⟪ in azula's own little world, she has just solved a problem, answered a question, even: maybe her brother did die in the agni kai. maybe the little waterbender couldn't fix him after all. then she hasn't failed, then her father wouldn't return to find that she'd lost everything. she'll still be flawless.

her hands begin to shake, frustration evidently rising high as she fails to do what she usually has servants do for her. still, she's grabbing the golden hairpiece so tightly as if she thinks it might dissolve if she she doesn't cling to it.

then she turns to face him again. ⟫

I am firebending master. A prodigy. ⟪ a beacon of humility. ⟫ No one gets hurt unless I want them to, Haymitch.

⟪ which... is as close as she can get to saying that she will, in fact, make an effort to contain herself. to say she'd grown up sheltered would be a far stretch, but her exposure to heavy drinking has definitely been limited. ⟫

And you shouldn't tell people your weaknesses. ⟪ three days is not a long time, really. and if this is the payment he might take for help, not that she needs it, ever –– it's just good to know. the knife catches her attention, he doesn't hold it like someone who's about to take up shop in a kitchen, and then he plays with it as if to prove it. how stupid she'd been to turn her back and fiddle with her hair. how close to getting that blade buried in her neck. ⟫