eachdraidh | video, open to both courts (action if you are at the barrel)

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video, open to both courts (action if you are at the barrel)

[ Alice has been at the Barrel for a few weeks now. No one's asked her to cook and clean, but it's been a bit of an engraved habit brought over from her time in London. It's only through getting children's clothing and interacting with the nearby town that it's been plaguing the back of her mind. Unlike the last time she's popped on the lockets back in December, Alice looks healthier, but she is still pretty thin.

As usual. And as usual, her white rabbit is sitting there beside her, munching away at a bowl of food. She's not good at public speaking. ]

Hello.

These may be strange times to open a dialogue about this subject while both of our courts prepare for another skirmish. There are plenty of natives here of various ages who have been hit the most by war, especially children. I used to be the maidservant of an orphanage back in Whitechapel London.

[ Her face only flashes with a hint of pain when she mentions it. ]

Houndsditch Home for Wayward Youth—if you heard of it. And the children there came from similar backgrounds, that they were all traumatized and lost family either by sickness, death, or murder. These children are often overlooked, sometimes they are swept up by those with ill intentions and treated even worse. But they are still children and they still have pieces of their innocence left.

I may not have the resources nor the... capacity right now to replicate that orphanage, but I still want to help the youngest natives here have the smallest comforts like food or clothing. I've only had a handful of opportunities in Redgate and the Station to make good on my word and clearly I need the additional hands.

In addition to natives being sent away from the path of war, I hope that there can be a way to provide resources for them or find them the appropriate care somewhere down the line. I know that it is silly to think of such a thing when all the adults in this world are preparing for battle, but they are so young and they deserve so much more while they are being guided to safety.

But if I were to oversee these things, I reserve the right to be very picky. The children I cared for weren't even spared from the cruelty of adults, even the proprietor of that orphanage.

Surely my friends will be thrilled if I focused my attention on children rather than them. I know they must tire of my nagging.

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[ For Alice, she's always preparing for the worst outcomes. It wasn't until recently she started to consider it more and more, despite her inner struggle to fight off psychosis. ]

Consider it just a survey and just preliminary plans, for now. I may have to wait to see what will happen with the up and coming clash... as much as it pains me to say.

I am afraid I am not familiar with a Sokka.

I know. [ he's none too keen for the rumours and whispers to be true — fortifying the little village outside of quendi has been more than fun, what with the natives being good-natured, but he's never liked war. he doesn't like what happens after an act of war. zuko may be fire lord, with an entire volcano of responsibilities placed on his shoulders, but he's still a teenager who has barely lived as a teenager. he wants to spend the rest of his time throwing snowballs instead of training men and women, and even humouring children, with how best to wield a weapon. ]

[ turning away from his locket, zuko shouts: ]

SOKKA!

[ when he's not helping zuko in the village or teaching the kids how to build snowmen, he's usually got his face nose-deep in some dusty old book or staring at maps until his eyes start to burn. the more he knows about the drabwurld, its layout, everything about it, the more he can help with this whole war thing, even if he's mostly against it. he still doesn't really understand why they're fighting, but from everything he's read, it doesn't sound like it's going to end anytime soon, so he might as well make the most of his time and figure out how to circumvent that. ]

[ he's honestly not paying attention to zuko at all, too caught up in his own research to notice that zuko's on the locket talking to someone. it's not until he hears zuko shouting his name that sokka looks up at all, vaguely indignant that he's being interrupted. ] WHAT? I'm busy, here!

[ sokka's little spat is caught on his own video. zuko doesn't act as hotly as he did before, voice simmering down as he becomes calm and conversational once more. ] Sokka, this is Alice. Alice this is Sokka.

[ he thinks he did a good job there; this is how you meet people, right? if you're not chasing them around the world, you just shout at them from across the room. ] Now you're familiar.

[ Try as she might, she does manage to smile at the exchange. It's one of the stranger introductions that she has had yet. Alice passes a small, sheepish smile. ]

I suppose I am.

Hello? [ He seems young! So she's not sure whether or not to throw a "mister" in front of his name. ]

[ oh, well — if zuko had just said he wanted to introduce sokka to a pretty girl, his reaction wouldn't have been so indignant. but zuko is zuko, so doing the whole shouty thing to get sokka's attention is just what he does. nevertheless, sokka flusters slightly, coughing awkwardly when he sees alice on the other side of the locket transmission. momentarily, he forgets he was even in the middle of anything. ]

Oh. Uh, hey. I'm Sokka. [ there's a slightly nervous edge to his laugh. ] But, uh, I guess Zuko just said that. Do you two ... know each other?

[ Oh, no. The fluster is enough to get her flustered, pausing like a deer in headlights. When Alice regains her bravado, she speaks again. Well, they're a little odd, but Alice has seen odder. ]

Oh, well- yes, I'm Alice Liddell-

[ He already said her name! ]

Just as he said. And he is more of an acquaintance, really. He gave me some advice with the sword and there was that one time on the battlefield back in Maupertuis, too.

