»zu zu«

           [ A slow and yet melancholy look falls
                on him as he gazes at her. Regarded
                  as a monster yet she sat there with
                such fraility. Emprisonned and bound
                      unlike any Azula he witnessed.
                      And yet, it was still confusion;
                  was this how she was meant to be.    ]

I guess Uncle made sure you learned something
  from him. Or was it someone else who taught you?

            [ A single chip placed upon the opposite of the board.
                  Pai sho was a battle of territory but more, a battle
                   of intelligence; knowing your opponent before they
                                                 knew you.
                    And he was certain his chips would speak
                    how much he had grown since childhood.]

            [ ——» ☼ «—— ] 

                              she doesn’t look up when he speaks
                              to her, the words sounding almost like
                              murmurs in her ears. golden eyes watch
                              him move the chip, and her mind ( that
                              seems to be full of dust and incoherent
                              mutterings between visitors ) begins to
                              whir. she was always careful to calculate
                              her moves, calculate steps and chance.

                      in and out; arm moves up, grasps a chip,
                      places it on the board; in and out.

                                        ( controlled breathing is a must if you
                                        want to win at any game, Azula. )

            “ Uncle’s tactics are far too basic, ”
            she huffs, the echo of a laugh on her
            dry, cracked lips, “ Mother taught me
            how to play Pai Sho. ” she says, smirk
            forming on her lips. she nudges the
            table gently, impatient. “ Your turn. " 

                                        even in her cold stasis she would
                                        admit her skills had dulled, but she 
                                        knew exactly what this game was 
                                        about, and to mimic much of her
                                        life, she planned to win. ( she knew 
                                        he did too, but she knew him, and
                                        she too had grown. )