⊕ 04: Basalt

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

[Toph is sitting on a short cliff of rock that she's created. She's about twenty feet off the ground, kicking her feet in the air and staring out across the Astral Plane. She looks thoroughly disgruntled.]

Stupid Zuko. Why did he have to show up here?

Comments

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

[Looks up at her from the bottom of the cliff. He can't really see her that well but he can tell she isn't happy.] Something is bothering you.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

[Peers down at him, then kicks her heels against the cliff, lowering it about seven feet.]

Hi, Shion. I'm just pissed. Someone from my world showed up here.

[lamb_of_gold]

What troubles you, little one?

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

Hmph. Don't call me that. [Kicks the cliff so that it lowers a few feet.]

Have you seen a guy named Zuko? Really angry, yells a lot?

[lamb_of_gold]

It's a habit of my tongue, forgive me.

Yes, I spoke with him the other day.

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

[Watches the display, a bit impressed] Someone you do not like I take it.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

He's from my world. He's the son of the Fire Lord. He's kind of been our enemy for a long time now.

[Flicks a pebble off the cliff. It goes farther than it would normally.] And now he can come here.

[lamb_of_gold]

Mmm. I can see how that would be frustrating.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

He's the son of the Fire Lord. And he almost killed Aang a few weeks ago. He's the enemy.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

That's an understatement.

But it's...complicated. See...a few weeks ago, Zuko and his sister Azula almost killed Aang. And we let them think they'd succeeded, so Aang is sort of like a secret weapon now. No one knows he's alive. So if Zuko finds out...well, it'll be bad.

[lamb_of_gold]

Hmm. Perhaps avoidance would be best, then.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

What's up? 'Sides you, of course.

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

[Tries to figure out what it would be like if a Specter suddenly showed up here] Has he been causing trouble for you here?

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that, yeah. I guess I'm just worried.

...Not that I couldn't take care of it if he did find out!

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

[Kicks against the cliff, lowering it so that she can actually talk to him.]

Some jerk from my world can come to the Plane now.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

I hate it when that happens. What'd he do?

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

Well...not really. But see...that time they almost killed Aang? Well, we let them think they'd been successful. The world thinks Aang is dead, and it needs to stay that way if we're going to win this war.

[lamb_of_gold]

I wouldn't fret. You seem more than capable of keeping your secrets to yourself.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

Exactly--I'll be fine.

[Smiles.] Thanks, Mu.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

Nothing yet...

But he's Fire Nation. It's only a matter of time. And he helped almost kill my friend a few weeks ago.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Smiles as well] If ever you need help, don't be afraid to ask.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

... Yikes. Well, has he tried to attack you yet? I don't mind lending you a hand if he does.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

Ah...yeah. I'll remember that.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

No. Not really... I guess I sort of attacked him first.

But...I dunno. It's complicated.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

Complicated, huh.

[He plops down on the ground next to Toph's stone seat. Oh snap, someone hit the shounen button.]

Stuff like this is always complicated. I don't believe in a black and white, at least when it comes to people. We weren't made to be that way, y'know? If we were, this'd be heaven or this'd be hell, not both and neither. So I'm making my own path. When it's complicated, that's what you do, because the wind inside of you knows best.

You said your friend was an Air-guy, right? You're in good hands, then.

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

So you do not wish your enemy to figure out he's still alive. It's a wise move to let the enemy think they have succeeded, and I can see your concern. You will have to be careful of what you say around him.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

[Listens in silence, staring into space. Don't be insulted though, Ikki--that actually means she's listening.]

[When he's finished she smiles.] Yeah. I don't believe in black and white either. I've met plenty of decent firebenders, and plenty of awful earthbenders.

[Laughs.] Aang? Ha, sometimes I don't think even he knows what he's doing.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and I'm good at acting. It's just--if Zuko came here, then anyone from my world could show up here. Even though they don't believe me about this place. It'd be great to prove it to them, but if Aang came here and Zuko saw him, everything would be ruined.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

Well, there you go.

[Ikki stifles a yawn.] That's the fun part. Most of the time I don't know what I'm doing either. I just got really good at pretending.

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

That would be unfortunate. If he does show up...see if you can find him before Zuko does. This place draws people from many different points in time. See if you can convince Zuko your friend is from the point in time before he believes him to be dead.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah, it is fun, to just wing it sometimes. Sometimes it's all you can do, you know?

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

[Blinks.] Different points in time? I hadn't heard that part. So... [trying to get her head around this] there could be a Katara from the future? Or an Aang from the past?

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is entirely possible. I have meet someone who is from far in the future of my own world.

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

Yep.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

Wow...

That could be a problem...

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

Yes it could be. But I doubt those who run this place care for what we think of the matter.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

[Makes a face.] One of these days I'm gonna find those Twins and pound 'em.

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

I think that is a feeling shared by many in this place.

[got-the-stones.livejournal.com]

Well hopefully I'll get to them first!