markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .024

[Tomorrow. Tomorrow is tomorrow. Today, she has plans.]

Hey, Winry - do you still want to go get pizza today? I can make it for lunch, but... I can't hang out the whole day.

[She will also be making a point to visit her friends today, specifically the Straw Hat House. She wants to check in on Sanji, now that she knows what's happened to him, say goodbye to Nami... and she has a feeling Ginko will be there as well. If not, she'll try to contact him over the journal.

She also needs to stop in the item's shop. Being given a gift from the water of the river of light... Katara wants to find something similar to the container she used for the spirit oasis water so that if they get out there and she needs it, she'll have it.

The chances are good that she is also going to make a token effort to track down Buffy. She's heard enough about the last fight that she knows what happened there, and she wants to ask a few questions before heading out there - and she wants to hear about how this same mysterious Third Party General had died. It was the mystery that was bothering her - not knowing what they were really going up against or why they were really doing this. If she could talk to someone who'd fought them before, then maybe, maybe... the feeling of being used wouldn't be as strong and she'd be able to focus on what was really important.

She thinks about going over Caesar's house as well, but decides that a journal message will be good enough. He's probably busy preparing - or sleeping. And she had a feeling he wouldn't be able to do as much of that as he'd like, once they got out there.]

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Hey, Caesar. Ready for this?

[After her various conversations, she goes back home to make dinner and she, Sokka, and Toph have a surprisingly normal meal before slipping out a little earlier than normal for her accustomed practice time. She's not sure why they're going out to fight or why the 'why' bothers her so much - and she's a little scared, strung tense with nervous energy. The forms are soothing and precise and tonight there is just that extra edge, just that smallest bit of ruthless passion that gives away just how strongly the drums of her fathers beat within her - this is about war. And war is something Katara knows very well.

But when the sun starts to set she takes a break and takes a seat, watching it go down not thinking about very much at all. It's beautiful.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Luceti can do awful things to a person.]

Heh. Maybe. [He'd like to believe that, but Albert usually wasn't so open when it came to showing his appreciation. Sigh.] You're right, and we're fortunate for that. It's much less for us to worry about, and it'll guarantee that our men are facing the enemy at their best.

[...'our men.' And for a second, it's a question on her tongue so hot that she can almost taste it - 'Like me?' Because that distance he just put there disturbs her, disgusts her, and when she's fought before it's been people she's lived and breathed and worked with, with members of a family, sending out people whose names were known, whose parents names were known, who were part of a community - but she swallows it back down. Because he was trained for this, he needed the distance, that's how he was trained. And she realizes, in a sudden flash of insight, that this is the first time he's had to send people he's lived and breathed with into battle. It can't be easy. Let him have his habits - she trusts him.]

Yeah. [A pause, because she can't see something like that and then let it go.] It will work out right, Caesar.

[You have no idea how much he'd appreciate the fact that she understands what he has to deal with, too. If he had to explain it to anymore people today, he'd be flipping tables.]

I know it will. You guys have me, after all.

[The second part, obviously, said just to be silly. Without a proper general around, someone has to try and keep people in good spirits. He had to stay positive.]

Heh - that's right. [Grin.] So you'd better take care of yourself.

[No, she's not letting this go.]

Of course, of course. I'll figure something out.

Good. [And her voice drops the firm underlying tone to reflect simple friendliness and warm concern.] And get some rest too, okay?

You don't have to tell me twice. [...but he actually had no idea when he'd be able to fit 'rest' into his schedule. Such is the curse of procrastinating!] You, too, all right?

[...she does not believe you, Caesar. And so she sighs.]

You can only plan so much ahead, right? Get sleep while you still can. And I will too.

Just want to make sure I've got everything covered, that's all. But I'll be all right.

Ugh!

All right, fine. Fine!

You just remember what I told you - in any fight you have to take care of yourself first, or else you won't be able to take care of anyone else.

[Or else you pick your moment to sacrifice when you are sure it's needed and positive that it's going to work, that it's the only thing you can do.]

This is just like that, Caesar.

Believe me, I know. ["No lives come with a safety guarantee." His father had said that.] We have to protect ourselves.

[Grin.] Right. And that means making sure that we're able to take care of ourselves - by getting enough rest.

You make it sound like I've never done this before. [He's teasing. I swear.]

[Grin.] Then stop acting like it.

Get some rest.

I was planning on it.

Sometime today, right?

[Because while she's treating him like he's eight, she might as well go all the way.]

Of course. I've spent the past few days doing nothing but making preparations. There are things that still need to be done, but I think I'll do a little more than just take a nap tonight.

Good!

Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow.

Yeah. See you tomorrow.

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