Whoa, those things were really fast! I mean... Everybody else seems to know about them, so I guess they're probably common in other worlds, but there aren't any machines like that in our world. The Fire Nation has tanks and everything, but they definitely aren't that fast.

So who wants to tell me how they do it?

Oh, and I've completely solved our food-related issues. Team, meet George. It's no Katara, but

TA-DA! Figure 1.1, The English Alphabet! My talents know no limits, obviously!

Starting from scratch is a little weird, but I guess it's the best way to do things. All of the letters have two versions, and they all make sounds, but the sounds aren't always the same, and sometimes if there are two particular letters together they make a new sound. I can't figure out whether it's clever or completely ridiculous.

I keep trying to put a good reason onto everything I do here, but... I guess I'm just doing different things to keep myself busy. I mean... I just sort of realized that everything's going to be lost again when I leave here, most likely. I've been home a couple of times, and the memories always get too fuzzy to recall clearly. Pretty weird.

Ugh. I think all of that blabbering the other day put me on a roll. Geez...

Oh! And I'm working on a canoe frame, too! Even if that Luffy guy doesn't want it, I'm sure it'll come in handy! Who doesn't need a good canoe, huh?

[There's a short yelp that might sound like, "Ah!Airship'sgo--!" The exclaimation is cut short by a loud splash. More water gets moved around via flailing, then swimming.]

What the--?! Suki?! Toph?!

[A loud gasp and some splashing before an actual answer comes.]

Reporting for duty. Exactly how far did she throw us?

No idea. This definitely isn't the ocean, though. This is... Great.

...the City. Not an airship in sight, or Toph. Wasn't she right behind us? Don't tell me you lost her.

Yeah, I mean... [Splish, splash.] Hey! I did not! It... Just looks like she didn't get pulled in with us.

And we somehow managed to end up here, in the fountain no less and without our bathing suits. We're done for. It's either the Fire Nation or Toph herself coming for us. [More splashing and then a splat and the sound of dripping.] And I'm not going to sit here and wait for her.

[More swimming around, and a momentary silence as the swimmer ducks under-water, just in case, and then there's the re-emergence.]

This's... Really weird. [Another flop of someone climbing from the fountain.]

You can say that again, Mr. I Didn't Tell Toph Exactly Where To Throw Us.

( ooc; )

Sometimes, at least here, Katara can go out for a day or so without you actually having to worry about where she went. At that point, she's probably shopping or practicing her waterbending or... You know, whatever Katara does.

But after you spend another day actively looking for her, and she doesn't show, then you worry, especially considering volcano spontaneously developing just over your shoulder. (It spews sauce, as it turns out. Ha, ha.)

So, yeah. The conclusion is that Katara's gone, out of the City. Just... vanished. No struggle, no note, just gone.

I hope she's not alone, is all. It's good that she got to go back home, right?.

Riiiiight.

So... A curse, right? I was really confused for a second, but... I guess this isn't that bad.

Except..!

SUKI! Are you cursed, too?! I don't want to feel like a dirty, old man with a teen aged girlfriend!

... That's just creepy, right?

Suki, you're probably already aware that we're currently hosting a number of our dear old friends. I guess we should try to make a good impression and prove that we haven't completely ruined ourselves this early into a marriage. You agree?

I'm glad that my grandmother isn't here, at least. Her fuss about the lack of great-grandchildren is back enough over letters. In person, though... Katara did get her nagging abilities from somewhere, after all.

Dear General Populous,

It has been brought to my attention that it has been brought to a certain someone else's attention that I have, in the past, recited poetry. I am now supposed to try my best to show off for this individual, I guess, under possible threat and with the added promise that she won't laugh.

So, hey, I figured that, while this whole written-word curse it going on, I can go ahead and just keep trying to write. It sort of cheats my out of having to recite, I guess. Plus, she said she'd be waiting with bated breath, so I'd better hurry before she passes out or something.

Apologies for subjecting you to this.

Signed,
Sokka

( Dear Suki, )

Hey friends!,

I'm on a roll. Any requests?

-Sokka

[[ooc; Very minor back-date, 'cause I'm not quite fast enough tonight.]]

So, Zuko. How did the duct tape work out? I heard it fixes everything.

Are you all done with the musical performance? Not that it wasn't entertaining, mind you. Just... Weird. But don't worry. I understand. I think I caught that one the last time it came around. Sometimes you just got to let it all out, right?

[Private to the Gaang | Mildly Unhackable]

I'm sure we've already come to the conclusion that Azula's bad news. I mean... We've known that. So, in honor of her arrival and going on the fact that we miiight need this sort of thing, I've attempted to figure out the whole making-things-private-with-code phenomenon.

It's probably not that great, but I'm going on the idea that Azula doesn't know anything about computers, either. It's all just a precaution, I guess.

Plus, it was kinda' fun. Use it if you need it, lemme' know how it works out.

[/Private]

And now, I begin work on formulating a response.

