4877/Water Cooler Chat

Water Cooler Chat
Date of Scene:	14 December 2016
Location:	Quilt Overflow
Synopsis:	Lloyd and Toph discuss the role of the Paladins and other things. Someone ends up floored.
Cast of Characters:	373, 20, 300

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Lloyd Irving (373) has posed:
    While not quite a water cooler, there were the beginnings of a Paladin HQ. Among them, for sure, were places used for meetings, lunches or breaks. It's in one of these conference rooms that Lloyd would ask to speak to Toph. A long table occupies most of the room, lined with comfortable-looking chairs. Lloyd sit towards the center of table, some snacks sitting in front of him in case the impromptu meeting calls for them. He's dressed in his now-normal black t-shirt and pants, suspenders and looks a bit rumpled. But it's not like that particularly mattered, considering.

    He keeps his hands folded on the table. Despite his relaxed nature last night in the Stark mansion, today he seemed much more focused. It was certainly an officer's focus, even if he had lost that title in the fall of the superfactions.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    All in all one could say that the newly enlisted earthbender had been eager when talking on the radio. She has been rather used to working with the Union, clearly stating she enjoyed helping out people. Perhaps that same energy is the one that made her so giddy today after recognising some familar voices on the Paladin frequency?

    Lloyd's request to talk with the teenager hadn't been refused, and he doesn't need to wait long in the conference room before she walks in, still wearing the clothes she had left in when they had departed Malibu earlier this afternoon. But it looks like she has managed to get her items set away. Despite Stadler's warnings to pack lightly, the girl /had/ brought a rather hefty backpack with her, and the sound of metal could be heard from within as she tossed it into the trunk. For most of the trip though she had been quiet and not initiated any conversation with the people there, though she had responded to them if they adressed her. While she isn't beaming or anything, she doesn't look dead serious either as she walks into the conference room, slightly curious.

    "Heya Lloyd, whassup?" She's informal as she usually is, and she casually slips down into a chair on the opposite side of the table, all before she reaches out to dig one hand into the snack bowl.

Lloyd Irving (373) has posed:
    Lloyd smirks slightly as Toph enters and immediately hits the snacks. Fair enough. "Hey Toph, glad you came," he says, "I wanted to say a few things, pass on a bit of what I've learned I guess to help make the transition from the Union to the Paladins a bit smoother, and maybe help you see the success I know you're capable of." He straightens up a bit in his chair, folding his hands. "First off, though, I'm glad you decided to join. I think you'll enjoy it. I'm looking forward to it, at any rate. So, here's to working together again."

    He offers a small tap on the table, then rolls his shoulders. "Things are similar, I think, to officership in the Union, but more adherent and guiding of world laws as opposed to the gray field we were able to operate under before. Under the guise of a war, a lot of things are more permissable, but here, we aim to enforce the law and uphold it in spirit and word." He closes his eyes. "It's not something that I was able to adapt to easily, and I'm sure it'll be tough at first. If not, all the better, but if so, the most important thing to remember is this: by taking up the badge of the Paladins, you reflect on all of us, and we on you. So it's imperative that you keep that in mind going forward."

    He offers an unseen smile, but she might notice the relax in his heartbeat. "Makes sense, right?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Wasting no time Toph pops a snack into her mouth, chewing as she leans back in her chair. For a moment it looks like she's contemplating throwing her feet up on the table, but instead she settles for throwing one leg over the other, at least getting comfy by the looks of it. There is a slightly curious look on her face as Lloyd speaks and reveals just why he asked her to come here. When he straightens up chooses to remain leaning backwards like a typical teenager.

    "Well, I wouldn't have joined the Paladins if there weren't people here I knew, I guess..." she says with a shrug.

    True, the Union was kinda grey. Just get the work done, protect people and make sure they stay safe, beat up the bad guys, get paid, go home and pat yourself on the back. That's what Toph enjoyed about it. Which is why she was so surprised when Stadler talked so much about law yesterday. People had mentioned it on the radio earlier too. "Yeah yeah, I got that," she says, still chewing on the snack in her mouth. "Follow the law while beating up the bad guys, I can do that," she assures him before popping another snack into her mouth. Adapt... it shouldn't be /too/ hard, now should it? "So how do we do this? Are we going to do it like the cops do? Just patrol the multiverse? Be ready to catch people who park illegally or what?"

