castleinthemist | 02

Toph knew she found the courtyard through various senses. She could smell the fresh air, hear the birds, and feel the warm sunlight and cool breeze. The hard stone from the castle faded into softer walkway stone as she moved out into the yard. When her feet touched the grass, she smiled to herself. No longer was the resonance of vibration from the earth surging out and back at her with all its strength. Instead, it met resistance and the grass muffled her senses as it tickled her feet, creating a sort of static for her until it gave way under her soles to let foot meet soil and allow the reverberations communicate to her nearly half a second later than solid ground.

It was a strange sensation, but she welcomed it. It calmed her, and she continued to smile while she moved to what she thought was a nice spot.

She breathed calmly and evenly as she took her stance. One move, another, and then a third, and a perfectly shaped chaise rose up from the ground. She felt proud of herself as she moved to it and lay down, body lying comfortably against the contour of the grass-covered reclining seat.

Once decidedly comfortable, Toph pulled a flask from her belt and took a drink from it. Nice, cool water. She'd stolen the idea from another castle inhabitant and had made one out of a chunk of metal ripped from her bed frame. He used his for naughty juice; she used hers for water.

Toph felt a little guilty. Most of the castle was trying to figure out how to get out of there. She, though, wasn't putting so much effort into it. Sure, she wanted to leave, but what could she do? She'd promised a new friend that she wouldn't go far without eyes to help her spot the monsters she couldn't detect. While she wanted to do her part of the exploring and searching for a way home, she didn't want to be useless in a fight against a flying shadow with claws.

There were very few times that Toph would admit her blindness to be a hindrance. A skirmish against the monsters that moved without contact or sound was one of those very few times.

"I'll just wait for a friend," she told no one before closing her eyes and laying her head back against her arm.

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"You'll just have to aim me," she told him. "I'm told the shadows are just that- shadows. I can't hear them or feel them from what I gather. I wouldn't know, though. I've never encountered one."

"I can do that." He smiled and then stopped for a moment. He looked into Toph's eyes and finally realized something. She was blind. Okay...he was so dense.

"Yeah, I can do that easy."

"Then we're good, aren't we?"

She smirked to him before relaxing again.

"Just let me know when. It's not like I don't have the time whenever you want."

"You got it. I need to make a wish at the fountain first. Maybe I can get some Raritanium and you can see if you can bend that. That stuffs even harder than iron."

She blinked, turning her head just a fraction towards him.

"... there's a fountain? A wishing fountain?"

How did THAT work?

She sighed.

"Okay. I stand corrected. NOW there is nothing I haven't heard of."

Ratchet blinked at the sudden question and slowly nodded...before realizing she couldn't see.

"Yeah, no one told you? You step into it, make a wish and what you want eventually appears."

"I've only been here a few days. I know precisely three people. ... four, including you. I haven't really had a chance to hear about anything."

But wishings...?

"Has anyone ever thought about wishing to go home?"

"From what I hear, it's limited to objects. Can't wish for anything else."

"Well, there goes that idea," she snorted again.

"What else is around this place?"

"Let's see. There's a small pond Duo and I found and hallways. Haven't found much more than that. I haven't really been the exploring type, you know?"

"No, I get it. With those monsters around, I'm reluctant to do much exploring, myself."

Then, she repeated to herself what he'd said.

"... wait, you know Duo?"

It hadn't crossed her mind how small the livable area was in this place, and thus how likely it was that everyone did or would eventually know everyone.

"Yeah I do. He was one of the first people I met actually. Pretty cool guy. How did you meet him?"

"He stole my seat, so I stole his food," she smirked.

The Lombax burst out laughing at that, one of his gloves hands moving up to cover his eyes.

"Well that's one way to meet someone."

The sound of his laughter was infectious. She giggled, too.

"Yeah. Hey, I thought it was a fair trade," she grinned, leaning back to put an arm behind her head as she crossed her feet at the ankles.

"I'll agree with you there. All's fair with chairs and food." His laughter dies down and he relaxed in his stone chair. "Kind of wish I could take this back to my room with me. It's nice."

Toph gave a shrug and moved a hand to dig at her nose.

"I could take it back for you," she suggested. "It takes me no effort at all. Just tell me where you want it."

"You can do that? Awesome!" He gave her the directions to which room he was staying in.

"Yeah, I've been alone in there since I got here. No roommates for me just yet."

"Sure can! I'll get to it when I'm done relaxing," She told him. When he'd return back to his room, he'd find it set up and ready for him.

"I haven't even found my room yet," she shrugged. "I'm not too concerned with it, though. Camping out here is just as nice as any room."

"Sweet." The Lombax put his hands behind his head and just closed his eyes. This was nice. Just lounging outside with a new friend in a comfy chair. Didn't get much better than this.

"Well if you feel like sleeping inside sometime, let me know. I have beds free in my room so you can totally just crash with me."

"Thanks for the offer, but I much prefer the ground to any bed. I'll decline your bed and take the floor, though."

She grinned at him, nearly giggling.

"Then the floor is all yours." Ratchet laughed and shrugged. Hey, to each their own in the end.

"I'll take it!" she finally gave into the giggling before letting it trail off into a content sigh.

"Then we have a deal. Nice to finally have a roommate." Ratchet relaxed in his chair as well and just looked up at the sky.

"You know, this place ain't half bad if you ignore the food and the shadow monsters."

"... and the being away from home and the missing your friends part," she added, shrugging and scratching her stomach.

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