markofthebrave | [Action] .005

[After a romantic evening where they innocently fell asleep together, Katara wakes up first. It takes her a moment to place why she's outside. They always fell asleep fully clothed when they were traveling, so that was nothing new, but why was someone's arm is wrapped around her waist? And when she does remember, Katara absolutely freezes.

She feels sick and deeply violated, and she's not sure she's ever been more humiliated in her life. She can't turn around and look at Zuko -- she's just going to move as quietly and stealthily as possible, out of the tent and as far away as she can.

Regardless of whether or not she succeeds in escaping without waking him, as soon as she can she is going to find a quiet place on the outskirts of the village, hole up against something, and lose it.]

Worst. Town. Ever.

[After she's done crying and has tried to pull herself together? ...she knows she really should find Toph. And she'll get up to do that, eventually. Feel free to stumble across her as she's finishing up crying or as she starts looking for Toph in the late afternoon.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Normally? She'd be able to listen to that and quite possibly get some comfort out of it. But right now, despite how relatively calm she's being, Katara is still over-emotional, and she doesn't have the patience to try to really listen.]

I don't understand what you're saying.

Edited 2010-03-01 20:03 (UTC)

[he can see that, and doesn't press much-- leveling the truth in situations like these is just a deeply ingrained habit]

That's understandable. It isn't really any of my business, after all.

Just don't get wrapped up in regret for something you didn't do.

[Something she didn't do. Right. Like give Zuko her heart and her trust and her first kiss. He can say what she wants, but she remembers doing it and just that thought makes her feel sick again. She'll visibly pale and one hand will drop to her stomach.]

Thanks. I guess. [She exhales a slow deliberate breath. She'll glance up at him when she feels less sick.] It doesn't change much. 'I' might not have done it, but... it still happened. It shouldn't have.

[He can't empathize-- he seldom can-- but he can imagine what it feels like. He watches her carefully]

No. But then, none of use should have been taken away from our homes, either.

[he lifts the cigarette to his mouth and breathes out a slow stream of smoke] I knew a man whose dreams came to life against his will. Horrible things happened to his friends and family because of it-- and he blamed himself. But it wasn't his fault.

He gave up on life because he couldn't accept that. [he turns to look at her] These experiments aren't going to stop as long as we're here. If you try to take responsibility for what you do while under someone else's control-- you'll be overwhelmed. [he doesn't expect the feeling to go away... but he can't help saying it]

[Whether he planned it this way or not, the familiar pattern of listening to Ginko tell a story has a calming affect on the girl. She empathizes with the man in the story - if it was a choice between staying alive and having horrible things happen to the people that she loves, would she have chosen the same thing?]

It's hard to accept that there's nothing we can do. [Her fists clench.] I don't know if I can accept that. I know what it's like to be taken over by something more powerful than I am. [Bloodbending. Those those infinite minutes were some of the most horrible of her life.] But only for a short time. I found a way out.

[...and now she's thinking about it. If Sokka had killed Aang when Hama was using them as puppets, would she have blamed him? Not at all, only herself for not being able to stop it, only Hama for doing it at all.]

...I guess that right now, my way out is choosing what I can do now when I'm fully myself. [She gives him a wavering smile.] Thanks, Ginko.

[It's a lesson that's worn into his skin at this point-- the sort of life you learn to live when you watch a new tragedy, a new success unfold everyday, and have to keep moving relentlessly onward.

He watches her wrestle with the reality of the situation.]

That's right. There's always a way out-- you just have to recognize it. Just like you told me-- sometimes you just can't see it until the light goes out.

[he returns it with a warm smile of his own]

You'll be just fine, Katara. It's not hard to see that you know who you are.

Edited 2010-03-02 21:42 (UTC)

[A faint blush comes from that. She's not used to hearing such nice things about herself.]

Thanks, Ginko. You helped. I didn't think anything would.

I'm only telling the truth. [And he means that, he'd criticize someone just as bluntly.] But I'm glad.

[and....he really feels a little better knowing that she'll be alright, before he heads off into the mountains.]

[Action] .005

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject