Zuko, Sokka, and Aang hanging out in a Discord call. Zuko is meticulously building an over-the-top lava fortress in Minecraft while Sokka mines underground and Aang wanders around exploring.
Sokka: Dude. You're seriously doing another NG+ run with the Baldachin's Blessing debuff?
Zuko: (keeps placing blackstone without looking away from the screen) It's a tactical choice.
Sokka: It's a hug. From a lady who gives you a debuff for the entire playthrough. That's not tactical. That's pathological.
Aang: (laughs while chopping down a tree) I think it's kind of sweet. Fia just wants to hold someone.
Sokka: She's a video game character, Aang. She doesn't want anything. smirks But someone keeps choosing the debuff. Every. Single. Run.
Zuko: (shrugs while outlining another lava moat)
It's a flex. Beating the game with a handicap proves I'm better than you.
A creeper hisses behind Aang.
Aang: WHOA! (frantically backpedals) Okay! Okay... safe. I'm safe.
Sokka: You're in a cave with half a heart and you're holding a wooden sword.
Aang: It's a spiritual sword.
Sokka: That's not a thing.
Zuko: quietly keeps building, adding more obsidian and lava to his already impractical fortress.
Sokka: No, but seriously, Zuko. I've watched you die to Malenia like forty-seven times. With the debuff. You could just remove it. Get the hug, then actually play the game.
Zuko: I know how to play the game.
Zuko's character stops moving. He stares at the screen for a few seconds, absently rubbing the edge of his keyboard.
Zuko: *quietly* Maybe I just think it's... nice.
The Discord call falls completely silent.
Sokka: ...Nice? What do you mean "nice?"
Zuko: (keeps staring at the bubbling lava on his screen)
The animation is... I don't know... the screen gets all soft... and she says she'll hold you as long as you need... and nobody ever—
(immediately bites his tongue and shuts his mouth)
Neither Sokka nor Aang says anything for several seconds.
Aang: gently Nobody ever what?
Zuko: squeezes his eyes shut before suddenly SLAMMING both hands onto his desk, rattling his keyboard.
FINE!! I JUST WANTED A HUG!! HAPPY?! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR, SOKKA?! A VIDEO GAME CHARACTER GIVES BETTER HUGS THAN ANYONE I'VE EVER MET IN REAL LIFE AND I JUST WANTED TO FEEL LIKE SOMEONE GAVE A SHIT FOR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE A GODDAMN BOSS FIGHT—
His voice cracks at the end. The only sound left in the call is lava bubbling from Zuko's game and a zombie groaning in Aang's world before being smacked with a wooden sword.
Zuko: *groans into his hands as he braces for the worst*
....Yes, Aang?
Aang: ...I'd give you a hug.
Zuko: UGH!!!
*Catches himself before he rages again*
....I don't want one.... but thank you...
Sokka: Yeah, he'd rather get one from Katara.
Zuko: FUCK YOU AND THE LLAMA YOU RODE IN ON!!!
*Kills Sokka's llama*
Sokka: SIR-SPITS-A-LOT, NOOOOO!!!
