malnosso | [Video, locked to residents currently in Luceti]

[Video, locked to residents currently in Luceti]

Residents of Region 6:

I hope by now you’ve noticed that there is a large-scale battle ongoing in Region 13, and that casualties have been extremely high. [She is extremely angry about how this battle has been mismanaged; while her demeanor is as stern as always, this shows in a certain tightness to her expression.] This is the same battle that many residents of your enclosure were drafted into yesterday morning. Further reinforcements are necessary.

I am on my way there now with my own battalion, but I have been asked to stop at your enclosure by someone who has no small amount of faith in you. [Her tone indicates that she’s of the opinion that faith has likely been misplaced.] Combat is constant and heavy in Region 13, though people who are able to man ships or fill in necessary non-combatant roles will also be useful. Anyone competent who wishes to volunteer will be accepted.

I will depart within the hour. You have until then to make your decision.

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[It's been a long time since Aang felt a tough decision weighing on his shoulders. For once he has a choice about whether or not to go out there. So many of his friends have been drafted and could be in danger. Zuko, Iroh and Wan... None of them have been on any drafts before.

But Ikki was here. And he couldn't just leave her. He had to make sure he was safe. Unless... going out there and helping to resolve the crisis could help her to stay safe. This was a chance to act as the Avatar.]

Things are really that bad out there? [He says with a mix of fear and meekness. It may be an obvious question, but he's trying to process this, and see if there's any other information.] M- Miss Commandant?

---

[Within the hour, he will pack some things and make preparations for the possibility of heading out, even if he hasn't finalized his decision yet.]

Edited 2014-05-24 06:04 (UTC)

Intelligence indicates that the draftees from your enclosure have taken up a defensive position in region 13's city and are completely surrounded by hostile forces.

I don't have time to repeat myself.

Sorry. I... I think I'm gonna go.

[He's afraid of leaving Ikki behind, though. He'll have to talk to the others.]

Is there any other information you could give us?

We will depart in fifty minutes from the village square.

That's all I have. The situation in the city is unknown.

Thank you.

[He pauses, still uncertain.]

I'm going to be there.

[Video ends.]

[[Sokka hadn't even settled in yet to Luceti or even had that much time to explore before all insanity had broken loose. Practically the morning after his arrival, his magic book had woken him up, and with that Zuko and Iroh were gone. He hadn't even gotten a chance to send him off. There was a much cooler aura in the house after that, and Sokka didn't quite understand what was going on.

At least until now. He had been studying as much as he could reasonably glean from the many posts found within in--not to mention asking questions--but all of the stuff talking about things outside of the village, well... that had almost flown over his head. After seeing this post, that had prompted no small amount of questions.]]

So, Aang, what really is going on out there?

[Aang was in the kitchen when Sokka found him, packing up a small satchel of supplies to carry with him. He had been hesitant to say much about the war with him. It was odd getting used to having Sokka around again, and he was particularly hesitant about mentioning things about the war. Because he remembers what the last Sokka went through, and the last thing he wants is for Sokka to repeat that.]

Sokka! [He turns with a surprise and then frets. There isn't really any avoiding it.] Well, it's... it's a war. That's what's going on out there.

[Sokka is, if nothing else, persistent. He has learned a lot over his journeys with Aang over the last several years, and one thing he has come to realize is how much he doesn't know, and what you don't know can get you in trouble. Despite being here before, he knows precious little about what's in Luceti's walls... and even less of what's outside. Like it or not, Sokka always has felt like the group's protector despite not being a bender, and he is going to find out, one way or another.]

Ah, so, that's it. That's the missing piece of the mystery. That's really why they've brought us here, isn't it? To fight their war for them. To win a battle that they can't win for themselves.

[He leans against a wall and crosses his arms.]

You look like you're getting ready to go.

I don't know if that's the whole story. They say it's something in the planet that brings us here, and they just put us in these enclosures... and that they're trying to send us all back home but through the weird experiments...

[But he's stalling answering Sokka's real point, and then he deflates.]

Yeah. I think I have to go.

[ Sokka scrunches his face up and places his hand on his chin to think when Aang tries to explain how they get brought here. Not that Aang has any reason to lie, but that just sounded ludicrous. Then again, that would be par for the course for this world. But it still didn't make sense that they wouldn't just send everyone home if they honestly wanted to do so. Well, other than the fact that maybe it did happen every now and again.

Sokka shakes his head and escapes from that circular logic to look at Aang. There was a definitive melancholy to him that wasn't like his normal Avatar-y self. It really was weird seeing him so depressed. ]

Okay, never minding how crazy all of that Malnosso stuff sounds... you don't look thrilled to be going, Aang. And I remember you getting in the days before we were gearing up to face the Fire Lord. You were nervous wreck! This isn't like you, Aang. What's going on?

Edited 2014-05-26 06:41 (UTC)

[Leave it to Sokka. Aang looks towards him with a frown.]

I never want to fight, Sokka. If I ever look thrilled for battle, that would be one of the worst signs there is.

