We're in this together now

[actually112]

Who| Aang and Mollusc
What| Aang finally finds Mollusc
Where| On the shore of the Air Temple island.
When| Early week 2
Warnings/Notes| None for now

The Air Temple is familiar territory with minimal threats, so that's Aang's home base.

He's been searching the arena for Districter children, especially Mollusc or Aurelia, but he hasn't been able to find any of them yet. It doesn't help that he has to get back to the island before nightfall if he wants to spend the night there.

He rows to shore before climbing out of his boat, but there's another boat on the beach. He pauses to look at the other boat before checking for any signs of people, and more importantly, signs if they may be hostile. It's possible he'll have to find cover. Luckily, he knows this terrain well.

Comments

[m0llusc]

Mollusc swaggers a little bit, making a show of liking the attention and the praise. He knows that he has an audience, and that he might as well play it up if he intends to play for keeps. Which he does. His sister is home, worried, waiting. He's going to bring Meulin's pearl back. He's going to live.

"I can spear them like it's nothing," he says. "I'll get some for you, too. It's no problem. Gotta earn my keep if you're letting me stay her safe, I guess."

He peers down at the swirling patterns, squinting. "Huh," he says. "Not like it was your fault or something. Seems like a stupid thing to be mad over. And Derek and Chuck are so classic they might as well be careers, so don't take it personally." He looks at Aang, dark eyes serious.

"I don't want to kill anyone. I will if I have to, but I don't want to. I've managed not to yet."

[actually112]

"Thanks, but I don't eat meat. If you find any seaweed, though, that'd be great."

Aang jumps lightly into one of the buildings. It's shady inside with lots of spaces for the wind to rush through. When the wind blows hard enough, it sounds like music. "They think I should have asked them first because they were making a big deal about none of us doing something stupid, but it didn't occur to me. I thought everyone would be happy that we were trying to talk up Panem's history like they always do in the Youth Program."

The lie is easy. It gets easier and easier as he tells it. The monks said that lying enough made it harder to see the truth, but Aang doesn't think that he'll ever forget the truth.

Aang glances at Mollusc. The implication is pretty clear. He doesn't find it upsetting at all. "I know. I hope you don't have to any time soon." Aang would keep him safe until such a time that his presence becomes only a hazard.

[m0llusc]

"No meat? Not even fish?" Mollusc asks, sounding mystified but ultimately shrugging and accepting it. "Got it. I'd be happy to grab you seaweed. I saw some earlier so I know it's around. Can I ask why, though?" he inquires, furrowing his brow, wanting not to judge but to understand. He's pretty sure that anyone in 4 who tried to live just on seaweed would starve pretty fast.

He follows, turning his head as the wind rustles through his dark hair. "I don't think that you meant any harm and honestly it sounds pretty innocent," he says. "And... yeah, I hope that neither of us have to. Not now or soon. This is the kind of hanging out I always wanted to do without having to worry about that kind of stuff."