markofthewise | Sokka the 61st

[When Sokka opens the journal, he does it with a very specific purpose and yeah, maybe it's New Feather season and the aftermath of some dumb experiment, but he has some news that he's been sitting on for awhile. News that only two or three people outside of the Avatar house are even aware of. So today, around lunch period at school, Sokka heads around the building, facing the playground, to make an announcement he'd been putting off for a bit. Not because he didn't want to make it, but it was hard to do it with people being all ragey with the Malnosso. Maybe a few days of New Feathers will have cooled them off?]

Hey everyone. So... this is actually a few weeks late, but uh, that experiment kind of got in the way and New Feathers showing up and... anyway. Forget all that.

If you guys happen to see Suki around town, say hi to her for me. After all, she's the future Missus Thunderaxe. [He allows that to sink in a bit.] Because, you know, we're engaged now. Just saying. Nice pretty necklace and everything. One of my best works, if I do say so myself.

[Yeah, yeah. He's feeling good about that, okay. Like, solid. Whatever that means. Anyway, he decided that tonight he is making dinner. That means he's going to the grocery and stocking up on steaks. He wants to make steak burgers, because he's heard about them (somewhere) and they sounded awesome. From Luceti he had decided he liked steak and he liked hamburgers, so a combination? Gotta be a winner. Nevermind that he's just getting regular old steaks and plans to just put those on a hamburger bun. He'll realize the bones are gonna be a problem later on.

He'll make his customary appearance at the smithy to help New Feathers with weapons. He'll also be around school during the appropriate times for that. In the evening, after his dinner fiasco, he'll be down by the river, on the southern end of town, making some modifications to see if he can't make it sea worthy. Like adding a sail. He's pretty unsatisfied with the results though. Looks like he may need to just make a new boat from scratch. Which necessitates another voice post in the evening. But only after excluding a certain pirate. No offense, Jack, but he wants his own boat.]

[Filtered from Jack Sparrow]

So... ship building. Anyone want to help make one? A big one. Not huge, just... sea worthy with a nice strong sail. And good for bringing in lots of fish, too. Any help would be good. Just materials would go a long way.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This suggestion almost makes Don want to kiss you. Until he remembers that he can't be on the surface forcing air into the hose and at the same time be underwater helping Robert swim. ~~And also that you're engaged to a girl.~~]

I don't think the lakes are deep enough to need it. If anyone has a ship that can carry it, I'd like to take it to the ocean.

[Winry says turtle kisses are overrated anyway, so he's good.]

Well, actually, I was hoping to start work on a boat. Mostly for fishing. I guess it would have to be something bigger to use something like this, though.

[Winry is a turtle heart breaker.]

[Don nods, casts around, finds the book he was looking for, and opens it to show Sokka a diagram of a full-size sailing ship carrying a diving bell. Side schematics show the rigging of the pulley system, the swinging crane arm to move the bell on and off the deck, men turning the capstan to raise the bell, and other instructive scenes.]

I think we're going to need more help.

[Going from the diagram, yeah... definitely.]

... well the others can probably help with this. [Hiccup springs to mind. He seems pretty resourceful and this is, conceptually, simple stuff.] But uh... why exactly are you making this?

For people who can't swim.

[You see, he has only recently learned that such people exist.]

[... so a person can't swim, so you put them at the bottom of the sea in a metal bell? Errr...]

Are you sure that's a good idea?

[This is the Turtle who personally jumped off a bridge with an untested hang-glider.]

I'll make sure it's safe.

Yeah... oh, right. So you must be able to hold your breath for a long time? I mean... that's a turtle thing, right?

Edited 2011-05-10 14:01 (UTC)

Yes... ?

[Where are you going with this, Sokka?]

That makes you the right guy for the job then. [It was an observation, basically. Testing a diving bell is tricky business and while he does have one of Razette's scales... best not to risk it.]

[Yes, he's uniquely suited to test an invention that's of little use to him. Good observation.]

Hm.

[He turns back to his stack of books.]

[... right. Well anyway.]

So... do you want my help working on it or do you want to do the rest? [Honest question here. Sokka doesn't mind helping, but being left out won't bother him either. He does have a boat to build, after all. Somehow.]

I'll take all the help I can get. You're welcome to look inside.

[The bell is up on blocks, so a person could duck under the rim and go in. It's a pretty claustrophobic space, though.]

[He nods and kneels down, about to do so until he stops and gives Don a skeptical look.]

Wait... this isn't the bit where I climb in and then you hit the site with a mallet or something as some big prank, is it?

[What.]

You must be thinking of some other Turtle.

[Because yeah, some Turtles probably would find that hilarious.]

... just making sure.

[He gives Don a suspicious look, then ducks on inside to look around. Yeah... definitely a bell. Not terribly spacious, is it?]

[It isn't. There are some handles, and the rudiments of a signalling system. The seat hasn't been installed yet.]

[You will remain unmolested for however long you choose to stay inside.]

[It looks like it will do the trick. They'll have to make some adjustments if they want to incorporate Sokka's idea to let it sink and rise just by air, but otherwise... yeah. He ducks back out.]

Well if this doesn't work, at least we'll have a really nice bell to use.

Edited 2011-05-13 03:17 (UTC)

[He looks at the seven-foot-tall contraption.] Got a place in mind for it?

School bell. Or... restaurant bell. A very effective way of letting people know there order is up.

... I would think. [Is people not knowing their food is ready a big problem in Luceti?]

[Well, it's a joke anyway.]

Anyway, I'll pitch in a little later. I've gotta finish a sword up for someone, then I'm free! [... as far as smithy stuff goes.]

[Uh... okay.]

I'll see you around, then.

[He'll be in and out all week.]

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