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

[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.