[ Action, Voice ] .056

[markofthebrave]

[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.]

Comments

[markofthebrave]

[Sigh.]

Go around and wait for me by the door. I'll be right out.

[Because she knows it will be easier to give him some of her time than it will be to just get rid of him. Because she knows it's only fair that he sees her before a mission, just like she'd look for him before one of his. She just wishes he hadn't come by so late, now she's going to have to get changed.]

[generalflirt]

[Man he would have preferred to go in ... oh well. He does as she instructs, tugging on his scarf a bit as he feels awkward at the front door waiting]

[markofthebrave]

[She opens the front door. With Toph gone... she's the only one who's usually around this late. It's worth noting that it'll actually be a few minutes, as Katara is now fully dressed, though not wearing her parka. She's freshly showered after her practice, and her hair is hanging loose around her face, without any of its usual binding.]

Hey.

[She doesn't step aside, although she does step back so he can at least come up to the doorway. She's not sure yet if it would be better to talk with him inside, or to go for a walk.]

[generalflirt]

[Wow pretty-

No off topic. He comes up to the doorway, as she's clearly requesting. His pose is a bit more relaxed, and his clothes and attire and generally how kepy he is shows this]

[markofthebrave]

[You're not giving her much to go off of with all this silence, dude. And so, as it is, she still doesn't step back or to the side, and his silence prompts an inquiring glance. She thinks she knows why he's here, but-]

Did you want - ["Everything!" - the sudden memory makes her almost stumble over her next word, and her eyes widen in awareness.] - something? It's late.

[She adds, to cover up her sudden memory in case he caught it, to differentiate between the situations.]

[generalflirt]

[He catches that. He doesn't connect it to anything, but he does catch that she had a reaction. He frowns to it. Somehow.... somehow, he expected to be more cool with this. More jovial, smile more, but as it is he can't help but feel his heart is up in his throat and he instead just shakes his head and-]

I wanted to see you before you were off.

[markofthebrave]

Oh. [Pause. But... that's fair.

She steps back from the door.]

Come in, I guess? Do you want - [...] - tea? It's a cold night.

[generalflirt]

Eh? If you're... offering. I don't want to make a scene [again]

[markofthebrave]

[Her lips twitch up a little.] I'm not just going to open up the door and say "There, now you've seen me."

[She opens the door wider.] It's late, but if we talk in the kitchen for a few minutes, that will be fine. I don't think we'll wake anyone up.

[She's not planning on yelling at you - and hopefully there won't be a reason for you to yell at her.]

[generalflirt]

[...hm. He folds his arms behind his back and nods. If she'll have him, then he'll go for it. Into the house!

...and by habit he sort of kicks his shoes off at the entrance]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara shuts the door after him and pads into the kitchen on slippered feet.]

What kind of tea would you like?

[...is it her, or is this conversation kind of surreal?]

[generalflirt]

A-ah... honestly, I don't know tea types much. But I'm sure anything Katara would make proves delicious to me.

[It is a bit surreal, actually. He's amazed to be in here. He's amazed to be... inside]

[markofthebrave]

[...that's a strange way of talking. She gives him an inquiring look and then moves into the kitchen. He can feel free to sit on one of the bar stools by the counter or at the dining room table nearby.

She goes to fill the kettle up with water.]

I think some chamomile and jasmine would be nice. [Chamomile in particular. It's a nice, calming tea.]

[generalflirt]

Haha~ Well, I'll defer to your judgement. After all, I'm the guest [And here he makes a weird hand motion - somewhere between a dismissive wave and a vulcan solute] and I doubt you've let down many as a host.

[And he will do this just that- he leans onto a barstool at the counter]

[markofthebrave]

[She smiles a little hollowly.] I try not to.

[And then it's putting the kettle on the stove. She'll wait in the kitchen, though, getting the mugs and the tea. She's tired and hurting and emotionally drained, so the conversation initiation is in his court.]

[generalflirt]

[How direct should he be...? There's a few options. He's sitting here in the kitchen, watching her work with mugs, kettle, tea. And it's the evening before she's off on some unknown mission. It's the weekend 0 a weekend he at least does not remember - since they had that explosion. So that means...]

Say, Katara, do I look more handsome to you?

[markofthebrave]

[Her head whips around and she sets the mug in her hand down on the counter a little harder than she means to.]

What?

[WHAT KIND OF A QUESTION IS THAT?!]

[generalflirt]

[Okay he's in, might as well see it through]

Well, I mean, between the hair and working out more, I daresay I've gotten a lot more charming - not that the blonde me wasn't sexy too, but...

1/3

[markofthebrave]

[She blinks, her brows coming together.

He's seriously asking her this?

...

And he's asking it now?]

[markofthebrave]

[She looks down for a minute, organizing her thoughts and collecting her emotions, folding them back in. She almost wants to yell at him for asking this question. Doesn't he know how uncomfortable it makes her?

But she said she was going to try not to yell at him, and she doesn't really want to wake Sokka, who won't be happy with her being up right now on the night before her mission.

And she supposes it's a fair question. He has changed a lot in the past few weeks.]

[markofthebrave]

Well, you're putting me in an awkward spot... [And she doesn't feel like letting him completely get away with that, regardless of anything else. But then she looks up and smiles at him, a small, polite smile.]

But I told you I liked your hair. I can't say I noticed the working out... [not. really. although she does remember the view from the hot spring, now that you mention it.] So if you're asking me if I like the new look, then yes, I do.

[Which. Doesn't answer his question entirely at all. But that's almost the point.]

[generalflirt]

[She evaded it. But she also answered... it's a fair enough compromise. He shrugs, chortling to himself] Ah, I guess I was...! But even so, I think it's a fair question. And I'm glad to know that I'm fetching your eyes, Katara.

[markofthebrave]

I think you know how you look, Masaomi.

[So can we not talk about it anymore, please? Ever? In fact she turns away from him to fetch - something. It doesn't matter what, she'll know it when she finds it.]

[generalflirt]

Ah. To me, anyway. Not to you.

[markofthebrave]

[Frown. And she is practically convinced that she should just move on from this conversation. But... but...

But they lose people so easily here.]

If I give you a compliment, will you promise to take it as it is and not let it go to your head too much?

[She said, without turning around.]