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

[savedtheworld]

[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.]

Comments

[Action]

[generalflirt]

[...What? His body straightens a bit more, and he looks down at the letter in his hands. He still hasn't opened it. What..]

[Action]

[savedtheworld]

[He blinks at the fingers with a meek smile. It isn't exactly supposed to be a secret, but it makes him feel nervous that the recipients could open their letters knowing the personal messages were also shared with him. Either way, there's no denying it.]

Yeah... It was me.

[Action]

[endgames]

Makes sense.

[He still hasn't gotten his yet, so he sticks his unoccupied hands into his pockets. For his part, he doesn't mind that Aang knows whatever she had to say.]

I'll say I prefer a letter over a rock thrown through my window... Either could be a sentimental goodbye; she's that type.

[Action]

[generalflirt]

[He frowns deeper, and given his mood declining further, Linda goes over to snuggle up next to his knee]

[Action]

[savedtheworld]

[He frowns at Masaomi's disposition before looking towards Shikamaru.]

She really is. By the way... here's yours. [Yep, he's holding out Shikamaru's letter the second he rested his hands in his pockets.]

[Action]

[endgames]

[Wow, way to go Aang.] Thanks.

[But he takes it, completely casual and unreacting to Masaomi's declining mood other than a glance, in an attempt to offset it.

For that reason, he opens it too, instead of waiting until later.]

[Action]

[generalflirt]

[Staring at the letter. Unopened. Staring. So much staring. Why would Toph make him a letter? They weren't friends or anything. In fact, she really didn't like him for the most part, right?]

[Action]

[savedtheworld]

[He looks between the two in confusion. He's not really sure what's bothering him.]

O-of course, you don't have to open it now if you don't feel like it yet!

[Action]

[endgames]

But you should at some point...

[Lightly, as he trails off reading. It's a short message; he reads it twice to make sure he got it right... and snorts.]

[Action]

[generalflirt]

[He just keeps staring at his own not open letter, until Shikamaru snorts and then he looks up-]

What, you got a joke?

[Action]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang raises an eyebrow and frowns slightly.]

It didn't sound like a joke...

[Action]

[endgames]

She called me a 'weird kid'.

[This is obviously the part to take offense at!! But he can't really find it in him to be irritated. Someone who knows him better might call it fond frustration.]

[Action]

[generalflirt]

A kid? [Okay, he can't help it, he bursts out laughing at that. Not a loud roaring laugh or anything, but a distinct laugh]

[Action]

[savedtheworld]

[And he finds himself smiling and chuckling along a little.]

Well you're not an old man. You just sound like one sometimes. [Says the 100-year old.]

[Action]

[endgames]

[Not the first time he's heard that; won't be the last. He's really only met one person who's told him otherwise.

Well. Maybe two now.]

But a kid? [He folds the letter back up, carefully.] She's at least five years younger than me.

[Action]

[generalflirt]

[Not to mention a soldier. A side-grin remains on his face as he watches Shikamaru and drifts his eyes back to his letter. Huh]

[Action]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang shrugs.]

She probably knows what she's talking about. Does that mean I can't call you a kid either?

[Action]

[endgames]

[...smiiirk.

He slings one arm around Aang's shoulder.] Definitely not.

[And for that you get a noogie.]

[Action]

[generalflirt]

[You know if she called Shikamaru a kid, what did she call him. ...What did Aang know she called him. He frowns deeper, crumbling the letter a little from his intensity, before Linda hisses and goes to rip it out of his hands]

-Hey!

[Action]

[savedtheworld]

[While Aang is focused on the noogie problem, trying to squirm his way out while laughing.]

Hey - but now you're definitely acting like one! [For that, he's actually glad.]

[Action]

[endgames]

I had a request to fill.

[Take care of them, she said. But there goes Linda, and he stops what he's doing and releases Aang.]

Oi, oi, Linda.

[He wonders if this is a jealous thing or Masaomi being dumb thing.]

[Action]

[generalflirt]

What, are you going to tease me?!

["No, just let me destroy it if you're going to antagonize" is what she basically says with her piis and failed sparking and pulling. As they tug of war on the letter]

[Action]

[savedtheworld]

Someone requested you be a kid-?

[But then he's also diverted by the Linda events as he's released.]

Careful with that letter...

[Action]

[endgames]

[Paper is kinda fragile, so...

He kneels, and in the same movement his shadow stretches to nab Linda's.]

[Action]

[generalflirt]

[WHAT, YOU DID NOT JUSt.

She tries to release electricity, it doesn't work and instead she just tries to struggle in the shadow. Masaomi tugs it out of her paws though]