience that a small, elite team can work wonders. It's only practical to try and reassemble yours.

Maybe a bit too late to be voting 'useful', but anyway
 
Magery said:
"She would ne—" he starts, and then trails off. There's something vulnerable in his eyes. Did he… did he genuinely not realise? Has he lived for so many years not even knowing how deeply your mother chose him? A spark snaps around your finger and grounds itself in the earth. "No, that's… it doesn't matter. Somebody needs to stop you, Azula."
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Looking back, we did gain one important thing from this, awareness of Zuko's complete obliviousness to the circumstances of his mother's disappearance. Confronting him with this is definitely something to work towards.
 
PrognosticHannya said:
Ok I think "interesting" is going to be the least likely to make her view "winning" their friendship (which would harm her ability to understand them in the long run by encouraging brute force-ing it) or turning them against Zuko as a goal
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That's actually a pretty good point. Part of me is worried about using this one too soon, and then her falling back on worse explanations later, but at the same time, it might be best to try and get the most emotional insight out of this next loop for long-term benefits as you said.

[X] Because it's interesting. After so many cycles surrounded by nothing but incompetence and faceless obeisance, at least keeping them around provides something fresh—something new. That was what they offered you, all those years ago at the Academy, and again when you reunited to hunt the Avatar; fitting that it's what you make use of them for once more.
 
One of the nice things about looping. If we mess up (though I wouldn't called Katara a messup given it yielded us an alteration to a truth during our conversation with her) we can just get that option again when we go back.
 
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[X] Because it's interesting. After so many cycles surrounded by nothing but incompetence and faceless obeisance, at least keeping them around provides something fresh—something new. That was what they offered you, all those years ago at the Academy, and again when you reunited to hunt the Avatar; fitting that it's what you make use of them for once more.

[X] A lie. You've learned that neither Mai nor Ty Lee support Zuko as enthusiastically as they first appeared to, but you don't know why. Mai never quite answered your question. Accusing them of conspiracy will, if nothing else, reveal the crux of their loyalties—something you need to cultivate, since it seems you are at a tactical disadvantage without any to call your own.
 
[X] A lie. You've learned that neither Mai nor Ty Lee support Zuko as enthusiastically as they first appeared to, but you don't know why. Mai never quite answered your question. Accusing them of conspiracy will, if nothing else, reveal the crux of their loyalties—something you need to cultivate, since it seems you are at a tactical disadvantage without any to call your own.
[X] Because it's a victory. You can admit that theirs is the worst betrayal you have ever faced, and by now you have faced it again, and again, and again. To turn it around, then, is to demonstrate that there truly is no setback your brilliance cannot overcome.
 
Cetashwayo said:
One of the nice things about looping. If we mess up (though I wouldn't called Katara a messup given it yielded us an alteration to a truth during our conversation with her) we can just get that option again when we go back.
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Can we?
If Azula tried that and it didn't work, from her perspective, why would she try it again?
 
[X] Because it's interesting. After so many cycles surrounded by nothing but incompetence and faceless obeisance, at least keeping them around provides something fresh—something new. That was what they offered you, all those years ago at the Academy, and again when you reunited to hunt the Avatar; fitting that it's what you make use of them for once more.

Thinking about it, this is the most productive mindset for Azula to take. Instead of focusing on excellence, on winning, she focuses on a change of pace. On not rewalking old path. On giving up on cheap temporary victories rather than on accumulating new, interesting information. Like, what does Ozai do if he thinks Azula is dead? It's an interesting question.
 
[X] A lie. You've learned that neither Mai nor Ty Lee support Zuko as enthusiastically as they first appeared to, but you don't know why. Mai never quite answered your question. Accusing them of conspiracy will, if nothing else, reveal the crux of their loyalties—something you need to cultivate, since it seems you are at a tactical disadvantage without any to call your own.

Yeah I definitely want to see this one play out, especially if it answers the question.

