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re_alignment2012-06-27 03:53 pm
not_halfbaked) wrote in re_alignment2012-06-27 03:53 pm
Entry tags:
WATER [Open to all players!]
(OOC: Let me know if I'm doing this wrong--like, if this is the incorrect format for this re-aligned comm or something, I know there's more than one, and I'm sorta a little confused on which is for which? Anyway, here goes....)
Is this thing on?
[Korra lightly bangs at something, frowning--the screen shakes. She gives a big exaggerated sigh, then continues.]
Okay, I heard there were some other humans like me out here, so given that, I wanted to ask if any of you guys have found water? Like, any water at all, a pool, a river, even a freakin' flask of it? And y'know, same question to anyone, Cybertronians or spirits or whatever--have you seen water?
[Korra blinked, then added in a rush.]
And in case there's anyone who doesn't realize, water's a big deal for humans like me, we need it to survive.
[Korra moves to turn off the screen.]
Okay, that's it, hopefully someone gets in touch with me about this--
[Korra stretched too far or too fast, because she flinches, irritating the wound on her back. No way is she going to ask aloud for medical help. If she can find water, she can heal herself, thank you very much. But then the thought occurred to her--if there were other humans like her, were there like any other healers among them? What if there...weren't? A panicked expression suddenly flashes across Korra's face.]
Um, actually, quick head count--are there any human healers out there that can, y'know, heal...humans?
[Korra's expression distinctly reads without words, 'That sounded lame.']
Well, I'll, uh, raise my head first--or is it hand--?
[Korra shakes her head, raises a hand.]
Whatever, I can heal as long as I have water--it's a bending thing--uh, and that's a thing where I manipulate the water to like do whatever I want including heal the human body. So if there's a human out there who's hurt and has water or can find water, you can come to me for help.
[Korra paused, trying to think of anything else to add. She slowly shrugged.]
Okay, that's definitely it now...so, um, bye, hope to see someone with info on water soon.
[End transmission.]
Is this thing on?
[Korra lightly bangs at something, frowning--the screen shakes. She gives a big exaggerated sigh, then continues.]
Okay, I heard there were some other humans like me out here, so given that, I wanted to ask if any of you guys have found water? Like, any water at all, a pool, a river, even a freakin' flask of it? And y'know, same question to anyone, Cybertronians or spirits or whatever--have you seen water?
[Korra blinked, then added in a rush.]
And in case there's anyone who doesn't realize, water's a big deal for humans like me, we need it to survive.
[Korra moves to turn off the screen.]
Okay, that's it, hopefully someone gets in touch with me about this--
[Korra stretched too far or too fast, because she flinches, irritating the wound on her back. No way is she going to ask aloud for medical help. If she can find water, she can heal herself, thank you very much. But then the thought occurred to her--if there were other humans like her, were there like any other healers among them? What if there...weren't? A panicked expression suddenly flashes across Korra's face.]
Um, actually, quick head count--are there any human healers out there that can, y'know, heal...humans?
[Korra's expression distinctly reads without words, 'That sounded lame.']
Well, I'll, uh, raise my head first--or is it hand--?
[Korra shakes her head, raises a hand.]
Whatever, I can heal as long as I have water--it's a bending thing--uh, and that's a thing where I manipulate the water to like do whatever I want including heal the human body. So if there's a human out there who's hurt and has water or can find water, you can come to me for help.
[Korra paused, trying to think of anything else to add. She slowly shrugged.]
Okay, that's definitely it now...so, um, bye, hope to see someone with info on water soon.
[End transmission.]
Re: [video] So is Korra! They can be socially inept dorks together ;)
How can I not? Whether anyone says it or not, everyone else does--compare me to Aang, I mean. He literally saved the world, ended a 100 year war! I can't protect one city....
...The Fire Nation started that 100 year war I mentioned. They've been at peace with the rest of the world for my entire life.
[Korra bit her lip? What was her point? That things can get better, factions can reconcile?]
...How long has your war been going on?
Slipstream's...interesting. Convincing. She's very opinionated. [Korra smirked. Not unlike herself, she supposed.]
So...like, a sibling to Prima and Megatronus? 'Cause I think Prima said they all came from Primus.
