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

"How?"

"How do you feel about flying?"

"Like the wings are too small to sustain it."

"True. But what we'll be riding, we don't need wings."

She gave him a skeptical look, "And just what is that?"

"A flying bison."

Not funny.

"Flying bisons have been extinct for a hundred years."

You learned all about them in Fire Nation school, the fearsome beasts controlled by the airbenders. Katara knew better than to listen to propaganda, but still...

"They're only mostly extinct. If you come with me, I can show you."

In which he realized there was opportunity. If he could show her Appa, then maybe she would be more inclined to believe him.

"Go with you? Potentially hundreds of feet above ground?" She just wanted to make sure she was clear on what he was asking her to do.

"I'll leave my weapons behind. You'll have a canteen."

It was a big leap of faith he was putting out there. But this was his sister. He had to be able to trust her, regardless. Right?

Edited 2013-01-23 03:59 (UTC)

He had to be out of his mind. Carry around something that would advertise what she was?

Katara spoke through gritted teeth, "I thought we agreed that you would be more careful with other people's secrets. Don't you know anything?"

Casually: "In case you get thirsty. It gets pretty dry up there. In the air."

She just gave him a disgusted look, bordering on outright contempt. "I think I'll find my own way."

And Katara turned to go.

Crap. He'd done it again. Every time he started to make progress, he stuck his foot in his mouth. He didn't chase her, but he did make a half step forward.

"Wait! I'm serious. You don't have to worry about that here. There's no Fire Nation here. No war. In fact, there's only five benders here. Five."

She paused only because he was offering her important information. No Fire Nation? Did that mean no firebenders either?

"And they are?"

"Aang and Ikki, they're airbenders. Bolin and Toph, both earthbenders." For a moment, he hesitated. But he couldn't afford to lie to her. "... and Roku. He's a firebender. But he's from before the war! And he's a nice guy. He's a friend."

So much of what he just said made no sense at all. "Airbenders? There haven't been airbenders for a hundred years. Around the same time the Fire Nation stopped using the name 'Roku.'"

"I know, I know. That was my reaction at first. But they're real. Just like the air bison."

"Either that or I'm dreaming."

Which was starting to sound more and more likely.

"How often do you have dreams where you realize you're dreaming? Come on."

"About as often as someone decides to tell me airbenders exist." She didn't say 'Come on,' but it was strongly implied.

He shrunk a little. "Okay, point. ... look, if I can't convince you to come see the air bison now, promise me that if you don't manage to just escape by tomorrow, that you'll come see him later? I want to prove to you I'm telling the truth."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Come to see him where?"

"House Fifty-Six. It's in the southern part of town. You can't miss it. There's a uh, slab of stone with my face on it."

"...well, that's subtle."

It was like he wanted to be hunted down and killed.

(no subject)

markofthewise - 2013-01-24 04:27 (UTC) - Expand

bloodbending - 2013-01-24 04:53 (UTC) - Expand

markofthewise - 2013-01-24 04:57 (UTC) - Expand

markofthebrave - 2013-01-24 05:01 (UTC) - Expand

markofthewise - 2013-01-24 05:03 (UTC) - Expand

markofthebrave - 2013-01-24 05:04 (UTC) - Expand

markofthewise - 2013-01-24 07:09 (UTC) - Expand

markofthebrave - 2013-01-25 02:36 (UTC) - Expand

markofthewise - 2013-01-25 14:53 (UTC) - Expand

markofthebrave - 2013-01-25 15:05 (UTC) - Expand

markofthewise - 2013-01-25 15:10 (UTC) - Expand

markofthebrave - 2013-01-25 15:17 (UTC) - Expand

markofthewise - 2013-01-28 16:29 (UTC) - Expand