[ Action ] .036

[markofthebrave]

[Grief is a part of life, and when it's something as serious as friends going away, never seeing them again, being left - Katara has learned that it's best to stitch it in to her days, to continue to live her life as she normally would but to take moments. Moments where she'll close her eyes in pain, moments where she'll pause to remember, moments to allow herself to be sad.

But as she desired to continue to live, Katara also knew it was important to intersperse those moments with moments of celebration - celebration for the joy there was in simply living. Aang had taught her that. And so this morning when her hands brushed the rest of the Malnosso present hanging in her wardrobe, Katara decided to put it on. Maybe it was just an impulse, a momentary whim brought on by shopping with Haruhi the other day. Maybe it was because she knew Nami would have liked to see her in it - a moment's pain and breathe - or maybe it was because today was January 7th, and if she was home and everything was normal, it would be her birthday today.

Regardless, the waterskin slides on over this dress just as well as it does her tunic, and in an impulsive moment, Katara decides to use the hair accessories as well. The outfit isn't quite as easy to move in as her regular tunic; hopefully her expertise as a warrior won't be called for as she is out and about in today's light snowfall. She'll make a point of stopping by to see her pirate friends and checking in on her ninja friends - recently returned from mallynappings and all.

Later, in her accustomed practicing hours, Katara decides to do something different. Half on impulse, she makes her way over to the main Square by the road between the Good Spirits and the Slash and Crash. It's quiet enough after dinner that she's able to get a good start, and the light dusting of large flat snowflakes only adds to the feeling of quiet, of almost home.

And so, by streetlight, by moonlight, Katara constructs something that might be in memory to her friends who've returned home, that might be simply because she wants to make something beautiful. She'll be there for some time, even after the bulk of the sculpture is completed, putting on the finishing touches... and debating whether or not to drop in to the Good Spirits. Feel free to come by at any point - even if you just want to note the statue after she's been long gone.]

Comments

[markofthewise]

And... that's it. Not like me and Haruki were friends to begin with.

[markofthebrave]

[Yeah, that's gonna fly.]

Sokka. Something happened - you might not have been friends but... come on.

[markofthewise]

Look. We talked. She got upset, took it too far, and we left on bad terms. It's no big loss.

[markofthebrave]

Took it too far? [That tells her so much of nothing.] What happened?

[You know she's never going to drop this.]

[markofthewise]

[.... ugh, fine.]

She got ticked off, went overboard, and kicked me. [Not saying where.]

[markofthebrave]

She kicked you? [Extremely uncool, but Katara's going on her world's assumptions which means --] What did you do? Was it a fight?

[markofthewise]

Nothing. I didn't do anything. [Oh but he wanted to.]

[markofthebrave]

Oh. Well, good. Haruki didn't know anything about the way things work, and she's probably the same. Kicking you was completely out of line. She didn't hurt you, did she?

[Because... doom.]

[markofthewise]

[Yes.]

Ehhh... nothing I couldn't handle. [Ahem, yeah. He's totally lying.]

[markofthebrave]

[She doesn't believe you - but you're obviously all right and there's no call for her to go hunting a civilian down. All the same, she looks down for a moment, frowning.]

She's not a fighter, Sokka. She never even knew war before she got here. You did the right thing in not attacking her back, but just because she's - ignorant doesn't give her the right to hurt you. Do you want me to talk with her?

[Because that always goes SO well.]

[markofthewise]

What? No! [He waves a dismissive hand.] If I need to handle it, I'll handle it. But I don't have to be happy she's here. If she doesn't turn back into Haruki, then I'll worry about it.

[markofthebrave]

So let me get this straight - you're going to hold it against Haruhi, but if she turns back into Haruki, you're totally fine with it. [Logic. Where did it go?] How long are you going to wait before you decide if she's not going to 'turn back.'

[Yes, you can practically hear those scare quotes.]

[markofthewise]

[Gosh, Katara. It's not that complicated. He groans as he goes into the explanation. He holds up two fingers on both hands.] Haruhi. [Other hand.] Haruki. Separate people. Not the same. What Haruhi did is not something Haruki did. And I'll wait until it's obvious she's not changing back.

[markofthebrave]

[Katara thinks your logic fails.]

That makes no sense. You're a different person than the Sokka who was a girl, but you two never existed at the same time in one place. There's no telling that if she turned into Haruki that they didn't just take Haruhi and make her a boy!

[markofthewise]

You're making up a lot of 'what ifs' here. Why does it matter so much? Do you actually like her more than Haruki or something?

[Because at this point, it seems less like Katara is trying to formulate an argument and more like justifying her wanting Haruhi here more than Haruki.]

[markofthebrave]

What? No! I hardly like them at all. They're weird. But.. I think that Haruki was an okay person, and Haruhi is too. So if there's a problem I think you should deal with it, instead of waiting for something that might never happen.

[markofthewise]

Whatever. I already decided what I'm going to do.

[A little annoyed, he leans up against her snow spire, forgetting for the moment it's snow and not ice. And subsequently falls through it. Oops.]

[markofthebrave]

Sokka! Be careful. I worked hard on that.

[markofthewise]

[No no, it's okay. He only fell in the slow. And is otherwise unarmed, thank goodness for extra layers.]

Don't worry! I'm okay.

[markofthebrave]

[Reaching a hand down she... pulls a Toph and causes the snow behind him to abruptly push him up.]

I wasn't worried. I just don't want to see it wrecked so soon. Though I know it won't last long.

[There is nothing symbolic about this AT ALL.]

[markofthewise]

[That wasn't cool, Katara. He gives her a sour look at that.]

The concern is touching. [He glances back at what's left of it.] What's it even supposed to be?

[markofthebrave]

Not ruined?

[Walking around to see how bad the damage is. Ugh.]

[markofthewise]

[He looks it over and shrugs.]

It can't be that hard to fix.