Some welcome back party, huh?

One, I grew up in the Arctic. This whole... Desert-y thing? Not my kind of weather. Besides, been there, done that, am I right? At least nobody dipped into the cactus juice. Nice to know that we've all learned that lesson.

Two, this kinda' bites. I've been in and out of this place for the better part of a loooong time, and I gotta' say... This time kinda' bites the worst so far. Not only is there still an impending possible climax to a hundred-year war hanging over our heads back home, but we managed to finally get Dad back, find Suki in the process, and all get back safely. I mean, it's still not completely ideal, comet coming and everything, but it felt... Alright. Better than it had been, I guess.

But now here we are. Me, Aang and Zuko are back, all in one fell swoop. Nice move, City.

At least someone was here waiting for us. That's a little nicer than usual. (Not that it's great that Toph's deprived of our world, too, but... You know.) And, yeah. That's not counting the hench-women, 'cause their both hanging around now. So I hear, at least...

Three, I'm going to fishing.

Whoa! It's really hot! What happened?

... Oh. This definitely isn't... Um. Katara! Katara, get up! You have to see this! It's-- Katara? Heeey. Where'd you go?

Mommy? Dad? ... Gran-Gran?

Ugh. I gotta... Get this... Coat off!

... I don't think I'm in the South Pole, anymore. There're... Stone buildings and... Plants outside.

[[ooc: Wee!Sokka currently struggles to get out of his omglayers of clothes. July in a normal place = wtfhoooot to Arctic children.]]

[Private; Hackable]

Azula's left the City, now. She didn't stir up a lot of trouble, but... I'm glad for one less thing to worry about. I don't think we really have to worry about Flippy, but I'm open to the idea that I could be wrong.

Zuko might have been upset by it, but there's no... He still seems sure of what he's doing. I was doubtful, but... Even with all of the family ties, maybe he's really with us. In it to win it.

One less thing to worry about. I'll have to weigh these things, sometimes.

[/Private]

So... I hope everyone's learning a lesson about what not to name your kiddies.

So, Aang? When is this... Dancey-thing, exactly?

So... I looked pretty much everywhere, and it looks like Toph's gone back home. I just hope it's like she said it was before, and she's not by herself.

I guess I don't have much else to say about it. It's pretty straight-forward. I just figure everyone who knows her ought to know about it, before anybody got worried or anything.

Katara... Grilled fish for dinner? I caught some a little earlier.

Hey, Katara!

Um... Lyra went ahead into the other City place, and so me and Aang are going to go and meet her so that we can bring Toph back. We don't really want her alone, you know, and... Well, I'm kinda worried by this point.

So we're going to go do that. If you want to come, too, you can apparently just go to the Deity Office building and do some paperwork about it. You have to trade something to get in, so be careful about that.

Bring the waterbending. And maybe bring some lunch.

Oh, yeah, and tell Zuko, too.

Love,
Sokka

Oh, and... Sorry if this makes me miss shifts, Ishiah. Kind of last-minute, but definately important.

Right, so... Different City. I've just got to... Sit and think, apparently. Just have to sit and think and stay in the vegetarian cafe where there's no meat or random maps or weapons to bother me. WHY DO I EVEN HAVE ALL OF THOSE THINGS JUST SITTING AROUND THE APARTMENT, ANYWAY? TOPH, WAS THAT YOU'RE IDEA?!

Ugh... I think I'm getting a headache.

You read it here, folks. It is useless, pointless, and senseless. Cut it out.

I blame you.

I don't know what you did, but stuff blowing up spontaniously and via mechanical means has Fire Nation written all over it.

Where's Toph, what's your scheme, and what on earth makes you think you're just going to get away with it?

Are the enemy birds gone, yet?

It's strange that I can't
Really stop speaking like this.
Glad for my talent.

Perhaps now would be
Suitable to compose my
First publication.

However, I joke.
There is little to be had
In this art for me.

I would that, although,
As before, I use this to
Woo good and proper.

Seeing as I can't
Seem to speak more than needed,
No error to be.

Wait for the moon's rise
To persue spoke affections.
But I know, not her.

To be substitute
For those ones I cannot find,
Locked away and gone.

I do fear this so,
And wonder on it often
Although I don't say.

I must bring ruin,
And so this poetry rings
As best at unheard.

Foolish! Reminded!
Lyra, remain you stuck so?
I worry, you know.

Stupidly blurted,
Perhaps best be more discreet.
I must be expressed.

Toph, Aang, small scoundrals,
You better not laugh at this.
I'm sure it gets old.

... This's karma, isn't it? Everything that I've ever said about girls that made Katara mad has all come down to today.

Too bad she's not here to enjoy it, huh?

[[ooc: ... I couldn't find any good pictures of random Water Tribe girls, so Sokka is basically Katara with effed up hair. They look alike because of siblinghood anyway, what.]]

Wasn't yesterday... The day before yesterday?

Maybe this calendar's broken...