[Written/Action]

[flickerflash]

[Has everyone forgotten she's here?  Assumed she's gone home?

Katie hopes so.

She's been hiding long enough.

She's also been out of touch.  For the first time ever, she's making a locked post.  But as she never really worked out how to use locks, it's pathetically easy to break.  And given she's also directing it to Wolfwood, of all people...

...the writing is scratchy and awkward, because honestly she takes a few moments to remember how to write.]

[Written | Failed filter to Wolfwood]

The cremation of a fireman goes unremarked, but his remains remade remove the gremlin.  This is my remedy, my ceremony, and there will be no rematch, but I had to remind you.  It would be remiss if I didn't remark on the remnant that didn't remain.

I'm not sorry, preacherman.

[Katie doesn't want to be seen by anyone, and so she does the sensible thing.  It's very late at night when she lets herself into the stores-- more early morning-- and makes off with a pair of scissors.  And possibly a fireman's hat, if it exists.  Just because.  And then very briefly, she heads past Cullen House to leave what appears to be a ball of brightly, multi-coloured string in the kitchen.

She's not brave enough to head south until the sun is up, and so morning sees her heading through the forest for its southern edge, scissors in hand, where a collection of brightly coloured string still flutters in a breeze that doesn't exist.]

Comments

[savedtheworld]

That sounds very brave of you.

If - if that's what you want, Katie. As long as you're careful, and I can see you're okay later. It's just... it could be dangerous in this forest. [Word's surely spread by now that the local vampire is gone, but who knows what else could lurk in its depths?]

[flickerflash]

I'll make sure to come knocking so you know I'm okay. But really, there's no need to worry, Aang. I come down here all the time.

[savedtheworld]

Thanks, Katie. That's very thoughtful of you. You really come here that often?

[flickerflash]

Lots. It's very quiet, because everyone else goes to the mountains or the beach or the lakes. So I come out here and pretend I'm Little Red Riding Hood.

[savedtheworld]

I like Little Red Robin Hood. Ikki was her for Halloween and told me all about her story. She's real brave - Little Red that is. And Ikki. And you. I'm glad you've been safe, though. [He hesitates.] But... Isn't there anyone to look after you?

[It's been more than half a year now since Ikki first showed up - and since Katara and Aang had been taking care of her, aside from the brief periods where Tenzin showed up and Ikki spent some time back at home. Even if he was used to kids living on their own and being free - and while Katara had told him about the responsibilities that were assumed in her tribe from a young age - Aang still worried for Ikki, and he worried for Katie, too. He had to make sure the kids were alright.]

[flickerflash]

[Katie blinks at him.] Of course there is. You don't think adults would let a little girl run around by herself, do you?

[savedtheworld]

It kinda depends, but the older people around here are mostly responsible people. But... You're still running around by yourself right now.

[flickerflash]

So are you.

[savedtheworld]

But I'm older! I'm... I'm a teenager. [But he never really saw much of a difference between kids and teenagers. He realizes this and deflates in confusion. Was he thinking of himself as less like a kid now? He can't allow that. Whatever happened to the Aang who encouraged Toph leaving her parents] But I guess that's not much different. I just... the monk who raised me wasn't like parents in some ways, so I grew up with a lot of freedom. And back home, we weren't that old when we were traveling on our own.

[flickerflash]

Freedom is very important, wouldn't you say? There's nothing an adult can do that a child can't.

[savedtheworld]

I agree that freedom is really important. B-but... only adults still can only shave their beards and other kinds of hairs they have. And even if they can do the same things as kids... they have lots of years more practice so they can do things safer.

[flickerflash]

Lots of practice makes a walk through the wood safer? I shouldn't think there's that much difference.

[savedtheworld]

Well I mean in case danger appears, y'know? Otherwise walking's easy for everyone!

[flickerflash]

Tell that to a man in a wheelchair. [Oh that was a bit callous, Katie. She frowns.] Children just protect themselves in different ways, you know.

[savedtheworld]

[He frowns quickly at the wheelchair comment. Although at least he remembers Teo, and he seemed to be doing good for himself.]

Y-yeah, I guess they do. What ways are you thinking of, Katie?

[flickerflash]

We look small and innocent and run very fast. And being nice to cats always helps.

[savedtheworld]

Those points do make sense... And it's good to be nice to all animals! But what's more special about cats?

[flickerflash]

They're guardians to the underworld. Always be nice to a cat and they'll protect you from the dead.

[savedtheworld]

I didn't know that! Is it something in their meows?

[flickerflash]

[She giggles at that. Can't help it, Aang. You're sort of adorable, even to a creepy 300 year old kid.]

Oh yes. They speak the ancient language of the death gods. ['Death god' being something she'd never heard of before she met Rangiku, but hey. They sounded awesome.]

[savedtheworld]

[It helps that Katie's adorable herself, especially when he's succeeded in causing giggles. He gives a proud smile.]

Wow, I didn't know there were death gods. [Should he thank one of them for the spirit water working that one time?] What're they like?

[flickerflash]

They're very disorganised. The ones I met kept forgetting to get dressed in the morning, and I had to protect one from an attacking bush. But they're also very good at what they do.

[And she wonders, very briefly, if by doing what she's doing today she'll get to see one of them again.]

[savedtheworld]

Heh... I guess even people as powerful as them make mistakes every now and then, but at least they do their job right! But... There was an attacking bush once? And - and you fought it?

[flickerflash]

I threw stones at it until it went away. It wasn't very brave.

You're still here. [Said gently.]

[savedtheworld]

[He starts to giggle at her first comment, but his smile dims at that reminder. He liked spending time with her... even if he thought she would be alright.]

I'm sorry. Do you want me to leave now, Katie?