oo48 [voice]

[fourteen]

[ It's been just over a week since the storm and the infiltration, and the self-repair Shifts are finally kicking in. It's been a busy time, and Xion has been throwing most of her energy into helping fix what's been broken. But with things finally starting to calm down, and with lingering thoughts of the draft and a certain conviction on her mind, she settles down with her journal to make an announcement. ]

... for those of you who knew Suki, you knew she also headed the Kyoshi Warriors here in Luceti. Now that she's gone home... [ A deep breath. ] ... I'd like to see the group continue. So, if none of the existing members have any objections ... I'll be leading the Kyoshi Warriors from now on. For those who don't know me, my name is Xion.

[ It's a little more formal than she might normally speak. But this isn't really a casual thing, is it? She feels a certain pressure - both to live up to Suki's teachings, and what may well be Sokka's expectations. More than anything, she feels a need to do right by Suki's memory for Sokka's sake - and for the sake of all the other girls in the group. ]

The purpose of the Kyoshi Warriors ... was to teach people how to fight. Or a different way, if you already know. It's a group just for girls, right now. [ She pauses. It strikes her as strange, in a way, to separate out the genders. Deep down, she never saw the point. ] Considering things happen like the drafts... everyone should have a basic understanding of combat, if they want. Just to stay safe. You don't have to know anything about combat to be a part of it. We'll teach you. So if you want to join, come talk to me.

( Filtered to the existing members )

Anyway, guys, I think we should keep practicing every Sunday like we've always been. I know we missed about two weeks with the draft and Suki going home and everything... but we'll just have to make up for it!

Oh, and I guess, while I'm here... what do you all think about letting boys in?

Comments

[member filter]

[markofthewise]

[So, Xion's finally doing it. He's not sure how to feel about this still, but. He'll lend his support where it's needed for Suki's sake. As long as--- wait, what? Let boys in!?]

Uh. The Kyoshi Warriors is a girls-only group. It's kind of traditional.

[member filter]

[fourteen]

[ ... ooh. Of all the people to protest, he's the one she least wants to contradict. ]

I know that, but ... why? I've learned so much from training as a Kyoshi warrior... couldn't boys benefit from it just as much as girls can?

[member filter]

[markofthewise]

Well. Sure. Technically. But the Kyoshi Warriors have been around for centuries. It's always been like that. Sure there's been... minor exceptions. But only for a good cause! Besides, the outfits don't look good on guys.

[member filter]

[fourteen]

Isn't learning how to defend yourself in case you're drafted a good cause? I know they could learn other ways, but... why not this one too?

[ A beat. ]

Though, okay, I can admit the outfits would look a little silly on boys.

[member filter]

[markofthewise]

Well, there's other people guys can learn from! I mean, I'm learning from someone else. And teaching someone else! It's more than just about being prepared to fight. There's, you know, tradition and values and pride and all that other stuff. If you just turn it into a training regimen, it's not really the Kyoshi Warriors anymore.

[voice]

[godbent]

[ l o l and now one of her Brigade is leading another organization. Maybe she's just tired or knows how small this thing is, but she decides to see this as outreach]

Defensively, right? [Fighting, that is]

[voice]

[fourteen]

It could be. At least for the people who wanted to learn that way. But it's a style that can be used offensively, too.

[ ... pls pls pls be okay with this Haruhi ]

[voice]

[godbent]

Isn't the basis of the style redirection? [It's for girls, right? which in her mind is a very very good thing and letting boys in would be criminal] That's less easy to apply offensively, unless I've been misunderstanding it.

[From Sokka and Suki (to some extent) and Winry...]

[voice]

[fourteen]

Yeah. But that doesn't mean you always have to or even should wait for your opponent to come to you. Like, if you make a move and get them to react, you can still redirect that reaction. Does that make sense?

[Member filter]

[blessingone]

[ Fenimore is a little surprised at the question -- not that she personally has anything against boys in the group, but just that she'd never really thought about it. Hmm. But before she gets to that, the extra formality is making her think Xion might be nervous. Could be her imagination. Still, in that case, she should try to encourage her.

By which she means "tease her." ]

So...should I be calling you "leader" from now on?

[ Not that she ever called Suki something other than her name. ]

[Member filter]

[fourteen]

[ Wow, Fenimore. Right on the money. She is compensating for being nervous, because she is. Incredibly so. But this feels like the right decision, and she has to trust her heart.

Still, the question makes her crack a smile. ]

Fenimore! No, of course not.

[Member filter]

[blessingone]

What about Commander? Captain Xion? Or perhaps I should call you Boss. You look like a Boss.

[ She knows there's a limit to how much success jokes can have on relieving the nervousness, but hey, it worked a little. She can go into encouragement after. ]

[Member filter]

[fourteen]

Fenimoooore! [ A laugh. Victory? ] I don't think I look like any of those things.

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

It's nice to meet you, Xion. I'm sorry I never got around to meeting Suki's new Kyoshi Warriors here, but I'm glad that it's still going on.

My name's Aang, by the way. I was Kyoshi in a past life.

[Voice]

[fourteen]

[ ... oh!

Gosh, why didn't it occur to her that maybe, just maybe, someone from Sokka's world besides Sokka himself might want a say in this sort of thing?

Kind of sheepish over here. ]

Oh, um, hi! It's nice to meet you too, Aang. ... wait, you were what?

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

I'm her reincarnation, kinda. I don't know if Suki told you much about Kyoshi, but she was the most recent Avatar in the Earth Kingdom! The Avatar cycle has it so that every time the Avatar dies, he or she gets reborn in the next nation in the cycle. So now, I'm Aang, an Airbender and the current Avatar!

Re: [Voice]

[fourteen]

[ ...

Trying to remember what Suki told her about Kyoshi. ]

Um... wow! That sounds pretty amazing. And kind of strange... not that it's a bad thing! Just... [ A quick laugh. ] Reincarnation, being the Avatar... it all sounds so important.

[NOTHIN' AT ALL]

[fabrecation]

[He hears what she has to say, and while Luke still has his reservations about her taking on yet another thing, it makes him proud to see her taking charge and doing something like this. He just wishes he could involve himself a little more...

All he can really do right now is smile warmly before he shuts the journal. Even talking for a certain period of time has become a chore, and he wouldn't want to ruin it by showing that to her... by making her see just how far the disease has progressed, enough to make him look sickly and pale.

But, even as he winces and turns over in the bed to his side, he still smiles.

Go get 'em, girl.]

[ voice; member filter ]

[happyends]

I-.. I'll still be coming.

[ especially after the draft she's been realising it more than ever - it's important to be strong, to be able to fight for herself instead of having to rely on other people. ]

And.. boys..?

[ voice; member filter ]

[fourteen]

Okay. You're, um... what was your name, again?

[ A beat. ]

Don't worry about the boys. I was just thinking out loud, I guess.

[ voice; member filter ]

[happyends]

Ah, sorry! My name.. it's Madoka. Madoka Kaname. .. But.. are you saying boys won't come after all?

[ voice; member filter ]

[fourteen]

Madoka. Okay. Sorry I forgot! And, um ... no, I don't think so.

[voice]

[pathofstrength]

[More training? Yes always.]

What kinds'a things d'ya learn?

[voice]

[fourteen]

Mostly self-defense. You learn how to handle yourself in a fight!

[voice]

[pathofstrength]

D'ya hafta be a beginner ta join in?