4929/A cold dip

A cold dip
Date of Scene:	24 December 2016
Location:	Earth-199999
Synopsis:	Toph hangs by the pool and Sokka drags her in for a swim. Her own fault, really.
Cast of Characters:	1076, 20

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Sokka (1076) has posed:
Sokka walked in the front door of the house, humming softly as he held a bag of groceries. Did he really need to do it? No. Not really. But it was important! There were cute girls at the store.

"Hey, Toph, where are yah? You'll never guess what happened today!" he put the bags on the counter. It was mostly junk food. "So, I went to the market and there was this cute girl setting up one of the fruit stands. So I walk up to see her and go 'Orange you happy the holidays are almost here?' And so she turned to me and said 'Yep. It's really... Grape!'. I tried to get her number but then her boyfriend showed up and it was awkward."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Awkward can describe more situations, like what happened yesterday. Stupid Jekyll... The game had been fun, but some people are more perceptive than Sokka appears to be when it comes to certain things. And then they blabber about it.

    Christmas in Malibu doesn't exactly follow the White Christmas example. With no snow due to the warm weather, going for a swim this time of year is no problem at all. So while Sokka had headed off Toph had opted to relax by the pool. Rather than grabbing one of the inflatable pool rafts the blind earthbender instead bends the floor of the pool itself, making herself a platform that's under the water just enough so she can lie down and be soaked in the water. It's a good place to take a nap, actually. Or just hang out when the family spends time by the pool as the Starks like to do now and then.

    When Sokka calls out she raises her head slightly, arching an eyebrow. "I'm out on the patio," she responds back, then rolls over onto her front, letting her arms dangle down into the water. This is not the worst way to cool down at all, and well... the swimming lessons from Tony weren't that bad. Even if she was freaked out at the start. Upon hearing that Sokka went to the market though, she lets out a snort. "Most of the people who go to those places are hippies, you know...." she points out. "And many of them are vegeterians like Aang is." Still, he went shopping for groceries? Or...

Sokka (1076) has posed:
Sokka started putting some of the junk food away. "Yeah, but sometimes you just want some fresh stuff! Also, they have this really cool jerky. It's apparently barbacue! I gotta say, the barbecue flavor here is different from back home."

He started heading towards the back. "So, excited for the big day? You sure your parents are really okay with me being here? It's not like I'm family or anything. I wo- whoa whoa whoa!" he said when he came outside and well... stared. He then promptly turned around, his cheeks flaming and heart pounding. "W-w-what in the world are you wearing? Why in the world are you in your underwear?!!" He stared at the house for a moment... then did peer back over his shoulder, turn even redder and look away.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Fresh food is often the best indeed... but still, there's something special about jerky. Tasty, tough meat is something they have been used to eating on the road before. "Barbeque is something special though, and trust me, dad knows how to do it properly." There's no way they would not have Christmas food tomorrow. It's indeed something to be excited about in addition to the presents.

    "I told you, I asked them and they said you could be here, you don't have anywhere else to be, right? It's the holidays, you're no--"

    The hell?

    The sudden change in Sokka doesn't escape Toph's notice, especially since she's resting on her front on concrete. And the sound of his heart isn't easy to overhear. "Sokka?" Why did he turn around? It's only when he comments on her swim suit that she gets a hint. "It's not my underwear, genius! It's my swim suit!" It's quite modest for a girl her age, not showing much midriff, no cleavage. Surely he saw much more skin when he went to the beach in this world before. "It's not like I'm going to relax in the pool with all my clothes on, genius..." she huffs with some annoyance, though there's a faint blush crossing her cheeks. And so she turns her face down against the concrete pillar underneath her.

Sokka (1076) has posed:
Sokka squirmed a little in place. "Y-yeah, but your butt's hanging out and it's... I mean... why in the world is it..." And oh gosh there was no way to say this. Really. It was probably a good thing she was laying on her stomach. It hid most of her from view at least.

