markofthebrave | [Action, Accidental Voice] .014

[Utter doom has managed to hold itself off for the past week, and so today is Katara's first day of school! She's excited and a little nervous, since she's never been to any sort of school before. While preparing ~~and lecturing herself~~ she jostles her journal.]

--vous about. It's going to be just fine. Now where did I put that -- oh. [Someone's just noticed her journal's opened.] Man. I'll be late! [And she shuts the book quickly, not noticing what was recorded and starts on her way.

Of course, her nerves aren't helped by the fact that she hardly slept at all last night. Her room still smells faintly of ash, and the memories that scent triggers aren't pleasant. The nightmares are old ones, and the one she had last night one that she remembered. It had her up in the middle of the night, practicing in their back yard until exhausted.

She's almost tempted to just stay in bed all day, but she told Raine she'd be trying to go to school soon and doesn't want to go back on that. So there she goes, to and from school. So if you're at the school today? Expect a wide-eyed new girl. And if you're anywhere in the center of town after that, expect a slightly dazed one, trying to remember what she has to pick up in the grocery store.]

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[He nods at that, sitting up a little in his seat.]

I wondered when I'd start seeing you around here.

I've been a little busy. [You know, fighting giant demons, having her room burned, helping Zuko.] I thought you didn't like school?

[He shrugs.]

I don't. But if I show up every once in a while, Miss Raine can't bother me about never going.

So it's all about taking the path of least resistance, huh?

[Wait. Is that snark? Or genuine amusement? Or a little bit of both? Hmm...]

[Either way, Caesar will reply honestly. Because that's just how he rolls.]

Sure. I'd originally hoped she'd just forget about it, but no such luck, I'm afraid.

Heh. [She shakes her head and takes a seat beside him.] Figures. And did you learn anything on the days that you come?

Of course not. They can't teach me what I need to know here. I'm better off studying on my own.

[...]

How do you know?

Because I attended a prestigious military academy where I studied military strategy. Until I dropped out, that is. [He shakes his head.] I won't learn any of that here.

[Sorry, Caesar, Katara is tired, and somewhat cranky due to nightmares and ash. All that sounded to her was 'blah blah, I'm really smart but I dropped out and so nothing else matters because blah blah.' So she just... rests her elbow on the table and her chin in her hand and stares at him for a long moment.]

But you said you already knew how to be a strategist. Is that all you want to be?

You mentioned with waterbending that you had to practice a lot, right? That's what studying is for strategy. Lots and lots of practice. [But her question is kind of strange to him because... well. Sure, strategy was all he knew, but he was okay with that.] Of course that's all I want to be.

[She nods.]

That makes sense. You're making yourself familiar with all the possibilities, right? And you're right - I've always wanted to be a waterbender. And I still practice with it, every day.

But I know exactly what being a waterbender lets me do in Luceti. [She shrugs and straightens up, shaking her head slightly to wake herself more.] So I'm trying to learn and see what else I can do to help here. It's not as if we remember what we learn here when we go home, right? So why not try to learn something else?

That's right. Even back home, it's not as though there are always wars going on, so I'll have to do something to prevent my skills from stagnating too badly, I guess.

I'd like to think the time I do spend studying isn't a complete waste. [But see, Caesar's realized recently that he's not too fond of the whole "not remembering anything" deal, so he'll leave it at that.] There's nothing wrong with wanting to learn something else in order to help. You'll always be a waterbender, after all.

[Katara nods.] And you'll always be a strategist. So why not try to learn something new?

Because I'd rather not spend anymore time studying than I already have to.

[Katara thinks about that. And thinks. And... is really too tired to have any sort of logical response.]

So how do you know when enough is enough?

When I don't feel like studying anymore. [Duh.] But no one is perfect. I can become a better strategist, but there will always be things for me to learn, I guess.

... [Katara really is too tired for this. It sounds like you're agreeing with her and you're not at the same time. She is going to stare at you blearily for a moment, Caesar, before blinking her eyes and shaking her head as if to wake herself up.]

Right. So then I guess it's a good thing you're at school. So you can learn other things.

...no. That's not what I said at all. [He didn't expect her to understand because, you know, people rarely did. But really?] Something's off today.

Huh? [And Katara glances around before looking back at him.] What is?

[He gestures toward her.]

You are.

[Blink. Blink.] What are you talking about? I'm just a little tired.

[He shakes his head.]

I'm a little tired. I can't even tell what you are.

[She's taken aback.]

You don't need to be insulting! What's your problem?

[Insul- oh, goddammit. He did it again.]

I mean that you're more than a little tired.

[action]

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