VIDEO 001 -- Incredulity

[theideaguy]

[The video turns on, and Sokka looks at it with a moment's hesitation before actually speaking. He picked this up at the Visitor Center quickly, but that things like this could even exist still just were unthinkable. There's a bit of amusement playing at the corners of his lips and he stares on without speaking, followed by an eventual shake of the head. Disbelief is plastered all across his face.]

Okay, so let's set the record straight. I've been magically transported to some other world? That's... actually weirdly possible, even if that whole time-stopping thing doesn't sound right. I'll give them that one. Turtles that are the size of an entire city... I think I can wrap my head around. This emperor guy and that—

[There's a moment's hesitation, as if he were just about to actually voice Malicant's name aloud, but he thinks twice at the last minute.]

—other guy; I suppose that's fine too. Big metal city? I'm not sure the style fits me, but I know people who can bend metal, so okay. Weird spirit soul lantern things? [He pauses now, holding a finger to his chin.] I don't claim to be an expert at that spiritual stuff, but that's more than a little creepy if you ask me. But fine, I'll let that one go.

[But Sokka starts chuckling a little ruefully. Sure, all of these strange things are possible, but the probability is... well, he hasn't calculated it, but it can't be large. All of this story just sounds ridiculous to him.]

But a magical communication device that instantly conveys my thoughts across the entire city? That's where I draw the line. How can that possibly work? How can my picture get sent everywhere all at once? C'mon, that just violates every notion of common sense ever! It's ridiculous!

I mean, I guess if this thing were actually real, I should say something like [as he puts on a false air of sophistication for the introduction], "Hey everyone, I'm Sokka. Good to meet you!" But that's not going to happen, and I'm going to feel silly talking to myself. Yeah, this is going to be a dream, and I'm going to wake up any second. [Pause.] Aaaaaany second now. [Beat.] Juuuust wait for it. Right now... now... please, karma?

Comments

Video

[12goingon113]

Sokka?!

[If the voice he's hearing now is actually the voice of Karma, then Sokka might be in a bit more trouble than he's ever imagined possible.

The video springs to life and Aang's face is...well it's way too close to the camera is what it is. Right off the bat he looks tired, and there's a day or so's growth of hair on his head. Someone's been having a rough go of things as of late.]

SOKKA!!!

Video

[theideaguy]

[There's as much surprise in Sokka's expression as there is gladness. Of course, he'd been told about the others here, but all of this had been a horrible dream, right? Sokka hadn't really paid it too much mind. But now, there's a sliver of disbelief firmly planted in Sokka's skepticism. After all, the console worked as advertised.

[Sokka recognizes the voice first...]

Aang?!

[And then Sokka pieces together the rest of the information from the video.]

You look... positively terrible...

Video

[12goingon113]

[His grin doesn't diminish in the slightest, nor does what he say next have even the slightest hint of sarcasm. He's too happy to see Sokka to care about what Sokka is actually saying about him.]

It's great to see you too!

Video

[theideaguy]

[If Sokka had any doubts about that being Aang, well, they're cleared up now. At this point, all those thoughts about this being a dream are shoved to the side... at least for now.

Still, Sokka is happy to see at least one familiar face after being through so much already. It's been a weird day, and it's happy to have a friend close at hand.]

Oh it's good to see you too, though I was hoping that the next time I saw you would mean that I'd find you you'd defeated the Fire Lord already.

[Because of course Aang would have the same set of memories as Sokka, right? Right?]

[12goingon113]

[Strike one blew right past him.
This strike two...not so much.
Aang's smile falls just a little bit as Sokka's words finally start to actually find purchase.]

No...not exactly it..it's complicated. Where are you?

[theideaguy]

[Sokka grimaces at that. I mean, for someone new to this weird turtle world and all of the weirdness that that entailed, well, Sokka's not going to know the true gravity of Aang's exact meaning, but it will still find purchase in a different way.]

I think "complicated" is an understatement. Like, could things possibly get any more complicated?

I just arrived at my new "home away from home." I think it's the Jin Gai building or something like that?

[12goingon113]

[Strike three.
Aang now just straight up winces.]

You really shouldn't say things like that out loud, Sokka. Because...you don't even know the half of it. Jin Gai? That's Metal Sector isn't it?

[His face screws up in thought as he tries to figure out which would be the fastest way to get from where he is in Wood to Metal.

Flying?
or
Rollerblades.

A master airbender on Rollerblades is a mighty fast thing indeed.]

I'll be right there.

[He disappears from the feed at top speed.]

Video;

[alphatar]

[Younger, no beard; but that's definitely Sokka. Korra waits a moment before turning on her feed; take in the former Chief of the Southern Water Tribe and the fact that this boy fought alongside her father.

Then she flicks on the feed.]

Close, but it's Korra. Not Karma. [She grins.] That's just one part of the city, wait until you see the other sectors.

Video

[theideaguy]

[There's a brief pause before Sokka replies. He doesn't know Korra, but she certainly seems familiar. He'd swear she was Water Tribe... provided she was from his world. But what were the odds?]

Don't tell me, the other parts of the city have streets lined with gold and houses made entirely out of food?

Re: Video

[alphatar]

Close. [Not even close.]

