[ Action, Voice ] .031

[markofthebrave]

[If you are passing by the Southmost bridge at just the right time, you will find it hard not to notice the girl in an unusual dress and boots facedown on the ground. One shoulder is strangely disjointed, and there are bruises up and down her arms, particularly violent ones around her wrists. She looks like nothing more than a broken and discarded doll.

As the sun continues to set, the coolness in the ground will cause her to start to stir. When she sits up, she grimaces, moving as if there might be something wrong with her ribs. If you happen to be looking at her as she does, you'll notice the sickening blue and yellow bruise spread across her right collarbone, the lovely shiner on her eye.

The wonderful thing about Luceti? Sometimes there's a journal right where you need it. She barely has enough presence of mind to make sure the picture points away from her face, but her voice is very tired.]

Sokka, Aang - I'm back. [Sorry Suki, Zuko.] I'm okay.

[10 100 (thank you, Shikamaru) percent filter to Chopper, Raine]
Hey guys, if you're there - I could use a little help.

[She doesn't want her brother and Aang to see her like this.]

Comments

[Action]

[tanukipoint.livejournal.com]

If you have any trouble, be sure to let me or one of the doctors at the clinic know! [But it looks like she's in good hands, and there's an elated mood swirling through the air. She'll be fine. Chopper smiles, waves, and takes his leave.]

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[After saying goodbye to Chopper, Katara turns back to her disheveled brother and his mussed girlfriend.] It's really good to see you both. Is everyone else okay? Did you find my stuff?

[Totally ignore the fact that she's swaying a little on her feet she's just that tired.]

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[He likewise waves Chopper off, before turning his attention to Katara.]

Yeah, it's all in my room. Don't worry. [He's going to try and steady her. Already he's starting to realize... she's going to be asking where Aang and Zuko are soon.]

[Action]

[kyoshi]

[Suki purses her lips; she's also very much aware of the bad news they'll have to deliver. This feels more like something the two of them ought to share- they were much closer to Aang than she ever was. So instead, she steps back.]

I'll- I'll go get it for you! [And off she scoots to Sokka's room.]

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[Okay, that was weird, but... she shakes her head a little.] Thanks, Suki.

Sokka, where's-- [And that's when she realizes that she's phased and transparent again, and Sokka's hand is actually sticking INTO her shoulder.]

Ugh.

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[Sokka nods at Suki and is about to go into the unhappy task of delivering the news... when he realizes his hand isn't touching anything. He immediately pulls it back.]

GAAAH! Katara! You're... you.... what just happened!?

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[Sigh.]

Not all of us get made 'super strong,' Sokka.

[She'd move to step away except she's scared that if she does she'll send her foot straight into the ground like what happened with her arm - and this is stone. So Katara concentrates on standing very, very still.]

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Wait... they made you...? [He shakes his head.] Yeesh. [They get points for creativity.] I guess it doesn't happen all the time.

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

I don't know. It didn't happen at all when I was there.

[Still standing very, very still.]

[Action]

[markofthewise]

That's... weird. [He experimentally pokes his finger at her forehead.]

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[A;LSKJFL;SAKFJ YOU COULD KILL HER LIKE THAT, YOU MORON!

...but Katara is too tired to think of that, so he just gets a flat look.]

Are you done?

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[He pulls his finger back.]

Wow. That's definitely a new one. I bet you could walk through walls.

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[She shakes her head.] If I move, I sink.

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[Blink. Blink.]

Wow. That... ripping off doors doesn't seem like a big deal anymore, huh?

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

Yes, you were very lucky. [And she's not even resentful about it - she's just done talking about it. She's tired and she wants to lay down. She looks passed him to the scattered flower petals.]

Did Zuko and Aang agree to give you two the night in or something?

[Where are they? D:]

[Action] 1/2

[markofthewise]

[... oh dammit. He doesn't even know how to put this. He can't even ask her to sit down because of her current state.]

Actually... [A deep breath and he glances at his feet.] Zuko was recently kidnapped. And Aang...

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[He looks back up at her.] He's back home. Again.

[Yeah, this going to end so well. But he couldn't think of any way to soften the blow. Neither one of them are strangers to having their friends come and go.]

[Action] 1/?

[markofthebrave]

What?

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[And something inside her - breaks - just a little.

She feels it shatter.]

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[Deep breath. Breathe through the pain.

You can do this, Katara.]

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[Her free hand moves up to clutch loosely at her heart.

She can't even cry, she's just - numb.]

Oh. Good.

[Action] DONE

[markofthebrave]

[And suddenly she's solid again, and she turns from Sokka to slowly move towards her room.]

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Wait, Katara. [Suki has been gone for awhile and he knows why. This was something that needed to be handled between the two of them. Even so... he steps ahead of Katara, so he can retrieve her things.]

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[Sorry, Sokka. She's not waiting. But she is moving slowly. Every limb feels as if it's been dipped in lead. Everything feels - funny. Like she's had her ears stuffed with cotton.]

[Action]

[kyoshi]

[Suki will probably meet her by the door, her choker in hand. From their expressions, she knows the message has been passed on. Somehow missing it doesn't make her feel any better.]

Here, Katara...