tushanshu | [Video]

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[The video flickers on to show a large pair of blinking blue eyes, and relays a voice muffled by the ridiculously close proximity to the microphone. ]

“--ng supposed to what? Oh.”

[The blue eyes are suddenly pulled back to a much more comfortable distance, and a girl comes into view, her brows bent as she skeptically looks toward the camera. She looks really tired and worn out...she's new here.]

“Yeah, I guess I’m not really used to the idea of this thing…” [A sigh, and a curl of the shoulders in a shrug. It won't hurt to try, at least.]

[Her expression quickly mellows into a calm but forced bright smile, though worry stays rooted behind a professional, gentle stoic of deep blue.]

“I’m Katara,” [she explains, motioning a slender hand toward her chest.] “And, um.. I guess I’m new here." [Under her breath, she adds:] "Even if… this is a really bad time…”

[She sighs and shakes her head, her brows furrowing as she looks into the camera to explain. Her arms wrap around her absently.]

“A close friend of mine got hurt while protecting me, and I was going to heal him, but now I’m here and I don’t know what’s happened to him. O-Or any of the others…”

[Her eyes widen a little, and she looks down for a moment as if realizing something else as the last words leave her mouth, then returns her gaze to the camera, filled with an urgent determination.]

“Please, if any of you have any news on my world, could you tell me?”

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[Wan felt a little bad now. He hadn't wanted to make Katara feel bad. Just reassure her.]

Um... So, you might be able to help Zuko even more pretty soon. I discovered there's some spirit water somewhere on the Great Turtle. We don't know where yet, but it's connected to the pipes that bring water to our houses. Once we figure out where it's coming from, a lot more people will be able to be healed with it. If you don't know, spirit water has mystical healing properties.

[Wan does not yet know he's the source of the spirit water. Yay for magical gifts from dream realms.]

[Katara's eyes widen hugely as her attention goes back to Wan. She nods, her expression that of disbelief.]

I've used spirit water once before, to heal Aang after Azula--

[She cringes inwardly, and peeks at Zuko. That...hadn't been a good time for them. It also doesn't help that she had offered to heal his scar right before then, too. Maybe now, though, if he really wanted her to...]

It's... really powerful...

[She adds finding it to her rapidly growing list of things to do if she's trapped here, and brings a slight smile back to her face.]

That's great that there's a source here. I'm sure we can find it.

Edited 2014-08-31 20:32 (UTC)

I know it is. I lived at one for a year with the spirits that protected it. I expect there's another oasis similar to that buried somewhere under one of the hollowed out mountains outside the city. But the Great Turtle is so big that finding it will take time.

Don't worry about it too much for now.

[Zuko looks between the two of them and listens as Wan and Katara go on about spirit water. He didn't know much about it honestly, so this is proving educational.]

So, the last thing you remember is fighting Azula? That means you came from the same time I did.

[Well.. that's not exactly the after Azula healing session she was thinking of, but she's not about to correct it. Instead she nods at Wan's explanation and silently agrees not to worry about it too much for now. She'll think on her own time.]

[She focuses again on Zuko and nods again, serious and troubled.]

Yeah...

[It's still too fresh in her mind, the sight of him jumping between her and his sister's lightning.]

The ground beneath their feet begins to tremble. Not a lot, but enough for those with some familiarity with earthbending to notice.

And...judging by the expressions of the healers and nurses that continue about their daily assignments with little more than a chuckle or an eyeroll, it would seem everyone in the vicinity has a bit of a familiarity with earthbending.

"He's at it again," one passing kedan nurse says to another.

"The Cave of Two Lovers?" the other nurse asks.

"Uh uh. Blind Bandit today."

The both of them chuckle quietly as they pass Wan, Katara, and Zuko.

[As the ground starts to rumble, Zuko easily recognizes it as earthbending. He frowns, glancing at the passing Kedan as he overhears their comments.]

The what?

[He hadn't been around for those particular adventures after all.]

[Katara easily recognizes the earthbening and brightens again, but then blinks at the sudden conversation, her cheeks turning lovely dark shade of pink. She shrugs, and heads in the direction she feels the shaking may have originated.]