You're in the Metal Sector, like me, but the others are pretty easy to figure out. The Wood Sector has tons of trees, even the houses there are in trees. The Earth Sector has a lot of sculptures and most of the buildings are made out of stone and rock. The Water Sector is filled with canals, but it's the poorest sector and it's kind of hard to not notice when you walk around. The Fire Sector has fire fountains that don't actually burn and it's where the wealthy people live.

[She points at him.]

Well, the ones that aren't living in Metal anyway. But there's your crash course in Keeliai proper, from one Water Triber to another.

Video

[theideaguy]

[And when Sokka replies, he is beside himself with ecstasy. Seriously, he's excited]

I knew you were Water Tribe! [Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but the thought crossed his mind, at least! But he points at the screen... and by proxy Korra.] You look exactly like everyone from back home!

[Granted, he doesn't know anything else about Korra quite yet, but you know, small steps. Still having someone from his tribe—even if she were Northern instead of Southern—was still pretty amazing.]

So what you're saying is that the sectors pretty much are like back home, right? Water Tribe is made all out of ice and snow. Earth Kingdom blah blah blah. And the Fire Nation is... well, yeah, you get the picture. Except instead of spread all over the world, it's all mishmashed into one city. Turtle. City-turtle.

Video

[alphatar]

Guilty as charged. But it's not exactly the same. There's no ice and snow in Water until winter comes around. Unless you count waterbenders or a spirit of winter.

[But she's glad he paid attention to the kedan's explanation.]

The turtle-turtle is called Tu-Vishan, he talks to us in dreams sometimes. The smaller ones are his nieces and nephews, I'm taking care of one. So it's not quite home, but there's a lot of similar stuff around.

[Pause for dramatic effect.]

Like sea prunes.

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[theideaguy]

Well, it could be worse. At least it's not like the Foggy Swamp Tribe. [Sokka sticks his tongue out at that.]

I think they mentioned the baby turtles at some point during the introduction, but I think I might have zoned out a bit around the time that they were talking about all the just turtles. I mean... weird! Or the fact that this "just turtle" Tu-Vishan is the size of an entire city.

[However, Sokka's eyes almost water up when he finally addresses the last bit. He really could be in heaven.]

I haven't found anyone that could make authentic sea prunes in forever! [Okay, Hama did say ocean kumquats were pretty close, but even that was at least a few weeks ago, if not more so.] Where do you find those here?

Video

[raavashing]

Sokka? Aang's talked about you!

[Sokka is greeted by a weary smile on the face of an obvious hobo.... hobo.]

Have you heard from him yet?

Video

[theideaguy]

[Well, it was only natural that he'd meet people. But this guy certainly... didn't look like much just from the picture. But he knows Aang, so...?]

Well of course Aang would talk about me. [Pause.] Good things, I hope? And yeah, I've already spoken with him. He's on his way over right now. He seemed to have left in quite the hurry.

Video

[raavashing]

Well, he brought you up in a couple of stories he's told to the children in the hospital. I think most of it's been good. Lots of boomerang stuff.

[Wan's smile brightened.]

I'm glad he's on his way! He'll be able to show you around and make getting used to this place easier.

[A pause.]

I'm Wan.

Video

[theideaguy]

[Sokka is going to laugh at that. And he is CLEARLY proud of that. Here, take a look at his boomerang. He won't let that out of his sight.]

That's right, Wan, I'm the boomerang guy. Dad gave this to me before he went off to war, so I've always treasured it.

Yeah, I'm glad there's at least one friendly face here. I still feel a little weird from waking up here... and from getting all this crazy world dumped on me... and not entirely getting all of it. So yeah, that'll make things a bit easier.

Video

[raavashing]

You should visit the welcome center. Jack Frost, the Spirit of Winter, runs it. He'll be able to help you learn what you need to. Just be respectful. He's a very powerful spirit.

Video

[theideaguy]

Right, that place was pointed out to me while they were taking me to my "home."

Though Spirit of Winter? I can't say I'm the expert on all that spiritual stuff, but the encounters I've had with them... haven't been the most pleasant. That's more Aang's department, really. Ever been kidnapped by a giant panda spirit before?

Video (sorry for the delay)

[whitelotustile]

I really should check this more often. So busy...

Good morning, Sokka.

Video (you are so fired........ also hello!)

[theideaguy]

Iroh?! [That elicits a little bit of a surprise; Sokka clearly hadn't heard about his presence here quite yet, but then again, he hasn't actually talked to Zuko yet for obvious reasons.]

I wasn't expecting such the homecoming given, you know, how we're literally in some other crazy, creepy world far away from home.

Re: Video (you are so fired........ also hello!)

[whitelotustile]

We might be in some crazy, creepy world far away from home, but that's no excuse not to be hospitable. We are all in the same world, no matter how crazy or creepy it is.

Video

[theideaguy]

[Well, that's not entirely what he meant, but Iroh's wisdom has the ring of truth to it.]

Alright, you have me there. I wasn't expecting you to be here, but it's good to see you too. And, if things are right, I think it's good to have you here with us... outside of the fact that you have to deal with this creepy, crazy world, of course.

Re: Video

[whitelotustile]

Well, it's making my retirement a bit more interesting than I'd planned it to be, but it is good to be here for my nephew.

Video

[theideaguy]

Well I'm glad someone's life has been more or less normal. I honestly don't remember when my life was ever dull ever since I met your nephew.