[video] *highfive*
[Oh great, you're going to get another story, half-afted as it is. He's not Kup, okay?]
[Then again, you should feel lucky he's not Kup otherwise this story would last about a week.]
We have this thing. A condition. It's called 'primus apotheosis'. Mechs idolize Optimus Prime. They want to be just like him. They change their color, behavior, everything. To try to be someone they're not.
Because they think there's one way to be a hero, to be valuable, and that's to be him.
They're wrong.
[He nods. End of story.]
Our war? Four million years. It was over and we...are still struggling to make peace. In a way, leading in peace is harder than leading in war. But it's better.
Four million years of believing in this [he taps the insignia on his chassis] above all else is hard to let go of.
I wish we succeed as well as your people, Korra.
I'm...not sure. That's what he told me, a descendant of Primus.
...do you have Primus in your world?
Re: [video] *highfive*
[Korra's still downcast. Though she considers.]
Which I guess includes you-- [Korra bows.] Thanks for the advice, Drift. [She smirks.] Especially to a total stranger that probably can't even reach your knee standing up.
[Korra looks a little wigged out.]
'Kay, that does sound sorta...creepy. No offense.
[Korra glances away.]
I don't know, I think I'm getting to get the...weird issues in peacetime. I thought everything was pretty good, everyone was living it up--but a lot of people are saying things are so bad, they have to revolt...and I did see things go pretty bad. Give people a reason to revolt.
[Korra sighs. That cost a lot to admit that. Being in a weird world and feeling super vulnerable and talking to all these people's given her a lot of time to think and reconsider things.]
[Korra shook her head.]
Nope, no Primus in our world. The closest I think we have are the spirits--stories say they created our world.
(OOC: Abrupt headcanon time--the canon's never given an origin story for the whole world, but spirits are important, so I'm just gonna say that a lot of stories say the spirits made Korra's world.)
[video]
[You know, sometimes, hearing Drift talk, you'd think he's got this all figured out. Then you'd see his brain module is leaking out of his face.]
It is 'creepy', yes. And a lot of mechs have died because of primus apotheosis.
[He winces, feeling a bit guilty for bringing up an uncomfortable topic.] For what it's worth, peace seems a lot harder than war. Things, little things, start happening and it all builds.
But what matters is that someone at the top notices, and cares, and tries to help.
[What would have happened if the Senate had done that, instead of the Clampdown?]
Spirits? [Drift perks up.] Do you know what they look like? Are they beings of pure energy? [Because if the legends are true, the Knights of Cybertron left their planet and spread civilization to other worlds. Could they be....?]
Re: [video]
...Makes sense.
Um...y'know, I'm not sure if I just saw a guy with primus apothewatever, or a different Optimus Prime? But yeah, I saw on Optimus Prime on our phone link thing, and he...he wasn't what I was expecting. Have you seen this guy?
[That makes Korra pause. Starts to really think.]
Why does it have to be the 'top?' Shouldn't the 'low' be able to help--?
[Korra paused. That really sounded like Amon there, didn't it?]
I thought you guys were spirits--I've never seen ones from my world before, even though I am supposed to be a bridge to the spirit world....
[Korra pauses on 'energy.' Tries to remember.]
Well, I think the Avatar Spirit's supposed to be like pure energy, or at least the Avatar State is.
[video]
[Because Drift's been struggling with it for a while. And all this advice he's giving you? Wow he sure should try himself. ]
Hmmmm. [He's no psychologist, but he's heard stories. ] Did he seem fixated on dying gloriously in battle?
[He shrugs.] Maybe your world is different. In mine, before the war, the Senate and the Prime held all the power. The 'low'--people like me--couldn't even get ourselves heard. When you can't even do that, you can't help.
It's why we followed Megatron. He got us listened to. At least at first.
[And that is the start of another long and twisty story Drift really doesn't want to tell.]
[He laughs, wondering what it would have been like for him if the first time he'd seen humans was here.] It's probably more than a little strange, all of us, to you.
And you are the Avatar? But you...have...a body? [How does that work?]
Re: [video]
No, I remember him talking more about teamwork. It was a good speech--I was just surprised because he seemed nicer than I thought he'd be.
