markofthebrave | [ 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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Well, yeah! But when I was returned from my last mission, I remembered arriving in the tunnels and just... walking home. I didn't wake up in bed! That's. Draft-y stuff. I don't like draft-y stuff.

That's because you're not wearing a shirt.

[The response is automatic and she should be ashamed. But she isn't.]

... now I know I've been gone too long. That was almost funny.

Ha, ha. [Eyeroll.] Anyway, it looks like we're all missing a few days.

[She points to the calender.] See?

[Oh, so it seems.]

... oh, huh. Wait, doesn't that usually happen in December?

That's what everyone said last year. [Shrug.] Maybe the Malnosso messed up their calender.

[She's still happy enough about him being back and unharmed that her mood is relatively light.]

I should probably be really paranoid and annoyed about not knowing what happened, huh?

[She makes a tired noise and rubs at her face a little.]

We did that last year and it didn't change anything. I'm still not happy about it, but... at least we don't remember what we don't remember.

Well, yes, that was the general point of the paranoia thing.

[She waves a hand.]

If we don't remember it, it's like it didn't really happen. At least we can trust that we were ourselves and handled ourselves like we would have anyway. So it doesn't really matter.

[...sort of.]

[There's a really profound point about the nature of Luceti he could make. But there's an even better point he could be making instead:]

Well, whatever. Want help with breakfast?

I was just going to have cereal.

[But considering he's back, and she's already hopelessly late for school...]

But since you're back, do you want pancakes or something instead?

You know, I was going to say bacon, but I kept having to do repairs next to a pig farm. I might have to swear off meat. Or at least, meats made from pig.

[Snort.]

Sure. That'll be the day.

[In fact, she moves to take out bacon now. Mmm, bacon.]

[He eyes the bacon and frowns.]

You are a cruel, cruel sister. [He shakes his head.] Guess I better wake Toph up, then.

You survived the mission and now you want to die here, is that? [She puts the bacon on the counter.]

Go put a shirt on. I'll see if she wants pancakes or waffles.

[FOR POST CONTINUITY'S SAKE.]

Fine, fine. You can rouse the beast this time.

[With a shrug, he heads over to his room to grab a shirt.]

[And so, she goes to wake Toph and... gets no response. She calls out Toph's name and opens the door and... stumbles into the wall.

There's nothing but silence for a long moment before she calls out a little weakly:]

Sokka.

[He's hopping over, trying to get a boot on while not stopping, because this sounds important.]

Yeah? What's- [It doesn't take long for the empty room to enter his line of sight.

Oh.]

[She doesn't go over and hug him because she's trying very hard not to cry.

It's not working well.

Her eyes are wide as she stares at the room in shock, before her hand comes up to her mouth to keep in a sob.]

[Toph. She's gone. Again. This is the third time he's woke up to look into room, only to find it empty.

Somehow you'd think it would get easier...

There's no words to make it better, there never are. He sets a hand on his little sister's shoulder. He just closes his eyes and sets his jaw. Gotta stay strong. For both their sakes.]

[She turns into his side, leaning on him in a rare display of weakness.]

We just got her back.

I know.

[And she hadn't remembered. She never remembered.]

She said she would be here for years. [... and for moments, he almost believed that future could be true.]

[It's better this way. It's better that she's home.

But right now Katara aches, and she can't make herself say the familiar mantra.]

It was just another lie from this place.

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