(no subject)

[markofthebrave]

Who: Korra, Asami, Jinora, Ikki, Aang, Roku, Sokka, Zuko, Toph, and Katara
What: There's a new Avatar in town!
When: July 9th
Where: House Avatar
Summary: Just your average worlds colliding.
Rating: G for "greet?"

So... meanwhile, back at the ranch, there were opportunities for those who have caught their journals to know who's coming, and those who have not caught their journals to be taken by surprise at the new Water Tribe member in the house.

Comments

[markofthebrave]

...on second thought, maybe the other two ought to stick to mastering the elements for now.

1/2

[savedtheworld]

[Would there even be a village left?]

[savedtheworld]

[He spares a laugh.] Yeah, one step at a time. Korra can't even access her spiritual side or the Avatar State at all yet, from what she's told me. [Pause, then with a slight frown] But Roku did tell me about the time he entered it... while he was here. I'm glad you were able to help him, too.

[markofthebrave]

[Her eyes go wide with remembering that - he was destroying their house - that was such a difficult time. She shifts a little uncomfortably.]

Oh - well. That was a long time ago. He was really upset, but it turned out all right.

[savedtheworld]

[He feels a bit guilty for bringing it up, despite the relevance to their conversation. And he also feels a little sad that it's been enough time that some things are said to be "a long time ago".]

I'm sorry to remind you of that. At least he seems a lot better now.

[markofthebrave]

Well, Azula's not around anymore, so he's not trying to - be friends with all of us, I guess. That made it pretty awkward.

[savedtheworld]

I'm not sure what that means, except that Azula not being around definitely means better.

[markofthebrave]

Well... he's Azula's family too.

[Not just Zuko's. Now imagine how awkward it was between them all with Azula being Azula and Roku trying to make them all friends.]

[savedtheworld]

[Now he's imagining it and nods in understanding.]

Oh... now I get it. Thinking of it that way, his coming back here is almost like a fresh start. As long as this place doesn't bring her back too. [On one hand he feels grateful to have missed out on her. But the larger part of him still wishes he was there to look out for the others' wellbeing.]

[markofthebrave]

[It's not really a fresh start. When we go home, we make all the same choices that have already been recorded.]

Well... you never know who's going to come here.

[savedtheworld]

[He tries a meek chuckle.]

I guess that's the lesson of this month. [Pause] Hopefully this is it for this cycle. [Before that Amon guy appears. Or any of their children or grandchildren who could be endangered.]

[markofthebrave]

[Gently:] We're hardly even halfway through. We have to try to be prepared for anything.

[Like Amon.]

[savedtheworld]

[He looks down and slowly looks up, starting to remember flashes of the last time his body wasn't acting like his body at all.]

Like... Amon?

[markofthebrave]

Yeah. Like Amon.

[savedtheworld]

Katara, how can we deal with someone who can do... that?

[Every muscle in his body seizing and moving by itself. Feeling his blood shifting like water.]

[markofthebrave]

We know that you defeat Tarrlok's father - the original the one who trained Amon and Tarrlok. I didn't get the details on how you did that from Asami - you should probably talk to her.

I'll talk to Tarrlok tomorrow, but other than... whatever it was that the future you did...

[She turns away. She looks down. She touches her necklace and then she closes her eyes.]

There's really only one other option, isn't there.

[I have to learn how to do it too.]

[savedtheworld]

[His breathing goes raspy. How? I'm not gonna... do it too, am I? How can I... stop it?

Aang hesitantly reaches out towards Katara. He remembers how she broke down after the battle with Hama, and how helpless he felt.]

Katara...

[markofthebrave]

It's not something I want to do. I hate it.

[She hates using it, and worse, she hates the feeling when it's used on her.]

But when it comes down to protecting our family, right now I don't see any other way. And I told Ikki that it would be okay.

[And she's not going back on that.]

[savedtheworld]

[He's not sure how to help, at all. Even if he considered trying it himself... that would be another source of pain for both of them, and one that's unnecessary when Katara is the better Waterbender. And he feels weak; he can't control the Avatar State, he can't repel bloodbending.]

I'm sorry. I... I wish there was another way, Katara.

[markofthebrave]

[She's not sure how she feels about this acceptance. On the one hand, she's so... humbled by his trust. Bloodbending was the most terrible, horrible thing, and he was trusting her with it.

...on the other hand, she almost, almost wishes that he'd said no. She doesn't know if she'd listen to him, but... it would be nice to think she'd have the option.

But he knew, as she knew, that there was no price she wouldn't pay to protect the ones she loved. She'd paid this price already. She was a bloodbender. And all she wanted was to make sure that she'd be able to break free, and since no one was there to practice the technique on her...

Her hands grip the grass and she feels hot tears in the corners of her eyes.]

Me too.

[savedtheworld]

[Aang had already come to terms with Katara taking lives. As afraid and traumatized as he was from bloodbending... once he looked past his experiences and forgot how close he came to being pierced by his best friend's swords... he knew that Katara would only use it to save lives. That it was still a step above killing. So it was just another extreme that being in this place forced its inhabitants to use.

Part of him hated how accepting his stay here made him towards the measures his closest friends employed. The part of him that always sought another way.

Aang stepped closer and put his hand on her shoulder.]

Is there anything I can do to help?

whoops, no, just one.

[markofthebrave]

[...okay, now she did start crying. That simple confidence, that unfailing trust - offering to help.

Oh, Aang.]

[savedtheworld]

[She was crying. He quickly dropped down to his knees and wrapped his arms around her, desperate to comfort her somehow. He felt some tears of his own forming, realizing the scars Hama had left within her.]

[markofthebrave]

[Still crying softly, Katara does her best to keep a firm grip on her emotions. She allows herself to lean into Aang and accept his comfort and does her best to focus on the right now so as to not loose control completely.]

[savedtheworld]

[He just holds her there for a moment, feeling flashes of how she broke down after Hama's defeat. And he gets a sick feeling in his stomach when he realizes she might have come here to Luceti from that very moment. To carry that suffering for so long... but he's here now. He has to find a way to make a difference.

Aang begins to talk softly as he speaks to her. Romance seems so far away now. He just wants the tears to disappear.]

Katara... I-I know this must be really difficult for you. It's... it's a horrible skill that I hate to remember, and just thinking about it is making you like this.

[A pause as more sobs come out.]

I am going to do everything I can to find a way so that we can stop him without resorting to it. But... I know that we might not have a choice. It's... it's not bad if you're using it to protect your family. I just want - want to be there if that happens. So that I can help you, to hold onto yourself. After all those times you helped me out of the Avatar State... it's the least I can do, Katara.