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

[watermarks]

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.]

Comments

Video

[alwayscomeback]

[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.

Video

[watermarks]

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?

Video

[alwayscomeback]

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.

Video

[watermarks]

[...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.]

Video

[alwayscomeback]

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..

Video

[watermarks]

[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?

Video

[alwayscomeback]

[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.

Video 1/2

[watermarks]

Video

[watermarks]

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.]

Video

[alwayscomeback]

...Yeah. I believe you.

I believe you so much right now. That is a completely and utterly believable thing you just told me.

[He's staring, Katara. He's staring into your SOUL. ]

I'm awed by how much I believe you.

Video

[watermarks]

[...okay, that's pretty good.

It is. She'll admit it. But you know what? You're all the way over there and she's all the way over here so the chances of being chased down and made to tell him what's going on through the power of Stare and Sibling Bonding are pretty slim. So she's going to try not to give up so easily.

Instead, she gives him a bright, entirely false smile.] Oh, good. I'm glad. That settles it.

Video

[alwayscomeback]

[She dares!! ]

You can't just double down! It doesn't work like that!!!

[But he literally can't make her talk- not even if they WERE in person. Instead, he lets out a huff. ]

Okay, but I'm putting a pin in this. We're gonna talk about it sometime.

Video

[watermarks]

[This is a Wide Eyed Look of Innocence, and it probably hasn't worked on him since she was four. Still, it never stops her from trying it at least once.

Although she knows that she could probably get away with this... it's Sokka. She's missed him. And she doesn't want to start out with a secret that isn't really a secret.]

Sometime. There's a lot more important things to catch up on first.

Video

[alwayscomeback]

[It doesn't work, not even a tiny bit, he remains unmoved. ]

There are, we've got a whole lot of stuff to fill each other in on.

Video

[watermarks]

Okay. [Relief at dropping the subject: Check.

But then also...] ...Sokka?

Video

[alwayscomeback]

Yeah, Sis?

Video

[watermarks]

...I'm glad you're here.

[As selfish as that is.]

Video

[alwayscomeback]

[Aww, Katara. His expression softens. ]

I'm glad you're here, too. I've missed you.

Video -> ...more video?

[watermarks]

[She gives him a quick smile.

I've missed you too.] I'll call you when I get off the ship.

[And it actually doesn't take very long, she's off in the next day. She doesn't quite call immediately, because -- confetti, tripping, grumbling, but she does call as soon as she's got the lay of the land and the name of the ship.]

Sokka? I'm on the Vanquish.

ALL THE VIDEO!!

[alwayscomeback]

Oh hey, that's Katie's ship. Whatever she says about me is a lie.

[It is absolutely not a lie at all. ]

Sit tight, I'll come to you before you know it.

so much video!

[watermarks]

I think that's just the way she talks. [Just... saying.]

Good, I'll be waiting for you.

[Which is a thing she hates doing, but it is her only choice.] --Hurry.

video>action

[alwayscomeback]

Okay, okay, I'm coming.

[PATIENCE, KATARA, WOW.

He does hurry. though- he's missed her so much, and he's been waiting desperately for her ot be shuffled so he can see her in person again, to pull her into a great big bear hug.

Which is exactly what he does as soon as he gets onto the Vanquish. ]

Hey sis.

Action

[watermarks]

[Sometimes it feels like Katara spends over half her life waiting, punctuated by short period of panic and fighting. She's good at it. She hates it.

And when he finally arrives, it's a good thing he plans on hugging her, because she launches herself at him too.

She can't believe she's getting to see him again, in this strange place. After he'd left Luceti...

Her voice sounds a little choked up when she speaks:] Hey, Sokka.

Action (oh my god that icon you're killing me)

[alwayscomeback]

[He gives her a firm but gentle squeeze. He knows he's missed her, of course he does, but now it's hitting home exactly how much he's missed her. It's been like a giant piece of his has been missing, and has now firmly slotted back into place. ]

It's good to have you back, you giant pain in the ass. [He means it with love, of course.]

Action (I knoooooow ;; >XD)

[watermarks]

Heh. [It's more a quiet exhale than a laugh, but at least she tries? She should muster up some indignation, but she... couldn't.

Her voice warbles a little:] I didn't know when I'd ever see you again.

[And so it was amazing that, even if she wasn't in Luceti, even if she wasn't home, she was here and he was here, and that had always been home enough. They'd been able to make do with anything, missing Mom, missing Dad - every horrible experiment - everybody (Suki, Aang, Toph, Zuko, Jinora, Ikki...) - going home while they stayed... until he'd finally gone too.

And she hadn't been here for him either, and...

Katara's not one for long hugs, usually, but she's not letting go just yet.]