004 ◉ audio; dated to the 14th

[imaginate]

[ The audio clicks on and there's a long pause. When Kyle speaks, his tone is calm, perfectly controlled. It's his Business Voice, blank save for the barest hint of anger. ]

This is Kyle Rayner of the Green Lantern Corps. I apologise for the inconvenience, but our clinic at EA-3B is currently undergoing repairs and won't be able to take more patients at this time. We'll be temporarily operating a backup at WA-1A. [ He attaches a map, showing where it is. ]

Any and all hands with medical experience or healing abilities are always welcome.

[ Another long pause. ]

And if someone could come collect Avatar Korra, that would be appreciated.

[ There is a brief pause, as though he's debating what more to say, before the audio clicks off. ]

Comments

[imaginate]

[That pause tells him so much more about bloodbending than her words ever will. Kyle knows the feeling of your own body being turned against you and it's not something he would wish upon his worst enemies. Not being able to move, or speak... it had been his worst nightmare. One of them, anyway.]

Tarrlok's been.. informative about this but it's not wise to trust anything a politician says.
[Or does, for that matter.]

[A beat.]

Popular support doesn't come from nowhere. People must have been hurting, and angry, and they get behind somebody who can give them blood. I'm not excusing anything that happened, I'm saying there was a point to it and [he waves to the now-being-fixed-house] it can't be drawn in such black and white terms.

[lineality]

[A short, humorless laugh. Politicians, amirite.]

Tarrlok exacerbated the situation, if anything. He instated a curfew on non-benders, cut electricity in non-bender districts, and made association with Equalists punishable by law. Suddenly people who were perfectly fine with benders before were a lot less friendly, and I can't blame them for throwing their lot in with someone who appeared to care about them.

[She shakes her head.] You're right. It's complicated. I'd resigned by that point. Amon had captured my best officers and Tarrlok had the rest in his pocket. I wasn't going to sit still when being outside the so-called law at that point was the best place to be.

[imaginate]

[Don't even start him on politicians.]

No doubt some plan to make himself look like the City's saviour in time of need. [HUFF PUFF he hates those kinds of people.] I'm sorry about your men [from anyone else, this might sound like pity, but from Kyle, it's compassion, and recognition. He's lost people too.]

This is why the Corps answers to no government, but directly to the people we serve.

[lineality]

[She nods, if a little stiffly.] He was a bloodbender, too--just more willing to play by the rules until he was confronted.

It sounds like it'd be a better system, as long as it doesn't turn into a personal army in the wrong hands.

[imaginate]

I've been warned.

[And he takes it very seriously.]

There's always that risk, honestly.

[And a shrug.]

Of all people, you'd probably actually be able to guess the real reason Amon is permitted to remain on my premises.

[lineality]

[She frowns a little thoughtfully. So far Kyle has seemed like an exceptionally reasonable person, and she can appreciate that.]

I'm going to hope, for everyone's sake, that it's some variation on "keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

[imaginate]

[A nod, and he relaxes completely, not knowing he was even tense around her.]

The alternative is him being underground, which is a lot more dangerous. He's also not stupid enough to attack my patients, knowing how that will make him look.

[lineality]

[A faint huff.] He's concerned about his reputation, I'll give you that. At least someone's keeping an eye on him.

In the meantime, I'll have a word with Korra. She--

[She pauses, shakes her head.] You're right, I guess. It isn't as black and white an issue as most of us make it out to be. But Amon went after her teacher, his children--and then he took her bending. [Another pause, this one a little longer than the last.] It's a feeling you don't forget.

[imaginate]

She's scared.

[Sympathy. And then he frowns.]

I understand. But it's not an excuse for losing one's cool.

[He gestures to the building.]

[lineality]

Of course it doesn't. Especially when innocent people could've been hurt.

[One last slow, powerful movement, and the worst of the rubble is clear.] Hopefully she'll be convinced of that. And hopefully she can work on the spiritual aspect of her training, even if her teacher isn't here.

[imaginate]

Hopefully.

[And he sounds like he means it.]

Thank you for your help. [A pause, and he smiles.] Your forms are very beautiful to look at. I've never seen anything like it.

[lineality]

Flattery will get you nowhere. [But her bending's her biggest point of pride, and she half-smiles in return.]

Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help. [A pause, then she amends:] Or Korra, for that matter. Much as you might not want it, it'd be good for her.

[imaginate]

It's the truth.

[And a light shrug.]

I will. My door is always open to her, provided there's no violence. People come to this house to be kept safe, and I will not let anything threaten that right, no matter who or what it is.

[lineality]

And I can respect that.

[Until the day Amon actually tries something, of course. For now, though, she straightens, inclines her head in a sharp nod of acknowledgment, and heads off down the street the way she came. It's time to have a chat with Korra.

Seriously, when's Tenzin when you actually need him?]