savedtheworld | Book 11: Memories Down the Stream [Voice/Action]

[By now, it almost seems like a way of Luceti - that whenever good news happens, it will be followed by bad before long. Just yesterday, Katara had come back to the house. As herself. But today? The house woke up to a different empty room. Toph's.

It seemed like so soon since she had given him his last metalebending lesson. He still had so much to learn. And he still remembered so clearly when she showed up, tunneling from the earth like the little badger mole she was. Her original presence in Luceti may have precluded his, but when she came back, she was from the same time as him. He know that aside from missing one of his best friends, he'd miss being able to relate to one of the few people from that time.

But in a way, Aang knew this could be for the best. He remembered how she had worried about her life, with everything the future had shown to them. The short time that her daughter was around. How Toph feared the possibility of having to live her life in Luceti without ever returning home, that she might not become the person she thought she was supposed to be. But now she didn't have to worry about that anymore. She could live that life for herself. And hopefully, she'd find peace and happiness in that life. They could all still be friends there, too, in that lifetime.

Aang spends a little time wallowing in his grief, first. After all, he misses her already. Then he remembers one of the first things she told him when arriving. "Missed me? After only a month? Come on, don't get sappy!" With a faint smile, he nodded before he rose to do what he had to do. Toph had put her hopes in him.

And he soon addressed the journals.]

Hi everyone. This is Aang. You should know that Toph Beifong is... She's gone back home. I guess our world can only go so long without its greatest Earthbender around. She left some letters to hand out, but everyone who knew her should know... She cared about you a lot more than she says. Even her punches had friendship in them.

[He grabbed the letters that she had left behind, knowing all too well what they all said. After all, he was the one who had to transcribe them for her.

And so, Aang starts to play the distribution game. He first gives out letters to those around the house. If there were any who did not find about Toph's absence at the same time as him, then he would give them the letter and the news prior to the journal announcement. Then, he seeks out Suki, Ion, Fenimore, Shikamaru, Masaomi and Saori to deliver their letters. If there's any he can't find, he'll leave the letter at the door of their house. Or in their mailbox. Do we have mailboxes?

He tries to go about his normal daily activities afterwards, showing few signs of anything wrong. Places to frequent include the Welcome Center, library, tea shop and item shop. And in the evening, after dinner, he takes some of the remaining metal sheets lying around the house out to the forest to do some metalbending practice on his own. Still, every time he messed up, he could almost feel the punches.]

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[He manages just a light smile for her friend. It's good to see that she's still here, at least.]

Hi, Suki. How are you?

I'm alright.

What are you doing here though?

I'm here about... um... Did you hear?

[She nods.]

Toph?

Yeah. I wanted to - to see how you were. And... she left sometihng for you.

Really? [She's actually surprised by this.]

Of course, Suki. [He pulls out the envelope and holds it up in front of window.] This is it.

[She takes it and just stares at it for a moment.]

You know, you can come inside.

Right. Sorry.

[Aang clambers through the window into the room and takes a moment to look around.]

Your room is nice.

Um... thanks. I haven't done a lot with it.

I still like it. It's - it's very roomy. [He looks for the nearest place to sit down.]

Yeah... right.

How are you doing? [Cause talking about her room is awkward.]

I'm okay. Just... still getting used to all of this. [Pause] She was here a long time.

[She goes over to hug him.]

I'm gonna miss her too.

[Hug accepted. And a nice one, too, since they don't get to do that so much lately.]

I already do.

She's home now, and at least we know it's safe there.

Right. She's gonna live through the rest of Yu Dao. And then she's got the rest of her life ahead of her.

She's gonna be great, because, well, it's Toph.

But... how did she write this?

Well I kinda helped...

Aahh. That makes sense.

I'm, um, a bit surprised that I got one, actually.

[He raises an eyebrow in confusion.]

You shouldn't be. You're one of us. And one of her friends.

[She looks down. Don't be mad at her Aang.]

I've just been out of it lately. Like I don't really belong.

Don't ever think that, Suki. I meant it when I said you always have a place with us.

I know, but everything would be so much easier if I remembered my last time here.

I wasn't expecting personal relationships being what was so hard about this place.

[He can't relate to that too well. He knew he had been here without remembering it in the past, but those stays had been so short. No one who wasn't from world seemed to know him already.]

In a way, it is, Suki. But it's not your fault that you don't remember and no one should make it like it is. I don't know about any other people who've known you... but I know that we, your friends, we're doing our best to help you feel welcome. Cuz every Suki's our Suki, you know?

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