Can't close my eyes, I'm wide awake

[braavado]

[When Korra walks into the Spirit Portal, her immediate thought is, it shouldn't feel like this. There's an intense sort of heat that almost feels like it's burning right through her, though she can see that her skin remains unmarked. Korra barely has time to wonder what's going on before there's an odd snap of pressure that knocks her out.

(Unknown to her, a burst of light had lit up the Briggs mountains around her when she arrived, alerting anyone in the area.)

The world is white around her when she comes to, the heat from before replaced by the familiar cold of a snow storm. Korra staggers to her feet, hugging her arms around herself as she examines her new surroundings. This...definitely isn't the Spirit World. Korra knows she's going to have to find out why the portal had acted so weirdly, but first: finding out where she is is the priority.]

Hello? Is anyone around here?

[Korra calls out, not really expecting a reply.]

Comments

[armoured]

[Her being confused is so out of left field, that it stops him dead in his tracks. His anger freezes, not quite disappearing, but being overtaken by confusion of his own for the moment.]

...What do you mean? You can't open a portal without performing human transmutation.

[He's sceptical, but something is very off here.]

[braavado]

[Something's definitely off here.]

I don't know who told you that, but they're wrong. I opened the spirit portals by touching them--only the Avatar can do that.

[There, she'd said it, but now that Korra's putting some of the pieces together, she isn't liking the conclusion she's getting. Neither of them have heard of the locations they've named, and Al hadn't reacted to her name at all earlier... No, she isn't liking this at all.]

[armoured]

[One of them is crazy in this situation, and Al is fairly sure it isn't him. How can she have activated a portal just by touching it? And what are these spirits she keeps talking about?]

Um...

[No, really, what?]

What's an Avatar? What does it have to do with opening a portal?

[braavado]

[That seals it for her. All the anger drains out of her now, leaving her feeling simply worried and dismayed. This is way worse than she'd even thought possible.

Korra bites at her bottom lip, one hand rubbing at her cheek distractedly as she stares at him.]

I... don't think we're talking about the same thing. You really haven't heard of the Avatar?

[armoured]

No.

[He's not like Ed, always following his temper through to the end even when evidence says to curb it, so he feels his own anger fade too. Yet he can't quite make himself fully relax, he feels unsettled just by the mention of the portals. It's so strange that he can feel his heart beating so hard, even when it isn't there.]

You... you don't know what human transmutation is, do you?

[braavado]

Never heard of it. [Korra sighs now, shoulders slumping slightly as the reality of this starts setting in.] And you haven't heard of the Four Nations or the Avatar...

I think I'm... in a different world. I mean, I was supposed to be when I went through the portal, but this isn't where the portal usually takes me.

1/3

[armoured]

Another world...

[Al repeats just those two words in an awed kind of whisper. It's strange, but somehow he doesn't immediately dismiss this outright as the ramblings of someone who is ill, or confused. He's seen and read a lot of things that were supposed to be impossible, only to discover them entirely and horrifically possible. Why not other worlds too?

There were Gates of Truth in the portal, why should they only lead to and from Amestris? But if she was used to using them, it had to be a very different process. He raises a hand to his head and rubs at it in shock.]

2/3

[armoured]

[He simply stands in silence for seconds. The quiet elongates and stretches between them, but he can't bring himself to break it after those first whispered words.

The enormity of this is crushing. She's actually a traveller from another world... ANOTHER WORLD! No wonder she is lost, confused, and alone out here in the snow.

All of a sudden his awe and shock turn to sympathy. He has so many burning questions, but for now, he needs to get her somewhere safe and protect her.]

3/3

[armoured]

[He steps forwards and speaks without thinking, his voice breathy with excitement and the aftermath of this revelation... which might explain why what he says is so monumentally stupid.]

I guess a map won't be much use then, huh?

[braavado]

[Her brows arch in disbelief at first, and then suddenly, a choked sort of laugh escapes her.]

No...I guess not. [Her hand fiddles with the hem of her fur-lined sweater.] But I should look at it anyway if I want to know where I am.

[At least Al believes her. Having to convince him, especially with that misunderstanding, would have been tiring.]

We should probably still head to that town you mentioned earlier. I have some supplies on me, but it's probably not going to last very long.

[armoured]

[He still can't quite wrap his head around that he's really talking to someone from another world, but her words ground him. He will have time to be amazed when they're somewhere else, when she isn't in danger of freezing. For now, he should simply focus on keeping her safe.]

Mm.

[Supplies might be an issue, actually.]

Sorry, I don't have any food with me. [Which isn't at all suspicious.] Just try and be economical with what you eat, and I'll carry you if you get too tired.

[braavado]

[Korra slants a look at him now, gaze measuring and wary.]

What about you? I'm not the only one who needs to eat and rest, you know.

[Apparently, his concern for her has set her enough at ease that she forgets herself and gives his chest area a pointed rap with her knuckles.]

And I'm not the one wearing the heavy armor either. Doesn't that thing wear you out?

[armoured]

[He jumps back in nervousness as soon as she raps him, a very anxious chuckle hopefully covering up the distinct hollow echo from within his chest plate.]

M-Me?

[Haha...ha.]

I ate a huge meal just before I came out, I'm so full that it will definitely last me for days.

[braavado]

[Al, that's not how meals work...

