dear_mun | For Post-Episode 8 feels therapy (SPOILERS in comments)

I'm not giving up.

[Though a very, very small part of her just wants to curl up and cry.]

You're really strong, Korra. I bet Spirit Me's proud of you. But he's probably worried, too. [Pause.] It's... it's okay to give up sometimes, until you can feel better. Especially after you went through... all of those things I've heard about.

I'm sorry, Aang. I'm still alive, Korra's in trouble and I'm not even doing anything.

You don't have to apologize, Zuko. We don't know the whole story yet. [He briefly looks a little more somber, thinking on how he doesn't know how that confrontation with Yakone ends for him, Sokka and Toph.] If you're still around, I know you're doing something somewhere to make a difference.

[ Yeah, none of those flashbacks are very reassuring. ]

It's just frustrating. I'm supposedly alive, off traveling the world and being useless. I may not be part of their Team Avatar, but I was once a member of yours.

[ Brohugs time. ♥ ]

How are you feeling?

[Aw yeah Brohugs.]

Honestly, Zuko, I'm pretty worried. Whenever I saw what the future was like before, it looked great. I might not live as long as I wanted to, but I still am going to have a beautiful family with Katara and continue the Airbending line. It looked like everyone else was gonna be happy too. But now... I'm really worried about Sokka and Toph. And I'm afraid of whatever I'm going to do to that Yakone guy.

Toph? Has a brilliant, intelligent daughter to help your son guide the new Avatar. Sokka's probably getting his story saved for last because we'll need him there to pick us all up once the worst of this gets going, that's just how he is. As for the Yakone guy, whatever happened was enough to get all of us on the defensive. I say he deserved what he got.

I've never known you to not do the right thing, Aang.

Yeah... maybe you're right. [He's not fully convinced, but he smiles a little.] I still don't know about that Yakone guy. But if it came down to it, I... I would pick my friends living over him. It's still not something I want to face.

I hope so. I know I must have done the right thing a lot of times. You being alive and good in the future is proof enough of that.

It's a tough decision, we're all going through them as we get older.

[ Squeezes him on the shoulder supportively. ]

At least you're still with Katara?

[He smiles a bit more ~~at a Zuko being a Kataang~~ at his old friend's supportiveness.]

Yeah. It looks like things are gonna go great with her. I'm going to treasure every moment, before those bad times come. [Pause.] You're a good friend, Zuko. [Especially considering how at odds they were at the point he last remembers from home... although he was still on good terms with the Zuko in his game at the least.]

...This is all my fault. I should have seen Korra would have taken matters into her own hands rather than wait. [And Tarlock....oh, he's going to have many words with him]

I will find her and bring her safely back, and free her friends.

It's not your fault, Tenzin. You didn't know what that guy was capable of. And... you have the right idea. If she can find me, maybe I can really help. Instead of just watching here in the past.

I.... I know you can help them, son. I'm counting on you. But... still, real careful, okay?

Edited 2012-06-02 18:18 (UTC)

...There is that possibility. She may finally be able reach you with her current situation. [Current situation being her life could be in danger, something he doesn't want to picture.]

I will have a word with Tarlock, with the council. I'll try to talk him out of what he's done before anything else. If he deals me the hand that involves using force... [He's hesitant of what he might have to do. It goes against what he's been taught, so this weighed heavily on him, that words may not be enough anymore.]

I hope so. But... please don't try to face him alone. You have to find a way to find some kind of weakness. ...I know neither of us want to get her involved, but... maybe your mother could have some idea of how to stop it.

Mother would be familiar with what Tarlock did. [An unforgivable bending technique, that's what it was]

But contacting her would take time, time that we do not have to spare right now. [He wasn't sure if involving mother into this as well was a good idea either...despite her knowledge]

Right. I understand. Things are urgent, with everyone in danger. I know I don't really know you yet, but still. I want you to be careful, Tenzin.

[hey babe.]

That's really nice of you, Aang.

[Sweetie!]

Hey, Katara. Thanks. It just feels like the least I could do with everything they're going through in the future.

I am sure they appreciate it. And need it.

I sure hope so. Especially with the kind of bending that one guy used on the new Avatar... [It feels like a taboo to directly name it to Katara.]

I'm worried about that, too. But...I'm sure Korra will figure it out. She's another side of you, after all.

You're right, Sweetie. I feel bad that she had to go through something so bad so early on. But I know she's someone who can bounce back from it. She's stronger than me. I still hope I can find a way to help her in the future.

I'm confident that you will. You are always there when we need you.

Thanks. I try!

[She smiles, taking his hand, threading her fingers through his and laying her head on his shoulder.]

[He leans over to rest his head on hers while providing his own grip to her hand. All the stresses of his future start to slip away for the time being, as he contents himself in the simplicity of it all.]

[Korra needs you. Boy, does she need you.]

Avatar Aang! [Slight hesitation, some heavy swallowing.]

I'm so sorry... I'm trying, I really am!

[But nothing goes right!]

[Aang doesn't hesitate to hug her.]

