godbent | 36th: The of Experience Haruhi Suzumiya

[Voice // Filtered to the SOS-Brigade]

[Inhale... exhale. She's not saying this in person at a meeting solely because she's... well, she feels somewhat awkward to be saying this. So-]

Attention, SOS-Brigade! I... have something to tell you all.

You probably noticed, but with the Kin'coran incident, not all of us were united with our efforts. Azusa and I organized that baseball game, and a lot of you helped, but a lot of you also went out to do your own things. But the thing is, a lot of you who did that also helped people. You contributed, which is within the realms of the expectations of Brigade members. Primarily, of course, the SOS-Brigade is a unified force and that's not about to change! But...

[She bites her lip. Okay. How does she-] But, basically, that's not always practical here. So for all of you who did things which held up the spirit of the Brigade, even not under your Chief's orders, I'm giving you my commendations. Well done.

You see, a lot of the Brigade has gone home. And the... our [Her. Kyon. Itsuki. Mikuru. Yuki.] SOS-Brigade from home, from North High - most of it isn't here. Of course, at North High it wasn't 100% the same objective... probably because I've not seen most of the fantastic things I've seen here. [And she bites her lip again] Anyway. The point is that lots and lots of SOS-Brigade members have been displaced along the way. And some of you [Xion] do have other responsibilities, of course. But basically, what I'm trying to say is...

The SOS-Brigade has reached a point that I expect you all to adhere to our goals and principles even when it's not my orders! Ensure people live worthwhile lives! Ensure that people aren't just slumming through life listless and pointlessly here! And if you're doing that, you're doing your Chief proud! She can't hold it against you! [...Cough]

T-to that end, I'm working on making some SOS-Brigade badges. Not that you need to wear them al--ways. That would just be tacky, even if it would be nice. ...But! I want you to talk to people, particularly people from other enclosures you meet on missions about the principles of the SOS-Brigade, and what we've done! Maybe give them badges and make them honorary members. I'm of course the final say for this enclosure, but I'm trusting the judgement of people I've picked here for other ones.

...And that's all.

[That was mortifying. Sob. Cough] ...Aside from the spelunking trip. [She will have mentioned this in meetings before] Of course, the submarine won't be finished for a while, so we're going to be doing this first. I'm thinking we leave on the seventh or so of October. Objections?! If there are any, you have ten minutes to announce them!

[Voice // Open]

Oh right, if anyone needs flying transportation that the teleporters that Leon of the SOS-Brigade provided with some help from Sokka can't get you to, the SOS-Brigade now has a flying dragon in our coffers. Her name's Isabelle and she'd love the exercise!

[BONUS ACTION: If anyone wants to run into Haruhi jogging around town in the morning or shopping in the afternoon after the meeting you can do either]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I am not like that, you colossal jackass! In fact- [She slams her book shut and she's going to march to the Smithy now, expecting him to be there. If he's not there, she's scour the plaza, and if he's not there just give up and go back home, because she realizes it's silly to get so worked up about an idiot like Sokka who wouldn't know sympathy if it punched him in the face, the inconsiderate tool.]

[He is, in fact, at the smithy. He feels kind of bad when Haruhi slams the book shut, but he supposes that's that. She'll be steamed and probably gain nothing out of it. But whatever. He tried to make his point and she wouldn't listen.]

[but then she bursts open the Smithy door. She's fuming still, fuming. Particularly because she was being so open in a speech Sokka couldn't see and then she's being confronted by something like this- so]

Sokka!

[He turns around from polishing a very large ax. But he sets is aside.]

... really? [She must be really mad to just march in here.]

[To her credit, the ax doesn't phase her she marches over to stand imperiously over him. ...Or near him. She's only 5'2 after all]

Yes, really! I'm not forgiving slights like that!

Well I am. Your slights to me are usually forgotten within an hour.

[Pokerface.]

I am not insulting Leon! [In fact, going to jab a finger into his chest now] He deserves better than that!

[Sokka inevitably half-steps back, but he moves back forward again. He crosses his arms. He's patient with Haruhi, or at least, he always has believed he's been. At least since he was humbled by her return and had to put behind the Haruki thing. But after all they've experienced together, this accusation is enough to set him off. Maybe it's not even just her. There's so much eating away at him and bringing him down, that he's already volatile. Which is why when he answers, it's not patient. It's annoyed, frustrated, and blunt.]

I agree, he does deserve better than that. But I'm not insulting Leon. I was just acting like someone who does. You don't get it, do you? It's not about the teleporter. I'm glad it's there, regardless of who made it. On the journals, I was just messing with you. I didn't really care about the credit. I was just making a point because I thought maybe you'd get it. Or you'd just blow it off and act like you were right, like always. But since you decided to barge into my smithy and accuse me of stuff I'm not even doing? Well fine.

Haruhi, I like you. I think you're a good person, you want to do the right thing, and you can be pretty brave, especially given where you came from. But being your friend isn't an easy job. I doubt you think I even qualify. Honestly, I don't know how others manage it. But if you want to be as big and important as you want people to think you are? Then earn it. I don't care if you really are some kind of god in your world. Just don't throw a fit if I call you out for acting thickheaded. I don't know what kind of point you came over here to make, but you missed it by a mile.

[To her credit, she does let him finish. She's never put stock in the importance of that "god" thing she she does feel pretty silly now. But the silliness is overwritten by the fact that she's still mad at Sokka, offended (both on Leon's behalf and personally) and she's had a lot going in in her life to come to conclusions she's made about the SOS-Brigade. Suffered a lot of personal tragedies.

So, after patiently (albeit with a rude expression) listening to that whole little speech, she slaps Sokka across the face and says the most reflexive thing in her vocabulary]

Shut up.

[There's really not force behind it though. With her gusto used up here, she's trembling a bit and her voice is weaker. Why is she even being like this? She just made a huge accomplishment today, and she should really be filled with more pride than anything, not suddenly feeling like she wants to cry again. It's probably just the culmination of a lot of emotions, she decides as she slumps down and takes a step back from him]

[Sokka takes the blow to the face. It stings. Haruhi may be small, but she's tough enough that the red mark left on his face burns. He raises his own hand, as if he's going to return the favor. But he doesn't.]

Haruhi, if you were another warrior, I'd-

[He lowers his hand, because no. He wouldn't hit her. Not for this. Even if it annoys the hell out of him that he's supposed to just stand here and take the hit like it's no big deal. But between his own upbringing and seeing Haruhi deflate, it's enough to bring him down. Just as long as he doesn't reach for his cheek.]

Just. Get out of my smithy. You shouldn't have come here in the first place.

I'm never going to be a warrior. [But she inhales deeply, and then exhales. He's right, really. He's just being annoying - as usual - and thinking he's making a point - as usual - without getting the context of his statements - as usual. There was really nothing to provoke her harsh response other than being on edge in the first place. But she nods, and goes to leave]

[He ultimately decides to say anything, despite how tempting it might be to make it a big argument. Spirits knows he could stand to let off the steam out on someone other than his teacher during their morning practices. But as mad as he is now, it's not her at the root of it. So he just picks the ax up again and returns to polishing it. At least until she's gone.

When she does leave, he can finally put the cool metal against his cheek.]

36th: The of Experience Haruhi Suzumiya

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