Also, since when did TOPH have a BUTT? She was freaking TOPH! She was like twelve! That didn't--

Wait, no, she was almost sixteen. Almost old enough to--

He shook his head really, really fast. Glanced back. Then coughed. "So... I guess it's... normal. Then?" Well, she'd probably seen this reaction before. After all, they'd been to the beach, plenty of girls in bikinis! But probably not one that was so taken by surprise. Granted, in their world the two pieces were a BIT more contained. He took a deep breath and turned back around, walking to the edge of the pool and sitting down. Deeeeep breathes. "... Wait, what are you even laying on?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    At that comment Toph's cheeks redden, and she turns her face away. "My butt is /not/ hanging out," she protests firmly, shifting her arms to fold them in front of her on the raised pillar. When Katara went swimming she showed more skin than this, didn't she? So what is he squirming about?

    "Yeah, it's normal. Pepper helped me pick out this one, there's no way I'll wear a freaking bikini." Tanktinis are way more comfortable anyway. She's a bit uncertain when Sokka turns around and sits down by the pool, not saying anything. Then he asks about the pillar. Really? "I bended it. I don't like the plastic rafts, because I can't see on them. And dad and mom don't care as long as I bend it back into place.

    Something Sokka should notice is that the pool water is extra clean, with no added chemicals. Because it being Tony Stark's pool means that he's found a different way than chlorine to keep it clean.

Sokka (1076) has posed:
Sokka coughed a few times, nodding and then glancing over again, then looking away. He was calming down a bit at least. It was just a shock to the system. All there was to it. But why weren't they like... a skirt? His eyes went over her again and oh gosh wh ydid Tooph have a BUTT?!

"YES! You should definitely NEVER WEAR A BIKINI!" he said quickly, shaking his head. "What happened to your, uhhh, one from home? The one with... it covered the butt more." ... Oh gosh he kept looking right at it.

"Wow this pool is really clean I wonder how he gets all the sand out. Water bending?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Doesn't he know that she can tell that he's turning his head towards her? But at least he doesn't sound like his heart is threatening to jump out of his chest... so that's something. If she knew he was looking at her behind he would most likely get a rock to the head.

    "Sheesh, you were at the beach the other day with Jinx," she snorts, moving her head to rest her chin on her lower arms. As for why she doesn't wear what she wore when she was twelve...? "Because it doesn't fit anymore, genius?" she points out. Even if she's not that tall she's still not as short as she used to be. Rather than elaborate on that Toph focuses on the subject about the pool water and how it gets cleaned. "I asked dad once... it uses a sort of ozone system it seems, it's some expensive stuff that he spent a while coming up with, it's not something most places would be good with. But dad doesn't like the chlorine, and well... neither do I."

    Slipping out from the inside, Buster takes his chance to head out to the patio, walking up calmly behind Sokka before he leans in close and rubs up against his arm briefly before he walks over the pool, sticking one paw in before he pulls it back, licking the water off.

Sokka (1076) has posed:
Sokka nodded, glancing back again. Dang it. No one should wear something like that!

"Well... that was Jinx. She was... not... you," he muttered, his cheeks red again. "You're... kind of a bit... young to be wearing something like that. I mean, what if a guy came here and saw you wearing something like that? Wait, your MOM bought it for you?" He just stared. Then acked, looking to the water. "Oh wow I'll need to talk with him about that ah hah hah hah ACCCCCCK!" And then sneak cat! He jumped up and... fell into the pool, sending water everywhere. Smooth.

He popped up a second later, coughing and sputtering, tossing off his thankfully water proof computer, space sword ad boomerang. "Dang it, cat. Messed up my new bag..." Yes he got a new bag. It was orange. Then he blinked and grinned... lazily drifting along in the water.

Fine, if she was going to wear weird things... she was still tophie. A little prank would be fun. He moved as silently as he could in the water, gradually coming closer and, once close enough... PUSH!

