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Katara is not having a good day. Not that any of her days have been good lately. ... not that she can really tell one day from the next, any more.

... not that she remembers who she even is half the time. But she knows right now, and she's not happy about it.

Pots and pans rattle in the sink. Pipes are groaning. The fridge door is swinging in the wind -- the frost in the freezer section has exploded outwards, forcing the seals open. Every tap is running at full force.

"I can't be dead! I can't be! That's not fair!"

Slam, crash, bam.

Gosh, it's almost as if the Cooper farm has an angry, scared, confused poltergeist with control over water, isn't it?

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Claire is looking for Steph. She has plans! Plans for a massive Mexican feast forthe entire farm. And she wants to go to Metropolis now with Steph's money and get everything, and the first place she looks is the kitchen, and...

...OK, that's bemused staring.

Slam. Splash. Slam. SPLASH. CRASH. SPLASH!

And then quiet.

If Claire listens she probably won't hear anything, but if she's not actively trying to listen, or to look, then there's a girl in blue flopping down at the table and bursting into angry tears.

Claire wasn't listening, actually. She was sort of assuming telekinesis or - hydrokinesis? Or- well, some power that had nothing to do with anyone in the kitchen, and she was about to leave the kitchen when she catches sight of a girl at the table.

"Hey," she says gently, still not figuring out that there shouldn't be transparent girls in blue around, "you OK?"

""

There's something strange about the girl's voice. But Katara's hardly even surprised any more that people can see her here, and too upset to think that maybe they shouldn't -- which would mean that they wouldn't.

""

"Oh."

OK, Claire's just going to sit down at the table next to her, then.

"Who's your brother?"

Katara calms down a little, sniffing back tears and hunching a bit less.

"... his name's Sokka. You'd like him."

Calm means less solid, not as easy to hear. But Katara wants to talk to Claire. She'll try her hardest to stay here.

"Yeah," Claire agree, as a smile forms, "I do."

...

"Katara?"

""

Katara blinks big transparent blue eyes at Claire.

"You're Sokka's sister."

Claire's smile is faint, sadder than it was, and she moves a hand closer, stopping before she can fail to touch.

"i don't think he's got two."

"" Katara agrees, lifting a hand to Claire's and then dropping. The not-touching is sad and creepy and she doesn't like it.

""

D:

"Well," says Claire, "he... we...

"...you're a ghost, aren't you?"

Katara nods sadly.

""

"I know."

Claire sighs, and places her hands firm onthe table to prevent herself from fidgeting.

"But he only just buried you. It'll take time."

"" Katara says uncertainly.

... Sokka buried her?

Now she needs to find him and work out how to hug him even more D: D:

Claire frowns again.

HOW COME SHE HAS TO EXPLAIN THIS?

"With short hair and scars?"

""

Katara frowns for a moment, and then her expression clears.

""

Claire nods.

"But don't ask me how, OK?"

"Okay, I won't."

Katara gives her a smile. It's a little one, a little bit wavery, but she's trying hard because Claire's nice.

"Will you ... tell him sorry? I didn't mean to upset him ... any of him."

Claire is nice. Uh, sort of.

"I will," she says. "And maybe my one will come see you."

"Thank you," Katara says, sniffing.

And ...

... yep, there it is.

"Your one?"

Claire clears her throat.

"Hi," she offers. "I'm your brother's girlfriend."

Don't haunt her please?

BIG EYES.

"But ... you look sane!"

Claire looks shifty.

Then starts giggling.

"Apparently not that sane."

Katara is giggling too, now, resting her chin on one transparent hand.

"... I'm glad. He needs someone to look after him."

And she can't now. And Claire's all -- gold and smiles and nice. So it's good.

(Katara? Judge someone on appearance? Naively optimistic? Nahhhh.)

YAY NAIVE OPTIMISM

"Doesn't he ever?" Claire agrees, grinning.

"I have so many embarrassing stories to share," Katara tells her, giggly again. "Like the time when he was a little kid and got a fishhook caught in his thumb, and tried to get it out with another fishhook!"

Or the 'do an activity' line or the Kyoshi warriors story or the EEE KATARA HAS SOMEONE TO GOSSIP WITH.

"He didn't?"

- Yeah, Claire's going to be here for a while.

Maria stopped in, recognizing something about it. Poor ghost.

"Hey, hey you don't have to do that. Calm down."

"" Katara wails, slumping at the table and putting her head in her hands. ""

But the room calms down anyway, more in response to the friendly words than anything else.

"I know, you're a ghost. But it'll be all right." she could see her clearly.

"What's your name?"

Katara sniffs, hunching over.

""

The dishwater gives one last half-hearted shudder and is still.

"Hey, don't cry. I don't know who he is, but you tell me about him, I could help find him for you?"

"" Katara lies, sitting up very straight and lifting her chin. ""

Not spirit travelling after all. Why didn't that nice Mel woman tell her?

""

Maria nodded, "It happens. Uh, how did Uncle Egon call it. The living often have trouble understanding the workings of the dead? I don't know. I could still talk to him, tell him you didn't mean to scare him?"

Katara's bottom lip trembles, but she keeps her face steady, with visible effort.

""

Maria nodded with clear sympathy, "I know what you mean. I have a brother too. Older one named Oscar. Guessing he's still back home right now."

She wondered if her family missed her. If they knew she was gone.

"And if there's anything else, I could help. I talk to ghosts all the time."

"" The ghost looks interested enough to forget her own problems for a moment. ""

"Oh yeah, loads. Um... don't get scared, but my dad and my uncles would bust ghosts. Just the bad ones."

"" Katara looks worried, shimmering at the edges uncertainly.

"Um, yeah, they'd catch the bad ones that hurt people. But no, the nice ones they leave alone or just help them move on."

""

She wavers again, a little more transparent.

""

Maria sat down in a seat, before explaining with hand gestures as she spoke, "Well, see you died too soon. Usually how it works with ghosts. You got unfinished business before you go. And moving on, is just uh moving on. Whereever the dead go, past the realms of the living."

Katara draws herself up, solidifying slightly, chin up.

""

Maria shrugged and smiled, "Ok, maybe that's it? My dad and uncles saved the world a few times too."

Katara nods firmly.

Then she hesitates again.

""

Back to trembling on the edge of tears. She doesn't understand and it's all so confusing and scary and Sokka ran away from her. D: D: D:

"I'll find him for you, it'll be all right. Stay calm, ok?"

"" Katara promises bravely. ""

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