markofthewise | Sokka the 77th

[On February Twenty-Fifth, Sokka turned nineteen. On the Twenty-Sixth, he left on a routine mission to work as a mechanic on one of the Malnosso's three space vessels high up in orbit. There was no battle, this time. Just good honest work, people to relate to, and a small bunk to call his own. Seven days, just like that.

On March Fourth, one of the mechanics triggered a malfunction on the hangar doors. The crew quickly fled, just as the power went down. They needed to close the hatch leading to the hallway. But without power, it could only be closed from one side. The one about to be opened up into space. The hero, the stupid hero, closed the door. In those brief moments, he thought that maybe if he reached a Tyr Fighter, he could climb in one of those. He ran. Hard.

He didn't make it.

Today, he fell into the sea, nearly drowning, and was saved by the Avatar. It distracted him from what happened, but now that she was off exploring town, he had the chance to go in his room, get dressed, and collect his weapons. It was a good thing he chose not to bring them. They'd be out floating in space right now, otherwise. One thing was strange, though. He wasn't upset. He wasn't distressed. He could only look back on it and regret that it even happened. That was a week's worth of points he wouldn't be getting. Damn Malnosso cheapskates.

After a bit of cleaning up, he went to go approach this new day. He'd be gone from Luceti for two weeks. People would probably miss him. But his first destination was the smithy.

The only problem was that once he got to the smithy, he found himself looking at the walls. They were barer than he left them. People had been picking up some of the weapons he'd made. Well, that wasn't going to do. He wasn't running a charity here.]

Hey Luceti. Looks like I got back in time for the new feathers to roll in. I'm Sokka. Hope you guys are settling in fine! I run the Slash 'n Crash, the local smithy and weapon shop. I make most of the weapons here. I do take commissions if people want stuff. But since there's no money, just talk to me and we can work out a trade. No point in breaking your back for nothing, right?

Anyway, did I miss anything important?

[For the rest of the day, Sokka can be found at the smithy. Later he does about an hour of catch up work at the library, before going home to dinner. Remarkably enough, he doesn't feel like drinking today.

Today is a good day.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[... maybe he needs to work on getting himself another advantage here. Jeez.]

I thought this meant I was, you know, graduating. There'd be a big "You've learned all I can teach you" kind of moment.

I can teach you the forms - which you've done quite well in learning - but there are small things now which you will have to learn if you wish to be a good teacher.

You'll have to learn how to find and correct the small mistakes in others, for example. And tighten your guard. You still leave gaps.

Those aren't gaps! I just, you know, don't want you to feel bad! That's all!

I feel bad when I send you home bruised and your sister has to heal them.

We'll work on it at your next lesson.

Enjoy it while you can. [He feels different now. Like he doesn't need restraint anymore. Like he'll be able to get more out of his training than he ever did before.]

[Oh, Sokka, if only you knew how those words hit home nowadays.]

I'll be sure to. I'm also adding weight to our training swords. Increased speed will help you when you're teaching.

But I'm already weight training. [Not with the sword, sure. That feels like it's just a way to slow him down to negate his progress.]

Are you training your shoulders, back, upper arms and wrists?

[Because if you aren't training the muscles necessary for swords, Sokka, you aren't training enough. And Souji doesn't really believe in having large muscles being an advantage anyway.]

You'll need wrist training especially if I'm going to teach you disarming techniques so you can pass them on.

I get a ton of training for those at the smithy! Anyway, disarming techniques are easy. You just remove the other guy's arm.

[He says this a little too casually. Without the usual pitch reserved for being snarky.]

[Souji sighs and the carefree tone disappears as he switches to a locked filter.]

Sokka-kun, you are the only one here - or anywhere - who I can teach what I know. I realize it is frustrating to go so slowly, but indulge me.

You are all that is left of me as I was and it won't be much longer that I can teach you.

[... well, this was more serious than he expected. It wasn't often Master Souji talked to him like this. Even in his present state, he can't help but take this seriously.]

I know. I know... but what do you mean much longer? Are you sick again?

[He hates talking about this, but to teach Sokka, to get him to understand, he has to say it.]

...My skills have been diminishing since I was returned from the dead.

[The lack of a full set of functioning lungs makes it difficult to be on top of his game, and he still isn't entirely certain that's his death penalty.]

It takes years to be a certified teacher of our style. I don't wish to lose the ability to teach you before you know how to teach.

[His master was fading again. Logically, he should be upset. Somehow, he wasn't. His mind determined that he'd be able to surpass his master much sooner this way. But it also meant he was getting diminishing returns with his training. Not good.]

Are you dying again?

[He laughs faintly.] You know me better than that. I wouldn't tell you if I was, now would I?

But if I continue to lose my abilities like this, it will be detrimental to your training. [He already can't do some of his signature moves any longer and that means he can't teach them to Sokka. That alone is reason to step down in his mind.] I've been looking into finding you sparring partners and a replacement teacher.

[As much as it pains his pride to lose his one and only skill, the only reason anyone needs him here, he has to accept it.]

I'll try my best to ensure your training does not suffer for long.

[Well, that confirmed what Sokka thought. But a replacement teacher... that he wasn't so willing to go through with.]

Have you tried fixing it? [Blunt. To the point. He wants his teacher at 100%, not looking for workarounds.]

...

A warrior unable to fight is better off dying on the field than waiting for old age. I am looking into ways to recover what I have lost, but if it is gone - I do not wish for you to suffer what I must do.

The Malnosso. Talk to them. Get some mission points. If they can turn us into kids, they can fix you.

Edited 2013-03-25 19:48 (UTC)

[He won't point out that they couldn't fix him before.]

Until then, however, it may be important to get you a substitute at the very least.

I don't need a substitute. If you can't teach me anymore, then I'll just have to manage on my own.

[Ouch. Although, Souji knows that's the wise choice, the one that many people need to make, it still stings his pride and his selfishness. Sokka was the last one who actually needed him here in any combative capacity and now it seems that avenue is closing to him.

After a long pause, he lets out a soft breath.]

You must do as you need, Sokka-kun.

You do the same. I need you back at a hundred percent.

[It might be touching if it weren't entirely selfishly motivated. He wanted everything Souji had to offer. No less.]

If such a thing is possible, I will do the best I can do achieve it.

[He bows his head and shuts off the journal for now. He has to go train himself, if only so he doesn't feel so useless.]

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