~♥THIRTY-FOUR♥~

[generalflirt]

[Action]

[It's later than he expected to be back from his mountain sojourn, really, when he comes into the town on Wednesday night. Shikamaru, let alone Silver, probably came back before him, but he finally makes it back then, goes to his apartment for a much, much needed proper shower and goes to bed.

So it is on Thursday that Masaomi's properly back in down, Linda on his shoulder. He's skipped class for... well, a long while now, so when he gets up surprisingly early, one of the first thing he does is actually go to school, possibly with an ear to speak with the professors or anyone who missed him from that. After that, House 11 to see how all the people he knows from there are doing. Once that's done, he heads over to the Battle Dome for a few reasons. One of them is to try to see Law, one of them is to ... well he decides to test out the training in the Battle Dome, preferably with Silver or Gold or someone else who knows Pokemon to see if he can run them before going back to the plaza. In the plaza he has some intention of lurking around the Smithy and the library. But also just trying to integrate back into socializing with people, maybe break into some light flirting, if he can muster the gusto? Trying to normalize. And once that is done, well, if he didn't run into some people he's of the mind to run into after all that in order he'll be going to Mikado's apartment and then the Avatar House on the south end of town. And then, of course, back to his place at night.

tl;dr options in order:
A) School (also includes getting lunch in the break period)
B) House 11 (after school)
C) Battle Dome (either lurking in its clinic or fighting digital pokemon in the rooms or getting refreshments between bouts
D) Plaza (in particular smithy and library - will be chatting up people, might hit on girls)
E) Community Building 7 (in particular Mikado's apartment)
F) House 56
G) Community Building 1 (in particular his and Shikamaru's apartment and kitchen on that floor)

You can also run into him in transit for any of these locations, naturally. Oh, right, and he'll be wearing something akin to this, so no soulpatch or whatever he was wearing int he experiment. With a small bag and Linda's luridly yellow pokeball in his pants pocket]

Comments

[generalflirt]

There's no point in a "pursuit" for Katara at this point, Sokka-kun. It is what it is. But no matter how you want to look at it, she and I are close friends. No matter how you want to look at it, we're a substantial part of each other's lives in this world.

For that... ah, no. Not for that- for me, I'm not accepting your lack of respect.

[markofthewise]

I never said you couldn't be friends.

[He may not always like who Katara is friends with, but. She doesn't always have the worst taste in friends. But it's a throw away line. His hand falls to his side, closing around the fishing line.

"Not accepting a lack of respect..."

He knows what that's like. To feel like you don't have someone's respect. Or... anyone's respect. But there was more to it than that. He let himself lose his way. Lost his respect for himself. It was only because of Piandao that he found his way again.

Sokka closed his eyes. He was probably going to regret what he was already thinking about.]

Why do you care about my respect?

[generalflirt]

That's a good question. [He folds his arms behind his head, considering. He considers playing with his necklace, but he knows that... might not come off cool. Just something to occupy his hands]

To tell you the truth... it's a little bit that I have a respect for you. But mostly, it's that I'm sick of people telling me I can't.

[And, perhaps more pressingly, him agreeing with them. Luceti has been a reversal, for the most part. Katara and Gold and Shikamaru have all believed in him. I owes it to them and himself to show some gusto for it]

[markofthewise]

[Well. That's something at least. And there's always that shallow part to him that eases up when given a little flattery. And someone's respect is a big show of flattery. It's at least tempered enough for him not to make a big deal of it.]

That you can't what? Have their respect?

[generalflirt]

Can't... [...How much does he owe Sokka to tell. How much does he trust Sokka to tell? He considers a moment] Achieve something.

[Do you know why I've never stood up for you, when people call you a loser or worse?

Ah, I get it.] I understood it for the first time, very recently. I'm not destined to be a loser, Sokka-kun. Be that in the case of people's respect, my own abilities, or whatever else is demanded of me.

[I don't say anything because I expect someday you'll prove them wrong about what kind of person you are.]

[markofthewise]

[That is. A noble sentiment at least. Sokka was right, it seemed, that Masaomi didn't have any respect for himself. He could certainly appreciate the effort to try and turn himself around.

But. Sokka was skeptical. Good inside of him isn't enough. Why don't you come back when it's outside him too, okay.]

So are you going to do something to change it?

[Because. Just asking for it won't always work.]

[generalflirt]

I have been, actually. I guess I didn't see how much until I went home.

[And now he pulls into a more sheepish grin]

[markofthewise]

[Right. Katara went home with Masaomi. Not the other way around. What did they even do there?]

Well. There's an easy way to get my respect. But it's not easy and I doubt you'll even want to go through with it, because it's hard work.

[generalflirt]

[...Heh] Try me, Sokka-kun.

[markofthewise]

[Sokka finally stands up. His sword is leaning up against the porch, so he pulls it out and draws the black meteor blade. He gives the sword a casual twirl. A meaningless stunt, but something that demonstrates his master of the blade. Although still separated from Masaomi by yards, he levels the blade in his direction.]

Take up the sword. And not just practice on your own. Or find someone you know who has a sword. [He sheathes the sword again.] Learn from Master Okita Souji. That way you'll learn restraint. And won't throw baseballs at people behind you.

[And it's not because Sokka thinks Okita Souji is the best teacher of that. In all honesty, Sokka still thinks Piandao is the better teacher of the two. But there's something about Souji's training that is effective. It's not just because he's a master of the blade, but because... the darkness of losing control is there. And when his master loses control, Sokka feels it every time. And he learns, in turn, to be have greater control. So that even if Master Souji goes too far, Sokka can control how much it will hurt. It's a horrible way to learn. But it works.]

[generalflirt]

...Hold up. Okita Souji? You're serious?

[And he reaches out a hand to plant a finger on the not sharp side of the sword. Well, one of them. His expression is a bit flabbergasted, but in his case that just means a weirdly loopy smile with wide eyes]

[markofthewise]

[Sokka keeps his sword away from Masaomi. Sorry bro. No touchee.]

Very serious.

[generalflirt]

But no, Okita, Souji?! Of the Shinsengumi?!

[markofthewise]

... oh. You're from Japan. Right.

[So. He knows Souji from his own history.]

[generalflirt]

...Obviously?

[Come on, man]

[markofthewise]

Yeah. Okay. He's your Okita Souji. Of the Shinsengumi.

1/2

[generalflirt]

...Just for the record, I'm not a swords man. Who even uses a sword in the morning world?

[generalflirt]

-But if I get to meet him, I'll give it a shot?!

[He even leans in towards Sokka, his eyes sparkling]

[markofthewise]

It won't be easy. He hits harder than you do.

[generalflirt]

...Do you even know how hard I hit?

[Sure Sokka was at fight club when he broke Shikamaru's bones, but he doesn't know if the guy was paying attention? If there's anything Masaomi is confident in, it's his physical strength]

[markofthewise]

I have a pretty good idea. Trust me. He hits harder.

[There's a reason Sokka had gotten into the habit of wearing chainmail, after all.]

[generalflirt]

Then can I punch you now?

[yes, really]

[markofthewise]

Yeah, no. Not happening.

[generalflirt]

Why not?!

[markofthewise]

Because... I don't want to get punched?