browbeater | HAVEN - INBOX (retired)

I call it Pyramid Jerk--still taking suggestions for other, worse things to call it, actually.

[She's...only half kidding.

They've stopped a short distance away, close enough to get a good look at the monster, but not near enough to make it move. And it's staying that way, if Korra has anything to say about it. Even so, she can still feel a prickling at her skin, as if Pyramid Head's watching them, just waiting for them to step close enough to push it into action.

Korra glares at it, entire body tense.]

[Mako nods at it-- and then looks back at Korra. His lack of experience with it just made him less likely to really react-- he'd already stored away the knowledge that Pyramid head was dangerous, and he had no interest in provoking it.

Yet.

He nudges her]

Hey. Let's not stick around here too long. I saw the monster, and I know he;s dangerous and shouldn't be messed with.

[Korra jolts, staring at Mako for a second as if she's surprised to see him, then seems to shake herself out of the thoughts she'd gotten lost in.]

...yeah. Let's go.

[She leads him away from the store, always keeping Pyramid Head in sight until they've put enough distance between them for her to relax slightly.]

The tunnels aren't too far from here. People go up to North to find supplies and use the library--pretty sure North is where Yao's dropping the "better supplies" they promised. Why give it to us directly when they can make us work for it?

Anyway, be careful if you head up there a lot. You can't stay there for more than a few hours without starting to feel the effects.

The effects?

[he knew he wanted to get to the library-- if that place had writing, maybe he could find something to write down all this extra information he'd been storing.

He could only hope.

He nodded to the rest, but left his question there]

Uh, you start feeling really jittery and nervous. Kind of like something's making you want to leave?

[There's a questioning lilt to the end of her sentence, as she tries to recall exactly how it had felt. She hasn't really tried to push the time limit since the first couple of months.]

The people who've been here longer said staying there for too long can make you go crazy.

[well... that just means there must be a reason they don't want people up there.

Though he's still not sure HOW they can do what they do... it was worth noting.]

... You didn't test that, did you?

[Urk. Korra rubs at the back of her neck.]

Uh...no?

[She actually hasn't, but then there's that "experiment" she and Derek have been talking about...]

... Is that really wise?

[he was thinking from a pure 'I just watched you destroy the spirit of darkness.' standpoint. Even if Korra didn't remember it, he knew she was a force to be reckoned with and testing the limits of... well... crazy...

He had a few doubts]

You're the Avatar. If it does make you go crazy, you could do a lot of damage really quickly.

I haven't, I swear!

[Sighhh. Trust Mako to ask all the right questions and see right through her.]

Someone else is. I just promised I'd be there in case something happened. He wants to see if going back into the tunnels will start the timer over, or if the effects just keep adding up in the same day.

[he just. gives her a look.

they dated for six months, though, he kind of has the advantage here in seeing through BS.]

So you'd be here with him, doing the same experiment, wouldn't you?

Iiii'd just be waiting in the tunnels, actually.

[She looks away, a definitely downturn to her lips, voice dropping to a near whisper.]

I...don't want to hurt anyone. If it really does make you go crazy, I'm not going to risk it.

[Not being able to control her own actions once is enough.]

[another note of caution.

This was really strange-- not even fighting Vaatu had gotten her to act that cautiously. She was getting better, but it was still jarring to see.

Korra was the kind of girl that kicked down doors and asked questions later.]

Okay. I trust you.

[Another small smile, this one a bit wearier.]

Thanks.

[They reach the entrance to the tunnels soon, and Korra heads down the steps without hesitation.

But she pauses at the bottom.]

Mako--about these monsters. Just try to avoid them if you can. Whenever I go through the tunnels, I just use my air bending to knock them away while I pass by.

Why?

[it was something he was already planning on-- firebending took energy, even if it was second nature. And he had to get there and back]

... remember what I said about us not being the first batch of people?

[She looks at him, eyes sad. This is never an easy topic for her to talk about.]

A lot of them used to be like us.

[he looked ahead at the tunnel, and then back at her. He could understand why Korra felt that way, but part of him thought it would be better to put them out of their misery, if it was that bad.

... Either way, he knew better than to voice that thought]

Fire's gonna cause damage no matter what, but I'll do my best.

[A part of her's relieved that Mako understands, and she just nods silently before continuing on.]

Come on. It's this way.

[When they walk on for a while and encounter only one monster that seems to be missing a few legs, though, Korra frowns and looks around suspiciously.]

That's...weird.

Are there normally more?

[that's the only thing he could think of, as he glanced back the way they'd come.]

There's usually a lot more.

[She turns around, glancing down the path they'd followed. No sign of monsters.]

Where did they all go?

[you are so asking the wrong person.

he shrugs]

I don't know but if they're not there... then it might not be a bad idea to take advantage of it.

Yeah. At least it'll make the trip easier for the people who don't know how to fight. I'll let them know later.

[The rest of the trek through the tunnels goes without a hitch, with Korra occasionally sending the few monster they see tumbling away with a few well-aimed blasts of air.

She makes a small, sarcastic 'ta-da' gesture when they reach the top of the stairs out.]

Well, here it is. Haven North.

[so it looked a lot nicer than Haven West.

A llllot nicer.

No wonder they didn't want people staying there, they probably wouldn't leave.

Still...]

Which direction is the library?

It's this way. [Korra hooks her hand around his elbow and tugs him in the library's direction.

She lets go after a second.]

They have a lot of stories on the first floor, and histories and other stuff on the second floor.

What're you looking for anyway?

Both of them could be useful, but there's something else I want to do. This part of Haven has writing, right?

[he looks down at where her hand was, and then back at her, focusing on the matter at hand and not his awkwardness]

If so, I want to write down some of the stuff I've picked up. A log book.

[he rubs the back of his head]

I left my old one in my other jacket, so I'll have to see if I can find a blank one. But the library would be the place to go.

A log book. [She grins at him.] I guess I'll be able to see you in action, Mr. Detective.

Sure, there's all kinds of weird stuff lying around the book shelves. I bet we can find an empty book for you to use.

[Korra makes a soft, thoughtful noise.] We should find some place to hide it, too. If you don't want just anyone to come by and read it.

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