tushanshu_logs | Sokka's Late Winter catch-all

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Sokka's Late Winter catch-all

Characters: Sokka, Toph, Michaelangelo, Zuko + OPEN
Date: Late February ~ March
Location: Practically everywhere
Situation: Finding Michaelangelo's hidey hole, Friendship tidings with Zuko, and whatever you want to do.
Warnings/Ratings: Y7 to start; will be changed as appropriate.

A. [Closed to Zuko]

Sometimes Sokka does have a rather nice heart. He may be full of sarcasm and rather annoyed complaining sometimes, but he has a nice heart, and you have to give him that. And so today he's actually going to go do a good deed. It's an unexpected deed, but it's a good deed nonetheless. Of course, the real challenge is going off and finding the guy he's looking for. Who's he looking for? That happens to be one disposed Fire Lord. He knows he's staying at the Palace (hopefully somewhere out of the way of the construction crews!), but he's not actually been up that way to call upon him specifically. And so Sokka is just wandering around, hoping to find where that firebender went off to.

B. [Closed to Toph and Michaelangelo]

"Okay, yes, I'll say it again, I need your help. Yes... to track someone down."

He did need Toph's help in this case. Mikey was... well, a ninja. He was extremely hard to find. He had gotten everything more or less narrowed down; there were tell-tale clues that Sokka had discovered, and so he had a vague idea of where he'd scurried off to, but he still couldn't find out exactly where Mikey had gone. And that's where Toph entered the picture. She had the uncanny sense to find someone. And lo and behold, she had been brought here at just the right time to track him down. Besides, it was a good opportunity for Sokka too. He had missed Toph, and he wasn't shy about saying it... to anyone except Toph herself. Usually. And so it sounded like a good project. Why not?

"So... yes?"

C. [OPEN] - Midnight Hotel Lobby

Sokka is still working on that stupid "puzzle" that's been displaying over the consoles. Really, he's been bashing his head on it for a while now, and it's just not going to get out of his head easily. So in part, he's going to be sitting at a table evaluating symbols and trying to figure out what to do. He might be in deep concentration, so it might take a few pokes or louder-than-normal voices to make him notice you. He might also be wandering inside and outside the doors with regular frequency as he's trying to visit the sectors of the city and potentially logging into the consoles there. Of course, he's not expecting anything to happen, though he probably will believe that other people are looking at him with a fair degree of oddness.

D. [OPEN] - Stark Industries

Sokka's working for Zanru at Stark Industries. He's certainly nowhere near management level, though he's not exactly a lowly peon either. For the moment, given how cold it's been, he's not far afield and instead just working on the edges of the town to help dethaw the ice around the construction vehicles. Of course, he's not driving any of the sophisticated gear, though he is doing some amount to chip away at the ice and hopefully break it apart. You might see him bashing through the ice with a small machete if you see him.

However after a long day at the construction site, he'll be returning from the edge of the city and back to Stark to pick up the few belongings and head back to the hotel. It's a long day, and the work's not exactly the easiest of jobs, but hey, he's striking it with juulan finally, and there's a net cash flow that's not in the red any longer. He'll be window shopping on the way back to the Hotel, though he certainly won't be buying.

E. [Choose your own adventure!]

[If you would like to meet Sokka while he's pretending to be Wang Fire, turn to page 46.
[If you would like to meet Sokka while he's hanging upside from a bear trap, turn to page 127.
[If you would like to meet Sokka while he's being chased by wild echidnas, turn to page 195.
[If you would like to meet Sokka while his sister is reminding him who can whip his butt, turn to page 87.
[For all other potential meet-ups, please stay on the line, and an operator will assist you shortly.]

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She wasn't saying no. But she also wasn't saying yes. Yet. Her arms were crossed, an eyebrow raised as she perched on the chair in front of her console, listening.

". . . Who'd you say this guy was, again?"

Because if she was going to go through the bother, she'd better darn well know what this was about.

Sokka hadn't given the name of this guy right away, though it had been a total fluke, really. It wasn't that he was trying to avoid giving it; it's just that it hadn't been a big deal.

