[Fourteen-Voice]

[wishonastone]

[Xiao Long Nu is standing in the woods, beating the crap out of several trees. And they are taking a serious beating. The closest ones look like a bomb hit them.]

I hate this place! That's for Xiao Bao for staying behind! That's for Zuko for leaving! That and that and that and that are for the Reaper, and that and that and that and...and for

Comments

[rialta_fianaise]

Um... Xiao, was it?

[He's shouting, with his fingers stuck in his ears, by the way]

Xiao, listen! We're all sick of this place! I'm sorry you feel like that, I'm sorry about your friends, I'm sorry you got stuck here! But everything isn't getting worse and worse, I promise! The hunger ended, didn't it? And this will, too, whatever it is!

I'm sorry if I've been ignoring you! I didn't mean to, I've just had a lot on my mind lately, with Jack and everything!

[In a slightly more sensible tone of voice, when she's stopped screaming]

Do you want to talk about it? I can come out there if you want. A problem shared is a problem halved, like they say...

[wishonastone]

[She abruptly shuts up, eyes filling with tears]

Please.

[rialta_fianaise]

Okay. I'll be there in a couple of minutes.

Where are you?

[wishonastone]

...

In the woods. I'll come back to the village.

[rialta_fianaise]

Meet you outside the store?

[wishonastone]

...

Ok.

[She heads for the store. She's about twenty minutes into the forest, and too demoralised to use l33t ninja skillz, so she'll be a while.]

[rialta_fianaise]

[Padraic's been waiting for her five or ten minutes. When she comes into sight, he gives her as reassuring a smile as he can muster up, and starts out to join her]

[wishonastone]

Hey.

[rialta_fianaise]

Hi.

Feeling any better?

[wishonastone]

Not really.

[rialta_fianaise]

Well, that's a shame.

Do you want to tell me about it?

[wishonastone]

There's not really much to tell, though. It's just all awful!

[Her voice is rising again]

[rialta_fianaise]

Nonononono! Shush, shush. It can't all be awful.

[He's not usually a huggy person (wrong generation of Quaker XD), but he's willing to make an exception on the spur of the moment. Without even thinking about it, he puts his arms around her, stroking her back lightly. Which is just as well, because if he did think about it, he'd be incredibly embarassed]

Come on, okay, Xiao? There's got to be something good you can think of, surely?

[wishonastone]

No! There isn't! Everyone I care about has been gone for months and months and horrible things keep happening and now I've got my gongli back but Zuko isn't here to train with any more and...and...

[She clings to him, suddenly in floods of tears]

[rialta_fianaise]

[He hugs her tightly, patting her shoulder just a little awkwardly]

Shush, Xiao. It's okay. I promise, it's going to be okay.

You'll see. Things have a way of turning out for the best.

[wishonastone]

They dooon't! Never!