adstringendum | 32. Community Service [video]

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32. Community Service [video]

[Hello there, Adstringendum, it's your friendly neighborhood tribesman showing his smiling face to the network. For those not in the know, this is actually a bit of an uncommon thing for Sokka recently, so hopefully his enthusiasm can make an impression all around.]

Things have been rough lately, so I've got a few positive announcements I want to make.

First of all, Juliet and I are planning to start a community art project, and we want everyone here to have an option to be involved, regardless of artistic talent. Spirits know, I'm not exactly a great artist, but I'll be submitting some stuff anyway.

So, what do you need to do? Send us your art, of course! We'd like to have a visual history of what sticks out for you and your time here in the city: Special events, important moments, anything you'd want to illustrate. If you can provide a date along with it, all the better. Juliet and I have supplies, so all you need to do is ask and we'll get those to you if you need them or want them. When we've got everything collected, we'll put it into a gallery and it'll be like a visual history of Adstringendum. Pretty neat, huh?

Here's an example I did the other day.

[Image Attachment]

Second point of order? We're still looking for people to join the Adstring City Players. We've got quite a few people interested now, but the more the merrier. Additionally, we're looking for story ideas. What do you guys want to see? Is there a particular genre we should focus on? Or even ones we should avoid? The more feedback we have on this, the better.

Annnd... [Blinking as he refers to some paper off screen.] Oh, no. That's it. So, um, thanks for your time, guys.

[[OOC: Feel free to submit art here, or you can PM me with a link on this account. I can also provide resources (paper bases, links to online art programs, etc.) I realize some characters might be better artists than their muns, so you can cheat if you find something that could work, but please include a source link so it can be properly credited. Should we have enough submissions, I will totally find somewhere public to put them for posterity!]]

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[She's quiet for a moment, absently stroking the squirming pup in her arms.]

No.

[She smiles then, a small, sad smile as she makes sure to keep her eyes averted.]

I always think I am, and then... something reminds me of them. Or him, especially. And then it starts hurting all over again. I don't think it's ever going to stop.

I don't either, but... Well, you know, if there's ever anything I can do, all you need is to call me and I'll make it happen. [Right down to mopping her floors if need be.]

[She turns to look at him, chin tilted upwards a bit as though to keep any tears that might fall as far back as possible.]

I know, Sokka. I don't know why you're so... unabashedly loyal, but believe me, I do appreciate it.

[So much for staying clean, lady. Sokka reaches forward and gives her shoulder a squeeze with a wet dog hand, his lips curling into an encouraging smile.]

You're an amazing person, that's why. I want to be there for you because you're there for me.

[And back to the dog washing he goes, as Appa is far too excited for him to stop for any length of time.]

[Though it falters a little, the smile she gives him is genuine. She says nothing, though, until he turns back to Appa, wishing she didn't have a squirming puppy in her arms.]

I wish I could be there for you more often. You deserve it.

[He waves off her words, obviously not agreeing with her assessment of her own presence.]

You're there plenty. Besides, I'm not shy about seeking you out when I need you. I've just been lucky that things haven't been totally insane. Or... I've gotten better at coping with the insanity.

[Appa is soaped up, utterly sudsy, his tongue lolling out of his mouth as he just sits there. At least he's not over-excited, and they can have a good conversation without too many interruptions.]

[She looks at Appa, reaching out to gently scratch behind one soapy ear as she shakes her head.]

While I'm happy you can cope, remember that you don't need to do it on your own. I want to be here for you whenever I can.

Are you talking to me, or the dog? [Sokka snickers a little, reaching down to scoop at the water with his hands, trying to wash the soap out of Appa's fur. Does he bother asking for magic? Of course not.]

[She casts him a wry look at that.]

Do I need to scratch you behind your ears whenever I'm addressing you?

Couldn't hurt, right? At least then I know for sure. [Sokka shakes his head, clearly amused, and then continues to coax Appa to move around while he rids him of the majority of the suds.] You're getting better at this, boy, but you're going to be too big for the tub soon, aren't you? Yeah, you are.

[She laughs at his comment, tightening her hold on Shakespeare before reaching in a hand to at least help get rid of the suds on Appa's fur.]