But I'm the Avatar. I'm not going out there to fight. I'm going out there to protect people and try to end things peacefully. That's - that's what I decided.

[ Sokka forgets sometimes that not everyone is a warrior like he is. (He forgets a lot of things really.) While Sokka doesn't necessarily relish war, but he's not one to shy away from it. ]

You may be the Avatar, Aang, but you're not the Avatar of this place. Especially since there were more than one Avatar here once upon a time, or so I've heard. Don't fool yourself into thinking that it's only you out there. We're all in this together.

I can take care of things here while you're gone. Just come back okay.

[Aang remembers all too well that Sokka is a warrior. He's seen some of the ugliness that can come from that here in Luceti. Even though he knows Sokka could be very helpful on the battlefield, he's glad that Sokka's staying behind. That Sokka can spend some time without being subjected to the worst this world can throw.]

I understand what you mean, Sokka. I'm gonna work with everyone. [He's had to face it time and time again; he's not the Avatar of this world, truly. But he still wants to be. And things like the clash between Loki and Wan Shi Tong have left him fulfilling some sort of role like that, regardless.]

And... thank you, Sokka. I'm gonna be careful out there. You'll have to look after Ikki while I'm gone.

[ Part of Sokka almost wishes he was going out to help. The situation sounded pretty urgent, and he knew Zuko was out there, and he was part of Team Avatar after all! However, there was part of him that knew that he was going in completely unprepared, and while he usually was able to eke out of trouble by the skin of his teeth, he knew that there was a lot more knowledge necessary before he dared risk full involvement. What he can do in the meantime, however, is help Aang along. ]

That's what I want to hear! I've got faith in you. I'm sure you can whiiiiiiiiiish, hwaaaaaaaaa, and whooooooooosh like the best of them.

And don't you worry about Ikki! You just leave her to Uncle Sokka. I'll make sure she doesn't get into trouble... [ He quickly pulls out his Wang Fire beard and holds it in front of his face. ] or else that girl will get a lecture and a whipping when she gets home. Grounded for life! She'll learn never to misbehave again!

[Aang feels some odd, nostalgic confidence at that, but then he frets as he goes on about Ikki.]

Wait, don't whip her! You have to be nice to her, Sokka. And if you need any help with anything, just ask for someone named Fenimore. She's good at looking after kids. Okay?

[ Mr. Fire looks a little confused for half a second, raising his eyebrow upwards with dubiousness and suspicion. And then he goes off, acting the part as if it were second nature. ]

Don't you talk back to your elders, young man! I know what's best for that disobedient delinquent of yours, and you can bet your firebending bottom that I'll make sure she stays out of trouble or else my name isn't Wang Fire!

[ It's only then when Sokka, after a quick spin in place, takes off the beard and drops the act, now appearing much more serious and instantly somber than before, though still with a hint of a smirk on his face. ]

Seriously, I got this! Ikki and I are going to be best buds by the time you get back. And I'll make sure to take Appa and Momo on a walk every day, too; those guys need their exercise, after all.

[ Seriously, what's Aang worrying about? Sokka is great with kids! He took care of Aang pretty well, didn't he? ]

[Action]

savedtheworld - 2014-05-30 14:39 (UTC) - Expand

[ It's not like she's missed the fact there's a draft, or that she's missed the fact that there are people being called in, for a second draft. It's...not great, especially when she knows so many of the people on the draft.

They might be hurt, and they won't know until people come home.

She hears the packing upstairs without trouble; their rooms are connected, after all, and Ikki knows just how to jump from her floor to the second floor, through the hole with the fire pole. She uses that for balance, before stepping off from the air onto the floor, looking at Aang as he packs. ]

Are you going too, grandpa?

[He's wondering whether or not to bring a hat when she comes in, and his heart sinks as he hears her voice. He turns to look at her with emotion shining in his eyes.]

I... I'm sorry, Ikki. But I think I am.

As long as you and everyone else comes back okay, it's not something to be sorry about, right? They...need help to get home.

[ Right? She fiddles with the prayer beads around her wrist, as always, before stepping forward, slipping them off and holding them out. ]

So, you can take these with you, 'cause I know you're going to bring them back.

[He smiles fondly as that, trying not to cry, as he takes those prayer beads back into his hands.]

Thank you, Ikki. This is very nice of you. But... Are you sure you won't want to hold onto them while I'm gone?

[ Well, she...has a superstitious feeling that they will protect him. At least, she always feels safer when she wears them, so...

Ikki shakes her head. ]

Nope. And I can look after the bakery, too. Um, I mean, I know I can't bake stuff alone, but I'll make sure to go there and at least help out.

That's very nice of you, Ikki. Just try not to overwork your little head. Fenimore's still here and I bet she'll be helping out at the bakery, too! You should make sure that Sokka or Fenimore always know where you are. Okay?

Yep. I always let someone know where I am, and...especially now. I promise. But you have to take care, too, okay?

Good girl. [And he quietly wraps her in a hug.] I'll take care. Of me and the others. You remember the bedtime stories right? All the times I had to save your Uncle Zuko's fiery butt? This is just another one of those times.

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