1. video [upside-down]

[barefootbender]

[A video feed begins, displaying a small girl sitting on her bed in her apartment quarters. She's fiddling with the placement of her netbook as it records, but she doesn't seem to realize it's... filming upside-down. When she's erroneously confident it's pointed in the right direction, she crosses her arms and grins.]

Hello, everyone. My name is Toph Beifong! I'm a new person here, but if you're from my world, you've probably heard of me. Greatest earthbender who ever lived, pioneer of metalbending, celebrated war hero. Not to mention a wanted person for a while, too. And the star of a smash-hit play.

[she straightens up and tips her head, apparently pretty proud of all that.]

Anyway, I wanted to let everyone know that I'm blind, so I can avoid having to explain it to each of you every time we meet. But - don't think I'm asking for your help or anything either, I can get around fine with earthbending. Basically, just don't bother coming at me with any pictures or books or papers or whatever. I can't see them or read 'em.

[she pauses as if about to say something else, and then suddenly brightens.]

Oh! I was gonna say not to bother sending me text messages either... but actually, I was messing with this thing earlier and I found out it could read them to me! [As she says it, she waves her hands in the air excitedly.] I mean they gave me one with special buttons just for me, so that I'd be able to use it, which is so cool already, but I never thought it would read for me on top of it! How awesome is that?!

[very awesome, because she's all smiles now.] So, I guess that even though you basically kidnapped us right when we were ready to start relaxing... I should say thanks to you Initiative people, too. I can't really think of anyone ever giving me something like this! You know... something that I normally wouldn't be able to use, but it's fixed so I can. It's kinda nice.

Anyway, uh... nice to meet you all! [she reaches towards the camera again and the video ends.]

Comments

[voice]

[galactically]

I've never heard of you before, but you're definitely someone interesting.

[She chuckles amiably.]

Exsilium needs more lively, headstrong people like you to brighten up the place!

[barefootbender]

Heh, thanks! I'm glad to help make this dump a little more fun.

[galactically]

Fun is very important, I think! Especially with all the war preparations and time-traveling missions going around.

[barefootbender]

Hmm, about those. How often do they make us do that stuff? The missions, I mean. Honestly, they sound awesome.

[galactically]

Traveling through time in different places could've been great, but it's not like it's glamorous. The Initiative sends us on missions every month, and we stay at an assigned place to change the events in their favor.

Just a few months ago, we were sent to this town called Black Rock, where we had to convince the locals to vote for a specific person.

[barefootbender]

Huh? Really?

[she sounds disappointed. that sounds like the most boring mission ever.]

I thought this was a war.

[galactically]

Oh, we're definitely in a war. That mission is just one example.

[Her tone turns grim as she speaks.]

Last month, we were sent to this base while the enemy forces tried to break in. Hmm... what was that place called— ah, Uruguay!

[barefootbender]

Really? Did we win...?

[galactically]

I don't know. We were all sent back just as soon as it's over, without being able to see the results for ourselves.

[A quick pause.]

Honestly, it makes no sense!

[barefootbender]

Wow, these Initiative people kinda sound like control freaks to me.

[galactically]

They sure are. Then again, they probably feel like they have to if they want to win against some powerful empire so we can all go home.

[She makes a soft huff, clicking her tongue in the back of her throat.]

All these government problems are weird to me.

[barefootbender]

Feels familiar to me. Back at home the Earth Kingdom was on our side, too. But their government was super crazy and tried to imprison us for stepping out of line. Just 'cause they're technically good guys doesn't mean they're really good, you know?

[galactically]

I can understand what you mean. What you described must be suffocating for its citizens...

[Like Frontier's government under Leon Mishima, except he's technically someone not to be trusted since he murdered the last president anyway.]

We can at least move around in different places. Well, not like it's much of an improvement, but I think we can get by.

[barefootbender]

That's a good point. Up until the war was over, you couldn't really travel safely in my world either.

[galactically]

But your home has a better government now, right? Everyone deserves to live freely, after all.

[barefootbender]

Well, I think so. I mean, we only just won the war when we came here... but, Zuko and the Avatar are taking over, so it's gonna be better than what we used to have.

[galactically]

That's great! I'm glad to hear that your home is safer for people to live in. [A beat.] Avatar?

[barefootbender]

Yeah, he's like, a special person who can bend all four elements. Everyone else can only bend one. He's like the guy who's supposed to help out when the world has a lot of problems.

[galactically]

Four elements? So he possesses magic and can help bring peace to the world?

[barefootbender]

Exactly. He was the one who ended the war, for instance! [although he did have help. ahem.]

[galactically]

My, that's interesting. I've heard of people who have ended the war before, but not one person. It must be difficult to handle, though.