    It seems the young lady still doesn't get the seriousness of this conversation, nor remember how she's been known to flaunt breaking rules on earlier occasions.

Lloyd Irving (373) has posed:
    Lloyd shakes his head a bit, separating his hands. "It's not just that simple, Toph. It's not as clear-cut as beating up bad guys and following the rules. It goes deeper. Sometimes, there are people we can't get to. We don't have the laws in place to get to them. While in the Union we would use our superfaction status to handle and handwave these problems, the Paladins do not. We have to respect the laws around us, and sometimes that means the bad guy is out of our reach. We aren't powerless in these scenarios, but we have to act carefully. We have to go through the right channels to achieve the good we want in the world. Sometimes, we may need to step in and establish laws to protect the people."

    He reaches out and takes a snack, munching it thoughtfully. "That will be the hardest part at times," he says after a moment, "Knowing that your hands are tied. But that's how the law operates, and there are consequences to breaking it."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    There is a change to Toph's expression as Lloyd interjects, and she even slows down her munching gradually until she comes to a complete stop. "Wait..." she begins, attempting to cut in as Lloyd speaks, but she does stop as he makes it clear he has something to say. Even if those words doesn't seem to sit right with the blind earthbender. It's only when Lloyd finishes speaking, and she lets out an annoyed huff, crossing her arms across her chest. "You're telling me that we're just going to let bad guys get away with it if they do something that hurts people? Where's the justice in /that/?" she asks, her youthful voice tinged with some irritation, though it's clearly not pointed at him. "What if waiting means that somebody will suffer?"

    Rough she has always been, but even Lloyd should know by now that Toph does enjoy being a hero and saving the day.

Lloyd Irving (373) has posed:
    Lloyd crosses his arms, leaning back in his seat. It's not a relaxed gesture, but one of... resignation? "Sometimes... the fact is that we cannot handle things ourselves," he says, choosing his words carefully, "Sometimes, the pursuit of justice by the law is tough, but it is necessary to keep society going. If we show a leniency in the laws, then why would anyone else follow them? We cannot operate with the mentality of 'do as I say, not as I do'. Doing so would sew the seeds of another war."

    He leans his head back, staring at the ceiling. "Not all your friends are here, you know. Not everyone we knew operates within the Paladins." He lets that line hang for a long moment, then continues. "But yes, as painful and hard as it is, if someone is doing wrong but we cannot prove it, then it's a sad fact that we can't arrest them. We operate within the law, spirit and word, and while that's hard, it is necessary. But things are not always so grim. If the evidence comes to light, we have the means to do what is needed." He crunches on another snack, leaning forward now. "Trust me, it's not easy, but you learn to accept it and find out how you have to handle situations." He smiles again. "And let me tell you, when you finally are able to get the pieces aligned and can do things the right way? The satisfaction is amazing. Because you know you did it. You know?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    By now Toph has finished munching on her snacks, and she turns her face slightly to the side, tipping her chair back and forth. Even if she doesn't seem too happy about listening, she doesn't interrupt Lloyd. There is that slight pout to her lips though, as if she's keeping her tongue. A skill she's learned over the last four years while in the Union.

    "Look, I get what you're saying..." she begins with a sigh, reaching a hand up to dig her pinkie finger into her ear. "Paladins are supposed to be an example, so... we're not even supposed to jaywalk?" Okay, it's just an example. Please say it's just an example and you honestly don't expect her to follow rules like that too!

    .... please?

    No, not everybody are with the paladins. And... not all of her friends will follow the law, is that what he's saying? The metalbender listens, her lips drawn thin. It's clear by her expression that she isn't entirely happy. "You're... expecting me to mess up," she comments. "And still Stadler suggested I should come here." Because he believes she can become a person who will obey the law above everything else. A sigh, and she shifts her arms to lean one elbow onto the table, her experssion slightly pensive. "What if we are unable to arrest those bad guys though? What do we do then?"

Lloyd Irving (373) has posed:
    Lloyd stands up. It's not an aggressive or angry gesture, but he does so and stands tall. "Not even jaywalking. W... whatever that is. If it is against the law, do not do it. It's not hard after some practice, and you might find you even enjoy it. And I mean that seriously. There's a certain pride you can take when you know you are doing right." He rests his hands on the table. "Think about what I said before, Toph. Not everyone is a Paladin. Ideals differ, but sometimes goals are the same. Do you understand? Just because we operate a certain way doesn't mean that everyone does."

