"You know," says her brother tiredly, as he plops down beside her with grease on his cheek - or is that soot, from pulling the wrong wire? - "eventually we're gonna hit a world that doesn't have dead earth and isn't dropping bodies all over the place. I just know it."
That dry, sarcastic tone? That is the voice of hope.
This is what's running through Sokka's head when his chin tilts to peer at her, but he doesn't bring it up. Leaning back against her, he brings a hand up to ruffle multi-colored hair and kick his feet against the building. "Well, hopefully what killed them is dead now, too. How many rooms are there? Enough for everybody?"
No, Mel's going to stay on the roof. But she was thinking of everyone else.
"Fourteen," she says. "Not apartments or anything - bedroom and a bathroom each. But that'll do for what we've got. Apart from us, I don't know how many familis and couples we've got."
"Just Steph and Tim, I think," Sokka replies, tickling Hana's cheek with a finger. "Unless they're being really, really discreet, anyway. Most everyone else doesn't seem to know each other. But most of them might want to move inside."
Grinning a little when Hana makes a mess of herself, Sokka reaches over to accept her from Mel, wiping her mouth gently with the wrap on his forearm. "Dunno how it's safer," he notes, making faces at the baby. "We know whatever's out there can't climb - the roofs are the only places without bloodstains. And they can obviously get inside.
"Well, that's something," Sokka replies, smiling a little as he tucks Hana against his chest to rock and glances over at Mel.
At her face, though, 'cause-- ew. Sister.
"I think Marcus is coming around to the whole work-together-to-make-sure-we-don't-die thing, but I haven't had a chance to talk to Plourr or Jeff. Steph and Tim and this woman, Barbara, they all seem like they'd jump right into the group effort. Other than that, I don't know."
"Plourr's jake... ish," Mel says. "She's smart. Military. Probably more put off my us assuming we're in charge than anythign we've actually gotta say."
She likes to beat shit up. Mel's totally behind her.
"You're in charge," he points out, knocking her shoulder with a smirk. "Or at least that's how some of them are taking it. You did a good thing, though. They needed to hear someone point out how stupid it is to live spread out like that.
"Marcus' military, too. He's jake. Without the 'ish,' even."
Mel knocks his shoulder right back. "No I'm not," she says. "Some tainjg that way, but I'm not like Zuko was in the apartments. We don't need that - yet."
When they do, she'll be there, but right now, it's OK.
"Good, we have a buncha soldiers. Hope we get a Mushroom Daddy soon."
"Oh, man, don't remind me," Sokka groans, leaning back dramatically and rocking Hana in the process. "I mean, hey, Twinkies? Great. But I was just getting used to real food again...
"I didn't mean it as an insult, you in charge. And I know you didn't mean it that way. Still a good thing, though, the way you stepped up." He sticks his tongue out at her, teasing. "Even if you're against authority or whatever."
"Well, no one's counting on you to rally us all against the monsters or raid their secret hideaway cave just yet." Glancing over at her, once boobs are safely put away, Sokka kicks his feet against the wall again, rhythmic. "I don't know. I'm not real worried about leadership right now, with how small we are. Zuko and Harper didn't have that fight until there were about thirty of us, remember?"
That dry, sarcastic tone? That is the voice of hope.
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Instead she angles from the hip to leans on him, without dropping either girl.
"At least they were old," she says. "Before we got here. And we can clean up the rooms."
And then they'll have SOMEWHERE TO LIVE.
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This is what's running through Sokka's head when his chin tilts to peer at her, but he doesn't bring it up. Leaning back against her, he brings a hand up to ruffle multi-colored hair and kick his feet against the building. "Well, hopefully what killed them is dead now, too. How many rooms are there? Enough for everybody?"
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"Fourteen," she says. "Not apartments or anything - bedroom and a bathroom each. But that'll do for what we've got. Apart from us, I don't know how many familis and couples we've got."
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"Should point out that it's safer," she says. "Though a lot of the place is going to need a thorough clean.
"Toph find you yet?"
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"...our Toph or just Toph in general?"
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Loo's not ready to stop eating yet! After a half hearted attempt to stop her, Mel settles in to let her carry on.
"Our Toph. She recognised the girls and everything."
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At her face, though, 'cause-- ew. Sister.
"I think Marcus is coming around to the whole work-together-to-make-sure-we-don't-die thing, but I haven't had a chance to talk to Plourr or Jeff. Steph and Tim and this woman, Barbara, they all seem like they'd jump right into the group effort. Other than that, I don't know."
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She likes to beat shit up. Mel's totally behind her.
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"Marcus' military, too. He's jake. Without the 'ish,' even."
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When they do, she'll be there, but right now, it's OK.
"Good, we have a buncha soldiers. Hope we get a Mushroom Daddy soon."
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"I didn't mean it as an insult, you in charge. And I know you didn't mean it that way. Still a good thing, though, the way you stepped up." He sticks his tongue out at her, teasing. "Even if you're against authority or whatever."
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"And I'm not against it. I know how we'd've fallen apart with Zuko back when Harth was starting out. It's just kinda scary, y'know?"
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Yes, guess how Zuko got over that fight?
"Right now I'm happy with it. No one's fighting with each other, the only thing people are scared of is the noise, and if they do come over..."
Mel shrugs. "It's spun, but I think we can handle it."
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