[Korra's a little unnerved. Sounds like whatever started the war is going on in Republic City.]
The people I'm fighting against...I think I should be fighting against...they...well, come to think of it, they don't really have a representative on the council that rules the city. But Amon, their leader--he's promising them that they'll be heard. While ending bending at the same time. [Korra frowns at that.]
[Korra nodded.]
The stories say the Avatar takes on human form to understand the people and better keep balance. But they still retain that spirit connection...or they're supposed to....
[video]
He...was probably actually Optimus Prime, then. [Educated guess.]
This Amon wants to end bending? But didn't you say it was part of your culture? What you are? No one can expect you to end that.
[If bending is part of who you are, it's sort of impossible to ask someone to change what they are.]
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't hear him out.
[At least. Give him a chance.]
....'supposed to'? You don't sound too sure.
Re: [video]
[Korra stops as Drift advises listening to Amon.]
Well...I don't think I've really listened to him before. Mostly I've just been freaked out by him.
[Korra sighed.]
Remember when I thought you were guys were spirits. [Korra threw her hands up.] At least I thought I made a break through, I finally connected to the Spirit World--!
[Korra slumps down.] But this isn't the Spirit World. I've never connected to the Spirit World--and I'm the Avatar! It's kinda in my job description! Right next to, 'don't abandon your world!'
[Was it Korra's fault she was here? It felt like she ditched the world, despite the fact that she never wanted to do that.]
[video]
[Drift has seen some pretty odd looking characters in his time; his curiosity is piqued.]
And why does he want to end bending? There must be a reason. ...not a good one, necessarily.
[He laughs, but it sounds a bit bitter.] No, we're hardly spiritual beings. As flawed as anyone.
If not more.
[He frowns. Because he can hear that note of confession there and feels the weight of honor that he's been trusted. ]
Being here isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself. As for the other, well...you can work on that while you're here. Talk to Prima or something. It might not be exactly right, since you're not Cybertronian, but there has to be some reason you're here. Maybe it's destiny. Maybe you were meant to come here.
Maybe this is the spirit world for you.
Re: [video]
Well, Amon says he wants equality. Says benders oppress nonbenders like him and his followers and...and everyone else who can't bend. I guess he thinks that without our bending, things will be more equal since...well, no one could bend then, so I guess we would be equal that way....
[Korra hadn't really thought much about the first rally she'd seen Amon at. When he'd spoke.]
...He said when he was a boy, a firebender criminal murdered his family and left him with a horrible scar on his face, and he had to hide his face behind a mask. So I guess it's revenge, I guess that just made him think all bending was evil.
I dunno, Prima said--hmmm.
[Korra rubs the back of her neck.]
Prima did say the Firstforged could give us powers, if we do favors for them. Especially the ones whose mark we already have? [Korra shows of her Glyph of Megatronus.] Whose mark do you have, Drift?
[video]
Do you have any way to stop him? Or help those he's stolen from regain their power? Because that's a dangerous power.
[He sighs. This...is going to be tough. But she trusted him; he can do the same.]
Korra. Before the war...I was like this Amon. I had a best friend--my only friend. And he got killed. It was an accident, but I didn't see that. All I saw was that I'd lost Gasket.
I spent years punishing everyone for it.
...it didn't bring him back.
It didn't fix anything. It just made everything a lot worse. For everyone.
Your Amon needs to learn this. Because power or not, he's acting out of hurt, not justice.
[It's almost a relief to change topic. He stops worrying his hands together, looking at her through the feed. ] Then that's what you ask Prima for help with.
[He rotates his upper arm so she can see the glyph. ] Vector Prime. He stopped the plague from advancing. So...I guess I already owe him a favor.
Re: [video]
Wish I knew how to stop him. Or return everyone's bending. But when he takes it, looks like it's gone for good.
[Korra stares. Kinda stunned. Drift like Amon? Then...could Amon change like Drift? The stories said Fire Lord Zuko had changed too--the whole Fire Nation did. Acting out of hurt--not justice, not hatred, hurt. Slipstream said she should try to make Amon look bad; Drift said she should try changing his mind. Both had said force wasn't going to work.]
If--when I see him again, I'll have to see if he and I can talk without trying to kill each other.
