driftfleet | .01 [ action | video ] have we lost our way back home

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.01 [ action | video ] have we lost our way back home

Who: Katara and you!
Broadcast: Video, from the Marsiva
Action: Action on the Marsiva and then then post!Shuffle on the Vanquish
When: Friday, 3/23

[Katara wasn’t always a heavy sleeper, but she never did enjoy waking up. It was a slow process, even here, as if her subconscious had already registered the wrongness of where she was and was well on its way to the land of Denial.

Eventually, though - her eyes opened. And she stayed very, very still as fear replaced sleep in an adrenaline spike sharp enough to make her stomach heavy. Okay. Okay. She still had her bending, in fact, that was at full force for the first time since the last draft, she can feel water in a distant room. But these lights… those walls… that… well, actually, she kind of likes the music, but she can’t -- this is definitely not…

And then she feels it - or she doesn’t feel it - and she forgets her caution and bolts upright, straining her head to take a closer look at her back.]

[She doesn’t expect a response, but she does get up out of the bed and glance around. Her balance is off when she moves, so she takes careful, deliberate steps, as she takes stock of what she has and doesn’t have and exactly where everything is in the room and pauses as the fact that there is music seeps in. What... what is going on here?

But that’s nothing when she spots the viewing bay. She pauses, transfixed for a moment, and then walks very carefully over to the window. She places one hand against it and whispers:] ...there are stars.

[As she spends more time on the Marsiva, she’ll explore the food and take advantage of the exercise equipment, doing what she can to try to get her balance to where it should be without the added (useless; she tells herself she’s glad they’re gone) appendages.]

[ Video Broadcast while on the Marsiva ]
[Serious blue eyes peer out in stark contrast to dark skin as a girl of about eighteen addresses the fleet.]

Hello, my name is Katara. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe, but I've spent the past four years [Had it really been that long? Her expression flickers for a moment.] in a place called Luceti. I understand a... lot of basic information about this place from the augment, but I'm sure there's more to this place than just what is implanted in our heads by our captors.

[Frowning, angry at that, needing to take a visible breath before she can continue.] I'd appreciate any additional information you feel it's safe to give out over these things. And... [Her gaze drops for a moment before she regains her composure and looks back at the camera.] ...if anyone knows the name Luceti, or has heard of the Southern Water Tribe, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know about that too.

[She manages a brief smile.] Thank you so much.

[Action on the Vanquish]
[Katara had been working on her balance on a make-shift balance-beam in the gym section of the Marsiva when she was suddenly teleported -- fortunately close enough to grab a wall. She bats at the confetti with a frown with her other hand as she straightens -- so this is the ‘shuffle’, huh?

The happy little jingle just makes her frown deepen. Jerks, playing with people like this… She gives a deeply exasperated sigh.

Hopefully no one is there to catch frustrated!Katara as their first impression; she will try to make a better second one by exploring the ship, sticking close to the walls, and looking to see who her new shipmates are with a pleasant smile on her face in a few minutes. Feel free to catch her walking around with a smile in a moment or two, but right now, she is having a few mental words with the Atroma and they are Not Nice.]

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[Wait, she'd been here before?

Okay, so... so...] Okay, so - let's just make sure. What's the last thing you remember from home? [Well... there had been so many versions of them that they'd been turned into in Luceti; he'd been the Avatar, then there'd been the one where she hadn't run...

They'd still been siblings, even then, but -- oh, she hoped he was from the same world as her, she hoped he was her Sokka.] Was the war still over?

[Well, that's a worrying question to ask. Of course, of course he knows people can come further back, but it's not comforting to hear all the same. ]

I...yeah. It's been over for three years. The last thing I remember was being back at the South Pole-after all the mess with Gilak.

[If she hasn't got there yet, he's not sure how much he wants to tell her. What happened back home had hurt her so much- he doesn't want to put her through that all over again. ]

[...yeah, she has no idea what he's talking about. Which is fine, that means he's in the future and the war happened, just from further in the future, and it's not like she expected everything to be perfect when the war ended, but she'd hoped...

Wait. First make sure that everything else is the same. At least as best she can, without uncovering other people...] But everything else still happened for you too? Finding Aang in the iceberg, going up north to learn waterbending, [Yue,] meeting Toph at the Earth Rumble?

[Just... basic background stuff that every other version of Sokka she'd ever met hadn't had happen. It wouldn't matter, she tells herself, if it wasn't. In every version she'd ever met, he'd still been her brother. (She lies. It matters. Because if the war doesn't line up, then growing up at home doesn't line up, and it doesn't matter in terms of what makes the family, but it hurts, it hurts so badly, every time.)]

Yep, yep and yep.

[He would appreciate it if he knew of the Yue omission. It's still a delicate subject for him, six years on. He avoids the subject whenever he can.

Still, at least everything seems to be in order.]

They were all here, at some point. Our whole gang, I mean. Also Iroh, who was awesome and Azula who absolutely wasn't. There was also this girl [he nearly says 'the Avatar' but decides against it- because the very existence of Korra means the end of Aang's. Best not bring it up if he can help it ] who was way into the future. Like decades.

[Okay, so... good.

Oh, good.

Katara shuts her eyes and even on the communicator screen, Sokka will probably be able to see how she slumps in relief.]

[Opening her eyes, she gives him a quick, 'Everything is okay' smile before making a face.] Ugh, Azula. At least she never stayed in Luceti for very long. But... that happened to us too, people from the future coming to Luceti.

[All KINDS of people. Hey, did you know she has a son and grandkids?] It sounds like we've got a lot to catch up on face-to-face.

