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 ]

[herotypical]

"Welcome to the human condition," she countered dryly and took a few steps back towards the main path. "Headed home? I'll walk you."

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

He looked towards the sky. It wasn't dark yet, but the sun wasn't long from setting.

"Worried I'll get attacked?"

[ action ]

[herotypical]

"Hardly," she smiled as she argued -- and this smile was more genuine, "it's more like I miss you."

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

He hadn't missed her at all, when he thought about it. He was losing touch with how to play himself convincingly. He shrugged and smiled.

"Well in that case, tag along. Maybe we can take the scenic route."

[ action ]

[herotypical]

As sincere as her missing of him had been, she did indeed have...motives involved in this co-stroll. After all, Suki had brought forth some disturbing charges and Buffy was interested in confirming or dispelling them with her own little grey cells.

So -- with a nod -- she kept walking. "Scenic route sounds perfect. You can tell me a little bit more about your mission...?"

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

He shrugged indifferently as he led them towards the western bridge. "I went back the Depot. Blistering heat, unattractive saloon girls, not-so-great rations, and bandits. There's not a whole lot to tell."

[ action ]

[herotypical]

"Come on, they can't all of been that unattractive."

Yes. This was what mattered.

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

"Buffy, it was awful. The desert does horrible things to people."

[ action ]

[herotypical]

"I used to live next-door to a desert."

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

"Thank goodness for Luceti, huh?"

[ action ]

[herotypical]

A cutting glance as she tried to determine whether he was joking or not. If it was a joke, it was very...dry.

"...Here's me, counting my Luceti blessings."

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

He shrugged. "You look good with all your teeth. And without... weird... things on your skin."

He shuddered.

[ action ]

[herotypical]

".............Weird things."

What even, Sokka.

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

"Weird things," Sokka reiterated with a haunted look in his eyes.

[ action ]

[herotypical]

"What -- like, warts?"

Warts were pretty gross. She had to give him that much.

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

"It oozed."

[ action ]

[herotypical]

"...Oozing. Wow. Depot 8: come for the spaghetti western, stay for the VD."

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

"Let's just say I'm happy to spend time in Luceti again, where the women are pretty. That's the last time I got to the Depot."

[ action ]

[herotypical]

"I've never been. And now I don't wanna be. Though I do look wicked cool in a cowboy hat," she said as she nodded up at Sokka's.

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

Sokka tipped his hat gratefully. "You wouldn't like it anyway. You'd be un-Slayered there."

[ action ]

[herotypical]

"Seriously? That's so bogus. I wish they'd just...make up their minds. All power. Half power. No power. All this fluctuating is giving me ability whiplash."

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

"And if they settled on no power?"

[ action ]

[herotypical]

"I'd survive," she hedged, "I have before."

[ action ]

[markofthewise]

"We really didn't know each other then. It'd be weird now."

[ action ]

[herotypical]

"...It's true. Weirdness would abound for you and for me but, y'know what? I lived fifteen years, back home, before I even got the strength and the everything else. Fifteen years. That's more than half my life. It couldn't then be so impossible to go back..."

But she knew, already, that it would be. And everything else was bravado.