viii ⚜ action + voice

[banishment]

ＡＣＴＩＯＮ, ＯＰＥＮ ＴＯ ＡＮＹＯＮＥ

Zuko hadn't been to work in a while. He took a temporary leave of absence following Weiss's kidnapping and subsequent rescue, determined to keep a watchful eye on her in case Torchwick was foolish enough to go after her again. But time had passed and Torchwick had yet to make a move, and Weiss had recovered enough that he felt comfortable with backing off a little. (Besides, he was sure she knew that he had essentially spent the past month tailing her.) And while the dragon problem in Fayren wasn't as much of a dilemma as it had been, it was still something that required attention.

Which was why the Deputy Guardian could be found in various parts of Fayren throughout the day, from the streets of the city itself to the more mountainous and forested areas where the dragons tended to dwell. It was important to ensure that the native populations remained unharmed and those human-like dragons that had seen to capturing virgins were eradicated.

ＶＯＩＣＥ, ＬＯＣＫＥＤ ＴＯ ＫＡＴＡＲＡ

You said we were supposed to be friends now, that you forgave me for what I did in Ba Sing Se and, you know, everything else? If that's true, then I would like to ask you for a favor.

[ awkward... ]

Comments

[banishment]

[ perhaps he would've observed the seen in something more like awe and wonder were he not accustomed to such seemingly "impossible" feats. his world was full of people who were gifted, naturally, with the ability to do things people from other worlds couldn't -- things the non-benders of his own were unable to. for all zuko knew, this man had gifts similar to the benders of his world, and he's curious enough about that to make his approach. ]

Impressive, but I know a twelve-year-old who could give you a run for your money-- literally.

[kienzankriller]

[Krillin glances to the side, grinning and chuckling at the remark before shrugging to one side, and allowing the rock to fall off his back.]

I wouldn't doubt it. You should see my best friend's kid. At thirteen he was on a level far beyond anything I was capable of.

[He takes a wristband off, dabbing at his forehead for a second before dropping it to his side where it makes an audible thud, as if it were made of metal.]

What brings you this far out? I'm out here training. Figured it was deserted enough I wouldn't be bothering anyone.

[banishment]

Sounds like my sister.

[ zuko was pretty sure he surpassed azula in a few things at this point (especially with the way he still had her believing he was the loyal brother and dedicated heir, still on her and the fire nation's side), but azula had been the prodigy. she did everything before him while he struggled to keep up.

he notices the weighted band, but doesn't comment on it. earthbenders who wore slabs of bent rock as jewelry or for ornamental purposes we common. toph had that piece of space rock that sokka had given her. they were used to fighting with huge weights, but someone like zuko, who relied on swiftness, agility, and flexibility in his style of fighting, couldn't afford to be weighted down. ]

It usually is, but we've had some problems with beings who masquerade as both humans and dragons kidnapping people. Their numbers have dwindled, but I'm not so sure they've left. Not completely. I've been making rounds to make sure they're not thinking about making a comeback.

[kienzankriller]

[Krillin almost makes a remark about Goku and Gohan not exactly being human, but thought better of it. Instead he just listens to the story about kidnappings and dragons. The only dragon he'd encountered being Shenlong, his mind imagines an army of them and... well, the picture isn't pretty.]

...That does explain why I felt... something. Still getting used to this place and not being able to sense energy like in mine...

[banishment]

Felt? Energy like yours?

[ he was curious, although not as surprised as he would've been eight months ago. ]

[kienzankriller]

[Krillin nods, holding his hand out palm up as an orb of blue light materializes over his hand. Visual aids help, right?]

In my world, everyone has a sort of spirit energy called ki. People who dedicate their lives to fighting have more ki than others, and can usually use that energy in combat. My friends and I have figured out how to sense that energy and feel out a person's approximate strength based on how powerful their energy is.

[He lowers his hand, the ball of light fading as he puts his hand on his hip and shakes his head slightly.]

This place is weird though. Everyone still has energy that I can feel but... it's... different. I'm not sure what to make of it, really.

[banishment]

[ as strange as that blue orb looked, what krillin said actually sounded kind of familiar... ]

That sounds like chi, which helps me to do this— [ he held his own hand out and bend fire into his palm. ]

[kienzankriller]

[Krillin blinks a bit and cocks his head at the flame. He's seen plenty of energy blasts, and Guldo can freeze moisture in the air, but he's never seen anyone do that with a flame before.]

Oh wow, that's pretty cool. Definitely something I've never seen before. But where are my manners, I don't think I've actually introduced myself yet. I'm Krillin.

[Have an extended hand.]

[banishment]

[ zuko snuffs out the flame in his palm, making sure to use his bending to pull the heat out of his palm before shaking krillin's hand. ]

Prince Zuko. Nice to meet you.

