Book 17.5: Fourth Wall

[savedtheworld]

[Behold Aang, the young air nomad. Physically 15 and now mentally about 16, he's grown quite a bit from his time in the Hundred Year War.

Today seemed like a good day to visit the library. He found out from Duck that there were stories out there where the characters came to life and left the story. So now he's checking around to see if he can find any books like this. Only to find unexpected visitors of a different variety...

Alternately? He can be found out in front of House 56, deep in meditation, trying to see if he can reach his past lives...]

Comments

Good

[savedtheworld]

[There's no mistaking that voice.]

Roku...

[He mutters before he opens his eyes and sees that the old man truly is there. It was kind of weird to see him there again... especially given their last confrontation. But mixed with those bitter feelings were memories of his time with Roku here in Luceti. Of one of Aang's most prized friendships.

He can't help but manage a soft smile.]

Of course. All old friends are welcome.

[flameoroku]

[Roku gives him a warm smile. Roku had not reached that point yet where Aang ended his bond with him, so for all he knew they were still on good terms.]

This all seems familiar to me and yet foreign. There is something different about how I arrived this time. [...Besides not being a teenager anymore.]

[savedtheworld]

You don't have wings. [He frets.] Are you... a spirit now?

[flameoroku]

Well, my time has certainly passed for quite some time before I arrived. [He raised the hand closest to Aang and placed it on his shoulders. There was warmth there, solid and not cold and empty.]

But I believe I am flesh and bone here. [He smiled reassuringly, but it was soon replaced with a frown.] I am not sure for how long I am meant to stay though. I did not arrive with wings or a book afterall.

[savedtheworld]

[It was odd to feel that. The warmth of Roku's hand reminded him of the friend he lived with here in Luceti more than anything. The young man, much like him, who lived somewhere in that body beneath all that beard.]

You didn't? What do you mean? You think you're just here for... for a while? [He glances around, as if grasping for a hope.] But - Maybe they're just late! Your wings and your book. Maybe they'll show up any second!

[He remembers breaking his bond with Roku very clearly. He doesn't know why he feels so desperate to hold onto him.

Maybe because it's been almost two years now and he keeps losing the people closest to him. And he fears more may disappear. Regardless of what had happened back home... he feels like he needs Roku more than ever.]

[flameoroku]

[That pleading sound in Aang voice was difficult to hear. It's not as if he wanted to go and leave him here, but unless the laws of this place had changed, he was an anomaly.

What could he say to him? Should he play along or be the devil's advocate and tell him the hard truth and spare him the pain of separation later?]

...Aang, why don't we go for a walk around the village? It has been some time since I've set foot here afterall. You can tell me everything I've missed. [Let's take it slow. That's probably the best route to go right now.]

[savedtheworld]

Of course! [He jumps to his feet all too eagerly.] I'd be honored to. I'll fill you in on everything, Roku.