markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .060

[ Action, Voice ] .060

[Katara hadn't been sleeping well to begin with, the moon was full and bright and her blood was restless - at least, that was her excuse. The truth of the matter was that ever since Masaomi, and then Aang had confessed, she hadn't known peace. It was manifesting in shallow sleep, in more determined than genuine cheer. So when the moon woke her - it was so bright tonight, like one of Luceti's streetlights - she tossed and turned futilely before getting up.

She dressed quietly, making sure to take the 'holy water' waterskin, and walked along the river. Though the way she was feeling, the holy water would be the last recourse if confronted with the vampire. She felt like unleashing the full power of the river on something. Her neck prickled, restless, tense, practically itching for the excuse to focus all her agitation into a fight, a sanctified, no holds barred clash of water and strength and agility, a focus, a clarity so that she wouldn't have to worry about her torn heart, or the hearts of those she loved anymore.

She'd go on a mission, if she thought it would help. But she didn't want to have to kill anyone. And Aang was here. ...and she especially didn't want to have to kill anyone while Aang was here.

Eventually, she reached the Southern Lake and stood, staring at the moon and its reflection for long moments. The serenity of the scene failed to soothe her and with a loud "HAH!" she shifted form and tore a burst of water straight through the surface of the lake until it towered as high as the trees before she abruptly pulled it back and up, catching it before it crested the edge of the lake and turning the raised water into a thousand smaller drops.

She felt a little better, until she noticed all the lakeside creatures she'd stirred to life with her childish display. Lightly ashamed of herself, she moved to sit by one of the slides she and the first Toph had constructed, contenting herself with shattering the lake's serenity with a handful of pebbles every now and again.]

[After a late night out, Katara slept in to nearly noon this Saturday... morningish. It felt good. She didn't have a shift in the Med Lab today, so today was a day for... errands. Study and maybe some time on the koto and running into town to make sure she had as much as she needed for dinner, but... she also had time to address the journal, if she wanted.]

Hey, Luceti - it's a lazy sort of Saturday. Now's a good time to share some famous stories from our worlds, don't you think? Does anyone know any famous adventures? ...or love stories?

[What is love? Baby don't hurt me...]

I know a pretty good one. It takes place in the Earth Kingdom, a long time ago, before there were earthbenders...

[She'll just leave that there, not wanting to spam in case of a lack of interest.

Of course, the chances are also good that one of her housemates or friends may decide to claim her attention for something else entirely. So if anyone wants to do that, or bump into her as she runs to the grocery store, or spy on her while she's playing music, this is a lazy Saturday, come as you are sort of deal.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mm. [If it is for her, then it is for him. Though he'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious what it would be like if she actually bent a limb.] But before you stop...

I can see now why this would frighten you. It's powerful and intimate, and that alone can be scary. In the wrong hands, like with Hama, it'd be dangerous.

[And he still can't stop smiling.]

But locks protect things. Here now? I haven't felt safe like this in a long time.

[She wants to drop control of him like she'd want to drop a burning ember. The awareness of what she was doing was sneaking past her focus, causing her soul to cringe.

His smile might be meant to soothe, but it was suffocating her, like Masaomi and Aang's feelings suffocated her. I am unworthy of this trust.

And then he speaks - hold while he talks, is he nuts? - and then she's convinced of it.]

Have you lot your mind?

[Whatever he's saying, he believes it. She can feel the pulse of his heart, steady and calm.]

How could this possibly make you feel safe?

Because it's you? Because it's a friend. This is the deepest kind of protection a man can get, having the person holding your life being someone you trust.

[Maybe as a member of Team 10, he understands it better. But that exists outside this point. Out of reflex he tries to shrug, and is more sheepish by forgetting than bothered when he can't.]

I can't explain it better than that.

[She makes a sound as he speaks, a strangled cry of pain. And she drops her hold, withdrawing from him quickly and easily as she falls face forward towards the grass. Katara drops her hands to the ground in order to catch herself. She leans down while her stomach heaves, and fights the urge to vomit as the awareness of what she'd done met with his... welcome of her actions. It felt wrong, it felt vile - but how could what felt so horrible produce such genuine peace in her friend?]

