markofthebrave | [Voice] .007

[Damage. Oh, she'd been trying not to think about that. The thought of someone hurting Toph while she's sitting here doing nothing-- it makes her lose some of her caution.]

I want to know if there's any similarity in the kidnappings. If the person is always alone or always in some place -- if there's anything that makes them come for someone.

[Reckless plan? She has it.]

[he'll be upgrading that filter to 100%, even if that won't stop the Malnosso-- but his opinion of their attentiveness is about zilch, so he doesn't really care]

No. I haven't made a list of every single one-- but I have gone back and looked. The place and time that people are taken is, to all appearances, completely random. [he's worried about her, but his voice is matter-of-fact and impassive] Sometimes they're taken from the house, with all their friends a shout away-- sometimes alone in the forest.

As for "making them come"-- I get the feeling that isn't possible. They have their own reasoning-- and after talking to "Catherine", I wonder if they have any reason at all. [he pauses, and his voice drops a little lower]

You can't make them come for you, Katara. They've overpowered the strongest people here.

[Ooh, one hundred, shiny. She'll have to ask him to teach her that sometime.]

I know that I can't beat them by myself. That's not the point! If they come for me and someone can track where they take us...

[There's a pause. Then a sigh.]

Hm. I know this isn't any of my business- and that the group of you are like family. But wouldn't it be better for you to save your strength to take care of her when she gets back?

These are the people who brought gods here, and trapped them. They wouldn't be so easily tricked, and especially not overcome-- even if all of you managed to track them.

And it's--- dangerous, Katara. [he thinks of Simon-- just a kid, who they killed, but doesn't mention that] If the hazard were worth it-- that would be another story. But wouldn't it be worse for her to return, to all of you taken? Or badly hurt? [or dead for a week...]

Even if it doesn't work, and they take me too, and nothing happens, it would still be better to try.

She shouldn't have to go through this on her own. She shouldn't have to go through this at all. If I can't rescue her, I can at least be there.

She shouldn't have to be alone!

[it might not be the best thing, but despite having a very good idea of how she feels right now, he is forthright]

Barely anyone who is taken remembers what happened to them, so you wouldn't be any closer to her if you were taken than if you stayed here. None of us should have to go through these things-- most of all the younger ones. But it happens, all the same, to nearly everyone.

Wouldn't it be better for her to have you here when she gets back?

It might make you feel better to try, but do you really think it's the right thing to do?

[Despite her emotional state, his words get through, and they smart. It takes her a moment to respond, and when she does her voice is low and very serious.]

Before Toph joined our group, she had to hide her bending. She lived with a rich mother, and a rich father, but she was all alone. Aang was the first real friend she made.

At least I had Sokka. I'm going to try everything that I can do to find her. Even if I get captured. Even if she won't remember. She's part of our family now.

[He's spoken his thoughts, and won't press any more. And honestly, he doesn't think she'll have any luck-- but he won't say so]

Well, she's lucky to have such a family.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you do it wisely.

[The more she finds out, the more she'll realize she just can't 'get' them to come. But at least she'll have tried.]

Thanks, Ginko.

...[A pause, and then quietly.] And I'm sorry about your eye. I know I didn't say as much last time, but - I'm glad you're better.

[he looks a little surprised, and then smiles]

That's kind of you.

I was lucky to have people to take care of me.

[And she feels that flush of guilt that she hadn't helped at all.]

...I'll see you later, then. Take care of yourself, Ginko.

[How he'd protest if he knew that...]

Maah-- don't worry about me. [= I'm a lot more worried about you, kid.]

[These helpers. They just don't like to be helped.]

Just don't get hit by any lightning. I don't have any Spirit Water here!

[And that's more than she meant to say, but she was trying to joke and so -- there it is.]

I'm pretty hard to kill.

[a soft smile--she would be a healer, wouldn't she?-- he can't help adding]

You must have gotten along with Nala in no time at all.

Maybe one day you can tell me about that Spirit Water-- and I can finish telling you about the mushi that eat lighting. [When you're feeling better, and more like hearing stories again.]

Nala? [Actually, she hasn't tried to contact the healing spirit yet. Her focus was directly to contact the water spirit. And things havebeen so busy, she hasn't had a chance to give that the attention it deserves.]

I'd like to hear that story sometime. [Notice, if you will, that she is still not volunteering her own story.] Sokka and I are going to go out in the forest for a few days. We'll be back soon.

The filial healing spirit-- get her to teach you and you can heal burns, gashes, even broken bones. But maybe you can do something like that already?

[He'll note the silence on that story and circumvent it...lighting. Something very bad about lighting.]

Maybe while you're in the forest you can listen for her, if you get a quiet moment. She's easy to hear.

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