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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[He's going to look over at GL]

GREEN BASTARD!!! IT'S YOUR FAULT! I WOULD'VE KICKED HIS ASS IF YOU HADN'T GOT IN THE WAY!!!

[...He just vanished. And - OK, Katara will admit that his speech was pretty convincing. She just took Sokka and Nami's word that Kefka was a bad guy, and she hadn't asked for proof. ...and you know what? That's still good enough for her. Kefka creeped her out in a way that would have put Zhao to shame. And no means no.

...and now Luffy was going after the glowing green man. With the green glowy wall that was strong enough to stop both of them without looking like it cost him any effort at all. This won't be good. Katara will take a hesitant step forward.]

Um, Luffy - he didn't exactly know the full story...

[And after all it DID look like you were about to beat Kefka down. And that was honestly one of the best things she'd seen all day. ...although some of her vehemence is taken away by Kefka's speech, there is still a dull throbbing anger in the home destroyer's direction. And so she will round on the man in the sky as well.] Who are you, anyway?

[Said in the tone of: Who do you think you are?]

[John crosses his arms and stares down at Luffy. Yeah, he knows Kefka is a real bastard that probably deserves to go down. He doesn't know the full story, but you don't get a reputation like that based on the accounts of a few people.]

Then it's a good thing I stepped in, rookie. A one-on-one duel with a powerful magic user like that in the middle of the town square? The only thing, the only thing he had to do to get the better of you was make her [he casts a hand in Katara's direction] a target. Or any other person in this village. Is he really worth putting all these people at risk because he wants to pretend to be a victim?

[And he turns to Katara to address her question. He catches her tone, but it doesn't seem to bother him. He answers her with an absolute voice of command and authority that comes from a life spent enforcing authority.] I'm John Stewart, the Green Lantern.

Edited 2010-03-19 15:47 (UTC)

Can't you make green walls!? You could've protected them while I kicked his ass, Green Bastard!

[He clinches his right fist really hard and puts his left hand on his right shoulder. He's about 10 seconds away from throwing a punch at this guy. Sorry he's kind of ignoring you right now Katara. He's in angry!Luffy mode now.]

Thanks to you he's gonna keep attacking us now! ONE OF MY FRIENDS ALREADY COULD'VE DIED BECAUSE OF HIM! AND YOU JUST LET HIM RUN!

[Sadly the GL's tone is just going to get Katara's back up. Because she recognizes that tone - she absolutely does - and she resents it being applied to her when the man knows nothing about her. So her look is somewhat flat when she adresses him.]

...He's got a point.

[And now she is going to do something absolutely ~~suicidal~~ typical and move next to Luffy. Because, yeah, she doesn't know him, and yeah, he's practically radiating rage right now, but he's Nami and Sanji's captain and she doesn't believe that they'd follow someone who'd hurt her just for talking to him. And she doesn't really think that it will calm him down, but she has to at least try. ~~sob.~~] Luffy. He didn't know. Don't - don't take it out on him. Kefka's the one who deserves it.

[If she knew Luffy at all, she'd put her hand on his shoulder. But she doesn't, not really, and she can relate to his rage and helplessness. And it really, really sucks. So she just says quietly.] I'm sorry. But it won't help. Don't do it.

[His expression doesn't falter a bit. He can tell that Luffy is raring for a fight. By the looks of it, he's not much different than Plastic Man and Elongated Man. That's unfortunate if it comes to blows, but he's not about to budge.]

Even I have my limits. I've dealt with my share of wizards and gods before and 'green walls' don't always cut it against their magic. Kefka will be dealt with, but I will not allow bystanders to be caught up in it when it can be avoided.

[Luffy's not going to say anything. Kefka's gone. And he probably won't get a chance to straight up fight for a while now. However, he knows as well as anyone that fighting GL isn't going to help or change things at all. Matter of fact it'll just make everything worse. He's not going to respond to either of their remarks, but it does seem as if his anger has calmed down now for now.

And now he just kinda... walks away now. Heading back to the Strawhat's house]

[Katara watches him go, heart heavy. It's against her nature to just let someone walk away like that - but she's also got to deal with the glowing green man. And if it were her, and she had been interrupted...

She lets Luffy go. And turns her attention to the man who called her a 'bystander.' Maybe she hadn't been doing anything in that fight, but that didn't mean she was defenseless. She plants her feet and turns to address him head on.]

So. John Stewart, the Green Lantern. What does that mean?

[John watches Luffy go. He may not look it, but he does feel for the boy. Although he may not be happy with what he did, he still feels it was the right choice in the circumstances. Kefka seems to think John could be persuaded to his side at least. He can use that to arrange a later meeting with a lot less at stake.]

It means I'm a member of the Green Lantern Corps, a galactic police force that exists for situations like this.

[On a normal day, that would be followed up with a spade of questions - since really it sounded like 'blah blah blah, bwah' and then 'I do this for a living.' But this isn't a normal day, and despite the fact that she's had a pretty good day up until now, Katara's emotions are still tense and strained to the extreme. And he is still hovering up in the sky above her. And he stopped Luffy from taking down Kefka. And she wants him to take whatever she says next seriously. So much for resting her bending today.]

Yeah? I'm nothing like that. [She moves into the beginning of a form.] I'm just Katara from the Southern Watertribe. [And that fountain behind you? Sprouting a long thin wave that is headed in your direction, GL. It will freeze in place before it ever touches you.]

Luceti isn't a good place to make assumptions. [If he hasn't done anything to that ice? It will clatter harmlessly to the cobblestones below, disipating into mist just before it hits the ground. The look she directs towards him is wary and intense, and dead serious.]

