5067/Not so Trigger Happy today

Not so Trigger Happy today
Date of Scene:	04 February 2017
Location:	Avatar World <AW>
Synopsis:	Two bitter rivals walk into a bar...
Cast of Characters:	20, 39

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Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    It's the weekend, and that's a time to take it a bit easy. Which includes heading home to Malibu to see the family. Even if she's a Paladin, Toph Beifong has become rather attached to her new family. So much that she even goes out of her way to ensure that she brings delicious treats home. Of course this allows her a quick trip to the Beifong Academy as well, all before she heads into Yu Dao to pick up some food on the way home. Sure, they aren't Gaoling dumplings, but these ones are good too, not to mention there's soup and other delicious stuff. Sokka is probably coming on over too, so better grab some extra food. And Tony will want extra dumplings...

    So Toph sits down at a table near the kitchen, her feet up on the table as she waits for all the food she ordered to be finished so she can grab it and head on home to feed her not-so-poor and not-so-starving family. Considering she was out on a Paladin mission last night she's dressed in her bending clothes, and her Paladin badge is still fastened to the front of her tunica, visible for all. Then again, most of the people in this city knows Toph by now after she chose this location to set up her academy after all. Chances are most criminals already know to stay away from her.

Jinx (39) has posed:
    SLAM.
    A meal tray smacks into the table across from Toph, and a familiar lanky frame is sitting there, probably grinning by the soud of her voice. "Heya, dirtball. Long time no see." Jinx... has pho. A lot of pho. More than she should probably be able to put into herself, but she seems like the sort of girl who would try.

    Jinx... it feels like she's wearing more clothes than normal. Almost like she's got on that outfit she fought Toph with in the WMAT. That eastern Ionian get up, and one can assume that her fireworks based Pow Pow subsitute is somewhere nearby.

    The rap tap tap of chopsticks on the table, and the young bandit mmmmhs. "How's life dealin' with a new babby in the house?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    The slamming of the table makes Toph jump just slightly, her eyes just barely widening where she sits, lowering her right hand from her ear as she mutters something. And once the familiar voice speaks up, her left eyebrow twitches just faintly where she sits. "... what are /you/ doing here?" she asks, then sniffs the air. Oh, she's got herself food. Was that what she meant on the radio by getting herself some food? But why /here/? In a town that Toph herself frequents on a regular basis? It's not like Jinx has been the type of person she's gotten along with before, especially not the last time... when Jinx had been hanging all over Sokka. It was one thing to watch Sokka and Suki together when they were dating, but Jinx all over Sokka...? Now that was something that made her want to throw a boulder around.

    It's almost as if Toph considers speaking up, but when Jinx poses that question, the blind teenager... looks surprised. "Huh?"

    Why would Jinx care about /that/? Isn't she here to badger her for becoming a cop or whatever? So pardon Toph for actually needing a second or two to actually process that question. "Uh... it's okay...?" she ventures. "I mean, I'm not home all that time nowadays, but dad and mom are happy, especially mom now that RJ is out..." At least that unexpected question did wipe away that initial hostility and memory about their last meeting, it seems.

Jinx (39) has posed:
    Toph gets another... not angry noise from Jix. There's something actually... serious about her, maybe? A firm nod as the skinny girl slumps into her chair like the lowborn she is and cracks her neck a bit. Then she's dumping sprouts and lemon and a bunch of hot stuff into her pho broth, the smell of lemon grass and fresh basil and peppers filling the small lunch table. Smells like a seafood pho. Mmmmmm.

    "Well. That's. Important." She's actually taking her time saying these words, as she settles in. Her chopsticks point at Toph. "You know I envy you, a whole lot. Like... a whole bunch."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    The slumping doesn't bother Toph, nor the cracking sound. Even if Toph was raised as a noble it's not like she's let that become the main part of who she is. She might be a noble, but she's an earthbender first and foremost. Being a Beifong is just part of it. No, she's more curious whether Jinx is actually planning to do something destructive like she's done before. But... it seems she's simply eating right now. Jinx is right about that, there's no reason for her to interrupt her lunch if she's just going to eat and not do anything illegal or bother people. The other patrons of the restaurant are all eating happily, nobody here knows Jinx, so...

    Of course it's important that her family is happy. RJ is growing like a weed, Tony and Pepper get to spend time with the little thing and raise him right, heck, Pepper is spending less time at the office which is always a good thing. When Jinx points her chopsticks at her Toph arches an eyebrow, expecting... something completely different than what actually comes out of Jinx's mouth.

