[Voice] /backdated to before the event, just in case.

[kyoshi]

It feels a little weird to come of age so far from home. Hey, if anyone's listening- do birthdays make you feel awkward here, or is it just another year for you?

I'm not sure whether or not it's something to celebrate, but... still, it can be exciting, right?


[Contrary to the usual tradition of most people, Suki is in the Avatar kitchen today, trying to... make herself a cake. Or rather, a cake she can share with the family at dinner. She wants to know how to cook for her man, after all, and now that she's had a couple of cooking sessions with more experienced bakers, she thought it would be fun to try.

...Someone KATARA HALP should probably supervise, though, before she does something irreversibly unpleasant.]

Comments

[Voice]

[markofthewise]

[That morning, Sokka had already wished her a happy birthday (with some birthday hugging, kissing and whatever else that followed), before taking off for the day. He had THINGS TO PREPARE just for her, after all. So later as it presses on later in the day, he'll see her voice message and decide this is convenient, because he was about to contact her anyway.]

Of course it can be exciting, Suki.

[Voice]

[kyoshi]

It didn't feel weird for you?

[Voice]

[markofthewise]

Well... the first time it kind of did, yeah. [And he honestly was too busy last time to dwell on it.]

[Voice]

[kyoshi]

That's right... you've been here a lot longer than me. [Well at least he's not too much older than she is. And come to think of it, this year was-] ...You've had bad luck with birthdays, haven't you. [Stupid Malnosso.]

[Voice]

[markofthewise]

... the first one wasn't too bad. Just uh, really weird.

[Because honestly, Toph went all out. She even wore a dress for him.]

[Voice]

[kyoshi]

Should I even ask? [Life in Luceti before her arrival sounds more and more like this cavern of weirdness every time it comes up.]

[Voice / Private]

[markofthewise]

[Tossing up a filter cuz of Toph.]

That was the time I fell in love with Toph and vice versa. [He mentioned this before. During a massive infobomb in one breath.] It was uh... kind of weird after that. It's not something I've told her since she's came back. Anyway, my birthday was during that week. She did her best to make it real special.

[Voice / Private]

[kyoshi]

Oh... I can see how that would cause problems. [Yeah. Aaaaawkward.]

[Voice / Private]

[markofthewise]

[Very much so.] ... anyway! You ready to meet up yet?

[Voice / Private]

[kyoshi]

Oh, sure! Where do you want to go?

[Voice / Private]

[markofthewise]

House twenty-nine. It's on the other side of the river.

[This may seem like an odd request given that house is empty.]

I'm already there, in fact.

[Voice / Private]

[kyoshi]

[Huh, that is weird. Still, whatever he wants.]

Alright, I'll be there shortly!

[And off she goes; shouldn't take her more than ten minutes or so.]

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[When she arrives, Sokka can be found sitting on the front steps, flipping through his journal, and killing time until she arrives. Once he notices her approaching, he gets back to his feet.]

Hey, there's the birthday girl!

[Action]

[kyoshi]

And there's the... not... birthday boy! [Okay, that sounded much better in her head.] Why are we all the way over here?

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Well that's easy. Do you want to know why this house in particular is special?

[IT'S THEIR LOVENEST.]

Nobody lives here! It's completely empty. No firebenders, no sisters, no pets, and nobody cleaning their toes at the dinner table.

[Action]

[kyoshi]

I didn't know that would be so appealing for you. [She looks pleased by the idea of just the two of them, though, stepping over to him with a smile.] Do you have something in mind for just us?

[Action]

[markofthewise]

As a matter of fact, I do. But first, you'll need to wear this.

[He holds out a blindfold and then starts to circle her to stand behind her.]

Are you ready? [To be PLUNGED into darkness?]

[Action]

[kyoshi]

Oh, it's that much of a surprise? [She smiles, even more intrigued, and ties the blindfold around her eyes, clasping her hands behind her back.] Don't make me walk into anything!

[Action] ... your icon would be more adorable if Sokka wasn't a dork in it (1/2)

[markofthewise]

Now would I do that? [He makes sure the blindfold is secure, then places hand on both her shoulders to guide her.]

Steps here. [After going up those, he leans forward to push the door open, then walks her in. There should be the fragrance of flickering candles, fragrant roses, and maybe dinner.]

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[But no, all that can be smelled is SMOKE. SOMETHING IS BURNING.]

DON'T MOVE! Just... just stay there! Don't peek!

[Sokka rushes over to the stove, opens it up to even MORE smoke and coughs, then quickly goes to open a window and fans out the smoke as much as he can. After clearing it out enough, he finds two utterly torched steaks. Ohhh man. He completely blew the evening and it isn't even started.]

[Action] obviously that means you should make use of your ninja editing skills and fix it

[kyoshi]

[Suki follows his directions carefully, unable (and unwilling) to hold back a smile as he guides her inside. It's so dorky, and she loves it. Once inside, she catches a whiff of the flowers, and has to resist the urge to peek at what's waiting within.

Aaaand then she sniffs the smoke, and Sokka runs off to fret at... whatever's going on. She would have looked out of concern, but his demand not to peek means that nothing is literally on fire - she hopes - so she just shifts worriedly from foot to foot, waiting for his return.]

Sokka? Is everything alright...?

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[Crap, crap. He can't let her know he messed up.]

Uh... yeah! It's fine! Just a second! [He... tosses the steaks out the window. That leaves them with just the sides. Plenty of veggies and rice. It's really not much of a meal is it? Not for sitting at a candlelit dinner. Oh! He knows. He takes the two plates that were already prepared, slides it all over onto one BIG platter, then quickly arranges it. He takes it over to the coffee table in the living room, followed by the candles from the table and along with some flowers. There! Now it looks like a lot of food, which they will share from the same plate.


... by the time he comes back to Suki, he's looking a little exhausted.] Okay... so, you can look now.

[The room? SURROUNDED by roses, everywhere. It's ridiculous. Candles are also spread all over the place in all different places. It's cheesy, but that's totally his style, right? At least most of the smoke is gone now, though his eyes are watering a bit from having been right up in it.]

[Action]

[kyoshi]

[Oh. Wow. That... wow, Sokka. She doesn't know what just went on the kitchen, but any questions she might have wanted to ask are completely lost as she stares at her surroundings. The roses and the candles and the food and he did it all for her...!]

S... Sokka...!

[For the moment all she can really do is stare. Wow, boyfriend. Wow.]

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[That reaction. Is it good or bad? He can't tell. Ever the pessimist...]

It's too much, isn't it? I wasn't going to do that many roses, but they just had so many at the flower shop and I couldn't resist. I'm an idiot, huh?

[Action]

[kyoshi]

No, no! It's... it's beautiful. It's a lot, but... it's just like you to go above and beyond. Thank you, Sokka! [C'mere, have some mackings for reassurance. That he'd go so far for her sake is plenty romantic for her.]