[ Zuko, indeed, is operating a lot more like an extension of their Agni Kai in his moves, what he seems to be expecting of Azula — and it certainly doesn't occur to him that the Azula before him might be Azula dreaming from another point in their lives... If his operating theory, young as it is, is that he's here because his mind just broke after their Agni Kai — then in that case, Azula could definitely be here... But once again, like in their Agni Kai but this time completely unlike their Agni Kai, something's off. She seems different somehow, but he can't put his finger on how.
He doesn't have the time, before she's got him in her grips. After he dodges the stab of her dagger-like flames, he feels for a second, once he sees her mask come undone, maybe he can get the upper hand. But even from the first look in her eyes, both of them unmasked now, he's rushed with this cold chill in his gut, that not only is he not about to get the upper hand, but that something's more than off — something's wrong... And in a flash, he sees that spark of ingenuity light up in her eyes — a familiar moment, but certainly more emotive than she normally is, barring their last encounter. Something just took a turn. Before he can even register, he fees the handcuff materialize around his wrist only once he's being viciously tugged forward by its chain into a powerful gut kick.
The force launches him backwards, colliding with the railing of the gazebo a way's off; the dreamotion chain allows him to travel as far as the blow will take him, but it's still keeping him very much tied to Azula. He didn't expect that move. It's brutal even for her. But by the time he gains his bearings and tries to rise to his feet again, she's already upon him at the gazebo for the next blow. ]
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He doesn't have the time, before she's got him in her grips. After he dodges the stab of her dagger-like flames, he feels for a second, once he sees her mask come undone, maybe he can get the upper hand. But even from the first look in her eyes, both of them unmasked now, he's rushed with this cold chill in his gut, that not only is he not about to get the upper hand, but that something's more than off — something's wrong... And in a flash, he sees that spark of ingenuity light up in her eyes — a familiar moment, but certainly more emotive than she normally is, barring their last encounter. Something just took a turn. Before he can even register, he fees the handcuff materialize around his wrist only once he's being viciously tugged forward by its chain into a powerful gut kick.
The force launches him backwards, colliding with the railing of the gazebo a way's off; the dreamotion chain allows him to travel as far as the blow will take him, but it's still keeping him very much tied to Azula. He didn't expect that move. It's brutal even for her. But by the time he gains his bearings and tries to rise to his feet again, she's already upon him at the gazebo for the next blow. ]