[ zuko eyes sokka, then he eyes alice. ]

[ then he eyes sokka. ]

[ then alice. ]

[ why in spirits name are you guys getting flustered? ]

[ Meanwhile, Alice doesn't understand that look, at all. ]

[ uh, yeah, okay. this is awkward. can sokka just go back to reading books about dragons now? ]

He is pretty good at swordbending... Whatever advice he gave you is probably good advice. [ he glances at zuko, then back at alice, then at the books, and — right, those. those are important. ] But I should, uh — get back to this research. He wants me to read up on dragons, so, you know, that's what I'm doing. [ because he's a pal like that. also, it's pretty interesting. and who doesn't love dragons??? with a hesitant but genuine smile, ] It was nice meeting you, Alice.

[ Why are guys so confusing? Zuko drags him in here and then he wants to duck out? Not that Alice will make him stay, she just looks even more confused, her lips pressed into a thin line. It's a funny expression, really, especially when Alice starts to stammer. ]

Well, I wouldn't keep you, but... he could have at least explained why he grabbed you, other than I was possibly asking for help.

[ Alice waves her hand. ]

That is to say, I wouldn't force anyone into anything!

So you'd know who he is!

[ it was obvious to him! why else drag sokka in to make her more familiar with who he is? granted, his idea of familiarising with someone is chasing them all over the world and then befriending them, but ... it's a learning process. ]

And he can look things up for you. He likes doing that. [ and zuko ... we're not going to talk about what zuko does. he doesn't even want to bring up mount verla — it'll just set sokka off on another rant about how zuko's not the idea guy. ] I said I'd help!

[ sokka's just being a weirdbender right now. ]

[ She still struggles with normal social interactions, even after months in Drabwurld. ]

Well, I would like to hear his opinion on that, firstly, it should be his choice

[ YOU DON'T JUST VOLUNTEER PEOPLE, GOSH. ]

[ oh alice, zuko volunteers sokka for things all the time. not that he really minds, because he does like looking stuff up and helping zuko out with stuff, so it's not really a big deal. he likes feeling useful. ]

Uh, my opinion? [ there isn't anyone else she could be talking about, sokka. ] I mean, yeah, what Zuko said. I do like looking stuff up. Is there something ... in particular you need help with? [ zuko just grabbed him, he didn't actually tell him what was going on. ]

[ Despite everything, Alice manages a smile. ]

You shouldn't let him volunteer you unless you really want to. And in that case, do you know of any other neutral lands other than where the Station and Barrel sit?

[ zuko reaches behind him to scratch the back of his neck. considering he'd invited himself along to the boiling rock when sokka wanted to save his dad … it's sort of how they've been since he had switched sides. sokka had devised hoops of ice for zuko to leap through, and he had done so without being requested to and without complaint. their friendship is one where sokka gives him the emotional support he needs while zuko encourages sokka to do more than he thinks himself capable of. ]

[ and he volunteers him for a lot of stuff in this place. he can't help it, he's the fire lord. sokka's his most trusted right hand man. ]

We're currently near Quendi. It's a little village … I — I wouldn't say it's neutral, but we … I mean, we're not going to stop people from coming here. [ he wracks his brain for another location, but considering mount verla … he wouldn't advise alice going there, not with how unimpressed she'd been at his display of bending a few days ago. ] But they have to help us. Everywhere we've been is either Seelie or Unseelie.

[ Ever perceptive, she notices something strange about that, she's just not sure what. ]

This village... what is their perception of, well. People like us?

[ Nope, not going to use the word "shards" ever again. ]

They like me. [ he shrugs. me meaning shardbearers — and also him. he's not the most easy person to like. ] They pulled me off the road to come help them with a spirit. Ever since, they've been really nice. [ they even erected a fire nation flag in his honour. it looks almost like the flag from home, but the design is a little ... it's less intimidating. using that flag and keeping it long after he had left them to go trade his bending from reynard, he thinks it has to mean something. ] I think anyone who is a friend of mine, they really wouldn't mind.

I have... been leery more than usual to travel to lands outside of Caer Scima and the Barrel, truth be told.

[ She's under the assumption he doesn't know about Reynard and she doesn't like to talk about her kidnapping. It means admitting to the fact that it really did traumatized her. When she wanted to brush it off after 10 years in an asylum. It's supposed to be nothing, but it's not. ]

After the past few months with dissenters. I don't want to fight them, but I will not stand for mistreatment, either. It never hurts to be careful, too.

I know.

