tushanshu | VIDEO 001 -- Incredulity

[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?

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[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.

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.

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?

Edited 2014-09-28 04:13 (UTC)

Noooo.... can't say that I have. But uh... Jack's friendly. Looks pretty human, too, except for the white hair and constant chill and frost that follows him.

Well that sounds a lot less terrifying than "Spirit of Winter." So I guess that's good to know. Also, good to know he's got a very appropriate name.

So how do you know Aang?

I met him here.

[Wan gave a shrug.]

I've only been here a few months.

[Well, that's rather... descript.]

So, I imagine Aang's going to tell me everything he knows when he gets here, but... it already seemed like things weren't all that great when I got here, and all he mentioned was that I didn't have any clue about how bad it was.

Well, at least you'd know better than me then: Have there been any good things happen here?

The last landfall was good. My catdeer friend managed to find her way to me while we were there. The turtle babies are good. Don't be surprised if one seeks you out in the next couple weeks insisting you become their parent. They do that sometimes.

[Wan leaned back, relaxing only a little. He had Zuko watch to get back to eventually, but he had a few minutes to talk. Speaking of which...]

Just to check, do you know Zuko?

Hold up, Wan. Baaaaack up. We can be parents—we humans... can be parents to turtles? This is an actual thing that happens in this world?

[Sorry, Wan, but he just looses it there. He laughs aloud, and not in the way that's funny ha-ha but in the way where he's given up on this world making sense. You might say he's a little shell-shocked from that one.

[But he stops laughing after moving on. Because Wan knows Zuko too; so he must be here, too.]

Yeah, I know Zuko. He traveled around with Katara, Toph, Aang, Suki, and I.

Okay. Well... Try not to bring up Zuko around Aang. Zuko was poisoned a few weeks ago and the poison has been effecting him... very poorly. Because of it he recently...

[Wan frowned and looked away, glancing at Zuko who was off screen as he lowered his voice.]

He hurt-

[Katara. But maybe he shouldn't say that. Maybe he should let Aang tell Sokka that.]

-one of Aang's friends. He didn't mean to, he didn't want to, but the poison twisted up his mind. He's fighting it as best he can right now and I'm trying to help, but he and Aang aren't exactly on good terms because of this.

[Not that they were before...]

Just be careful when talking about Zuko with Aang, okay?

[Unbeknownst to Sokka, Wan chose his words very wisely. Even Sokka wouldn't have been the happiest camper if he knew the true news.

[However, when Sokka flips on the video feed again, he's a little more somber than usual. Yeah, the way Wan put it, there's a definite sympathy for Zuko; they're friends after all. Sure, they're not necessarily the longest friends, but Sokka still trusts him. And besides, the fact that Zuko was poisoned was rather disconcerting.

[A wan smile comes to Sokka's face before he sighs.]

I'm at least glad someone's looking after him. I don't know how much you know about Zuko, but... well, he was an angry jerk for a long time, and it was only recently that he finally decided to switch sides and help Aang and the rest of us.

[He pauses for a moment before continuing.]

I don't know what happened, but take care of him. He deserves it.

[I mean, after all, his family certainly wasn't looking out for him. They were crazy. Well, except for maybe his uncle Iroh.]

And I'll make sure not to mention it to Aang until he tells me.

[Hopefully Aang tells him before he sees Katara though...]

Aang told me. Zuko, too. So I know.

[Wan flashed a brief, but sad, smile.]

Just try to be understanding if Aang brings anything about it up. For both of them. Whatever Aang says to you about it... please remember that Zuko wouldn't have done it if he'd been in control of himself. This poison is bad. Really, really bad.

[Normally that would be a very simple ask. But when he eventually finds out it would be Katara, those words will be much harder to follow. Perhaps it's good he hears them now.]

I'll try to remember that. Zuko promised us that he didn't want to use his firebending out of anger any longer, and I know he wouldn't break that promise easily.

[And Sokka likes to think that he's become good at judging character over the last year. He was one of the first to trust Zuko again, so he can only place his trust in that.]

Thank you. I should probably get back to Zuko now. He doesn't get much sleep because the poison keeps giving him nightmares. Making sure he gets enough rest while we try to heal what we can has been pretty exhausting, but... well, it's all we can do.

[Wan gave another smile.]

It was nice meeting you, Sokka. I hope we'll have a chance to talk again when things are better.

Yeah, you do that. I imagine Aang will be here any moment now anyway, so... good timing? [There's a cheeky smile.] And yeah, I imagine I'll get a chance to see you around at some point.

VIDEO 001 -- Incredulity

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