[She doesn't even see Garrus' message until it's well past the point of being useful, several hours later, after a trip to medical and a quick release back to her rover to recover.]
["Last time", the words twist like a knife to her gut. She never liked the CDC, didn't trust them, but the last day was a stark reminder of just how little the lives of the recruits meant to them, and how much they're at the CDC's mercy.]
I was. I'll heal. Had some help there already, debating if I'll get more. I'm alive, but if camp gets attacked again we can't count on the instructors picking up the slack of our defenses.
[Not like they'd really helped when the neraki had attacked, as far as he'd seen, or when the kraken hit. He's a little bitter right now.]
[It takes him longer than usual to get there. Garrus is moving very slowly and stiffly, but he's moving because if he stays still he'll get too stiff. There's a knock on her door once he gets there.]
[These rover doors are great for security but not so great for not having to get up every time someone needs in. And it takes a little time for her to get to the door. At least she was able to start a little sooner, knowing that he's on his way, and Korra has her hand on the wall, keeping herself balanced as she opens the door.]
Hey Garrus.
[She offers Garrus a weak smile. She's looking pretty rough around the edges, normal bright expression more subdued and tired. And Turians might be a little harder for her to read than humans, but she's been around Garrus enough to know that he must be feeling the same way.]
[Korra laughs dryly. Abandoning the wall, she moves back over towards her bunk, before sitting on the bottom one, gesturing for Garrus to come over.]
At least sit down or something.
[On the floor by her feet is a thick textbook, something about a cat named Schrodinger, but it's not hers. Nearby there's a strange photo of some bald guy with an arrow tattooed on his forehead, and an old looking teapot hanging from a peg in the wall, unused. Things she'd picked up from the strange, slimy portals from earlier.]
Pretty sure we were making most of the other people look good.
[But the joke isn't a protest, and Garrus comes over to sit down next to her. He can feel every single one of his years in his joints as he does, which is not the most comforting feeling ever. At least he can move his arm out of the way, offer up his side if she wants to lean and get a hug.
Garrus nods at the picture.]
That guy looks really proud of himself. Not quite sure I can figure out why.
[She might have to take him up on that unspoken hug offer later. For the time being, she follows his gaze over towards the picture. It seemed kind of weird, to keep a photo of Aang around, but with so few tokens to help her remember home, it seemed like an important thing to hold onto.]
That's Avatar Aang. He had every reason to be proud of himself. He mastered all of the elements and saved the world by the time he was twelve years old.
[It's hard not to sound a little down on herself, to hold herself to standards like that. He changed the world for the better, like she hopes to do someday.]
[Garrus leans forward, elbows on his knees. No need to keep that posture if it's not something she's looking for.]
Something of an overachiever, then.
[He can hear the guilt in her voice. The guy was also an avatar and he'd accomplished something pretty impressive, by the sounds of it. But nobody should hold themselves to that high of a standard.]
Bet he didn't do it alone. You can't. Voice of experience, here. News focuses on one, but it's a team effort. Beyond that... I know you, Korra. You do what you can.
[Which might not be the easiest thing to believe when she's just been punished, but she needs to.]
[Korra presses her mouth into a line, thoughtfully, Garrus isn't wrong, Aang had Zuko and all of his other friends, but it's hard not to feel a heavy responsibility on her shoulders, with such big shoes to fill. From her world's perspective, all she's managed to do as the Avatar is disappear suddenly. (Though, if she'd stop and think about it, Aang was missing for a good hundred years too.]
Yeah. [She sounds distracted, not totally convinced, but she's doing the best she can,] Sometimes I just wish I could talk to him. Ask him what I should do.
[On second thought, maybe not. Aang was known for his peaceful ways. Managed to stop the firelord without bloodshed, even. Sometimes she wonders if he can see what she's doing with the CDC. Maybe that's why he won't talk to her.
She sighs.] I guess I thought maybe keeping a picture around might help.
[Emotionally. Spiritually. At the very least it's a happy face to see at the end of the day.]
Just... [Korra opens her hands, looking down at her palms. Advice in general, I guess. The Avatars before me have been able to go to their past lives for guidance.
[And she had a whisper of them, back when her Avatar State had triggered, but before and since then... nothing. Garrus places a hand on her shoulder, and she looks up, offering him a crooked smile,]
But, I guess you guys would know more about being kidnapped and sent to destroy planets than some old dead guys, huh?
Unless the old dead guys also got kidnapped and had to destroy planets, I stand a shot at knowing more.
[His voice is gentle. Garrus doesn't believe in past lives, reincarnation, any of that, but if she does, he's not about to take it away from her. Whatever she finds as a comfort he's good with.]
We've got you covered. Yeah? And it looks like you've got tea covered.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
d119, after the announcement
If my guess is right, you'll want to be near Medical. Be careful, Korra.
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FROM: korra@cdc.org
How did you know?
