003 [Quad]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Katara has run straight from the beach back to Garden after this little incident-- and it's obvious that she's upset by the way she's crying.

She doesn't want to head back to her dorm just yet, though. A wave of homesickness has overcome her as a result of the woman's accusations, and she finds herself seeking something that reminds her a little of home, of her world at least. So her feet carry her off towards the Quad, the particular area empty for once as people were enjoying the change of scenery outside the floating school.

Situating herself beneath one of the large trees, Katara hugs her legs to her chest before burying her face into her knees, body curled up into a protective ball.]

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[bendthis.livejournal.com]

[Sokka had been sleeping. The beach was great and all but nothing beat a solid block of nap time and it was well-needed after the month of nightmares and then the nightmare of exams. Sokka stretches his arms over his head as he walks through the deserted Garden, back popping and yawning at the same time.

Maybe he'll go down into the city and find some of the other students, see what everyone is up to. Hey, maybe he could find a new bag for next semester since his old bag got left behind--

His feet stop as he spies a familiar figure near the base of a tree in the Quad. Sokka was just going to skirt around the outside to the stairs but that's definitely Katara sitting there. He starts to raise his hand... and stops. Something's wrong.

Sokka's first two steps toward his sister are a walk but then he's running across the flagstone of the Quad.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Her shoulders are shaking slightly, head still bowed down when she hears the quick footsteps approaching. In a teary sort of daze, Katara lifts her head up to see who had approached her-- and a wave of relief washes over her at the sight of her older brother.]

Sokka...

[Her voice is thick and slightly choked as she speaks his name. Her fingers automatically lift to touch the pendant on her neck, a gesture that always comforted her in times like these-- but when her fingertips brush bare skin, Katara remembers that she no longer had her mother's necklace in possession.

That does little to help her mood. In fact, her lower lip quivers just a touch before fresh tears begin to roll down her cheeks.]

[bendthis.livejournal.com]

[She's crying?? Sokka drops down to his knees at Katara's side and wraps her in a hug without saying anything. He doesn't know what's happened but he doesn't care--if somethings wrong, he'll fix it. If someone made her cry then he'll fix their faces so that they have a couple new and interesting ways to breathe.

He can feel her back shaking now, and one hand automatically runs down over her head, a calming stroke that their mother had done to both of them millions of times.] I'm here. [Sokka doesn't pull back to say it, just speaks into the spill of her hair.] It's okay.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Her arms wrap around his middle, holding on tightly as she buries her face into his shoulder. Several moments pass as Katara lets him attempt to calm her down, and it manages to soothe her to the point where her body isn't shaking anymore. Once she finds her voice, she begins to speak in a strained sort of rush.]

I was at the beach-- I went in the water to practice my bending, and one of the natives saw me. S-she called me a witch and a sorceress-- demanded that I leave the town. [A sniffle pierces her explanation.]

They hate us, Sokka.

[bendthis.livejournal.com]

[Oh. Was that it? Why Katara was crying?

... He'd called her bending magic mumbo-jumbo all the time and she'd only gotten mad and him and more determined to get him wet whenever she could. Sokka doesn't mention all that, though. Just rubs her back absently while holding onto her still with the other arm. His head's against the back of Katara's neck, resting as much as hers is on his shoulder.]

They don't know any better, Katara. And like we'd be here if we had a choice--it was their stupid sorceress who pulled us here in the first place. You're normal. Heck.

[He sits up a bit, enough that he can raise his hands to her face, thumbs rubbing away her tears.] You're better than normal, right? Katara, you're a sifu. And--and you're the only Southern Waterbender left. Who cares what the people here think? That's special.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[His words do earn her a small smile, though it's hidden for the most part as she shifts her head to press her cheek against his shoulder.]

I know I'm a sifu-- I know I shouldn't let what they say get to me. But it's just hard, being in this place where people don't understand bending; it's like a curse to them. And even the native cadets are so rude to us! It's like we won't ever be accepted in this world.

[She lets out a heavy sigh.]

But what if we're stuck here forever?

[bendthis.livejournal.com]

[That earns her a bit of rough handling--Sokka grabs her shoulders and sits her back up, shaking his head.] No way! There's no way. If I have to... fly us back like Appa, then I'll figure out a way to grow fur and yipyip us out of here. We're not going to be stuck here forever.

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

[Aang had finally finished the bracelet he was working on for Katara after days of practice and decided to head off to the beach party to celebrate. On his way there, though, he spots a familiar form under a tree. Once he realizes it's Katara, he approaches her, unsure of why she's there.]

Katara...? [As he gets closer, he sees that she's crying.] Are you okay?

[watertides.livejournal.com]

Aang!

[She hastily attempts to wipe away her tears, a bit embarrassed to be caught in such a state by him. Looking up, Katara gives him a watery half-hearted smile.]

