markofthewise | Sokka the 67th

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Sokka the 67th - [Action/Voice]

[Well, apparently the experiment was over. Sokka was glad for that. He was also in his rightful body. He had to suffer a kiss from Haruhi for it, but that seemed worth it to have his body back. A small price to pay and all that. That meant that with all the madness over, he could finally get back to work. He felt rusty, but once he was back in the smithy, everything just felt right. But he also didn't have much in the way to work on, which meant he was going to have to make a courtesy call to Luceti for work.]

So... that was one of the weirder experiments. But it was pretty harmless. I'd rate it about a three on the annoyance scale. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with all these costumes I ended up with. [Maybe he can give them to Shiki. Surely she wants loads of peasant clothes.]

Anyway, there's a weapon shop in town - the Slash and Crash. Yeah, I know, cool name. I came up with it myself. Anyway, things are slow-ish around here, so we're willing to take some requests and commissions for stuff. Or, well, I am anyway. I can't make guns or anything, but your swords and spears and stuff? We've got that. We can also do repair or maintenance work too. So... just let me know. Or come in. That works too.

[With that out of the way, Sokka starts fixing his work area, noticing now that Haruhi managed to get it a little out of order. He'll spend the rest of the day doing manly things, like staring at his reflection in the fountain and sometimes flexing just a little to remind himself he's no longer a tiny five foot tall girl. On the way home he stops to stare at the Brigade building, thinking back to being in charge there. He then decides obviously he doesn't miss that at all and goes to get some food. He might also be willing to help make dinner tonight. He's had a little practice this past month.]

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That, huh?

[He drags it along on the touch screen to expand it. A small holographic version of it appears above the console to demonstrate its appearance.]

Just this? I mean, we could add some other stuff. Like, I don't know, a rainbow or something.

[M-More magic... Miyabi practially "ooh"s out loud as she little hologram of her homeland appears in mid air. She jumps back somewhat, startled, then begins pawing at the image, waving her hand through it and brightening when nothing really happens. HOW IS THAT EVEN THERE IT'S LIKE A FLOATING, MINI KAMUI WHAAAT THAT IS SO COOL.

But Sokka's interjection makes her blink, and the answer is immediate.]

No. A snowstorm. That'd be Kamui when I left it.

Snowstorm? Really. Okay. [Well, he can handle snow. But he's going to program in a set of parkas to be waiting for them once they walk in.]

Okay. One snowy adventure waiting.

[Again, Miyabi watches how Sokka does it, trying to memorize each keystroke and every movement on the touch screen. She can handle the cold weather easily, but the added warmth is nice...especially when the blizzard (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-UEFc6nBDA#t=2m22s) kicks in.

She can see Oki's hut, and the towering totem poles in the distance, but she doesn't seem all that thrilled to be here. It's ghastly, seeing her home in black and white. It's like the Day of Darkness really did come to Kamui. She shivers, exhales sharply, and closes her eyes. She can't look at this place for too long without feeling sick.]

Is that all? Is that how you do it?

[It's not hard to notice that she isn't as excited as he thought she would be. He frowns, concerned.]

Yeah. That's everything. Don't you want to go in?

[Oh, she hopes he's not talking about Oki's hut. In fact, Miyabi points right toward it and stares at Sokka as if he just asked her to jump into a cave with a very angry bear.]

We can't go in there unarmed. Oki will challenge us. [That or kick them out, if they don't look worthy enough. Miyabi clears her throat, glancing away.] I'll come back here when my sword's done, I just needed to know how to set this up. ...I can use that thing to look at other places in Nippon, too? Even ones I haven't been to?

[Because she'd like to see Kamiki Village, where Kushi was from. The village of the old legend.] Oh, a-and...thank you. For this. I really appreciate your help.

[Aww. He was kind of hoping to explore it. At least Sokka was armed. He could totally take Oki! Whoever he is. But he shrugs. It's her simulation.]

Yeah, anywhere you want. And if you get confused, it will start talking to you and help you figure it out. It's not that hard. So don't mention it. No big deal.