[Okay, so mark one against John. Her demonstration of power catches him off guard. He doesn't back up from the attack. The 'glowing green man' is actually protected by a field of energy, so he's not worried about damage. When it dissipates though, he'll take the hint. He hovers down to the ground, placing both feet firmly on the ground. The glowing energy will dissipate and his expression seems to soften with it now that there's no one throwing around threats and accusations.]

I'm sorry that it turned out like this. I may have misjudged you and your friend, but I've seen the disastrous effects of what happens when two warriors that powerful clash in a public place. I've been one of those people before. [He was once convinced that his recklessness had one wiped out an entire planet. That's a bitter, but still strong memory. It may have been an illusion, but the guilt he felt for that was real.] Believe me, Kefka will not get away with his crimes.

[Katara is molified by the fact that he is no longer up there looking down at her, and by his apology. His reasons make sense as well - and like she'd told Luffy, he didn't know. If she had his power and had come upon two people fighting in the square, would she have done the same thing? ...Probably.

But... 'get away with his crimes?' Who talks like that? You'll have to excuse Katara if she's somewhat skeptical. All the same, she nods at him.]

I understand what you're saying. I think Luffy did too. [She casts a concerned glance in his direction before returning the Green Lantern's glowing gaze. Glowing. Eyes. Glowing. It's a mark of Luceti's strangeness that she doesn't out and out ask why they're doing that.]

How long have you been in Luceti?

Edited 2010-03-19 19:59 (UTC)

Two weeks. [Short and blunt. But that's the truth of it. But he's also hoping to gain more than just her understanding. Information is what he wants.]

Am I to understand it that Kefka has attack Luffy's friend as well as something to Nami's room? [His tone indicates a familiarity with the latter. And he was definitely paying attention to the exchange before, even if he hadn't spoke out on it before.]

[That conviction is back in his voice - and Katara recognizes it and it makes her a little bit cautious. She doesn't know what it will lead him to do.]

From what I understand, he's made a habit of attacking Luffy's crew. He's not just their friend - he's their captain. But I don't know the details - I haven't had a chance to ask. [You'd better believe she will now, though.] I've only been here a month, myself.

If you want to know more, you can ask any one of them... though probably not Luffy.

[Her gaze flicks to where Kefka disappeared, and she speaks almost absently.] I'm more concerned about his plans for Toph.

[...she's going to need to tell Sokka and everyone else about this, isn't she. Oh, that will just be beautiful.]

[A captain? Something to remember and inquire about later, anyways.]

I'll be sure to do that. [But there's another name he recognizes there. By the way she brings it up, it seems like a friend a bit closer than Luffy and his crew would be.] Toph Bei Fong, correct? Is it possible he's aware of her plans for the 'White Lotus'?

[And you win a startled look of assessment, GL.] You've been talking with Toph?

[Sigh. Guys! Glowing green men goes into group share time!]

She recently left a voice message on the journal network indicating her intentions to coordinate with other 'defense groups'. We had a brief conversation in regards to that. [He grins somewhat as he recalls it.] She's a very determined girl.

[OK, GL. Your approving tone towards Toph wins you points.] She sure is. [And Katara grins a little, recalling how Toph once shattered a bolder with her head in order to teach Aang earthbending.] Headstrong.

...but I don't think that was why he was asking after her. He called her a friend, said he wanted to check up on her... [Katara will wrap her arms around herself and shiver.] She was... kidnapped by the Malnosso a little while ago. And out in the forest alone for a while... I need to make sure she knows what he sounds like.

[Kidnappings. He had heard about that. He'd yet to see one in action. He was interested to see what effect his ring would have when that happened. Not much, he suspected. The fact they didn't seem to discern between child and adult or combatant and civilian was troubling, but seemed to reflect the randomness of this place.

One part of her report catches his interest. Sounds like?] Is it possible she would have encountered her there? For someone trying to earn favors from others, a situation of being left alone following an experiment would be ideal for attempting to make nice with others.

I'll have to ask her.

[She hesitates.] ...he offered to come and help another one of my friends too. He'd been wounded in the mountains... [And she really should be getting back to him soon. But for now her eyes will focus past the Green Lantern and take on a hard glint as she starts putting together the pieces of the pattern. Toph, alone, returned from the Malnosso, her bending broken. Zuko, alone, horribly wounded. Attacking an empty house and ruining a home. Coming up to her while she was alone...]

He seems to like picking on people he thinks are helpless.

And playing innocent around those he perceives as threats.

[He's picking up on that same pattern now.] Do you have any reason to think he would have a particular interest in you and your friends? Your connection to Captain Luffy's crew, perhaps?

[Her gaze flicks to his now, assessing and concerned.] I don't know. This all happened within the past week. I hadn't given it much thought... I didn't even know some of it had happened until now.

[A pause.] ...that could be it. But it could just as easily be because Toph is forming the White Lotus or because Sokka runs the weapons shop or because Aang is the Avatar, or because it looked like fun.

Edited 2010-03-20 02:01 (UTC)

I see. [Well not he knows the names of all of her friends. But it doesn't look like she has much more information to pass on.]

Kefka wanted to speak to me to 'explain' how he's the victim here. I intend to take him up on this. If I can, I'll find out what his interests in you and your friends are.

[...People she doesn't know well talking about her and her friends behind her back to an evil supervillian. Why does this not exactly bring her comfort and joy?]

...What difference do you think that will make?

[Or will it just create more of an interest?]

With him? None at all. But it will give some insight into how his mind works and what his ambitions are. I plan to get as much information as I can out of him before he realizes what my intentions are. If it comes to a fight, so be it.

[And of course, Kefka will likely teleport away if the battle goes poorly for him. But at least it will give something for he and Batman to work with. But after noticing that look of concern...] Of course, that's only with your consent. I don't intend to draw you and your friends in any further than they already are.