[With that, he finally loses his grin, not that she's looking to see it. He gives her her space for a few moments before slowly moving down to crouch beside her. Not saying anything, not touching for now. Just here.

Maybe it was the wrong thing to say. More likely, there was no right thing to have said.

She's just so sad.]

[Ew, Shikamaru, go away, she could throw up at any minute here.]

[SHIT HAPPENS. It's not like he's ever cared about shoes. 8|]

Quick breaths.

[In the end, Katara neither throws up nor snaps at Shikamaru for being too close or witnessing this. She eventually regains control of her involuntary reaction and eases her way into a sitting position. She kneels with her hands on her knees, looking down. She takes a deep breath.]

[He watches still crouched, with arms folded over his knees. After a moment he blinks, then reaches into his pocket to pull out a mint - the green kind, of course. He'll offer it to her.]

[She glances up at him and after a moment, reaches over to take the mint.]

...thanks.

[Now would be a good time to crack a joke about how a ninja is always prepared, but Katara just puts the mint in her mouth and looks down again.

Well. Good thing this isn't awkward.]

[This last just a moment before she reaches out to hug him. Honestly, it'll be very brief contact, and if they were sitting side-by-side, she'd probably have just slumped against him instead, but right now Katara needs a sign of his 'okay'ness and the solid physical assurance.

She hasn't lost herself. She isn't going to make any excuses. This has been a terrible night, and he's just seen her pretty near hit bottom - she needs a hug.]

[He can do that. Brief as it is he'll return it, snaking the arm that isn't pinned between them around to her back, below the wings.]

It'll be okay.

Edited 2012-05-20 21:01 (UTC)

[She's still rattled. It might be weak, but she's feeling weak, and she doesn't want to give up the solidness of this connection if they're going to have to talk about it. And they're going to have to talk about it.

She slides next to him and rests her head on his shoulder.

In part, it's because she's at a loss of what to say.]

[She'll have an easier time of it once he kicks back off his feet, so he's sitting again instead of crouching. They absorb the silence for a few minutes before he dares to break it.]

Mind if I ask a question?

[...after all this? He's gotten away with pretty much everything tonight. But she barely laughs, and doesn't move her head - too open and raw to even put up defenses. She's just weary.]

Yeah. Go ahead.

Edited 2012-05-21 02:54 (UTC)

[Hence why there's a pause even after he's gotten permission. He's already pushed his luck today.]

What bothers you more - that the power exists, or that you're capable of it?

[If it was possible to go even more still from a complete and somnambulant position, then... that was exactly what she did.

After a moment, she answers - slowly.]

Probably that I can do it, but... that's not all of it. If it has to exist, then I'm glad I can do it.

[So I can counter it. Even if it feels... like a violation.]

[He nods. That's exactly what he was going to tell her, so.]

It's good you realize it. That's part of what I meant before, about it being a lock.

[Dude, you're hashing her mellow.

She lifts her head to look at him.]

What do you mean?

Locks are there for a reason - to guard things; keep it from falling in the wrong hands.

[She just gives him a look.]

...how do you think what you experienced was being kept from the wrong hands?

You never know the kind of things that can happen here, Katara. There's people who can take powers, people who can switch them. People who'd plain take advantage of others, for abilities like that.

[Frown.]

You don't think I know that? But my possessing this ability doesn't negate what anyone else can do.

Sure you can. You're very strong. And it too makes you stronger, whether you use it or not.

[His words fall flat, discordant. It's really kind of insulting that he'd call her strong after all this - placating. demeaning. - and after all the times he'd won. It stings. And it rings false, with the echo of failure.

She flicks a him a bit of a sour look in his direction before shifting her gaze away.]

That doesn't make any sense.

[Whether or not you use something has to have an impact on your relative "strength."]

Edited 2012-05-22 08:03 (UTC)

[action]

Re: [action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action] 1/2

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]