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    So it's okay if Jinx wears swim wear, but not her? "I'm nearly /sixteen/," she points out, "and there's nothing wrong with swim wear like this! Mom wouldn't have gotten me this if it wasn't appropriate! Lots of people have seen me wearing swim wear, like for parties, when I invite friends over," she mutters. "Sheesh, you act as if I'm about to parade about in this..."

    The sound of Sokka yelping, and the 'sight' of him jumping and falling into the pool causes Toph to yelp, mostly because of the water that splashes over her. Buster too lets out an indignant meow before he rushes back inside! Stupid pool! Such tasty water, but oh so dangerous!

    "Sokka...?" Toph asks, pushing herself up on her knees as she leans forward. Ah, there he is! She hears the splashing and coughing. Then she blinks. "You... bought a new bag...?" she inquires, arching an eyebrow. Then suddenly she finds herself pushed back, and Toph lets out a yelp as she splashes into the water. "AAAH!" There's lots of spluttering and splashing as Toph gets back up, eyes wide in horror. Hopefully he's used to being splashed as Toph kicks her legs to send herself towards the pillar, and once she grabs onto it she pulls herself up... and then moves her right arm even as she coughs up some water.

    Behind Sokka the concrete of the pool rises... and threatens to spill water all over him in a massive dunk.

    "It was BUSTER who made you fall into the pool, not me!" she protests with a huff, looking annoyed!

Sokka (1076) has posed:
Sokka was laughing his head off as she came back out, a big grin on his face. And then he got nearly drowned. He... was under water for a while after that. Wait... he... wasn't coming up? How much water did she dunk on him? Where was he?! She had probably heard him get dunked under and hit the ground, but after that... nothing...

And then he grabbed her around the waist and yanked her into the water! Holding her to his chest and back pedaling! Mwa ha ha ha ha! "Vengeance!" ... Fortunately vengeance didn't invovle dunking her. Just kind of back peddling and holding her as he snickered. "Yeah, but you're the one who tricked me into coming out here to begin with," he said with a little chuckle. "Besides. You literally put yourself up on a pillar. I HAD to knock you off it. I gotta say, I was pretty impressed. You actually swim pretty well, Tophie."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Wait, where /is/ Sokka? Toph blinks, holding onto the underwater pillar as she listens. He's... from the watertribes, of course he can swim. And he's been in water more than her. This isn't even cold water. She... didn't overdo it, did she? Turning her head, Toph is quiet and listens, some worry on her face despite the fact that she knows he can handle himself in water... this isn't even the deepest end of the pool! And then she's grabbed and yanked backwards, causing her to yelp! She doesn't go alone into the water however, and her eyes widen as she feels his chest behind her, causing her cheeks to flare up to a deep red. "S-Sokka?!"

    Okay, this would have been the optimal way of being saved at the Serpent's Pass.

    Instead she is flustered, kicking with her legs to keep her afloat. His claim that he was tricked into going out here however, that makes her protest. "What? I didn't! I was here to cool down and relax, you were the one who got scared by Buster! And I told you, I bended the pillar because that way I can still see, you should know me well enough by now!" Then... he compliments her swimming. Sure, she isn't graceful, but she can at least stay afloat now in easy waters. "O-oh, well... dad taught me," she responds, turning her face away. "He insisted that I should learn... l-like I did with reading." She does push her hand at his arm though, indicating that he can let go of her.

Sokka (1076) has posed:
Sokka nodded, but didn't let go. See, THIS was easier. He didn't have to look at her like this, he just got to hold the little brat and swim about, snickering. Far, far easier. Fortunately he couldn't tell the way her heart beat would go and he couldn't see her cheeks. "Yep, Sokka."

