adstringendum | Seven pebbles: With life in this city being what it is

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Seven pebbles: With life in this city being what it is

[Poor innocent PCD. It was just lying on the ground outside, having been dropped there carelessly when a goose tried to ninja-peck it out of Lin's hands when she wasn't looking. Now it shows nothing but a frozen bird for a split second before a very large SOMETHING seems to throw it, and the porcelain goose, and everything in the small area up into the air and tumbling, tumbling down, chunks of dirt and pottery falling everywhere.]

[An annoyed huff, somewhat muffled by the dirt that got everywhere, and Lin picks up the PCD, brushing it off]

These things are mildly aggravating, aren't they?

[She frowns.]

On a more serious note, does anyone know if Katara had plans to go to the Wastes this week?

[Because otherwise...]

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[Toph smashes another goose bugging Lin. They're leaving her alone for some reason]

She's gone.

Yes, I noticed that, thank you. Hence the question.

No, I mean she's gone, Lin. Trust me, Katara's not stupid enough to go into the Wastes and not tell anyone, and I can't feel her anywhere in the city. I looked.

I know. But there is still a chance. For all that she's responsible, she is still a teenager. Besides, there is the chance she went with Jet.

I'm not holding my breath. She would have said something.

I'm not either.

Though I've heard enough stories of her at that age...

The Painted Lady?

Among other misadventures.

[Like that whole let's-get-ourselves-captured-for-the-cash misadventure YEAH SHE HEARD ABOUT THAT ONE]

Like...?

[What is she missing here?!]

You and Aunt Katara and the bounty hunters? The scams? That time with the statue?

[No, waitaminute]

No, you haven't done that last one yet, nevermind.

Wait what. Statue?

... No? [ Uh oh. ] I can case the perimeter of the city, if that'll help.

She's not in the city, not that I can feel. But if she's in view of the walls, that would be worth knowing.

[Her tone, however, suggests that she thinks that's a pretty fruitless mission. Still, far be it from her to discourage him from it.]

[ A nod is given as he pulls his bow and quiver over his back, zipping up his coat. It's rote habit now to check the wastes and the city when someone disappears, especially for Mako who doesn't have and can't trust seismic sensing: he needs to root people out manually, for what it's worth. To try and find them first before writing them off, paranoid about someone disappearing, finding themselves in trouble and no one ever coming to look because 'they went home'.

If that happened to Katara, he'd never forgive himself. So, he bears arms as he takes Ketu's saddle to the tiger-dog. ]

I'll let you know if I find anything. Have you spoken to Jet? He'll want to know if he hasn't noticed.

Jet, it would appear, has either gone off with Katara someplace, or is otherwise similarly missing. Either situation would not be unlikely. For all we know, they could have just wanted a bit of damn privacy for once.

[But she's not hopeful that's the case.]

[ Hn. ]

I'm wondering the same about Jet. It's possible they went together, less dangerous than going alone. Or...

[ Trailing off on that one because what? Zuko doesn't want to imagine Katara of all people being sent back home. Although it seemed only fair ... her brother's gone back, the Avatar... ]

It's not impossible. She and Jet are close, and they both... have made somewhat rash decisions in the past.

[But yeah. Even if she won't say so yet...]

That doesn't mean we can't keep an eye out for them. Just in case.

This, of course, being my primary intention.

[hence the whole. Let's ask and keep an eye out.]

I do not think Katara-san is in the Wastes.

Truthfully, I don't think so either. I've known enough missing persons cases when they've wandered off without telling anyone, and I've come to know this place.

But some people will cling to hope... for longer than I.

I am sorry. Were you close?

She was a constant presence in my life, growing up. I called her Aunt Katara, though we weren't technically related. So, yes, one might say I knew her very well, her older self, at least. And was quite happy to get to know her younger too.

I am afraid words will not do much to soothe your feelings, but you have my sympathies nonetheless.

Thank you. They may not help, but I am grateful, even so.

Time will help. And knowing she's safe, back home.

[Rhyme nods.]

It's hard keeping them out of the house, here.

They do seem to get everywhere, don't they?

Pretty much, yeah. But Josh and Pink and Neku have kept them out, for the most part.

Good. Let me know if you need any help with them. They don't seem to be particularly vicious, but you never know.

I will.

How have you been doing, Ms. Lin?

About as well as can be expected, in the circumstances.

Yeah, same here. But they'll come to pass, I'm sure of it.

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Seven pebbles: With life in this city being what it is

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