[Action, Accidental Voice] .014

[markofthebrave]

[Utter doom has managed to hold itself off for the past week, and so today is Katara's first day of school! She's excited and a little nervous, since she's never been to any sort of school before. While preparing and lecturing herself she jostles her journal.]

--vous about. It's going to be just fine. Now where did I put that -- oh. [Someone'

Comments

[outwalks]

[ Allen still isn't going to school, but centre of town afterward? Of course. Especially if she's near the grocery store. ]

Ah-Katara?

[markofthebrave]

[All the nervous energy from being at school has run out, and Katara is currently just staring blankly at a shelf, trying to remember what she'd come in to get. She jumps a little when she hears Allen's voice, and turns to give him a tired smile.]

Oh - hi, Allen! How are you today?

[outwalks]

Fine! Ah, sorry-did I sneak up on you?

[markofthebrave]

Uh - no. [She laughs a little.] It's fine. I was just... trying to remember what I had to pick up. I should have been paying more attention.

[Good thing it was just you. And that thought, more than anything else, has Katara straightening up and trying to look more alert.]

[outwalks]

. . . Are you sure you're all right?

[ Implicit: you look tired, which he is not saying on pain of pain. ]

[markofthebrave]

[Blink, blink.] Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just - [interrupted by a yawn. Heh. Busted.] - a little tired. I'll pick up... whatever it was I needed for dinner and head back home soon. Maybe try to nap.

[Shrug.]

[outwalks]

So I'd noticed.

You know. . . I'm grocery-shopping myself. You could go back now-I can drop off a few things for you in an hour, if you'd rather.

[markofthebrave]

[Katara laughs.] No offense, Allen, but I've seen your grocery shopping. I don't think you'd have any room for anything else.

[outwalks]

It isn't that-

[ What are you talking about, Allen? Of course it's that bad. He laughs sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. ]

Ah, I suppose that's true. . . But still.

[markofthebrave]

Yeah... [She smiles and shrugs.] still. The offer was sweet. Thank you.

[She turns a little away from him to stare back at the shelves, one hand going up to rub at the corner of her eye. What was it she'd come to get? Was dinner really that important anyway?]

[outwalks]

Any time, really.

[ Well, that's done. Allen turns to go. Then he pauses and glances back over his shoulder. ]

You might have a better time choosing what to get if you think of what you had to eat yesterday. Can you remember?

[markofthebrave]

[Remember? She remembers the smell of ash, and scorched cabinets taking longer the 'restore themselves' than the outside of their home. Tense silences and --]

Oh! I think I wanted to get more cleaning supplies. And... something for dinner that Sokka and Roku would both like. Which... is probably meat. Which... means I'm in the wrong aisle.

[She shakes her head at herself.] Thanks, Allen.

[outwalks]

Of course. I hope you find everything you need quickly.

[ And heading off! . . . rather slower than expected. Sure, the battle was a week ago, but the aftermath still sucks. ]