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

Entry tags:

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She sets down the book and looks up at him properly.] How are you and the others holding up? I... saw your message earlier.

Oh. [Of course she would have seen already. A slight frown tugs at his lips.]

Everyone's just - we're getting used to it. It still feels like... she'll come popping back out from the ground any minute. But thinking that also make me miss her already.

... It's understandable. When you get used to seeing a person around, especially after living with them or even having traveled with them for a while, adjusting to their no longer being there takes time.

Yeah... That's right. She wasn't here when I got here, but she was around for most of the time I can remember here. We've been through a lot. But I know it's for the best for her to be home.

Everyone takes whatever amount of time it is that they may need to adjust to a change. It's not wrong to miss a friend, as long as you don't allow missing them to take a hold of your own life.

I definitely won't let it come to that. [He chuckles and leans slightly against a stack of books.] Toph'd just be mad if I did.

She probably would be. Still, at least you do have the guarantee of seeing her again.

We do have that. Even if she doesn't show up here again... she'll be waiting back home, like nothing happened. And we'll all have a big future ahead of us.

Indeed. At the very least, it's a small comfort, though I know it doesn't quite make up for missing her now.

Y-yeah... it doesn't make up all the way, especially with all the friends she made here. But it's good that she's safe now from the way this place can hurt people.

Indeed. It can be quite cruel in that way.

It is. I mean, most of the ways the experiments get to us, they're temporary. But they still happened. They still hurt. Toph won't have to remember that.

... Indeed. So there's that to be glad for. [But maybe he needs a change of subject.] So, what brings you out here to the library?

I just felt like looking for some new books now that I give out all her letters. Maybe reading can help me not think too much.

So you're just in need of a good distraction.

Yeah, I guess that's one way of putting it...

Just remember that it is okay to feel sad. Just take it one step at a time.

I will, Raine. Thanks. I'll - I'll make sure I feel everything I gotta and be careful about it.

[She touches his shoulder lightly.] Then I'm sure you'll do fine, Aang.

[He smiles. Knowing something about the number of people who've come and gone for her, it's a little inspirational how helpful she is.]

Thanks, Raine. That means a lot. I still have everyone around to help out, too. Especially now that Katara's back and everything.

Indeed. It's a relief to have her back to her usual self. Staying in an altered mindset for too long isn't good for anyone.

It really is. And it's scary to wonder what it'd be like if it was for too long. She's been taking it very well so far.

But... but then again, couldn't it be good for other people? Like if... a bad person comes back from before they were bad. If they spend lots of time as the good self, can't that... help them? [He may be referring to someone specific here.]

Individuals are different, and experiences can have different effects on people. Whether or not an individual is considered "bad" or "good" is irrelevant. In the end they will decide how the experience has affected them - and you can't force a person to accept a mindset that has been unwillingly forced on them.

I see. That makes sense. But... but Mithos. Is that really the way he used to be? It's not a - a trick or anything?

I'm afraid I'm not the person who can confirm that. If that's how Mithos used to be, it was a very long time ago. A very, very long time ago.

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]