[005 // Audio // Locked 25% from Azula]

[noturmother]

[Alright. She'll admit it now. She's restless. It's been days, weeks now, that she's kept herself cooped up in her room. Sure she goes out once in a while, but ... Not without someone else. A buddy system, of some sorts. She doesn't want to end up in a similar situation to either herself, or her brother. Alone with Azula. Not. Fun.

But Katara does

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[skin_and_steel]

Is there someone - or something you're looking for there?

[noturmother]

Um, no. I'm just... Looking to get out of my room. My brother told me it was like a forest there, which would, I guess, be a little home away from home.

The nature, I mean.

[skin_and_steel]

[Ed laughs a little bit. Yup, he knows the feeling.]

Yeah, staying in your room will do that. Sometimes I wind up going to decks I probably shouldn't, but it's a hell of a lot more interesting than staring at the same four walls all day.

[He remembers bits and pieces of a conversation they had a while ago.]

Is there water on deck three, by any chance? For that martial arts thing you do?

[noturmother]

[She'll return that laugh with a tiny little chuckle of her own. She had reasons for staying cooped up, but... She wasn't normally like that. She needed out.]

I think so.. I remember someone mentioned a creek or a stream. Nothing like the water from Deck 15; but I don't plan on going back there for a while, anyway.

It's called Waterbending.

[skin_and_steel]

[Water-bending. He makes a mental note to use the right terms next time.

....aaaaand cue him making odd little sounds into the comm, starting to ask a question before stopping himself short.]

I would - I mean, that is - uh... unless I'd really be in the way...

[Awkward Ed is awkward.]

I'veneverseenwaterbendingandIreallywannaseewhatitlookslike.

[Breath.]

[noturmother]

[She listens, trying--and failing--at holding back a snigger. She's heard that sort of turn-around talking before.]

I don't mind; I'd love to show you! [Water Tribe pride, yo.] Maybe... Come by in half an hour? I have to um. Talk to someone first.

[Not that she wants to, but hey, maybe she could switch off Zuko for Ed with the whole.. Buddy-system thing. Or she'd just have 'all' the luck, and Zuko would stick around anyway.]

[skin_and_steel]

Yeah! Alright!

[He starts making "whooping" sounds before hastily clearing his throat, realizing that he probably sounds like an idiot.]

I mean... that's a good idea. Hope things go alright with that person of yours - I take it he's not really a friend of yours.

[noturmother]

[Welp. There goes her good mood again. Can you hear her smile creak down into a frown, Ed?]

No, he's not. I know him, but I don't like him. The.. time things, where people are from different times; apparently he's from my future. Where we're friends.

I don't believe it.

[skin_and_steel]

[What the hell. And he thought his mechanic had a quick about-face.]

...as in, friends or friend-friends?

I mean, if you don't even like the guy and he's saying that you guys are dating or something...

[He's basing way too much of his perspective on male-female friendships on his own.]

[noturmother]

What!? No! We're not-- No! He's my enemy! He's-- Ew!

[Ohgods what, no you silly alchemist!]

[skin_and_steel]

I-I don't know! I j-j-just was wondering. I mean, sometimes that stuff happens. Y'know, you like a person as a friend, and sometimes they really piss you off about you hating to drink milk and being s-s-s-somewhat less tall than they are and sometimes you still like them even though they do all that. I mean, I don't know if he was getting on you for things like that b-b-b-but these things happen, you know? Right?

[He takes a deep breath on the other end, his voice evening out and taking on a more serious tone; he realizes he probably hit a nerve on her end. That, and the fact that he was talking gibberish.]

So. I mean, did you guys just fight more than most people? I mean, my friend and I bicker a lot, but we're still childhood friends. Or was it something a lot more serious than that?

[noturmother]

I-- [What is he talking about, anyway? For a brief moment, Katara forgets that she's royally offended, in favor of figuring out what the heck this boy is going on about. Maybe someone from his own home?

Augh! But he brought the subject back again!]

No! He's the prince of the Fire Nation! The Nation that's been ruling destruction and desolation over the rest of the countries for a hundred years! H-How can-- No!

[skin_and_steel]

[Holy shit, violent reaction much? Obviously talking about this guy is a bit of a sore spot. Tread with caution, Ed.]

Alright, alright, alright. So as far as you know, you both hate each others' guts. I get that, believe me; the fact that you can't do a thing to them makes it worse.

[noturmother]

[Not really a violent reaction, so much as an offended one. She huffs in a huffy manner.]

I do. He doesn't. [Which is really awkward to think about. Especially now because of Ed's words.] You think?

[skin_and_steel]

[Ed quickly scrambles to figure out a way to put her in a better mood. He didn't like the idea of potentially having to pick sides later in the future.]

S-s-so before I kinda got us derailed.

Waterbending.

How can you do it.

[If you could see him, you'd see him resting his chin on his hands and looking at you intently. Attentive Ed is attentive.]

[noturmother]

[Katara takes a breath, away from the mic, just to calm down. Not everyone will automatically know about the horrors the Fire Nation have wrought across her world.]

Right. Sorry.

I can show you whenever, if you want. The best place to do it though would be around a body of water.