    Silence lingers at the table, and Toph sits still, her arms crossed over her chest. 'Who are you, and what have you done to Jinx?' That's a tempting question to ask. Perhaps Toph would have asked it, but... no, there's no insincerity in the older girl's voice from what Toph can hear. So she settles for a different question. "... okay, why? Why are you envious of me, and why are you telling me that? Considering our earlier run ins I got the impression you hated my guts. Especially now that I'm a cop."

Jinx (39) has posed:
    There's a vague noise from Jinx and she swirls her pho, and... an indecisive sound in her throat. "I'm telling you cause there's not really anyone else left to tell. Souji's... gone. Everything's all busted up 'cause of the Calamity, there's... there's-"
    Beep beep goes her phone and Jinx's words fall silent. She just... flips it over to stop seeing the happy picture.

    Oh man, oh man this hurts. Jinx's heart races, and she swallows. "You wanna know why that is? Why that was? That... you. You have people."

    Jinx's words stop again, and she just slurps her pho a bit, trying to think.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Oh right, Jinx spent time with those people, didn't she? Toph sits still, unmoving in her seat as she has a neutral look on her face as she listens.

    It's easy enough to notice the reaction in Jinx when she looks at the photo on her phone. Her heart is anything but calm, but it's not the heart of a liar. No, this is perhaps the most sincere Jinx has been when she's run into her. And as Jinx reveals why she's envious of her, it all makes sense all of sudden, and the older girl should be able to see the dawning realisation on Toph's face where she sits.

    Seconds pass as Jinx slurps her pho, and Toph inhales slowly. "... I didn't have any friends until I was twelve," Toph begins. "And even if I had a family, I was lonely." Mostly because her parents didn't understand her. They still don't fully do... Is that how Jinx feels now? Is she really... lonely? That only raises more questions however, and Toph seems to be uncertain of what to say for a moment. All before she opens her mouth and speaks up.

    "... you wanna come to my birthday next month?"

Jinx (39) has posed:
    There's a quiet moment. Toph asks that question and makes that statement and...
    "You /have/ a family, Toph. I have a sister who sold me out 'cause some stupid Big Hat sweet talked her a bunch and a buncha egg-heads I work for but that- that."
    A grumpy, growly sigh and she falls quiet again, contemplating. "And don't even try askin' me to be a cop. That ain't happening, ever. I do good work and ain't none of it legal and there's a reason." She takes a massive mouthful of noodles, heart still racing. She hasn't said no.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Yeah, I got a family now... wasn't that easy to find it, though I guess I was lucky..." Probably wouldn't have happened if Tony hadn't been assigned as her supervising officer in the Union, thinking back on it...

    "I didn't know you had a sister," Toph admits. Then again, how would she have known? It's not like they have talked much aside from flinging names, boulders and explosives at eachother over the years, right?

    That one comment there makes Toph arch an eyebrow. "I know you don't think the world of me, but I'm not going to ask somebody who dislikes cops to become one," she points out. That wouldn't make any sense at all! So Jinx is doing her own thing... good work? Eh, it's not like she can know that, but it's most likely not legal considering her history. But this isn't the time to badger on about that, because Jinx is still stressed judging by her heart...

    "So... there's nobody left?" she finally asks.

Jinx (39) has posed:
    Jinx's face finally sets on a proper emotion now. That of... resignation. She's talking now and emotions are happening now and there's not going to really be an end to them now is there?
    "Yeah I do and I don't like talkin' about her. But if you go and... and look up stuff about Piltover you can probably guess who it is."
    She swirls her pho again, and her shoulders set forward, as she thinks. "So no, there's no one. I guess that's sorta my fault for like... doin' stuff that isn't... isn't." Isn't being out and meeting people. A good way of putting things. A look at those blank eyes of Toph, and Jinx grumps. "So yeah. You're... you. And if I come to the party, are a buncha cops going to arrest me?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Expressions don't really do much for Toph, so perhaps it's good for Jinx that those unseeing eyes aren't watching her now in her moment of weakness. Making a mental note to check out Piltover, Toph nods. "I won't ask then." Jinx clearly doesn't want to talk about her sister, so there's no use prodding at that, it's none of Toph's business either way.

    Things could have been different. Toph met Aang and the others, a group of nice people who helped her grow more social. Could things have been different if she hadn't met other people when she ran off on her own? It's hard to know, really. In the Union she made many friends, learned how to get along with others, and become slightly less stubborn. And a bit less dirty.

    There's no need for Jinx to finish that sentence, Toph understands what she wants to say, or at least she thinks she understands her well enough.

    "The only police you have to worry about at my party is the fun police that will get you if you're a downer," Toph replies calmly. "And if you make my baby brother cry. Then I'll punch you."

