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

[stillplaying]

[It was the reaction she had hoped for. Even if a part of her knew that this was the reaction she'd get, there had still been some slight fear that he might find it as garish as anything Effie might wear. But it wasn't. How could it be, when Cinna had created it?

She took a step out of the door frame and closer to Sokka, then another. About halfway there, she stopped to spin around slowly. To let him get the full effect the dress could have. The illusion of fire illuminating her body. She loved this, loved the attention Sokka was paying her. The way she felt in this dress - in any of the costumes Cinna had made. Magnificent, radiant. Anyone but plain Katniss Everdeen of District 12.]

You should have seen what Cinna could do with a piece of silk. It was like magic.

[markofthewise]

That sounds pretty good. But I'd rather see you in the silk than the guy making it.

[He had been standing back to watch appreciatively as she displayed it, but now that she was standing still, he advanced to plant a quick kiss.]

[stillplaying]

[She smiled bashfully at that, rather liking the compliment veiled in his words. Unfortunately, this had been the only one of Cinna's dresses to make it here yet. Or perhaps almost thankfully considering that some costumes, like that Mockingjay one, she'd be happy never to see again.

When he kissed her, all thoughts of Cinna fled her mind. Since Prim's arrival a few days prior, she had been doing her best to live in the moment. Not to think of her sister's death or what might happen if she left.

And kissing was a wonderful way to live in the moment. She placed a hand against his chest as she kissed him back, making the quick kiss last a little longer than he might have intended.]

[markofthewise]

[Well that was nice. There was a certain appeal to kissing her when she looked like this. The Katniss he had been with before was tough and down to earth. Now it was like kissing the lips of a princess. He sure hadn't done that in a while.]

You know, maybe I should dress up sometime myself. I don't have anything like that, but I might have a suit that still fits.

[stillplaying]

[She preferred the tough and down to earth look. Preferred the simpleness to it, the ease in which it let her move through the forest. Let her track and hunt. But there was something nice about dressing up once in a while. Before meeting Cinna, she had never even considered it a possibility.

But wearing these clothes gave her a confidence her normal wardrobe didn't. A confidence only further enhanced by the reactions of those around her.

She grinned in response to his comment, looking him up and down in a flirtatious manner, picturing a suit in place of his normal tunic.] Maybe you should.

[markofthewise]

I have to warn you, though. I have no idea how ties work. They are a mystery to me.

[The entire fashion was sort of a mystery to him. There wasn't the sort of universal appeal with the three piece suit like there was with a dress. But he always got positive responses from it, so it had to mean something.

Either way, he was being jovial and he ended up backing away a bit just to sit on the arm of one of her chairs.]

[stillplaying]

[They had had their prep team. Katniss never had to help Peeta with a tie during their time as Tributes and Victors. Come to think of it, she didn't even know if Peeta knew how to tie one. She didn't. Working in the mine, her father hadn't ever needed one. It never seemed an important skill to learn.

She shrugged and followed him over towards the living room seating, carefully straightening her dress as she sat on the couch near his chair. The precious gems sparked in the light, rippled with their fiery glow. Maybe she should change into her normal clothing. But she wasn't quite ready yet.]

I don't know how, either. I only learned how to apply makeup a couple of years ago. There wasn't any need for this - for any of this - where I grew up.

[markofthewise]

You're telling me. I mean, I lived in the South Pole. I didn't realize how great it could be to go around sleeveless until I was fifteen.

[But as Sokka took a moment to admire his own exposed biceps, he certainly felt good about that discovery. Because even four years later from Katara accusing him of making muscles at himself in his reflection, he stilled liked to do it. Besides, he actually had muscle to admire now. He tried to resist the urge to pat them.

So he just subtly rubbed his hand over one arm.[

[stillplaying]

[She couldn't help but notice the way Sokka suddenly seemed to be paying attention to his biceps. It drew her eye to his arms too, and she licked her lips just a little as she remembered just how nice those muscles had been to touch. And how helpful they've been in supporting his weight and, on occasion, her own. Especially on the more experimental days.

Yeah. They were something worth admiring even is his vanity was also amusing.]

You look good sleeveless. [She nodded in the direction of the hand on his arm.] It shows off your biceps.

[markofthewise]

Well, my biceps are pretty impressive. The perks of working with metal, right?

[And she appreciates them too. He liked when Suki appreciated them with her little comments asking him if he'd been working out. If there was one way to get on Sokka's good side, it was appealing to his ego.]

[stillplaying]

[She didn't think she was very good with flirting. Not like some of the other girls she knew from District 12. Peeta had never cared, but Sokka wasn't Peeta. He was more like her, more like Gale, than Peeta could ever be.