[ not that he knows she's thinking of reynard. he'd been one of the few stuck on the fact that reynard had a shardbearer in his hands. he knows she's gotten out of there — she's talking to him right now — but he doesn't know if anyone ever revealed any of what had occurred during that meeting. but he doesn't think of reynard — done and dusted, the fox is no longer a thought for zuko (except he is, a constant reminder that zuko isn't as invulnerable and untouchable as his father had often preached his bloodline to be). ]

I don't think these people will cause any harm. They have nothing — they've been attacked by a spirit in La Llorona. They had the chance to lure me back when I was without my bending, but they never did. [ maybe it's too hopeful — and incredibly naive — to believe the best in someone who shows affection toward him, but he had placed his faith in sokka and his team. it hasn't lead him astray so far. ]

I was a fugitive in the Earth Kingdom. Those people ... They hate firebenders. My entire world hates who I am. But ... They showed me a kindness when I didn't deserve it. [ stealing an ostrich horse, leaving the earth kingdom without saying goodbye to jin ... it'd been a learning experience, noticing the differences between those of the fire nation and those from the earth kingdom. the latter had hope, just like the people of the village do. ] These people in this village ... They're like them. They wouldn't harm a shardbearer, especially if they show they're kind.

[ "Shardbearer". There it is again, the word that makes her cringe just as much as "fire". She is still reluctant to travel far out by herself, despite everything. Even the ring that increased her strength still isn't enough. No, that sense of security is gone, because now remnants of Reynard are still present and they have harmed her friend. ]

Some will not harm them. [ Some. She doesn't delude herself with all shardbearers are kind as others. Even she has the capability of being cruel. ] I will not, not unless I am or one of my own are threatened. But if you say they are kind-

[ She is always reluctant to take the word of someone she doesn't know, but, hey, if it's a shardbearer issue, then she has no choice. ] I will take your word for it. The only thing that concerns me is that I do not want to force others into situations they are not comfortable with. I want to ease into this as slowly as possible.

And if possible, sometime in the future, create a refuge for children on neutral grounds. It may not be this village, but it will be a place where anyone can go, regardless of courts.

And if they do, I'll protect them. [ as a fire lord, it's his duty to protect those who have placed their faith within him. he doesn't wish to be like his father, hellbent on decimating the world until it reflects the image of what he had desired, but he no longer wants to be fearful of approaching a town or even a country itself for how it may feel ill toward a firebender. it's peace he wants — and he knows, from those from his future, that he does accomplish it. he just doesn't know how. ]

If you ever want to, Sokka and I can always help you. [ he can't right now. if she came to his world, he'd be able to tell her the air nomad temples may be the best place to go, where they had been peaceful and almost neutral themselves in tone. children would love to climb over the temples and architecture there. zuko had liked it, when he'd been, despite it being in ruins. in the drabwurld, he's incapable of such a feat — he wants that to change, and he knows sokka's eager to map the world, too. ] We're exploring the world; Sokka likes reading. Maybe we'll find a place for you, if you ever want to build your orphanage.

[ but it doesn't necessarily show that they're willing to accept others. sokka had been willing to accept him, despite everything he had done. it's a gift that zuko still doesn't know how to receive. ] There's important people from our future in the Seelie court. I want peace just as much as the next neutral person does.

We shall see.

[ The only thing that makes her hesitant about taking up the mantle for an orphanage is, of course, her mind. She has only told a few - just barely - that she's struggling to keep herself. It isn't as bad as it was in the past, but she is in no position to help another, lest it be by means of using her knife an sword. Battles she can do, care for another is dubious, in her opinion. ]

I will take this as slowly as possible, with every precaution. The last orphanage I oversaw, it was in my hands and in mine alone. It is as I said -- the owner of it was not a good man. His intentions weren't to help them.

[ Seelie court? Months later, Alice still finds herself treading lightly around them, though, not as bad as it was before. ] And who would they be in the Seelie court?

[ he can respect that — wanting to ensure she's the right fit, wanting to guarantee the responsibility she's placing on her shoulders is a weight she can handle. though he had been born to inherit the throne, zuko thinks his banishment has made him more stronger than he would've been if he had remained mute within that war council room. zuko may not know alice — and he may not know much, truthfully — but he has a feeling that if she thinks her own intentions could cross into what the man who had owned the orphanage she had overseen … it's that type of self-awareness that won't allow her to repeat the transgressions of another. ]

[ this is a little awkward. zuko hasn't even told sokka about bolin, korra, and mako yet — time has been a little difficult to obtain, and there's been so much going on … he doesn't really know how to tell him he's the fire lord and he creates the republic city — and that there's a statue of him. it must be unsightly. ] Uh. [ he looks as awkward as he feels, glancing toward sokka before he shifts and turns his back on his friend, as if that will turn him deaf. ] … Bolin? Korra? Mako? They're … [ one's a fanboy, one's a diplomat, and the other is a cop. he doesn't know the truth — he probably couldn't handle it. ] They're people I deal with as Fire Lord in my future.

[ That makes sense, doesn't it? They all have that in common, the strange ability to manipulate some element, she's noticed. ]

I see.

[ As usual, she will proceed with caution, no different than before, she hopes. ] I know of them, but not very well, I'm afraid.

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