tushanshu | [Video]

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[To say things had been weird since Wan arrived would be a massive, massive, massive understatement. Several hours of just plain weird. He was finally at the house he'd apparently been assigned and it was nice.

...really nice. Nicest place he'd ever had a chance to sleep in.

But that wasn't why he was at the terminal, using it for the first time. No. He had weird things to ask about.]

H-hello.

[Wan gave an awkward wave.]

I'm new here and I was told I could use this to find out information if I had any questions. I have a few. They're about the turtle that found me and this strange feeling I've been having since I woke up. They're unrelated. The turtle was giving me a strange feeling, but I got that one sorted out.

Anyway, first about the turtle. Her name is Rio'era. She wanted to come home with me, but the home I was given was not the home she wanted to go back to. I mean, I can find her anywhere with the spiritual connection she's given me, but I- I'm not getting to the point. I just wanted to know if that was normal?

A turtle the size of a small house calling out to you when you get here and all that. The people that introduced me to the computers didn't mention anything about smaller turtle spirits doing that. They only mentioned the giant turtle spirit we're all living on right now.

The other question I have is about this strange feeling of... well, I'm not sure. It's like I can feel myself in two other places, but I can't pinpoint those places. I can just feel them. Out there.

Floating around.

...Somewhere.

[Wan quieted, trying to remember if there was anything else.]

Oh! I'm supposed to find a job! I've never had one in a human city before! So that's pretty exciting. If I can get one. How do I get one? Is there a place I can volunteer to go hunting outside the city or something? Cause I've done that before... sort of.

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What would I do at the Welcome Center? I don't know near enough about this place to teach people about it like they tried to teach me.

[Wan sighed and rested his chin on one hand, considering the fishing option.]

I could probably help with fishing. I've only ever done enough for myself before, though... Where would I find out about other places that could use someone? Do I just go to every place I see and ask if they need help?

[A beat.]

Cause I can do that if I need to.

[Korra's got her hot-shot big girl pants on now.]

You just so happen to be in luck, Wan. I run the dojo in Wood, work for the Fishing Shop in Water, volunteer at the hospital in Metal, do barback duties at the Brazen Turtle tavern, and I used to work at the Welcome Center.

[She folds her arms triumphantly after that resume and gives a smile.]

You need a place to work, I'm the person to talk to.

[...yeah, she totally messed up and didn't catch it.]

Then... I guess it's a good thing I'm talking to you about it?

[He stared at the screen for a moment with a still very confused look on his face.]

Do any of those other than the Welcome Center and Hospital need someone?

Yeah. Jack's fishing shop has a recent opening. [She tries not to sound too down about that. Korra got along well with Julie before she returned home.] Brazen Turtle could always use another busboy.

[She scratches the back of her head.]

And, I wouldn't mind having you work at the dojo with me. [It feels so unfair that she knows who he is, and he's meeting her for the first time. Practically cheating from Korra's viewpoint.]

[Fishing probably wasn't that bad. He'd never worked anywhere that needed a busboy, but he understood the concept of it: someone to clean up after others.

But she seemed happy to have him work with her even though she knew nothing about him. That was pretty nice of her.

For the first time in their conversation, Wan smiled, his face lighting up.]

What would I do at the dojo?

[That smile of his ends her trying to justify her stalling in telling him everything. After all, there's Aang to consider in all of this too.]

There's a lot of classes there, so a lot of the equipment and towels end up all over the place in the afternoon. I wouldn't mind having the extra help during the day to pick it up.

[She hunches her shoulders up and tilts her head.]

And I can tell you about that strange feeling you're having.

[Well that wouldn't be too- Oh! She knew something?

Wan leaned in, hopeful.]

Really? So what is it?

[Normally Korra would use her encryption for privacy, but the network's not back up to full working order just yet.]

Uh, I think it'd be easier to show you. If you want I mean. I know the first day's kind of rough.

I don't mind. It's really not that bad. Sure, there's a lot of stuff to learn, but the people at the Welcome Center explained most of it.

[He shrugged. It wasn't his first time in a city on the back of a giant Lion Turtle-like creature.]

Where should we meet. I don't know my way around yet, but if you give me directions, I'm sure I can find you.

[She can do this. She can do this.

...she can do this.]

Sure. I don't know if you've been to the Wood Sector, but there's a big dojo there. Has a huge pond and a sign out front, the Jade School of Kung Fu. You'll be able to read it, trust me. [Korra couldn't stand not having it in Chinese.]

You can't miss it. I'll be there. With a friend, she'll be able to find you if you get lost.

Sound good?

The house I was given to live in is in the Wood Sector! If I can't find it I'll ask around. You want to meet right now, right?

[How is it all the firebenders somehow wind up in the Wood Sector? A question Korra can ponder later.]

Yeah, it'll be better to explain that sooner rather than later. [Incoming confusion disaster, but at least Korra's prepared for it this time.]

Then I'll leave right now. Goodbye.

[Wan stood and bowed to the video, hands over his heart and one fist covering the other. Then he leaned in to turn off the feed.

About a half hour later Wan managed to find the Jade School of Kung Fu and headed inside to find the woman he'd been talking to. Calling out as he did so.]