And appealing to her ego was something Katniss was particular fond of, too.

Her eyebrows raised and she looked him over slowly again.]

I'd say. But does the metal working explain your thighs?

[markofthewise]

[Sokka gave very little consideration to his thighs, generally speaking. But now, as he considered them...]

Well, you know, I did briefly train under this guy named Derek for about a year. He was really big on running. All the time. Seriously, there was just obnoxious levels of running.

[stillplaying]

[Running was probably only a part of it. Especially if it was only a part of brief training. She had ran while training for the Quarter Quell. Since, though, she hadn't bothered. The long walks in the woods that she took every day, especially when hunting, had done enough to tone her own legs. If she had to bet, she'd say odds were that similar sort of walks and hunts had toned his, too.

But she kept that opinion to herself and quirked an eyebrow at him instead.] And now?

[markofthewise]

[That was fairly obvious, of course. But what fun was a real answer?]

I'd be interested in theories. Since you seem so interested and all.

[stillplaying]

[Was she supposed to be honest here? Or witty? She wasn't certain. Flirtation was not something she excelled at. Procrastinating just a little, she pursed her lips and looked him over slowly.]

Theories?

[What had he taught her about the scientific method lately? About how theories had to be tested? Because their experiments sure have been a lot of fun. Maybe there was potential in this flattery.]

There's walking. And heavy lifting, if I remember my training. Using your legs to lift something heavy from the floor. [Her grin widened.] I think some combination of both is supposed to be really helpful for building your quadrupeds.

[markofthewise]

[Sokka considers that and shakes his head. His smirk isn't mean, but it does hint at some mild amusement at her expense.]

Katniss, we really have to work on your sense of humor.

[stillplaying]

[She shrugged a little in response to the smirk, causing the jewels on the dress to ripple in the light. She didn't really mind. It wasn't as frustrating when a friend took amusement at her expense as when a stranger did. If just because she often did the same.]

I never really had much of a reason to flirt. [Which was what she thought it mostly came down to. Because she did have a sense of humor. At least, she did when the joke wasn't on her.] I know I'm not really good at it.

[markofthewise]

[He shrugged nonchalantly.]

We'll work on it. In the meantime, what are the chances of me convincing you to go out of this house like that?

[stillplaying]

[She had gone out of the house dressed like this before. To that masquerade a while back. It hadn't been much of a big deal then. Mostly because it had made Peeta smile in a way that she hadn't seen him smile for some time. The chances were really good.

But she wasn't going to make it that easy.]

Depends. To where? And what's in it for me?

[markofthewise]

I was thinking that you and I might get some dinner together somewhere. Or a drink. Or just general going out together type activities.

[He rather likes the idea of going out with a beautiful woman by his side. It's been a long time since that's happened.]

[stillplaying]

[She blinked in surprise. She had been enjoying this new time spent with Sokka, time spent outside of hunting or fishing. Enjoying it a lot. But that? The idea of dinner or a drink? Dressed like this? It sounded an awfully lot like a date.

She didn't want that. Didn't want dates, didn't want romance. Didn't want anything that could possibly lead towards complicated, unwanted emotions.

But still, it could be fun. And friends went out. Friends could eat dinner together. Or have a drink.]

Okay. But we'll need to get you a suit first. If I'm going out dressed like this, it's going to be with a handsome boy by my side.

[markofthewise]

[Fortunately for Sokka, he had no such concerns. He felt little for Katniss but lust, but he did rather like the idea of being seen to have something good going on. And this was the best way to accomplish that.

Though probably not at the bar. Cloud Nine, maybe.]

Only on the condition I get to go without a tie. I just don't get them. At all.

[stillplaying]

[A small, wicked sort of smile crossed her face, followed by a scarlet blush seconds later. She could think of a few things that one could do with a tie. If she remembered, there had been something in that book about utilizing ties - and other articles of clothing - in the bedroom.]

Yeah. [She coughed a little and nodded quickly. Hopefully, he didn't notice that.] Yeah, that's fine. When would you want to go?

[markofthewise]

[He glanced at the window, noting that it was still mid day. It would be rather odd to go out like that now. Besides, she might not want to do it today. Newly arrived sister and all.]

How about the day after tomorrow? I mean, it could be tomorrow, but I was thinking tomorrow would be fun if we met you-know-where instead.

[stillplaying]

[Even though she was dressed now, it was still daylight. She had eaten lunch recently. And she had plans for dinner with Prim right now. The proposed plan sounded more than agreeable to her. Plus, it would give Sokka time to find a decent suit.]

Sure. [And then she grinned at him, raising her brows.] But as fun as it'd be to meet in the woods tomorrow, we don't have to wait till then, right? It, um, could be nice. Actually doing it on a bed.