[Korra blinks.]
He did? Wow, that's--does that mean you're not sick anymore? [Korra looks at him more carefully, searching.]
My glyphs with Megatronus Prime. I guess he's some kind of firebender too--a large one.
[video]
....and he considers your kind as threats? How is taking someone's bending not like killing them? It would be like if one of my kind had his transformation cog removed. We'd be...half of what we were used to being.
[It sounds really horrifying.]
Protect yourself, though.
...you might ask Wing for advice. It'd be better than mine.
[He cocks his head. Does he look not sick?] He couldn't heal it. But he could stop it from getting worse.
It's something.
[Megatronus Prime?] ...has anyone told you about Megatron? Not this one, but well...Megatron? [He may sound a little worried.]
Re: [video]
Well--[Korra remembers Tarrlok] bending can be abused, and nonbenders can be really vulnerable to that...so, yeah, it can be a threat. And I... [could she admit she would feel like nothing without her bending?]...couldn't bare losing my bending...though nonbenders have lived without it all the time--wait, what's a transformation cog? Is that something all your people have? What's it do?
Hmm, thanks, will do. What's this Wing guy like?
Did he have any advice on how it could be cured? Like give you any doctor's orders or something?
Megatron...Megatronus...oh, that does sound like the guy you mentioned! ...Who was bad news?
Um, yeah, so, no, not Megatron really, just Megatronus. Why, who is this Megatron guy?
[video]
Any power can be abused. That's why those with power need to protect, not harm.
[ Oh. Right. ]. It's the mechanism we need to have to change form. Some refuse to, remove theirs and never use an alt. But that's their choice to make. Like your bending. If someone were to willingly give it up, it's different than having it taken. Stolen. Like half of who you are.
Wing. [ Oh frag, Wing. Drift's not going to have any secrets left at this rate!!!]
Jet. Sword like mine. He lived in a whole city that was at peace.
....I got him killed.
And Megatron. The one i knew was a great speaker. He'd been a poet before the war. He was the one who rallied us, told us we could make the Senate listen.
He started the war. And kept it going.
Re: [video]
['Don't abuse power, protect with it'--Korra nods. She gets that. She flashes to that annoying protestor guy--yeah, he was annoying, but she kinda roughed him up, did she have to do that?]
...Um, are there...have you ever been in a stitch where you abused your power without knowing it? But you did it all the same, and only noticed when it was too late?
Huh. But even that's kind wei--I've never heard of anyone ever willingly give up bending in my world.
...If he's dead how can I talk to Wing?
[Korra closes her eyes.]
I don't know if Amon does mean well or if he's just hurt like you say, but I'm kinda worried he might start something like that. Him and Tarrlok.
[It doesn't immediately occur to Korra to explain who Tarrlok is. She's sorta thinking aloud at this point.]
Re: [video]
Yes. Several million years of that 'sitch'. It took...it took a lot for me to even realize.
I've been trying to make up for it ever since.
[ Oh, it is weird, no argument from Drift. ]
I can't imagine giving up my transformation cog. But maybe I just don't have enough faith. Or the right kind.
Wing is...here. [ Yeah, don't ask him to explain it, either. ] His city had the peace that we--both sides--claimed we were fighting for.
[ So the Circle had figured something out that eluded both factions; maybe that was what Korra needed.]
If someone is trying to destroy, you must protect. You can try to understand, but that doesn't mean you can't still protect your kind.
Re: [video]
Oh.... [Spirits, that did not sound good. But.]...well, you're back on track now, that's good.
...What does your Transformation cog do? What does it transform? [OOC: I don't think Korra's had robot transformation exactly explained to her yet.]
[The second coin dropped for Korra.]
Uh, Drift, did you...did you say what Wing looked like? Because I--ha-- [she gives a nervous and supremely nervous chuckle]--I think I met him once already.... [Spirits, this was awkward!] And he looked...fine, not dead. [How does that work. Could the Lambda thing have saved him, like it apparently did with Blurr?]
[Korra nods, slowly.] I think I get that.
[OOC: I really want to interact with an Amon here.~]
[video]
I hope. Or I was on track.