Well, his breed tends to run a bit on the larger side, I think, so he still has quite a bit of growing left to do.

[...]

[Sokka gives the witch a wide-eyed look.]

He's going to keep growing? Spirits, Hermione, he already pushes me out of bed every night!

[And that only makes her laugh again, albeit a bit more gently.]

Well, it's not my fault you stumbled across one of the larger breeds of dogs. Of course, he might not get much bigger and he won't grow forever, but I doubt this will be his biggest size.

I... guess there's no going back now, right? [And he rubs at the dog's head, taking a couple of unintentional dog kisses to the face. Sokka sputters and laughs and wipes his cheek with his forearm.] Not so bad when I think about it. At least he'll be intimidating... until he wags his tail and attacks the enemy with kisses.

[... okay, fine, so Hermione's outright giggling now. Giving Shakespeare a small squeeze when he barks, she shakes her head.]

You'll find that most dogs behave that way around people they know. Around unfamiliar faces, though, they can be a bit fierce, especially if they sense that their owners are upset.

Well, here's hoping I don't ever have to end up in that situation, but if I do, I'll bet Appa would protect me. [He's giving the dog an appreciative look and a smile. Having Appa around has been something of a soothing presence over a rather turbulent couple of months, just like the witch hanging out with him.]

I think this guy's about done. What do you think? He seems pretty de-soapified.

[As far as Hermione's concerned, Appa has done much more for Sokka than she ever could, but there's no reason for her to bring that up.]

He seems all right; it's hard to tell, really, under all that white fur.

[She moves to stand up, then, taking a few steps back.]

Can he climb out, or do you need to pull him out? I can help you, though I might dash off before he can shake the excess water out all over the place.

[Shakespeare gets her wet enough during a bath, so she can only imagine what Appa would do to her.]

He'll hop out. We'll just have to watch he doesn't immediately roll around in the dirt, as he's known to do. The last time I tried to bathe him without you, he ended up taking two baths, because he was dirtier afterward than when we started.

[Sokka grabs up one of the dry towels and holds it out, ready to catch Appa as soon as he jumps out.]

Okay, get ready to hide so he doesn't shake on you. One, two--

[And before he can finish, out hops Appa, immediately shaking out his fur all over the place.]

And I thought it was only small puppies that had a tendency to do that.

[At his warning, Hermione turns around, meaning to start moving around. But drops of water hit her back before she can even take a step away, and she gasps in surprise, stiffening a little.]

Oh! He-... he's faster than he looks.

[Sokka laughs and captures the big brute, rubbing at his vigorously with the towel. There's a lot of water to be absorbed, but he's at least getting some of it sopped up.]

Yeah, he is. Sorry, Hermione. I'll wash the carry-over stink out of your clothes if you want.

[Turning carefully, she brushes herself off, letting Shakespeare jump to the ground. The little dog is barking madly, looking at Appa as some of the bigger dog's excitement carries over.]

No, it's fine. I just hadn't expected it.

Goes to show, you've gotta expected the unexpected, especially with this guy. [Sokka giggles and gives Appa one last good rub down with the towel and then turns him loose and stands, practically soaked. His hair's askew, his trousers are more wet than dry, and he can feel the hair sticking to his bare chest and arms.]

Guess Shakespeare's next? [This said as he watches Appa go about rolling in the grass, his head shaking slowly.]

[She's about to reply, but then she catches Appa rolling about and she takes a step towards him. Before she can say anything, though, Shakespeare darts towards the larger dog, yapping shrilly, almost as though scolding him.]

Well... it looks as though he's picked up on some of my neater traits. I suppose that's what happens when one lives with two women and a cat.

[Sokka raises an eyebrow at the witch.] Appa and I live with two women and a cat, by the way. It hasn't helped out manner a bit.

[Which is proven when he darts after the terrier and scoops him up, heading back to the tub of water. It's murkier, sure, but with the soap it's got to be cleaner than they they started, right?]

[Hermione glances at him wryly, barely getting the opportunity to say anything before Appa is in his arms.]

Appa still takes after you. While Shakespeare had started off quite close with-... with Ron.... I think the time with Ginny, Hestia and I has worked out well for him.

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