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

[video]

[courageous_wit]

Hermione Granger. You know, I had a friend who was blind and he got along very well. Do you have Braille in your world?

[video]

[barefootbender]

I don't think I know anything called "braille." Is that what this reading thing is called?

[video]

[courageous_wit]

It's how the blind read where I come from: a series of raised bumps on a page to signify words. If you like, I can teach it to you in exchange for you showing me your earthbending.

[video]

[barefootbender]

Huh? Really?

How does it work? You can't really write bumps like that, can you?

[video]

[courageous_wit]

No, but you can make a device that prints out books with the bumps already on the page. I don't have any books with me but I learned how to translate Braille for this friend I mentioned.

[video]

[barefootbender]

Wow. What a great idea! That's awesome! I wanna learn!

[video]

[courageous_wit]

You're quite welcome, Toph. It would be my pleasure.

[video]

[barefootbender]

Sooo, umm... [they should talk or something.] Are you a non-bender from our world that's heard of me, or have you just never seen bending before?

[video]

[courageous_wit]

I'm not a bender, and I'm not from your world. I just find bending fascinating.

[video]

[barefootbender]

Ooh, I see. Did that Korra lady show you some?

Man, it's really crazy to think that so many people don't have any bending where they're from.

[video]

[courageous_wit]

Korra? No. I'm familiar with her, but I don't think I've ever seen her bend before.

[barefootbender]

Well, you should ask her to show you some bending somehow, too. I doubt her earthbending is as good as mine, but she's what we call an "Avatar" in my world. She can bend all four of the elements. Everyone else can only do one.

[courageous_wit]

If you're willing, I would love to meet both of you. As I said, I only knew Korra through other friends before. And of course from what I read about her and the other benders.

[barefootbender]

Honestly, I don't really know her at all. The Avatar I know is named Aang, and he's not here. She's, like... the next Avatar that comes after him. So I guess you could say she's from the future?

[courageous_wit]

I'm familiar with that concept. I've met a few people who are from my past, and it's always a bit awkward to hold future information.

[barefootbender]

Hah. Tell me about it. [awkward is a good word for it.]