cyclicality | Open to all! Dated before the barrier goes funny.

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Open to all! Dated before the barrier goes funny.

The girl making her way through the city probably wasn't anyone's image of Toph Bei Fong, and certainly not the image of the statue standing near the police station. She was small, verging on scrawny (an effect compounded by oversized clothing), face marked with at least a couple of layers of dirt. In that clothing, her features obscured, she might even have been taken for a boy -- were it not for the heavy braid trailing down her back.

Frankly, Toph didn't mind the whole arrangement. The makeshift disguise let her explore the city pretty much as she pleased -- or at least the parts she was currently interested in seeing. No one paid much attention to a street urchin, and there were some benefits to being blind; it tended to make others look away, and by the time they thought something of a blind girl wandering around the city by herself, Toph was gone.

So far, she had a good thing going, except for the lack of idol worship.

((ooc: Pick a setting option. Feel free to pose in with whatever your character is doing in that area, and I'll pose back off of you with whatever Toph is up to. Glad to work out anything in advance -- just PM me or poke me on Plurk!))

A. Toph is in the less well-off parts of town, taking stock of the area and probably noting the triads with interest. You might even catch her at a scam. (Hey, new place, money is necessary, and she has to test the limits.)

B. Up near the bending arena. Maybe it's just a practice day; maybe there's a game going on. She's just as likely to come either time. It's enough like Earth Rumble that she'll be interested.

C. Taking a break somewhere in the city (though likely not in the upper class districts). The satomobile vibrations are still a little rough on her, and a girl's gotta eat.

D. Wildcard -- have an idea? Poke me on PM or Plurk!

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[Aang hadn't had much opportunity to talk with Toph at the meeting with the Hotmen, so he made it a priority today to try to find his friend and catch up with her.

One of his first guesses ended up being a lucky one - and he ended up at the bending area, poking around in search of the Beifong. Of course, hiding his identity has proven tricky due to his tattoos. Sometimes he tries to pretend to be his own granddaughter when it's easier than trying to pass himself off as an airbending prodigy the city never heard of. And he doesn't want to cover up his arrows.

Unless of course, it's a temporary silly disguise. Like right now, he's wearing pieces of broom over his hair and face to look like an old man. He walks through the bending area, holding up a bag of popcorn.]

Popcorn! Get your fresh popcorn here! The poppiest corn you'll ever pop! [And his eyes are peeled, seeking out his friend...]

[What was it with the Gaang men fascination with beards? (Never mind that Toph would probably try to get away with one if she could. There are downsides to being a girl.)]

[His footsteps pique Toph's attention immediately, and though she can't see the disguise, she can guess he's up to something. She forgoes listening to the match, wending her way down the stands with her fingers brushing the wall. A light knock of her heel to the stand sends a ripple down the line, causing a bump out to trip him if he's not careful.]

[It's one way to catch his attention.]

[It's one way that works. Some of the kernels of popcorn scatter on the floor, and it takes him just a moment to catch his balance.]

Whoa! [Then he adjusts his mustache and continues his disguise-y voice.] Sounds like we got a tremor! Haven't felt one like that around here in oh, five hundred or so years, back when I was a whippersnapper!

[It doesn't take him long to spot the source. He saunters on over towards her, with a cheeky grin, and he still keeps up his disguise voice as he leans towards her.]

Hello there, young'n! What brings you to the bending arena at this time of day?

[Toph snorts, because well, it's ridiculous -- and yet so stupidly, awesomely ridiculous at the same time. Aang's never been good at lying low; between him and Sokka, sometimes it's been amazing that they've made it through the Fire Nation at all. But still . . . it takes guts to be that crazy to put himself that out there without worrying about the consequences, and that she appreciates.]

[. . . Even if it's sometimes pretty stupid.]

You could have just come to where we're staying, you know.

[The area of the stands where they are is less populated; she's not too worried about being overheard.]

[When he's lucky, the universe adjusts itself so that the stupidity of those around him matches that of his costume, like the first time was Bonzu Pippin-paddle Oppsokopolis III.

He has a cheery grin as he comes to sit next to Toph.]

Welllll, you weren't there when I tried, and searching sounded more fun than waiting for you to come back!

[She's glad to see him -- though as usual, she expresses that in her own way. She reaches out to flick him in the side of the head -- only to encounter the bush of hair.] What are you wearing, anyway? You're about as good at disguises as Zuko.

[She settles down with him, content to share the space.] What'd you come to see me about?

