flickerflash | [Written/Action]

[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.]

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[Aang happens to be walking somewhere near that section of the forest on that day. A nice, solitary nature is helping him to clear his head with all that's happened recently. Katara's return, Toph's departure. And he saw that journal message the previous night, which disturbed him. He was wondering about Katie and why he had not seen her in so long.

But eventually, he stops when he notices some movement in the corner of his eye. And he moves to investigate.]

[Oh she catches that failed filter.

She's been keeping an eye out for a time, but the girl had been so cleverly hidden away. She was certain that if she truly had gone, there would have been more evidence of her having disappeared. Or maybe it was a stubbornness that kept alive the thought that she must be still around.

Even with Jilly gone, and Wolfwood, two of the links that knew the truth of the situation. Or at least, she could only guess on Jilly's part - it was far too late to confirm anything with her, after all.

Still. She's left bells in the usual places, sometimes food, sometimes something warm. Not everything goes; though she doesn't know if the girl has taken them, or if she's far too hidden for that, or if someone else had instead.

It was no matter. On Sunday morning she's out and about early, as she usually has a few morning routines to send to - when of all things, who should she find out and about -]

Katie, please wait up.

[Vash isn't exactly sure what Katie is talking about when he sees that text message, then again - when has he ever? But he knows who she is trying to talk to.]

Katie, I'm sorry, but Wolfwood has been sent home.

[She'd just been about to close the journal when that message comes through, and for a moment Katie stares down at the window.

That means he's dead, doesn't it? One more unnatural thing about this place put back to rights. No more priest.

But then he'll never get her message either, and that means there's a steady stream of very soft cursing for a few seconds before she writes again.]

What about Sanji? Is he still here?

Yes, Sanji is still here.

[And just because joking a bit helps... sometimes.] And I'm not sure you should be using some of that language I just heard.

Edited 2013-02-11 03:10 (UTC)

[Katie freezes at that familiar voice, not quite daring to turn around. In profile, she seems not so frail, but leaner-- it's been some time since she bothered being a human. So easy to avoid notice as a cat. The scissors are held in her left hand, fingers already threaded through the handle as if she's in the business of cutting air.

Last she saw Raine-- carefully, rooftop spying-- was at school, so Katie knows she recovered well enough. But that doesn't matter at all, does it?]

Why?

[She tries to make it challenging.]

[Katie is stepping through the forest with a little more care than necessary. It's not that she's putting off getting to her destination, heck no. Not at all. Nor has her breath acquired that faint, shaky sound that comes from pure nervousness. It's like going to visit the dentist and knowing he's going to stick a drill in your mouth.

But forward she goes with her pair of scissors, and though Aang can't see it, one of her feline ears twitches back at the sound of someone following her. So she stops. Not that you're particularly loud, but she's a cat-- and you have echoes.]

Hello, Aang.

[He looks at Katie, an eyebrow raises at wondering what would need scissors for in a forest. He gives her a meek smile and a wave.]

Hello, Katie. How are you?

I think I'm doing quite well. Hard to say. [She's not turning around. And after a moment, she starts walking again.]

Shouldn't you be in school? Or reading comics. That sounds like fun.

Oh. I hope you do more well, than. [And he hastens his pace to try to catch up with her.]

They both sound like fun, but I could ask you the same question. You're littler, after all. But it doesn't matter anyway. There's no school on the weekend.

[There's a long-ish pause, and then she continues on, completely ignoring that last part. ALL BSNS.]

Would you please pass that on to Sanji and any other close friends you have?

[Raine's voice is calm, patient. She's waited this long, after all.]

Because it's been a while, and I'd like to talk to you. What more reason do I need than that?

I'm in an excellent mood and I'm likely to hurt you all over again if you stay. Go away.

Do you truly believe that of yourself, right at this moment? You wouldn't have come close to the village in this form if there wasn't something you needed. Something is going on.

Something is always going on in this village. It's quite tasty, you know.

Scissors seems to be an unusual utensil for you.

Sure, I'll pass that on to Sanji and any other of my- Wait. My?

[...]

Am I suppose to be the fireman!?

There is in Japan. And on the planet Arus. Defending planets takes lots of dedication.

Did you want something?

[As he gets closer, he might see the leather scabbard tied on one hip. Hi, Aang. I'm a nine year old carrying a sword. :|b]

[He does smile softly at what she says, but the laugh is halted by him noticing the scabbard. Sure, he'd saved the world when he was 12 and knew other youngsters who used weapons... but Katie was so close to Ikki's age that it definitely stuck out as unusual.]

Not really. I just... thought I'd spend some time with you. I haven't heard from you in a while, Katie. [And he knows so little about you - like if there are any caretakers.]

Little girls use scissors in school all the time. I'm only using it for arts and crafts.

Are you planning on cutting what you used that string for?

[...

...]

Yes.

You're the fireman.

Goodbye.

[She closes her book.]

[So wait. Does that mean yes? Or is that Katie for No? Vash is even more confused now and - HEY! DON'T YOU SHUT THAT BOOK AT HIM!]

Katie! Come on Katie open the book back up!

Oh. I went home for a while, so that's probably why.

What if I'm doing secret girl's business?

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