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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I know. [A deep breath, and she starts to straighten up, tries to hold her heart back together.] I know.

[He moves his hand behind her, while his other goes to shut the door.]

I can tell the others.

[She swallows.] Okay, then I'll... [And she wipes away the tears on her face] I'll make the village announcement.

[Division of labor. That's how they roll.]

[That's probably the worst job to get, having to make the announcement. But they're inevitable, aren't they?]

You don't have to. I mean, not right now.

No, I know. [Pause.] I'll do it in a minute. She's got that class, so...

[... manliness classes. Right.]

Right. She really does like starting stuff around here, doesn't she? [And always finding problems with Luceti! White Lotus then Manliness Classes. What's next?]

Yeah. [And very quietly, Katara turns away to go her journal.]

[In the meantime, he'll go find the others. It might be awhile until he comes to find her again.]

[That's fine. Because she has to finish grieving first. And then she has to get her journal. And when she opens it...

No.

Worst. Timing. Ever.

What does she do about this?]

[He's still pretty somber when he gets back, though in typical Sokka fashion, he's not wearing his feelings as much as he could. So he pokes in to find her a bit later.]

So...

[She just looks up at him. With this look.

Something else has clearly Happened and she hasn't managed to pull herself together just yet because - what a morning - and no movement is immediately required.]

[Oh jeez. He knows that look. It's the 'things just got worse' look.

What happened? [Is someone else gone now?]

[She exhales. She has to be strong. He's... he's not going to be happy but everything will be fine. She tilts her - closed - journal towards him.]

I have a mission.

[... talk about lousy timing. He glances down at the journal, concerned.]

Which mission?

[...]

Mountain combat.

[He knew she'd signed up for this when they talked about signing up for missions to get those stickers, so it shouldn't be a surprise on that front. But. She's not anticipating him liking it.]

Edited 2012-02-04 05:18 (UTC)

[Well. Yes. He'd signed up for it too. (He couldn't very well bow out of something his little sister was doing!) But he'd been happier taking the less stressful missions. Even if they were boring.]

... Katara. You know what that place is like. And it's only more dangerous since were there! Just... don't go.

How can I not go? If I don't go, they'll just get someone who won't be able to handle it as well as I can.

Or they'll send someone else just as good! Maybe better!

But we don't know that. And this if the first time they're calling me on one.

[He sighs.]

Just don't do anything reckless out there.

[She meets his gaze.]

I won't. I'll be careful.

[He doesn't like it. Not at all. He just got back and Toph is gone and now Katara is leaving too? (Stuck in the house with two moody Fire Nation people!)]

Yeah, I know. Just stick near the rivers, okay? And take some bombs.

I'll take the bombs. But I don't know if I'll have a choice about where I'm going. I'm sure that the Malnosso are probably in charge of that. [And then she smiles a little and shrugs, going for hopeful.] But it's January. I'm sure the mountains are covered in snow. It'll be fine.

Still. Take an extra canteen. And your bo! And if it's that cold, you should bring a bedroll too. [He'll keep going on like that if she lets him.]

Sokka. [He's still going] Sokka! I'll take all I can, all right?

[She runs a tired hand through her hair.] Look, if it'll make you feel better, you can write up a list, okay? I still need to make the announcement and I'll work off your list when I'm done.

[She DOES KNOW how he LOVES LISTS. And it'd be useful, anyway. She doesn't really want to think about it right now, and she can trust him. She'll just add in anything that it seems he leaves out and scratch off anything that's too much.]

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markofthewise - 2012-02-05 22:36 (UTC) - Expand

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markofthebrave - 2012-02-06 00:05 (UTC) - Expand

markofthewise - 2012-02-06 02:51 (UTC) - Expand

[ Action, Voice ] .056

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