[log] with domkorra

[lipservice]

(5:23:59 PM) bong of nephilim: After a while, the days since Tarrlok had washed up on that island had run together. He had been completely isolated for spirits knows how long, having nobody to talk to but the sky and sea and whatever animals had inhabited the island and not bolt off the moment they caught sight of him. If he had known better, he would have simply just thrown himself back into the water, but at least here...

Well, it was a pleasant quiet he could deal with. A sense of safeness being cast so far away from the binds of society, the inevitable imprisonment that awaited him back at Republic City. By now, most people would probably assume him to be dead. It wouldn't be an unjust assumption, to be fair. To what measure is a man alive when no others have seen him? And of Noatak, what faint memories lingered. The explosion was only so long ago, but on days of particular clarity it felt like it was only yesterday.

It is now midsummer as Tarrlok sits in his makeshift little shelter in the shade, knees drawn to his chest and his single remaining arm wrapped around them as he gazes blankly out to sea. He's not sure what he searches for, perhaps a distant and ever-shrinking hope that the currents will bring him a sign of his brother. A rescue ship felt out absolutely of the question.

(5:47:23 PM) indianazei: Just out of sight, Korra gently guided her ship towards the land she had spotted through the spyglass, coaxing currents to head this way and not that. A simple vessel, the unnamed ship was powered by a small steam engine, or when the seas were calm, Korra and her meager crew's 'bending. She didn't really know the two sailors who acompainied her very well, but was glad for their company none the less. Natiko, a Firebender, was below deck, on her break, and Hiro, a Waterbender, was at the prow, navigating. She'd picked them up fresh out of Republic City's Naval Acadamy, a few miles beyond Yue Bay. She felt that the ship General Iroh II had given her for the journey was quite a bit larger than needed, but at least she been able to talk himn out of the full escort. Approaching the island, she instructed Hiro to drop anchor while she swam out the last few feet to shore. The island was small, maybe only a few thousand square feet, but the brush towards the center was thick, and she was sure she could find some extra provisions, maybe even some red meat.

(6:03:05 PM) bong of nephilim: Tarrlok startled when he saw the battleship on the horizon -- surely, he must've been hallucinating. A mirage, even. It had been hot, the sun was scorching and causing light to waver in a few places. Maybe there was actually a ship, but it had to be miles away -- why would anyone make a stop here? There was nothing on the island to be found; nothing of value, anyway.

But when thought he saw Avatar Korra emerging from the glittering blue water, sunlight gleaming off her wet skin, he knew for sure his mind was playing tricks on him. His expression twisted into an irate grimace, somehow offended at the notion that Korra would even take the time to go find him -- or that she even knew where he was. This had to have been a mistake, if this were actually real at all. Still, he kind of wished he built his little shelter a bit more out of view than it was currently, the framework of branches and poorly-thatched leaves visible from the beach.

He half-contemplated getting up and disappearing deeper into the jungle. It'd been a considerable amount of time, after all, and the man looked like fresh hell. Doing his hair was out of the question with only one arm, and it wasn't like he could shave without a razorblade. What shred of dignity he had left meant he didn't particularly want to be seen like this, but all he could do was hope Korra wasn't really there and wasn't going to find him.

(6:30:46 PM) indianazei: Korra had, well, GROWN in the months between the final showdown and now, and had become quite a curvacious young woman. She was still approaching mastery of Air, but her spirituality had improved by leaps and bounds. While not quite a fully-realized Avatar, no-one could call her half-baked anymore. Forming a small ice dagger out of the humidity in the air, she kneeled down and felt through the earth for signs of game, quite surprised when she found something quite a bit larger than even a pig, on the beach to her left. Still holding the dagger, she quitely crept through the brush, until she spotted Tarrlok's shelter, with just the most basic sillouette of him inside. "Okay, Mr. Desert Island, I don't want to hurt you and you don't want to give me a reason to. I'm just going to- Tarrlok!?" As she spoke, she circled around the shelter, not recognizing the man in front of her 'til she knelt to face him. Ice dagger dissolving into thin air, she grabbed him by the chin, ckecking for recognition, for a sign of human intelligence in his eyes. Finding it, she scrabbled back in the sand, conflicting emotions going through her. Summoning a wave and holding it above them threateningly, she asked- no, demanded "What the hell happened to you? Where's Amon?"

