markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .025

Entry tags:

*brook,
*caesar,
*derek,
*ginko,
*nami,
*raine,
*san,
*selphie,
*sokka,
*usopp,
...this place is so...,
best coping mechanism ever,
homesickness sucks,
last waterbender of her tribe,
messing with a little girl's dream,
might need something stronger than soda,
mother hen,
this isn't her war,
war sucks

[ Action, Voice ] .025

[Today - hadn't been so bad. Twenty of them, maybe? It sure seemed like there were a lot less out here than they'd been led to expect, and that was only a good thing because she was tired. The weight of doing this every day was getting to her. Blood had dried in clumps in her hair, and she'd been too tired to bend it out. Now as she stood in the shower, the water collecting at her feet was pink.

It isn't supposed to be pink.

Her stomach heaves and Katara shuts her eyes and stands under the water until even the Malnosso's hotel runs out of hot water, and long after it turns cold.

The thought of going to sleep leaves her restless, and after staring at herself in the mirror too long, she goes to knock on some doors. She doesn't plan on staying long, but just - seeing - that Toph and Sokka are still all right will do her good. She hesitates, and then heads towards Caesar's door as well. When she returns, she's still awake, and so instead of a quick line that she won't respond to anyway, she makes a voice post tonight.]

Hey everyone! How are things going there?

[Hesitation.]
Nami, is... the house still standing?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She nods. And was probably about to say something intelligent. But instead, as she turns it over in her mind, she busts out with a purely emotional response.]

It's not fair! We're dragged here and kept in a little box, and poked and prodded and experimented on for who knows what reason, and then we get sent out to fight their battles! Why can't they fight their own war? Why do we have to be out here, fighting their war, their way, against people they can't face?

[He blinks, a little bit surprised if only because of how the conversation had been going just a minute ago. Despite her outburst, Caesar continues to speak calmly and evenly.]

Who knows? You're right, it isn't fair, but war isn't fair. You already know that. However, even if the Malnosso are using us, we're not fighting for the same reasons they are. As long as we're out here, we have to fight because we have to protect ourselves.

I know that too. [She snaps it out before thinking.] That's not the point!

The point is that, although we do not have a choice, we cannot forget our own reasons for fighting. In fact, I think that's incredibly important here. If we lose sight of why we fight, then we really are no better than pawns.

And why are you fighting?

Because I want to protect these people in the only way that I know can.

[There have been moments when she's wondered why the two of them are friends. And then there are moments when she doesn't wonder at all. His words cut her, slicing through the bluster and the indignation about how very deeply wrong this situation, straight to the heart of what's really important.]

You're right. That's why I came too. I just...

[He shakes his head slightly. He did understand where she was coming from. Caesar doesn't know how to comfort people, though - he sucks at it, and he knows it. So his next words are all spoken from his own experiences, as honestly as ever. ~~And he uses 'we' to mask that, apparently.~~]

It's not easy. We've been stuck in this stupid village for a while now. Looking back on things, it's easy to become angry because there's so very little we can do about our situation. [He'd seen former allies get hurt. He'd seen his brother die, and there was nothing he could do about it.] But that's why it's so important that we don't forget why we do this. And I don't just mean here, on the battlefield, but back in the village, too. If we forget, we might give up. Then, they'd win, won't they?

[The smile she gives him might be small, but the light in her eyes is nothing short of brilliant.] You're right.

And I know that too. It's just... I've never had to fight like this before. [And then she shakes her head, still smiling a little and more at peace with herself.] But that doesn't change why I'm doing it.

I know it's tough, but if you remember that, I think you'll be fine. [And even if he didn't show it, maybe he felt a bit more confident now, too. He never really questioned why he did the things he did, but sometimes he wondered if it was worth it. Right now, he was certain that it was.] Besides, like I said, we'll be outta here soon enough. We just have to keep going for a little while longer.

I know. [But you don't have to stand over them and watch the light leave their eyes. - and just as soon as the thought comes, she dismisses it. Because she'd do it again, and again, if it meant staying alive and keeping safe the people that she cared about. Katara glances over to the red button and nods at it.]

Have you been using that thing much?

[He looks over to the button and shrugs.]

Not exactly. I really only asked for the things I needed. [He motions toward the table in his room. He has a copy of the map there, but there are notes, books (which he didn't really need), and other tools littering the table as well. ~~Which makes you wonder, where the hell does he eat?~~] I, uh, didn't need a lot.

[It does in fact, make her wonder. And she glances around for any signs of food. ~~Because boys are incapable of cleaning up after themselves, clearly.~~]

Did you eat dinner already?

[This one can! If only because his housemates won't do it for him, sob. He shakes his head.]

No. I was thinking about it before you showed up, but I figured that it can wait a while.

[One hand goes to her stomach.] I wasn't hungry before... I am now. Want to order something?

[He shrugs slightly.] If you want. [He stands up to go clear off the table. If it was just him, he wouldn't bother - he'd just eat somewhere else. But his housemates are the proper type, so he's getting used to having to set the table right, too.] Did you have something in mind?

[She shrugs before standing up to help him with that.] Why don't you order something from your world and I'll order something from mine? We can try them both.

That doesn't sound like a bad idea. [He nods, sliding some books and his journal off of the map so he could roll it up and put it somewhere else for now. He'll take some of the books and drop them off on his bed as well.]

[When she sees that he's got a certain method for clearing off the table, she decides to let him finish up doing that and goes over to the red button.]

Maybe something light? Some stewed sea prunes would probably be good...

[Caesar nearly drops the last couple of books on his bed when she says that.]

Stewed sea prunes?

[...what?]

[She glances back over at him.]

It's a traditional Watertribe dish. [One that Aang and Toph seem not to care for very much...]

...maybe I'll just order enough of that for one.

Edited 2010-08-02 04:27 (UTC)

I-I see... [Caesar looks away, stuffing some loose sheets of paper into his journal. He didn't quite mean to react so quickly and so rudely. But as you know, Caesar has no filter.] You can go ahead with that. I'm still thinking.

[So she does, in fact, just go ahead and order that. She also orders Fire Flakes and a more traditional Earth Kingdom dish involving rice and rolls of finely spiced meat.]

You might like the Earth Kingdom food. And you can always try the stewed sea prunes if you want. I think they're pretty good.

I guess I won't know until I try. [If Katara's paying attention, there is a vaguely amused look on Caesar's face when he says that. Silly Silverbergs and their thoughts. After she finishes, he'll walk over and quietly request his own food. ~~Unfortunately, food is pretty average in Suikoden.~~ When Caesar's done, he sits at the table just after their food makes an appearance.]

Yakisoba. I'm no good at making this stuff myself, so this is a good opportunity. [...] And soda.

It smells good! [If only the same could be said for the stewed sea prunes, sob. She'd requested a portion for one and only takes about half of it so she can try some of the yakisoba and Earth Kingdom food.]

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