Sokka the 71st - [Action/Voice]

[markofthewise]

[Today, Sokka starts out with some simple messages for the journal.]

I know this is pretty late, but... Luceti has a way of causing delays. I got a lot of orders two months ago and they're all finally finished. If you haven't already picked them up, then... well, you should do that. I think you'll be pleased. [ooc: if you want to assume they already picked this stuff up a while ago, that's fine too!]

So, now that it's nice and warm these days, how do people feel about... fishing? I just made my own fishing rod, so I'm thinking tomorrow morning? Fishing time. On the river, maybe. Or I could bring out one of the boats and head to the lake. Some company wouldn't hurt. As long as you're not the noisy kind. I uh, actually want to catch some fish.

20th

[For today, Sokka works his regular shift at the smithy. From morning until the afternoon, he's at the smithy. There's not much to do now that he's done, so he straightens things out, hangs out on the couch with an alchemy book in his face, or if he gets bored with that... he reaches for his fishing rod under the couch and does a few practice casts. If he thinks no one will catch him doing it. Winry wouldn't approve. 8|

In the afternoon, he'll be around House 56 in the front and back yard, with a can of dirt and pushing over rocks and stones looking for worms underneath. A good fisherman needs his bait, after all! And he wants to be ready for tomorrow!]

21st

[As soon as his sparring practice is over, Sokka sets himself up on the southernmost bridge in town. Sure, it's a little gloomy today, but still time to fish. He has a chair, he has a fishing line, he has a cold box to put fish in, and he has not shortage of snacks and drinks. About ten minutes into his fishing, he gets drenched. Watch as poor Sokka has to gather up his stuff and flee back home. Later when he has an umbrella, he dejectedly heads to the smithy to put in a few hours. And then a few more hours later at the library to do alchemy research. No fishing today. :(]

22nd

[After a rainy day and rainy night, Sokka wakes up to A BIG BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW. He'll try to rush through his morning training, that way he can head to the river west of his house and ready a canoe. With a clear sky above, he's going out to the lake for fishing. There's room enough for two, for anyone eager to join. Following that, he'll be out on the southern lake fishing, cooking fish on the shore for lunch, and enjoying a good solid day off. STRESS FREE.]

Comments

[markofthewise]

[Fortunately Sokka is being careful to keep his weight balanced against hers, so even with her mishap, there's not too much chance of them tumbling in. He grins a little at her mistake, but he doesn't laugh.]

Relax. We're going downstream, so you can take your time. Right now you just need to make sure we stay in the middle of the river, that's all.

[stillplaying]

[She attempts a weak grin. Maybe he's right. She's feeling too tense. She's too busy working against the river, trying to force this boat to move, than to cooperate with it.

For a moment, she regrets her idea. She never should have gone running after the boat. But if she could ever obtain one for herself some day... wouldn't this bit of knowledge increase the odds of her survival a lot?

Taking a deep breath, Katniss places the oar back in and tries again. Maybe it is his advice, but it seems a little easier to steer into the middle of the river right now.

And even attempt a couple of questions.] Are these boats common where you're from?

[markofthewise]

[Seeing that she's getting the hang of it, he can relax a bit, leaning back and letting her do all the work. Best plan ever, clearly.]

I grew up beside the ocean. I've been in and out of boats for longer than I can remember.

[stillplaying]

[It's not the worst work she's ever had to do. And learning this new skill, this potentially important skill, it makes it worthwhile. So she's not complaining. Just rowing and watching the river around her -- and the boy himself, just in case he does try anything with that sword.

But his mention of the ocean catches her attention. Like Finnick. But he's not as beautiful as Finnick Odair was. Though few are.

Still, the words bring a flicker of a grin before she grows serious again.]

I've only been to the ocean once. It's in District Four. Where they fish.

[markofthewise]

[Sokka is INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL. Okay. Shush.]

Well, that's pretty much what we did. There was other stuff to eat, sure, but most of our meals came out of the sea.

