( t e x t | seelie & unseelie. backdated to the 3rd. )

[tensed]

[ the way to communicate here seems too much like something the capitol would make. if not for his need for information, he would throw the damn thing away.

( he's still considering a hole in the ground for it as he types. ) ]

I heard some people have been here a few months. I got a few questions.
are there any rules about the woods
what animals are there around here [ it might help if you specified where "here" is, gale. ]
what district are you from?

[ the third question is a last-minute addition, a sign he's not entirely convinced yet that his being here isn't a capitol trick. gale debates adding anything else, but common sense provides the more obvious answers. he's not in the mood to waste anyone's time, especially his own. ]

Comments

[tensed]

What? I thought you wanted to hear me.

[ actual mean girl, gale hawthorne. ]

[sangilak]

[ he even has a girl's name.

BUT WHATEVER, korra's gonna just ignore that statement and instead answer gale's previous question: ]

Naga's not from around here, she's a gift from home. The rulers of this place brought her here after I brought down a bunch of dangerous creatures.

[tensed]

So they reward loyal service.

[ gale's placidity belies how much he resents the unseen rulers in that moment. it's hard for him to believe the capitol isn't somehow involved because this is the capitol's way of operating: introduce some terrible event, reward those who participate.

( he's waiting for the floggings and the starvation to begin. ) ]

How good of them.

[sangilak]

[ immediately irritation creeps back into korra's tone: ]

I didn't do it for them. I did it to protect the castle and everyone else who couldn't fight for themselves.

[tensed]

[ her tone is familiar. enough for some of the passive-aggressive animosity with which he greets everyone not named katniss to leak out of his. ]

Not a fan?

[sangilak]

[ she—... hesitates, looking away from the locket for a moment and over at naga, listening to her polar beardog whine for a second before she glances back at the locket. ]

I... don't know yet. [ she thought she was on good grounds with them, but the more time that passes the less certain she is of, well, anything here. she wants to protect people, but she also wants to go home and do her job as the avatar. ] But they're a lot better than other people I've worked with.

[tensed]

These are better? People who won't even show their face and kidnap others—

[ he cuts himself off before he can finish his rant. gale scrubs his face.

this is why he prefers text. ]

Forget it.

[sangilak]

[ >people who won't even show their face
>kidnap others
>shanghai them into a war
... yeah, still better than unalaq, than tarrlok, than vaatu and everyone else who's tried to manipulate korra in the past. at least when korra talked to the seelie queen, she gave korra options, explaining to her ways to leave this war and take her friends with her.

that's more than anyone else has ever done, save those who cared about her as a person and not as the avatar. months after the fact and she still bristles at the thought of what she's faced back home.

but... therein lies the difference between the two kingdoms, suddenly laid bare in front of korra. ]

I wasn't kidnapped—I offered to help because I thought it was the right thing to do. [ she grits her teeth, willing herself to calm down and be patient because she wants to help this guy. ] You're in the other court, aren't you?

[tensed]

[ gale's abrupt silence provides the answer: yes.

he's sick of being a pawn in whatever game the established powers want to play. he's sick of never having a choice. ]

[sangilak]

[ korra's quiet for a long moment, and though she doesn't realize it, she can relate to feeling as though she's never been given a choice. even from a baby all she's ever wanted to be was the avatar, but ever since then people have felt it necessary to manipulate her into their schemes and use her powers for their own purpose.

she takes in a breath, feeling empathy for this guy and actually getting angry on his behalf. ]

Sorry, I didn't realize that's how they were. [ her voice is steely now, and she crosses her arms, leaning back against a wall, fingers gripping her arm tight. ] The same thing happened to a friend of mine, and he was brought here against his will. [ korra he doesn't care!!! get to the point. ] ... My name is Korra, and I'm the Avatar. [ the title apparently holds weight here, so she'll hold onto it. ] If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know.

[tensed]

[ he doesn't know what the avatar is or what she can do. more than that, he doesn't trust her. doesn't trust anyone in this place except katniss, and peeta because he has to.

gale shakes his head, briefly forgetting that he cannot be seen. too accustomed to help never coming. too proud to accept it even when he should. ]

I'm good, really. I'll live.

[ it's the thing he knows how to do best. ]