"Oh you know, one of those sneaky ninja guys. Turtles, actually," Sokka says. "We became good friends, and he might actually be teaching me some moves one of these days." Granted Michaelangelo hadn't actually agreed to do it, but Wang Fire had suggested it, and Mikey hadn't actually said no, so it still remained to be said that it wasn't a complete lie.

Not that Sokka was even trying to lie to begin with. Or even be secretive. "I just haven't seen him around recently. Or his brother that likes to work on all the weird transmissions we've been getting."

"Turtles?"

The word had Toph's attention and interest immediately.

Of course it made sense that if they were her turtles, they would have popped up by now. Would have seen her first post to the network and contacted her in one way or another. Both Leos had always been like that.

It was logical. But that didn't stop the immediate flicker of interest anyway. Of hope.

"Yeah." She tried to keep it casual. "Okay. But how do you want me to do anything about it?"

And of course, Sokka for the most part is completely oblivious of all this. He had vaguely known Donatello... and that was to say that he didn't even know that Donatello was a turtle... or that he was even named Donatello. He'd probably seen him at one point, but Leonardo—or the Leonardos? No such dice.

"Well, I mean, I consider myself a pretty good tracker, especially when it comes to finding animals and whatnot," he says, bragging just a little bit. Yes, Mikey definitely falls into the "sort of" animal category here. Sorry, not sorry. "But looking for people in the city is much harder, and... well, even I can't find him. And you've got that stomping the ground thing that send little booming noises through all the earth so you can see things! So you could find him no problem! Piece of cake!"

Sokka's boasts about his tracking abilities prompted a small smirk -- and the return to an old pattern. "Yeah, you're pretty famous on the tracking thing -- as long as you don't meet any holes, right?"

Her eyebrows shifted up, tone dipping even dryer. "'Stomping the ground thing,' huh? Yeah, I could probably find him. I've met a couple of them, so that helps, but it'd help even more if I'd met the guy myself. What did you say his name was?"

He hadn't, and she knew it. But she was prompting him for it nonetheless.

"That was just the one time!" Sokka says to her first dig at him. "It's not like I make a habit of falling into holes. I'd like to think Foo Foo Cuddlypoops taught me that lesson well enough already." Not that this would ever convince Toph to let him live it down though.

Sokka's rolls his eyes though when she levels his sarcasm back to him. It's a rare thing, he's noticed, for anyone here on the shell to even be at par with him on the sarcasm level, but Toph can certainly dish it out. "Oh I didn't know you were acquainted with them already. In that case, you probably know him already. Mikey's the one I'm looking for."

Never living it down. Ever. Toph dismisses his protest with a twist of the hand, not quite containing a smirk. "Sure. Or if it turns out to be bigger than you, or it attaches. . ."

Yeah, she'd gotten the last one from Aang. Penta-pox? Something like that.

Things screech to a halt, though, as Sokka reveals the name. ". . . Him?" Her expression flattens. "Why would you want to find him?"

Oh, hey, look, Sokka. You've already walked into a hole.

Yeah, his entire list of "glorious" deeds are splayed out for him, and he's already just putting his face into his hands. Humiliating. It's not really humiliating, but he'd like to think he'll be remembered for things greater than those. Of course, Toph will remember all the other things too.

But he doesn't get a chance to retort to those. Because apparently something else is afoot.

"Why? Is there something wrong with him?" Sokka asks, suddenly scrutinising Toph. "He's a friend! We fought the Creep Lord together!" Well not together together, but still together.

Someone has to keep Sokka grounded and humble. Toph is generally all too glad to take on this role.

"He's creep-y," is her deadpan reply. "Who chases down a 13 year old blind girl when she's upset and makes it really clear she doesn't just want to hand over her life story to the first stranger who pops up and asks? Who does that?"

More importantly: He saw her vulnerable that night. That's not something she'll easily forgive him for.

"I only stopped him by leveling an earth tent in his face."

Oh boy, what has he gotten himself into.

Sokka just looks kind of awkwardly at that. "Weeeeeeeeelll, you might say that Katara, Aang, and I kind of did something like that once," Sokka says rather sheepishly, remembering when the three of them had invited themselves to dinner at the Beifongs, and one annoyed Toph was giving them very dark glares the entire meal.

