[ Hei watches her, making no move to assist, his stare unreadable. Her pacifist ideology would hold little weight for him; but then, he's past the point of holding life as sacred. In a world of realpolitik, one-ups and cutthroat tactics, it comes down to the survival of the fittest. ]
[ Kill your enemy before they kill you. ]
...What then? [ A detached curiosity, as he clips his mask back in place. He has no intention of filling his lungs with the stench. The mask itself is layered in a daub of citric salve to detract from the reek. Old tricks learnt on the battlefield never go to waste. ] Don't tell me you're planning to wait until midnight.
[He should've met Aang. Korra isn't a pacifist by nature; she's no more reluctant to kill than most human beings are, and this instinct is augmented by a desire to live up to Aang's legacy. Her own natural inclinations lean more towards Kyoshi -- not seeking to kill, but unafraid to do what is necessary.]
Why not? It's a curse.
[She has to believe that. She can't think that this is really Tenzin, really Bolin and Mako and Asami. She has to believe that their real selves are safe at home. (Yet at the same time, she can't see these creatures as anything but her friends.)]
[ He steps closer, keeping watch for any telltale twitches and tics in case the zombies rouse. He doesn't view them as the kids he'd met earlier in the City. In a place of illusions and doppelgangers, they're more likely just fragments drawn from Korra's memory. Just the City fucking with her mind. ]
[ She's better off killing them. For her own sake, and anyone else's. ]
It doesn't seem to be a normal curse. [ He can't pinpoint why, but there's too much build-up, too much widespread destruction this time. The City's way of warning everyone to stay on-guard, perhaps? ] You should get rid of them. While they're still out.
Dismember them. Separate the joints so they don't knit together. Sever the skulls from the neck. [ He's not trying to be callous; he'd just prefer if she not end up in the same crisis as earlier. He can't exactly say he's attached to the girl (those feelings are never easy for him to dissect). But he is very invested in keeping her alive. ]
[ Hei shakes his head, exhaling. Right now, her attachment is a noose around her neck, while these monsters threaten to kick the chair; she'll regret it once they wake up and the battle resumes. ]
They're not your friends, Korra. They're walking corpses created by the City. Even if you escape them, they'll find someone else to attack.
[ Just laying out the facts for her. Whether she goes through with the advice or not is her problem. ]
I won't let them. [She's not leaving them until this is over. She'll make sure they don't hurt anyone else. She ties Bolin next.
Some of Hei's ghouls begin to rise up behind him, capturing Korra's attention. She doesn't notice Tenzin coming back to life behind her, or how he leaves.]
[ He refocuses on the ghouls, armed and ready. Decimating their ranks isn't difficult. Several are still loose-jointed and dazed from the earlier clash. It's only when the last one drops, gurgling and spasming, does Hei glance back at the restrained group. ]
[ He briefly considers following. But his business here is concluded. He needs to check in with Mao about the situation elsewhere. Needs to make sure Yin's doing all right. The zombies will suffer an interesting game of cause and effect if he learns she's in danger. ]
[ There's a beat to watch Korra take off, before he heads in the opposite direction. ]
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Action;
[ Kill your enemy before they kill you. ]
...What then? [ A detached curiosity, as he clips his mask back in place. He has no intention of filling his lungs with the stench. The mask itself is layered in a daub of citric salve to detract from the reek. Old tricks learnt on the battlefield never go to waste. ] Don't tell me you're planning to wait until midnight.
Action;
Why not? It's a curse.
[She has to believe that. She can't think that this is really Tenzin, really Bolin and Mako and Asami. She has to believe that their real selves are safe at home. (Yet at the same time, she can't see these creatures as anything but her friends.)]
Re: Action;
[ She's better off killing them. For her own sake, and anyone else's. ]
It doesn't seem to be a normal curse. [ He can't pinpoint why, but there's too much build-up, too much widespread destruction this time. The City's way of warning everyone to stay on-guard, perhaps? ] You should get rid of them. While they're still out.
Action;
And how am I supposed to do that? In case you haven't noticed, they don't exactly stay down.
Action;
[ He's not sure when it happened. But it has. ]
Action;
No.
[It's too easy for her to imagine what he's describing, and it makes her sick.]
Action;
They're not your friends, Korra. They're walking corpses created by the City. Even if you escape them, they'll find someone else to attack.
[ Just laying out the facts for her. Whether she goes through with the advice or not is her problem. ]
Action;
Some of Hei's ghouls begin to rise up behind him, capturing Korra's attention. She doesn't notice Tenzin coming back to life behind her, or how he leaves.]
Action;
[ Minus one. ]
....Korra?
[ Who taught you to tie hostiles up? ]
Action;
She quickly finishes tying Bolin (not very well) and takes off after him.]
Action;
[ There's a beat to watch Korra take off, before he heads in the opposite direction. ]
ooc