Yeah, I'm okay.

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

Are you sure? You're crying. [He feels a bit awkward standing there, so he sits down next to her.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[She considers shrugging it off-- but he's Aang, and she doesn't feel right lying to him. Her shoulders slump slightly, and her gaze lowers to her feet.]

I was at the beach with Toph earlier, and decided to waterbend in the ocean. One of the natives saw me-- and she called me a witch and demanded that I leave the town or else.

[She sighs, her chin resting on her knees.]

I don't think the natives really want us here.

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

What? That's just...weird. [Somehow, he hasn't bent in public yet, and so is shocked to hear this.]

That's really terrible.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[She nods in agreement.]

Yeah, it is. It's like they think that bending is a curse or something. She was really angry when she saw me do it-- and I wasn't even doing anything dangerous! Just riding on some waves.

[monkingaround.livejournal.com]

Well, it's their loss if they can't see how amazing bending is. And you're Sifu Katara, master waterbender! You don't have to listen to them.

[rebellingheart]

[Because meeting strangers while you're crying totally isn't the least bit awkward.

Rinoa was on her way into town, after all it has been twenty years since she's seen much of her world so she's super curious if there are any real changes. So far she hasn't been able to find anything so hopefully this trip sheds some light on the matter.

This is soon forgotten for the moment when she spies a girl sitting under a tree. The way she was sitting was a pretty clear sign that something was wrong. Frowning a little bit, she walks over to investigate, forcing a small smile since she was, after all, a stranger.]

Are you okay? Did something happen?

[Considering her role in the events that lead up to time compression she feels at least a little responsible for the whole mess, so the least she can do is try to help the new cadets who have become stuck here.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Her head was still pressed to her knees when she heard a voice address her. Looking up through a blurry haze, Katara takes a moment to hastily wipe away her tears-- yeah, she was definitely feeling a little awkward being caught crying by a stranger.]

O-oh... I'm fine, thanks.

[rebellingheart]

Fine doesn't sit under a tree and cry I don't think. Did something happen?

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[She got her there. There's a pause where Katara takes a moment to steady herself.]

I was just out at the beach, practicing my waterbending when a native saw me. She called me a sorceress and got really angry, demanding that I leave. It was really... disconcerting.

[rebellingheart]

[... Had no one taken the time to explain something so simple to the new cadets? Rinoa mentally faceplams at the fact that apparently no they hadn't warned them well enough.]

You're lucky that's all that happened. People here are taught to fear sorceresses pretty much their entire lives. While they haven't all been bad so many of them have done nothing but brought pain to everyone. [There's a tinge of bitterness in her voice but it smooths out after a moment.] For your safety and the safety of everyone who was brought here by time compression it's probably best if you didn't practice your water bending where normal people can see you.

[Ugh, now it sounds like she's talking like a teacher or Squall. That's kind of weird.]

I don't think we've really met before. My name's Rinoa.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Katara nods every now and then through Rinoa's explanation-- sure, she was aware of some ill feelings towards the Sorceresses, but she hadn't anticipated being called one; after all, she was just a bender.]

I'm Katara-- it's nice to meet you.

[And she mulls over a thought, before finally vocalizing it.]

But SeeD and cadets practice magic as well-- what makes it any different from bending? I would never use my bending to harm innocent people.

[fierybluebird]

I'm beginning to wonder if there's something about that tree.

... Are you okay Katara? [Bends down on one knee looking worried as all get out.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Maybe coming to such a public area to try and be alone wasn't the smartest of ideas. When Marco addresses her, Katara hastily wipes away her tears, though it's a lost cause as he's already spotting her crying.]

Y-yeah, I'm fine.

[fierybluebird]

Oh, I see. You always come off to cry alone under trees. That's much better.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[She gives him a slightly sheepish look, before casting her eyes down to the ground and hugging her knees. A silence passes between them before she finally begins to explain.]

I was down at the beach earlier, and I was so happy to be in the natural water again that I started bending it. A native saw me, though, and got really angry-- demanded that I leave the town and never come back.

She called me a Sorceress.

[fierybluebird]

[Sits down next to her in as comforting a gesture as he can manage by just being nearby.]

Aang showed me a little of the bending from your world. It's pretty amazing, eh? People can be pretty stupid though. At least here and in mine. They get jealous over powers they don't have, and they're afraid of them and lash out. It's pretty pathetic really. Even some of the people in the Garden aren't that accepting of the unknown. From what I understand, the Headmaster took a pretty big risk in giving us otherworlders a home here at all.

I can't tell you how to handle them. But I will say, they're stupid. So don't give anything they do any validity. Because they're certainly not worth that, eh. They could claim until they're blue in the face that your head is made of poo or your hands are seaweed; and it'll still be just as ridiculous.