Hello? I'm Wan. I talked to a dark skinned woman on the computer thing earlier. I forgot to ask her name, but we're supposed to meet here.

[It was so strange, too, because he almost felt like he was close to that other echo of himself. It didn't seem as distant anymore.]

[Fully prepared to full that familiar spiritual tug she felt when Aang was around, Korra was surprised to find that it somehow felt different. As soon as she heard the door open, Korra poked her head out of the office in the back.]

Over here! [Seeing Wan walking and talking was surreal, but Korra tried to act as normal as she could as she waved him in. She held out her hand for a shake.] I'm Korra.

[Wan's smile remained right up until he got close to her. Then it faded as he realized she was the source of the feeling. His eyes widened as he stopped just outside the office door and reached out, not quite sure she was real anymore.]

You... you're... Are you real?

[Well she was going to say something, but instead she gave a sudden laugh and nodded.]

Yeah, I'm really real. [She clasped his hand and gave a firm few shakes. That familiar feeling flowed from her hand the instant she made contact, something she would have to get used to all over again, and Korra smiled when she looked at him.]

There's a lot of things I need to tell you, Avatar Wan.

[Wan was stuck staring at her hand. Their hands. It was like being held up to a mirror of himself and not recognizing his own face except that he knew she was a part of him. It was almost enough to distract him from her words. Almost.

He looked back up at her face, still beyond confused at all this, but now mentally latching onto the term she'd used.]

Avatar? Why do call me that?

[Korra forgot to let go of his hand, and she tilted her head while looking at him.]

Because, the Avatar keeps balance in the world and you did that. Well, you and Raava. [She scratched her head and tried to give a consoling look, but she was a little too excited to make it as sincere as she wanted it to be.]

We come from the same world, and you're from ten thousand years in the past. My past.

[It's a good thing she forgot to let go of his hand because Wan's legs shook and he needed all the support he could get just to stay standing.]

Then... we won. We beat Vaatu.

[Wait. She'd said ten thousand years.]

Harmonic Convergence. Has it come again? Is there someone who can fight Vaatu? The world can't fall to chaos!

Easy. [She said it with a smile, though it wasn't out of amusement. More from that he was just as compassionate as Korra remembered seeing him and she gripped his hand when she felt him slip ever so slightly.]

It's okay, I managed to defeat Vaatu. You see, I'm the current Avatar. When the Avatar dies, they become reincarnated and Raava bonds with them when they're born into the next nation.

[May as well do proper introductions now.]

I'm Avatar Korra of the Southern Water Tribe. That's why you have that feeling...

[That was a lot to take in. Wan steadied himself in the doorway with his other hand, then used it to help as he lowered himself to the floor. His breathing was heavy, his mind racing.

He'd only just bonded permanently with Raava earlier that day - from his perspective. They'd been ripped away from the fight with Vaatu before they could finish it. He hadn't given any thought to how being 'bonded forever' would work. He hadn't had the time. And for ten thousand years to have passed...]

I'm sorry, Raava. I didn't mean to trap you.

[He shut his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall.

Do not be sorry, Wan. I am not.

Wan opened his eyes and stared up at Korra.]

Ten thousand years...

[She messed up. Korra had no idea how she did it, but she messed up telling Wan how things worked and she had a briefest instant of panic as he lowered onto the floor. There was no getting around the amount of time that passed, so Korra could only nod down.]

Wan, you didn't trap Raava. [Folding her knees, Korra got into seiza so she was able to look at him evenly.] She chose to stay with me- I mean, with the Avatar. Keeping peace and balance in the world is what she's been doing all those years. If it weren't for you, our world would have been utter chaos.

[Wan stared at her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers, trying to make sense of it all. Raava's own words of consolation didn't help much only because of the enormity of the new knowledge. He trusted her and if she said she was not sorry, then he didn't need to be sorry either. It was just hard to accept. With all they'd been through he hadn't wanted to hurt Raava more. Giving up his own life was fine, but hers...

I will live on in you, Wan. My life is as I have chosen it to be.]

But it only just happened... What if you regret it?

[He was speaking to Raava, inside his head. Korra couldn't know that, of course.

She is proof that I will not.

Wan reached his hand out to touch Korra's cheek, still searching her eyes.]

I don't know what to think right now.

[It was just so much to take in at once.]

[Korra's only spoken to Raava once, so she instantly assumed he was talking to her. And she opened her mouth, only to close it again. What did she regret? Even though it hadn't happened yet, Korra already felt fear and regret at losing all of her past lives.

No wisdom to guide her, no past Avatar to help her when she needed it the most.

And she felt guilty for it when she felt his hand on her cheek. Wan had no past lives, only Raava. Just like she would be.]

I know. It's- not easy. [Bringing her hand up to his, Korra looked down sadly. This turned out to be another failure.] I shouldn't have told you until later.

I'm not sure that would have made it any easier.

[He rubbed a thumb over her cheek, taking comfort in the touch. It was unusual for him to seek it out. Touching others didn't happen much unless it was a Catdeer named Mula. Or Raava.

Wan took a deep breath and sighed.]

It's just a lot. And Raava...

[His hand twisted to take Korra's and then dropped so he was holding it between them. He smiled, unsure if he was feeling more rueful or more sad.]

She says she's not mad.

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