Jinx (39) has posed:
    There's a huff and puff from Jinx...

    "...Okay but there better be cake and also booze for the older people." A blink. "And babies are weird, they cry for the dumbest stuff sometimes, so no promises. Besides, if there's a lot of people, it probably won't be me doing it."

    A nod, and Jinx holds out her hand. "For like the weekend, I agree not to shoot up the place."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    A snort leaves Toph. "Of course there will be cake, there won't be a birthday otherwise! Dad's always bought a big cake every year so everybody can get some. Pinkie Pie will probably add stuff to the party too, she loves decorating and crud. As for booze... I guess I can arrange for there to be an open bar as long as you promise not to get completely wasted. There will be contests and crud too."

    It's a good thing Jinx makes that promise. "Good, because the Iron Legion is right there, and I doubt dad would be happy about people shooting up my birthday party. Neither would I be since I turn sixteen and all, it's supposed to be a big thing," Toph says with a casual shrug before she reaches out... and takes Jinx's hand, shaking it once.

Jinx (39) has posed:
    And with that done, Jinx... straightens up. There's a moment, and then that flippiant attitude is back, and she smiles haughtily. "GOOD! Well, I can't promise that either and if there's cute people there I might hit on them."

    A moment. "Exept that Sokka guy, I figured that out~" A teasing lilt there, but... nothing more. Honestly, there's a little ruffle of her heart beat again at even making that joke. Jinx knows better, now.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Okay, that reassurance seemed to help put Jinx back into a state of less nervousness. "Fine, just watch it if you need to puke," Toph says with a roll of her eyes. "And don't whine if you aren't well enough to join the contest activities."

    The talk about hitting on people, that doesn't get much of a reaction from Toph until Sokka's name is mentioned. A slight flush rises to Toph's cheeks, and she turns her face slightly away. "Everybody figured that out, apparently," the blind teenager points out. "He didn't figure it out until I said it to his face." So yeah, good luck trying to hit on Sokka now. sure, he might do some innocent flirting back. But he'd better know better than to take it further than that! For that matter... "DID you have to be all over him at the beach at that time, for that matter?" Toph says with an annoyed huff, though she doesn't look angry or upset.

Jinx (39) has posed:
    "What, he was cute and dumb!" Jinx grins, and sticks out her tongue a little bit, before leaning forward on a shoulder and pointing her chopsticks. "Besides. You didn't chase at him all that hard at first."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Sokka's not /dumb/!" Toph protests, a look of irritation on her face. "I've known him for four years, he's smarter than most people even if it doesn't seem like it at first, okay?" He's just... oblivious to certain things. "And for your information I was dropping hints left or right, but he didn't pick up on it until I kissed him at New Year's, okay?" Ugh, having to explain it was so... annoying. "Just eat your food before it gets cold, okay?"

Jinx (39) has posed:
    A gigglefit from Jinx, and she sighs. "You know, I could pay him a visit from the STAR GUARDIANS~!" She puts on a V-Pose with a snap and a grin, and wiggles her butt. "I don't have that Valentines Day outfit I made a while back, but." She fishes a bit piece of calamari out of her bowl and pops it into her mouth. Smiles and smiles.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Okay, now Toph is slowly reminded why she's had problems with Jinx before. "No."

    The blind metalbender shakes her head, looking annoyed where she sits. "I have no idea what that outfit looks like, but save it. Sokka's /my/ boyfriend, and if you mess with him you'll regret it." Damnit, she just started dating him a month ago. Stupid Jinx. "Find yourself another dork to date, I'm sure there are more of them out there."

Jinx (39) has posed:
    A snicker, before Jinx's voice turns serious for a second. "I'm not trying to take your BF, Toph. I'm just bein' silly. I... wouldn't do that to people." Stealing money, sure? Breaking hearts is another thing.
    That said, though, Jinx stands and slides her phone back into her pocket, one last glance at the picture of daddy and the baby. A sigh. "See you at the party, Dirtball. ...And thanks."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Hey, I'm just making things clear here. You've stolen stuff before, and well," Toph shrugs, still looking a tad annoyed. "Besides, I trust Sokka. He seems to think you're fun, so it's not like I can tell you guys not to hang out." She's not lying so that's good.

    With her lunch over with it seems that Jinx is leaving, and once again she surprises Toph by actually /thanking/ her for the invitation. At least she assumes that's what Jinx is thanking her for. "Catch you there, Miss Trigger Happy. Bring a swim suit, it's at the beach after all." From the counter one of the restaurant workers seems to be done with her order, and Toph rises from her chair too. Better get the food home quickly before it gets cold!