markofthebrave | [Action] .009

[Action] .009

[Due to Sokka's unexpected bout of sheer win, Katara has been given the gift of free time and she plans on making the most of it... after she was shooed back to bed due to threats from Sokka that made no sense at all.

First, she wants to check in on Sanji at the Strawhat's House. Then she wants to stop by the school and see if she can register to go once things are back to 'normal.' And... she has an idea that is going to lead her to the weapons shop. Finally, she'll go grocery shopping because they're running low on easy-to-cook things. Maybe she'll even get a chance to stand by the bridge and practice with real waterbending! ...although saving her strength to keep healing Zuko is probably a better idea. She'll probably just stare at the water wistfully and talk to Sona.

If you're around any of these places today, feel free to say 'Hey!' or give her hand, since she's not exactly sure how to do what she wants to do at the smithy or the school.]

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[Really? Katara has no shame about asking for help in this case.] He was tortured. I know that much. And he got into a fight with Yuber and he was shot with lightning - no place really vital, but... so many times. And he had a cut in his side that was infected...

He's so weak. I'm worried about him. My healing manipulates a person's chi, so I have to be careful not to do too much, and he's getting better, but if you wouldn't mind taking a look, I'd really appreciate it.

[Her eyes darken at the mention of Yuber, but she nods to Katara's words.]

Of course. It won't be any trouble.

Thank you.

When would you like me to see to him?

Would tomorrow be all right with you? I'd like to let him know that you're coming, and Chopper said he'd be taking a look at Zuko today as well.

...he's not exactly the easiest patient. [Although maybe that has more to do with her personal issues towards Zuko than how he's actually been behaving. She's still angry that this whole thing has happened, and angry that he waited so long to call them. Now that the wounds are so old, all the healing has to be done in increments... if she'd just gotten there sooner...]

That seems fine. [She nods, and takes out a blank sheet of paper, and makes a note of it.] Which house are you all living in?

House 56. Toph made a giant ~~tombstone~~ stone heart that says 'Happy Valentine's Day, Sokka' right in front of it. It's hard to miss. I'll probably be home all day, so you can come by any time that's good for you.

[She feels a little better, just knowing that Chopper is looking at Zuko today and that Raine will come tomorrow. She should have thought of asking for help days ago. She's just... not used to having anyone to ask for help. But some of the tension she's carrying will visibly leave her body now that she knows that she really is doing all that she can - the day won't be a complete waste if Chopper or Raine can help Zuko. She owes him a beat-down herself.] What other classes does the school offer? I remember reading about the history class, but things have been so busy... [she trails off with a little laugh.]

All right; I'll keep that in mind.

The others are simply standard classes that one would expect. Math, literature, with some recreation and art classes to round them off. The initial test itself really is just to determine skill and grade level so help accomodate students accordingly.

...we didn't really have a school at home. My Gran-Gran taught us.

You didn't? ... Well, I'm certainly glad that you're interested in attending here.

Which reminds me... you sent in the suggestion about the bells in town, didn't you?

Edited 2010-03-18 03:29 (UTC)

I'm not sure how good I'll be at it, but I'm certainly interested in the history classes. I think that learning about the way that things work in other worlds would be amazing.

Yes, that was me. [Being trapped in the forest by a giant demon and not being able to run to town for help for fear of leading it back will do that to a girl.]

The differences and similarities between the worlds represented here can be quite fascinating.

I'm curious as to what you have in mind. I was going to mention the idea in the general update I was preparing, though that filter, while excluding the Malnosso, doesn't exactly exclude the less than savory villagers, so it may be better to bring it to the attention of the rest of the community another way.

Edited 2010-03-18 04:53 (UTC)

It's pretty simple, actually. There are a lot of 'defense teams' in town, but they aren't always paroling or you get in trouble when you're out in the forest. But if you run to town... you're just leading trouble back to town.

If we put bells by the bridges... and by the fountain... and by any place where trouble seems to happen, all someone needs to do is ring that bell and people will know where to go to help.

