sirenspull | [VIDEO; an hour after dark]

[ A messy line of text streams across a rampant new post on the network, apparently something of an accidental keysmash that reads, IM~H W#RHR AH [KTRARRR[#'APAA??/ Moments later, the Video kicks in and shows someone upside-down in reds and golds, the bottom of a disapproving grimace visible over the edge of the screen. He doesn't look pleased, probably wouldn't even without half his face melted into a permanent squint, but there's something else wrong.

His shirt is burned through and one hand is clutching a nasty mess in the centre of his chest, trembling badly as blue sparks shiver through him at odd moments. ]

— ey! Can anyone hear me? Who are these guys? [ Standing some way from the Greeter unfortunate enough to find himself serving a shift with one very pissed off prince, he hoarsely tries to be heard. ] Don't they understand? I have to finish the — ungh! The Agni Kai, I can't go and hide in a house somewhere! I —

[ Coughing in pain, he turns over the NV to inspect it, fortunately righting the screen by accident as he pauses to catch his breath. ]

K-Katara, are you okay? Did she get you — huh? Who's there ... ?

[ It's dark outside, that much is apparent from the off. Throughout his heated rant, Zuko's wandering has taken him outside the baseball diamond and straight into the path of something that welcomes him the good old-fashioned Darkness way; the NV clatters with a tinkling of brass as he throws himself into a ferocious attack, flames flaring to scare off the moving shadows across the street.

Scooping up his communication device, huffing and pounding footsteps can be heard for a few seconds before his back hits a wall and he hisses urgently, golden eyes wide with alarm and pain. Slumping down to crumple over his knees, he gasps and fights for calming breaths, tiny electrical shocks zipping over his skin and the dao swords strapped over a shoulder. ]

Can't — Can't keep moving. [ Teeth grit against the sting of being forced into combat so soon after sustaining a blast of redirected lightning back home. To the normal eye, though, it looks like something tried to chew through his gut. ] That's it. I've had enough of these games, I want answers. Now!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She's kind of like Appa.

[ Ew, gross ... sleeve-saliva. ]

I guess she is. She can't fly, but she's a good swimmer. Hey, you should come for a ride with me sometime when you're feeling better.

[Naga 'woof's in agreement and settles in by the couch, as out of the way as possible despite being larger than the couch itself. Korra is staring again but trying to more discreet about it than before.]

[ Tipping his head farther to the side than most people would, he compensates for his narrow field of vision when he reaches out to scratch behind one of Naga's ears. Hopefully he isn't moving too much for Unohana. ]

If she wouldn't mind, sure. I'm going to need to train back up after this, would you mind sparring with me? Since you and my uncle are the only other benders around and I'm used to deflecting fire.

Naga wouldn't mind at all. She's carried me and three of my friends around, so one extra passenger isn't a big deal.

[At his next request, Korra goes rigid, tensing up and looking anywhere but at Zuko.]

I'm sorry, but I can't. My bending... it's gone. I-- [She sighs and rubs gently at the center of her forehead.] I was attacked by a bloodbender. He did something to me and now I can't bend. Possibly never again.

[Not wanting to dwell on the experience, Korra shakes her head and forces a smile.]

I can still spar with you; I'm a good fighter. You'd just have to keep from roasting me.

I didn't know bloodbenders could do that, Katara never mentioned it.

[ He gives her an enthusiastic nod. ]

I'll still spar with you, sure.

Nobody knew. Bloodbending has been illegal for decades.

[Right, moving on. Korra grins and nods, too.]

Well, don't expect me to go easy on you just 'cause you were in your eighties the last time I saw you.

If you meet her again, she could probably heal you.

[ He snorts when Korra gets sassy, arching a brow as he tries to look as sceptical as possible without wriggling. ~~Sorry, Unohana.~~ ]

I wouldn't want you to go easy on me.

I don't know. The same bloodbender who attacked me has taken away a lot of other benders's abilities too. The best doctors in the nation couldn't undo it. I don't wanna get my hopes up.

[Get used to it, geezer. Sassy is Korra's default setting.]

Good. Prepare to be schooled, Water Tribe style.

Why hasn't somebody stopped that guy? If he's running around screwing up everyones bending, he should be taken down.

[ Spirits help Amon if he pops up here. ]

You can't take away that kind of ability, as far as I know. I have a friend who can chi-block really well, she'd probably say it was something like that.

We've been trying, but he keeps getting the drop on us. He has hundreds of supporters, and he uses chi blockers and new technology to attack us. He's been rattling our cage for months now and-- rrgh!

Can we please not talk about this anymore?

I think it's best we don't.

[ Calm yo' tits, girl. Just curious over here. ]

[Korra sighs deeply and shakes her head, looking crestfallen.]

Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. It's hard to explain everything that's been going on lately, and I haven't really been myself since my bending as taken.

I'm not even sure if I should be telling you about stuff that happens in the future. What if you remember it when you go back? It could... I dunno, change the way things play out.

It's got to be jarring, but losing your bending isn't the end of the world. You still know combat forms and you can still fight.

If I remember any of this when I get home, I can't give my word I won't use it to keep people safe from the guy you're talking about. Then again, you're being really vague about the whole situation, so I wouldn't know who to start looking for.

Just knowing how to fight isn't always enough, but you're right. Life goes on.

[The assertion isn't very convincing, since Korra tends to wear her emotions on her sleeves. She just wonders how any bender could consider the prospect of losing their ability and not be horrified by the though of it. Maybe it's not so frightening for someone whose identity doesn't hinge on their bending.]

I don't just mean this situation in particular. Even knowing general stuff about what happens in the future might change something.

I've fought firebenders plenty of times without my bending, and I've won. It's useful, but it shouldn't define you at your core. If it does, you're fighting wrong.

[ As stern as he sounds, he's just trying to help. ]

Let's just worry about right now, okay?

Edited 2012-07-11 20:59 (UTC)

[Aw Zuko. Now you're starting to sound like... well, you, but seventy years from now. Korra nods.]

Worrying about now is definitely in our best interest. Seems that there's kind of a lot to worry about in this place, anyway. You met the monsters firsthand, and, from some of what I've heard, there are people here who aren't much better.

Great. Who should I be watching out for?

There are people here who don't like the 'newcomers.' Just before I got here a handful of us were hunted down and brutalized by some of the natives. I'm still a little unclear on a lot of the details because I've only been here a few days, myself, but it seems like there's a lot of tension.

I don't plan on making a name for myself.

[ If anything, he'll stick close to Iroh like they did in Ba Sing Se. ]

I don't think it really matters. People who aren't from here are targets, regardless.

I don't think it's all bad, though. There seem to be a lot of good people here, too.

[Korra is handed a cup of tea, along with Zuko after Unohana has completed her work. Iroh had decided to brew some tea after he had seen Zuko get more involved in the conversation. They were of an age, so it would be easier to converse]

Enjoy.

Thank you.

[ Sitting up, he slouches over his knees to cradle the warm cup between both palms. As weary as he is, Zuko's not about to laze about and get the lion-turtle's share of rest.]

Uncle, did you know about Korra's bending?

[His nephew did not liked being fussed over too much, but he had gotten better at accepting others help]

Your welcome. Yes, she informed me when she first arrived.

[VIDEO; an hour after dark]

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