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I saw it happen last time. And I'm not Red, so I could try to warn.
FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org
I'm sorry.
[It's not his fault, but she's one of his and he wishes he could do something for her.]
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FROM: korra@cdc.org
Me too.
FROM: korra@cdc.org
You were on that list too.
[Are you alright?]
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I was. I'll heal. Had some help there already, debating if I'll get more. I'm alive, but if camp gets attacked again we can't count on the instructors picking up the slack of our defenses.
[Not like they'd really helped when the neraki had attacked, as far as he'd seen, or when the kraken hit. He's a little bitter right now.]
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FROM: korra@cdc.org
I'm not counting on them for anything.
They don't care what happens to us.
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I know. But I care. So after this has run its course, would you like to find me or would you like me to find you?
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Well I don't think Sigma is going to let me out of my rover any time soon.
[For good reason, the whole ordeal took a lot out of her.]
FROM: korra@cdc.org
Shouldn't you be resting too?
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Yeah, sure. But I rest easier when I know the people I give a care about are doing as well as can be expected.
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You worry too much.
[Or maybe just the right amount, considering what just happened.]
FROM: korra@cdc.org
But if you really need to come visit, I won't complain.
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Where will I find you?
[Because of course he needs to come and worry.]
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I'm in my rover right now.]
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On my way.
[It takes him longer than usual to get there. Garrus is moving very slowly and stiffly, but he's moving because if he stays still he'll get too stiff. There's a knock on her door once he gets there.]
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Hey Garrus.
[She offers Garrus a weak smile. She's looking pretty rough around the edges, normal bright expression more subdued and tired. And Turians might be a little harder for her to read than humans, but she's been around Garrus enough to know that he must be feeling the same way.]
You sure you should be walking around like this?
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What, I should sit around? They want me to react in fear and I'm not giving them that. I'll be doing everything as I normally do.
[Fear, humility, no. They won't see him break.]
Which includes seeing how you are.
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[Korra laughs dryly. Abandoning the wall, she moves back over towards her bunk, before sitting on the bottom one, gesturing for Garrus to come over.]
At least sit down or something.
[On the floor by her feet is a thick textbook, something about a cat named Schrodinger, but it's not hers. Nearby there's a strange photo of some bald guy with an arrow tattooed on his forehead, and an old looking teapot hanging from a peg in the wall, unused. Things she'd picked up from the strange, slimy portals from earlier.]
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[But the joke isn't a protest, and Garrus comes over to sit down next to her. He can feel every single one of his years in his joints as he does, which is not the most comforting feeling ever. At least he can move his arm out of the way, offer up his side if she wants to lean and get a hug.
Garrus nods at the picture.]
That guy looks really proud of himself. Not quite sure I can figure out why.
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That's Avatar Aang. He had every reason to be proud of himself. He mastered all of the elements and saved the world by the time he was twelve years old.
[It's hard not to sound a little down on herself, to hold herself to standards like that. He changed the world for the better, like she hopes to do someday.]
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Something of an overachiever, then.
[He can hear the guilt in her voice. The guy was also an avatar and he'd accomplished something pretty impressive, by the sounds of it. But nobody should hold themselves to that high of a standard.]
Bet he didn't do it alone. You can't. Voice of experience, here. News focuses on one, but it's a team effort. Beyond that... I know you, Korra. You do what you can.
[Which might not be the easiest thing to believe when she's just been punished, but she needs to.]
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Yeah. [She sounds distracted, not totally convinced, but she's doing the best she can,] Sometimes I just wish I could talk to him. Ask him what I should do.
[On second thought, maybe not. Aang was known for his peaceful ways. Managed to stop the firelord without bloodshed, even. Sometimes she wonders if he can see what she's doing with the CDC. Maybe that's why he won't talk to her.
She sighs.] I guess I thought maybe keeping a picture around might help.
[Emotionally. Spiritually. At the very least it's a happy face to see at the end of the day.]
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Do? In regard to back home? Or here? Because you're not alone here, and I doubt you're alone back home. Mako seemed to be a friend, for one.
[Reaching over, Garrus rests a hand on her shoulder.]
No one can really tell you what to do. But you've got friends, and I'm willing to help you as you'd like, Korra.
[She's one of his. What she needs, he'll do his best to cover.]
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[And she had a whisper of them, back when her Avatar State had triggered, but before and since then... nothing. Garrus places a hand on her shoulder, and she looks up, offering him a crooked smile,]
But, I guess you guys would know more about being kidnapped and sent to destroy planets than some old dead guys, huh?
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[His voice is gentle. Garrus doesn't believe in past lives, reincarnation, any of that, but if she does, he's not about to take it away from her. Whatever she finds as a comfort he's good with.]
We've got you covered. Yeah? And it looks like you've got tea covered.
[He nods at the pot hanging on the wall.]