    He grabs another snack, munching it loudly. "I'd be surprised if you didn't mess up. We all make mistakes. I'm no white knight, you know. I've done my fair share of things outside of the channels I have to operate under now. I have blood on my hands, and if you wanted to, you could call me a criminal. But I've always done what I feel is right, even when it tears me apart. But here I am. I grew from my mistakes and the things I've done. So yes, Toph, we expect you to mess up. But that's not a bad thing."

    To her last questions, he shrugs. "We do what we can, and do not what we can not," he says, "but there are always channels, legal channels, if you know them well enough. And even when it's airtight, people make mistakes. And when they do, you'll be ready."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    How can he say that when he doesn't even know what it is...?

    Some people take their pride too seriously, really. These are thoughts Toph holds back for now. though she does mutter slightly under her breath, even as her right hand rubs slightly at her upper left arm.

    "So... we can talk with people outside of the Paladins to get stuff done then...?" she asks, seeing an opportunity.

    Did he /really/ have to put it /that/ bluntly...?

    Upon hearing that they actually expect her to mess up, that makes the girl's eyes widen slightly where she sits, stiffening. And after some seconds she snorts and turns her head sharply to the side. Strangely enough she doesn't speak up for a few seconds. "So what happens /when/ I mess up then...?"

Lloyd Irving (373) has posed:
    Lloyd watches Toph, crossing his arms as he sits back down. "It's not illegal to voice your opinions in most cases, and others' actions are not your own," he says, and leaves it at that. "And, I see you tensing up there. You fear making mistakes?" He leans forward, then chuckles. "If you mess up, you'll be corrected and taught what went wrong. Honest mistakes can be helped with training and education, you know? As long as you're not going out of your way to 'mess up' intentionally, things won't be too bad. Or at least, that's what I think. I'm not the expert on this new group, but I understand a bit. One thing I do know, though, is that when eyes are on you, and when people are counting on you to be the voice for good and justice, it can feel difficult, and it can feel like your mistakes are that much worse. And, in a way, you wouldn't be wrong for thinking that. But if someone told you they never made a mistake, they'd be lying. So make mistakes. Learn. And when you do learn, you'll know not to do that thing the same way again."

    He leans back in his seat. "Embrace your mistakes, learn from them, and become stronger because of them. If they're bad enough, there are consequences beyond the mistake itself, of course. Sometimes disciplinary action is necessary. It's a fact in any organization, or you just have chaos. While chaos can seem okay in short bursts, what rises from it is usually dangerous to the majority."

    Lloyd offers a small smile, trying to relax himself to match the gesture for her benefit. "I'm kind of surprised to hear you worry about that aspect so much, though. You can't fear mistakes, or you don't learn the real lessons. You can't learn the right thing in a tough situation until you're there."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    So... not illegal to voice her opinions? Perhaps it's a good thing that Tony /didn't/ join the Paladins, then.

    As Lloyd suggests that she's afraid of making mistakes however, Toph blinks before letting out a brief snort. "I don't." So... if she messes up she can expect lots of stern speeches, having to listen to others telling her how she should have done it instead...? Idly she chews the inside of her lip as she listens to Lloyd speak, tapping her fingers a bit on the table as her face is pointed away from Lloyd. That's one of the problems with Toph, as she doesn't always turn to face whoever she's listening to. Not to mention she's not saying much for once.

    As he leans back in his seat the blind girl lets out a snort where she sits. Seems the snacks no longer appeal to her? She hasn't reached for one in a while now.

    "I get what you're saying," is what she says, then she pushes her chair back and rises to her feet. "But no, I'm not worried about /that/. I've learned stuff in tough situations before, that's how earthbenders /learn/." She turns towards the door, though she seems to hesitate for one second. "Speaking of mistakes..." Her face is stern as she shifts her head ever so slightly to the left, giving Lloyd a slight look at her stern face. "The next time you blabber to Sokka, you'll get more than a plate to your face."

