savedtheworld | Book 9: Refreshed Air [Action/Video]

[Action]

[This morning, Aang did not wake up in his bed. No, he woke up some ways outside of the village, with an old friend. It took soe time for Aang and Suki to come to grips, but eventually the facts became clear. Suki had come back to Luceti without memories. At the same time, Aang had spent an overnight trip home. He lived out several days at home, where he saw the Yu Dao conflict through to its end and founded the air acolytes.

And now he was back. In Luceti. He knew who Ikki was again. One of the first things he did upon realizing what happened was scribbling a journal message for everyone at home - assuring them he was still around. It might be hard to tell he was gone if anyone was awake that early. After all, he didn't have many possessions, and his room was shared with Roku who was keeping a more irregular sleeping schedule during the draft. The only visible evidence would be the absence of the prayer beads which he had given to Ikki.

So Aang spent most of the morning helping Suki to adjust, hoping that her memories of her previous stay would be awakened. He wasn't really so familiar to people returning without memories. But eventually they parted ways so that Suki could be reunited with Sokka. Once he saw that only a night had passed during his absence, he had guessed that he might have been the only one to go home. The others might still be there. The same as he left them. So he headed to House 56 to check in with everyone next and give the physical proof of his presence. He came fully clothed in his air nomad robes, wielding a set of prayer beads that were notably missing a Fire Nation emblem.

Once all the bases are touched, Aang tries to go about his daily schedule as usual, probably being late for school and skipping out on the Welcome Center to instead explore the forest. Now that he remembers, he looks around carefully for any sign of Moro's presence.]

[Video]

[And this video message is recorded before dinner, when he stops back at the house between forest treks.]

Hey, everyone. It's me, Aang. This place is really weird sometimes. I used to think when people went home, they stayed home, at least for a long time. But sometimes people have been gone for just a few weeks, and me... I was just gone for one night. I doubt anyone noticed, but I'm still sorry if I worried anyone. And my friend Suki came back too. Really unpredictable, right?

Still, some of you might be pleased to know that at home, only a few days passed, but things are really turning out for the better. Things are even more at peace, and I feel more connected with my people than ever. I hope everyone's having a great autumn, while it lasts.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Roku was...actually asleep when the message went live. His sleeping schedule is still kind of whacked, but it wasn't as bad as the days after the draft. When he sees a few things missing in the room, he frowns. That's usually never a good sign when people's things aren't where they should be.

It's a good thing he decided to wander outside for a moment and spots Aang before breaking the news.]

Aang?

[He freezes in his tracks, hearing and seeing Roku, and he grips the prayer beads tighter, his hands around where the Fire Nation emblem had been.

It's him again. It's him. Roku, who was ready to give up his own great grandson. Who never even asked to see his family.

But years before all of that would happen. Aang still couldn't help but stare, as all these conflicting feelings arose within him, and he muttered in return.]

R... Roku.

[Roku isn't too sure how to make Aang's reaction. He...well his things were gone in the room so...did he go home at all? Roku looks to the prayer beads momentarily before looking back to Aang. Was it just his imagination, or did it look like one of the emblems was missing?]

Are you all right?

Edited 2012-11-14 06:53 (UTC)

I...

[He looks on hesitantly, his mouth gaping. He doesn't know what to say. Where to start.]

I was home.

You did? So then I wasn't imagining things!

[A pause] That was a really short trip home.

It... it really was, wasn't it? [While he talks, he keeps his eyes from meeting Roku's. And uses a fairly neutral tone.] I thought it was weird when the date on the journal was just the day after I remembered. Going home must have just... replaced me sleeping last night.

[He has a feeling that something might be wrong anyway. Aang wasn't as perky, unless he was just kinda slow on the uptake of things being back in Luceti again.]

Was everything all right back home? How long were you actually there?

Things are fine. More than fine. The problems I was having back home... They're over for the most part. And it was a little under a week. [A slight pause before he hazards a glance at him.] Aren't you even going to ask about Zuko?

[Head tilt. Wow uh, that question was kinda unexpected] Zuko? Why? What happened to him?

[Cause you make it sound like something specifically happened to him]

A lot of things happened to him. He was almost part of a new war and he wanted to be - stopped if he ever became like his father. But he didn't, because it's stupid to even think that. Now he's back to his senses and he's fine, he just wants to find his mom. And... and I helped him by myself.

He really told you to stop him, if he ever became like his father? [...that's right, at some point he becomes the next Fire Lord if he recalls correctly. He can only imagine the mess he had to be burdened with.]

Well I'm happy to hear you were able to bring him back to his senses. I don't know much about what his father was like, besides continuing that war, and Zuko can be hot-tempered sometimes, but I can see his heart was in the right place when he was here at least. I doubt he could be anything like his father, especially with you guys around to support him.

Yeah. I wonder where he got a crazy idea like that. That he had to end or be evil.

[He says that with some slight bitterness. But listening to Roku's words... it's really weird. Like he's talking to a completely different man.

Could the years and his life as a spirit change him so much? ...Would it do the same as him? There's a bit more hesitant friendliness in his voice as he goes on.]

I'm... I'm glad you have faith, Roku. Once we talked things out and he got to rest at his uncle's, he really felt was like his old self again. The old self who was my friend, that is. And he thinks that... reconnecting with his mom's side of the family is gonna help him be a better Fire Lord.

Well he didn't get it from me. [He jokes.]

What's the story with his mom...?

[He gives a meek and nervous laugh to the first statement. The more he thinks about it, the more he gets really, really unsure about how to handle this whole thing.]

I'm not really sure. I don't know the full story. [And probably won't unless Zuko appears again.] I do remember Katara said once, that he mentioned to her once that he lost his mother because of his dad. But the last time I saw Zuko at home, it sounded like Zuko thinks she's alive. She's just... missing, for some reason. And no way he's tried of finding her has worked. But he thinks that'll be the key, to finding peace as the Fire Lord.

I see...I never really asked Zuko much about his family...well our family I guess? I don't even know when my side married into the royal family. [It's still really strange to think about them as his children. He shakes his head]

It just never seem like a good subject to talk about with him, considering...[That hundred year war] Well, I hope that he'll be able to reunite with her and that she'll be able to guide him where his father couldn't.

Then you should know it's her. Your granddaughter is Zuko's mom.

And... [He pauses for a moment, struggling for the words to say.] yeah. I hope so, too. That sounds like the better side of the family.

[...So it was Zuko's father side that was Sozin's line... hearing Ozai had done something to his own wife was a troubling thought, but now he sort of sees why Zuko's mother could be the key.]

Did he ever mentioned her name to you?

I'm sorry, Roku. He didn't mention her by name.

[And there's sympathy in his words. He knows what it's like, in a way, from wanting to know everything he can about his future family. Wanting to be there for them. And just this curiosity is enough to warm Aang a little. To help him think... at least Roku's not like that, not yet.]

Oh. No it's all right.

[He sounded a little bummed from not knowing, but he just tells himself to ask the next time Luceti decides to drop Zuko here. Or Iroh. Iroh might not explode on him.]

I should probably let you go inside the house and stop asking all these questions. [a small chuckle] I'm sure everyone would like to see you're all right.

It's okay, Roku. I would like to check on everyone else, but I'm fine with any other questions you'd have.

[He turns to go back to the house, in case Roku is done here. But he turns back with a genuine smile.]

I'm glad to see you again, Roku. [The way I like you. When you have a heart.]

Book 9: Refreshed Air [Action/Video]

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