markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .056

Entry tags:

[ 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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...that is the exact opposite direction he's supposed to be going in and why did he just blush? Katara frowns, but leaning closer is a signal it's hard for even her to misread.

She's been trying to dance around and redirect it all night, and her first impulse is to continue in that vein, to stand up and say 'It's time to go,' and leave it. In fact, she shifts a little as if to start to do that before she makes a deliberate choice.

No, there need to be Lines here too, but he won't know them (apparently! they seem pretty obvious to HER!) unless she says them. And she promised to try not to hold back. So. She doesn't go anywhere.]

What are you doing?

[And she watches him with a wary awareness.}

No... nothing.

[He said, leaned in a bit close. Too close. flushed. His brain in all sorts of over-drive and his pulse moving way too fast. He knows she'll stop him (that's what she's doing now, really) but it's fun to imagine. Even if he's out of any good ways to redirect this right now]

[Her eyes narrow, but... for a moment, for a very brief moment, as he approaches her gaze drops to his lips. And it wouldn't be bad at all, if she let him kiss her. It would allow her to forget, for a little while. She'd forget this crushing pain of missing Toph, the dread of the mission and of the lives she'll have to take, this whole miserable situation, and be lost for a moment in sensation. She could even play off being confused about it afterwards, she could pretend that she was confused, or that she believed him when he said it was nothing. And it's tempting..

But his approach gives her more than enough time to choose.

And she chooses not to use him like that. Her gaze flickers back up to him, her face set firmly.

That's not what friends do.]

No.

[Friends don't use each other. Even if it seemed like the friend wouldn't mind.]

Edited 2012-02-05 08:16 (UTC)

[He wouldn't, he so, so would not mind if she did that. He might mind some of the results, he might mind some of the other things but a kiss in and of itself would be amazing, made even more amazing if she did or she allowed him to. Because, really, that's what he's thinking here, right? But then, no. He's still flushed.

But... his eyes widen with a minor recognition, leaned in close enough to her that he's barely a foot and a half from her face with his own face. If that]

[And his head falls. He sighs, dramatically, when he does this. This puts the top of his head in her line of vision, and under the relative protection of his hair his face... runs through a series of complicated expressions he would really rather remain invisible.

Just breathe.

He considers a moment... because. Well, that was a Katara-like answer, but he thinks back to his conversation with Shikamaru. And then to all the pineapple shit earlier today, and all he's just gone through now]

[And then he lifts his head slightly. It's still inclined, but it's for the benefit of her being able to see his face. The blush has mostly subsided, but he's in a more neutral expression now. he's still sort of on his knee on one side with the other planted on the ground to lean into her. He's not pulling back from that but... exhale.

Okay so- No. He's just got to give up on this and pull back. No. It's not like she's rejecting him or anything. No.]

[A look which then seems to have not decided if it's a smile or not plays up on his lips then. Fine, but if he can't get the kiss in-]

You know, I really like you, Katara.

[She doesn't move while he does this. In fact, she sits completely still. She'll stop him if he pushes through despite her saying no, but she will sit there and wait for him to respect her boundaries right up until the point where he crosses the line.

And then he looks up, and she's still watching him intently because he hasn't moved away and--

"You know, I really like you, Katara."

She blinks, blushes, and averts her eyes in very short order.]

Oh. [She says, because she has to say something, because the space between them suddenly seems very small and the silence like it could create diamonds. "Thank you," seems insulting so she just... offers up the pure honest truth.]

...I don't know how to respond to that.

[Still not looking at him.

And yes, respond in so many ways.]

I know.

[he breathes that out. He still doesn't... move back. For a moment. But then he bows his head and shoot back, taking a more comfortable position which still sees him on the same cushion, but takes him right up out of her space. His voice is. Weird. He can't decide if he's resigned? Sad? Just accepting?]

Ah... I know.

[And he leans his head to the side, leaning his whole upper body against the couch's back sideways, so he can still face her]

[She doesn't look back up at him until it's safe, until he's moved back completely and then - he's still looking at her. Awkward. So much awkward.

Why did he have to say that?

She can't really blame him for it. He'd said... he'd said he wanted her to want him back. So he's trying to make it different. He's trying to set his own lines.

...and she wonders if the rest of their time together will be wrestling over just where those lines should be.

She sighs and starts to move, sliding her legs towards the floor, but then she hesitates, glancing back up at him, her movement stopped before her legs hit the ground.]

Then you know I'm sorry too, right?

I do.

[Simply. But she's... making a move. to shift? to stand? leave? He might have blown the situation. He might have destroyed his chance. Both of those fill him with a sort of dread, but this is just the game, right? It's how love is played.

...Hah, love]

[He closes his eyes]

I'm flattered by that, actually.

[A quick intake of breath and - okay, she wants to ignore this, OKAY, she really doesn't want to talk about this but...

...but that's not fair at all, is it.

And she slowly draws her knees back towards her chest.]

What do you mean by that?

[Because that makes no sense to her mind. Why would he be flattered that she was sorry she was hurting him?]

I... mean. [his head is still resting on its side there, but he rolls it off. He folds his arms behind his head then makes to "lay down" on the couch. It's a weird position though. he's laying down to try to only take up one and one fourth cushion, to give her some space. his arms fold behind his head and it's more like a sit up position]

I mean that you aren't obligated to feel that way. But you're sympathetic - trying, really.

[That... can't be comfortable. She eyes his position and then scoots over a little further towards the arm rest, giving him more room.]

Trying what?

[Because clarity seems to be both of their long-lost friend]

Katara, that's obvious.

[He'll take the extra room. But he jerks his head up to this]

[A touch of frustration leaks into her tone.] If it was obvious to me, I wouldn't be asking you.

[What? What does he think she's trying to do?]

You're trying to put up with me.

[Blink.]

[Pffff....

And she starts laughing.

Because. What a way to put it. It felt like that sometimes, but really...]

[Smiling now, she shakes her head.]

I'm not trying to put up with you. I'm trying to figure out how I can still be your friend.

["Put up with" meant tolerate which meant nothing like enjoy. And that's somehow what she still wanted - for them to be friends, to be able to enjoy each other's company. That was it.]

I said that!

[Indignantly. What, is she trying to ruin his cool guy swag-]

[-wait that was too loud. This next part is a loud whisper]

That's what I meant anyway! That's the flattering part!

[He's so offended. This whole thing situation so ridiculous and awful and emotionally entangling and Katara is just so tired-

She starts laughing again, one hand coming up to cover her face. Her laughter is warm, if tired, and this whole thing is just so-]

Okay, okay! [She says on a chuckle, lowering her hand. Her smile is still stretched wide from her laughter.] I get it, I'm sorry.

Edited 2012-02-05 17:48 (UTC)

You should be, ruining a man's pride!

[SIGH. SIGH. Swag and sigh but he's clearly not taking this reply seriously]

no subject

this is not a kiss icon okok

lol, of course it isn't

1/4

2/4

3/4

4/4

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/3

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject