Sokka the 79th - [Action]

[markofthewise]

Over two months ago, Sokka died. His penalty was something incredibly intangible. It took from him his empathy, his ability to love, and so many other things. He didn't have a way of describing it, but he was empty. In truth, he wasn't sure he felt anything. There was nothing that truly touched him on the inside.

More than a week ago, Sokka left for a mission. A week and a half with the Depot where they instituted the kind of justice he could appreciate. He certainly felt no remorse when he shot a man for stealing water. When bandits attacked the depot, they rounded up most of them and then strung them up for their trouble. It was a simple morality and for a short while, things actually made sense. Not like the gray morality in Luceti, where people were stupid enough to think that sparing the lives of murderers and thieves meant anything.

And then he got his reward. Cashing in the bulk of mission points he'd accumulated for over a year, he was given what he really coveted the most. Power. And now he had it. As he walked into Luceti, he imagined that he could feel the difference. It was not quite so dramatic as what he had been given by the Rogue Malnosso, but he was content with the knowledge that he'd be keeping what he'd earned. There'd be no scientists taking it away from him this time.

It's mid-day when Sokka returns to town and he's still wearing the cowboy hat he took to the Depot with him. Maybe it doesn't exactly mesh with the Water Tribe clothes he's accustomed to, but he likes it. The hat makes him feel gritty and intimidating. He'll eventually get tired of hat hair, though. Just not today.

So today for his time spent back in Luceti, he heads home to greet whoever might be there. He checks in Foo Foo, the saber toothed moose lion he received from Christmas. It's getting quite big now, having reached the size of medium-sized dog. The tips of his antlers are even starting to become a bit more visible. Although the animal does seem quieter around Sokka, its at least obedient and follows him as he goes about Luceti. For today that includes the Smithy until evening, the Library for an hour, back at House 56 for dinner, and then out in the forest to try and teach Foo Foo to hunt.

The next morning, he makes sure that Okita Souji will meet him for their training session. Sokka is looking forward to seeing the results.

Comments

action;

[ex_tessen852]

It wasn't planned, but when is it ever? Suki did everything in her power to avoid Sokka. After their last meeting and seeing what a monster her ex-boyfriend had become, Suki wanted nothing to do with the Water Tribe warrior. So much so that she told herself that if she ever saw him, she about face get get out of there.

Once, she wanted to get back together with him after a short break, or at least be friends with him. He was too important in her life to give up completely, but that was where she was wrong. He wasn't that important. Not anymore. Now, instead of feelings of love, thinking about Sokka only brought on anger and fear.

And those were the exact feelings Suki felt when she actually saw him, wearing that stupid cowboy hat that she once thought looked nice. She told herself to turn around and just ignore him, but her body just froze. It was funny how prepared she usually was, and how Sokka ruined all that. He brought out traits she hated, which only made her hatred for him grow.

Knowing she had been spotted by him, she just rolled her eyes.

"Don't you look ridiculous." She pointed out, knowing full well that she complimented the look at Christmas time.

action;

[markofthewise]

While she may not have been happy to see Sokka, Foo Foo was more than glad to see Suki and happily trotted over to her to lick her hand.

Sokka, on the other hand, merely crossed his arms and regarded her coldly.

"Funny, you thought differently the last time I had it on."

action;

[ex_tessen852]

Foo Foo earned a weak smile. Suki was happy to see him, not so much his master.

"Hey there buddy." She whispered, leaning down to probably greet him.

She ignored Sokka for a moment before finally replying. "That was when I was stupid enough to believe that nothing could change you, not even this place."

[stillplaying]

[It's tempting, oh so tempting, to spend every day with Prim. To spend every moment in her sister's company, making up for all that lost time. But it would drive them both crazy, she knows. Prim had grown into an impressive young woman before her death, a woman not just capable of seeing after herself but also supporting those she loves, too. She doesn't need her big sister around all the time. Not anymore.

And, well, Katniss can't imagine spending a day out of the woods. Not when she's feeling so content with her life for once. Not when, even despite the heat, it's her favorite kind of day. But it is, in part, because of the heat why she's out in the forest that evening instead of fulfilling her usual morning duration. Hours around dawn and hours around twilight; the perfect time to hunt.

She notices Foo Foo far before she notices Sokka. It's the antlers that catch her attention, cause her adrenaline to spike in hopes that she might have found a deer. A fawn, yes, but still a deer nonetheless. And as she reaches for an arrow, the creature turns.

And Katniss frowns, letting the arrow fall to her side.] Foo Foo?

[markofthewise]

[Foo Foo was supposed to be hunting a rabbit, but the confused creature isn't quite aware that this hybrid beast is as much a carnivore as it is a herbivore. Which is why it seems to be barely paying attention to Foo Foo sniffing it curiously. However, when Katniss speaks up, the rabbit darts and Foo Foo looks up at her with his usual withering glare.

Sokka emerges not long after to lecture his pet, not noticing Katniss yet.]

You're supposed to kill the rabbit, Foo! Not smell it!

Smithy?

[tokennonbender]

Now that she had settled into the room she'd been offered at the Avatar house, Asami was going about exploring the town, figuring out what basic necessities she needed, finding lost things and other little chores. She'd heard about the smithy, and it had caught her curiosity if only because it sounded remotely similar to some of the facilities her father had. She wasn't foolish enough to think it would be anything like it, of course, but...she still wanted to see.

So far she'd found some new clothes (and some clothes she was pretty sure were hers from home) and some food, and a new set of sheets. So she had a couple bags in her hands when she poked her head into the forge, her hair swinging down to half-hide her face as she peered around.

Hmm, okay, nothing quite like what she was hoping, but at least their was the familiar ring of metal on metal. She straightened up and shoved her hair back. "Ah...hello?"

[markofthewise]

The forge itself was an odd mixture of dated material and some that were more advanced than her own times. Corded power tools draped nearby work benches, but Sokka could be found using an electric grinder to resharpen the edge of an axe. Thanks to the heat that filled the forge, he'd tossed the hat to the side, and opened up his tunic so his skin could breathe a little. Unfortunately he didn't hear or notice her until he turned off the machine to pull off his safety goggles and inspect the edge of his weapon. Only then did he realize someone was standing in the doorway.

Damn, no one was manning the front shop.

"Just a second."

action; house 56; i will use prose because you like it

[breezing]

When Sokka went home to check on the house the first time, Ikki was up and about - and happily spending time in the front yard with a small menagerie that included Soren, Momo, and possibly Foo Foo, if he had been interested in the shenanigans of the others. It was impossible to tell what they were trying to do - play tag? Except that couldn't be it, since at least two of them were always running around - except perhaps "being young". That was a good catch-all.

Ikki immediately changed directions the second she saw Sokka coming up, running towards him to hug him around the waist; it was a typical greeting from her. "Uncle Sokka! You're home! Welcome back!!! Are you okay? You didn't get hurt, right? I think there's still leftovers from lunch if you wanna heat those up. Are you hungry?"

Being herself, she barely gives him a chance to respond before making a few more observations. "What's that hat? It's weird-looking. Did you need to wear it to do your mission?"

action; house 56; truly you are perfect

[markofthewise]

Indeed Foo Foo was involved in this mess and Sokka, for a moment, was somewhat dismayed that his vicious attack animal was, well, continuing to not be vicious at all.

But then he was hugged and he gave her the usual head pat.

"One question at a time! And yes."

action; smithy;

[berkian]

Astrid is a fairly frequent customer of the Smithy in that she frequently goes in to pester Hiccup and/or get him to sharpen her axe(s), but her stopping by on Monday is actually less to do with that and more to do with returning from a mission of her own - sailing, though.

"Hiccup?" She's...not even going to wait around up front, she's just going to peer into the working area, trying to spot her friend. "You in?"

It probably says something about Hiccup that the first place she tries is the Smithy rather than his actual home. At least if he isn't there, she can probably ask one of his friends if they know where he'd gotten to.

action; smithy;

[markofthewise]

Sokka looked up from behind the counter, leaned forward, and decided to answer.

"Haven't seen him all day."

action;

[precipitous]

When Sokka returned to house 56, Korra was all but asleep on the couch. The goal had been to practice meditating, and to be fair, the couch was probably not the best place for that. She started at the sound of the door, however, roused out of her nap, and hurried to nonchalantly walk around the room like nothing strange just happened.

"Oh, hey, you're back!"

action;

[markofthewise]

Sokka gave a wave as he entered even if it was, frankly, a little weird to be finding the likes of Korra in the house. Something to get used to, it seemed. He smiled anyway.

