[ Action, Voice ] .045

[markofthebrave]

[Raine was right. A draft had come, this one worse than before - and in a place where she could be more useful than any other location. And she wasn't going.

She took a good long look at that list. And there are some people that she has to visit.

...okay, there are a lot of people she has to visit.

First stop - Shikamaru and Chouji's place. If she can't go herself, then she has to do what she can to help the people who are going out out, and that means talking with the strategist going out there who she trusts.

Next stop - Casa de Freedom Fighter. She may have put it off if her talk with Shikamaru hadn't made her realize how absolutely necessary this was.

From there... spirits, so many people... Katara takes out her journal and stares at it a bit before making a general voice post and then crafting some filters.]

If anyone - needs me for anything, or if there's anything I can do to help out before you go, I'm around. I've fought in swamps before, and although I don't know anything more about this one, I'll try to answer what I can.

[And now it's time for filters. She doesn't have anything specific to say to these people, not over the journals anyway, so the message is the same.]

[Filtered to Ginko, Masaomi, Raine, Kurt, and Sanji]

Hey. If you have time, I'd like to see you before you go.

Comments

voice;

[banditsblindly.livejournal.com]

Katara.

[Her tone is very, very urgent.]

Who is on that list?

voice;

[markofthebrave]

[Oh, Toph.] We're not going. No one in our house is.

It's a long list, but I'll read it to you. Ready?

voice;

[banditsblindly.livejournal.com]

[This does relief a wedge of tension in her chest, but...she had, whether she liked it or not, gotten to know other people here. And the idea of anyone having to go out and fight like this...

She hadn't realized what this was all really about until now.]

...Yeah. I am.

[Filtered]

[wise_maiden]

[Things were already looking to be hectic, but since Katara is going out of her way to reach her, she's not going to turn down a chance to meet with her.] ... That's fine. Where would you like to meet?

[Filtered]

[markofthebrave]

[She just musters up a smile.]

Wherever's easiest for you. It won't be long, Raine. I know - how this can be.

[Filtered]

[wise_maiden]

Anytime is fine. Why don't you stop by my house later?

[Voice]

[daisy023]

[She has an idea.]

I recall your abilities. Does it extend to paint?

[Voice]

[markofthebrave]

[Who is - oh. Daisy, wasn't it?]

Most paint, yes. Some paint is completely oil based, but if it has water in it I can move it. Why?

[ voice ]

[acowardlyoak.livejournal.com]

[ shuri's voice lacks any of the bounce and sparkle it usually has. in fact, it just sounds tired and raw - like he's been crying. which he has, though he'll deny that up and down. ]

Tell me everything. [ because he intends to find the safest place and hide. ]

[ voice ]

[markofthebrave]

[...that tone is familiar. When had she heard it before?]

It will be hot and humid. If you have to travel, it's best to do it in the streams and by boat, because there will be predators in the water. If you're on land, you'll have to deal with a lot of vegetation. Trees, roots, all sorts of vines...

[This is a pause to see how he's taking it.]

[Voice]

[theteadragon.livejournal.com]

[Whats all this then?] Katara, I know this may not be the best time...by the sounds of it, but...whats all this then?

[Voice]

[markofthebrave]

'This...' [How does she even begin to explain? Well, they don't let her intro the show for nothing.] The Malnosso are at war with a group of people who want to permanently kill everyone on the planet in order for them to 'find their release' from the endless cycles here. But the Malnosso organization itself is split into fractions. The fraction that has been in charge has recently fallen out of power, and now the military itself seems to be in charge of the missions that they draft people to go on for them. They take anyone; it doesn't matter if you can fight or not. And the only choice you have once you're out there is to kill the Third Party or be killed yourself.

[Action]

[endgames]

[The door to Shikamaru and Chouji's apartment will be open when Katara gets there: surprise, in and of itself, he knows.

More than likely though, this ninja will catch her when she comes out of the stairwell, poking his head from the kitchen to see who's visiting their floor.]

Aa, it's you, Katara. Hey.

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[That is unusual, yes. Enough that she smiles a little when she sees him.]

Were you expecting someone else?

[Voice]

[bamfing]

[There's a distinct lack of his usual upbeat personality, but he sounds far from miserable. He knows what he has to do. He knows he can do it. He... just doesn't want to.]

Yeah, I'm free. When and where?

[Voice]

[markofthebrave]

I'll be a little busy at some point tomorrow, but up until then I'm free. Let me know when's good for you and I'll meet you.

[filtered]

[oda-hates-me.livejournal.com]

I'm by the house, if you can drop by today.

[filtered --> action]

[markofthebrave]

I'll be there. I need to talk with Luffy too.

[She has realized something in the intervening time between then and now.]

...see you soon.

[And at some point today, Katara heads on over to the Straw Hat house.]

[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

[Ginko doesn't answer. He'll just show up, working in the garden unannounced, in deceptively peaceful silence.]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara has had a long day of confessions and talking and worry - so much worry. So when she comes back to make dinner for everyone and sees someone in the garden she jumps a little. And then slumps a little in relief and heads out the door and around the back of the house.]

Hey.

[And she moves to join him by the garden.]

[Filtered]

[generalflirt]

[ . . . . This voice is cold, sharp, and dead]

I have time.

[Filtered] 1/2

[markofthebrave]

[...she was afraid of this.

What's she going to do?]

[Filtered]

[markofthebrave]

All right. Where would you like me to meet you?

[action]

[paranoidpatriot.livejournal.com]

[Jet had been upstairs cleaning up the remains of what had been a product of stress induced, mind numbing, rage- which translates, of course, to mean that a few things got broken after everyone read the announcement- when he spots her from the secondary window. Katara, what does she want? Half apprehensive, half curious, Jet saunters his way carefully down the stairs. Nothing left to do but get to the door and let her in, when she knocks.]

[action]

[markofthebrave]

[Well, this will be fun. Katara meets Jet's gaze evenly.]

Jet. I'm glad you're home. I wanted to talk to you. And then Smellerbee and Longshot. Can I come in?

[Please realize that you will be having this conversation regardless of whether or not you decide to let Katara in.]