notabluesbro | 13th Confession [Action/voice]

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13th Confession [Action/voice]

[Of course, Vash wasn't the only kid Legato ran into. The ass confused the hell out of him, but moreover, he wondered if he really was going to be 'trained' by someone. Trained to fight, right? And he said he'd be skillful, too... But right now? He called him useless. Incapable. Just some stray dog.

"If you think yourself capable, that is something you must prove."

Nicholas wanders into town and takes a seat at a bench, with journal in hand. Considers using it—even if it is confusing, and even if he's not the kind to spark up conversation. Instead he simmers a little, brow furrowed, reaching down and shaping snowballs before throwing them at the nearest building ~~totally sorry if he doesn't see you coming around the corner or something~~. For some reason, he feels like he's done this before. Something about the whiteness of all this is familiar, but... ah, well. He's too busy trying to decipher what that blue haired guy told him.

He was worth something. Wasn't he? Or was what every said true...]

[Voice]

How do y'prove you're worth something...?

[After that, he decides to go back into the forest and try to talk with that Eferin guy. Things weren't as bad as last time; he even got to actually speak to him, without any running or cursing. Even if it meant sucking up to the bastard, just a little. He's in the forest, sitting on the gnarled roots of a tree, lighting and putting out the end of a thin twig. It takes all of his concentration, but it's worth it. His pants leg has a hole burned into it, but whatever burn mark was under it has been wrapped up by a ripped shirt.]

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[O-oh, he can do that, definitely! Nick bends down and scoops up the charred stick, holding it up to her—and then, the tip pop-crackles into life.]

I don't know how t'make it much bigger... but... I can put it out and start it again, so that's not so bad, so far, right?

[Smile of genuine approval is go!]

That's really good! Especially the putting out part.

[And then a serious face.]

In my world, a lot of people can fight with the elements. So we've learned to really respect fire. It's one of those things that's alive - that you have to be really careful with - because it can destroy so quickly if it ever escapes your control. So it's good that you're focusing on the basics first. That's the most important part.

[He nods.]

I wouldn't ever do something stupid—I know trees can light on fire real easy, right? They're really rare, so I don't wanna see anything bad happen to 'em.

[She doesn't know about trees being rare, but - ]

That's a really good attitude to have. I'm Katara, by the way. What's your name?

[Maybe thing's'll ring a few bells—]

My name's Nicholas. You can call me Nick.

F'you like saying things shorter.

[Oh.

Katara's memories of that one day - when she was turned into a child - are hazy at best.

But she remembers you.]

[It wasn't enough they had to do this to Vash - Wolfwood too?]

I'll call you Nick, then. [She nods at him.] It's nice to meet you.

[...again.]

Nice t'meet you, too, Katara...

[He points at the air, referring to where the fire spirit had last been.]

Didja' learn anything from him, then?

Eferin? No. [There's a little bit more force on that word than the conversation would otherwise warrant.]

And he knows it too, he just likes to annoy me. I'm a waterbender.

[And she streams a little out of her waterskin to demonstrate.] See?

[He can only stare in awe, for a moment.]

That's from your world? That magic?

[She smiles a little.]

It's not exactly magic, but you can call it that. [Slight pause.] It's good for fighting and for healing too. Especially for burns.

[...oh, you don't say. V_V

He rubs his arm, thoughtful.]

That's kinda cool. So you're a good fighter?

Yeah. I'm a good fighter.

[She feels no particular need to be modest about this. She's worked hard, and she's proven that she stands on her own even in Luceti.]

But I had to work really hard to get that way.

Yeah? You had t'train a whole lot, right?

[Hey, Nick thinks if you've got that sort of skill, you should flaunt the ever-loving shit out of it; you worked for it, after all.]

...Not a whole lotta' girls can fight, where I'm from.

[She frowns a little.] Not a whole lot of girls can waterbend to fight where I'm from either. Most of them are trained just to heal. [Hint, hint.]

But I really needed to learn how to do both.

[IGNORING THAT HINT]

We don't got anything like that, where I'm from. Just guns.

I'd never heard of guns before I got here. They're pretty scary.

They can be, but... they can also be a good thing.

[He quietly puts a hand over a spot on his torn jacket, at his hip.]

Sometimes they can save your life. Or protect ya from getting hurt anymore...

I guess every weapon is dangerous when you know how to use it.

[Even if guns are a source of a particular scare to her, because they seem so easy to use and so incredibly deadly - not just harmful. Deadly.]

That's the whole point of learning how to use it, after all - and when to use it.

[It is pretty scary, though, isn't it? That something so small and easy to lose track of as a bullet that instantly take the life from something... Both Wolfwood and Nicholas know this well. Will always know it well.

He just nods, though; just agrees whole-heartedly.]

But I won't need a gun here, right?

[He's not sure if he's really asking or not. He'd like to just believe it.]

It's pretty safe here, and people take care of each other, so I don't need it anymore, right?

[Oh, kid - break her heart why don't you.

But you're too old for Katara to lie to you.]

I think it's always important to be able to protect yourself and the people that you care about. I don't know if a gun is the best way to do it here, but even though most of the people here are really nice and do take care of each other, there are a few people here who are just really bad.

But when you're with people that you can trust, that you know will watch out for you? That's the safest you can be, no matter where you are. And there are a lot of good people here.

...Huh...

...How do you know?

When to trust someone like that, I mean?

[Oh, you may just be asking the wrong person, Nick.]

I don't think there's any real way to know for sure, no formula or secret password. Sometimes you just have to risk it. Sometimes you just have to be strong enough to deal with it if you're wrong.

[There might be a particular emphasis on 'deal with it' that lends itself to more than just emotional recovery.]

And sometimes you just... know.

[A quick grin.] But if they don't want anything from you and they're willing to help you with something anyway? That's a pretty good bet.

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