markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .045

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[ Action, Voice ] .045

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

Wherever you want, Katara.

[There's a distinct pause here.]

All right. I'm walking back from the north of the village. If now's a good time, we can meet on that bridge?

Fine, I'll be there.

[...because it's her. Maybe she'll - no, how can anyone make it better? He shuffles over to there though, starting as soon as he agrees]

[Katara wishes she could make it better. She'll probably get there before him, though, and stand in the middle of the bridge with her arms lightly crossed over the rail, watching the water.]

[And he shows up... in his white hoodie. He's considering putting a scarf back on but... no. Anyway, he stomps up there, not making any fanfare for his arrival]

[You don't have to be an earthbender to feel those stomps. She glances up and over at him as he approaches, but doesn't move from her extremely nonthreatening posture.]

Hey.

[He tries to put a smile on... it doesn't work. He sighs and shrugs, instead just waving at her as he breaks the distance and then settles up to lean side-long against the rail himself]

I'm here.

[She offers him a little, somewhat tentative smile.]

Thanks for meeting me.

Ah? I think for you, I'd do many things, Katara.

[With an eyebrow arch]

[That. Goes to the core of her for some reason. An instant later she remembers 'This is Masaomi.'

Would you stop flirting with me when you don't mean it?

But this isn't the time for that conversation, so she just shakes her head to brush it off and angles herself to face him.]

Do you want to talk about it?

[He meant it. He frowns, and then bends down into a crouch on the bridge, hugging his arms on his knees and almost getting into a sitting position]

About what?

[...

She's not going to talk to him looking down at him. Katara moves to sit beside him, mimicking his position for all that she is actually on the ground.]

You know what about.

You called me, Katara.

[Flatly. He assumes - expects - you to lead the conversation. If you go... well. Most places he'll follow]

[She closes her eyes for a moment. She's not doing this to try to fight with him.]

About the draft.

[About Mikado going too. But he's already so tightly strung... she's going to wait to see his response to this first.]

[...Ah, well, of course it's that. The crouch gives way and he lands on his butt, taking a true sitting position]

You're not with us this time.

[She swallows at that, looking down for a moment as she tries to push back the almost trembling-inducing feelings of rage and helplessness.]

I know. I'm sorry. I wish was.

[Sorry? His train of thought is derailed - shouldn't she be glad? Happy? Something? He blinks at her, honestly surprised for a brief moment. His honest feelings...]

We could have been a team.

[He says this lightly, airily... putting on a smirk. But this admission is one which holds a bit of weight. It's hard for him to team up, but with her it sounds nice.

[And Katara, sadly, has no idea of the significance of this statement. But she does look back up at him and smile a little.]

Maybe. But since I can't go, who are you going to team up with? You shouldn't be fighting on your own. Swamps are dangerous places.

Ah, well... I haven't thought about it. I'm sure Gold will want to be together. Politaro can shine.

[He keeps up the jovial tone here... but he hasn't thought about it at all. He planned to just kill them all. Even now rage is coursing through his whole body]

[And she nods, mindful of her conversation with Shikamaru.] Staying with Gold is a good idea. You should be with someone who'll watch your back, and who you can look out for too. What about Frey?

Ah, well... we've not been seeing eye to eye lately. I guess that depends, doesn't it?

[He shrugs here, as if this weren't a problem]

Oh. [That's not good. She'd been counting on that.]

Don't you think that's something you two should get settled before you have to go?

...Ah, well. Things got pushed aside, and they aren't fixed like that. [...And he's afraid to confront Frey. He doesn't actually know if they're cool or not. It doesn't matter, ultimately]

I'm sure he'll be with Kaori-chan or Selphie-chan.

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