It's okay, Korra. It's not your fault.

[Aww, hugs! That helps a little. She tries to hold back a smile at the height difference and fails]

It is my fault. I went in alone without any plans or back-up. Everyone is in even more danger because I tried to do it on my own and couldn't.

I'm a terrible Avatar and I'm not living up to your name.

[Oh no this is coming out too fast she's getting all shakey and emotional. Korra, keep it together you're embarrassing yourself.]

Don't say that. We've all messed up a lot. It doesn't make you any less of an Avatar. You just need to find me. I know I'll do everything I can to help you, Korra. Because I'm already proud of you.

[Oh gosh Aang, the p-word. How did you know that was exactly what she needed to hear?]

I just don't know how to help any of these people. I feel like I can't do a whole half of my job! And I don't even know how to learn. Hard work I understand but... I can't exercise myself into airbending, and no amount of training will teach me how to be spiritual.

I wish I could be more like you.

[Even just saying all this out loud is getting some of the guilt off]

[As warm as this makes him feel...]

Korra, I don't want you to be like me. We're spiritually connected, but you're your own person in your own time. You have to become your own Avatar. And you are. That's why you're struggling. It's all a part of becoming a true Avatar. The things that have happened to you have been horrible, and I wish you wouldn't have to suffer like this.

But at the same time, you're learning. Even if you don't know it yet. You're learning how to be the Avatar. Not just that, how to be Avatar Korra. And I know you can break the spiritual block. I think Future Me has been leaving pieces of a puzzle for you. If you can put them together soon through focus and concentration... I think the time will finally come.

[Wow Aang you're really good at this. It's like you're an old wizened spiritual guide already. She isn't really sure what to say, but she feels a new wave of strength coming in, and making her stand taller. Aang believes in her.

She can believe in herself. The spirits are looking out for her. She smiles again, unsure of how to thank him for all that.]

I wish I could just talk to you. All I get are these short hallucinations. They're fast and full of emotion and I don't know what's happening. I want to just be able to talk with you but I can't even meditate properly. [pout]

But... I'll keep trying. I have to.

I have a good feeling, Korra. What happened to you is really rotten, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. [He shudders for a moment, remembering the one time in the Fire Nation that he himself was bloodbent and forced to attack two of the people he loved the most.] But there's still good that could come from this.

He's going to want to keep you alone. That's his big mistake, assuming you're ever alone. Being isolated... may be able to help you with your meditation. And then I can help you to turn things around. Your big chance is coming, Korra. I can feel it.

[She nods seriously. Being stuck alone in a place she can't leave would help her focus. It might just give her the determination she needed to be able to focus on her thoughts for once.

She wasn't going to let Aang down, not when he believed in her so much. Not when he reminded her of the surrogate parental figures in her life. Katara and Aang clearly rubbed off on each other and seeing some of her old waterbending master in him was comforting. And of course he reminded her of Tenzin. Or maybe Tenzin reminded her of Aang?]

Thank you, Aang. I won't let you down!

[Can she just... pick him up in a crushing hug? Because that's what she's going to do.]

I'm terrified of what's going on, and I'm not even in this episode.

Don't worry. Korra and her friends will find a way to restore balance for all of you. [He doesn't want to use the "bender" and "non-bender" terminology.] And in the meantime, it at least looks whoever your mun is, you're in very capable hands.

I know she will, but I'm worried about what's going to happen until then. We're in a kid's show and they're not supposed to kill anyone offscreen, but they certainly don't seem to have a problem implying it.

[--aksdj;a]

Which isn't to say that I don't have faith in Korra! But the city's drowning in it's own corruption, and a fire ferret would be better at governing than our current council.

And I'm just an announcer. I'm about as useful to the leads as shaved ice at the winter solstice. I wish I could do more....

And thank you. Hopefully, whatever she does with me is just as rewarding as working the pro-bending arena was! I've only been around here a few days and it's been pretty fantastic!

[And, although he's not sure how to say it yet - it's really nice to be able to vent.]

I hope things don't get too bad. But even if it looks like you're not doing anything, that's still doing something. You're not adding to the violence, and maybe you can help Avatar Korra in some way eventually. And you fit in great around here so far. You were really great at that party!

I was thinking of trying to set up a newspaper at my house. I don't think they're going to be reliable for that much longer, if they ever were, given that Tarrlok's got enough of the media in his pocket to be able to shove Korra in front of a loaded paparazzi. It may not ever show up onscreen, but it'll hopefully help.

Besides, I'm good enough at running away that they'll never catch me interviewing after curfew.

[He can't fight, but he can run. Years of working Triad crimes have done well to teach him how to run away.]

And I'm glad you think so!

[shriek avatar aang is complimenting him]

[his life keeps on getting more awesome ads;fj]

For Post-Episode 8 feels therapy (SPOILERS in comments)

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and aldsfkaj;d <3 thank you

no prob btw i'm also tarrlok

shriek 8D i've been waiting in horrified anticipation for dat next tag >w<