2 | rain rain go away... | open - Friday afternoon/evening

[warriorswolftail]

With his cast finally off, Sokka had taken to doing a little exploring on his own, though he always made sure to not go far unless he had some one else with him. Toph was back, but that didn't stop him from remembering vividly seeing her as a shadow not that long ago. It was an image that had settled in his mind firmly, making his skin crawl and his stomach turn whenever he thought about it. He was trying hard, very very hard to not, and to act as though nothing was wrong, but even that was starting to strain on him as the days wore on in to weeks.

This day he was in the long room, the area next to the stairs that led to the trolley platform, not doing much except wandering about in the open space, looking at the stone work thoughtfully. His thoughts weren't on the immediate area, though the gears were clearly turning in his head.

At least until the thunder outside boomed so loudly he thought his heart had stopped. He turned and headed to one of the windows, having to haul himself up to the ledge just to lean against the glass and watch as the rain came down and the lightening crackled across the sky.

"Whoa..." he mumbled to himself, marveling at the sudden change in weather. It was impressive, but he was more than glad that he was currently under a roof that wasn't open or leaking.

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[stillshinigami]

Footsteps from above on the platform behind Sokka, Duo moves as if he's lost in thought over something. Briefly, he takes notice of Sokka and decides to take a seat on the stairs to just watch him, hope he actually decides he wants the company.

"Hey Sokka." He said, tapping his forefinger on his knee, looking over the guy and wondering just how he was supposed to bring up that he knew what happened to Toph?

[warriorswolftail]

Sokka turned at the voice, taking note of Duo's posture and tone with a concerned frown. Everyone had been so... dodgy lately, not just him. He was starting to wonder if there was more going on than he realized, but he didn't know if he was just being overly paranoid or not.

He dropped down from the window, sitting on the large windowsil.

"Hey."

[stillshinigami]

Dodgy wasn't the half of it but he'd accept it as a reasonable description.

"Sokka. You seen Toph yet? Since she got back?" Duo said, leaning forward with his elbows against his knees.

[warriorswolftail]

"Kinda... seen her around, but I think she's avoiding me or something..." Sokka admitted with a frown, not really sure why she would be.

[stillshinigami]

"And we're not out of the woods yet-- and I'm glad t'see you out of that cast." He gets up and starts moving down the stairs again.

"And we're all in trouble now. Look, that kid she hangs out with? Harth?" He pauses, knowing he is going to freak out over this.

"He's evil. He's the one who's responsible for her being a shadow."

[warriorswolftail]

"... what."

The tone was flat, disbelieving at first, but followed by a look of understanding. Then anger. So it wasn't just some accident. Some one had killed Toph. Some one had killed his friend, and left her shadow to roam around the castle in misery.

Sokka's fist curled at his side, clenching so hard his arm shook. Damn.

He slid off the windowsill wordlessly. There was a certain fountain he had to pay a visit to.

[stillshinigami]

"Don't do anything til we mobilize, Sokka. That kid's a monster. Literally. We don't know what we're dealing with but we have strength in numbers. And I mighta already spoiled the element of surprise so we can't fumble on the other thing." Duo cringes.

"Toph wouldn't believe me."

[warriorswolftail]

"I need my sword," was the only thing Sokka said to that, "That fountain grants wishes, right? I need it."

[stillshinigami]

"Do it. Just keep quiet until we get this started." Duo replied, turning for the stairs.

Acting like he's in charge? He might have already doomed them all. Already made too many mistakes than they could afford.

[warriorswolftail]

Sokka stopped, letting out a sigh. He didn't want to do anything that would get them hurt, get Toph hurt again, but he couldn't do nothing either.

"I will. ... come with me, okay? Show me how to do this."

[stillshinigami]

"Gotcha." Duo said, waiting on the top step for the younger boy. Once there, he starts down the hall towards the pigeon room.

"I dunno if a sword'll do anything but it'll certainly help." He almost doesn't want to say anything. "I'll tell you when we get to my room. More details." Just not too at ease speaking in the open.

[warriorswolftail]

"It's all I got," Sokka said with a shrug, following Duo quietly. His mind was racing, gears turning again. What could they do? He needed details, obviously, but that didn't stop him from trying to figure out something without the proper information first.