Anywhere... [That sounds awesome, and Miyabi's tempted to ask if the Celestial Pain is on that list of locations, but she bites her lip at the last second. No. No, that's not right of her to do. If and when she reaches that place...it should be done so honorably. Through her own determination and work.

However--]

Can it take me to Ponc'Tan, too? We could go through the Oina village and get to Yoshpet from here... [It'd be like home, sans the horrendous snowstorm.] Or the ocean...somewhere outside of Kamui. I've never seen that. Oh, uhm...I-I mean--you...you don't have to stay here! I'm just...curious.

Um. Probably? [None of these names really mean anything to him though.] Actually, there's one thing I'd kind of like to see. Though it's uh, kind of weird. [Awkward head scratch.] Which is wherever you're from. You know... where everyone is tiny. I could probably adjust it to be, you know, the right scale for us now.

Ponc'Tan?

[Despite her smile. Miyabi is a little apprehensive. She would love to see her home again, but she didn't want to, at the same time. What would it be like, without the usual luster of color? She's afraid of what she'll see. But she also doesn't want to disappoint her friend, either. Uncomfortably, she looks away, but her answer is genuine.]

I think you'd like it very much. ...We can see it, if you'd like.

[He frowns and glances backwards towards the console.]

... we could always do it another time. You don't seem very um... enthused.

Ah... [So. She was being obvious. That's not exactly surprising, but it does make her feel worse about it. She's putting her problems onto Sokka's shoulders, which she hated doing. To anyone. It's not their problem to deal with, and it's unfair of her to push them onto people.] I'm sorry. I am happy, r-really! And I appreciate you showing me all this...

But the way I am now...I don't think I could see my home the way I used to.

What do you mean? Because it's not real? [... but she said 'the way I am?'] ... or because Luceti has changed you?

...A little of both. [Should she tell him? It's not like it's a terrible secret...it's just hard to talk about. The bad memories of her death were still painful, and Miyabi still blamed herself a little bit for it. After a second or two, Miyabi decides that, yes, she should tell Sokka. She owes him that much.]

It's not so much that it isn't real - that's painful, too, but it brings back more good memories than bad. I can look at Kamui and remember all the pleasant things. ...I just...I can't see--

[Ugh, this is harder than it seems. Miyabi pauses, swallows, then looks Sokka in the eye.] What color are your eyes? And the trees around us? The sky, too. Are they all black? Or grey? Or maybe white?

My eyes are bl- [Oh. Oh. It starts to sink in. Everything she sees, there's no color. It's a dull black and white. Like those shows he would sometimes see between battles during the drafts. Flat and lifeless.

And Miyabi is a painter. If there's anything she loves the most. Ouch.]

... oh. I. That's terrible.

[She doesn't respond other than an acknowledging sound. Yes, yes, she knows how terrible it is. And she knows it's temporary, thankfully, but that doesn't make it feel any better. But she is glad that Sokka understands. Just a few more days...and she'll be at the halfway point. It's been a chore, but keeping track is one of the things helping her to keep going.]

I haven't touched my paints since. I can't even dare look at them. [She takes a deep breath.] So...I have to improve. So I don't trouble anyone else anymore. I'm burdening everyone with my troubles. I'm sorry.

[Oh Miyabi. Sokka frowns. He's sympathetic, but he's also not impressed at all by what she said.]

Burdening us with your troubles? And you're apologizing for it? I wouldn't have asked if I didn't care. And if I really didn't care, I could have wrote you some instructions on how to get this place running. Don't go worrying about troubling people and apologizing for it. Especially when it's something serious like that.

I-- !

[She bites her lip, feeling a little embarrassed. She never...really thought of it like that. Miyabi always thought this was her own problem; something she had to deal with herself. But...people do care. Sokka's right. She comes close to apologizing away, not looking directly at him, but instead just nods.]

All right...you're right. Thank you, Sokka. Really. Thank you.

[Atta girl. Smiling he pats her on the shoulder. A little roughly, but not enough to hurt.]

Don't mention it. And if you need something... I'm around, okay?

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Sokka the 67th - [Action/Voice]

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