[She does NOT want to talk about the people from the future on the open network... or hardly at all... except her grandkids were awesome.

And... yeah, Korra's existence still meant... painful, horrible things. So, she'd definitely rather not talk about that on the network.]

Edited 2018-03-28 00:27 (UTC)

[Boy is he so glad to see that smile. ]

We sure do. I got a whole list of things to help you catch up. Maybe even a presentation!

[Because this is Sokka, and he's consistently prepared. ]

[Of course he does.

...in fact, she'll even say that:] Of course you do.

[But her tone is warm and she is really, genuinely looking forward to finding out what the heck is going on with this new craziness. And catching up with him, he looks so old and... just... three and a half years here, amazing. Horrifying.

...and she can't help saying.] ...I'm really glad you're here, Sokka. Even though I know I shouldn't be. I'm just... really glad.

Hey, it helps people learn. Learning is important.

[He will forever be a giant nerd, Katara. Forever. ]

I feel the same way. I've really missed having you around. It sucks, being trapped here, but I'm glad all the same.

[She knows this about him and she accepts it.]

Yeah, I... completely get that, trust me.

[And her hand comes up to curl lightly over her heart. He'd only been gone a month in Luceti, but... still, seeing him again was... IT JUST FILLED HER WITH SO MUCH HOPE.

She gives him a small smile.] So I know you won't want to spoil your presentation, but what else can you tell me about this place?

[She wants to know ALL OF THE PERSONAL THINGS that's happened to him, but... open channel. Not in person. She'll just have to wait.]

All kinds of things. Is there anything specific you want to know about? Or do you want me to pick a random subject and go for broke on it? Because I can so do that.

[Yes, best save the personal stuff for a personal moment. He doesn't need his things airing any more than they already are.]

Ummm... I got filled in by a few people, but... [what seems like the most pressing question:] How much longer do you think I'll be on this ship?

Oh, that one's easy. No one's on the Marsiva for more than a week, unless Calibrations are going on which they are absolutely not, thankfully. Usually Friday or Saturday, people get shuffled onto whatever ship they're assigned to. I think it's random, but if you ever wanna come live on the Best Ship, just let me know and we can do paperwork for it.

[Well, yeah, obviously she wants to be on your ship. But not if you call it the 'best ship', because then she has to be a little sister nuisance about it.

Which, don't worry, she is not going to forget this, but this is the first mention of something Genuinely Bad that someone has brought up, so...]

What are calibrations?

[Wow, it's just a statement of pure FACT, Katara. WOW.

His smile vanishes. ]

Well. Better you know about them before they happen to you. Twice now, we've had this thing that happens around the anniversary of this series of Drift Fleet running. They call them Calibrations. All of us get stuck on the Marsiva, with no way out. At night, we all walk though each other's dreams, and stuff inside the dreams triggers memories, for whoever's in your dream to see.

Basically it's a super fun invasion of privacy that no one can do anything about.

[She frowns a little, but at least that doesn't sound physically harmful, just... deeply invasive.]

We've had... projections of our thoughts happen before. [She gestures above her head.] Images and words, just... floating there. Is it at all like that?

[It's so very invasive and not fun at all. ]

No, it's like- you actually step inside that person's head, into a 'room' inside their dream. Mine was home- and people could find stuff and activate memories there, like if they found your necklace, they'd get a memory of you, and there was the iceberg for Aang- stuff like that.

That's weird. [And disturbing. And violating.

But still not the worst thing she's ever heard.

And wait--] How do you know what your room looked like? Are you aware of it the whole time?

Sometimes you remember it, sometimes you don't. I don't know which one is worse, knowing the memories people triggers and reliving them all over again- or having people trip into them anyway and learn stuff about you without you even being aware of it.

...Both are pretty crappy scenarios, honestly. Calibrations don't happen til October-time, so unless they change things up, you've got a while. If they even repeat them again at all. They missed out a year once already.

[...well, that didn't sound pleasant, and she could certainly see why it wouldn't be something to look forward to... but she couldn't bring herself to worry too much about it yet. She'd no doubt hate it when it happened, and she could understand why anyone else would too, but like he said... it was in October.]

[Dryly:] Well... it's always nice to have something to look forward to. [Then, more honestly:] That sounds horrible, Sokka. I guess it's just something we'll have to deal with when it comes up. Until then - what do I do when I get off this thing?

[She wants to talk to him. A lot. But she wants it to be in person. This isn't good enough for half her questions, or her need for reassurance that he was real.]

You can mark it on your calendar- count down the days. It'll be the best time for you.

[He sighs, oh, the joys of the Marsiva. ]

You can't- not until you get shuffled, you're stuck there. It happens every weekend, though, so the good news is you don't have to wait forever, and I can come see you as soon as you end up on whatever ship they assign you to..

[Muttering:] No, that's usually February...

[...but, right, Sokka wouldn't get that. She hopes. He hasn't mentioned anything about being forced to fall in love with anyone, so... maybe... this place will have at least that going for it?]

Alright, should I just -- use this to call you? Is there a way to filter it?

[Well, now he's sure concerned.]

February? What happens in February?

[He knows that Earth lovey dovey holiday is then, but aside from the hideous Suki statue he's done nothing to commemorate it. ]

Sure, I have my own private channel, if you need me [and lo, a link flashes up] then you only talk to me.

Nothing! [Way too fast.] Nothing happens in February. [Present tense - her honesty savior. Not that she would mind lying about this right now either, in fact she can only follow up with a small:] I hope.

Anyway, yes. I will - definitely do that. Call you when I get on a ship, I mean. [Y u p.

Look. There are just some things. You do not want to have to explain. To your older brother.]

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