reversible | 01 ∫ action

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01 ∫ action

( morning | in town, around the river )

[ By some cruel stroke of fate, Tahno finds himself waking up underwater. It takes a few seconds for him to realize what's going on and, more importantly, why he can't breathe. Reaching the surface is easy enough, but getting up on land proves more difficult. Everything's a blur as he tries to pull his body on to the shore, gasping for air all the while.

A little help might be nice. ]

( afternoon | shops )

[ Regardless of what happened earlier in the day, he's going to need some new clothes. Most of the styles in the stores are unfamiliar to him and thus not quite up to his standards. Picking items off the rack one by one, he gives them each a disapproving glance before haphazardly discarding them – and possibly having them land on passer-bys in the process. ]

No, no. This won't do at all.

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[ Future people? ...right. All this information is a little hard for him to swallow. As Aang talks, he takes a look at their surroundings, noting that he hasn't seen anywhere like this before. His gaze lands back on the Avatar just as he speaks the last sentence. What was that he just said? ]

Luceti?

Yeah, that's the name of the place we're kept in. The Malnosso have us all in this place inside a bubble, and they run all these weird experiments that are supposed to send us back home but do all kinds of weird things instead. I know it's a lot to take in, but... these are the lives we have to live for now. ...What's your name, by the way?

Tahno.

[ Introducing himself to Avatar Aang. From the past. He's still trying to wrap his head around this whole thing. ]

So we've been kidnapped. [ That much is obvious. Better question: ] Why?

N-nice to meet you, Tahno. [Not really. But back to expo-mode.] It's hard to say because of how confusing this place is. For some reason this world just takes people from different places and times, and even the Malnosso say they're not from here. But they keep us here because they say it keeps us safe and that they're trying to send us back home. But most of them are real mean.

[ Tahno seems pretty nonchalant while soaking up this information, almost like he doesn't care. Rising to his feet, he starts wringing the water out of his pants. ]

Guess it doesn't matter. Not like there's anything left for me back there, anyway.

[Aang frowns. He didn't consider what's up with this dude. And as the Avatar - he immediately feels responsible for whatever happened to him.]

I'm sorry. I... I didn't think that something bad may have happened to you. If... if I could help you...

[ The thought hadn't even crossed Tahno's mind until right this second. Aang isn't some flimsy Avatar in training like Korra is; he knows what he's doing. Why didn't Tahno think of this before? He suddenly looks a lot more hopeful. Maybe – just maybe – there was a way to fix what happened to him. ]

You can take bending away... so there's a possibility you could give it back too, right?

[Aang's heart sinks as he considers this. He had felt so guilty about Amon taking people's bending away, and now he had a victim right in front of him, judging by his words. Not even someone he knew - just some random citizen of his future nation, which made it feel even worse for Aang. Aang wanted nothing more than to repair Amon's damage... but he remembered what ~~presumably~~ happened when Lin had arrived.]

I should be able to. But here in Luceti... they have shifts that limit our powers. I can try, but I can't guarantee that it'll w-work.

[ Tahno steps closer to the Avatar, kneeling down on one knee once he's within arm's reach. Even though Aang sounds less than hopeful about the ordeal, he's blinded by the sheer potential of this working, sounding even more desperate than before. ]

Please. I'll pay you back, I promise.

[ He doesn't know how or with what, but he would do anything it takes to get his bending back. Anything. ]

[He feels a knot tighten inside him. A man on his knees begging for help, and Aang has a very little hope it can work this time. Still... he takes a deep breath, and he speaks in a calm and controlled voice.]

You don't owe me anything. Just stay still.

[And he concentrates as he steps closer to the kneeling Tahno, with his eyes closed. He places one finger on Tahno's forehead, and with his other hand he touches his chest. And he prays he can reach it this time.]

[ This isn't going to hurt. He knows that. But it still takes all of his composure not to pull away when Aang touches him. That feeling of having his bending taken away – having a piece of himself stolen away – is one he'll never forget. His breathing involuntary speeds up, heart thumping hard against his chest. All he can do now is wait.

And wait.

And wait.

But nothing happens. Nothing feels different. Maybe the process just isn't over yet. He slowly peels his eyes open, peering up at the Avatar in question. ]

[When Tahno's eyes open, they'll see that the hero of Republic City still in the same position, with his eyes seeming to be even more tightly shut, except that there are tears leaking through the corners.

Work.

Please. Work.

He tries to reach out with his own spirit, to feel the one within Tahno. He remembers how it felt to reach into Ozai and grab his energy, manipulate it to extinguish his firebending. But there's nothing. He can feel nothing beyond their external physical touch. Instead, it only feels like his own resolve is being taken away. This place has made him truly helpless.

And his hand begins to tremble. He knows he can do no more. Aang slowly withdraws his hand and opens his teary eyes. He can only bear to look down at his own feet while softly whispering.]

I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry.

Sorry doesn't fix anything.

[ As Tahno rises from the ground, rage rises in his body. He snaps up straight, staring down at Aang with malice. ]

You know, they've got this huge statue of you. Right in the middle of the city, like you're some big savior. But look at you. You're just a useless kid.

[ As much of a jerk as he tends to be, his words aren't usually quite this poisonous. But someone just dangled hope in front of him and then snatched it away. He is pissed. ]

[Aang feels like he deserves it. So he stands there, with his head bowed, flinching as he accepts Tahno's judgement.]

You're right. I'm just a... just a useless kid now. I'm not that man yet. [Maybe I never will be.] I just wanted t-to... to try.

[ Well, at least Aang acknowledges it. He's gotten most of the animosity out of his system, so he simply shrugs in response. What does he care about other people's feelings? ]

So where can I find the Uhvatar? You know, the taller one.

[Aang still feels heavy emotional wounds, but he keeps himself together enough to tackle his question.]

Roku? [Pause and he blinks.] Oh, you probably mean Korra. She lives in House 58. It's... right down that road. Just a few houses down from where we live.

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01 ∫ action

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[Action] I laughed so hard at "not really"

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