markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .019

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[ Action, Voice ] .019

[The past few days have been good for Katara. The happy from mending her rift with Sanji hasn't faded, rather it has turned into a sort of muted contentment and being outside and with good company was good for the soul.

Of course, not everyone was having such a good time... but she couldn't really blame Caesar for that, considering the way he'd shown up. Everyone else seemed to be... mostly getting along. And it was so nice to be doing that which felt a little bit more familiar.

Not to mention the fact that she's been able to spend so much time in and around the water. Just now, she was taking a swim after dinner. It was so good to be so close to so much water again - just feel it on her senses, tugging at her awareness. It was almost like home, but in a way that made her happy instead of sad - because she refused to be sad as long as she had a choice about it.

Getting up, she wrings the water out of her hair and bends the rest off before making her way towards her journal.

If you are out there camping, feel free to bump into her at the lake, or on her way back to the campsite!]

[ Voice, filtered from Yuber, Kefka, Aku, Mercury and Azula - 60 percent ]

I hope everyone's doing all right back at the village! It's beautiful out here.

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Oh. [She studies him.] This has been bothering you for a while, huh? What makes you think your roommates can't take you seriously?

Something like that. [read: Yes. These were the kinds of things he'd tell Apple about, but without his tutor, there were very few he could talk to. That, and talking to his brother was still weird.] Um... That's a long story. But if those people don't listen to me when I say no, I don't want to go on this stupid camping trip, are they going to listen to me when I tell them what they need to do to protect this place?

[Heh.] I think that you're overthinking it. They were wrong to drag you out here when you didn't want to go - but they didn't drag you out here because they didn't respect you. They dragged you out here because they wanted you to have fun, and so you could be with them.

Just because they did that doesn't mean that they won't listen to you on the battlefield. They're not the same thing, Caesar. I mean, you see me with Sokka, right?

[He shakes his head. That wasn't it.] It might not mean they won't listen, but it can still have a negative effect on how they view the things I say. Will they follow my orders to the point, or will they decide to do as they please, simply because I'm the one telling them? That's the kind of risk I can't take.

[This was hard. How could she explain to him what she knew instinctively? She'd never had to even attempt to communicate about trust and familiarity before.] Well. I can't speak for anyone else - I don't know what they'd do. But I can tell you that whatever it was you think you did to make it so that they wouldn't listen, it's too late to go back and undo it now. You could always ask them, but... [She pauses, studying him, and then shakes her head.] I don't think you want to do that, huh?

So that really only leaves you with one choice - if you can't go back, you have to go forward. Prove to them that you're dependable. And that's not by pulling back or trying to be someone you're not - it's about being yourself and backing up what you say, and showing people that you can be trusted by being responsible [aka NOT wandering off alone in the woods at night.]

[And she's not sure what she's saying is making any sense, so she tries again.] Your friends know that you've trained to be a strategist, and they know that you're good at it - I believe that they'll trust you. And as for everyone else, you might have to prove it but so what? You're good at it, you've trained for it, and this is what everyone has to do. When you earn trust... it's something that lasts.

[Ugh. He was getting tired of having to prove himself to everyone. But, well, it wouldn't be the first time he'd had to do it. He always had to prove himself, so it wasn't like it was something that was out of his way or anything. It wasn't at all a new idea to him, but maybe... Maybe he'd needed the reminder.

Of course, he doesn't have to say any of that. Instead, he'll splash some water at her playfully, a smirk on his face.]

I guess that makes sense.

[She sees that splash and just stands there for a moment, letting it hit her and just - stunned. Did he really just...?]

[He did! Huh. He can actively have fun. She laughs with joy and relief that something seems to have settled for him.]

Do you really want to start a splash war with a waterbender?

[It's good to hear her laugh like that. That conversation had taken an unexpected serious turn, but it looks like getting into the water wasn't a mistake after all.]

Like I said. Plenty of time to kill.

Well, if you're sure. You know I can't hold back... it's a matter of professional pride.

Not like you need to tell me about any of that. [Pride? Silverbergs are full of it. And what the hell, this is just for fun, anyway. Have another splash.]

[Oh dude - you are so going to regret this. In the beginning, she will limit herself to a regular splash war. Katara returns fire, laughing.]

I just want to make sure you understand what you're getting into.

[He tries to duck that one, but he kinda sorta fails. He shrugs.] Imagine what it'll do to my reputation if people even knew I was here! [People might think he's actually interested in this outdoor business! But he's obviously joking.]

[Katara speaks with false horror in her voice:] Oh no! Not your reputation!

What will they say when they find out you can actually have fun. [Have another splash headed in your direction.]

It would certainly give everyone the wrong idea. I'm not sure I can have that! [To avoid this one, he just takes a breath and plunges into the water. It was just easier. He resurfaces a moment later, and-] But don't worry. I am sure that I can come up with a clever excuse.

[ He's not attacking back, so for a moment Katara will quit splashing him. ]

Like kidnapping?

Kidnapping works. I'd prefer something a little more interesting, but I won't be picky.

More interesting than kidnapping? What did you have in mind?

[And a light splash.]

Edited 2010-06-14 03:02 (UTC)

[He moves his arm to shield his face as he considers this.]

Huh. Good question. There aren't a lot of interesting things to do around here. Maybe I'll say that I went to the mountains for a few days to "find myself." [And now, he returns the splash.]

[Heh - she sees no reason to let that splash land - and holds up a hand, stopping the water right there for a moment before moving her hand forward and directing it back at him at the same velocity of the splash.]

Find yourself? What would you be doing up in the mountains?

[He can't dodge that one. He shrugs, a bit of a smirk on his wet face.]

Maybe I'd take a nice, long nap. But who really knows?

I guess we'll never find out. [She moves some her wet hair out of her face and grins at him.] And I win.

Right. It'll forever be a mystery. [He shrugs again. He has no problem admitting defeat because ahaha she's not Albert. :|] Yes, yes, if that's what you want to call it.

[She drops her hands and gets into a form, smirking at him.] Well, if you like I could just wash you right out of the lake.

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