"Ahhhh, but you did trick me. You see, you invited me down to a sweltering beach resort in the middle of the coldest time of the year," he teased. "Obviously your plan all along was... to trick me into toppling into the pool! Truly, you and Buster are cruel masterminds the likes of which the world has never seen! And your nefarious schemes have worked, but alas... it's not enough to defeat me! For I am Sokka, master water triber. Able to swim in even the most calm of pools. And you, little water melon lord, are my prisoner. Now, what should I do with you? Tickle you? Carry you to shore? Feed you to Buster? Mwa ha ha ha."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Okay, this was so not fair. The blind girl is slightly tense, especially considering Sokka's earlier behaviour. And the words said yesterday... While it's easier for Sokka like this, it's worse for Toph, having him close like this and holding her. Especially since they're in water.

    "Oh yeah, because Buster plans everything beyond begging for his next snack..." Toph mutters. The cat is used to living a priviledged life, being fed expensive cat food, sleeping on the comfiest furniture, getting scritches whenever he wants to. Man, Sokka is really being silly. Her face is still flushed as she stops pushing at his arm in attempt to get away. "Dare I remind you that there is concrete all about?" No, no tickling! Act all calm. Because there is no way she can even deal with this after witnessing Sokka's reactions to the various comments that were made yesterday on the radio.

    "Let go of me and I won't have to dunk you properly by sending you to the beach!" she instead threatens, pouting where she's being held.

Sokka (1076) has posed:
Sokka chuckled softly, gently paddling around the water. "Ah, but see, there's the kicker. As long as I'm holding you, you can't send me flying, can you? Because then you'll go flying too! The only answer, for now, is to hold you forever."

He nods sagely. "Alas, I suppose you and I will have to live in the pool forever now, growing old and pruny together. Like some kind of seal cat." ... Their world was weird. "Besides, I'm used to your abuse. Your threats don't work as well on me when you over use them~" Okay, this was much better for him. He was calming down. The threats, the teasing, the anger. This was the little kid toph he knew. Much easier to deal with.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    This. Is. So. Undignified.

    Being paddled around isn't Toph's favourite idea of being in the pool, really. It was only in the beginning that she thought it was good to have Tony there to help her stay afloat while she was learning how not to drown. This... is different. And how he jokes about holding onto her forever. And this close she can tell that he's not flustered now, but acting like his normal self. Man, she's never going to understand boys!

    "Fine, I won't send you flying to the beach if you let me go now," she promises with a groan, trying to wriggle free once more. "Because there's no way I'm staying in this pool forever, I'm not a freaking waterbender! It's Christmas Eve, we're going to watch a silly movie, eat food and snacks and then get ready for tomorrow, remember?" Are you willing to pass out on tasty food and presents, Sokka?

Sokka (1076) has posed:
Sokka nodded, humming. Swim swim swim. Oh my gosh, was he considering it? And he was a lot calmer, too! And then he leaned in and.... HE BIT HER EAR! Very gently. Then made a grunt. "Hmmmm. Okay, you're right. I suppose the food inside is probably a lot better." Rather than dropping her, though, he stood up in the shallow end and let her stand. So she wouldn't be worried. He then got a full view of her from the front and...

Oh, wow. He was staring. And his heart was hammering. "you... you know, y-you should go change." And his face was so red.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Okay, just agree to this so they can both get out of the pool already...! When he leans closer Toph blinks, all before letting out a loud yelp as she squirms in shock, eyes going wide as her cheeks turn a deep red. Why did he do /that/?

    Though he does agree to let her go, so that's good... feeling the bottom of her pool underneath her she fumbles to get to her feet, trying to hide her flushed face before she pushes away from Sokka. Even if she can hear his heart suddenly racing like it did before for some reason, he can at least take comfort in the fact that she can't see how red his face is. And his comment? "You're the one who fell into the pool with all your clothes on, Meat Head..." Not that he's in any danger of freezing wearing wet clothes in this sort of weather.

    But Toph does get out of the pool, hurrying inside. And once she's out of sight she reaches a hand up to her ear, a silly grin on her face.