markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .022

[Today, Katara is on a mission. There are people she has to thank for giving her presents, and to that purpose she has prepared small pressed impressions of dried goldenrods in glass (thank you, Usopp and the item shop) or pressed into paper with the words 'Thank You' written on it, depending on what she thinks you'll like more. Yes, this has taken her all week.

She will either be dropping them off at your house, or meeting with you personally to touch base with you. There are a few other people she's on the look out for in particular, and several side missions she also hopes to accomplish. Feel free to bump into her at any point as she goes about her business, whether or not there is a dried flower for you!]

[Courtesy 15 percent filter to the people addressed, so as to not spam your journals if you don't want to see it.]

Ginko, where are you today?

Allen - are you busy today? I'd like to stop by.

Brook... [there is some hesitation here] can I ask you a question?

[/filter]

[And sometime after the conversation with Sanji, you'd better believe that she's hunting her brother down. Where will she find him? Will she have to hold his dinner hostage?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah. He was in charge of hunting for the whole village. The women would set out fish traps, but they didn't always pay off.

[She sighs.] And when he wasn't doing that he was 'training' all the little boys. Taking them out, lecturing them, making them do drills or help build up his watchtower...

My bending was pretty much useless then, you know. [And boy, had he never let her forget it. But that isn't the point. She looks down and her fists clench.] I know that my bending his hard for him. But he's never stood in my way for wanting to learn more, or get better. He's always supported me, even if I had to drag him in to things... he's the one who helped me pick a weapon now, got me to practice with it using waterbending...

[Sanji listens quietly, thinks between the lines of dialogue, feeling for what Katara's trying to convey.

He's a warrior. Had to protect his village before Katara-chan knew how to fight... And he still protects the people he cares about, in his own way. Showing Katara a different application with her waterbending - Sanji can imagine the resourcefulness of the weapon already.

But that also means he's got reasons to be envious. She's obviously more powerful than him. And watching a sibling master an art you've got shit's chance of learning, while your own skills are overshadowed...

That's not bringing to mind how Sokka might feel about others in Luceti, where super strength is part of the norm. It's like having your pride stomped on, over and over.

Sanji did it, too.]

I get it. [he closes his eyes, still contemplative on what he's heard, and the past. The choices he made aren't ones he'll ever regret. Sanji didn't learn anything significant, either.

However... ]

I promise I'll listen to him. [He won't put up with much of Sokka's shit, but Sanji is well-versed in the manner of broken pride. And Sokka's... well, he's sixteen.]

[She smiles a little.] Okay. [She nods.] Thanks.

[She hopes that she didn't say too much - but she doesn't know what else to do. And this part was her story too.]

[A smile is offered back. This... might work out alright. Maybe.]

Sorry if this seemed sudden, Katara-chan.

What isn't sudden, in this place. [That - was a touch too bitter for her tastes. And so she shrugs.] Change is just - like that.

[Oh, he understands.

And he's also kept her here for longer than she probably wanted. He sighs and gets to his feet, so he can walk her to the door]

Truer words have never been spoken. [said a little wryly]

[She takes a long sip from her iced tea and takes Sanji's hint to stand.]

Sanji? ...you look tired. Maybe you should take a nap.

[He halts, and manages some surprise]

Eh? Do I? [rubbing the back of his neck] With everything happening to Noel-chan and Nami-san... [He trails off since that's not quite... true.

But she doesn't need to know what happens when he closes his eyes and dreams. Instead, he glances back up and smiles tiredly, not trying to hide it]

I'll take one in a bit. [He'll try]

Good. [And then - because she can't help herself, because it's who she is, she steps forward and gives Sanji a hug that lasts a few moments longer than her usual brief embraces.

She doesn't know what it is. But.

It will be okay.]

[ Action, Voice ] .022

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