markofthewise | Sokka the 79th

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Sokka the 79th - [Action]

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Clipped: "Jack doesn't make me do anything." It's knee-jerk. It's almost cold. But Buffy eventually came 'round to the fact that it was Sokka she was speaking with, and so -- "God. Even if he did, I'm not sure this version of him would make it through a single booty call without stammering himself into a coma."

As it turned out? The shy guy thing was really not revving Buffy's engines.

"So you've got him back, but can't do anything with him. Haven't we all been there before?" He could certainly think of more than a few instances of that himself. Luceti could be hard when you were romantically entangled.

"It's...not like that. Not like that at all. I don't need to...do anything with him. If anything, I'm trying to grateful this is all they've done to him."

"Hey, I'm not saying it's all bad. But kidnappings are just a pain in general. I mean, remember that time when I came back super positive? That was obnoxious."

Even more so now when he looked back at it. Just thinking about it made him want to shudder.

"While weird, it certainly could also have been worse. If someone comes back annoying instead of tragic, I consider it a win. Or a quasi-win. And Jack might be getting on my very last nerves, but he's...no one's getting hurt. Ditto you and your glass-half-full approach. In these parts, that's a good day."

"Point. It's true, I've seen worse." He thought back to that time that Winry thought her arm was automail. He still had nightmares about that.

Or rather, he used to. Back when he still dreamed.

She proceeded through the next few steps in silence: just long enough to solidify the self-delusion and believe for good that it could have been worse. But deep down, she knew she was doing wrong by Jack. She was hurting him. She just didn't know how to...stop.

Eventually: "I met that new girl from your world. The one who was here before, I think...?"

"Oh! The pretty one, right? Asami?"

He nodded to himself because, yes, she was indeed the pretty one. Almost made him sad he was otherwise entangled.

"That's the one. From Ikki's era. She seems nice. Half-way modern, one might even dare to say."

"Oh good, finally someone who is half-way modern. It's a pain dealing with us slow-witted barbarians all the time."

"Oh, please. You know that's so not how I meant it."

After all, she wasn't known for hanging with the most modern of individuals.

"Sure, maybe not, but I have a right- no, an obligation to be offended anyway."

"I'm suddenly regretting acting all cool and mature about the fact that you got all interrogatory about my sex life a few moments ago..."

"You squandered a golden opportunity. It may not come again."

"That's me. A squanderer.

But while we're on the topic of opportunities, have you had one to talk to Suki lately?"

That's it. Gloves are off. She's going for the throat.

So there it was. He should have expected as much that Suki would end up sobbing her story to anyone who would listen.

"We run into each other now and then." He glanced at Buffy. "She's not taking the break up well."

"People so rarely do."

"It's harder for her than it is for me. For me, it felt like I already lost her over a year ago. Things weren't really the same when she came back. But it's all new to her and she wants to blame it all on how Luceti's made me different."

In a sense, it wasn't even a lie. He'd been desperately trying to make things work, but he'd have been lying to say it was like they were a happy, ordinary couple again.

"You know, she's not wrong. Not on one count, at least. Luceti's made us all different. I feel so far away from the me I used to be. And nedgasm aside, Jack's a whole different man. It's just a question of whether it changes us for the better."

"Maybe it's not. But I tried pretending to be what she remembered. It didn't work out."

"You tried to...Sokka, you're not this guy. Since when have you been this guy? Pretending? Lying? If I tried to pull that crap in my relationships, you'd shame me six ways to Sunday and beyond."

Sokka could be blunt and he could be a bit of a jerk, but Buffy had never known him to be a liar -- not in such a self-serving cause, at least.

"Well I know that now. She found out we were engaged and that was it."

This was the part of the story she was already familiar with.

"...That was the straw that broke the relationship-camel's back?"

Familiar or not, she knew there was more to it. Although she didn't expect Sokka to spill his guts over the rest of the story, she also didn't expect he would lie to her.

Scratch that. She hoped he wouldn't. And she felt a stab of guilt over testing him like this.

"She moved out, yeah. I apologized later, but it wasn't enough."

Still, factually, true. He apologized before his current death penalty and there did seem to be a chance of them mending things up, in time.

"...She seemed pretty upset when we spoke."

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