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[toph_luck]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, < BLIND BANDIT >. TEXT-TO-SPEECH HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. TO DISABLE, TYPE: TSSOFF *** has joined 018.07.154.55 [ A voice can be heard in the audio messages ] <BLIND BANDIT> I figured this out eventually! <BLIND BANDIT> Even technology can't stop me! <BLIND BANDIT> Leave a voice message for me, I'll listen to it when I can.

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[Voice]

[restoredhonor]

Hey Toph, I need a favor. Nothing outside of your ability, but since we're stuck here, I have an idea. Call me or stop by when you get a chance.

Voice

[toph_luck]

Yeah?

What is it, Zuzu?

Voice

[restoredhonor]

[ That's the sound of a frustrated sigh. ]

Nothing, Lady Bei Fong. I was just thinking of putting in a stream and since you're the resident earthbender, thought I'd ask for the favor.

[toph_luck]

[ There's an understanding laugh behind her voice, but she's mostly serious after that. ]

You want me to do some light bending? Is that all?

I mean of course. But why are you being so shy about it?

[restoredhonor]

Because it's for a full pond, eventually. I'll draw up something so you can tell what I want.

[ No need for blind jokes, he has a Plan. ]

You know, if I could I'd ask for badgermoles. But right now, the plan is a few turtleducks.

[toph_luck]

Badgermoles would go underground the moment they came here anyway. Probably not the best idea for a pet.

[ Her tone shifts, playful but not teasing yet. She's giving him the benefit of the moment. A drawing sure won't help, but he knows that. ]

You mean make something, right?

[restoredhonor]

I will have something that you can use as a guide. [ It's a promise. He would never forget that she is the greatest earthbender alive, or that it's insulting to her to try to do something that she can't 'see'. Whether that be through her fingers, or through her feet. ]

[toph_luck]

Cool. I'll be around tonight if you want to talk about it. On my way back in now.

[ Speaking of. ]

Oh. Did you know the beach was still here? I thought we lost it after summer. Sand's a bit cold at the moment but it's pretty quiet.

[restoredhonor]

I didn't know it was still there. Have you been working on your sandbending?

[ Because he knows she's GOOD. ]

Sure, I'll have a mock up by tonight.

Cut to action!

[toph_luck]

Nah, I already mastered that.

[ There's definitely a bit of deliberately smug posturing, she knows there's room to improve. There always is. ]

See ya around.

---------------------

[ And here she is, part of her once every few day return to their place.No knocking, she lives here too, but her doors open for once when Zuko gets back inside. ]

[restoredhonor]

[ Zuko is currently fixing some curtains in the kitchen. He's got a small stone mock up of what he wants for the pond on the table. He doesn't turn around, well used to Toph's comings and goings. ]

Staying for dinner?

[toph_luck]

If you're offering, yeah.

[ There's a kindof casual acknowledgement between them these days. Both very much doing their own things. Some weeks, Toph's home a bit more often. ]

Everything going alright here?

[restoredhonor]

Luckily for you, I am offering.

[ Now he's grinning like a shit. He puts down the mending that he's working on. ]

Everything's fine. I put the mock up on the table. Want some help?

[ Toph is imminently capable, and he would never assume otherwise. Mainly because she'd kick his butt. ]

[toph_luck]

Jee, what are the chances.

[ Once she's thrown her stuff down onto the bed she makes her way over to the living room, travel duster off and feet... uh, vaguely cleaner than usual. She slumps back and folds her arms behind her head. ]

Help with what? Seems easy enough. I might put a few details in myself.

[restoredhonor]

[ He rolls his eyes. He nudges her feet. ]

Off the table.

[ But it's fond, not scolding. Honestly, of all of them, he likes Toph a lot. She's the little sister that he wishes he'd had. No doubt she would have challenged him through everything, but her loyalty would have never been in doubt. ]

As long as Korra agrees to the waterbending, I doubt either of you will need my help.

[toph_luck]

[ She lets out a huff, but does move her feet. Only because she wants to, of course. She never really had siblings to compare to so... Aside from that maybe brief crush on Zuko ages ago he's kindof settled into a decent friend spot. ]

So... Why turtleducks?

[restoredhonor]

[ He softens, looking at the mending in his hand. He starts working on it again. ]

My mother. She used to take me to feed the turtleducks, before she left.

[ He shrugs. ]

Just a reminder of home.

[toph_luck]

[ Toph is, very pointedly, not mentioning turtleducks being a regional delicacy in the earth kingdom. Nope, leave that for another time. ]

Cute. Didn't know you were such a softie.

[ Her tone's light, barely even teasing. She kindof knew already really. ]

How've you been, otherwise, anyway?

[restoredhonor]

[ He did live in the Earth Kingdom for a while, Toph. But you're not cooking his turtleducks!

Then, he snorts. ]

You haven't spent much time with Azula. She'd tell you I'm nothing but.

[ He puts the mending to the side and gets up to stretch. ]

Surviving. Mai was here for a brief time.

[ And he misses her. ]

I can change into a dragon. What about you?

[toph_luck]

You know... I haven't. I think she's avoiding me. Every time she comes close we both kindof go our own way.

[ Not too surprising. It's not exactly bad blood between them, but things are awkward. Not to mention the age and maturity politeness gap.

What a strange world where TOPH's the nice one... ]

Yeah. We had a chat in the garden, way back then... I kindof figured.

[ She hasn't been up to much, it's a boring topic, so instead she pushes it right back to him again, voice a bit more genuine. ]

You holding up alright?