markofthewise | Sokka the 76th

It was an adjustment. He didn't much like that he was now single. He hated even more the circumstances that led to it. But after this long, Sokka owed it to himself to put himself back together and make some sense of his life. Or at the very least, try and be a little upright for the sake of his friends. After burying himself in work for the past few weeks, it was time for some sunshine. As sunny as it could be in January, anyway. So while he's out, he's not exactly chipper. But he's trying his best to not look as somber and cranky as he has the last few weeks.

Today, he's out with Foo Foo Cuddly Poops, the tiny Saber Toothed Moose-Lion cub he received for Christmas. The little beast is getting a bit bigger now. His little horns are protruding more and he was growing consistently. The little thing could fit on Sokka's head before, but not anymore. He was just shy of being the size of a beagle now. He'd already been bigger than Sokka remembered when he received him on Christmas. Having seen the mother, he knew Foo Foo would only get bigger. He also couldn't leave Foo Foo at home, since his teeth were coming in. Which meant he was chewing up anything he could get his paws on. Not to mention he was hardly housebroken. So this is why today, Sokka was going to the grocery to explore the diet of moose-lions so he could carry it all back in bulk. Which is why he also had an unseemly large bag. He suspected, before long, he'd have to start using a wheel barrow.

At the grocery store, the two explore a variety of foods they both like. Fruits and meat. It seems Foo Foo has a similar appetite to Sokka.

While he's off in one corner letting Foo Foo got to town on a basket of apples, he hits up the journals.

[Voice]

So. How exactly do you teach an animal not only to stop chewing on your valuables, but also to do their business outside? You know, without actually keeping them outside all the time. [A pause as he looks over at Foo Foo.] At least while they'll still fit in the house.

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To her earned credit, she didn't stop walking when he said it.

"You think so?"

"Well, you're carrying my stuff. I have no trouble remembering your name. And you know one of my biggest secrets. So either we're friends or you're a really helpful blackmailer."

Raven snorted. "What secret? Most things about you are obvious."

Like how obvious it was that she was pleased by the things he said.

"The first-day-we-met-secret?" That which could not be comfortably named?

It took her a minute. When he died. She could see why he might want that to stay quiet.

"I wouldn't tell anybody. It's not my business." A shrug. "You know my secret too."

"We're keeping each other's secrets. So. That's gotta mean something."

The sound she made could almost be called a laugh.

"I guess I could call that friends."

It was better than other sounds she could make. So in spite of not being in such a good place himself, he could smile. Sort of.

"Right now, I can use as many of those as I can get."

Huh? Sokka always seemed to be surrounded by people who had an easy friendship with him. "Why? What happened?"

He looked at her, surprised she needed to ask. Had he really not mentioned anything to her?

"Me and Suki broke up."

"Oh." His girlfriend. Raven felt for him, but could not think of very much to say. It was his problem and his feelings about it. "Are...you okay?"

"I'd be lying if I said I was." It probably put his attitude this past while into perspective. He was miserable. "But I'm making it."

She wasn't very good at making others feel better, either. If anything, she often made it worse. But Sokka had the nerve to call her friend and mean it and damn if that wasn't more important than her social failings. He was so absent lately, even when he was standing there making weapons.

"Sorry to hear about it."

"It's my fault." He looked away, trying to hide the frustration and pain in his face. "I lied to her and pretended to be someone I'm not."

Lying was bad. ...Pretending, she couldn't really fault him for.

"So tell her you'll be yourself now."

"We already talked." Just a bit ago, in fact. "Being myself is the problem."

"But-" It was hard to stop herself. Their fight and their problems weren't something she understood. What if it insulted Sokka that she might try?

Raven thought about saying to him what he would probably say to her, and decided against it in the next breath.

"But you're...she liked you before."

"She liked the me she used to know. I haven't been him for a long time."

"Nothing's wrong with the you you are now." A shrug. "She just doesn't know yet."

Raven was not the best person to consult for love advice.

"There's a lot wrong with the me right now, Raven. You're just the one who hasn't figured that out yet."

"That's not true." It came out as a whisper, one she tried in vain to keep to herself. Sokka could be insensitive sometimes but so could a lot of people, nothing was wrong with him.

"It is." He nodded at the house instead. "You can just leave the stuff on the front step. I'll take care of the rest."

Those were the wrong answers, weren't they? Raven sighed and putt her bags down, giving Foo Foo an absent pat on the head. "It's not. You're...a good friend."

Why did she want to argue so badly?

"Just not a good boyfriend." And the good friend part felt like maybe it was wrong too.

It wasn't wrong! For Raven to call him a good friend out loud, he practically had to be three times the usual one.

"I...I-I don't know about that!" She blushed, too. "But you're a good person."

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markofthewise - 2013-03-12 04:53 (UTC) - Expand

Sokka the 76th - [Action/Voice]

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