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.]

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[He takes a moment to close his eyes and nods. The he opens them and smiles softly as he looks towards Silver.]

I think I will be. Or... I'm on my way to it. And Silver, I've got you to thank.

[He really is a good friend after all.]

Right. Katniss, if you want to talk about anything... Just know that I'm here.

And if you need time... then that's okay, too.

That's better. A much happier way of putting it, wouldn't you say?

Home isn't really safe, either. There's a lot going on... and it's not all good.

Yes! It is. Thanks, Luke. I'm gonna make sure it grows to be a healthy and pretty flower, then.

I'm afraid that things'll be like that anywhere you go. There's always good and bad in things. But wherever you go, there's always still hope. There's hope that things can get better and that people can live at peace with each other.

... I hadn't planned on actually running the smithy myself - just making sure there was enough people who could.

[It should be the other way around. She should be the one offering him comforting. Sokka had been his friend, one of his closest friends. And here he was, being moral support for her instead. Could she be any more selfish?

She really, really didn't deserve his friendship.]

...if you need anything, Aang...

[She trails off. Hopefully, the implication would be enough.]

[Helping people with their problems helped Aang to think about his own less. And in some cases, it helps him to work through his own problems in the process.

He really is touched by Katniss's offer. He was worried because unlike him, she might never see Sokka or Foo Foo again. She might not believe for certain the way Aang does that they'll be able to be happy. Yet still she's offering to help him instead - he doesn't know what he did to deserve this friendship.]

I know, Katniss. I'll let you know. Just like... You'll let me know if you need anything.

Thank you. You're a really good friend, Katniss.

Oh, well then you do whatever you wanna do around here. I'm sure everything will work out.

You don't think I'll mess things up, do you? I mean what if the other workers are already handling it?

But people don't die here, right? So it's better than going back home.

[They weren’t friends, but they had a conversation or two. Still, there is no happiness in goodbye. Loki feels rather strong about this.]

Let us just hope that good things are awaiting him upon return.

[Really, that is all that matters.]

Coping.

People can die, Arietta. Just because they come back doesn't make it mean any less.

[He says that in a harsher tone than he intended. That's particularly because of how Sokka himself had died earlier this very year.

And because he himself knows what it's like - he was even temporarily dead at home, and even though Katara was able to restore him, he knows that there were a few moments there where she had experienced what it was like for him to be dead.]

I can't say which is better or which is worse. But I do know, and I believe... that even when a person doesn't come back, death isn't really the end.

I'm sure you won't mess up whatever you try at, Zuko. You're good at things. [He's not even sure what he's encouraging Zuko to do anymore, but anything's a good distraction from the hurt of missing Sokka.] You just have to talk to the other workers and see what's up with them.

As far as I know, there are. I don't know a lot about his future... but I believe that he'll live a rich, full life back home. And... he'll get to see his dad again and everything.

R-right. Coping... that's the word. [He admits with a little weariness.]

I'll do that.

And if it turns out they don't need me, then... I can find something else to help with!

Like what?

Are you sure! I'm pretty sure that you rolled with it or something!

[She frowns a bit at the flinch. It's not that she's displeased at him; she's displeased with herself for adding to his own problems due to her lack of control on her temper. She takes a moment to respond so that she doesn't snap again.]

And then you would've spent almost every day around him here, for as long as you've been here. ...Are you looking forward to going home, so that you can see him again?

I am. [He answers without hesitation.] Now that's just one more reason in a long list of reasons I'm looking forward to going home someday. I know he's happy there. And... the rest of us are, too.

I think that in a way... Part of me feels proud that he made it home now, after he was stuck here for so long. He finally finished his journey. And the bad things that happened to him here... They all got to go away.

[The other part of him just feels less pleasant feelings about him - about how in making it home, he'd left them all behind. Especially Katara.]

[That catches her by surprise. He has to be confused, has to have her confused with someone else. Because she's not a good person, let alone a good friend. A good friend wouldn't get her other friends killed. A good friend wouldn't be as selfish as she is, wouldn't have hesitated to help in the first place.

But, somehow, she keeps from scowling. Keeps from questioning him on those words. It's not true. But would it be so bad to pretend it was true? Just for a second?]

I will.

I- I don't know what you mean by that. I was just following my people.

[He focuses on the present. On Katniss here in Luceti. Someone who's tried to do the right thing and help others. Someone who was hurting just like him. A friend.]

I'm glad to hear that. And I bet Sokka and Foo Foo would be, too. We all gotta look out for each other, after all.

[It takes quite a long time.]

He's really gone.

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Book 16: Drained [Voice/Action]

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