Lloyd Irving (373) has posed:
    Lloyd smirks slightly. "Well, my mistake then," he says, as though to punctuate his own point. Or maybe he was just trying to be funny, who knows? Lloyd's a weird guy. He grabs another of the snacks, allowing it to crunch deliberately as Toph stands up. "Well then, maybe there are other, better points you can draw from what I was saying. I don't know. I'm not the best with words. I just kind of say things and hope they work out." He spins in his chair a bit, eyeing the blind teen with a curious eye. He still felt, much like Stadler did, that she'd make a great Paladin, and he hopes that something at least got through and made her think. If not, well, clearly he wasn't a good speaker after all. Oh well.

    As she prepares to leave and delivers her warning, he laughs loudly, pulling a piece of paper and unfolding it audibly. "Oh, so you mean I shouldn't drop this off with your name on it? 'Oh Sokka, how I long for your embrace!'" he 'reads' from his paper, which of course is blank. "And here I thought I'd just spill everything to him in training." He stands up, then shakes his head. "I didn't realize I was actually hit a nerve until the plate hit me, honest. Don't worry. I won't do anything like that."

    As he stands up and moves toward the door himself, he can't help it. "I do reserve the right to tease you mercilessly for awhile, though."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    What Toph has brought from this conversation is hard to tell, as she seems to mull on those things for herself. But what words of Lloyd's made the greatest impact, and in what way? That only remains to be seen once the metalbender enters the field with the Paladin badge. "At least you're not as wordy as Stadler is," she points out. Which might be a point in Lloyd's favour.

    Said point is quickly withdrawn, as Toph freezes up at the sound of Lloyd's laughter reaching her sensitive ears. Her hand stops just short of the door handle, and her eyes narrow dangerously where she stands, even as her cheeks gain a slight flush to them. Okay, most people know she doesn't write on paper, but hey, Sokka is that dense that he would probably fall for that ploy. It's a good thing for Lloyd that Toph's ears are so sharp and that her bending can be used in different ways. "You're lucky you're telling the truth..." she mutters sourly. At the threat of teasing her however, she reaches out, aiming to elbow him /hard/ in the side before she stomps off and out of the conference room, face now bright red.

Lloyd Irving (373) has posed:
    Lloyd laughs again. "There are few that can match Stadler there, but he's a good guy. Strange at times, but he's seen a lot. He likes things exact," he says with a shrug. "Me? Well, certain things need to be precise, but not everything." He crumples the paper in his hand, stuffing it back in his pocket. "I think even Sokka would know if he got a letter from you. I mean... right? Besides, this paper is blank. I just wanted it for the gag, honest." As she points out his honestly, he frowns. "There are some things even I know not to do, Toph. Besides, that has to come from you when the time is right. I don't need to tell you tha--"

    OOF.

    Lloyd's eyes go wide, the wind driven from his lungs as she elbows him. He pulls the door shut, then drops to his knees. "You hit like a girl!" he gasps, right before he falls over. He'll lay in the hall for a bit, nothing if not hammy for the chance of a laugh.

Richard Stadler (300) has posed:
And Stadler takes that time, in a massive form of coincidence that might be anything but, to step out of an enclosed office just down the hall. He's in BDUs, for once, Colonel's bird's on his lapels, sipping on a cup of coffee... and then just standing over Lloyd when he's laying in the hall. "You know, you keep getting floored by little girls. I'd be concern if that one didn't know how to bend that table in half." He says, motioning to the conference room with his coffee. "Well, that paperwork isn't going to do itself. Report on Adjuctive Conseling, PL-44522Av1." He says, stepping over his prone form and walking down the hall. "In within 24 hours!"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Words, words, words... so many words instead of actually /doing/ something.

    Okay, so Lloyd is a nice person and Toph has gotten along well with him before. Still, the entire prank that he semi-managed to pull on her seems to have worked well. And just knowing that Lloyd is aware of one of her sore points, now that does not sit well with Toph. Down the hallway she stomps, her bare feet making way more noise than they should. "And /you/ whimper like one!" she retorts back, rounding the corner and disappearing, missing Stadler as he walks up to Lloyd where he lies on the floor.

Lloyd Irving (373) has posed:
    Lloyd chokes, glaring up at Stadler. "You're a jerk sometimes, you know that?" he wheezes, "I'll have it in soon."