[stillshinigami]

"It'll be enough. On the plus side, we've got Ratchet and that dragon on our side as well. If we can convince Toph that he's a threat?" He almost smirks, but his face remains mostly flat.

"C'mon, pal."

[tophbeifong]

Sokka wasn't the only one out and about. Toph, too, was exploring. Well, perhaps less exploring, and more just meandering in an effort to give her mind something to focus on beyond everything else it insisted in focusing on against her will.

She wasn't too keen on going beyond the areas she knew as safe, but there wasn't much danger in her current wandering grounds.

Other footsteps caught her attention and she paused, focusing on them. She was both delighted and terrified. He was one of her best friends, and she'd tried to hurt him. He'd never forgive her, she thought, and who could blame him?

Toph had never been timid before. Then again, she'd never died before, had she? Regardless, Toph took a step back, wondering if she could make it to the next room before Sokka-

"Aaah!"

The sudden crash of thunder ripped a squawk of surprise from her and she grabbed her ears. Geeze! It didn't hit the castle, but it couldn't have been far off target!

[warriorswolftail]

"Toph?!"

The scream got him down from the windowsil in a flash, feet beating the stone until he found where it came from. He skidded to a halt in front of Toph, grabbing her by her shoulders and frantically checking her for injuries, obviously thinking the worst.

"Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"

[tophbeifong]

The ringing in her ears faded away quickly, and she became very aware of someone approaching. Then grabbing her. It struck fear into her, nearly forcing her to retaliate, until she recognized who it was holding her by the shoulders.

"Sokka," she muttered, relieved. "Sokka, I'm fine! I'm fine! Thunder was loud! Geeze, calm down!"

Her hands rose to push against his chest. She needed to put a small space between them before his closeness made her blush.

"What are you doing out here alone? It's dangerous, you know. "

She folded her arms over her chest, waiting for his answer.

[warriorswolftail]

Sokka let out a sigh of relief, letting her push him away, hands falling at his sides.

"Heck of a scream for thunder, Toph..." he said, trying to tease her but the joke falling flat in light of his previous concern.

"I'm not that far.. geez, gimmie a break, I'm not completely helpless now."

[tophbeifong]

"The thunder was loud. Louder for me than you," she defended. She wasn't scared of it, okay? What are you trying to say? That she's a scaredy cat sparrow?

"The shadows don't normally come here, but you still should be careful. They'll sneak up on you. And until you get that log off your foot, you're cripple action Captain Boomerang."

[warriorswolftail]

Of course not! Why would he say something like that?

"It's off, Toph. Duo helped me get it off a couple of days ago..."

[tophbeifong]

"It is?" She hadn't noticed at first, but as she focused in it, a smirk came across her face. "Ot is! Glad to find you feeling better, Sokka."

Better, at least, than he was the last time she'd come across him.

Oh. She made herself sad. The frown lasted a short time before it went away, replaced by a mischievous grin.

"So I can kick you in the shin and it won't hurt, right?"

[warriorswolftail]

"Yeah, you-- h-hey! No! Don't kick me!" Sokka cried out, instinctively jumping back out of leg's reach of her.

[tophbeifong]

That was enough to get a chuckle from her. She refrained from kicking him, but a solid punch in the arm was another matter.

"Glad to have you back to normal Sokka, instead of Dead Leg Sokka."

Okay, she still felt a tiny bit apprehensive and awkward around him, but he wasn't showing any signs of being mad at her.

[warriorswolftail]

"Erf..." The punch earned a grunt and a bit of a wobble. No matter how many times she did that to him, his arm never seemed to get any tougher for it.

"Can't keep me down that long," he replied with a faint grin, rubbing his arm.

"But we're probably stuck here until the rain lets up..."

[tophbeifong]

Of course it wouldn't. Nothing ever became resistant to The Toph.

Stuck here?

"Pfft. When has a little rain ever kept us down?"

She moved to lean against the wall. His words kept repeating in her head. Why'd he even bring up the rain? Was he alluding that he wanted to go somewhere else?

"... but if you're worried about melting in the water, I can Bend a tunnel or two."

[warriorswolftail]

Another crash of thunder sounded outside, making him wince. An additional sound joined it, though - something small but hard striking the windows repeatedly. Hail. Figures. As if the weather couldn't get any worse, he was halfway expecting a tornado next.

"... might have to, if we wanna get back to the common area. Sounds like hail out there now."