markofthebrave | [ Action, Accidental Voice ] .032

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[ Action, Accidental Voice ] .032

[For the past almost two weeks, Katara has been struggling to regain her balance - even struggling to want to regain her balance. Aang's second return home hit her hard, on top of Zuko's mallynapping and Toph's return... Toph who doesn't remember. It's good to see her, but it's terrible as well. Now more of them are trapped in this horrible place. And she still hasn't been able get back to wearing her regular clothes because the 'phasing' keeps happening, as randomly and as annoyingly as ever.

It's been almost two weeks since she's returned and her shoulder hasn't been in any pain in days. The experience of having her bending completely taken away in the Malnosso facility was one that's almost beyond words, and now that she's back where she can feel even just half herself again, the desire, the need to bend has been growing under her skin like an itch.

She can't take it anymore. So Katara goes out just after dinner to one of her favorite practicing spots between her house and the barracks, and begins by doing very simple forms that don't require a lot of movement. She pauses when Momo finds her and sits down to take a break.

It's not long before she begins talking to the lemur about their adventures. It feels good - to talk to someone about home, to talk about all the things that happened, to remember who she really was, despite what this place wanted to make her. She doesn't notice when Momo knocks the journal opened when he moves to chase after what could be a fallen nut. ~~He might not be the best listener ever.~~]

--Sokka sent Aang in to steal the book. Remember riding on top of Appa's back so Aang and I could shape the clouds? It was too bad that we had to go through all that just to get them to listen to us. So after we made the skull in the sky, we dragged out Aunt Wu to see it - the sign for volcanic doom. Then the villagers listened. All the earthbenders worked to dig trenches and everyone else grabbed shovels to help out as best as we could.

And then when volcano exploded, we got back as far as we could, but it flowed right through--

[There's some excited chatter by the book, and suddenly the picture is filled with this face. It flickers from voice to video and back again.]

Momo, what are you doing? Get away from that!

[The video shows Katara shooing Momo away from her journal and then automatically shutting it. She gets back to her practicing, but will open up the journal later and see that it accidentally recorded. Way to go, Momo.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Good. Good to hear.

[It still kills him to think of the state she was brought back to town in... So much that it's actually evident in his tone, for once.]

Feel up to a walk later? Great day for it.

[She smiles a little, glad the subject's been dropped.]

I think that would be nice, Michael. When would you like to go?

Down by the lake, maybe? I've been meaning to do a little stargazing out here...

[Let's see. The last time she'd been out to the lake at night, it had been within her first month and she'd been attacked by Aku.

...sounds like about time she made a different memory.]

If we go to the nearby one, it should be all right. Meet you by the bridge?

Sure, see you there in a couple minutes~

[And he'll be there waiting, leaned casually against the bridge's railing~]

[Katara arrives a bit later, needing to inform whoever tries to stop her from leaving and having to stop several times as she's phased. She's wearing her parka to cover up the ridiculous dress that Michael's already seen her stuffed in and she's got her waterskin strapped on like always.]

Hi, Michael!

[He waves and pushes off from the bridge.]

Katara~

Still stuck in that dress, I assume. [Eying her momentarily.] Do you at least believe me yet that you look fantastic in it?

[Fortunately, Katara's regained enough of her equilibrium that the mention of the hated, hated dress does not require her to flip out, but she does send him a bit of a dour look. The compliment appears to have no effect - perhaps she's learning to ignore them as 'Just The Way Michael Talks.']

I'm getting used to it, but how I look in it isn't the point. I'd like to be able to wear my own clothes without worrying that they'll fall right through me.

[He stifles a laugh. That actually was a bit of 'just the way he talks' Things have been peaceful, and seeing her better has put him into a good enough mood to give her at least a verbal poke in the ribs.]

Can't blame you for that. [He gives the collar of his good old SMS jacket a tug- the poor boy would practically be lost without it, after all.]

Enough dwelling on that though, shall we~?

Sure. [And she gamely starts across the bridge, glancing up from him to the stars. Pretty, but so far away compared to what he'd shown her in the Battle Dome.] It's a nice night for a walk.

[For the most part, he keeps his eyes on the sky as they walk, though he does cut an occasional glance Katara's way.]

Clear skies, cool night air, good company- I certainly won't complain.

[Katara hums in contented agreement, perfectly willing to walk for a time just enjoying those things.]

[Michael follows suit, letting much of the distance between the town and the lake go in contented silence. Once the river begins to open up to the larger body of water though, he speaks up again.]

Now that's a spectacular view. We may be lab rats here... but at least life's pretty nice between experiments.

[At the moment, Katara could beg to differ. Too much time to think leads to thoughts of people who aren't there anymore. But she smiles a little at Michael.]

I'm glad you're getting along all right. Luceti can be a hard place to face on your own. [Being the only one from your world and all...] I think it's great that you're able to find the good things in it.

[As the approach the edge of the lake, Michael drops down to sit in the grass.]

There's plenty of good to be found here. Though so far, I still think you take the cake.

[Katara just shakes her head, smiling a little as she sits down beside him. The very faintest hint of a blush might light her cheeks, but she's mostly ignoring that as ridiculous as well. She's feeling a little bit more like herself, but at the moment, strong and worthwhile are the last things she identifies with herself.

She just wants to go home.]

You're just saying that. [She shakes her head again.] What else do you like here?

[He leans back and studies the sky.]

I like how peaceful it is here between experiments. And that with the Dome here, I've got more interesting options for spending my free time. And there are plenty of good people here.

But really... you are the best thing to happen to me here.

Michael... [She trails off uncomfortably. He seems sincere, but this is all way too much, way too soon. She doesn't know how she feels about him. He's handsome and charming... and she knows that he's been concerned for her so he cares about her a little... but she just can't get a good read on him.

...and some part of her heartache over Aang leaving warns her that Luceti is the wrong place for forming attachments.] That's sweet of you to say, but...

[But what?]

...I really hope that's not true.

[He laughs softly- giving off the distinct feeling it may be at himself. A gamble taken and lost, maybe?]

I don't see what's so bad about it. I've met more than a few other good people here at least partly thanks to you. Add in the good times at school and elsewhere... I'd say you earn the honor quite handily.

[She looks down, abjectly miserable. Maybe she misread him - the way he's talking now doesn't mean anything more than friendship. Which... wasn't as bad, but it was just as bad at the same time. Right now, Katara hates the way Luceti takes people away. The last thing she wants to do is hurt someone, but she can't help be anything else than honest.]

I wish you... [wouldn't. Didn't. Don't set your hopes on me, Michael. I'm not sure how many more I can bear.]

[...a sigh. She doesn't want to talk about this anymore.]

Thank you.

[And like he's reading your thoughts, new subject~]

So you have any major holidays this time of year back home? I know this month and next are big ones for most everyone from one version of Earth or another.

[She closes her eyes and relaxes a little.]

The winter solstice is a pretty big deal. And New Year's.

We've got similar ones, though what used to be old European winter solstice traditions have been combined into Christmas.

Right, the one where no actual slaying is involved.

[And, you know, her Real Birthday.]

[ Action, Accidental Voice ] .032

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