markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .056

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[ Action, Voice ] .056

[Okay, so waking up today was weird. She thought it was Saturday, but by the state of the house and where things were... it was actually Monday. Sokka was back - woke up in his own bed, and all, but when Katara went to check on Toph to see if she remembered what happened...

Her room was bare. There was nothing left. Toph was gone.

After stumbling to the wall and leaning on it a long moment to get herself together - is it going to hurt like this every time? - it was time to tell the household.

That accomplished, one of them had to let the town know... and Katara volunteered. She opened up her journal to find a mission summons from the Malnosso. She stared at it a long moment - now? When her housemates need her most they're calling for her now? She shut the journal. She needed a moment to process.

Eventually, she'll open up the journal again. Her voice is a little strained, but steady.]

I'm sorry I don't know any other way to say this but... Manliness Classes are going to have to be canceled again. Toph's gone home.

And... [hhhng, announcing this to the village is so weird, but...] Sokka's back. [There, that's better. Starting with him gives her someplace to stand on.] But I'll be leaving on a mission tomorrow, so... I'll see you all in a week or so.

[So after making this post mid-morning, Katara sets about doing what she needs to do. Sirry Crags, huh? She knows how to handle high altitudes and fighting in snow. She'll just... pop into the Item Shop to double check for a few things, and then hopefully bump into someone willing to help her carry groceries home. It looks like she's going to need to do a week's worth of cooking today.]

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[Of note: Katara would have missed school today.]

I'm just not going to be around for a little while. So I'm stocking up the house.

[Come to think of it, she hadn't been at school, had she?]

Not...going to be around. [That usually means one of two things around here.] So...mission or vacation, huh?

[Oh, a vacation up in the mountains in the middle of winter. It'll be great.]

A mission. [She shrugs.] At least they give you some warning.

[Hey, that's how the vikings do it.]

...Yeah? That's--nice. [Sort of. He doesn't have a lot of desire to go on one himself.] What're they having you do?

Oh. [She frowns, not really wanting to cause worry - but she'd just promised to stop trying to protect the one whose response she was worried about the most.]

It's a combat mission. In the mountains.

[Vague enough, right?]

[Vague enough for Hiccup. He's not one to pry, and he doesn't know what details to ask for, anyway.]

Ah. But--you've got your waterbending, right? So. You'll be fine.

[He sounds pretty convinced about this.]

[Heh.]

Yeah. I'll be fine.

[She sounds pretty convinced about it too.

If. You know. Not entirely pleased.]

Soo...what made you want to go? I mean--if--if you don't mind me asking.

[He knows the decision to go isn't an easy one for most people.]

[There's a pause there.]

...well, when they first announced the missions, they promised some kind of covering for the tattoos on our necks that they thought would keep us from getting mallynapped and... there was a friend of mine I wanted to give one too.

[Toph. But. She's not here anymore.]

And I signed up for this mission because I knew it was one I could do well.

...That's really nice of you. [If he sounds a little astonished, it's not because he's surprised--it's just such a genuine answer. And a reason for going on a mission he hadn't thought of. Maybe he could help his friends, too, that way.]

I wonder if there are any I'd be good at--but I'd be too worried about leaving Toothless behind.

Then you shouldn't do it. [It's said lightly, but with conviction.] Not if you have responsibilities here that you can't trust anyone else with if you go out there.

[He glances at Toothless. He knows they're both thinking the same thing.]

...It's not that. I know there are people who could take care of him now. It's just--well, never mind. It's probably something I should do at some point. I just need to warm up to the idea a little more first, I think.

Well, there's no rush. The other "rewards" aren't that interesting.

[...to her, anyway.]

...What are the other rewards, anyway? Iiiiii haven't exactly...read up on them. Very much.

[She shrugs.]

Stuff, mostly. They'll shift things from home here. Or if you want some kind of technology, they'll let you earn enough points for that.

Iiiii definitely don't need that. I have the things from home I need and...well. Technology and I don't always get along.

Yeah. [She shakes her head.] So like I said, no rush.

[He looks over at Toothless before glancing back up at the sky.]

--Still, must be nice. To, I don't know. Be doing something. I like to think I'm helping out here, but I always feel like there should be something more I'm doing, you know?

[There is the voice of so much better experience here that she... well, she ends up reaching out to Toothless for comfort, actually, hoping to put her hand on his neck.]

[Toothless bows his head to allow her to do so, a slight hum in his throat.]

[And she takes comfort from that, walking along with him for a moment before...]

I understand that feeling. I've been left behind a lot before, and it's lousy. But this kind of mission... and what they ask of us... it's way less important to do things for the Malnosso than it is to do things for the people that are here, the people that you care about. It might seem like a little thing, but here in Luceti... we're really all each other has. And each time we help each other out, we strengthen that bond, help increase the hope that we're strong enough to get through this together, to get home. So don't feel like what you're doing here is nothing. Even what you're doing with helping me right now means a lot to me.

...Yeah. Yeah, you're right. [He smiles inwardly. He tried. He really does. And he really hopes he's making a difference where he tries.] As long as well all keep looking out for each other, we'll be better off in the long run. There are really some amazing people here, after all.

[He looks over to her.] Thanks, Katara.

[...hey, someone who actually listened to her? Sweet. She smiles a little.]

You're welcome.

[Hiccup is always happy to listen to advice, Katara. So go crazy.

He clears his throat.]

So, about that flight on Toothless...when would you like to go?

Oh. Um. [And a pat on the dragon's neck before she drops her hand.] Not until after I get back, that's for sure. And I'm not sure how long I'll be gone. Maybe we can talk about it afterwards?

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action; 1b! also: *bitter

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