.048 [ Action, Voice ] June 30-July 2nd

[markofthebrave]

[There's a somewhat familiar voice over the journals this afternoon. The setting is clearly the forest, as there are small woodland creatures scampering about. The voice itself seems to have an almost musical lilt to it.]

Hi, everyone! I'm back. I'm sorry if I worried you. Everything seems to be in one piece, and I'm making my way back to town now! Of course, my powers are missing, but they'll be back soon enough!

[Does it seem a little odd for Katara to be casually mentioning such an obvious weakness over an open network, or to be referring to her bending as 'powers?' It gets weirder. Because eventually she'll make her way out of the forest, and you may bump into her as she'll head towards the fountain and all around town. Is she... are those sparkles? And weren't her eyes blue? Why is her hair lighter? What is going on here?]

((OOC: Katara's mallynap effect: She has been turned into a Mary Sue. Click on the link for further details! ...or run for your life. >> You can catch her in the plaza today or walking along the river on the 1st! She'll also spend sometime in the Battle Dome ogling observing through the windows. Pretty much name a place and time if it's not 'today' and I'll work with it!))

Comments

[markofthebrave]

I am a little tired. I keep seeming to get turned around. [Her eyelashes bat at him in absent vapidness] It's very nice of you to think of me like this.

[And a little more quietly-] I didn't mean to worry anyone.

[Perky again!] People should know I can take care of myself, no matter what!

[deathsdoctor]

[He can roll with it, but after that eyelash batting, he thinks a little alcoholic self-medication afterward can't hurt.]

Think nothing of it.

[Quieter.] We know. We're all just grateful you're alright. [Guiding along to Casa de la Avatar now.]

[markofthebrave]

Oh - Chouji was supposed to meet me out here but I think I got lost.

[Sparkle, sparkle.]

And of course I'm all right. I'm half-pirate, after all.

[deathsdoctor]

And a very strong one at that. But, Katara, I thought you were keeping that a secret, weren't you?

[How can somebody be half pirate? CORRECTION. A little alcoholic self-medication is clearly the wrong dose for something like this.

The correct amount is a whole stinking ton of drinking.]

Mister Chouji? Where did he say you were going to meet him?

[We'll likely run into him on the way. In fact... we're destined to.]

[markofthebrave]

Oh, that's right! [And she titters gracefully. Her cousin is just so smart. And she beams at him with appreciation, the sound of her beautiful laughter still drafting on the breeze.]

He wanted me to find a road.

[And see? She found one. Look at her being all proud.]

[deathsdoctor]

[And the drink shall be Romulan Ale... he still has that bottle.

Tittering. My god. The tittering.]

And that you have. [He'll let you have all the credit here. Never mind him herding you along.] And if I'm not mistaken, that's him in the distance.

[One ninja spotted. Mother Ocean, what a relief.]

[savethelastchip.livejournal.com]

[ What a relief, indeed; Chouji was starting to think they'd need all the ninja in Luceti to track her down. 8|a He will approach with that relief probably quite apparent and sort-of wave. ]

Aa- yo. [ And more towards Katara. ] I was starting to worry you might have accidentally gotten lost.

[deathsdoctor]

[Law is trailing behind Katara for the moment and he greets that relief with a wave of his own and his face falling from his pleasant mask...

... into what you see in the icon and a mouthed 'It's bad. But play along.'

And then we are back to sunny smiles (the Oscar goes to Law in his portrayal of All Is Well) and he saunters forward.]

Hey. Aa... well, we had to take the scenic route.

Dani. Chouji's reroll was a 2.

[markofthebrave]

[Katara sees her dearest love coming down the trail and breaks free from her cousin to go and run into his strong and caring embrace.]

Oh, Chouji!

[And she leans up to kiss him.

What do, Chouji? What do?]

Luceti be trollin'.

[savethelastchip.livejournal.com]

[ ...hoshit.

Now we observe the Akimichi Chouji in his unnatural habitat, facing a true dilemma; because there is probably merit to just playing along, otherwise Mister Law there wouldn't have suggested it. She may be. Easy to upset.

But Katara has to return to normal eventually, because that's what happens, and she'll probably be angry enough about all of this without more awkward not-actual-romance on top of it. Or something.

M-maybe he can manage to turn it into just-a-strong and caring embrace? Worth a shot, at the very least. And...smiling because his face is possibly momentarily frozen. He does not have a poker face. No Oscars for him. ]

Happens to everyone.

1/3

[deathsdoctor]

[...

...

...]

2/3

[deathsdoctor]

[There are some things a not!father just shouldn't see.

And some things no amount of alcohol will probably make better.

(But he'll try anyway... and look... does he spy a new drinking partner?)



Yeah, he knows what he just said. He'll own it.





TIME FOR DAMAGE CONTROL NO JUSTU - pirate style.]

3/3

[deathsdoctor]

Katara, wait. Aren't you forgetting something?

[Taptaptap on that shoulder before Death and Doom and Kissing descend, in utter cousinly concern and urgency.]

They're watching.

[Ah yes. Them.

How can we forget about Them? Look how frozen Chouji looks... obviously They are close.]

1/3

[markofthebrave]

[Wait - what? What is Chouji doing? Why isn't he kissing her back? Did she do something wrong?

Her limpid emerald eyes fill with tears.]

[markofthebrave]

[Wait. No. She just got back from the Malnosso. She didn't do anything wrong. He was the one who wasn't kissing her, goshdarnit! What was wrong with him? He deserved a good piece of her mind!

...and then more kissing. Yes. Making up would certainly be--]

[markofthebrave]

[--oh, Trafalgar is saying something.]

'They,' cousin?

[deathsdoctor]

[Cousin? Well... could be worse, couldn't it?]

Yes. [Putting a bit of more urgency here.] Them.

[And now he looks oh so worried. Your poor cousin! How could you forget?]

Don't you remember?

[savethelastchip.livejournal.com]

[ You are his savior, Law. Even in spirit. ;_;

And even Chouji can roll with this one. Because it's not so hard to act worried when you're already kinda worried. And he really. doesn't want her mad at him in any scenario, he's such a pushover. ]

You were gone for a while... maybe the Malnosso messed with your memory?

[markofthebrave]

[So she'll go with clinging on to Chouji like he's her only hope for life instead.]

They must have. I don't even remember who 'They' are!

[deathsdoctor]

And I'll tell you when we get you home. [And that should be enough time for him to concoct something appropriate. And he makes a show of looking around.] Away from prying eyes and ears.

But right now, you two need to act like just friends. [Life, liberty, and his sanity depend on it.

Dramatic pause.]

Everything depends on it.

[savethelastchip.livejournal.com]

[ ...yep. Law is the best once-not-uncle and not-dad ever. Passable apologetic smile to Katara. ] I would have thought to be more careful, but I didn't think the Malnosso would go that far in experimenting.

[ Why do they be trollin'. ]