savedtheworld | Book 16: Drained [Voice/Action]

[Voice]

[It had been easy enough to assume that Sokka had still been kidnapped - that he'd be back any day. It was worrying, but there was still the assurance of his eventual return. Except that eventually, his room was checked. And found empty. There wasn't even a sign of Foo Foo Cuddlypoops. It was hard to believe - when Aang had first gotten to Luceti, he had gotten used to Sokka being the man with the answers. And also a beard. He was like a big figure of the town. And now he was gone. Katara wasn't in a state to announce it herself, so Aang eventually did it. Making it quick and to the point.]

Hi everyone. This is Aang. I'm sorry to tell you all this, but Sokka has gone back home. I know we're all gonna miss him. I already do. But at least at home... the last time I saw him there, he was happy.

[Action]

[Aang spends some time over by the statue of Sokka's head located House 56, studying the image of his best friend. He tries to meditate and tries to imagine the inspiring words that Sokka would usually say. Because he's still afraid of being around other people. And right now, the people dear to him may need him more than ever.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Okay! Then bat wings, huh? I'm jealous!

[Sigh.]

It's not that either.

Then what's it about?

I don't usually have outlandish dreams like that.

So... more normal ones? Like combing your hair or dusting off your knives? Does everyone still have their pants?

[Gee, sure is nice to be back after a tiring mission. He's totally beat, so he's just going to stay home.

...Or check the journal to see that Aang's lost someone. Someone important.

He makes a quick trip to the bakery and gets the first thing he sees before making a trip to Aang's house. He hasn't visited Aang's house much in the past- and he's definitely never gone there on his own, but... He wants to be there for him. Yeah. That's what friends are for. Definitely.

...Maybe he won't be home and he can just check for him in the morn- nope, he's definitely right outside by that statue. Alright. Just... be comforting. Yeah. No problem, right?

Weavile- not Silver- is the first to approach Aang; Silver reaches out to grab him before shaking his head and quickly following him and wordlessly approaching Aang as well.]

[As glad as he is to see Silver back, he also starts to feel afraid as he approaches. And it may show in his expression. There's a slight gasp in his voice as he speaks.]

Silver! And... Weavile!

[...He's not sure what he expected, but it definitely wasn't that. He steps back on reflex to avoid cornering him.]

Are you okay?

Y-yeah! [He says as he hesitantly takes a step back.] I mean... no, I'm not. Not really. Sorry.

...It's okay. Don't apologize.

[This... this is what Gold was going through, wasn't it?] Are you afraid?

[He gives a quiet nod at that. And stops himself from muttering another apology. He's looking down at the ground now.]

[Silver nods in acknowledgement. Alright. He then thinks it over for a moment before setting the baked good he grabbed (it's a piece of cake! One with some fruit pieces inside it!) down and backing up.]

Crys likes to eat sweets when she's upset. [Which used to result in Gold teasing about her weight. Which is an adventure for another time.] Sorry your friend went home.

[He's got a hard time being too emotional about his concern, but the sentiment is there.] I can go if you'd like.

[He looks down towards the cake. And he briefly glances towards Silver with a slight, fond smile. Then he goes to get it.]

Thank you, Silver. That's very kind and thoughtful of you. [It did hurt still. Just thinking about Sokka's absence. But he was glad to hear from Silver, really.] You don't have to go. Unless you want to. I... I'll be okay.

[there, there...]

Only if you need someone to talk to. [Kind and thoughtful. It's almost embarrassing to hear for some reason, but he swallows it down. He] I... I can listen. [And not much else. He's no good at this comfort thing...]

[He just calls it like he sees it. A gesture that seems kind and thoughtful? That means the person must be like that at their heart. Even a little light in someone can grow over time, after all.

Aang looks up towards him, anxiety and all.]

You can? Silver, if you'd truly like to do that... than I think that can help. But I don't wanna make you.

[...No. It's definitely okay. He's tired and ragged and could use a shower and a good night's sleep, but if a friend of his needs help, he can hold out for a while. It's no big deal.

So he sits down right where he is and sets Weavile in his lap, making his intentions pretty clear. It's okay. He's got nowhere better to be.]

[Luke's never met Sokka, but he knows that Aang values him. And that's reason enough to reach out.]

It's good to know he'll be happy at home. Sometimes that's the best comfort one can find in situations like this.

Edited 2013-11-26 13:52 (UTC)

I brought this for Katara, but I wanted to see how you and the others were doing as well. [Especially since she remembered how his reaction had been when Toph had gone, as well as others in his group.]

He can't leave. [This is going to sound increasingly more desperate.] He can't be gone. It's not true.

[Red hair
so bro
such friendship

Aang gives a quiet smile as he looks down towards the ground and folds his legs into a sitting position.]

I don't know where to start. I was trying to talk to the statue of Sokka's head over there to try to figure things out, but... he didn't talk back. But maybe... it'll be easier with you.

Thank you, Luke. [It's a small reassurance, hearing from a friend. It's at least a reminder that he still has people here he cares for.]

Thank you, Luke. That's right. He's back where he belongs. And I think things are gonna be okay for him.

[He glances towards it and gives a brief hint of a smile. But it's suppressed by the reminder of Katara and what she must be feeling right now.]

They're very pretty, Raine. I bet Katara would love them.

[A thoughtful pause, as he looks towards Noise instead. His fear doesn't really extend to animals, after all.]

We're... trying to get used to it. It's just so hard to imagine. Sokka was here the longest. He knew a lot about Luceti and he's done so much here. How could he just... be gone?

Raven...

[Hearing Raven sound like that is breaking his heart.]

I don't know what else could have happened.

All things take time. He made an impact while he was here... and those can be felt throughout the village. From the hearts he touched in one way or another.

... And while many of us will not meet him again, you know where he's gone and you know that he'll be waiting for you, where that is. Even if it's without the experiences here. And you can still miss him.

[If he came back without warning, that would be another story... and that also had happened before. But that wasn't important, now.]

[Close. They were close. Once. Back before his death penalty, before matters had become as sad and dark and twisted as they had between her and Gale. She misses that boy, the boy she had befriended sometime after arriving here. There had been slow - very slow - steps back towards that friendship.

Steps, it turned out, that didn't move fast enough.]

Yeah.

[It's easier than the truth.]

Page 3 of 17

Book 16: Drained [Voice/Action]

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

action

action

action

action

action

action

action

action

action

action

action

[Voice]

[action]

[voice]

action

[Voice]

[action]

[voice]

[action]

[voice]