"Besides, it must be some elaborate ninja thing," he says, trying to pass if off. "He sneaked into my room through my window in the middle of the night to ask me if I wanted to help fight the Creep Lord. You might say that's when we became friends?"

Her eyebrows shot up. "Are you actually trying to improve his reputation with that story?"

"And that was different. Trust me."

She's not going into the specifics of why if she doesn't have to. It's complicated, anyway.

Sokka frowns initially.

"Okay, maybe that was a bad example," Sokka says, trying to pass that off. "Look, he's funny! I'm funny! We're a great pair! And he's a good guy! He's one of us!"

Yeah, somehow even Sokka figures out that that's not going to go very far with Toph.

"Fine, I'm concerned about him. I haven't seen any of his other turtle... siblings here in a while, so I'm worried about him. I don't even know if he's even still here or not. You don't have to talk to him if you don't want." You know, just in case Toph thought that he was trying to hoist something onto her. Not that she needed his permission or anything.

She didn't think he was, just . . . mrgh. Toph leaned back, frowning, blowing the heavy, dark hair off her face.

"Fiiine." The word wasn't thrilled, but it was still agreement.

In the end, it was probably that word, "sibling." The Leos might not be on the turtle; it certainly wasn't sounding like it. But it was a reminder that although she might not be wild about Mike, her sifu had been.

She owed Leonardo at least that.

"Where's he usually at?"

Better to have a starting point.

Well, it wasn't the most elegant way of getting Toph's cooperation, but it still was getting her cooperation. He won't complain or whine about that. So score one!

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Toph," Sokka says almost giddily. "Seriously, if something happens, I'll make it up to you, I promise." That might be more troublesome for Sokka in the end than he'd like, but he is at least serious about the offer.

"I never really saw him all that much, but... I think he was living over in Water back when we still had assigned housing. Of course, he won't still be there, but maybe he'll be around there."

Water. Of course, it had to be Water. Toph wrinkles her nose, pushing off the chair. "Yeah, I'll remember that. Let's go before it gets any colder."

She reaches for her outer things. For the moment she slides on her shoes, but once they get to Water, they'll have to come off. She just won't have the range she needs with them on.

And with the weather as it is, she's not looking forward to it.

Of course it had to be Water. Karma had it out for Sokka, and by proxy Toph. Of course.

Sokka just needs to get his woolen coat and he was ready and raring to go. So really, he's just waiting for Toph, and even that shouldn't take too long. ~~At least she's not putting makeup or anything on, right?~~ He'll greet Toph with an unseen smile before he taking the lead down the steps out the entrance of the Midnight Hotel into the Water Sector.

Only to be hit with that (in some ways delightfully) frigid blast of weather.

It's cold, and Sokka may find Toph lingering a little closer as they head out towards the Water Sector, using him as a semi-effective wind block.

Once actually in the Sector, she mutters, reaching down to draw off her shoes, managing to bite back a squeak as her bare skin makes contact with the frigid stone. Immediately her range expands exponentially, but she's forced to cling to every ounce of her concentration as the cold gnaws at her bones.

All she can say is that Mike had better be in this sector and on stone, or he's going to have another mark added to his growing list.

Home base. Gools. Save point. The Lair. Rendezvous Point. Home.
They're all the same thing. They're where you go to when something goes wrong.
And as far as Mike is concerned everything had been going wrong. Has been going wrong. Ever since they woke up a year later than when they went to sleep, it's been wrong. When they lost Leo's sword. When Don disappeared. When the people he'd spent months working with could no longer be his friend.

Wrong.

So Mike took a page from Indigo Montoya, and followed Vicini's orders, and went back to the beginning. Back to where he got the job.

The beginning is apparently the west-most facing basement corner of a building on the fringing outskirt of the Water Sector.

You can take the turtle out of the sewer, but you apparently can't take the sewer out of the turtle.

Sokka, for once, is grumbling less than Toph. But really, he's not the one in charge at this point. It's her. So Sokka merely just waits for Toph to take of her shoes and then listen with her feet. Or however it was that she described it.

And so he's waiting. Waiting.

"Well? Anything?"

Yes, Sokka. Stay right about there. You're blocking the wind.

