markofthebrave | [Action] .034

Entry tags:

*caesar,
*capell,
*chouji,
*derek,
*ginko,
*katie,
*mercury,
*nami,
*nephry,
*raine,
*riku,
*robin,
*rydia,
*sanji,
*sokka,
*zoro,
freaking malnosso drafts,
she's not happy - okay?,
taking little girls to fight their wars,
this is just not right

[Action] .034

[Attention: The Universe

There is a teenage girl who has once again been made aware of your many injustices and is pissed. News at 11.

If you're drafted and she knows you, Katara is looking for you. Specifically Derek, Straw Hats, Ginko, and Katie. So she'll be stopping by the Straw Hat and Infinite Undiscovery House (and if she runs into that knight - well, he'd just better watch what he says) and making a few filters.

This, of course, is after she's gone to see Sokka with a very specific 'request.']

Good luck.

I need to see you before you go. Where are you?

[Of course, feel free to bump into her at any point as she wanders around town looking to make deliveries and say goodbye/offer advice.]

((OOC: Apparently, LJ has decided notifs are tasty and to eat them all. I'll be refreshing like a fiend, but if too much time passes just ping me!))

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[Digging into the bag at her side she removes a leather brace with cut-outs in it holding small round things attached to it.]

Bend down, I want to see if it will fit right.

[still looking bemused, he just does what she tells him to.]

--what is it?

[And she slants it diagonally over his head, lifting up his bum arm gently so it rests underneath it - so that his good arm will have easy access to the bombs lined against his chest. She steps back to survey him critically.]

Can you move all right like that? It should be falling right between your wings, like my waterskin does.

Hnn, it does. [and asks the question again with his look, not at alllll like an insistent child]

These down here? [She points to the lower half - five of them] Are smoke bombs. And these up here? [She points to the top four] Are flash bombs. If one of the Third Party gets close to you, you throw one of them on the ground and you run, you've got it?

[As I've said, very serious and not at all worried or scared.] Just grab whoever you need to and go.

Hooo. [mildly, but with obvious interest ...and not a little amusement]

Thank you. [and-- looking intently into her eyes] I'll be careful.

[What, did you say something? Because Katara didn't even hear you.

She knows you too well for that. Your definition of 'careful' is not hers. Or maybe it is hers. When it comes to herself.

She glances away, so you can't read how concerned and upset she is in her eyes.

This isn't right.]

Sokka made them, so I know they work. But if you run out they should be able to refill them for you when you get back to where you're staying.

Mm. [a nod. he's listening.

-- then he places his right hand on her shoulder]

I will be careful, Katara.

[Careful isn't enough.

You could train for years and careful still wouldn't be enough. And she knows this. Because she's one of the ones that sees holes in the defenses of the people who've trained for years and tears them apart. She knows this, because she's fought before.

Careful isn't enough.

It wasn't enough for her father, it wasn't enough for Bato and you're already half lame and careful isn't enough because they'll see that, they'll see that people are trying to protect you and they'll pick you off first. Just because it will be easy. Just to distract the ones that care about you. Just because they can.

She glances up at him then, and nothing can hide the seas in her eyes - all the world's memory of pain and loss, and salt like tears.

Careful isn't enough.]

Don't just be careful - be smart. Just stay out of the way, if you can. Protect your wings and come back safe.

[He can guess at her thoughts.

And because, in all sincerity, his calm comes from the fact that he doesn't think death is very unlikely-- he can't say much to counter them.]

Alright.

[She looks down, momentarily unable to meet his gaze.

This is wrong. This is so very wrong.

And it's almost worse than before. Because this isn't even his choice. And he is no warrior.]

[He knows she's upset... but there isn't much he can say that's comforting. He certainly isn't going to lie-- wishful thinking isn't his way. So he just keeps a hand on her shoulder, and doesn't say anything.]

[A deep, controlled breath. Hanging on to fear never did anybody any good.

She's not going to tell him he'll be all right out there. She might still (somehow) be an optimist, but despite what Sokka says she didn't get that way by lying to herself.

I'm scared for you.

I'm scared.

These are things she can't say. And she's regretful - she's regretful for his loss of innocence. She knows he's already seen so much pain - so many terrible things already. He shouldn't have to see war too. He's not even a fighter.

And she closes her eyes. Breathes out. And looks up at him.]

I'm sorry you have to do this.

[She's sorry.

It's such an odd thing to hear, even though he should expect it of her.]

It's not the first dangerous situation I've been in. [Even if it's on a different scale. And truth be told, it's the unknown variables that bother him more than the fact that it's war. The whys of the opposition.]

And at least we'll be ourselves. [it's strangely easier to accept than some of the experiments, in that respect]

Yeah. [...although she doesn't think she'd mind very much if Ginko was suddenly replaced with a version of himself who knew how to fight.

...put your brave face on, Katara. This isn't doing anyone any good.]

I'll see you when you get back.

[But he would mind.

And smiles at her, anyway]

Alright. Take care.

[She is allowed her moments of utter selfishness.

And, what with your good hand already being on her shoulder, it's ridiculously easy for Katara to step forward and wrap her arms around your waist, and close her eyes when she rests her head lightly above the brace she had Sokka make and just - remember. Remember you. Let your presence and the now drown out the pain and fear and anger.

She loves you, you know?]

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[Action] .034

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