driftfleet | mingle part deux

I...yeah, I guess that's the easiest way of describing it. Some people from my world are born with the power to control one of the four elements: water, fire, air or earth. They can make that element do pretty much whatever they want. I'm not one of those people, I don't know all the ins-and-outs of how it works. But it's basically like magic, even if they say it isn't.

[Fucking bending, man :| ]

Toph, Zuko and Katara are all benders, though. [He gives a shrug.] So if you really wanted to know how it all works, I'm sure they'd tell you.

[Robb pulls a bit of a face but does not say anything. Bending air? How would that work? Blowing at things?]

I see... [It is said with a little bit of hesitation. A part of him wants to accept it, but another part does not. Nothing good could come from magic.] I take it you cannot bend elements?

[But then Sokka actually answers that question already.]

Toph? Isn’t that the blind young girl? [Who does not know of any common courtesy at all.] We are not on good terms. If I have questions I will turn towards ser Zuko. [A pause.] I take it he burned himself when he tried to bend fire? [Robb points at one of his eyes.]

[He honestly doesn't know, bending, man. HOW DO IT WORK? ]

No, I'm just a regular guy who lives in the world of science and logic and doesn't dabble with elemental shenanigans.

Oh for- what did she do this time? [Toph can you just NOT? Just for like...one day? Just...not.

And then Robb asks that question and Sokka honestly considers aborting the conversation completely. But, there's a chance he'll ask Zuko and given the state of affairs right now, Zuko doesn't need that. So...private filter it is. His face hardens, this is not a happy thing to talk about.]

His father did it to him when he was thirteen.

[Making Zuko a living reminder what a terrible human being Ozai was.]

Zuko spoke out against a plan to sacrifice a lot of troops during a war council. His dad ordered Zuko to an- [yeah, Robb won't know what an Agni Kai is and Sokka only has the vaguest grasp of it himself, so:] to a firebending duel. Zuko wouldn't fight his own father, so Ozai burned half his face off for being a coward and banished him from the Fire Nation.

You know. Stellar parenting and all.

[Haha, he likes that. Compared to this world he feels like some sort of simpleton.]

I can relate to that, captain. [The tone of his voice is a little warmer when he says that. And ah, that matter...] It is nothing dire. [Sokka makes it sound as if she has some sort of a history regarding matters like this.] We disagree on some matters. It is nothing we cannot solve. [If they both weren’t that stubborn, that is.

When the communicator tells him the conversation has turned ‘private’ he realizes the situation with Zuko and his burns is a serious matter. He listens closely and frowns a little. Apparently Zuko’s family is a difficult one. It might explain why his sister targets them. His lord father might’ve favored her.]

That is rather harsh. [Would that mean Zuko’s family is a noble one?] To mistake respect for cowardice. I would not raise my sword against my own father either. How foolish of lord Ozai to punish his son in such a way.

Yeah, better to just...talk it through. Toph's- She needs to be able to show you she can stand on her own feet, that she's not helpless. It sometimes comes across as her being bullying or super aggressive, but it's the only way she knows how to show she's capable. She's one of the best people I know. It just takes a little time to get under the rock hard surface thing she's got going on.

[He exhales, annoyed, but not at Robb.]

Yeah, well, Ozai's a monster. He didn't hesitate to wage war on everyone, to take over all the nations. His people laid siege to mine for decades. He doesn't care about anyone, much less his own family.

...And that's what makes Azula so dangerous. She believed in him, wanted to follow in his footsteps. It's why we can't be aggressive towards her. Defend ourselves, sure, but only when we absolutely have to. Going on the offensive with her will get us all killed.

I have not treated her as such. She kept insisting and I told her if we could speak of it at another time. [Because he was crying and blind or not, he is not comfortable with others noticing it.] We have not solved the matter yet. Mayhaps, in time.

[He does not really feel like it, to be honest.]

Men like that should not be in power. Once we had a mad king who cooked one of my uncles alive and allowed his son to take my aunt. It were my lord father and his good friend Robert who finally raised their banners and managed to crush the Targaryen house. [The look on his face is a proud one. His father had stood up for his family, for what is good.]]

So we avoid her instead? [The tone of his voice is a little skeptical.] There is nothing wrong with being afraid, gods, the moment I decided to call my own banners my hands were trembling. But I do not see how your approach will help any. If she wishes to come, she will come.

Good luck, anyway. Yeah.

[He loves Toph a lot, but good LORD she can be difficult.]

...Yep, that sounds about the same thing. People like that always get crushed, eventually.

And that's why I'm prepared for if she does. But actively seeking a fight won't do anything. She'll want time to build allies, make herself look like something she isn't. We're not going to rile her up when she's not trying to kill us yet. We need to prepare.

[Robb smiles at that and nods.]

I see... [It seems logical that they should expose her before she could make any allies. A dangerous woman with fire in her hands is already problematic, but if she’d take an army with her...] It is better to set out spies. Or scouts. If we would know of the allies we could expose her for what she truly is.

That would help. She recognises those of us from home. Which...doesn't help that.

It would be wise to ask people of other ships. Or, preferably, those on her ship. It might be that we have to put in some coin but that can be arranged.

[At least that is what he thinks. Coins solve a lot of problems but neither he himself or captain Sokka can promise lands or castles. Not here.]

[Sokka couldn't even promise land back home. Unless they wanted like... a patch of ice. No one but Water Tribe people want that. Or maybe crazy people. ]

Hm. That's not a bad idea, actually. I'll have to talk to whoever is her captain. See what they can do. Thanks for the input, Robb. It's appreciated.

[Patches of ice are pretty cool. The North has quite some ice, the further you go, the more ice there is.]

I will leave that to you, captain. [In a way it is refreshing to not have to be in charge the way he is at home. The weight is much lighter.] I do not mind to help. [He pauses and smiles into the communicator.]

Shall I leave you be?

Sure thing, good talk, buddy.

[Yep. Good talk. Because that'll make sense to him, Sokka. ]

mingle part deux

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