ahappylie | Appointments & Messages

[When the dust falls he knows she's going to do something - just not what. It's harder to read someone whose moves you don't know, especially when it comes to magical abilities. He hits the wall, pressing his palms against it to shove off and take a few steps back, raising his sword to wait.]

[She throws her arms out to her sides and the three pyramid walls go sliding towards him one by one. If she can just really knock him off balance...]

[The walls start sliding toward him and Okita takes a moment to consider what to do. If he tries to run up them, it's possible she'll drop them and take his footing away. Unless he's fast enough. Or...

He jumps back and starts running to the side, picking a small rock from the ground. If he spots her among the sliding walls, he's chucking the rock at her head.]

[She can feel every move he makes. She feels him pick up that rock, and she feels him throw it towards her. Without even moving her head, Toph catches the rock in her left hand and lobs it straight back at him without a pause. The rock flies with a little extra earthbender "oomph".]

[Which he dodges and keeps running at her, taking a swing when he gets close enough. Sadly, he can't keep this up forever and he knows it - he can feel his chest starting to tighten.]

[He's fast--she'll give him that. He's keeping her on her toes--no pun intended--and that's causing her to strain a bit. Still. She could do this. She had to show this sissy.

When she feels that swing coming, she plants her right foot and raises the ground under his feet, so the wooden blade flashes above her instead. She waits to see what he'll make of his lost footing.]

[HOLY SHIT WHAT

The ground rises up under him and he crouches, off-balance. Not good. When he's able, he jumps, trying to head over her with his sword close to the chest.]

[And while he's in midair, Toph brings her left hand up sharply, fingers tight, to make three columns of earth spit from the ground to knock him asunder.]

[He's able to twist and turn and miss the first two, but the third hits him in the side, throwing him to the ground.

And while he normally would get right back up, this time, he starts coughing, covering his mouth with his free hand. He uses the wooden sword to keep himself somewhat upright, cursing himself silently in his head. Not good, he can feel blood coming up.]

[That was a pretty exciting fight until now, but seeing that causes Sokka to immediately get to his feet.]

Master Souji! [That coughing is... dammit, he shouldn't have let it get this far. He's rushing in now.]

[Toph stops short, lowering her fighting stance and just...standing, feel the vibrations he was giving off. She was so used to fighting benders, who were used to these kind of attacks, and--

He...got hurt?

She doesn't say anything, instead turning to the side and crossing her arms.

...Moron.]

[Souji moves his hand and holds it up, palm inward, trying to stop Sokka from getting between them. Then he pushes himself to his feet and checks his hand - yup, as he feared. Taking out a paper from inside his kimono sleeve, he wipes the blood off and turns to Toph, bowing his head.]

I apologize for the interruption. Shall we continue?

[Sokka stops in his tracks when Souji signals for him to do so. But only reluctantly.]

Are you sure that's a good idea.

[Surprised, Toph can't help but be a little impressed that he's willing to keep going.]

It's your call.

It's not a good idea at all, but giving up now seems like such a waste. [He smiles at Sokka and looks back to Toph.]

I've never fought against someone like you, Toph-san. I'm learning quite a lot. Thank you.

[He doesn't like this, but he's backing off.]

I think you've both proven your points by now.

[Toph snorts and spits a wad of saliva at the ground.]

I'm not here to teach you about earthbending. I'm here to make you admit you're a sissy. So we're done when you admit that.

[He laughs.] Then we'll never be done. I would never admit to something untrue.

[Even if he's having a hard time breathing still and he can feel his breath rattling a little. He should just admit defeat, but oh well.

He brings his sword back up.]

[She sighs, just hoping it doesn't take broken ribs to make him admit defeat. She didn't really want to hurt him, after all. Just defeat and embarrass him. Was that too much to ask?]

Suit yourself, sissy.

[Nope. He fights even with broken ribs! Because being called a girl is one thing, but a sissy?

He slips one foot back and waits for her to make a move.]

[She exhales, brings up her arms, and then throws them out to the side. A sizable fissure cracks the floor, running right between his legs.]

[He hops to one leg and pushes off, rushing forward toward Toph.]

[And as she runs, she takes a step back because he is coming fast. But before he can reach her, she draws up four walls to encase her.

What will he make of this?]

[He'll make of it as he makes of most walls: obstacles to be destroyed.

He stops just short of the front-facing wall and uses his forward momentum to deliver a hard kick to it, seeing it it will crumble or move.]

[And when he moves to make that kick, Toph abruptly brings down the walls, sidesteps out of the way, and waits.]

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