Sokka the 16th - [Voice]

[markofthewise]

[Filtered against Zuko, Katara, and Toph 90%]

Guess this is the end of the month. I wonder if this will be the last night? After all, new people will be showing up in a few days. That would mean in one more day 'til I'm back to my normal Sokka self.

So how do you tell someone you might not love them tomorrow? Somehow I don't think opening with a joke is a good idea. But if you happen to have a really good one, feel free to share.

[The next filter is added after Sokka's talk with Toph.]

[Filtered to Katara 20%]

... do you have time to talk?

Comments

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[markofthewise]

Maybe me. There's always a chance I'm just imagining things.

Well I would hope to open with a good joke.

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

Do you have any reason to think the feeling won't just "wear-off" for the both of you? ---or are you just worrying ahead of time?

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[markofthewise]

I always worry about things going horribly wrong. It's kind of my job in the team.

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

Well, somebody has to. I'm sure you get them out of plenty of trouble, that way.

....so long as the worry isn't getting in the way of clear thinking. There is a difference.

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[markofthewise]

Oh don't worry. Once I realize that it's past the point of return, my self-preservation usually kicks in to prevent things from getting worse.

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

So, the problem now is that you don’t know what point it’s passed?

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[markofthewise]

That sounds about right.

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

Ah. So what, was the experiment building on the foundations of something already complicated? ...or are the feelings that confusing?

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[markofthewise]

I honestly don't know. My sister seems to think they didn't exist before, so I suppose she would know, even if she's definitely under the same effect as well. It seems like they were always there.

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

Mm.

Have you seen enough of the Malnosso's work to know if they're capable of creating something like that? [his tone is scientific, but placid]

Because it seems a lot less likely that they would manipulate your sister's memories of your behavior and feelings, than those memories and behaviors themselves. And the way everyone was acting at the fountain....at least, what I've heard..... seems only to confirm that further.

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[markofthewise]

Well, based on what I can tell, I think the only memories that are changed are the ones affecting how you feel about the person you care about. I don't think anything new is added, I think you just kind of... feel differently about them. So as long as Katara isn't talking about Zuko, she's probably right about me and Toph... maybe.

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

Geh. [Katara got affected too, huh? Seems like it got everybody]

That sounds like what I've observed. I haven't had much to do but listen in, lately-- and it seems like the affected individuals all react differently, based on their personalities, but no one could help feeling the way they did. Even if they knew it was inconsistent with their nature.

But I'm sure it's more complicated for people who were already confused about those feeling to begin with. [a sigh] What a mess.

[Filtered]

[markofthewise]

Next month? I'm voting that the experiment somehow involve all of us having the foreboding sense that we left the house without doing something. Or perhaps just losing all of our socks.

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

[he laughs]

They ought to just put you in charge.

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[markofthewise]

You can bring that up at the next town meeting.

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

I'll have to remember it.

[a pause, then he shakes his head] You're a pretty hardy bunch, aren't you?

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[markofthewise]

Well we're a pretty varied group from a multitude of worlds. I don't think they picked us all because of our looks.

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

I'm beginning to doubt they pick us at all.

[a smile] But I meant you and your sister.

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[markofthewise]

Oh. Well... I guess that's a long story. Have you ever talked to her?

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

A few times. We exchanged stories about our worlds.

She told me you're both from the South Pole. And about your friend Aang, and the war between nations-- the role he's supposed to play. She told me a story about finding the way out of a tunnel, too--- [a pause]

I get the feeling that she's had a lot of responsibility from a young age.

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[markofthewise]

Yeah, she did. In a way, the last year traveling around the world restoring the balance was easier than how things used to be.

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

[Just a placid, drawn-out "Ohhh?" Do tell.]

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[markofthewise]

Like I said, long story! The good news is that when we finally get to go home, life is going to be a lot better!

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[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

Well, I 'd love to hear it, sometime. Your world is pretty fascinating to me.

Heh. I think that'll be the case for everyone. Is that because you were taken after the war was over? Katara said something about that...

[Filtered]

[markofthewise]

[Maybe when he gets to know you more, Mr. Ginko.]

Yeah, the war is over for Toph, Zuko and me. But from what Katara remembers, the war still has another month or so to go.