ATLA: Azlua

The year is 100 A.G. the year of the rising Dragon according to the Fire nation calender. The day of the Blue Dragon, the celebrations echo throughout the palace.
Azula sits alone, her previous conversation lingering in her mind but she quickly bansihes from her thoughts. her vision now taken with dozens of high ranking noble families, high ranking officers, and respectable bending masters.

Although the atmosphere is lively, she can feel it. Through their deceptive false smiles and gleeful eyes, she can feel their disgusting eyes filled with ambition and greed. Thier fake smiles hiding the filthy thoughts that pollute their minds.

She's always been like this, able to see people true ambitions. Their true faces that they hide. It's always sickened her yet helped her with the many schemes she had made. Take for example the nobles who are viving for power, the fools who think the royal family has weakened, and are trying to vive for power since Ozai's "death".

She can see how factions have been beginning to form or rather they must have formed even before the her fathers "death".

The left side of them room is the noble faction lead by Jai Yu an elderly man who is often referred to as "the Serpent" because of a unique eye mutation that caused his pupils to appear like a snakes, of course there are many other reasons as well but just thought of his expliots that even her father had not even heard of to earn the respect of those around him hurts her head.
Even more recently he's begun gathering the older houses that has always secretly opposed the royal family and its iron grip it had over the nation.

On the right side is the military faction that had grown in recent times. Lead by a General Zaina, She's known as a master strategist and the ruthlessness that accompanied any oppent who faces her. Although in her upper middle ages she was and still is in some people's minds the flower of the capital.

Although it's called the military faction it's clear to all that they have pledged allegiance to Azula. Deep in thought she glares at the noble faction. She signals to a Di Lee Agent to approach.

"My Lord, how may I be of service." An agent says bowing.

"How is the noble faction still existing if the purge was successful!" Azula growls hiding her expression with a fan.

"Apologies my Lord. The purge was mostly a success but many of the older houses suddenly were not in their homes and stations. We tracked them to Yu family residence, we attempted scout the area but we discovered he had a security detail made of former Yuyan Archers, and retired bending masters. We believed if attacked with our forces spread so thin we would have failed. I apologize my lord." The Di Lee agent says ending with him about to prostrate himself on the ground.

Azula raises her hand to stop him.

"Leave before your failure makes me kill you." Azula growls, her fan thankfully covering most of her rage that has begun to boil within her before she takes a breath calming herself immediately.

General Zaine approaches Azula, she gives a respectful bow. Azula gestures for her to take a seat.

"Fire Lord Azula, how goes the celebration?" General Zaine says with familiarity.

"Fantastic or would be if they were all dead." Azula says clenching her fist while glaring at the noble faction.

" Ah I take it that your purge failed." General Zaine says but immediately regrets it as she sees Azula's glare.

"It wasn't a complete failure. Most of my enemies have been dealt with, General how do you think he managed this." Azula says narrowing her eyes to glare at him.

"It seems he too had a contingency plan in case of the fire lords demise and you're ascension. The important thing is that because of the partial success of the purge, you've evened the numbers." General Zaina says before stopping and gesture to Azula.

Walking up to the elevated table for the fire lord is Jai Yu. He respectfully bows.

"I give greetings to princess Azula."

Even as he approached the atmosphere became quite, the tension in the room becomes paralyzing or would be for normal people. Azula places down her fan and adjusts her position slightly before glaring down at him. Before Azula can speak, General Zaine shouts at him with obvious hostility.

"You dare!? Its Fire Lord Azula you-"

But she is cut off by Azula gently raising her hand. He swiftly knees.

"I beg your forgiveness Fire Lord Azula. It was simply out of habit and this old man's brain not working as well as it used too."

A mockingly smile creeps onto Azulas lips as she leans forward.

"Then perhaps it's time for you to retire old man." Azula sneers.

"Hoho. And abandon our new fire lord? Surely you jest my lord."

He does a exaggerated gesture to the crowd. Before clearing his throat.

"Enough with theatrics Yu. Speak you're purpose." Azula loudly but clearly.

"Now that you've become Fire Lord, I believe it time to start thinking about the nations future."

The atmosphere of the room shifts.

"To truly unify the nation I believe it time to pick your consort. May I suggest Marquis Zannack? He is not a bender but hails from a long and noble line of fire benders."

He gestures to a elderly man whose been gouging on all sorts of meats oblivious to the air around him.

This bastard wants me marry that pig!? No. It's not all he wants, that pig is just a puppet. I bet he plans to control him in shadows, he'd use him to limit my authority. As if I'd let that happen.

"I am well aware of my responsibilities as Fire Lord to continue the royal lineage. But now is not time for such things. As you say the unity of the nation is important, I will take my time in deciding who will be my consort. After all one cannot rush these important choices as they can affect my nation as a whole." Azula says calm and collected wearing her token iron mask not revealing her inner thoughts.

He sly, the arrogance to provoke me! Yet he's smart, he's already drawn the line between our factions. With a single seemingly innocent statement he's forcing those remaining neutral to recognize the line in the sand. If I rebuke him for suggestion that I'll seem like a tyrant who punishes a loyal subject merely voicing concern for his nation. Dammit.

"Of course my lord, your right I apologize. Now isn't the time for politics but rather celebrations!"

He shouts turning to the crowd instantly getting a cheers and applause. As he walks away azula notices a small smirk on his face.

Azula's mask cracks for a second, as she clenches her fist and a single vein pulses on her forehead. But as soon as the crack begins to show it calmed by General Zaina gently gasping Azula's hand.

"Now is not the time my lady." She gently whispers.

"How did such a snake not be rooted out by father? he never would have allowed such a person exist."

"He mad sure not to stand out and he's the third son of the Yu family and he's not a bender." Zaina whispers.

Azula almost let's out a laugh before glaring at Zaina.

"You're telling me that a mere spare dares to challenge me!?" (AN: a "spare" was often a nobles second or third child.)

Azula rubs her temples before grabbing a cup and gulping down fire sake.

"My lady!? What are you doing?" Zaina blurts out concerned.

"To much to think about! For tonight I'm celebrating, I'll take care of everything tomorrow! Don't try to stop me." Azula says as she downs another cup.

"I'm taking this and retiring for the evening." Azula says standing up.

Everyone begins to stand but Azula raises her hand to stop them. As if say "it's fine, continue celebrating."

Azula walks away with a large bottle sake, taking swigs every now and then.

"Now to find my minions." Azula says with a small chuckle.