[Day 210] open action | everything changed when the fire nation attacked

[tophgirl]

Who: Toph & you
Open: Open
When: 210
Where: By the onsen, near the bridge to the Skyway
What: Toph makes her way from the Skyway and to the Bastion.
Format: Prefer action, but I'll match.
Warnings: TBD

[Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

That's the first thought to cross Toph's mind when she wakes up to find the world different. Wrong. She can feel earth beneath her feet, but it doesn't feel anchored. She can feel where it ends, which shouldn't be possible. Yeah, she's the greatest earthbender in the history of ever, but even she can't feel all the way to the inside of the world.

Everything around her feels barren and broken, like the earth had when she'd gone to see where Ozai had fought Aang. Maybe His Royal Loserness broke out of prison and rallied the Fire Nation malcontents against Zuko. There had been a lot of people not happy with her promise of peace & harmony.

She wishes for a moment that she'd gone to the palace after running away from home again — or better yet, she wishes she'd never gone home in the first place. If something's happened to Zuko, then Aang and Katara are probably in trouble too. Not to mention Iroh. If Sokka remained in the South Pole, he's probably fine, but what if —

No time for what if's. Standing around with your head up your butt is what diplomats and advisors do. Nobody ever saved the world by standing around and thinking about it. She should know; she helped save the world. If she wants to help her friends, then first she's got to find them.

She makes her way carefully across increasingly unfamiliar terrain... terrain which doesn't behave like earth should, and that's probably the most frightening thing of all. She's always been able to rely on earth. Reliability is the essence of dirt. She finally comes to a bridge and, when she crosses, she feels civilization.]

People are a good start.

Comments

[tophgirl]

You breathed fire? Like a dragon?

[daughterofursa]

Well, sort of.

[She was trying not to at the time so it really wasn't that impressive.]

[tophgirl]

[Toph cackles. Loudly. And none too kindly.]

[daughterofursa]

Oh, come on!

[She'll admit it was a little funny, but she doesn't think it warrants cackling.]

[tophgirl]

[It wouldn't be nearly as funny if Zuko wasn't already so embarrassed about it!]

You're a Drunken Dragon! What's not hilarious about that?

[daughterofursa]

It's not hilarious.

...it might be funny.

[tophgirl]

Funny, hilarious, whatever. [Have a friendly punch to the shoulder, Zuko!] Let's get on with the tour, Drunken Dragon.

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko rubs at her shoulder and then sighs, shoulders slumping. Great, now she has a worse nickname. She gives Toph a bit of the silent treatment as she walks ahead to the center of the Bastion.]

...this is the Monument.

I don't know if it's magic or what, but it has the power to create things if you give enough shards.

[tophgirl]

[Oh don't sulk, you big baby. Geez.]

Shards of what?

[daughterofursa]

You know, I'm not sure. They look like crystal.

[tophgirl]

Okay. And it makes stuff out of that crystal junk?

[daughterofursa]

Yeah, somehow.

I actually just got some ostrich horses this morning.

[tophgirl]

....crystal ostrich horses? [Why on earth would you want that?]

[daughterofursa]

They're not made of crystal. They're normal ostrich horses.

[tophgirl]

Oh. ...that would make a lot more sense. [Well now she feels a little stupid. Thanks.]

[daughterofursa]

[It's okay. Zuko often feels a lot stupid.]

You probably could get crystal birds, but I don't know what you'd do with them.

[Statues seem like a waste of resources. Anyway Zuko's going to move on past the monument towards their little residential area.]

This is where most of us live. [She hesitates.] You can stay with me if you want, but- there are plenty of empty apartments if you don't.

[tophgirl]

I can take care of my own accommodations, thanks. [She's an earthbender. She can make her own place to sleep. Besides which, she's gotten used to camping.]

[daughterofursa]

Right. I'm sure you can.

[She's not disappointed, that is not what you're hearing. She also... for some reason assumes Toph means finding her own apartment. She hasn't really witnessed the earth tents.]

[tophgirl]

So where is your place? [Might as well pitch her tent in the yard.]

[daughterofursa]

Oh, well...

[She walks a short distance farther until they're standing in front of a small house. Of course Toph can't see the red-tiled roof, but it might still feel more familiar in construction than most of the other buildings.]

This is my house.

[tophgirl]

Nice place. Little smaller than your previous digs, but I approve.

[Good yard space, too. Nodding with satisfaction, Toph bends herself a cozy little earth tent, perfect for one. (Bending count: two.)]

[daughterofursa]

I guess you mean the palace.

[Zuko hadn't had time to settle back into it, but she guesses Toph remembers her as living there for three years now.]

...you're going to stay in my yard?

[tophgirl]

Why not? It's close by; I've got my own room; you've got the space. And! [Toph climbs inside the tent.] If you get really annoying, I can slam the door in your face and you can't open it!

[To demonstrate, she bends the tent closed. (Bending count: Three.)]

[daughterofursa]

You.. could just tell me if I'm being annoying.

[Does she get annoying? She thought she was just frustrating sometimes.

Unfortunately Zuko hasn't been keeping track of Toph's bending well enough to provide any warning. Actually she's wondering if maybe her earthbending isn't limited after all.]

[tophgirl]

It's just not the same.

[Her point being made, Toph bends the door back open. Or, er, tries. Tries again. Frowns. Tries once more. Nothing. It's not that the rocks aren't listening -- earth is a stubborn element -- it's more like they can't hear her at all.

Stay calm. There's a rational explanation for this.]

Hey. Zuko. Have, uh, you ever heard of an earthbender equivalent to the solar eclipse?