[Aang can't help but chuckle at her failed flickering.]

Oh you know, just some fake hair! It does the trick!

And... I just wanted to see you. We didn't get to talk much the last time we saw each other, so I thought we should spend some time together!

Yeah, if you want to look like Appa.

[But she definitely appreciates the idea of time spent, and it shows, faint, as the corners of her mouth turn upward. Within that same smile, though, there's a hint of wistfulness.]

It's weird having you guys so far away.

[Especially after months of living together, camping together . . . Not waking up to any of them, it feels a bit like missing a limb. And okay, they're not that far away, but they might as well be, over water like that.]

Why did the airbenders go and have to live on an island? Do the rest of us smell, or what?

[Going to grumble now. She misses them, okay?]

Edited 2014-10-16 01:09 (UTC)

You say that like looking like Appa's a bad thing...

[It was weird. Even if he was more used being with Katara and Sokka for longer, Toph's absence was still felt. He lightly kicked his legs at the air as he contemplated, and he tried to address her with a light smile.]

It's... it's just where the air temple was built. It could have been worse, you know! My people used to live all the way on tops of mountains.

You guys... you smell perfectly fine. Really! You can even come over if you want... Maybe we could find room for you! It's a really great place and it's a lot like the old temples, too!

Mountains would have been easier. [Toph's nose wrinkles.] Mountains I can deal with. But we're talking an island. Surrounded by water? I think you know how great water and I get along.

[Her feet dangle in turn, kicking lightly in echo of his.]

I dunno. I'd like to be over there with you guys, but it's hard, too. Not just the water, but . . . On an island, you can't really go where you want. When you want. I'd always be relying on someone else to bring me over.

I'm sorry Toph. Whenever I get old enough to build that air temple, I'll try to keep your feelings about mountains in mind. [He says that with some lightness, to try to keep things from getting too tense. But he's sad all the same. It's like their group is being fractured.

But Aang doesn't want to leave Air Temple Island. Not only is it a place that feels like home, where he has family again... he also feels like he has a duty there. With Tenzin gone, he wants to be able to help Jinora and Bumi with running the temple, even if it's not as Avatar Aang.]

But, I... I understand what you mean. It'd be too much to try to live on an island. Guess that means I'm just gonna have to find some time every day to visit you, Toph! It's all in a day's work for an undercover Avatar.

[He thought all their problems would be over with the end of the war. But now, he's realizing some new problems, that don't involve evil or wrongdoing. It involves not having enough time in the world to be near everyone whom he cares for.]

[Toph isn't trying to make things get dark -- only express her irritation at being separated from what has, in its own way, come to be family . . . and family isn't something she separates from easily or willingly.]

Maybe I can come stay for part of the time, too. I mean, you've already got Katara and Sokka over there, right? If Sokka can blend in okay, I probably can too.

[His gesture hasn't gone unnoticed, though -- and for this he receives a solid whack in the arm.]

Yeah, you'd better come, though. You've still got stuff to train on.

[Never off the hook. Ever.]

Plus Sparky will get all droopy and decide the world hates him again or something if you don't.

[It's too easy for Aang to feel guilty about something, especially when it feels like he's overlooked a friend. But Toph's response does help to lighten up. As tough as the punches may be, he's gotten used to them being a sign of Toph's friendship. He rubs at his arm with a light smile.]

You make a lot of convincing points, Toph! You're definitely welcome to visit and stay with us on the island whenever you want. I'm sure we'll all be the best blenders there are!

And... I'd be glad to train with you more, too! I guess I shouldn't get rusty even in a place like this... Zuko won't have to worry either. I'll make sure he knows the world loves him.

[She snorts with laughter at that -- if only for the image. A grumpy Zuko being loved on by the Avatar . . . it'll go over like a lead balloon. And she'll love every minute of it.]

You do that. Just let me know when you're going to, okay?

[Her head tilts, smirk still lingering.] As for the island, maybe I can build a secret tunnel or something. Like the ones under Lake Laogai. Now that would be sweet.

Will do! [It's a little conflicting to remember Lake Laogai, but he focuses on the 'secret tunnel' part and manages a smile.]

A secret tunnel... Now that would be really neat! If anyone could do that, I know it'd be you, Toph. And as the airbender who's gonna found Air Temple Island, you have my full official permission to make one!

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Open to all! Dated before the barrier goes funny.

B

What are you, Aang.

your coolest and most magical friend

Magical. That's one word for it. ;)

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