Korra doesn't look too convinced, thinking he'd change his mind later, once he ran out of fuel. She'd just have to factor him into her rations. Korra hefts her bag thoughtfully.]

It's a couple days away, right? It'll be kind of tight with the two of us, but I should have just enough to get us there.

[armoured]

Then I guess we better set off, huh? The faster we get there, the better it will be for y-- both of us.

[He wishes he could smile at her to reassure her, but perhaps his enthusiastic tone of voice will be enough.]

Are you okay to walk? You're not too cold? Or... hurt?

[OoC: I'm sorry this tag is coming to you after such a delay, I have been on hiatus for a family vacation. If you no longer wish to continue, please know there are no hard feelings in dropping the thread. If you do wish to continue, I will happily do so. Thanks!]

[braavado]

Don't worry about me. [Korra flashes him a smile and points her thumb at herself with confidence.]

I'm a lot tougher than I look. Besides, I grew up in the snow. The cold doesn't really bother me.

[armoured]

Really? Wow, then maybe I should be looking to you for guidance after all! This is the first time I've been somewhere as cold as this, not many people come to Briggs unless they have to.

[And not just because of the snow, nobody wanted to brave Major General Armstrong either.]

sorry that took so long!

[braavado]

[She's oblivious to Alphonse's thoughts, perking up with curiosity when he mentions Briggs.]

Why not? Is it because of the snow?

[Sure, the weather can be difficult to adjust to for some people, but Korra knows that hasn't stopped people from visiting the Water Tribes either.]

no problem at all!

[armoured]

Not just the snow, there are a couple of other reasons too.

[He shrugs and spreads his hands in a helpless gesture.]

There's nothing here but a military base, and it's not very friendly to visitors, so nobody comes unless they have to.

i hope this works okay!

[forfeits]

[ Well, the military base may not be so friendly, of course, but Al sure seems to be. To the chagrin of his elder brother, of course, who has managed to slip out from under the General's too-watchful gaze and go seek out his brother. They still had to get answers, of course, for many things here at Briggs, but that doesn't mean he'll neglect Alphonse's safety.

Which may well be why a rather red-faced, flustered young man comes stomping up across the way, trudging through the snow even though his automail creaks occasionally. He doesn't expect his brother to be with someone, and although Al's posture is not defensive, necessarily, Ed approaches warily. If they don't see the flash of red coat and golden hair that both flutter in a sudden, sharp wind, they'll see a bright flicker of light. At their side where the wind might have barreled them over, from the ground a wall of mud and ice rises, blocking them from the sharp wind. Figures he'd go out right when a little storm is starting to kick up. ]

Al!

perfect!

[braavado]

[Military base, huh? While Korra herself hasn't had much trouble with those in her world, she wonders if something's happened with the one occupying Briggs. It hasn't been too long ago that she saw exactly what a group like the Dai Li could do under the wrong kind of leader. It's with those uncomfortable thoughts in mind that Korra first senses Ed's approach, immediately putting her on edge. Light glimmers at the corner of her eyes, warning her.]

Look out!

[Korra immediately reacts, placing herself between Al and the stranger in case he decides to try anything else. It takes a second before the name sinks in. Al, he'd said. Which means...]

Oh. [She looks at Al sheepishly.] You guys know each other?

yayyy

[armoured]

[Al whips around when he hears his name being called, and barely has chance to feel a rush of gratitude for Korra instinctively protecting him before irritation swells inside him.]

Ed!

[Man, is he annoyed.]

What are you doing out here? You were supposed to stay back at Briggs!

[He is obviously still fuming, but he doesn't want to ignore Korra when she is lost here and had tried to stand in front of danger, so he whispers an aside to her in a carrying sort of voice.]

That's my idiot brother.

whoa sorry, my paid ended and took my notifs with it

[forfeits]

[ oh, if Al's mad, then Ed's anger has to be triple the amount, maybe. he stomps across the snow (which is comically high on his short legs), ignoring the irritation he hears in his brother's voice. ]

And you were supposed to come right back! General says there's a storm coming!

[ well, it's been a bit since they've had a tussle, so why not here, too. but Ed's arm and leg do not like the cold, and he'd lose to his brother faster than usual, most likely. he finally reaches them, all tension and huffing-puffing breaths, and red cheeks. ]

Are you crazy? [ whoops, there's Korra and he pauses to look at her. ] Who are you?

no worries!

[braavado]

[Korra's eyes glance between the brothers as they argue, only piping up when Ed turns his attention to her.]

I'm Korra. [What should she say, she wonders. The new brother's temper hasn't escaped her notice, for one, and Korra gets the feeling she might not be out of the woods yet, no matter how much Al vouches for her. Is that what Tenzin, Lin, and the others saw when I first got to Republic City? Yeesh.

In the end, it's easier to go with the truth. Korra smiles in Al's direction.]

I got lost out here and your brother was helping me out. Sorry about keeping him. [She adds a second later.] We were just heading back to Briggs now.

Re: no worries!

[armoured]

You don't have to apologise for that, Korra, I'm supposed to be out here.

[That was a non-too-subtle jab at Ed. If there was a storm coming, then his brother should have been sensible enough to stay inside and realise that Al was one of the only people who would be fine no matter how cold it got.]

I was going to take her down to the village at the foot of the mountains, you know General Armstrong doesn't take kindly to visitors.