[X] Because it's interesting. After so many cycles surrounded by nothing but incompetence and faceless obeisance, at least keeping them around provides something fresh—something new. That was what they offered you, all those years ago at the Academy, and again when you reunited to hunt the Avatar; fitting that it's what you make use of them for once more.

I continue to like all the "Azula is exhausted by her terrible time loop and getting weird about it" options
 
The Phoenixian said:
Can we?
If Azula tried that and it didn't work, from her perspective, why would she try it again?
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Except Azula has information she didn't before.
Magery said:
"It—what she did, Azula." Ty Lee blanches, like someone's poured the blood from her cheeks out in front of her. "She could move your body. She moved my body. The moon was full and she moved my body."

A small part of you thinks that must be a special horror for Ty Lee, to have the instrument she has honed for the whole of her life suddenly march to a different tune.

"What do you mean?" the larger part asks. "What was she bending?"

"Blood," Ty Lee answers with a shudder. "She said it was blood."
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Azula is intelligent enough to understand the full moon is a factor. But, that being the case, well, Bending is a voluntary action. You can't bend when your asleep, or while heavily sedated from one noon to the next.

That said, I'm in favor of forcing certain truths past Zuko's thick skull and seeing what truths Azula Gains instead.

That or the abducting Watertribe Peasant. The boy one, with a silly haircut.

Sokka: what is happening right now?

Mai: Azula thinks your Zuko's new pet, stole you to mess with him, so your being bullied until he shows up. She'll lose interest in a day or two.
 
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[x] Because it's interesting. After so many cycles surrounded by nothing but incompetence and faceless obeisance, at least keeping them around provides something fresh—something new. That was what they offered you, all those years ago at the Academy, and again when you reunited to hunt the Avatar; fitting that it's what you make use of them for once more.


[x] A lie. You've learned that Zuko responds well to hostages. How much better will he respond when the hostage is the lover who sacrificed herself to save him? Obviously, that means you can't hurt Mai, or Ty Lee by proxy—but you will insist that they do not leave your side. For their own safety.
 
Magery said:
and then to contemplate a non-existence chip in the paint of one of your curved nails.
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Should be "non-existent."

[X] A lie. You've learned that neither Mai nor Ty Lee support Zuko as enthusiastically as they first appeared to, but you don't know why. Mai never quite answered your question. Accusing them of conspiracy will, if nothing else, reveal the crux of their loyalties—something you need to cultivate, since it seems you are at a tactical disadvantage without any to call your own.

[X] Because it's a victory. You can admit that theirs is the worst betrayal you have ever faced, and by now you have faced it again, and again, and again. To turn it around, then, is to demonstrate that there truly is no setback your brilliance cannot overcome.
 
[X] A lie. You've learned that Mai and Ty Lee, too, hold some measure of childhood sentiment. Not enough to be truly loyal, but enough to disrupt your offensive. You are not repeating that embarrassment—so this time you will explain nothing at all, and task them with hunting Zuko down instead. They can come to their own conclusions about your motives.

[X] Because it's interesting. After so many cycles surrounded by nothing but incompetence and faceless obeisance, at least keeping them around provides something fresh—something new. That was what they offered you, all those years ago at the Academy, and again when you reunited to hunt the Avatar; fitting that it's what you make use of them for once more.
 
[X] A lie. You've learned that neither Mai nor Ty Lee support Zuko as enthusiastically as they first appeared to, but you don't know why. Mai never quite answered your question. Accusing them of conspiracy will, if nothing else, reveal the crux of their loyalties—something you need to cultivate, since it seems you are at a tactical disadvantage without any to call your own.

[X] Because it's interesting. After so many cycles surrounded by nothing but incompetence and faceless obeisance, at least keeping them around provides something fresh—something new. That was what they offered you, all those years ago at the Academy, and again when you reunited to hunt the Avatar; fitting that it's what you make use of them for once more.
 
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