"Making yourself comfy?"

[Action]

[thisismylife]

Artemis had been out and about running errands - picking up some things for the apartment now that she had Zatanna there to share it with. She'd been heading for the grocery shop when she caught sight of Sokka through the window of the Blacksmith and paused in surprise.

Changing direction, she knocked twice on the door before slipping inside to greet him with a crooked smile.

"Well, look who's back."

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Sokka was sitting on the couch, sharpening and cleaning his sword with a whetstone. He'd mostly put a pistol to use at the Depot, but his other weapons had a chance to be useful here and there. Which meant it was time to do some maintenance. At her entrance, he gives her a nod.

"All in one piece."

[deathsdoctor]

"Nice hat."

Said while passing by the smithy. Law's carrying a few books with him, sword casually slung on his back.

"Have you seen Katara? I have a few case studies I want to share with her."

[markofthewise]

"Thanks." Sokka looked up from his own task, which was sharpening his collection of knives, and tried to peek at the titles of the book Law had. "She said she was heading to the ocean. You know, for bender stuff."

[ action ]

[herotypical]

[ having seen him while still inside the library, buffy catches up with sokka and his familiar face as they both make their exit. her own book selection is tucked away in a canvas back; none of them are for her, but are instead for jack. something to keep him occupied during this trying time. ]

Nice hat. Does it come with a lasso? Maybe a pair of swanky saloon doors? [ this is how she greets him -- a quip and a smile. it doesn't matter that the smile doesn't reach her eyes because it never has mattered, traditionally. not with sokka. ]

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

[Sokka has just picked out a book. The subject? Geology. Heavy reading to be sure.]

I had to leave those back at the Depot. Though I was thinking of replacing the doors at the smithy. [Yes, he can see that she's not as happy as she could be. But there's a cloud of indifference there that means he can be his usual self, which is prone to frowning or wide eyed grinning.]

[greenjacketed]

...He has business at the smithy, today. Not only did he hope to pick up a commissioned piece, but he now had a new reason to keep a mild eye on one of the lads who worked there. So Sharpe belted up and made the brief journey into the town centre, clearing his throat as he marched inside.

"Oi, Sokka," he greeted the lad with a rich voice and not a hint of suspicion -- tipping his head in a slow nod once he moved into the smith's line of sight.

[markofthewise]

Sokka had his sword set on the counter, fully displayed. A sword of brilliant construction, unparalleled in his own world, with a mesmerizing black metal. But that was just somewhere to put it while Sokka scrubbed blood stains off its sheath. He didn't look up when Sharpe greeted him, but he knew well enough who it was.

"Hey. I have your thing. Just gimme a second."

[blessingone]

Fenimore hasn't run into Sokka much lately -- she's been pretty busy and then he was on that mission -- but today she decides to take a moment to drop by the smithy. She's not exactly fond of the place, but it is one place that Sokka can reliably be found.

As she enters, she waves over at him. "He --" -- and that is momentarily interrupted as she catches sight of Foo-Foo, but after a hesitation, she continues -- "-- eeyyyyyy."

Wow, that thing was a lot bigger than it used to be.

"He's not dangerous, right?"

[markofthewise]

Foo Foo looked up from the couch he was sitting on to give Fenimore a curious state, though not curious enough to actually get up and do anything about it.

From the counter, Sokka simply snickered at Fenimore's concern.

"He's a real killer, Fenimore. I'd keep your distance."

action; the latest of the late orz

[ahappylie]

[Even after coming back from the trip to the Malnosso and having his death penalty removed, Souji still isn't back to what he would consider anywhere near his peak. It bothers him that he may have lost those abilities permanently, no matter how hard he trains here. It bothers him, but not enough to stop teaching and focus only on himself.

Which is why he meets Sokka as planned after he returns from his last mission to help the Malnosso. Even if Souji doesn't like the idea of helping the Malnosso do anything, he understands why people - especially Sokka - does it. He's at the barracks like usual, before the sun rises so he can get things ready and warm himself up.]

action; no worries

[markofthewise]

[Sokka arrives at the barracks looking particularly confident. He's feeling at one hundred percent- no, more than that. And he's anxious.]

Master Souji. How are you?