godbent | 5th: The Contamination of Haruhi Suzumiya

[Voice]

So everyone, Valentines is supposed to be about love and stuff, right? But have you ever thought what's up with that Saint Valentine guy who originated the holiday?! Given that it's still popular today, is he just some famous dead guy, or is he now a ghost, trying to appeal to everyone's mind and manipulate them?! Wouldn't that explain how it's popular in both Japan and the West?

Bearing that in mind, even if this holiday is kinda stupid, it's still important to adhere to certain traditions in hopes of seeing any possible Valentines spirits. Because of that, I've gotten chocolate for some of you.

[...Namely all of the guys in the Brigade and grudgingly Minato. She considered some others, like Neku or Sokka, but decided against it. She also considered Winry but she's not sure if that's too weird or not. That said, delivering them? No, she's carrying them around in her bag in case she runs into people for other reasons and failing that going to put what's left in a basket at the HQ after she's done.]

More importantly-! A bunch of you have heard about the beach, right?! And you're all psyched to go there this summer?! Well, brought to you by our SOS-Brigade's genius scientist, Leon [this next part is muttered quickly and might not be heard:] andsomehelpfromSokka we're bringing you the all-new Beach Teleportation System! You know how the ones for the Hot Springs work, right?! Same thing here! The village-end for the teleporter is located in the barracks, and the other end is way off, so we can have easy access once it warms up!

All in a day's work for the SOS-Brigade!

[First reply is of course for her two boys. Once they're done feel free though.]

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[...Well, that's actually sensible]

Yeah well, good. Wait it out and then make a call, that makes sense.

[Katara nods. Okay - that was actually useful. So. Good. On to issue two.]

Thanks for that. [A brief pause.] I heard the announcement you made about the teleporters today.

Well you already knew, of course.

[After all, you're Sokka's sister. She nods here though]

Yeah, I did. Sokka's been working on it for a really long time. So.. why did you announce it like that?

Because someone needed to announce it, duh. It's not like I discredited him.

[She puts one hand on her hip.]

It's not like you credited him either. Do you really think that was fair?

I did too! I said his name and everything! [Even if she mumbled it]

...Besides, he only made the frame. Leon's the one that did the hard part.

[This is meant to be a very reasonable tone.] Maybe. But Leon couldn't have done anything if he didn't have the materials which Sokka made.

[And then the tone becomes more regular Katara!conversational.] Besides, it wasn't that you didn't say his name - it was the way you said it. It sounded more like you were trying to make it seem like he didn't have anything to do with it, when he and Leon had started on this before you got back.

[Yes, she said 'back.' She hasn't made the mental switch from Haruki to Haruhi, but she took their deal seriously.]

[...Oh sheesh. She sighs] Someone else could have made the exterior models. We made them ourselves last time.

[But that's defensive] Whatever though, then I'll put up a sign that says he made it on the two.

[Sigh] That's not really the point.

[...how to explain the point?

...

Mrr.] And I don't really think Sokka would like something like that - it would seem like you were just trying to make up for this without actually talking to him. [Which is clearly chicken, Haruhi, don't you know.] I know that he and Leon were working on this on their own, so it must have been weird for him to hear you announce it like it was your idea - and then rush over his name like that. I think he probably could get over the way you did it, though [since you're you and you're - like this] if you just said 'thanks.'

[She puts on a darkly contemplative look here. Say thanks? But didn't she already? And putting up a sign for credit is even better, right, it's an immortalized thank you. It's set in stone and a lot more meaningful than some transitive words.]

Jeez...

Right, right. Fine! I'll thank him later. [Or maybe set up a commencement party? That might be less effort SIGH]

I already told him he helped a lot, what's the big deal with saying something like "thank you" specifically anyway?

[...is that an honest question? How does she even explain this?]

It's not just a 'thank you' like they're magic words or something. It's... a matter of respect. In our world, that's a really big deal. The way that you said it was like you were giving the Brigade all the credit and only putting Sokka's name in there as an afterthought so he wouldn't get mad. That's almost worse than not putting his name in at all. That's why it would have to be from you and not just a sign or something - to show that you acknowledge what he did.

But putting up a sign not only acknowledges it, it immortalizes it. No one could use the things without knowing about his efforts. So how isn't that better in the end?

[Sigh]

[Argh, argh, trying to explain this argh. Katara takes a deep breath.]

I can see your point about why it immortalizing it, and honestly that's normally exactly the kind of thing that Sokka would go for, if it was his idea, and if everyone who'd taken part of it got a sign too. But since it wasn't - just like the way you said his name would have upset him because it was too small, this would upset him because it's too big - it's still not really seeing what he did and appreciating it, it's like placating him.

[Katara is honestly surprised that this conversation has been going as civilly has it has been for as long as it has been, and she's started to cross the line which made her feel uncomfortable about explaining what she knows intrinsically about the way that thing should be, so she is going to look to wrap things up.]

You can do what you want - it's not like I can speak for Sokka completely. But I just thought that you would want to know.

[She folds her arms here. Why is this girl always so frustrating? All these moral obligations are so...! Well, whatever. She lets out a frustrated sigh and shakes her head]

Alright, got it. Thanks.

[Dismissive. But despite that, she is actually sincere, whatever it sounds like.]

[Katara blinks. Right that was - abrupt. But so very Haruki... and Haruhi too, she guesses.

Still so weird.]

Right. [Well, that's settled then. She hopes. Oh well, she did the best she could. And Katara shrugs a little.]

I hope you have a good holiday!

[Katara is, somehow, still completely ignorant about how not-complicated Haruki and Winry's relationship was... and therefore how it would be now.]

[There is the slightest of all winces here, but she nods. And puts a smile on]

Yeah, you too.

5th: The Contamination of Haruhi Suzumiya

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