(6:50:03 PM) bong of nephilim: Tarrlok froze as he watched Korra carefully out the corner of his eye, her shadow draping over his home as she circles once and stands at the entrance before him, hand raised as though to strike... Just end it, he thought, shuddering just a little as he flinched and looked away, only stopped when she kneels before him and reaches for his face, all but forcing him to stop trying to hide and just look at her. Admire her, for all there was to admire. He seemed reluctant to talk.

Indeed, the Avatar has filled out quite nicely. Tarrlok was almost certain he'd been fantasizing now, except-- he can actually feel her touch upon his skin, the pressing of fingertips into his jawline and the subtle pulling him to look into her face with tired, weary eyes. Like a long-neglected machine, his mind finally began to groan back into life as he tries to think of something to say--

"Don't tell me you were looking for me," he rasps, clearing his throat of what was probably months of sand buildup and disuse. "He's not here. I'm-- not sure, anyway."

(7:10:29 PM) indianazei: Korra wasn't looking for anyone, but she was too busy going through mild shock to articulate that at the moment. Letting the wave flow back to sea, she turns her attention to the bare minimum facts infront of her. Muttering a soft 'Hold still', she began to gently press and prod at him, checking for broken bones or internal bleeding. The missing arm she couldn't do anything about, but Tar- this man was injured, and she could fix that at the very least. Bending some fresh water out of her canteen, she started to do some basic diagnostics, trying to get a feel for how bad a shape he was in. Hmm. A few poorly-healed ribs, some malnutrition and slight dehydration to boot. Crap. She was going to have to bring him onboard. Sitting up, she stared at him for a long few second, before extending a hand. "C'mon. I've got better medical supplies on the ship."
(7:22:39 PM) bong of nephilim: Tarrlok was a little suspicious, he had to admit -- he briefly took his eyes away from her as she worked her healing, gazing blankly just over her shoulder in silence as she assessed the damage. He focused on his breathing, slow and a little ragged, until she was done and offered to help him up. His eyes -- still as crystalline and blue as ever -- narrowed, but he reluctantly clasped his dirty hand into hers and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.

"If you're going to be heading back to Republic City, it'd be best to leave me here," he quietly requested, gazing at the jungle floor. "...but I'd understand if there was a warrant for my arrest."

(7:37:19 PM) indianazei: Korra shook her head, wrapping his remaining arm over her shoulder and helping him walk into the shallows with her. "No. The South Pole. Apparantly there are some spirt-world problems there, and I'm the one that has to deal with them. And the warrant is only active in the United Republic of Nations." Turning to face him, she sighed. "I'm going to have to drap you off somewhere you won't be recognized" Swimming out to the ship, she had Tarrlok hold onto the rope ladder as she boosted herself back on desk with a waterspout, the hauling the ladder up. Ignoring her crew for now, she brought Tarrlok back to an empty bunk, asking him to wait while she got she med kit together.

(9:32:22 PM) bong of nephilim: "...I see," Tarrlok said, faintly glad he wasn't going back home just yet. He wasn't ready to stand trial in his current state, and he wasn't even sure if he could talk his way out of this like once before. Heaving a heavy sigh against her, he wraps his arm around her waist and holds on as Korra walks him towards the water and deposits him into a small cabin on the ship. A few moments are taken to glance at his surroundings, almost alien now as he sorely shuffles towards the bed and sits down, resting his hand on his knee and watching the doorway carefully.

He had not expected such kindness from the Avatar, but maybe... maybe there's some truth in her not looking to turn him in. It still all seemed too good to be true.

[23:48] reginleif42: A few days had past and Tarrlok was healing nicely, though he was not exactly happy about the whole ordeal. With only a little bit of encouragement needed, his ribs were knitting back together, and real food and fresh water had taken some out the gauntness out of his face. Korra had mostly left the navigation of the ship to the crew, spending most of her time either healing Tarrlok or resting. Bringing down a small lunch of some chickenhog congee and a few slices of starfruit, she placed the tray next to Tarrlok and sat across from him, ready to speak with him when he finished eating. "I hate to be blunt, but you haven't really been using the hairbrush I set out for you. Do you, ah... need help? It's honestly kind of disturbing to see you looking like this."

[00:01] bong of nephilim: Tarrlok had not been overly fond of the healing process, nor had he been excited to be kept cooped up in a small bunk for so long, but he couldn't bring himself to show his face to anyone besides the Avatar. Even though he had known, however distantly, that the ship's crew had been talking about Korra's new patient, hushed whispers speculating about what she was planning to do with the man.