Ah, Toph. Toph was the Blind Bandit for a while.

[The Cave of the Two Lovers will go unmentioned.]

[Wan was sort of used to the stories by now and instead of just going toward the direction of the shaking, he headed straight for Aang. He actually bypassed two hallways that seemed like they should go to Aang (because he already knew they cut off before they got to the right place).

When they got to the children's ward, Wan put a finder to his lip to tell the two of them to stay quiet as he opened the door to the room. Aang's back was to them for the moment. Aang knew Wan was there, of course. Or at least knew one of his other lives was there. But it wasn't like he or Korra usually interrupted storytime. So not reacting to it wasn't exactly unheard of.]

[Aang isn't so much visiting the children's as he is holding court there. Seated in an excited semi-circle in front of him are at least a dozen and a half children involved in various stages of treatment. Those that can sit on the floor are, and those that can't are in beds or chairs as space allows, and judging by how much the rest of the furniture of the room appears to have been shifted...Aang made damn sure that everyone who wanted to be could fit.

Most of the children are listening in rapt attention, but one or two of them crane their necks to see around Aang when they notice the door open.

The room rumbles again.

"...and that's when The Boulder said, The Boulder is no longer conflicted."

Without turning around, or even stopping the story, Aang gestures for his fellow Avatar to join them.

Edited 2014-09-03 02:33 (UTC)

[Zuko just follows along, taking up the rear behind Wan and Katara. When they get to the room, he sees Wan's gesture and remains quiet. Looking on at the assembly of sick children and then Aang as he tells his story. He remains near the door, keeping out of the way of the eventual reunion that's obviously about to happen.]

[Katara also hangs back at Wan's gesture, standing off to the side as she watches the young avatar tell his story. Relief floods her body once more, and she softens visibly as her eyes sweep the room and land once more on the boy.

He's okay, and happy, and it's more than she could have hoped for.

The contrast between the situation here and her too-close memories of the one back home--though she's not, in fact, fully aware of Aang's full situation with his fight against the fire lord-- is startling, and paired with the atmosphere around them--so many sick, but enthralled children...it makes her heart hurt-- it's all she can do at the moment to hang back and wait for him to finish.]

[Zuko and Katara might have held back, but Wan trotted up to join in the storytelling. The only script he knew was the one Aang used, so he had no idea how accurate the story was. But he could help out with the telling of it - or at least what Aang told him to help with.

Wan flopped down to his knees next to Aang and looked over at him for a cue. The reunion could wait until the story was over.]

[Well since Aang had already set himself up to be The Boulder, this leaves the role of playing Toph to Wan. Which worked out quite nicely in that Aang then got to play himself...and Wan had the honor of calling him Fancy Dancer. The story continues with precious little awkwardness, even as Aang is feeding Wan the lines.

The story itself is accurate for the most part, though hardly verbatim, and with a bit more action between Aang and Toph. It just wouldn't be polite to Toph's pride for him to sensationalize how quickly he threw her from the ring.

In the end there are happy cheers, much in the way of applause, and a hearty yet dramatic bow from Aang. It's only as the children begin to quiet that one small voice asks Wan, Who are your friends? prompting Aang to turn around to see...]

....katara...

[His eyes are wide, and his voice almost a whisper.
Though quiet the name is unmistakable and the room instantly hushes before it fills with the whispers of the children as they see for the first time the girl that Aang is always talking about.]

Edited 2014-09-04 13:09 (UTC)

[She watches the scene impatiently, but she's happy enough just to see him doing so well. He's happy, and he's making the children happy... It seems he's found his niche in this strange world. When he turns around, she can't help but smile and steps out of her place by the door.]

Hey, Aang.

[She holds back from rushing forward to hug her friend, though it's hard. Something about the now sudden quiet setting of the room keeps her in place.]

I, uh... hope we didn't interrupt...

Edited 2014-09-04 18:07 (UTC)

[Aang looks to Wan. It's almost as if he doesn't believe his eyes. Or his ears. And he wants the other Avatar to confirm that she's actually here. But before Wan can say a thing Aang turns back to Katara, deciding in that moment that he doesn't care if she's real or not. That he's going to allow himself to revel in the idea, no matter how foolish.