[stillplaying]

[Just like in District Four. Not at all like her own home. But...]

We had a lake.

[markofthewise]

Lakes are good. I like lakes. [Not as cool as oceans, but they have their own advantages.] So what do you think so far? Of the whole being on the water thing.

[stillplaying]

It's a lot faster than walking.

[And it's not bad. She's always liked swimming. And although rowing, as a whole, uses very different muscles than swimming, it really is handy. More like being on a train or in an automobile than on a horse.]

[markofthewise]

And relaxing, too! I actually have three of these that I made. Which was probably a little excessive, but you know how it is when you get started on a project.

[And he wanted to be able to let people canoe with him because it's awesome to canoe.]

[stillplaying]

[Her head darts up when he says that there are three. Three! And he made them, too. There's a glimmer of respect in her eyes.

Grudgingly, she has to admit that he would probably make for a good ally in these games.]

Is it hard?

[markofthewise]

A little. You can't just carve wood in the shape of a boat an expect it to work. Especially if you want it to last. Or look as nice as this one.

[He taps the side of it proudly.]

This one's the Yue.

[stillplaying]

[Yue. It's a strange name, but no stranger than some of the names she's encountered in other Districts. She nods as she continues to row, careful to keep at least part of her attention on their surrounding environment.]

So what do you have to do?

[markofthewise]

You need wood, first of all. Which isn't always easy. Moro- you know Moro, right? Big angry wolf person? She's not big on people cutting down trees. So that part was kind of difficult.

[stillplaying]

[She shakes her head. The name is not familiar at all. And she'd remember a big angry wolf person. She's certain of it. Because that description brings back an entirely different memory, of canine muttations with human eyes, determined to kill.]

[markofthewise]

Really? I guess... she must be keeping to herself lately. [Which is not a bad thing if you ask him. Moro is trouble.] She's some kind of forest god in her world, so she's sort of claimed these woods as her own forest now. Which means she sniffs around to make sure you're respecting nature. Or else. But she's not as... mean as she used to be. She's still pretty terrifying, but I think she's kind of okay with all of us being around now.

[stillplaying]

[She listens but doesn't quite understand. There are no gods in Panem. At least, not in the sense she thinks Sokka means. Folklore and maybe, on occasion, the sense of something almost mythological. The oral stories told by parents to their children at night. But never written, never where Peacekeeper ears might overhear.

Religion has been all but stamped out by the Capitol. Why would they have ever want to give the Districts some form of hope? Maybe it'll be different now. Maybe children in her district will get to learn about the Romans Plutarch mentioned, or other societies that came before. But as it is now, his explanation is met with a blank stare.

And a very hesitant venture.] ...like the spirits?

[markofthewise]

[There's a pause as he considers this and questions why 'giant wolf' is hard to follow, but he's got nothing.]

Kind of? But more not invisible, very big, very physical, and only slightly more talkative. She won't be teaching you to use magic, that's for sure.

[stillplaying]

[It's not so much giant wolf but god that confused her. Giant wolves, she knows. Gods and magic not so much.

Still, a frown.] Is she from here?

[markofthewise]

[He shakes his head no.]

Like I said, she's from some other world where she's a god. Here? She's just... scary.

[stillplaying]

I'll remember that.

[Keep away from wolves. Something she's always done due to the danger, but something she'll do even more so now.]

[markofthewise]

[Good. One more person educated on the dangers of Moro. After a moment of quiet, he speaks up again.]

... so, do you fish?

[stillplaying]

[Another nod.]

With a pole and with some basic snares. I like hunting better though.

[She's better at it.]

[markofthewise]

I like hunting too. But there's something about being on a lake with a pole and line that's relaxing.

[stillplaying]

[It is, isn't it? To sit out there and watch the birds fly by, knowing that more than likely, you won't return home empty handed.]

Less work.

[markofthewise]

Well, there's that. And personally, I prefer fish anyway.

[He grew up on the ocean. It's been bred into him.]