Now I'm here. [And leaky. Kind of hard to blaze a path of righteousness like this.]
[But it won't stop him from trying.]
....? [For a moment Drift is just as confused. How do you not know....? Oh right. Humans. And humans with magic. He's pretty sure he wouldn't understand her bending any more than she did this.]
It changes us. Each of us has two modes--some more. [Sixshot had...uh...six, perhaps unsurprisingly.] There's a robot, like this, [thumbpoint] then there's an alternate. Most of the time it's a vehicle.
[Though rumor had it there was a giant datastick on the Lost Light.]
Like...[Oh hell, he doesn't have anything to lose. He transforms, folding up, plates shifting, until she sees, instead of the leaky-opticked robot, a rust-smeared hovercar.] ....this.
Wing? I don't think I said. About my height. White and red, gold optics, big audial flares on his helm. Oh. And big sword.
[Drift shifts back, because maybe talking to a car was weird to her.]
I exposed him to the plague since he's been here. He might not be showing symptoms yet.
[A bitter snort.] I got him killed before; I really don't want to do it again.
((OOC: I really hope we get one!!))
Re: [video]
[Korra gapes at his transformation, first she's seen directly.]
WOWthatissocool!
[Then she blinks. Tilts her head.]
That doesn't hurt, does it? Even with you being sick and all? I was told some robot guys could combine, and that it didn't hurt them.
That's him! I definitely met him with Knock Out earlier.
Has Wing seen Ratchet?
(OOC: Yes, it would be great! Though Korra's developing here, I think she'd still be terrified of him at first, even more so, because her first thought will be, 'is he in his remove all bending mindset still,' since Korra is relying on that even more in this strange new world with huge robots all around her. Though she's slowly finding allies, to suddenly be left without those powers would make her feel even more vulnerable than in canon.)
[video]
[Aha! There it is. The bright side. It's a very small bright side. More like a bright facet or something. But it's there!]
[Drift shakes his head. He's a little weirded out at her reaction--it's not very cool at all to him, and ground frames aren't exciting.]
No. It doesn't hurt. But where I'm from, the combining....isn't like that.
[Monstructor had been an experiment in combiner technology. And a disaster on all counts.]
[A shrug.] I don't know Knock Out. Another jet?
[Wing's certainly been sociable. Then again, that was Wing.] I don't know. We only spoke once.
[He makes a face. Apparently it didn't go so well.]
((ooc: I have my fingers crossed!!))
Re: [video]
...Sorry....
[What else can she say? Constantly putting her foot in her mouth.]
So your people could combine too. [Korra notices his hesitation. She admits.] It didn't sound that...great, to me....
[Korra considers.] I don't think so. He didn't have wings. Do all the guys who change into jets have wings when they're in a body with legs?
[Korra notices his face. Adds kinda awkwardly and trying to distract.]
Well, Ratchet was offering to look at everyone all doctor-like, maybe he can help Wing.
(OOC: Me too!)
[video]wow we have talked for a while!! o_O
It was a joke?
[Yeah, he maybe needs more practice before unleashing his sense of humor on the unsuspecting world.]
Where I'm from, a scientist was determined to make the concept work. Rumor had it, the mechs he used weren't exactly volunteers.
But this, transformation, that's natural. That's what we do, what we are. Like your bending.
[Except with cooler sound effects.]
[Maybe. ]
[He has no idea what waterbending sounds like.]
It depends. Some have big fixed wing panels. [Like Starscream.] Some were smaller. Wing's are flat against his back.
But if Wing's with him, he's probably nice.
[Because sure, Wing has no track record at all of trusting untrustworthy people. Nope. None.]
I hope so. Wing deserves to be happy. He's been through...enough at my hands.
Re: [video] I know, should we end soon? like just have the characters say 'bye, see you later?'
[Korra looks embarrassed. OOC: Socially inept dorks unite!]
I remember us all splitting up, actually. But yeah, Knock Out's cool. [OOC: Oh still naive Korra, but Knock Out's been nothing but civil to her, and he was the first sentient robot she ever met here, she's kinda imprinted on him in a way.]
[video] Ijust don't want to bog you down and keep you from NEW CR, ya know?
Re: [video] CR? I don't want to bog you down either