markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .058

[Somewhere in all the excitement of the past month, it... sort of didn't occur to her that she's now been in Luceti for two years. That's had some time to sink in now, along with the new announcement and - home. Actually getting to go home. Even if it's just for a day...

...but then it means that the Malnosso were lying to them, doesn't it. They do have the power to send them home. And all this time, they'd said it was random...]

[Filter to those who had been here when she arrived: Two years back or more.]

Hey. I think that I just... wanted to apologize. I know that when I got here two years ago, I wasn't very respectful about all the things everyone had tried to do in order to get out of here. It must have been so hard to hear that then, and to keep hearing it from every New Feather that we get when we know that we've tried everything we could.

But we have to keep trying. What they're doing, no matter what they say, no matter what they promise us, is wrong. We can't give up hope that we'll find a way out - we have to keep looking. There's a difference between waiting and giving up, and I know it's hard, but so many of you are still doing that, still trying to find a way out while making things as comfortable as you can for all the new people who are stuck here as we are, and I admire that so much.

So, thank you.

[/filter]

[And then, taking a deep breath, she'll continue:]

And hey, if anyone was using the sled tracks I made, I haven't had a chance to check on them since the ice storm. I'll probably be decommissioning them tomorrow and just turning it all into a giant snow hill, so if you go out there, please be careful, all right?

[Thursday is one of the days Katara goes to spar with Nami, so after making this announcement after school, she and Nami will meet up by the river to do battle with their staffs. Feel free to stop by and watch these two sexy ladies practicing, if you like.

If not, after dinner, Katara heads off someplace she very rarely is. The remembrance garden. This place has always made her uncomfortable... she's not sure it's right, but it's... something. Better than those things that reminded her of gravestones. And the perfect place to pour over her journal, flipping back until she finds an entry of Aang. It's been so long since she's seen him... she's all but forgotten what he sounds like. She feels almost bad about it, but... she misses him so much and yet... it's easier not to miss him.

And eventually, when her time in the remembrance garden is done, Katara will return to her house for an hour or two of bending practice in the back yard.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It was not so much the object itself but what Buffy had found inside of it that mattered; but, of course, the conversation hadn't strayed that far yet.

"Maybe. I've been messed with before, though. And the General and me talked quite a bit before I -- well, let's just say that I don't think psychological warfare is something he even approves of."

"Well, you would know that better than I would." And her hand finally traveled to her mother's necklace, fingers wrapping around the stone. She looked down in thought.

"But I've been in the position that you're talking about before - when my enemy held something precious to me, and wanted my cooperation in return. He didn't get it."

She looked back up to Buffy, "I don't see why this would be any different."

"I have to do something. So maybe it only does as much as get me close enough to General to discuss...other things. The sad truth is that we're low on options here -- and I'm completely willing to explore a gamble if it might pay off."

So long as the price was only herself.

"If you're going to do it, then you're going to have to know what you want to ask. Not only what might be most helpful to us, but what he might actually tell you - because you'll only get one shot."

"You're right. You're very right. That's why..." Why she was glad she hadn't been called to action yet. "Why I don't want to do this alone. I'm used to working in a group. The fighting thing? Sure. Very solo. But the planning?..."

She missed her team.

"...in our group? Sokka's the plan guy."

So maybe you really should talk to him.

"...but if you're looking for a different outside perspective, then I know someone else you could talk to."

"Who?"

Her question was quick and suspicious. As it should be.

The immediate question provoked an immediate response, although a year or so ago she'd be hesitant to out him, Shikamaru had already taken charge of several drafts, not to mention voicing a plan for when the moon crashed into the village.

"His name is Shikamaru. Shikamaru Nara. He's a good friend of mine."

"Ah-ha. We've talked. I'll...think about it. No offense meant, Katara. It's just -- well. You know what it's like. Not knowing someone well enough. Yet."

"Yeah, I do."

She's not about to go crowing about all the things she's trusted Shikamaru with - because of that same exact reason. She'd trusted him with them, not Buffy. Katara took a sip of her cocoa and then shrugged, smiling a little wryly. She hadn't meant to lead the conversation back around to this, but then...

"Then maybe you should talk to Sokka. He might not like what you're thinking of, but he'll have good reasons for it. And if you decide to go ahead with it anyway..." her smile turns a touch knowing, a touch loving, and a little bit grim. "He'll back you up."

"...The conscientious but loyal dissenter. Every gal's gotta have one. When do you think would be the best time to approach him with that kind of news?"

...was there ever a good time to approach Sokka with a plan of dubious finality? The last time she had done this... had been with Aku, actually.

"...after lunch, probably. Before he has a chance to get started on anything at the smithy."

The thing was... Katara's been feeling increasingly isolated from Sokka in this one aspect: She still wanted, needed to get home. Her goals were clear. She'd still been paying attention, trying to figure things out, but it had been ages since she and Sokka had sat down to compare notes. She wasn't sure he was even interested doing something to go home now.

I guess this is a good way to find out.

Buffy drained her mug.

"Right. After lunch. Is after lunch a good time for you, too? Not that...I don't have a day in mind, yet. But if I get one? I'll let you know."

[ Action, Voice ] .058

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