For a long moment Toph is silent as though listening, sorting out patterns in her mind. Stone. Heartbeats. Breath. Hundreds of patterns tangled and vibrating together, sifted through a complex internal map.

Then, finally . . . one. One pattern that can only belong to one owner, recalled and matched from memory.

A brief nod -- followed by an involuntary shiver. "Yeah."

And immediately she trots in that direction. Down one road, up another. Until finally they're in front of a building so decrepit that the wind might very well blow holes through it and her feet are aching with cold.

"There." She nods towards it, reaching out for Sokka as she leans down to pull on her shoes. Her teeth are chattering. "He's in there."

Hey, at least Sokka is useful for something here, even if it is just being Toph's windbreak. He totally doesn't mind providing that for her; after all, he knows how cold it would be with bear skin exposed to the elements. He knows that even asking her to do this is a lot.

He runs after Toph and finally arrives at... yes, what very well looks like the most "lovely" of spaces. He's going to "enjoy" searching this place. It practically could be haunted by the looks of it.

He feels Toph's hand on his back vaguely through his coat as she reaches down to put on her shoes. He doesn't mind at all, and he remains still despite how excited he feels to finally be close to his target. He looks down to Toph with a supportive smile. "Hopefully we won't need you to take your shoes off any longer," he says in hope, though he also knows nothing is ever simple.

He also knows he's going to owe Toph one at the end of the day.

Once she's done and Toph is all laced up, Sokka gestures in. "Let's get out of this cold, shall we?" And now it's a matter of avoiding the traps. Because of that, Sokka will go first. Even if she can see through the ground, there's no telling what's going on here.

Edited 2015-03-04 03:15 (UTC)

It seems innocuous enough, right? Abandoned building. Couldn't possibly be anyone in there.

Yeah, that's kind of what he's hoping, at least at first.
That there's no reason what so ever to come across the sagging and creaking threshold, let alone find your way down to the cellar.

Which doesn't really explain the trip wires, caltrops, or buckets of water over doorways.

Inside Mike is huddled around a small cobbled together terracotta space heater.
Donnie would be so pround.

Her feet are rather numb at the moment, so she won't be moving anywhere fast. With her shoes pulled on, Toph trails after him with a handful of the back of his coat -- both to steady herself and to let him keep her from running into anything she shouldn't. No one's told her about traps, but seismic sense gives her enough sense about the state of the building. If anything is hanging down or the floors are wood, she'll be blind to it, and she knows it.

"In the basement," she mutters. ". . . Can't you just call him up or something?"

If he doesn't, she's sure tempted to. Wandering through the building does not feel like the best of plans.

Sokka doesn't move extremely fast—half because Toph is following him and he doesn't want to pull her too quickly along, half because this building is really old and dangerous, and half because... well, Mikey did sneak into his room in the middle of the night, and so he doubts this is going to be easy.

"Well, I wouldn't expect him to just be lounging right in front of the entrance, happily awaiting any guests that happen to come his way," he says back to Toph. There's a sigh. He's not expecting this to go easily at all. "Though it couldn't hurt, you're right."

He reaches for the front door of the house, which happens to be propped open ever so slightly. "Mikey!" he calls out with a yell. "It's your old pal... Sok—"

And that's when he pushes the door open, causing a large bucket of water to fall on his head.

The water comes first, completely drenching him. And then the pail falls down upside down, plopping right on top of Sokka's head.

"—ka..."

The bucket clangs a warning note as it slips from its perch . . . But there's no time or space to guard against it, and holding onto his coat as she is, wetness spills over Toph's mittened fingers. Startled, she yanks away, stumbling back . . . only to slip on cold feet, and fall back on her butt.

She's wet. No doubt Sokka's even more wet. And it's cold and she's already tracked down a creep with her bare feet in the middle of winter . . .

With a noise somewhere between a huff and a growl, she pushes herself to her feet, reaching forward to yank Sokka back and out of the way.

Her feet plant, sliding into stance. She gathers herself, pulling energy in . . . and slams her fist into the nearest wall.

The entire building groans and ripples, the crack resounding throughout the space. Beams snap, dust rains . . . and a good portion of the building (with its traps) crumbles in an avalanche of rubble.

Awake now, Turtlemuffin?

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Sokka's Late Winter catch-all

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