markofthewise | Sokka the 73rd

[The house was demolished. And apparently it didn't have the decency to start putting itself together again. Not to mention the whole town was soggy. Most of Sokka's stuff in his room had been damaged. Some of it was salvageable, much of it he had to just throw out. His important valuables were in the basement and though there was a few inches of water down there, his stuff was up high and out of reach. Still, another mess to clean. At least there were two waterbenders in the house to clean that up. For a lover of stuff, Sokka was pretty put out by it. He hadn't been able to sleep in his room because of it. In a way though, he couldn't be upset. It felt right. Like starting over.

And then there was the smithy. Or what was left of it. The whole thing was rubble now. He wasn't even sure if there was a point in trying to pick through it. Best to wait until the Malnosso fixed it, right? It was freeing up his schedule considerably, anyway. At least he was back to his normal practice schedule in the mornings. Even if two straight weeks of combat had left him... weary of it, to say the least. All the same. He found himself to be glad to be back in Luceti. Back in the library, studying his alchemy. Sure, he lost all his notes and would have to start over, but it would be easier since he already knew what needed to be done again. Still. There was so much to go over.]

A guy can't leave for a few weeks without the town getting demolished, huh? Anyway. So uh. A lot of stuff has happened this past week. If anyone wants to, you know, spare some of the good details? I'll be around. Interested. And if you want? I can tell you all about space. Which was pretty great.

[Very around. Like hanging out in the plaza around. No smithy kind of leaves him with no daytime hangout spot. Especially without Suki to spend time with. So besides his training and time at the library, he's very much a man with nothing to do. Evidenced by the fact he's sitting at a bench near the fountain, lazily sprawled out as he counts his one hundredth consecutive hit on a paddle ball. It's uncanny how good he actually is with it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You're back!

[Sokka sits up straight. Duh, of course he's back. It's been over a week. But still.]

[Whoops, hello, yes. Souji looks at him for a moment like he just grew two heads and then smiles, laughing slightly.]

Yes, I'm back. I trust you kept up with your lessons while I was away?

Well... uh. Does two weeks of fighting the cultists count?

[Because he figured that was a good substitute.]

[Let him consider this. He taps a finger against his chin, looking up at the sky for a few seconds and then looks down at Sokka again with a smile.]

I'll allow it. I'm glad you came back safely, Sokka-kun. Were the battles difficult this time?

[Well, he got bit by a Shift Hunter and spent days near death because of a lack of healers. Then he he got to the draft, where his side got sliced open and he received multiple injures that his sister healed. And then he actually died when his heart stopped. So uh.]

Well. You know, about usual.

[...good god, Sokka. 8| Stop dying.]

Hm~

[Non-committal answer gets non-committal reply. He's curious, but if Sokka doesn't want to talk about it, he'll leave well enough alone.]

Was the damage to your house very bad?

[You first, Souji. 8|]

Bad is... one way to put it. I haven't been able to sleep in my room.

[He's only done it once. 8| ]

Oh, that must be unpleasant. Do you and your friends need a place to stay?

Nah, it's okay. There's plenty of space that's still okay. [And there's a community housing right next door, so that works too.]

Alright. If you need any help with cleaning it up, though, do let me know. The house sustained only small damage to the outside, so other than Tammy and Saizou being indoors now, there isn't much to do for it. It's kind of boring, actually.

Well if you want me to come and wreck your house, I can help relieve your boredom.

Maybe you should. Tammy does a fair job at it, but she can't joke as well as you do.

Well a giant chicken that can't joke isn't really any good, right?

Not for joking, no. But she's very good for riding on, especially now with how the water and mud has ruined the streets.

[Which reminds him, he has to get new geta. He looks toward the stores, ticking that off in his mind.]

Is Sokka-kun out here for a rest today, or is there another reason he's in the plaza?

Mostly? There's nothing else to do. School's out and... well, so's the smithy.

[He gestures at the rubble of what was once his work place.]

[Yeeeaaaah.... Souji looks in that direction and realizes that wow, his house with a few broken windows and some water-logging is not so bad. ]

Well, if Sokka-kun wants something to do, he could always come rebuild Tammy's pen with me.

[Sore as he is, that doesn't sound so bad...]

Having trouble getting help at home, huh?

You could say that. It isn't exactly work we're cut out for.

[And with him lacking two good lungs, it's slow going.]

So you'll help? Maybe you can teach me that strange game you were playing while we're at it.

Sorry Master Souji, but paddle ball and work are kind of mutually exclusive.

Then maybe we should learn this game first. You could be my [wtf was that name] paddleball teacher.

I prefer paddleball master.

[He holds it out for him.]

[....ffffff Souji giggles and takes the paddle ball, bowing reverently.]

Thank you, Paddleball Master.

Now the trick is to think of the paddleball as an extension of yourself. It's a part of you. Your rhythm. Your heartbeat, if you want. Don't focus on the ball. Let your focus control the ball.

[He's totally making this up as he goes.]

[Oh god, Sokka, he is going to bounce this paddle ball off your forehead. He listens, though, drinking this explanation up. Most interesting, Master. Most interesting indeed.]

Hm~ so it's like the sword, but for games.

But not nearly as easy as a sword!

[Because... let's face it. Swords are way easier.]

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