4th of RD, afternoon.

[assiduous]

[ the orb starts, cupped in its owner's hands as he sits on some random ass boulder or something. he's young, not even twenty it looks, with a lean, handsome face, and gold eyes, honey dark and serious. dark and messy hair, red scarf, charcoal jacket, against a backdrop of late afternoon sky over the city walls in the distance. a girl in blue sits with a polar bear sized... dog some distance away, quietly having A Moment of Feels. ]

I have some questions about... [ a little gesture at the surrounding... everything. he means like. the whole champion thing!!?? and stuff ] this place, the whole set up. People are listening to this, right?

[ LOOK he's just collecting data okay guys, ]

Comments

[shorterinperson]

We're listening, so ask.

[assiduous]

My friend [ he means the girl, obviously, though he does not give her name. she can tell people she's the avatar when she wants to; mako is good as the buffer of anonymity. outside the probending crowd, who'd even know him? ] and I were told we had to be... knights.

[ HAHAH UNFAMILIAR WORD sob ]

But she's supposed to be a mage too, or something, so it doesn't sound like that's all they're making people be. Yeah? [ Fill him in, will you ]

[shorterinperson]

[ Alanna doesn't like the way you say 'knight' like it's anything less than Totally Awesome. ]

Everyone brought here has been assigned some role. The only real bearing it has on your future is how the village people choose to gossip about you.

[assiduous]

[ look it's just an unfamiliar word okay, he's a bender tyvm. mako frowns slightly, since what he's managed to get so far has all been on the generosity of the locals. ]

What other roles are there?

[shorterinperson]

There are princes and princesses, sorcerers with various specific titles... and one ghost.

[assiduous]

[ he nods, rolling with it even though it sounds SUPER WEIRD and then asks the next question's that been hounding him, ]

Any benders?

[shorterinperson]

[ What ]

I'm sure there are people who are especially flexible?

[assiduous]

[ ... how do you not know what bending is ]

No, I meant — [ HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW WHAT BENDING IS ] ... something else.

[shorterinperson]

[ WHAT IS BENDING ]

Then I'm afraid I can't answer that for you.

[assiduous]

[ SORRY ALANNA YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK ]

It's not that big of a deal. [ a little pause ] Which did they give you?

[ role, he means! ]

[shorterinperson]

I was a knight of Tortall long before I came here. They gave me nothing I didn't already have.

[assiduous]

[ ... well. ]

So you already know what you're supposed to do here.

[shorterinperson]

My duty is first to my king. But being that doing whatever is asked of me here is the only way for me to return to him, my course is abundantly clear.

[assiduous]

[ ... OKAY THIS REALLY DOESN'T EXPLAIN WHAT A KNIGHT IS SUPPOSED TO DO BESIDES SERVE A KING. ]

So... as knights. [ still not sounding comfortable with the idea of it, clearly ] We have to serve this king?

[ SOUNDING SUPER SKEPTICAL. he could manage to sound a little bit more, tbh, but he'd have to try really hard. ]

[shorterinperson]

[ Oh man she is trying so hard not to laugh. King Erasmus is such a failure. ]

Seeing as you haven't taken any oaths of fealty, I don't think it's required. Your job is to protect these people. Duty is a bit more complex than that.

[assiduous]

[ hasn't met him, sorry. probably won't. street rat and all. he sighs again, irritated at the whole situation, ]

Right, so cops with swords. Got it. Thanks. Anybody tried just torching the thorns?

[ the ones the old man wouldn't shut up about? he and korra could probably handle that pretty well. ]

[shorterinperson]

[ This is probably a good life decision. ]

If you say so. [ WHAT ARE COPS. WHAT ARE BENDERS. WHY DO YOU KEEP USING STRANGE WORDS. ]

The thorns are resistant to fire, and will strike back if attacked in any way.

[assiduous]

[ ASK HIM, ALANNA, HE'LL GIVE YOU MOSTLY HONEST ANSWERS OKAY

but, yeah. back to the matter at hand. he shoots a short glance over his shoulder at the girl, then looks back down to the orb. ]

What, did someone piss off a spirit?

[shorterinperson]

[ DON'T BE SILLY

HER PRIDE IS AT STAKE HERE.

She grins wryly. ]

So it would seem. And they did a cursed good job of it.

[assiduous]

[ WELL at least bringing korra makes sense now, but... DID THEY REALLY NEED HIM? he has to take care of bolin, and... there's all the problems in republic... ]

Great. [ another annoyed sigh, this time tinged with the slightest wisp of smoke. ] Thanks for the info.

[shorterinperson]

You're welcome. [ She quirks an eyebrow. Your mouth is on fire... ]

[assiduous]

They're inland, rignt? Follow the river, then head south? [ ugh he already feels a headache coming on ]

[shorterinperson]

Yes. And they've eaten entire towns already.

[assiduous]

Got it. [ standing, and fishing in the collar of his jacket for the cord his orb goes on. the image fades out, the sound a moment later, but not too late to hear him sort of shout to his friend... ]

Hey, Korra! I think we have a lea...

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