markofthebrave | (no subject)

[Action: Locked to Nephry]
[It makes no sense for a known and proud waterbender to step out of the fountain in the middle of winter and remain soaking wet. But yet, that is exactly what she is doing: getting out of the fountain, her arms wrapped around herself, shivering, and looking both confused and frightened... and younger. About three years younger, to be exact.]

[Open action.]

Katara, properly attired to face the winter thanks to your friendly neighborhood Clothing Shop, can be seen:

a) Stopping and staring at the snow, as if she hasn't seen any in a very, very long time
b) Entering the Welcome Center to get the maps/layout of the place
c) Stalking House 56. She will not enter. She will likely not be seen, as she is administering a frightening amount of skill at sticking to the shadows, but you might catch her as she starts to walk away...
d) Checking out a Community Building for a spare room.

((Katara, returned from her mallynap, is experiencing this AU. Feel free to bump into her anywhere, but don't be too surprised if she doesn't respond to her name. It's been a long time since she's called herself anything Water Tribe.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[~~Placeholderish as I'll be gone for two days but~~ Not too long after Katara ran into Masaomi, Shikamaru spotted them after coming out of the elevator of CH1. He picked up on the tone differences immediately; cataloged the shifts in body language to note something was wrong.

Taking care not to draw attention to himself like a good little ninja, he eavesdropped some then went on his way. He'll be back to the building shortly though - before she's left, at least - on the lookout for her.]

[Katara, meanwhile has decided that there are too many people in this building. It makes her uncomfortable; she'd rather find her way out.]

[And thus Shikamaru, patting his pockets as if looking for something, will hold the door open for her as he gets to it first. He seems almost absent-minded about it, like a stranger performing a common courtesy.]

[She sees him, but she doesn't acknowledge him more than with a slight nod of her head.]

[He doesn't return it, keeping up this stranger thing. Besides, he's busy with something else.

A few minutes after they've separated, she might hear the sounds of someone trying to catch up with her.]

Oiii, you up there! [He slows his pace some, close enough to talk without enunciating. He holds an object up with one hand.] Did you drop this?

['This' being an [insert item of your choice] he pick-pocketed at the door.]

[Katara turned, suspicion glinting in her eyes before she recognized what Shikamaru was holding.]

My other glove.

[Her eyebrows came together.]

Thank you.

Sure. [He holds it out for her to take, casual in his slouch.] I forgot something in town and noticed it on the ground when I turned back.

[She didn't like his explanation, didn't like the fact that he'd thought to offer one. So there was well-hidden coiled tension in her when she reached out her hand to take it.]

That's kind of you.

[Gosh, in Narutoland that's just how people roll.

Once she takes it back, he waves one hand and turns to go without stepping off right away. Notably, he's missing his own gloves.]

Don't lose that. It's not so bad now, but the weather here likes to follow heat waves with cold snaps like you wouldn't believe.

I appreciate the warning.

[And though her smile was perfectly pleasant, she was thinking: What a weirdo - who calls weather like this a heat wave?]

[~~HE DOESN'T WRITE THE LUCETI CALENDAR, OKAY.~~ But actually that does make him pause.]

So you're new here...?

That's right! You couldn't tell?

It's rude to assume. Unless you're in white cotton - then it's a freebie.

That was earlier today.

Aaaa. Well if you're looking around, you've probably already gotten the depressing spiel.