tushanshu_logs | As your feet, they touch the ground

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As your feet, they touch the ground

Characters: Korra (

alphatar), Open
Date: June 9th, Late evening
Location: Brazen Turtle (Center of Keeliai)
Situation: Doing her job
Warnings/Rating: N/A

With the recent bombings and need for the kedan to have safe housing in the foreigner’s former suites, business at the Brazen Turtle has taken a dip. Food isn’t easy to come by, though the bar managed to get enough to serve its patrons. As barback, Korra’s tending to the bar since the drinks don’t need too much stocking.

Overhead is the scale model of the Starship Enterprise she had gotten Jim for Christmas and it has her attention when there’s little to no customers. At a simple, sullen command it flies sporadically or circles over the bar where she’s at. Depending on her mood, something that’s she’s distracting herself from by wiping down the bar, even if it doesn't need it.

The ship's lights and occasional sounds are soft, but poignant as always.

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"Fine."

Once she was sure Korra wasn't going to throw a towel at her, she returned to her seat, leaning back slightly.

"Are you telling me there's not one good thing about having come here? Not one?"

"One thing? It could be five things, but there's still a thousand bad things! There's no balance." Something she started to care about the more she stayed on Tu Vishan. "We just get the worst and have everything happen to us and hold on to the one good thing we have. And it's not even our home or our families."

She slammed open the glass rack under the bar and yanked a glass out to pour herself some ice water, or it became ice water as soon as she was done pouring.

"That one good thing isn't enough anymore."

"Korra..." Not for the first time, Zatanna simply didn't see it the same way. How long ago had she confided to the young Avatar that she was actually on the fence about even wanting to go home (yet)? "You don't mean that. We're here to help, remember? That's why they dragged us all here. Voluntary or otherwise...we're making a difference."

Shouldn't that count for something?

"I can't spend the rest of my life were I don't belong helping a world that isn't my own! What about my planet? I'm the only person who can keep balance in it, I need to go back to save it. I've seen my future. If Evandau can stop me, then he can take care of that monster instead of having me do it."

The water's enough to give Korra a brainfreeze as she drinks it to cool off, but she simply increases her body temperature at the back of her throat to finish the glass.

"Nobody said we would be here for the rest of our lives, Korra."

...was that literal steam coming out of her mouth?

That's steam.

"And no one's telling us we aren't. I've been here for a year, you've been here longer than that! Do you really want to stay here for years trying to figure out how to stop that thing?"

"I..." I still don't know. Her shoulder slumped. "I don't want to fight any more than you do."

"Not like we can do anything about it." Except be angry apparently, but right now Korra would take what she could get. "I'm just sick and tired ofnot having a choice on what's going on and not knowing if the next day someone else is going to be gone or if I'm going to wake up at home."

She went quiet. Almost eerily so. Her expression blanked, eyes staring at Korra, unreadable for a long moment. As if she were trying to gauge her words as carefully and precisely as possible:

"Now you know why I want to think more about the present than the future. And make every day with the people I love who are still here count."

"I'm running out of the people I love. I can count you guys on one hand." Her tone was terse, but not nearly as much. Especially since she lowered its volume. "Mako probably would have said 'Ignoring it isn't going to make it go away.' or something."

The smell of cooked rice was filling the bar, and Korra headed off towards the kitchen door to tell the chef not to cook any meat. Something she'd gotten used to between hanging out with Zatanna and formerly living with Aang.

"I just hate this whole thing."

"All the more reason to keep the rest of you close."

Even Korra's mood wasn't enough to sway her of that opinion.

"You don't have to hold back because of me, Korra. If you're going to eat, and you want a steak or something, I promise I won't be offended."

Since the cook was going through all this trouble...and Korra was currently dealing with certain abandonment issues...she wasn't about to take her food and run. Even if she wasn't hungry, she might as well nibble a bit.

"I haven’t eaten anything yet." Said a bit off, as if it was something else’s fault instead of hers. Eating had become a random occurrence for Korra and she gave a sigh before heading over to the kitchen again to have her meal be made as well.

She came back with Zatanna’s plate and set it on the bar along with the napkin wrapped utensils. "Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I mean, I did then, but not now." Not the best apology, but maybe she could get points for trying.

"Which time?"

Not the best response, but she was trying to maintain the air of casualty on the subject.

"You know what I meant." Zatanna's casualness allowed Korra's temper to continue its decline. "I want to see everyone." She shook her as she clarified. "Everyone that's still here. I feel like we're all scattered, and the network's still acting funny, so getting us together isn't easy."

For some reason, the lack of network didn't bother her all that much. Aside from the underlying implications of what it actually meant. She still had her magic. She still knew how to get around the Turtle on her own. And, most importantly...

"We could always throw a party?" It was only a partial joke.

And that got Korra to be silent and actually think.

"You know, that might be something worth planning. I kind of liked that party at Sinbrilee." So much had happened that she enjoyed and learned from. "It's getting close to a year, and I haven't used that dress for anything since." But she shrugged her shoulders. It was pretty, but Korra wasn't too big on dressing up. "Maybe I can use the Water Tribe one I have from home."

Getting ahead of herself already.

Hey, getting ahead of herself is good. Progress. It means she's so busy focusing on a possible future that she's forgetting to wallow in the present.

"That one was pretty fun, wasn't it? Though I'm not sure I have any new dresses to wear."

"Ask Jack about getting one made in the Earth Sector. It's where he got the coupon for mine." Simple enough advice, and as much of a tomboy Korra could be even she had to admit the dress was pretty incredible. Stumbling over high heels or not.

"I just get the feeling that anyone tries to pull off a big party like that is just asking for trouble from the freak in the palace."

"So we won't invite him. I mean, what's he going to do--get so cranky he shows up and starts cursing people in revenge?"

This wasn't Sleeping Beauty. Last time she checked, no Princess Aurora had shown up recently either.

"You know, I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be going to Jack for fashion advice."

Korra gave a silent snort, a laugh hidden in it somewhere and she shook her head. "Fair enough." Malicant was one of her worries, his spiritual presence wasn't one she could ignore.

"Just so you know, he only gave me the coupon for the place. I got them to design it. ...with some input from them too. Give it a shot. Nothing to lose but money, and I can spare that for you if you don't want to risk it."

"Nah, you don't have to worry about that. Unlike most people, I still got to keep my job. Money's no problem for something like this." Then, as an afterthought: "But I wouldn't mind a second opinion."

"I'm no expert on dresses" Understatement of the year. "but I can check it out with you."

"What a coincidence. Neither am I."

Okay, so maybe she had slightly more of an inkling than Korra did. But the last times, Kyle had picked her dresses out for her. He'd even helped design one of them. To go out and buy something on her own...

For some reason, here, it just didn't seem right.

"We can make an afternoon of it. Go get lunch or something."

"It's a date!" Korra knew she had to do something about what had been bothering, so she may as well bring it up now. "And hey, you can take us there by motorcycle. I think you could use one." She had Mako's and it had been sitting outside her suite doing nothing, and she didn't know anyone better who would do it justice.