...of course, the only problem with that is if people ring the bell but don't need help, but I still think it might be worth it.

... Really what needs to be better organized are better patrols and communication between the teams, instead of them working at the cost of another, or on their own.

It sounds like this idea would help those who may not have their journals with them, or catch the attention of those who may not have their journal open, even though that's usually the best method of calling for assistance ...

Although, the bells themselves would have to be maintained. There's no doubt that if the people who pose a danger found out about them, they may likely find ways to disable or get rid of the bells. Or they might utilize them to trick or trap villagers instead.

...or even just for a joke. But... when you're running from someone who wants to hurt you, most people don't have the time to open their journal and ask for help. I know I didn't.

... That's certainly very true. But couldn't the same really be said for finding a bell? Especially depending on the conditions involved. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be tried, of course; any additional means for our safety is an improvement.

When you're in a fight, it's a lot easier to reach out and hit something in passing then it is to pull out a book and talk to it - or at least it would be for me. Or if you're running, you just have to see it, and aim for it, and hit it as you go.

...but you're not wrong about communication between the 'defense teams' either. I know that Toph was wanting to start one, and if she does I'll support her... and I know that there were other teams who exist to defend the town... but I don't know anything other than what the guide says about them. Maybe inviting their leaders to sit down and talk would help?

Setting up some form of system for it would be beneficial, and trying is the only way we can find out for certain.

The Blue Rogues are the main defense group, yes. Brave Vesperia is more of a task force that can be hired, though they mostly end up doing their own patrols and backup to the Rogues when necessary, as far as I've seen. There also may be people who just aren't interested in joining any group, but would be willing to lend their skills in a crisis.

I'm sure they wouldn't be opposed to meeting and discussing things with others. Besides, communication is the best way to ensure success.

I told Toph that I would support her when she decided to make her own, but I also think it's important to talk to the people who've been here so much longer than we have and who already have a system.

[Katara glances away for a moment.] I get the feeling that a lot of us who are stuck here are used to doing things and having them make a difference. But in Luceti, everything just cycles over and over again. Stores rebuild in a day. People.. don't really die. And we're up against the types of people that our power can't touch. But that doesn't mean that they should be able to just go around and do whatever they want.

[Her fist tightens. What happened to Zuko shouldn't have happened. She exhales and meets Raine's gaze again.] So if the others agree to meet, I'll make sure Toph's there too. [Heh.] And the rest will probably want to come as well.

I hope that something will be organized then - smaller meetings can be beneficial. The problem with calling for meetings is making sure that they take place, or else they may not happen.

But yes, I understand what you're saying. They aren't words that others before you haven't said before, after all. Sometimes people can make changes, and sometimes people allow themselves to get used to systems that are in place because they feel that they have no choice. So it's always important to take fresher ideas into account.

[She pauses for a moment.] The number of villainous people in this town didn't increase until a few months ago, when the general population seemed to grow larger as well. It's probably why things seem so disorganized to those who just came in - the situation was adapting around them.

[She didn't understand why some of these adults seemed to think that just because something wasn't 'original' it wouldn't work - why did they feel the need to bring that up at all? But unlike with Alexei, Raine goes on to something more important and so Katara is willing to let that go.]

Does that mean that you're telling me it doesn't seem disorganized to you?

[That wasn't what Raine was implying at all, but it's also likely there's some mutual miscommunication in the works.]

I didn't say that it wasn't - only that it wasn't as unbalanced as it is currently due to the situation being different. That's why new ideas are important, as well as seeking methods of implementing them.

[She nods.] I see. And who's in charge of implementing them?

Most people bring them up on their own, or have others do it for them. If it gathers interest, people usually will volunteer for it, as you may have seen already. For example, some of the ideas brought up at the meeting last month ended up carried out in this way.

That makes sense. This place has so many people from so many different kinds of places... it would be hard to get them to agree to follow one person, but give them a common goal...