markofthewise | Appointments Post

[She wrinkles her nose in slight distaste.]

I can't see why anyone would find that to be a good idea. [There's a pause. She's pretty sure that the dome is safe, but she kind of ignored absolutely everything about it and thus she has no idea how it actually works.] That's not dangerous, is it?

[He's not sure whether to take this as her being anti-fighting or not. The technology filled dome doesn't even occur to him.]

It's not as dangerous as what my friends are going through right now.

[It's anti-injury-risking-fighting, because that's what it's sounding like to her right now since she doesn't understand its technology.]

It's not as dangerous as a war. That's really comforting. ...You aren't going to "turn up the difficulty" enough to risk getting seriously hurt, are you?

I don't know. [He won't. Katara would basically kill him if he came back needing healing for something so stupid.] What does it matter?

Do I need a reason to not want you to get hurt? [Arms crossed! Welp, this conversation is going splendidly.]

[Gawd Fenimore, can't he be bitter just a little? Time to clear the air.]

Look... I plan on keeping the safeties on. Trust me, I get beat up enough each morning my Master Souji. I'm not so crazy on the, you know, getting beat up my imaginary people.

[NO NEVER. She actually doesn't really know what a "safety" is, but it sounds...safe, for lack of a better word. So she unbristles.]

...Your master beats you up?

Let's just say he provides strong incentive to dodge better.

[His teacher is just special, okay.]

...That isn't the normal way to train people, is it?

[Because, if it is, it gives a whole different meaning to Sokka's offer to give her some fighting tips.]

What? No... yeah, no. Master Souji is not... your usual kind of trainer. My dad, Suki, and Master Piandao... were nothing like him.

[Not that it's bad! Just... very painful.]

And you chose to learn from him. ...You really are special sometimes.

Hey, say what you will, but it's had results. [He shakes his head.] Anyway, when you want me to give you a lesson, I won't be as rough. The worse you'll have to worry about is going home a little sore.

I should hope you wouldn't be! [A pause as she considers the "when."] I guess now would be a bad time for it, though. I'm not likely to "up the difficulty setting."

Well, I figured- [Hold the phone. Is she actually... interested in doing it now?]

Wait, do you want to do a lesson now?

Do you have to act so surprised every time? [It's not like she spent half a year completely against the idea of getting some traini -- oh wait she did.] You just reminded me, is all. I wouldn't mind it -- maybe you're right and it would take my mind of...it. But, if you don't want to do it, I'm not going to make you.

[Until he sees Fenimore killing people daily and walking into a town with a sword at her side, he will always be slightly stunned.]

No no, now is good. It's... yeah, it's better than what I was going to do anyway. [At least this is productive.]

[It's probably going to seem pretty weird to Fenimore, too, until then. ...Not that she ever intends to start killing people daily. ~~Maybe biweekly.~~]

Probably. [A pause.] But I don't have to call you "Master Sokka," right? [Because she wouldn't, even if Sokka's calling his teacher that.]

[Master Sokka... that has a nice ring to it.]

Only if you really want to. I won't argue if you do.

...I'd rather not.

... fine, too much to hope for anyway.

[Well... he gives her a look over.]

You might want to change into something else.

[She looks down at herself at the comment. Hmm. His fiancée seemed to be fine with fighting in a dress, but Fenimore's wasn't really designed for it.

She looks back up.] ...I don't think any of my own outfits are going to be a big improvement on it. Except -- [and here she looks a little uncertain] there's that other one.

[She's very vaguely referring to the outfit from the other day. It seems to have mixed reviews in the village, but if it was just Sokka, who doesn't seem to think it's weird....]

[He stares blankly for a second before... oh!]

That one? Really?

[He's surprised that's all she has. She really must be a traditional girl to not have anything better than that.]

Err. I guess that could work.

[Pretty much, yeah. She sighs.]

Well, all I have are dresses. I mean, I could look for a lighter one, but that one's the only one that isn't past my knees.

[Well...] Okay, that'll work. If you want to change now, I'll just... wait out here. No problem.

[AND IT WAS DONE.

Which is to say that she goes back to her house and returns in the outfit, plus stockings and arm warmers because, welp, scars and all. It may be just slightly longer than might be expected because, while she hurried as best she could, she also took a moment to take her hair out of its usual twintails and pin it up out of the way. And that's a lot of hair to get under control.

As she hurries up the path back to where he's waiting:] Sorry for the wait.

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]

[Action, June 4]