[ Action, Voice ] .028

[markofthebrave]

[So today? Katara cuts short her usual routine with a cheerful wave and ducks out on her housemates. Aang showing up pushed so many things out of her mind, and now they were all crowding back in, along with the strangeness of Zuko's return.

She misses the Straw Hats. Going camping right now sounds wonderful. And she really wants Aang to meet them! She thought about trying to contact them over the journals, but... didn't really want to interrupt. Besides, it was better... to get used to people being gone.

She can handle this by herself. Katara is not given to introspection, but at her favorite spot by the South bridge, Katara has gathered a fair amount of smooth stones, and is alternating between stone-skipping and staring at her conversation with Nephry. She only knows one way to deal with this, and that's facing it straight on and adapting.

Water is the element of change. Water adapts.

And so, to find some way to remind herself of this and gather up the courage and mental clarity to sort things out, Katara will eventually step off the bridge and walk a ways beside the river. Once there, she closes her eyes and very slowly begins to practice basic forms, the water streaming about her in constant change and accompaniment to her thoughts, until she can almost see it in her mind's eye, overwhelming the flames.

Much, much later, she takes a seat, and makes a filter. She only hopes that she truly means what she says.]


Nephry, it's Katara. If you'd like to meet sometime today, or later this week... I'm ready now.

Comments

[markofthebrave]

You're probably right. [Pause. Well. Might as well go for it, she'll never have the chance to ask YUBER this, after all.

...okay, groundwork first.] So do you and your friends get training in how to use your powers, or do you just sort of... know?

[bamfing]

Well, when my powers first showed up, I would teleport without warning, ending up in all kinds of places I was thinking about, but didn't actually want to go to. It made for some very embarrassing situations. [And even worse, him scaring off townspeople with his demonic appearance. It had been so much easier to avoid people before his powers manifested.]

It took a while before I learned to only use my power when I wanted to, or figure out what my own limits were. The Professor really helped too. Especially with my friends. I had to figure out my powers on my own, but he found everyone else just when their powers first showed up. [Something he was somewhat envious of, though he could hardly hold it against them.]

1/2

[markofthebrave]

I see... [A pause as she processes.] I wasn't very good with my bending for a long time. Every time I tried to practice it would always... end wrong. It was only after I met Aang that I started feeling like I had any sort of grip on it, and I only got really good after studying under Master Paku.

[markofthebrave]

When the Professor helped you with your powers... were you guys trained for combat too?

[Because, powers or not, she's not sure she wants to ask a civilian to spar with her.]

[bamfing]

[How she learned to control her powers was interesting and had his attention. But asking about combat... he couldn't help but regard her suspiciously. Why would she ask that? Did she know?

... should he even tell?]

Well, actually... [He hesitates a little longer before deciding to go with the truth.] Mr. Logan definitely put us through our paces. After all, some mutants were willing to use their powers to try and attack others. So... we were trained to stop them.

[markofthebrave]

[...so not a war, exactly, but...] Kind of like the Justice League?

[bamfing]

[He blinks at that assessment.]

Oh no, nothing like that! We're not superheroes. Not even close.

[markofthebrave]

Superheroes? [She's unfamiliar with that word, but she shakes her head.] I don't know what that means, but from what you've told me you've got powers, and you fight against other people with powers to stop them from hurting people without powers. That's just what they do. It's not a war like what's waiting for me back home, or anything, but it's still fighting for what's right.

[bamfing]

[If Magneto had his way, it would be a war. Still, the comparison to superheroes is disregarded, since it's so obviously off, because of one word:]

You're in a war? But... [You're younger than he is.]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara nods.] My world's been at war for a long time. About a year ago, my brother and I found someone who could do something to end it. So we went with him to do everything we could to finally end the war and restore balance to our world.

[bamfing]

[He's quiet at that.] That must be some war that someone your age would have to go fight in it.

[markofthebrave]

I don't see what my age has to do with it. There was something we could do to help, so, we did it. I mean, Aang is only twelve. And he's the one we're all depending on.

[bamfing]

Well, still! It's just... [Different in other worlds. He gives a defeated sigh.] It's just a shame, that's all.

[markofthebrave]

I agree. No one should have to fight, and the war has been terrible. [She closes her eyes with that, obviously personally affected, and then she opens them to continue.] But when you have the chance, the power to change something for the better... it doesn't matter what it costs you. You have to try.

The Fire Nation had been attacking the other nations for over a hundred years. They had to be stopped.

[bamfing]

[It's hard not to be stunned by all this. And a little humbled too. His own problems kind of pale against having to go fight in a war like that and his own accomplishment don't really compare.]

I hope you do.

[markofthebrave]

[She grins.] Thanks. But - one of the weirdest things about this place is that it takes us all from different times. My brother and our friend Zuko are both from after the war. So - I know we win. I just... have to get back there and finish the job.

[And yes, dude, that feels totally as bizarre as it sounds]

[bamfing]

Well, at least you know you win. That's good.

[He'd kind of like to know how things go with Apocalypse, actually. Especially since not even Magneto could stand up against him. Given that Magneto was still alive because of Kurt... and Apocalypse's guardian was defeated by Magneto, it was partially his fault.

But, he grins instead.] I just wish I knew how my exam would work out next week.

[markofthebrave]

[She returns his smile, her goal in questioning him momentarily forgotten.]

At least you'll have plenty of time to study for it? Oh hey, I wanted to ask you - how is Kitty settling in?

[bamfing]

You met Kitty? [Well, not surprising.] Not bad. It's a little hard for the both of us, but it helps having a friend. We even joined Haruki's special club.

[markofthebrave]

The SOS Brigade? [Blink, blink, blink. Well, to be honest, she's not opposed to the club as much as she is opposed to taking orders from Haruki.] Well, that could be fun. Just... don't take Haruki too seriously. He's not a bad guy but he is a little... strange.

[bamfing]

Aha, yeah, you're telling me. [And with a laugh he adds:] I think he takes himself seriously enough for everyone.

[markofthebrave]

Yeah, he's... something else. I'd probably join too, if I had time and thought I could stand letting him give me orders.

[bamfing]

[He can understand orders, but...] Time? How could you not have time? There's not a whole lot to do in this place.

[markofthebrave]

[Katara laughs.] I have plenty to do! This summer, I thought I'd have enough time to join the clinic, but... that didn't happen. Maybe I'll try to make time for it once school starts up again, even if it's just once or twice a week.

[bamfing]

[A fighter and an aspiring doctor? He was just trying to get through school!]

Ahh... yeah. I'll be going to school too.