He was sore. So very, very sore. And as he stiffly spooned the congee into his mouth, he watched Korra across from him, hunched over his tray like a beaten animal. He was sure Korra had gotten no pleasure out of re-breaking his bones, but no sane person would. He took one look at the brush resting on the bedside table when prompted, a frown etched deeply on his face.

"Ah--" Without thinking, he makes a motion to reach for it with the arm that was no longer there, like he had almost forgotten that it had been blown off. Tarrlok slumped, averting eye contact again (as he had been wont to do these past weeks) and putting the tray of half-eaten food aside. He hoped he didn't need to say anything and the Avatar could come to conclusions on her own.

After all, he used to be right-handed.

(4:46:08 PM) indianazei: Frowning, Korra nodded, more out of acknowlegement than anything else, picking up the brush and stowing it in a pocket. Sighing, she stood up, giving him a look that made it clear she expected to be followed. "C'mon, let's get you cleaned up." As if anticipating refusal, she added "The crew is all above deck, no-one will see you, I promise." As opposed to what Tarrlok had deemed her 'typical' every day outfit back during the Republic City debacle, she was dressed quite a bit more... military now, today wearing loose tan pants covered in pockets, along with a simple white undershirt and a navy blue officer's coat tied around her waist. She'd also acquired a pocket watch, a simple steel one hooked to her belt and resting in her left-hand front pocket. The military issue canteen was a bit of an anomaly, especially indoors, but it made sense enough. Better to have a weapon on hand then not.

(5:06:26 PM) bong of nephilim: [and i don't mean because of the thunderstorm, it was because i was sick all night and didn't want to take my sleep meds as a result. ><]
(5:19:07 PM) bong of nephilim: "Very well." In a show of unusual compliance, he nods at her and gets up, stretching his achy bones as each one creaked and cracked from having done little more than lay around his cabin day and night. Tarrlok was so, so sick of bed-rest, of doing nothing but biding his time and healing. At least he had some semblance of company, but he felt there was little different from prison.

"Even with one arm, I'm still quite capable of bathing myself, you know," he smirked, a joking tone in his voice. "There's no need to escort me to and from the showers. I can hold my own."

(5:37:04 PM) indianazei: "Need someone to do your hair.", she replied, rationalization weak but said confidently. Yeah, she was going to do a little bit of perving. Wasn't much else to perv at on the ship, what with Natiko being an ace and Hiro being far, FAR too old. They wouldn't hit the next port for nearly two weeks, and Korra needed something to sate her libido between now and her next rendevous with some adoring fan. Besides, Tarrlok didn't look to bad, at least when he was clean anyway, and she was sure it would just be payback for the Gala. She could practically FEEL his eyes burning a hole in her dress, right about the bum area. Leading the injured man through the ship, they finally made it to the showers. Sitting cross-legged on a central bench and drawing the brush from before like a weapon, she smirked. "So, Mr. Pretty-Princess, any particular beauty secrets I should keep in mind?"

(5:49:51 PM) bong of nephilim: Tarrlok gave her a skeptical look, but kept any thoughts he had about it to himself. But whatever it was, he didn't like it, and especially the idea of having to get help for anything. It wounded his pride knowing that he couldn't do his hair on his own anymore, and that Korra could easily use it against him. The man's vanity was his own worst weakness and Korra seemed to know that.

He was nothing but business when he showered, quick and efficient and trying to ignore the Avatar staring into his backside (amongst other places). Bathing without bending was not something he was entirely used to, even after having been on the ship for a few weeks. It was like being a boy and learning the basics of hygiene all over again. And again it was his hair, his proudest point, that caused him the most difficulty. There was a lot that Tarrlok took for granted, between having both arms and waterbending. It was downright miserable.

The former councilman shuts off the water and lets it run off his body, one-handedly wringing out his mane and shooting Korra a dirty look over his shoulder at her remark. "You did bring the hair ties, right?"

(6:00:36 PM) indianazei: "Do I *look* like an idiot?" Fishing his ties out of a side pocket, she presented them with a flourish andset them down behind her. Patting the edge of the bench in front of her, she indicated for him to sit down, and began untangling his hair. "I hear there's a decent mechanist in Taka, the next port. We could take a quick shore-leave and get you a prosthetic, if you'd like. It wouldn't be perfect, you kinda have to chose between fashion and function, but something's better than nothing, right?" She didn't dare yet tell him about her ability to return bending. Korra wasn't sure if she could trust him yet, she wasn't sure if he should EVER get that kind of power back.