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

[savedtheworld]

It's okay. I shouldn't have bothered you about it. It sounds like you just - got a lot to think about.

[markofthewise]

It's only going to get worse. It's almost that time.

[savedtheworld]

What time? [Definitely not a good one.]

[markofthewise]

The yearly Valentine's experiment. It sabotaged things with me and Suki her first year here. And we were doing great then. Just think how much worse it will be this time.

[savedtheworld]

Right. The Valtentines. [He almost forgot. And it was hard to imagine - it made him afraid - that even when Sokka and Suki were doing great, they could be torn apart by it. The effect was still impossible for Aang to properly imagine.] Maybe it won't be so bad.

[markofthewise]

First time's always the worst, Aang. Unless you just don't get hit.

[Last year... wasn't so bad.]

[savedtheworld]

It'll be both of our first. But... Maybe it will skip us!

[markofthewise]

Yeah, don't count on it, buddy.

[savedtheworld]

It can't hurt just to hope - can it?

[markofthewise]

Well, if you happen to enjoy crushing disappointment later on, I guess it's fine.

[savedtheworld]

Aw, c'mon Sokka! ...Things won't be okay, will they.

[markofthewise]

It's Luceti. We don't do okay. [He does give Aang a pat on the shoulder.] But we'll get through it. Just remember that whatever you feel for the next month, it's best to play it safe and not act on it. If you're lucky, you might get off with just some sloppy makeouts.

[savedtheworld]

[He was nodding along and feeling some level of comfort until the last part.]

S-sloppy makeouts? I don't wanna do that much!

[markofthewise]

Very sloppy. With tongue. The key is not to choke the other person.

[savedtheworld]

But I don't wanna! I never even used my tongue yet with- I mean- It's not the time yet to start!

[markofthewise]

Well my only suggestion is to stop eating fruit. Maybe replace it with garlic. That way no one will want to kiss you at all.

[savedtheworld]

Y-yeah.... That's a good idea! I think.

[markofthewise]

Then you're all set.

[He glances in the direction of Toph's room. All joking aside, he was feeling this loss inside. Even if he was trying not to act on it. Or show it.]

... you know, it's always quieter when Toph leaves.

[savedtheworld]

[It felt even quieter when Ikki left. But Aang would rather not revisit that time.]

It definitely feels quieter now. I can't tell if I like that or not.

[markofthewise]

I never like it.

[Even when the house gets full again, it still feels empty from whoever left last.]

[savedtheworld]

I don't think I will, either. [He admits softly - with the way Sokka says it, there's no need to pretend the minor good points like easy indoor meditation is worth the absence of one of his dearest friends.

And he doesn't realize completely what he's saying it; that subconsciously with all the time he's stayed, now he may be coming to see himself as one of the "stayers", doomed to watch his friends come and go over and overs..]

[markofthewise]

You should get those other letters out.

[It'll be good for Aang to focus on a task.]

[savedtheworld]

Right. There's a whole bunch of 'em. I might as well get started.

[markofthewise]

Good luck. [He's got his own thinking to do. So whether Aang is going to take his time or not, Sokka is taking his leave.]

[savedtheworld]

Thanks - I'll seeya later Sokka. [Wow rude. Aang makes his leave anyway and totally winds up inviting Suki over for family dinner. And so he heads over to Letterville...]