[kienzankriller]

[Krillin just grins before he goes back to stretching, pulling an arm across his chest.]

So, that power of yours. Is it rare where you're from?

[banishment]

[ zuko shook his head, though there was a grain of truth in the rareness of his own power. he no longer bent like most firebenders did, but that wasn't something to be shared with just anyone. what he learned from the dragons needed to be protected, even if those dragons weren't necessarily under threat in a world they weren't present in. ]

A good portion of my country's population is born with the ability to firebend. Some can do it, others can't. You have to train to get better at it, to focus it so you're not just setting tapestries on fire.

[kienzankriller]

[Krillin whistled a bit, obviously impressed.]

That's kind of the polar opposite in my world. Everyone is born with the potential to use ki, but less than twenty in the world know how to really implement it as a tool in their every day life, and even then we've all had to train our entire lives to do that... which the exception of a couple special cases.

[banishment]

Does everyone know about it?

[ children were monitored from birth (at least, royal and noble children) for signs of bending abilities. it wasn't something everyone could do, but it was certainly something everyone was aware of. ]

[kienzankriller]

[He shakes his head.]

No. My master only knew because his master taught him the basics of it, and from there, my master used that teaching to make his own techniques. It's just kind of built from there. There's only five humans in the world that really know how to tap into it.

[banishment]

I get that. Kind of. There's a few things I know how to do that most don't. I learned from a pair of ancient masters that most believe don't exist anymore. Outside of those who protect them, there's only three firebenders who know how to utilize their techniques.

[kienzankriller]

That... actually sounds very similar to the situation in my world. These two ancient masters, they weren't a Turtle Hermit and Crane Hermit, were they?

[Because that would be all kinds of uncanny.]

[banishment]

No. They were dragons.

[ he probably shouldn't be telling krillin that, but he highly doubts the guy will ever have a conversation with azula. his sister's less of a social butterfly than he is, and doesn't like th share firebending "secrets" with others. ]

[kienzankriller]

Dragons? As in multiple? That's really cool. In my world, there's only the one. His name's Shenron, and I kinda owe him my life. ...A couple times over really.

[Yeah, Krillin hasn't heard of the royal dragons yet, just the dragon-like people that gave him awkward flashbacks of Tamborine...]

Don't think Shenron really... exists in the physical realm though, if that makes any sense at all.

[banishment]

Yeah, two. There used to be a lot more, but they were hunted out of existence. Most people don't know that the dragons I met are even still alive.

[ "please don't say anything" is implied. ]

It does, actually. There are beings in my world that don't really exist in the world as we know it, but are from another one -- the Spirit World.

[kienzankriller]

[Krillin nods, catching onto that implication.]

I don't think Shenron is in the Spirit World in our world... I've seen that and it's... not quite what you'd expect. Then again, the price of admission wasn't exactly... pleasant.

[banishment]

What was it? How did you get to see your dragon?

[kienzankriller]

[Krillin scratches his head awkwardly for a moment before speaking.]

In my world there are seven gems called Dragon Balls. They each have a number of stars in them from one to seven. When all seven are gathered in one place, Shenron can be summoned. When summoned, Shenron will grant whoever called him one wish.

My best friend recieved the four star ball from his grandfather, and kind of made it his mission to protect it as a keepsake. He was never interested in te power that gem possessed, but many people sought the Dragon Balls for less than wholesome purposes.

Long story short... I've died. Twice. I was able to be brought back to life thanks to Shenron, and the Eternal Dragon of planet Namek; Porunga.

[banishment]

[ zuko nods, following along. the only resurrection he knew of was katara using the water from the oasis at the north pole to bring aang back from the brink of death following azula's assault, but even then, he couldn't imagine actually dying and coming back. even if he knew it was a very real and possible thing here. ]

You know that people don't really die here, right? It hasn't happened to me, but I know people who've died here. You come back, but for at the price of losing something.

[kienzankriller]

Even so... it's not a fun experience. Life is precious, and while it's comforting to know there is something that happens after... what exactly happens is still kind of up in the air. I don't think I'd be getting the same treatment as Goku when I finally give it up for good... and that's a sobering realization.

[banishment]

[ sobering? zuko would call that sort of uncertainty terrifying, but he's never been very good at handling that which is up in the air. his own mortality isn't something he needs to contemplate. an existential crisis would do him no favors, especially at a point in his life where he's finally starting to feel at home in his own skin and no longer at odds with himself. ]

The Avatar is reincarnated. One dies, another one is born, and they can communicate with their past lives and draw upon those memories and experiences when needed. They live on, in a way.

[ aang could explain that better. ]