Sokka the 30th - [Written]

[markofthewise]

[This has been brewing in his mind since yesterday. He decides to finally act on it. Katara, Toph, Zuko, Aang... they all had masters to learn their styles from. Sokka? He had fifteen years of pretending he was a warrior and a mere three days under a real master. Well, this was Luceti. He had nothing but time here. So after he's home for the night and dinner is done, he puts together the following filter]

[Filtered 100% against the Straw Hats, his friends (and anyone from his world), and your usual villainous suspects.]

I'm looking for someone with experience willing to teach fighting. I don't have any special powers, so if your style involves lifting ridiculously huge swords or shooting fire from your hands, forget it. I want someone who can fight for real. I'd prefer fighting with my own sword, but I'll try other styles. I can't offer much in return... but I can try to work out something in exchange.

Comments

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Guess so.

[markofthewise]

You spend all that time learning to fight, but all someone else has to do is be born on some strange world where people are super strong. Or eat some magic fruit that gives you powers. Or whatever else. And then it doesn't matter how much you trained.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Exactly! It ain't right. Fightin' is everything to me, then some jackass with superpowers blinks an' blows you to freakin' bits like it's nothing.

Then people got the guts to tell me "Aw, it so ain't bad", tellin' me I'm the one who's wrong. Then I tell Them where they can cram it.

[markofthewise]

This one new guy? Edward... not the one we work with. He tries to call this alchemy stuff he uses science. When it's not. It's just another type of magic. Calling it science is insulting.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[He says it in a snarl:] Winry's boy.

[Yes, he stalks her that much.]

I am so sick of this.

[markofthewise]

... Winry's boy? [But...]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

I seen them hangin' around together. He's been livin' with her.

[markofthewise]

I knew that much. But I thought she was dating Haruki.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

She told me she wasn't.

Why do you care so much, anyways?

[markofthewise]

I'm a sixteen year old guy. Take a wild guess.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Get in line. She ain't interested. Trust me.

[markofthewise]

Yeah. I figured that out a while ago. [He kinda has to wonder how YOU know. But, best not to ask.] Besides, it was stupid of me to even let myself be interested.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Guess what they say is true. Girls make you do stupid stuff.

[markofthewise]

Pretty much. [And Sokka would offer some encouragement, but dude, you're a turtle. It would probably be insulting.]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Then there's another saying: Build a bridge and get the hell over it. That's the best advice you're gonna get from me.

[markofthewise]

Not quite how I've heard it said before.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, well I'll say it how I wanna. You get the picture.

[markofthewise]

[Well anyway, this is getting into angry land. Let's go back to the original subject.]

So, if you could use magic, or super strength, or whatever... would you?

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Hello, somewhat random subject change. Pause for an odd look at his journal.]

Strength, maybe. Though I ain't exactly lackin' in that department. [If he does say so himself.]

[markofthewise]

Me? I'd take bending, if I could get it. [He even asked the Malnosso for it.]

... although super strength wouldn't be bad either. Or some kind of super speed. [So his new 'master' won't be hitting him with a stick when they go running.]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

I don't need none of that water splashin' crap. It's an insult to my trainin'.

Anybody who hides behind magic to do his dirty work is a weakling and a coward. Take away the superpowers and whaddya got? Nothing.

[markofthewise]

You know, bending isn't just chanting from memory or communing with nature. That girl Azula? When she lost her bending, she was still a match for me, Toph and Aang. The two of them both being benders themselves. They're just using water or fire or whatever as a weapon instead of a sword. You take away my sword, I can still fight. So can they.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Hm. [Still unimpressed and stubborn as an ox as always.] I'll see it when I believe it.

[markofthewise]

[Oh how tempted he is to say, "Lure Azula into the tunnels sometime." But he's not that much of a bastard.]

I don't know if we'll be getting any eclipses anytime soon.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Eclipses...right.