Sokka the 58th - [Action/Voice]

[markofthewise]

[One day before his second draft. Also his second birthday in Luceti. Funny how things work out. Not that he's thinking much about the second part. He's aware of the fact he's seventeen now, but there's more important stuff to attend to today.

First on his agenda? He has 'presents' for Suki and Katara. Although they're not really typical presents. Just new weapons to help them out in the battle. He may have been saving them for a later occasion, but there's no point in that now. After his morning workout (whether it's with Master Souji or on his own), he'll have to go tracking the two of them down to make the delivery. After that, he'll also be tracking down Haruhi, most likely to her house, to deliver a certain bird into her care.

Since he's neglected it for the past week, he'll spend most of the day at the smithy. No doubt a lot of people are going to want to drop in and want to get their weapons sharpened before the big battle. He can't let Ed have all the fun, right?

At some point during the day, he decides to try and keep things light (yet slightly morbid) with a question for the journals.]

So, I guess tomorrow we get to find out if the meat we eat is also the talking kind too. Anyone have any messages they want me to pass on to next week's steak dinner?

Comments

[markofthebrave]

Here. [She tosses him the paper bag. And... shifting the small pouch she brought with her, brings out some soda and her own lunch.]

Want to eat outside?

[markofthewise]

[Well it's a little gloomy outside, but at least it's not snowing anymore.]

Sure, why not? [It's what he does anyway. The smithy is too stuffy for lunches. But USUALLY Katara is off doing other things. This is a bit suspicious.]

[markofthebrave]

[Dude, why be suspicious? It's not like she made a giant ice sculpture outside that says 'Happy Birthday, Sokka.'

...okay, she did. She's going for a smile. It's even got tiger seals and koala otters in it. It's adorable and about three feet high.]

[markofthewise]

[At first he blinks at the strange structure out there in the snow. And then he reads it, of course. With everything else on his mind, it does make him pretty happy. His voice might go up a pitch, just a bit.]

That's- it's, wow. With the tiger seals and the- I should get a picture.

[Alas! Unlike Toph's SOKKA MONUMENT, ice will melt.]

[markofthebrave]

[Aww, yay, he likes it!]

Happy Birthday.

[markofthewise]

Thanks.

[Just gonna go inspect it from other sides. Hmmm.]

How long did this take you to make? [Clearly he needs to check on what's going outside more.]

[markofthebrave]

A little bit. [She shrugs. It wasn't exactly a few minutes but it wasn't an hour or anything like that. It's not like she kept track of it either.]

I wasn't really expecting to see you on your birthday, but I couldn't just let it go.

[She's got a present for him too. But that will probably come after lunch.]

[markofthewise]

What? You were going to see me.

[He was just expecting her and Suki to somehow talk him out of coming back to the village for a day and be surprised by a party. Is that too much to ask?]

But it's pretty awesome anyway.

[markofthebrave]

[Not really, bro. Katara was planning on letting you stay up there with Suki as long as you two needed.]

Well, you're welcome.

[She's actually... surprised he liked it. It had been a spur of the moment decision, and she thought he'd find it stupid, especially since she made it with bending. She'd just been hoping for a smile. But, you know, she'll take this.

And she goes to sit down and take out her own lunch now.]

[markofthewise]

[He would have been so disappointed.]

Oh... actually! That reminds me. I have something for you. Hold that thought!

[Just bustling into the smithy now.]

[markofthebrave]

[Blink. Okaaay, that was weird.

Oh well. Digging into her chicken and rice now.]

[markofthewise]

[Give him a few minutes and he's got a bag. A bag that looks like it has sticks in it.]

I was waiting to give you this until I could put some more detail into it. [You know, some paint, the Water Tribe emblem, that sort of thing.]

But since we'll be fighting tomorrow, well. No point waiting.

[If she opens it, she will find a staff. Not just any staff! A collapsible three-part-staff. It's just a bit longer than her existing one, since he's taken into account that she's gained a small amount of height since ten months ago.]

[markofthebrave]

[You know what they say. Give a girl a deadly weapon and she'll be your friend forever.]

Sokka! [Grin. Glee.] This looks just like Nami's!

[And she takes it and begins to knowledgeably-if-not-expertly snap it together. Happy, she is.]

[markofthewise]

[Grin.] Well, it is where I got the design from...

[markofthebrave]

[And, once assembled, she gives it an expert whirl. The balance is great, the weight a bit heavier, but-]

This is great, Sokka. [A kiss to the cheek.] Thank you.

[markofthewise]

[... okay, really. A kiss to the cheek? Where people can see them? SERIOUSLY KATARA, GOSH. He has a rep, you know!]

... don't mention it. [Suspicious eyes to see if anyone saw that.]

[markofthebrave]

[Sokka, anyone who knows you knows your rep is mush.

Happily disassembling it now, her lunc (and his present) temporarily forgotten.]

Do you have a way figured out to wear it?

[markofthewise]

[HE HAS A GREAT REP.

But considering this now. Since water is her primary weapon, she'll want her canteens at her side, so...]

Over the shoulder. I should have a strap you can use for that.

[markofthebrave]

[She... can't really see it. But she's willing to trust him on this one.]

All right. We'll see how that works.

[markofthewise]

[Non issue anyway. It's not as if they need to be fixed to any position. Half the time Sokka can't decide which shoulder to have his sword on.]

Sure. [Gift giving done, he's going to eat his sandwich.]