[color=bfbfbf][sub][table= //////= POST DESIGN v1=\\\\\\][row][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img]https://i.imgur.com/Se2sWzK.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/row][row][cell][sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/3mGvCEG.png[/img][/sup]

[color=2e2c2c]___________________________________[sub].......[/sub][/color]
[/cell][cell][color=white][center][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img]https://i.imgur.com/DHKvx27.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][center][color=2e2c2c]LSF HQ   ·   Early Morning   ·   In collaboration with [&.Exit][/color]LSF HQ   ·   Early Morning   ·   In collaboration with [@Exit][/center][/sub][/center][/color][quote][color=2e2c2c]_[/color]
[color=9f9f9f]Jin lagged behind as the others filed out, still playing with that worn metallic ball. They peered at Tarnelu wearily, before speaking quietly.

[color=white]“Never done a team mission before.”[/color] Their voice seemed calm, but the Captain had known the young specialist long enough to figure out when they were burying some emotion or another. [color=white]“I ain’t really a people person. Unless those people need to be dead.”[/color] The metal ball was neatly rolled over their gloved fingers. 

[color=white]“D’you really think I can do this, sir?”[/color]

Nelu tapped the edge of the table, killing the lights and the floating images they were drawing. He waited until the others were completely out of sight before he spoke. [color=bca346]”Working well with others? Normally I’d say ‘yes’ and leave it at that. Can you do it?”[/color] He began walking around the table in the center of the room as he spoke to Jin, looking at the corner of his eyes and shrugging as if he were bouncing the question around in his head. [color=bca346]”Sure. You’re very good at what you do. You were good at it before we found you and you’re even better at it now. Arguably the best shot in the world, quick with your hands and a natural talent for ‘improving’ every piece of equipment we’ve given you. Really, I think the better question is whether or not the team can do this [i]without[/i] you.”[/color]

Nelu stopped only a few feet away from Jin. His eyes fell on the worn ball they were twisting between their fingers. [color=bca346]”You don’t need to be a people person to be someone I or they can rely on. 141 is your prime example of this. You just need to do what you do best and everything else will fall into place.”[/color]

Jin’s hand finally stalled as Tarnelu neared. They seemed somewhat flustered. [color=white]“Ah. Thanks for the confidence. It’s nice.”[/color] A tiny smile lifted their lips. But it dropped quite suddenly as Jin closed their eyes.

[color=white]“I’m sure you probably know-”[/color] The Captain usually had his finger on the city’s pulse. [color=white]“But the Drunken Honeybee burned down last night. What you probably [i]don’t[/i] know is…Lady Cho died. She was a firebender, apparently, and she… just…burned herself up.”[/color] The scent of charred flesh hit JIn’s nose, and a shudder ran through their whole body. After talking a moment to box the memory back up, they started again.

[color=white]“She’s gone. My home’s gone. Most of the people I was raised with- gone.”[/color]

Nelu took a deep breath. Loss was a difficult thing for anyone, not least of which for those of the LSF. The five on his roster now were not always just five and in fact, he was reminded of the missing spot on his team he still needed to replace. The loss of family, however, was always heavier than most and Nelu could understand the pain. [color=bca346]”That’s… tough, Jin. I know she was important to you and I’m sorry she uh....”[/color] He trailed off as he shook his head, envisioning how horrific a death it must have been.

[color=bca346]”You know… my little sister is missing. And no, it doesn’t compare to what you’ve lost but I will say that even though it probably doesn’t look like it, I’m uh… worried about her. I was keeping tabs on her like I do and she’d taken a trip to the soup kitchen in the Lower Ring, near where the explosion went off. Near the Honeybee in fact. But…”[/color] Nelu was shaking his head again, chewing on his lip as he replayed the events of the day before in his head. Allen was in the hospital with critical injuries, beaten over the head with a pipe or blunted by rocks from an Earthbender. The Bender he [i]did[/i] run into got away and all he had to show for his efforts was a rather sensitive bump on the back of his head hidden under a layer of bandages. He started pulling at them again as he continued. [color=bca346]”...She wasn’t there. Spent some time searching the rubble and found nothing but bodies and some guy pinned to the wall by a pipe.[/color] Nelu looked at Jin. [color=bca346]”I know you’re probably wondering why I’m telling you this, and the reason is this: I’m a ball of nerves. This will be the first joint mission in a long time. I have a relatively new face on the team, I have 141 and I have almost fifty Benders out beyond the wall that I need to apprehend and right now my sister is missing. I get no closure today, but you Jin. You do. Lady Cho is gone but she’s not missing. You know exactly where she is. She’ll be out there with you today, as will every part of your past because that’s how this works. How you work. I’ve seen you survive worse with less. However, I do want to know if [i]you[/i] think you can do this.”[/color]

Jin listened quietly as Nelu vented. They hadn’t known that their Captain had family. Most people in the RSF didn’t talk about relatives like that. Mostly because the majority of them were benders, and their families had disowned them. [color=white]“M’sorry about your sis. I’m sure she’ll be found when the city calms down.”[/color] Or, more likely, she was already dead, and just not found yet. They didn’t say that, though. If Nelu was already feeling rough, then he needed hope, not reality.

Jin reached out as if to touch his shoulder, but let their hand drop. They turned away, as if trying to hide something. The Captain’s question was a surprise.

[color=white]“Can I do it?”[/color] They took a moment to think, really think. [color=white]“I mean - I could use a stiff drink and a nap, but that’s going to have to wait. Yeah, I can do it, and I [i]will[/i] do it.”[/color] They shrugged, starting to toss the metal ball again. 

[color=white]“I got nothing left to lose, Captain. And everything to gain.”[/color]

[color=bca346]”That’s what I like to hear.”[/color] Nelu reached out this time and placed a hand on Jin’s shoulder, giving them a reassuring squeeze. [color=bca346]”You’ll do just fine and when we get back, drinks will be on me and we can talk about whatever you want.”[/color]

Jin went very still as he squeezed their shoulder. Their whole body tensed in a way that only another soldier would recognize. The kind of eerie stillness that came from someone well-trained. For a moment, they didn’t speak. They didn’t appear to be breathing, either.

In a blink, they relaxed, as if absolutely nothing had happened. [color=white]“Sounds good, Cap.”[/color] They turned their face just slightly, flashing a brief smile. [color=white]“I gotta get my gear sorted. I’ll see ya out there.”[/color] They moved for the door, flashing a lazy salute on the way out.

Nelu accepted the salute and watched them disappear beyond the doorway. It slid shut behind them, leaving Nelu to his thoughts and the silence that followed soon after became an echo chamber for his musings. Despite what he’d said to Jin, he was hopeful for what came next. Spirits seemed high and even for Jin who had lost someone dear to them, the focus seemed to be on the task ahead, for the most part at least. It was hard to convince himself if he’d really seen it or not, but Nelu could have sworn there was a shade of red above the smile Jin had given him.[/color][/quote][/cell][/row][/table][/sub][/color]