That the one thing in the universe that was the hardest to let go of, is here now. In this very room.

His eyes go misty around the edges even as a wide smile begins to break across his face.]

Katara.

[He says her name again before rushing towards her to gather her up in a hug.]

[She opens her arms to him and pulls him close as soon as he's near. Wrapped around him, she buries her face in his shoulder and hugs him tightly, her entire body relaxing; he's okay, and he's not fighting the fire lord, and that on its own is more than enough to make her teary.]

i can't believe you're here.

[He manages to croak out mid-hug.
After an appropriate Aang amount of affection time, he pulls away slowly, turning towards the assembled children and makes the proper introduction. Either he is blissfully aware of the fact that his face is red and splotchy from his tears of joy, or he just doesn't care in the slightest.]

This is Katara. Katara this is...well, this is the Children's Ward.

"It's nice to meet you, Katara"

[Says one of the smaller girls, right before the boy next to her attempts to conceal a peal of giggles behind his hand.]

[She offers half an awkward laugh before she can stop herself. She can't believe she's here either. When he draws back, she doesn't speak, but is sure to look him over: he's there, he's whole, and he's happy, and that's what matters in this moment. They can talk in detail when they don't have an audience of curious children.

She lets herself be introduced, lifting a hand and offering a smile, before turning her attention to the little girl that speaks up.]

It's nice to meet you, too. What's your name?

[The little boy next to the girl then breaks out in giggles, along with a few others surrounding him, pulling a friendly but curious smile from Katara.]

Did you enjoy the story? It was pretty funny...

[And that's where all heck breaks loose. Not only did the children love the story, but they've now taken Katara's interest in their feelings as an invitation to relay to her their favorite parts.

All at once.]

"I liked it when they threw the rocks..."

"...and then you hit Socksa for booing at Aang..."

"I'm the Blind Bandit! RAWR!"

[All the while the girl is just trying to get Katara's attention again to give her her name, until finally in frustration she takes matters into her own hands. She slowly stands, walks over towards Katara and pulls on her sleeve.]

"Mia. I'm Mia."

[As Aang and Katara started get talking, Wan decided it would be best if the children didn't distract them too much. Aang and Katara and even Zuko and Katara and Aang as a group, needed some time to catch up.]

So who wants to hear a new story today? Aang's told you the Blind Bandit so many times you all already know the words.

[Wan stood and went to the sink on the far side of the room. He turned the water on to gather at least a gallon before turning it off. Then he started bending it, catching the attention of the children as he walked back to where Aang had been telling his stories from.

The water took the rough shape of a lion turtle with a city on it's back before Wan froze it and started making it walk around.]

How about I tell you the story of the Boy Who Stole Fire?

[While all of this goes on, Zuko stays off to the side with his arms folded. Just watching. He wasn't really sure still how Aang felt about him so he kept his distance.]

[After a few short, but highly animated, moments every child in the room is utterly fixated on Wan's antics. Even Mia, who eventually finds her way back to her spot on the floor.

Aang turns back towards Katara and just smiles.
Then from the corner of his eye he catches sight of Zuko and reflexively starts.
For a second there it looks as if he's going to put himself between Zuko and Katara in an attempt to shield her, but...thinks better of it, and instead just nods a silent greeting in the Fire Prince's direction.]

Edited 2014-09-11 04:27 (UTC)

[Though she does give Mia her attention--after blinking openly at the young crowd of actors as they leap into their performance-- she's more than grateful when Wan pulls their attention away. After guiding Mia to an open spot on the floor, she steps back toward the door, watching Wan's antics along with the children before turning to Aang and Zuko again.

When Aang jumps, she tilts her head in confusion, looking between them openly. That was...weird...]

So...

[A deep breath. She's not even sure where to start, but her relief in finding them is obvious. Aang's hesitation toward Zuko is strange though...]

Everyone is okay?

[The question might be a little bit more loaded than it sounds at first.]

Edited 2014-09-11 18:39 (UTC)

Huh? What? Of course! Why wouldn't we be? Everything is fine! Right as rain!

[Aang is many things, but a good liar has never been one of them]

[Video]

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Meanwhile, in the background...